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Making Time For You

Posted on September 30, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

A week ago, I was heading to SheStreams in NYC for the adventure of my life.

SheStreams 2011

I am still digesting all of the information that I learned during the two days in New York City. Maria Bailey and her team packed in an amazing weekend. Thanks to the amazing keynote speakers and panel members, my brain is still moving a mile a minute.

SheStreams was also the first time I have been away for a night without one of the boys since NHL was born eight years ago. Yes, I missed TechyDad, NHL, and JSL – but it was nice only to worry about ME and put ME first. The wise words of Rene Syler (aka Good Enough Mother) came flooding back to me Saturday morning when she reminded us that it is ok to move yourself to the top of your to-do list.

Late nights in NYC chatting, networking, and laughing with new and old friends reminds me of the importance of ME time.

On the flip side, I also know that TechyDad needs time away to do things he likes, and we need couple time as well. Mom and Dad need to keep their identities to be their best for the kids. As we begin 5772 this Rosh Hashanah – I hope that our family can work on this aspect of life.

So my question to you this week:

How do you make sure to get time for YOU and what do you like to do with these special moments?

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #171

Categories:
Aloha Friday Blogging Conference bloggy friends Conference decisions friends fun interesting looking back me moments photos TechyDad

Build-A-Bear Fun Finds in NYC

Posted on September 28, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

P.S. More on this event and other items from the SheStreams conference coming soon.

Categories:
Blogging Conference fun looking back shopping travel Wordless Wednesday

Shannah Tovah with Apples and Honey Song

Posted on September 27, 2011 5:06 pm by TheAngelForever

I am fresh from the SheStreams Conference in NYC only to get home and thrust into the holiday bonanza of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah. Yes, tis the season for a bounty of holidays. JSL came home from nursery school today with an art project. He made a Rosh Hashanah apple dipping plate. This will be heading to Nana and Papa’s house for dinner tomorrow evening to welcome the sweet new year.

Once we were home, JSL started to race around the living room and wanted to put on a show. Suddenly, I had my video camera in hand to record the little guy singing “Apples & Honey” that he recently learned.

As I learned at SheStreams, a large number of bloggers post raw, unedited video on their websites. That was golden to me. I often hesitated to post video that I made because of this reason. Let’s be honest, kids will be kids and often surprise you with their antics. Of course, this makes the video more real and quite authentic.

Well, JSL did not fail on that. At four, he has a quirky sense of humor and is gaining confidence in his talking and singing. A few short months ago, he never would have agreed to share this song in front of the camera. Check out how he replies to my questions and ends the video.

As I enter the new year, I hope to embark on many new and exciting things. This will include more videos and vlogs in the near future.

To all of those celebrating Rosh Hashanah, I wish you and your family a Happy and Sweet New Year.

Categories:
arts and crafts Blogging Conference crafts fun holidays jsl me moments photos school video

Tuesday Tales – Reading Envy On The Train

Posted on September 27, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Tuesday Tales

The train into NYC for SheStreams was early in the morning on Friday. I was tired, but the time to read a book was huge. The excitement of things to come and getting quiet time to read kept me awake I brought a book with me and sat plowing through pages.

I read a lot during the two and a half hours to the conference. Then, the activities of the weekend drained me. Coming home, I read a bit more, but before I knew it I could not keep my eyes focused on the words in front of me. It was nothing to do with the book and all to do with a weekend of little sleep. I dozed for a shot time and then pulled my computer out to get a little blogging done.

Now that I am back and getting energized, I can not wait to finish reading Envy, the first book in Gregg Olsen’s Empty Coffin Series. There are so many topics within the book that will be great to discuss thanks to cyber bullying being a part of the novel. Here is a teaser with the book trailer from Sterling Publishing:

More about the book:

Murder is such a dirty word…
New York Times bestselling adult true crime author Gregg Olsen makes his YA debut with EMPTY COFFIN, a gripping new fiction series for teens based on ripped-from-the-headlines stories…with a paranormal touch.
Crime lives–and dies–in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen–and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town’s victims and culprits.

Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins’ old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out–and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.

Based on the shocking true crime about cyber-bullying, Envy will take you to the edge–and push you right over.

On that note, I am off to find some time to catch back up and finish this book which has me on the edge of my seat. The frightening truth about online anonymity is exposed right from the start of this series.

Of course, since this is Tuesday Tales, I must ask the usual question. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Book Posts, and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: I received this book complimentary of Sterling Publishing in order to facilitate a review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed are my own.

Categories:
Blogging Conference books me moments Product review travel Tuesday Tales

Train Ride Home From SheStreams 2011

Posted on September 26, 2011 6:00 am by TheAngelForever

By the time this is posted, I will be home and back with my family. Right now, I am sitting here on the train coming home from New York City.

So many things are going through my brain thanks to the SheStreams Conference. Maria Bailey (@MomTalkRadio) put on an amazing conference. A huge thank you to her, the sponsors, and SheStreams staff for a truly magical weekend. I learned so much, met amazing people, and saw fantastic old friends.

Although I am tired from an action packed weekend, I am energized and feel like I can take on new and exciting projects. I have been inspired to try items that may have scared me in the past, but now I am ready to take care of business and work on bringing things to a new level. I am a blogger, but I am so much more. The world of social media has shown me that a teacher on hiatus has a lot to offer the world. Now, I need to take the necessary steps to keep moving forward.

I have a lot of amazing things to share from SheStreams, but it is going to take me time to wrap my brain around everything. First, I must head home, hug my boys, give them something special that I bought them at the Disney Store and get back into the swing of things.

A huge thank you to my amazing husband, TechyDad, for pushing me to go on this adventure. Being a major Type A person, this was a whirlwind weekend that I never could have imagine, but was so worth it. To Tamara, MomRN – I missed seeing you at She Streams, but was honored to have bought your ticket and go to this first ever event.

Another thank you to Shannan for kicking my butt into high gear and getting the ticket and then figuring out the rest. You were beyond right, I am glad I went. Of course, another big thank you to Kelby, the head Type-A-Parent, I can not thank you enough for all that you did this weekend. It was so much fun hanging out with you. I hope you are able to find your spot that was MIA all weekend and rendered your phone useless. My dumb phone and I can not even imagine the pain you must have been in.

One other shout-out to Rene Syler (more coming later about the head GEM). Thank you for also kicking me in the rear and reminding me before SheStreams to move myself back to the list of important to do items. It was a pleasure seeing you speak, learning with you in ResourcefulMom’s rockin’ session, chatting, and surprisingly not needing the bail money that you told TechyDad to send me.

I met many other people and learned so much more, but that will be coming soon. If you went to SheStreams, I would love to catch up with you online if I missed seeing/meeting you in person. Please say hello and remind me to catch up on my Twitter followers since I have been slacking some. Safe travels to everyone as they head back home.