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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

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.

Categories:
Blogging Conference bloggy friends decisions friends looking back me moments photos TechyDad travel

Off Limit Topics

Posted on September 16, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Blogging is often something that I consider to be therapeutic. When TechyDad and I had to cancel our trip to Walt Disney World a few weeks ago because of Hurricane Irene, writing helped me to deal with my feelings. On the flip side, I also wrote about the need for couples time when we started to plan our trip. It was calling me out on the fact that even though I am a parent, spending time with my husband alone is not something I should feel guilty about.

Although I write on my blog about certain topics, there are definitely others that I would LOVE to write about, but I hold back. Being an adult and doing the responsible thing can stink at times, especially when you want to vent, yell, scream, and or/or even gloat.

Last year, the H-E Double Hockey Sticks that was the school we pulled our son out of because he was assaulted (and then some) was one of those items. I wrote a vague post here and there, but I did not go into details. You see, certain things are our business and I did not want something on my blog being tossed back in my face (people at school read my blog). Another item that stopped me is I had not blogged leading up to the incident. It probably seemed more drastic if you didn’t have all of the points to connect in the story.

School related items are not the only things that I avoid. I never blog anything negative about family members (duh), keep to positive experiences because who wants to dwell on the negatives, I never blogged about my classroom when I was teaching, and try not to debate politics and/or religion. There is enough drama in the world and I just do not need that in my life.

So my question to you this week:

What topics and or items do you avoid on your blog and why?

The beautiful thing about blogging is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. So long as you stay true to yourself, you can continue to morph and spread your wings over time.

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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 #169

Categories:
Aloha Friday looking back me moments

Never Forget Red, White, and Blue = Hope

Posted on September 11, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Each year since I started blogging, I have written about the events of September 11, 2001. Every time I do, tears come to my eyes. Not only am I a New Yorker, I am an American that lived and watched as our country was challenged in a way it had never been before. I sit here today, trying to put the fear of future attacks behind me. The reality is that as this ten year anniversary comes, my fears intensify.

My boys know nothing different, but I do. We were so naïve before September 11, 2001. Never did we think something like this could happen in our backyard, but it did. Families lost loved ones. Men and women became widowers and widows. Children were forced to grow up without a parents. Now, we watch as these brave people grieve and show their faces before countless cameras.

What strikes me the most over the last few days are the children of September 11. These brave tweens, teens, and twenty-something young people have matured so much faster than they should have. They are proof that the American spirit can not be dashed with such horrible tragedy. These young people have done amazing things. They have used the memories of their parents to push and pursue things. A common theme from all of them is that the events made them stronger and who they are today.

Ten years ago, I remember something else that happened. As people began to realize what had happened in NY City, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, PA – familiar colors came out. Red, white, and blue were everywhere. Almost every house in our area had Old Glory flying high. In addition to this, people were wearing shirts with the flag on it. Pins with the flag were being worn on lapels. I remember trying to buy them for people because we all wanted them on our jackets as the cooler weather came in.

A little less than a month after September 11, we celebrated the Jewish holiday of Sukkot in my aunt and uncle’s sukkah. These decorations show just want was happening at the time.

I truly hope that people come together today, on the 10th anniversary of this tragic day and remember. We need to remember those that lost their live, we need to recall those that saved lives, and we MUST think about reviving the sense of American spirit and community that existed in the months after.

Once again, we need to embrace the red, white, and blue in the name of hope because we will never forget.