Category Archives: Personal

Inspirational Quote: When it is Dark Enough, You Can See the Stars

March 23, 2011New posts, Personalanxiety, Depression, life, quote, stressAlicia

Moms are always on the go. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I knew when I ‘signed up’ to have children, that having kids was going to be a game changer. I had been a nanny before and was totally in love with the kids I nannied and they still hold a special place in my heart. Sorry, got of track..

However, no matter how much we love our kids, moms sometimes get so overwhelmed we don’t know which way to turn, who to turn to, or how to take care of ourselves and sometimes we let go. That’s not a good place to be or a good feeling. I recently read this quote by Charles Austin Bear: “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars” and after reading that quote, I realized that the darker things get in life, the more I appreciate what I have. What stinks is then I usually get MAD at myself for letting myself get depressed because I know that I have a great life.

I like to put inspirational quotes on my refrigerator or in my purse so I can read them often.

Click the image above to print and tape this inspirational quote on your fridge or put in your wallet for quick and easy access when you need a lift.

Are your Kids Asking “Mommy, What’s a Tsunami”? – Tsunami Facts for Kids

March 11, 2011PersonalHawaii, Japan, TsunamiAlicia

tsunami

If your kids are like mine, they are inquisitive. With the tsunamis all over the news that you may be watching now, your kids may be asking you what a tsunami is. What do I do when my kids ask questions like this? I look it up online and SHOW them!

Here are a few great resources for kids that explain what a tsunami is:

FEMA For Kids

A tsunami (pronounced soo-nahm-ee) is a series of huge waves that happen after an undersea disturbance, such as an earthquake or volcano eruption. (Tsunami is from the Japanese word for harbor wave.) The waves travel in all directions from the area of disturbance, much like the ripples that happen after throwing a rock. The waves may travel in the open sea as fast as 450 miles per hour. As the big waves approach shallow waters along the coast they grow to a great height and smash into the shore. They can be as high as 100 feet. They can cause a lot of destruction on the shore. They are sometimes mistakenly called “tidal waves,” but tsunami have nothing to do with the tides.

Tsunami Facts from National Geographic

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of water can cause widespread destruction when they crash ashore. These awe-inspiring waves are typically caused by large, undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate boundaries. When the ocean floor at a plate boundary rises or falls suddenly it displaces the water above it and launches the rolling waves that will become a tsunami.

Tsunami Warning Brochure

Hopefully these tsunami resources will help you explain what exactly a tsunami is, to your kids. While your explaining be sure to remind your kids to say a little prayer for those affected by the earthquake in Japan and the tsunamis.

You can keep up with the latest tsunami news on Twitter (search for Tsunami), CNN.com, and FoxNews.com.

I’m in a Funk.. a Depression Funk

March 7, 2011New posts, PersonalDepressionAlicia

I’ve been in a funk for about a week. I’ve been on medication for depression and anxiety for years and have experienced what I call ‘funks’ for years but now that I’m older my funks seem to be visiting more often and I don’t like it. I know I’ll be fine but I think it’s important to be real and need to share with my readers that life isn’t always peaches and roses (is that the saying?) as I’m sure you ALL know!

Here’s what’s going on with me:

General depression (since about 14 years old)
PTSS – Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (from a car accident)
Degenerative Spinal Arthritis – Diagnosed in 2010. Painful, but I don’t take the meds because I don’t like the side-effects.
Premature Ovarian Failure (AKA Menopause) – This issue makes me feel older than I am.
Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia – Diagnosed in 2009 but also don’t take the meds for this because I don’t like the side-effects. I’m one of those that has a hard time ‘believing’ in something that I can’t see on an x-ray so these two conditions are difficult for me to accept but multiple doctors have ‘confirmed’ these diagnoses.
My husband works too much
I work full time (AtlantaMoms.com and TheMommyInsider.com), while helping my 11 year old with homework, entertaining my 4 year old, doing laundry, cooking, playing with the kids, bathing my youngest, putting the kids to bed, grocery shopping, transporting to kid’s events, cleaning, etc..

What happens is that I get in these ‘funks’ but I get MAD at myself for being in a ‘funk’ because I know I have a great life. I have two beautiful healthy children, a husband, a house, two cars, and supportive family. What gives me the right to be depressed?

Do you get depressed? How do you cope?

How do you cope when you get depressed but have life to live, kids to take care of, work to do? Please share.

My Husband Got Busted in the Carpool Line!

March 3, 2011Personalcarpool, storyAlicia

I got a call from my daughter’s preschool director asking me to tell my husband to not cut in line at carpool anymore. He got busted!

Please read on..

The carpool situation is strange..

There are two carpool lines and because my daughter is picked up in the second carpool line we have to sit through the first line in order to get to our daughter’s line which is in the back of the school. Sometimes people in the first line leave so much space between their cars that it holds those of us that we get frustrated that we can’t get through. While I’m not bothered by the waiting, (I am typically very patient while driving and non-agressive) my husband was apparently impatient with the driver in front of him who he thought *could* but wasn’t moving up enough to give him space to get through to the second line. I understand that it can get frustrating but apparently my husband should work on being patient. The driver who was in front of my husband when he ‘cut’ through, honked at him and I guess she told the Director what he did. He’s the only Dad who drives a brand new Ford Mustang so I think he’s an easy target. 😉

If I’d have answered the phone when the director called this morning (I was in a meeting and she left a message) I would have been really embarrassed as I am am the opposite of an aggressive driver.

What I Advise to my Husband about the Carpool Line:

Don’t get impatient in the carpool line.
Don’t mess with another driver in the carpool line. He/she could pull out a sippy cup and splash juice all over your car. Not the Mustang! Yes, the Mustang.
Don’t rush the person in front of you in the carpool line.
Relax.. it’s important to be happy and calm when our daughter gets in the car. Don’t let a little hold up, get you all worked up.

I would hate for something like what recently happened with Cecily Kellog’s daughter, to happen to our daughter. While I feel that her daughter’s preschool not allowing her to come back to school was ridiculously unwarranted, I guess it happens and that ‘s a reality. My daughter loves her school and I want to keep it that way!

I Need to Restock my Four Year Old’s Closet.. Again!

March 2, 2011Baby & Kids Clothing, Personalkids clothesAlicia

My 4 year has sprouted so much in the past six months that she went from being able to wear a size 3T & 4T comfortably, to wearing 5T clothes. The problem is, I stocked her up on 4T’s thinking that she’s hang in there for a while, but nope.. she’s moving on up! I don’t like to wear tight clothing so I empathize and don’t have a problem restocking her closet, but sheesh, it seems like I just stocked her up with a ton of 4T’s and now I need to fill her closet with 5T clothes or she’ll look a little too skimpy for my taste. Short pants, belly shirts.. not cute on a 4 year old.

Don’t get me wrong.. I am so glad she’s going through a growth spurt as she’s always been a little shorter than most of the kids in her class. She could use some catching up. I’m only 5″1′ though, so it looks like she might have gotten her height gene from me. Poor thing. 🙁 Could be worse though right?

I guess I’ll be browsing some of my favorite children’s clothing stores, TheChildrensPlace.com, OldNavy.com, and Gap Kids.

Update: I just did some preliminary window (online) shopping at a few of my favorite children’s clothing stores and look at these adorable outfits I put together! I know, most of the pieces plain jane, but I like pieces that will go with a lot.