We just ask that you:

- are a mom &

- have a blog

You would have to . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: L.A. Area Mom Bloggers Needed!]]> If you live within driving distance of Los Angeles then I am looking for you. I have teamed up with the P.R. agency for Habitat for Humanity L.A. to coordinate a “Mom Blogger Build.”

We just ask that you:

- are a mom &

- have a blog

You would have to provide your own transportation to and from the site.

You would just need to show up for a day or two (probably on a weekend) to help work on a house for a family that really needs it. We also ask that you blog before, during and after the build just to document your thoughts, why it’s important, how it touched you, etc.

Also we ask that you help fund raise either virtually or in person to help raise money for Habitat. It costs money to build those houses, so every penny that we can give to Habitat helps them in their mission. Please tell other Moms who blog that you think may be interested.

If you are interested, please email me.

Thanks!

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I remember my first pair of Nikes.

I remember my first Guess outfit that I was able to buy for myself.

I remember my older brother making bottle rockets in Heineken bottles and me being terrified ’cause I thought glass would shatter everywhere.

I remember . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Sacrifices And Security]]> What do you remember about your childhood?

I remember my first pair of Nikes.

I remember my first Guess outfit that I was able to buy for myself.

I remember my older brother making bottle rockets in Heineken bottles and me being terrified ’cause I thought glass would shatter everywhere.

I remember lots of parties and lots of loud music. I assume that this is the reason my hearing is not so great.

I remember a two-door Nissan Sentra, then a Nissan Pathfinder in 1991- the year my younger brother was born.

Oh and I remember the Pathfinder being crashed by you know who and you know how many times. (love you bro)

I remember rice & peas, oxtails, curry goat, stew chicken, escovitch. Nom, Nom, Nom- you have to appreciate Jamaican food.

What I don’t remember is never having anything to eat.

I don’t remember worrying about where I was going to live.

I don’t remember not having that joy of having family around.

I always had a place to lay my head. I always had friends growing up.

And I had because of my parents.

Sure, they fought and as far as I was concerned they hated each other.

As an adult, though, I am so glad that my father was in my life. It made a huge difference.

————–

My husband is watching this documentary on basketball and these kids are talking about moving 5, 6, 7 times. Not knowing if they would have something to eat. Wearing clothes down to the ground til they were worn. Not having a father, some no mother either and having to be raised by brothers or sisters.

————–

I had security.

Regardless of how my parents felt about each other they made a commitment to us, their children, to be around.

They took up side jobs- working as bouncers at night clubs ’til the wee hours in the morning or working at Macy’s as a part-time job in addition to a full time day job in Insurance.

They did what they needed to do so that we could have and not want for the necessary things in life.

When I look at my daughter, I want to give her everything she needs and the things that she wants, too. My parents taught me the golden rule of parenting (in my opinion). Which is that I need to do whatever is in my power to make sure that my kids never want for anything- even if that means making sacrifices… maybe sacrificing my dreams (temporarily) or parents who make sure their kids eat before they eat. Buying what your kids need instead of buying something that you want.

You know, our kids didn’t ask to be on this Earth. We brought them here.

I know that a lot of people out there have it hard. Watching things like this documentary and listening to these guys stories reminds me of what is important and just makes me grateful for how I was raised. It puts things in perspective.

I am just thankful to my parents for providing my siblings and I with that constant security. I’m thankful to my parents for the sacrifices that they made for us… and for any of the times they ever went without so that we could have.

It takes becoming a grown-up to really appreciate the little things. I am now learning, too, that even when you think they are not looking- they are. (They being our kids) And they are learning from us- our actions, our behavior- how we treat ourselves and others.

Now, my parents live on two separate ends of the East Coast- but I know that I always have a place to call home. I can just choose between Florida and New York.

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I found a barber on base that was willing to donate my hair cut, which was very . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Thank You]]> To all of you who helped me raise money for St. Baldrick’s. I was able to raise $836 and you are more than welcome to donate to help me raise $1,000. Click here to donate.

I found a barber on base that was willing to donate my hair cut, which was very nice of him. I had to cut my dreads off before I got there, though, so I did that last night.

Aaand there’s my hair:

5 Years of dread growing down the drain (lol)

This morning, I had a 9:30 appointment to go down and get the rest cut.

Ready to Rock N Roll

Hubby said I should’ve kept the mohawk. Ummm, no.

Cadence cried- the entire time because she was tired and refuses to nap… or get her hair combed for that matter (which is why she looks like a wild child). By the way, that’s my new buddy/barber- Alvin.

It is very hot here, so I need to either but sunblock on my head, or keep a hat on.

The End.

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Now, we all knew that day would come aaaand I’m sure that in some way I should have been preparing myself for it, but it blew me away. . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Dear Grandpa,]]> So two years ago today I got woken up by a phone call letting me know that your battle with prostate cancer had ended.

Now, we all knew that day would come aaaand I’m sure that in some way I should have been preparing myself for it, but it blew me away. Like a brick to my chest. The same way I felt when I got the call that Auntie had died- she was really old- and I still couldn’t believe it.

When Trish told me about St. Baldrick’s and her plan to shave her hair to raise awareness for pediatric cancer, I knew I had to be a part of it. Cancer has affected our family in so many ways- I guess we’re just lucky like that. When I found out about Layla Grace and Maddie, I just thought Dear God- I can’t even imagine a doctor telling me that my sweet little Cadence has cancer.

People expect older people, in time, to die- but to find out that your own child is dying? I can’t fathom. I knew I would do it in honor of you… after all, it’s just hair- who cares. Losing you to cancer was hard for our family, you were our Patriarch. If there was a cure for cancer, you may still be here.

I really didn’t think it would have hit me so hard- you know? Shaving my hair. After I was done and Chris and I got in the car, I cried and cried and cried. Today is the day. It’s your day that we honor you. If there were no you, there would be no me.

You weren’t the most sentimental Grandpa, but you were funny as hell. Remember how you used to hide sweets in your kitchen cabinet? It was usually Entenmann’s pound cake or glazed popems. You knew you shouldn’t have been eating that stuff with your diabetes being as bad as it was. You would crush the boxes and put it at the bottom of your garbage so Auntie Les wouldn’t find it and give you a lecture about your health. I was in Elementary school, so I didn’t know any better and as long as you let me have a few, I’d keep my mouth shut.

Remember when you lined us all up (all of the cousins) and said “hol’ out yu han’” in your heavy Jamaican accent and slapped all of us with the belt on the hand- who knows what we did- but clearly something we shouldn’t have been doing.

I remember the ice cream truck coming around- but knew better than to ask you for even a dollar…. you were a tight wad and so funny about it too. “I doan have ah dime!” Oookay grandpa- whatever you say.

You are in pretty much every memory I have from Elementary School since all of the cousins waited at your house after school to be picked up by our parents.

I know you are out of pain. I am glad that you accepted the Lord as your Savior before you passed. I know you are in heaven looking down on our family. I hope that you are proud of us.

Love,

Me

Helping Mommy find a white candle

They say you can light a white candle in memory
of someone who has passed on…

For you Grandpa.
We miss you.

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Well, it’s new to me.

I was actually told by a Middle Eastern man at the cell phone accessory kiosk in the mall that he used to carry cases for my cell phone, but “that phone is old” and “they don’t . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Hello Moto]]> That’s what my new phone says when I turn it on.

Well, it’s new to me.

I was actually told by a Middle Eastern man at the cell phone accessory kiosk in the mall that he used to carry cases for my cell phone, but “that phone is old” and “they don’t make cases for those anymore.”

Well you know what? Who ASKED YOU?!

I have retired my iPhone. For personal reasons, we are going separate ways.

My iPhone and I have a love/hate relationship… Mostly love, though. It did so many wonderful things for me, but honestly, I was probably cheating on my husband with it:

Laughing at tweets that I would get from my Twitter friends, playing words with friends late at night before bed, incessantly checking my email on long car rides, playing Tic Tac Touch or writing a new blog post on the WordPress app.

I definitely loved my iPhone, from day one. But then there were the times when I would have a dropped call even though I had full bars. Or when I’d walk into Old Navy at the mall and lose all reception. Or when I drove to Nebraska with the family and my “best 3G coverage” dropped in and out the entire way. That was fun…/(end sarcasm)

Alas, everything in this world comes at a cost. AT&T charges $30 per month for the iPhone data plan. With our government discount, it’s a little bit less, the the difference is not significant. After chatting with their customer service reps, we found out we were paying almost $30 in taxes! Thirty. DOLLARS. I’m sorry, what is that? I don’t get it.

I got rid of my text messaging months ago thinking it would help, but nope. And so, I’ve decided to make the “ultimate sacrifice” (please, just- allow me to exaggerate the situation for a bit)  and get rid of my iPhone. This will save us an extra penny on our bill per month and hopefully it will drop the bill significantly.

And as parents, making sacrifices is something we do for our families, right? I watched both of my parents make sacrifices for us all of the time. And if I really think about it, the iPhone is a want, not a need. So… **sigh** I can live without it. Life goes on, right? And by the time I’m in a position to go all smart-phone-ish again, there will be a phone even better than the iPhone for me to get.

At least that’s the way I look at it.

We also cut back our minutes to 700 daytime minutes per month from 2100, so… if you didn’t get the memo- please don’t call me before 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time unless you have AT&T. You may call me on weekends freely, otherwise, please get in touch with me to acquire our home phone number. Yes, we got a home phone. And while you may think that it is expensive, I will tell you, in another post about the Jack with aaaaaall of the Magic.

So, I bid you adieu iPhone. It was great while it lasted. We had our good times and our bad times, but boy, were you fun.

I’ll be packing you up ever-so gently along with your 3 colorful protective cases and shipping you off to your new owner in North Carolina. I know her personally and well, she’s a great person, so I know she’ll take care of you.

Goodbye iPhone.

Hello Moto.

Image taken from Caytech.net

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My goal is to raise $1,000, though I hope to surpass that goal!

Two . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Help Me Raise Money for Cancer Research and Win!]]> You all know by now that I am shaving my hair to help raise money for pediatric cancer research on April 8th in honor of my grandfather and in solidarity with all of the children suffering from cancer.

My goal is to raise $1,000, though I hope to surpass that goal!

Two companies have offered incentives for people to help donate money.

For every $1 that you donate, you get 1 entry into a raffle to win either a Mini Moby Wrap or a personalized hair bow for a special little girl in your life!

You could win this personalized bow- with the initial of your choice:

Or, you could win this Mini Moby Wrap, so your little on can carry around their favorite doll:

It’s all for a good cause! So donate, please. Click here to give.

After you donate, please come back here and fill out the form below so that I know how many entries to give you. Again, every dollar gives you 1 raffle ticket for each prize. For example, if you give $20, you get 20 raffle tickets for each giveaway.

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My friend, Trish, told me today that she’s signed up for St. Baldrick’s and will be shaving her hair on February 27. She heard about a fundraising event on her local radio station and decided to join in! 3 1/2 years ago Trish shaved her hair, . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Joining St. Baldrick’s]]>

My friend, Trish, told me today that she’s signed up for St. Baldrick’s and will be shaving her hair on February 27. She heard about a fundraising event on her local radio station and decided to join in! 3 1/2 years ago Trish shaved her hair, so doing it again andfor a good cause wasn’t a big deal. Of course I headed over to her donation page and wanted to see what St. Baldrick’s was all about and got inspired by Trish…

 On April 8, 2008 I got a call that would forever change the dynamics of my family.

My Grandfather, Lloyd Foster- our living Patriarch on my mother’s side- had passed away after fighting with Prostate Cancer for over 15 years. According to my mother, he had gone into remission and was doing just fine, but when it came back- it came back with a death sentence.

Since then I’ve tried to do so much to help with cancer research, all in the name of my very miserable, grumpy, tight-pocketed, Entenmann’s glazed popems, funny as hell, loving grandpa.

I participated in Relay for Life two years in a row and have found a local Relay that I hope to get involved with.

So, why not partner with St. Baldrick’s?

About St. Baldrick’s:

 ”The St. Baldrick’s Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. Government.”

“Volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and family and friends give generously – worldwide.”

St. Baldrick’s is a member of:

- Alliance for Childhood Cancer
- Childhood Cancer Charities Unite (C3 Unite)
- People Against Childhood Cancer (PAC2)

Like Trish, I’ve shaved my hair before, but this time it will actually be for a cause. I’ve chosen to shave in honor of my grandfather on the anniversary of his passing- April 8, 2010. I am also shaving in honor of two children that I don’t know:

Bryna
She is in remission from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
She was diagnosed with cancer at age 6.

 
Tanner
Tanner was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia(AML) at 3 months old.
He lost his battle with AML just before his first birthday.

My mother says that I try to be “Mother Theresa and save the world.” Really, it’s not about that for me. I know that this world is going to belong to my daughter and her peers one day. How can I see the pain and agony that so many are stricken with in our world and not try to help? Isn’t that what the Lord has called us to do? My husband and I are blessed enough to have family and friends that care and help us out whenever they can- why can’t I do the same? This could easily be my child or my friend’s child. I also know and have witnessed first hand how every single cent that is donated to a cause can make a difference. I can’t lose faith that one day a cure for cancer will be found. I know that my efforts are not in vain.

I believe that we should all strive to raise our children to be altruistic- that is the key to making the world a better place.

If you’d like to support Trish, please click here to donate.

To help me reach (or surpass) $1,000, please click here or click on the St. Baldrick’s badge in my sidebar.

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The following is a guest post from Kristine, author of Instructions Not Included. Kristine’s story is one that has truly touched me. I ask that you join me in supporting her and helping to raise awareness for CHD.

Almost two weeks ago, my . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Cora’s Story]]>

The following is a guest post from Kristine, author of Instructions Not Included. Kristine’s story is one that has truly touched me. I ask that you join me in supporting her and helping to raise awareness for CHD.

Almost two weeks ago, my baby died in my arms. She was breastfeeding. My husband had just come up to caress her sweet little cheek. A serene, soft, beautiful moment that immediately cut to horror when I looked down and her face was covered in blood and she wasn’t breathing.

We’ve since learned Cora had an undetected congenital heart disease. My pregnancy, labor and delivery were all perfect. No issues. Good prenatal care. I didn’t even take an aspirin or drink one glass of wine the entire nine months I grew the sweet and precious gift inside of me. She looked like the healthiest of babies. Big rosy cheeks, a loud and angry cry when she was hungry, and she ate with vigor. She lived only five days.

Since her death, I’ve been on a mission.

A mission to spread her story.

I was amazed at how much she transformed my life from day one. In awe of the love she brought. She made me instantly a more patient person.

She has reached hundreds through the blogging community, but perhaps the most important work sweet Cora has done is within her own family.

My older sister and I were close as can be up until the last year. We’re only two years apart and shared everything with each other. Then we had a falling out. She disapproved of my husband. My engagement to him was the last straw for her. She stopped talking to me. Completely. When I called her to tell her I was pregnant, she said “Oh, God” and hung up. We didn’t really talk after. An awkward happy birthday phone call was about it. She never met Cora. I thought we’d forever be lost to each other.

When Cora died my sister boarded a plane as fast as she could. She cried at the funeral. She felt guilt for not meeting her sweet niece. She calls me almost daily now. We learned the most important lesson possible, without family you have nothing. People are all that really matter.

I’m amazed by all that Cora has accomplished in her five days. Starting with the work she’s done in her own family. Cora brought my sister back to me.

________________________________________________________________________

I have learned so much from Kristine in these past few weeks. I am so impressed by her strength. She has reminded me of how precious life is. How important family is. How we complain about so much when really we have so much to be thankful for. She has reminded me of my  need to be patient with my daughter. Be open and honest with those around me. Life is short… I will continue to help spread Cora’s story and support Kristine by lifting her up in my prayers- I ask that you do the same. If you Tweet, you may follow Kristine on Twitter, she would appreciate your support.

** Dawana**

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