Jael Custom Designs

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-03-16T13:16:00.000-04:00

Did you miss me last week! I wasn't able to post my Post It Note Tuesday I was so off of schedule after going to Baltimore for the weekend for Bloggy Boot Camp and immediately as I got back into town my oldest son gets sick with a tummy bug then by Wednesday he's finally over it and my toddler is hit with a Upper Respiratory Infection that we are still battling. Whoosah! Last week and this week hasn't been that great! I just want my little one to feel better, and lack of sleep plus losing an hour hasn't helped my mood either. I'm just saying! Well, let me get my Post It's on... and don't forget that you can participate too, and link up over at Supah Mommy's!

When The Diva's Talk... If you missed it, Let's Recap!

2010-03-10T16:44:00.001-05:00

I have to say that Sunday's radio show was my favorite thus far. (But in all honesty, I can see myself saying that about every radio show because next weeks topic is HOT.) We had a great turn out this week with over 50+ live viewers. For the second week of the new radio show format that is a great turnout and I can only imagine what the future will hold for us!

The topics that we covered, and got into really good conversation about, were:

Our Oscars talk. We discussed the nomination of Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" and what nominations we were really excited about. As a whole, everyone was rooting for the movie Precious.
We also talked about Child Support and asked the question "How much is too much." We talked about stories from our own personal lives and commented on the discussion that was taking place in the chatroom.
We also shared our opinions on Childhood Obesity as well answered the question of whether or not our children were snacking too much.
Next, we got into a really good discussion on teens (children in general) and having an open conversation/relationship with them. We discussed a teen suicide pact and also sexting amongst teenagers.

Have I piqued your interest yet? If so, then listen below!

Jael's Updates...

2010-03-10T16:27:00.000-05:00

I’ve been M.I.A for a few days and I’m playing catch up so what better way to keep all my lovely readers informed and just write an update post. So, first ad foremost I did go to Baltimore, MD last weekend for Bloggy Boot Camp with The SITS Girls and I had a great time connecting with everyone that I talk to online. It was funny how everyone didn’t really know someone until they used their blog name or twitter ID. Even though I would introduce myself as Jen it wasn’t until I handed out my postcard that everyone actually said “Oh, I know you” I thought that was pretty funny! There were some bloggers that were friends and lived in close proximity of each other and knew each other well prior to boot camp. It was also good to see how you can connect with someone in your local community at a conference and build a relationship that you didn’t know prior to bloggy boot camp.

The topics that we covered were very informative from branding yourself, to blogger vs. wordpress and search engine optimization etc. I left bloggy boot camp feeling like I was going to revamp my whole blog, and utilize all the information I learned which I am in the process of doing… so pay attention! One day really soon you’re going to come to the site and not recognize it. I haven’t forgotten about my ASSets post, I do need to finish my thoughts on why I had everyone voting on their ASSets! I will have that done hopefully by Friday. If you haven't voted on your ASSets please Read This Post. A new project that I am privileged to be apart of is the new Radio Talk Show: “When The Diva’s Talk” with Host Penny Pinching Diva and Co- hosts Cocoamommy and myself (Jael) a.k.a Jen! If you haven’t tuned in I have recap posts available that you can go to and listen. We cover sizzling topics from relationships, to current events and great interviews! We’re LIVE every Sunday evening at 4:00pm EST also visit our site When The Diva's Talk! That’s all for now…
Ciao!

March 7th Radio Show: OSCARS TALK, CHILDHOOD OBESITY, TEEN SUICIDE & RADICAL PARENTING

2010-03-06T21:21:00.000-05:00

I'm too excited about this Sunday's radio show. Regular host (@PPDiva) is bringing back her two regular co-hosts Alanda (@cocoamommy) and myself Jen (@JaelDesignsInc) and we have another roundtable discussion that you won't want to miss. This weeks topics are varied and all VERY interesting. We can guarantee that when you come to listen to this weeks radio show there will be something to pique everyone's interest and keep everyone talking in the chatroom.

We are coming to you with a fresh, new design and a coinciding website to go with the radio show soon.

If you are interested in being a regular contributing writer to the soon-to-be WhenTheDivasTalk.com online magazine for women be on the lookout for more information to come this week.

This Weeks Show Topics:

Oscars Talk
- Disney's Princess & The Frog gets a nomination.
- Nominations that we are excited about and our predictions.
Child Support: How Much is Too Much?
Childhood Obesity
- Our Kids Are Snacking Too Much
Teen Suicide Pact
Sexting Amongst Teens
Radical Parenting
- Can Parents Go Too Far

If you are looking for a fun and exciting way to spend two hours on Sunday, then please tune in to “When The Diva Talks.” Come out to the chatroom and show your support.

How do you listen?

Registration is easy:

Create a free account at Blog Talk Radio.
Once you are registered, go to When The Diva Talks. (That’s my radio show page.)
Click on Add to Friends. (Doing this will give you a 1 hour reminder to your email before the show starts.)
Tune in on Sunday at 4pm EST to the live show.

Spicy Beef Stir- Fry

2010-03-04T17:26:00.004-05:00

I am so happy that I just inherited a brand new stainless steel Wok which doubles as a steamer to do my veggies or what ever else comes to mind! I know how to cook a variety of Asian Recipes but, I will invest in a Chinese Food Cook Book because I'm going to make good use of my new Wok. I'm going to apologize from now, if I start bombarding you with a bunch of Stir- Fry recipes. I can't wait to make some Lo Mein. I love noodle dishes!

Here's a great recipe...

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb steak, sliced 3 inch x 1/3 inch

cross section
1/2 inch fresh ginger, finely choped,

or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
5 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. rice wine
2 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. ground Szechwan pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 yellow onion, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup chopped brocolli
1 cup carrots, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 cup mushroom caps

For separate onion marinade:

1/2 yellow onion, cut in 1 inch pieces
4 tsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. granulated sugar
2 tsp. sesame oil
Sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS:

Place the sliced beef in a bowl with the ginger, soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, sugar, Szechwan pepper, salt and the half onion. Mix thouroughly. Let the meat stand in the marinade at least 20 minutes, then add the vegetables. In a seperate bowl, mix the additional soy sauce, granulated sugar and sesame oil. Add the other half onion.

Heat the wok over high heat. Add oil. When the oil is ready to cook, add the meat, marinade and vegetables. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the meat is firm. Add the onions and the additional marinade. Cook a minute to a minute and a half more. If desired to thicken sauce mix, 1 tbsp. corn starch with 2 tbsp. Water. Add to wok and cook down. Add sesame seeds. Serve over rice.

Appeared in print on 2/24/10

Is It Tuesday AGAIN...

2010-03-02T11:57:00.000-05:00

It's that time AGAIN! Well, let me just say that I haven't had a post on Tuesday yet that didn't involove me talking about a motorist that pissed me off! I've just come to terms with the fact that I have a lot of people that just shouldn't be on the road in my city. I was born and raised in New York and YES, I have raod rage. When you relocate from New York City to a southern suburban city. The driving is completely different. Needless to say... I'll be motorist bashing every week! Hop on over to SupahMommy and link up! We do this every Tuesday!

"When The Diva Talks" Radio Recap

2010-03-01T00:49:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of being a guest co-host on Penny Pinching Divas Blog Talk Radio Show "When The Diva Talks" with two wonderful women and I enjoyed myself so much I had to share this experience with you. I had never thought about Blog Talk Radio until now. I had a ball!

This radio show was TOO much fun! I had so much fun co-hosting it with Alanda of Cocoa Mommy and host Shynea of Penny Pinching Diva. My description cannot do it justice, so you will have to tune in and follow suit.

Show Notes:

Follow along with the show. Click on the links as we discuss the topics to keep up with what's going on.

00:00 Announcements By Host Shynea (@PPDiva)
01:40 Alanda (@cocoamommy) introduces herself.
02:32 Jen (@JaelDesignsInc) introduces herself.
04:30 Toyota defense might rescue jailed Minnesota man.
14:20 Middle School Matchmaking: read about it on Execumama's blog.
19:30 Teenage pregnancy, my opinion and MTVs 16 & Pregnant.
40:30 Reality TV: Why are we fascinated by reality shows: Do they go too far? Where should they draw the line?
We discuss Big Brother, Flavor of Love, For the Love of Ray J and The Real Housewives of Atlanta
52:17 Alanda's brother calls in and joins the chat on Reality TV.
58:00 19 Kids & Counting, The Duggars: Should we judge this couple?
69:00 Whitney Houston's concert debacle: Should she have made a comeback?
76:50 The Octomom's recent appearance on The View: Is she really all there? Does her elevator go all of the way up?

I hope you enjoy the show! Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Measure your ASSets

2010-02-25T17:05:00.000-05:00

Ladies , today this post is a survey that will lead into a future blog post within the next day or two taking your answers into consideration. Take a look at the picture, which happens to be an actual ad in a local paper that I picked up and scanned in. How does the ad make you feel? What are your initial thoughts? I'll share my first thoughts with you in my follow up post. Until then, take the survey and measure your ASSets!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

It's Post It Note Tuesday...

2010-02-23T13:06:00.001-05:00

Here we are again! It's funny when I started this I thought what could I possibly have to say on a weekly basis, I'm going to run out of things to gripe about or praise and you know what... this is week #3 and I haven't! Someone or something manages to piss me off quite frequently and I have my share of good news to spread. Lol! before I would just bottle up the drama and get stressed about it. Now, I tell all of you and feel somewhat relieved after I've had my mini tempur tantrum and it feels good! Join in on all the fun over at Supah Mommy's Place!

Check out Sarah Maizes in her Mommalogue about MILF! If you don't know what a MILF is then, you'll have a good idea after watching the Mommalogue. She's hysterical, witty, and you'll be in stiches watching this! Here's another link in case the one on the post it isn't an active link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJ8PL6OxxI Enjoy!

Tiger, What Are You Thinking...

2010-02-21T14:03:00.001-05:00

This month’s cover of Vanity Fair with the CHEETAH on it made his whole situation worse. The timing of this cover couldn’t have been any poorer, not to mention that I honestly am not used to seeing Tiger look like this. He definitely should have gone with a button up collar shirt, argyle sweater vest, khaki’s and some nice shoes. Yes, the preppy look because this thugged out look isn’t working for him. Not a good look Tiger!

First and foremost I’d like to say that this whole Tiger Woods scandal/ controversy are so yesterday’s news. Yes, like the kitty litter! I am so tired of hearing about this on so many levels. I didn’t even care to hear his public apology because first and foremost he invited who he wanted to invite to the press conference and secondly he just issued a statement not, wanting to deal with the media’s questions. So, why set up a press conference in the first place? He could have issued that apology from his personal webcam live from the privacy of his home and called it a day! (Or something along those lines) I also don’t believe he owes the world an explanation for his indiscretions. After all it is between him and Elin. I believe that everyone is entitled to their privacy but, when you are a high profile celebrity you kind of forfeit that because of your social status. Needless to say, all his skeletons went flying out his closet and now he’s trying to get them back where they belong, 6ft. under the ground. Now all his business is publicized and it’s an addiction!

I am driven to believe that his public apology wasn’t sincere. After reading all the articles and tweets about this situation, I broke down and watched Tiger’s apology. The first thing I noticed was that he was reading from a sheet of paper. Umm… Why do you have to read an apology that should be coming genuinely from your heart from paper? I mean couldn’t you have had your publicist get a teleprompter for you so that you’d look like you actually were sorry? Bottom line was him asking the media to stop stalking his family that he acknowledged his mistakes, and is now getting help, he’s sorry to his family, friends, and business partners and last but not least there was no domestic dispute between him and Elin. Whatever! Women are emotional, we get hurt and react. We may not even realize what we’ve done depending on the severity of the situation until it’s over. We are entitled to our “Waiting to Exhale Moments” when we are mad as hell! So, if she did go after him with the golf club and bust the windows out of the Escalade… She was blowing off steam! I’m not saying that it makes it right, I’m just saying that if she was reacting emotionally to finding out her husband was unfaithful well, I’m not surprised.

Men have been cheating for decades and we need to realize that nothing has really changed with times accept they try to get sneakier at doing it and they’re so dumb they get caught anyway! It can be as simple as using a credit card to pay for a hotel room, lipstick on the collar, I’m working late excuse and let’s not forget the infamous cell phone drama! New age Social Networking has made it even worse with LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace ect. Can you believe Lawyers are using Facebook messages in divorce court as evidence! I know that men get stuck on stupid when they have an erection but, I can’t imagine all the blood from the BIG, BIG, BIG head going into the little, little, little head so there must be some left over in the big head right? I mean seriously! This statement doesn’t exclude women either. Women do cheat as well but, men do it a lot more and this isn’t about us today…

Random thought... this cheating gene that they are talking about is a bunch of B.S. to me. This will definitely be explored and challenged in a later post. All in all, I hope that Tiger does what he needs to in order to salvage his marriage and maintain his family. At the end of the day he’s a role model, international sports figure, celebrity in his own right and a business man but, you take that all away and he’s still a human being just like the rest of us.

National Pancake Day

2010-02-17T16:16:00.000-05:00

Celebrate National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. IHOP restaurants nationwide will offer you one free short stack, which are three of their delicious buttermilk pancakes. All they ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network or other local charities in your community.

The first National Pancake Day was in 2006 and they raised 300,000 that first year. Since then they’ve made great progress raising more money than the year before. IHOP has raised more than 3.25 million to support Children’s Miracle Network along with other local charities. This year the goal is to raise 1.75 million which will put them at 5,000,000 in five years since the National Pancake Day Program began. For more information on National Pancake Day or The Children's Miracle Network, head on over to IHOP’s Website

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-02-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

Here we are again! It's been a whole week and I've been M.I.A. for part of it. I went to New York for a few days and just returned home today. I didn't post at all or tweet that much while I was on my mini vacation. I tend to travel home quite frequently and always have a ton of fun with family and friends. I can't forget shopping! I love to shop in New York! Okay, if you want in on Post It Note Tuesdays... Head on over to Supah Mommy and get started. Don't forget to link up! Here's what I have to say today!

Hot Spiced Pineapple Tea*

2010-02-12T12:09:00.001-05:00

Pineapples are one of my favorite fruits! I always have pineapple wedges in my refrigerator and always have a can of DOLE® Pineapple juice. I'll make Pina Coladas and several other recipes using DOLE® Pineapple juice. I just discovered this tea recipe that I haven't even tried yet so, if you love pineapples and peppermint we can try this together.

Prep time is: 10 min.
Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 can (46 oz.) DOLE® Pineapple Juice
1/4 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks, broken
2 peppermint tea or mint medley herb tea bags

Directions:
Combine pineapple juice, honey and cinnamon in large saucepan.
Bring to boil for one minute.
Add tea bags, steep 2 to 5 minutes. Discard tea bags.

*Nutritional Facts based on recipe
Fat Free
Saturated Fat Free
Low Sodium
Good Source of Vitamin A
Rich in Vitamin C

You can find this recipe and other great recipes that have pineapples among various fruits and veggies over on the Dole Website.

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-02-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

This is my first Post It Note Tuesday Link up with Supah Mommy and I'm loving it already! I'll be participating in this link up weekly for a daily dose of WHOOSAH or toVENT! It's amazing how many times I've caught myself mumbling under my breath or I reserve the right to speak because I know nothing but filth will spew out of my mouth! Well, this is awesome! I'm loving that I can say what I want without feeling guilty or having to apologize for it. Say what I have to say, then relax, relate and release! Whoo!

I'm A Kiva Blogathon WINNER

2010-02-05T14:20:00.000-05:00

I was one of the chosen winners of the Kiva Blogathaon that was hosted by Uprinting.
Here's My Original Post

I just made a loan to someone in Cambodia using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Sopheap Norn in Cambodia. They still need another $700.00 to complete their loan request of $1,000.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Sopheap Norn too:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=174010

It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a
sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

Thanks!

What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:

'Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.'
-- BBC

'If you've got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you've now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.'
-- CNN Money

'Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.'
-- The Wall Street Journal

'An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity...All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.'
-- Entrepreneur Magazine

Disclaimer: Part of this message is an automatic generated message after you've made a loan through Kiva, these are not all my personal words. Kiva would like you to spread the word about the organization and invite others to join. So instead of sending several individual emails, I posted it here!

Sticker/ Label Giveaway!

2010-02-05T12:49:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Pricilla of The Maaaaa of Pricilla!

She was #9 chosen via Random.org

I have an opportunity to host this Sticker/ Label Giveaway for Uprinting!

Giveaway Prize:
250 Stickers/Labels for One (1) lucky winner

Sizes: 2” x 3.5”, 2” x 4”, or 3” x 3”
Paper: 70lb Label Matte
Specifications: Full color front, blank back; 4 Business Day printing
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

These stickers can be used as Business Promotional Stickers, Stickers for any product you may sell, Bumper Sticker with your favorite quote , Baby Shower Stickers for keepsakes, Wedding Sticker Labels or anything else that comes to mind! You can use these stickers in so many different ways... I can go on & on!

One Lucky winner will receive 250 Stickers!

*As an added bonus I too will be receiving 250 Stickers
for hosting this giveaway!

Links to UPrinting:
Custom Stickers

Label Printing

Contest Rules!

1.) Please leave a comment sharing how you will use your Sticker Labels. (1 entry)

For additional entries:

2.) Become a Fan on Facebook (2 entries)
and leave a comment letting me know you did.

3.) Tweet this giveaway (2 entries)
and leave me a comment with a link to your tweet.
* you can tweet once daily for additional entries

4.) Follow my blog (4 entries)
and leave me a comment letting me know you did.

5.) Blog about this giveaway (5 entries)
and leave me a comment with the link to your post

Good Luck!

Giveaway will be posted until the end of the month, winner will be chosen randomly via random.org 2/28/10 11:59 PM EST

* Please include your email in comments if you have a private profile or if it isn't displayed on your blog.
Thank you!

USS New York

2010-02-03T10:03:00.000-05:00

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists.. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.'
The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

Blog Design Giveaway!

2010-02-02T16:45:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Mom of Many from over at "Raising A Quiver Full"! She was #48 chosen via random.org

Jael Custom Designs is honored to be hosting a giveaway for Jessica over at
So Stylilized

Jessica is a happily married mommy of two and when she’s not serving god first and foremost or on mommy/ wife duty which is a 24/7 job I know…
You can find her creating unique blog designs.

Jessica is building her portfolio and is graciously offering free services for a limited time. Her queue is completely full for 2010 and she’s already started a waiting list for 2011. HOWEVER, one lucky person will have a chance to win a beautiful unique blog design compliments of
So Stylilized.

So here are the Contest Requirements: They’re quite easy!
*You must be on a blogger platform

Please go over to So Stylilized and take a look around and follow
Jessica’s blog (mandatory entry)

Please come back, and leave a comment letting me know
That you’ve followed

That’s all to it!!!!!

Do you want to increase your chances of winning? Okay!
For additional entries you can:

Follow my blog if you aren’t already following (3 entries)
Leave a comment for each entry & let me know you did

Fan me on Jael Custom Designs on Facebook
for an additional (2 entries)
Leave a comment for each entry & let me know you did

Grab both our buttons and post on your blog (2 entries)
Leave a comment for each entry & let me know you did

Last but not least… Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway daily for
an additional entry each day!
Please comment with the (link) letting me know you did each time.

Tweet can say something like this:
Win a unique Blogger Platform Blog Design! @JaelDesignsInc #Giveaway and
Enter at http://bit.ly/bowgcS {Pls RT}
Don’t know how to get your link on twitter?

TO LINK TO YOUR TWEET: Under your tweet, you’ll see a time since the tweet was sent. That is a link. Click on it, then copy the URL from the address bar

GOOG LUCK!
The Giveaway ends on Wednesday February 17, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Winner will be emailed and notified on how to proceed! Thank You!

*On another note, Jessica will be starting a monthly MeMe for those who want to jump in! Once a month those participating can post a monthly summary of your happenings for that month. You can include photos, any trips you've taken, and whatever you may want to share.

I Love You But, You Can Keep Your Germs...

2010-01-31T00:44:00.002-05:00

Why do people knowingly go into public places or attend functions knowing that they are sick and germ carriers. This is definitely a pet peeve I have and it irritates the crap out of me! These are a few issues that I have and I’m trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings or have them feel as though I’m disrespecting them but, in the end I feel disrespected!

Point & Case #1: I have a girlfriend who I get along with very well, we have children that are around the same ages and they play well together, however every time we get together her toddler is sick. I’m not exaggerating! The baby is always battling a cold, on antibiotics for some type of viral infection and she will still pop up at my home or come to a gathering with a sick baby. Now, I have asked why the baby is frequently sick and said in so many words maybe you should have stayed home but, she is always exposing this child to other people. There are two separate occasions that my toddler and I got sick behind her daughter and I was pissed. If you know your child is sick, please stay home! The other day she popped up at my home and my hubby answered the door and, there she is again with a sick baby, nose running and just irritable. I try to get hubby’s attention so, he doesn’t invite her in because I know this is just going to expose our household to these germs and he doesn’t acknowledge me so here she is in my home. She stays for an hour or so long enough for her child to touch everything play with my kids and spew germs. Yes, I think like that! Here it is a few days later and guess who’s not feeling so hot? Now, I’ve tried to be nice and I’m at the point of total alienation. Stay away from me; I don’t want you in my house when you or your child is not healthy. Why would you expose us to this? Now, there is me, hubby and (4) children. When I am not feeling well, I will alienate everyone and try to get well. I tell the kids to stay away from me and go to their dad for anything. Why get them sick? I’m just going to end up taking care of them, and then we’re going to recycle germs. Yuck! I call in to work when I’m sick so I don’t spread my crud and then return when I am better. I think everyone should think like this.

Point & Case #2: I have my toddler in a home daycare facility. I chose it over a commercial center because I wanted him to have more attention and I knew if there weren’t a lot of children the less likely he’d be to get sick frequently. I hear so many stories from my girlfriends that have their children in large daycare centers and I don’t understand how or why a provider would let a sick child remain in daycare. I know things have gotten a little stricter with the H1N1 flu and if your child has a fever they are sent home immediately, this is in schools as well. Every virus has an incubation period before the symptoms start to show so I do know that there are times you won’t know if you or your child has been exposed to a viral bacteria but, when symptoms are clearly stated why drop them off at daycare to start a daycare pandemic. I mean really! The worse place to send a sick child is school. They are exposing their germs to other children constantly. They wipe their runny nose with their hands and don’t wash them then touch a toy that another child will put in their mouth. You see where I am going with this… Now everyone in the toddler room within days of each other is sick. I can’t stand it!

So, my personal experience was that a little girl at my son’s daycare was sick and it was taken lightly. She had a runny nose and had spit up once when mom dropped her off. Now, when I dropped my son off at daycare I didn’t know any of this. I picked him up later on that evening and I had actually seen the little girl and asked about her. She looked really miserable and lethargic and just sick, poor baby! Well at this point is when I find out she’s been sick and had actually not eaten much of anything all day, had some diarrhea and vomiting and had slept mostly. I was immediately alarmed that my son had been around her all day. Now the provider did say that they were in separate rooms mostly but, you can’t control air borne viruses. Within a twenty four hour time frame my son was vomiting with diarrhea to the point we ended up taking him to the children’s Hospital because he tore his esophagus from gagging so much and his vomit was streaked with blood. I almost lost it! Now within twenty four hours of the baby getting sick my second youngest got sick, then the oldest and then my middle son and last but not lease me and hubby. My whole family got sick because one person didn’t keep their child at home. Working parents are going to have to take time off sometimes because of ill children. I know times are hard and everyone needs to make money, and sick days and vacation days can be scarce but, damn! I was livid!

I am an overly protective mom and I have OCD tendencies. I walk with hand sanitizer in my purse, Lysol Spray and Clorox wipes are always within my reach and if I could happily live in a bubble I would! My children are taught to wash their hands frequently and have personal bottles of hand sanitizer in their backpacks. I teach my children to cover their mouth when they cough and turn away in the bend of their arm when they sneeze to help eliminate the spread of germs. I also tell them to stay away from children at school who may be sick and if their sniffling, sneezing, and coughing to tell them to cover their mouth and wash their hands or better yet move away from them. I have a health insurance with a co pay which saves me from paying a full price for a doctor’s visit. This may not be the case for some people and it can be costly. I have very strong feelings about this, what’s your take on this?

Carol’s Daughter “The Magical Beauty Collection” Product Review

2010-01-27T11:14:00.001-05:00

Carol’s Daughter “The Magical Beauty Collection” is a new line of children’s products inspired by Disney’s newest princess (Tiana) from The Princess and the frog. This line consists of shampoo, conditioner, hair detangler and bubble bath. I have two daughters that love to pamper themselves, so this was a piece of cake! We set up two separate days to have a spa day. One day was for the bubble bath and the other was to have a hair salon day.

The bubble bath review from the diva’s mouths to your ears…
“The bubble bath smelled really good, and I liked that it was really sudsy and bubbly! It made my skin feel soft, nice and smooth. The scent smelled really nice and refreshing. It was easy to rinse off and made my skin feel really clean after my bath.”

Mom’s bubble bath review…
The packaging of this product is very well designed with little quotes on it for your little princess to enjoy. “Sharing means caring” is what’s written on the bubble bath. I really like the fact that Carol’s Daughter uses natural ingredients in their products, and I don’t have to worry about any harsh chemicals on my girl’s skin. The scent was really refreshing and it lasted well after my girls got out of the bathtub. They would breeze by me, and I could still smell the scent on them and it's not overpowering. It’s just like after you take a fresh load of laundry out the dryer and you've used a fragrant fabric softener sheet, you just want to keep sniffing! The bubble bath left their skin feeling soft, and moisturized. Overall I believe the product did its job and left my girls skin clean and smelling fresh. I have no negative input for this product and would recommend it to anyone for their princess (s).

The Shampoo & Conditioner Review
This is what one little diva had to say!
“The shampoo felt very good and gave a tingling sensation when washing hair. It lathered up really well and rinsed out easily. The shampoo smelled really good and my hair felt clean after washing out the shampoo.”

“The conditioner felt really good and left my hair tangle free. I was able to comb straight through my hair with no problem. The conditioner rinsed out easily and left my hair feeling soft, silky, manageable and smelling good.”

Mom’s Shampoo & Conditioner Review
The shampoo and conditioner were packaged well, and quoted with “The beauty within” and “Inner shine”. I love reading inspirational quotes and with daughters who are into the arts and write poetry, I love when they have something positive to read and inspire their young minds. Again, I really love the fact that Carol’s Daughter uses natural ingredients in their products, which have been pediatrician tested and are paraben- free. The shampoo had a very fresh scent and lathered up really well, you didn’t have to use that much for it to do its job. It rinsed out very well and left my daughters hair feeling very clean, smelling fresh and manageable. The conditioner was a great follow up to the shampoo with its scent. You didn’t have to use a lot for it to leave her hair feeling soft, detangled and moisturized. It rinsed out with no problem and left no residue behind. We had a very good experience with “The Magical Beauty Collection” and I am confident it will leave your daughter feeling like a princess. It makes a great gift! It is a limited edition item, so go on over to Carol's Daughter Website and take a look before it's gone!

The princess and the frog is one of the BEST Disney movies I’ve seen in a while. My daughters and I were on the edge of our seats wondering what would happen next, with excitement while bursting with laughter the entire movie! Taking place in New Orleans Tiana takes you on a journey of following her and her fathers dreams of opening a restaurant, overcoming obstacles that try to get in her way ultimately to find love and have a happy ending while achieving her goal. The movie has some awesome characters and amazing music inspired by jazz, blues, and R & B that captures the ambiance of New Orleans. Tiana is the first African-American lead princess in a featured Disney animation. I can identify with the princess and what she is trying to do, being a entrepreneur myself I have worked hard, overcome obstacles that try to deter me and invested in myself to fulfill my dreams of being a business owner. I think the princess is a positive African-American image that young women of color can proudly look up to emulate. If this is a movie that you haven't seen... It's fun, very entertaining and overall is a good object lesson. I would recommend this movie to anyone. I had to see it twice!

*DISCLAIMER: This Review was sponsored by Blog Rollers Media These are me and my daughters honest opinions and we didn't receive any type of compensation to review these items. Visit The Blog Rollers Are you rollin'?

Warm up with some Beef Chili!

2010-01-22T13:40:00.000-05:00

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 lbs. lean chuck, ground
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1c. finely chopped onion
8-oz. tomato sauce
1 c. water
1 can beer (12 oz.)
3 tbsp. chili powder
2 tbsp. instant beef bouillon (or 6 cubes)
2 tbsp, cumin, ground
2 tsp. oregano leaves
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. coriander, ground
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp. hot sauce
1 tsp. cornmeal
1 tsp. flour
1 tsp. warm water

*Sour cream, chopped cilantro and shredded cheese for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

In a large saucepan, brown half of the grounded beef. Drain the fat and remove meat from pan. Brown the rest of the fat. Add garlic and onion, cook until tender.

Put the other half of the meat back into the pan. Add tomato sauce, black beans, water, beer, chili powder, bouillon, cumin, paprika, oregano, sugar, coriander, cocoa and hot sauce. Mix well.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer, covered, for 2 hours.

In a small bowl, stir together the cornmeal and flour, then add the warm water and mix well. Stir into chili and cook, covered, for an additional 20 minutes. Serve with sourcream, cilantro and cheese toppings.

Appeared In Print In The Independent Weekly on 1/6/10

Postcard Giveaway

2010-01-20T21:48:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Tricia from Luvs Jurn3

She was #6 Chosen via random.org

I have the opportunity to host this Postcard Giveaway for Uprinting!
They can be used as Baby Shower Invitations, Save The Dates, Thank You Cards, Greeting Cards or anything else that comes to mind. You can use these postcards however you see fit!

One Lucky winner will receive 100 postcards!

4x6 paper, 14pt card stock gloss, and Full Color both sides!
Sponsored blogger & the winner will pay shipping costs.

Contest will run until January 25th at 11:30 p.m. Winner will be chosen randomly by random.org

*As an added bonus I too will be receiving 100 postcards
for hosting this giveaway!

Links to UPrinting:
Uprinting Website

Uprinting Postcard Design Templates

Contest Rules!

1.) Please leave a comment sharing how you will use your postcards. (1 entry)

For additional entries:

2.) Become a Fan on Facebook (2 entries)
and leave a comment letting me know you did.

3.) Tweet this giveaway (2 entries)
and leave me a comment with your twitter ID.

4.) Follow my blog (4 entries)
and leave me a comment letting me know you did.

5.) Blog about this giveaway (5 entries)
and leave me a comment with the link to your post

Good Luck!

* Please include your email in comments if you have a private profile or if it isn't displayed on your blog.
Thank you!

Giving A Little Goes A Long Way

2010-01-19T15:54:00.002-05:00

Today I am going to share some information about Kiva. I’d never heard of this organization before Uprinting brought it to my attention. I am so fortunate to have learned about this organization and my eyes are truly open now to something that I never knew existed. Kiva is an organization that helps entrepreneurs all over the globe in other countries outside the US that are in poverty apply for loans and "WE" your everyday people get to lend as much or as little as we can to help. The loan will be repaid over a period of 6 to 12 months time. Once the loan has been repaid we can either withdraw our funds or relend to another person in need of some assistance. The American Dollar goes a long way in poverty stricken countries. Giving as little as $25.00 USD can mean a couple hundred or thousand dollars depending on which country it goes to and the money conversion rate. I truly understand how it can be starting up or expanding a business being an entrepreneur myself. You may not be in a position to get certain loans or you may not qualify for any at all due to any number of issues credit, collateral, financial history etc.

This is how the process works: Go onto to Kiva’s website and browse entrepreneur’s profiles, choose whom you’d like to help. Some people are very talented and may not have the money to start their business and may get the money through Kiva to become entrepreneurs. Maybe a particular person or craft sticks out to you. You then can start the process of lending the amount of money you would like to loan. You get updates and emails as to the repayment process and can even track repayments. It's a very doable and affordable option of assisting someone else to use their talent and achieve their financial goal. Nothing beats the feeling of being self sufficient in their community and growing and helping others. They will keep their agreement and repay the loan because they want to able to expand and may need to borrow again in the future; overall they want to be successful. I'm 99.9% sure they would want to keep a positive image. These entrepreneurs are serious about their loans and repaying them. This is a lucrative opportunity for them because they don't have any other means of starting up a business or getting necessary funding to expand if they are already established.

If you're amenable to financially assist these skilled artisans in need, I urge you to head on over to the site to learn more about this organization. I did and I am so inspired to start helping someone’s dream come true, and know that it’s helping them better their community. For more information go to Kiva's Wesite Also, check out the Blog Sponsorship Program brought to you by Uprinitng at Uprinting Blog Sponsorship Program it's a great community to meet other people and share interests, network and unite and blog for different causes.

I'm participating in the Uprinting Kiva Blogathon to spread awareness about Kiva and helping entrepreneurs in countries with a high poverty rates be successful in their endeavors.

He Says, She Says… The Round Table Toilet Paper Debate

2010-01-14T23:43:00.001-05:00

The Mrs.: I personally like the toilet paper to be in the over position. I find it easier to manage and it looks neater. I can’t stand when the paper is in the under position, especially when you need to use one hand and it’s nearly impossible to get it to tear properly. I also don’t like the fact that if someone uses the bathroom before you and leaves the next available piece of toilet paper facing the wall away from you and you have to spin the paper until the next sheet is available. Have some respect for the next toilet user! Not that I want you touching my piece of paper, but just tear it long enough to leave a small piece hanging so it’s easier for the next person.

The Mr.: It’s harder for our toddler to unravel the roll when it’s positioned under. He usually just tries to spin the roll until it starts to unravel but, it doesn’t in the under position. It would be different if he was pulling the actual paper, but he just spins the roll. When the paper is in the over position and he spins it forward within minutes all the toilet paper is unraveled on the bathroom floor. I feel the paper looks neater in the under position. As you can see my wife and I don’t see eye to eye on that part! I like the way you can just pull the exact amount that you need and tear it neatly. It works well for me.

The Sister: It’s over, because it’s easier to find the last sheet when it’s in that position. So, no matter how much you roll the toilet paper you’ll always finish in the same position. In the under position you’re always rolling it and it’s harder for you to find that last sheet. It’s like clear adhesive tape; you always want to know where you last left off. So you leave it marked or on the perforated edge so it’s easier to find and tear. There’s my two cents…

Mother Dearest: All the bathrooms in my home have the toilet paper in the over position. The paper is more visible when it’s over as opposed to it being under. It’s aesthetically more pleasing to the eyes and for all practical purposes, easier to grab and tear cleanly without jagged edges. When the paper doesn’t have good perforations it’s easier to use one hand as opposed to two. You don’t have that kind of maneuvering when it’s under because it rolls. I’m all for the one hand pull and tear especially if the other hand is occupied, or you need a free hand.

In closing, I’m a strong over the top believer, hands down!

Please give me your thoughts... Are you Team Over, or Team Under?
By commenting you'll be entered to win one of ten Cottonelle Gift Baskets.
Winners will be chosen randomly on January 29, 2010 from all enteries.

*This is a contest hosted by Mom Bloggers Club that I've entered
in an effort to win a month's worth of toilet paper.

Party, Party, Party Wednesday!!!

2010-01-13T01:32:00.002-05:00

MyHotComments

Today is my Pooh Bear's 2nd Birthday! Awww, he's a little man and growing up so fast. I've been party planning for the last couple of weeks and I settled on the Mdagascar: Escape 2 Africa theme. I have ordered all my decorations due to come in today, and my cake is ordered. I am still getting together the ideas for turning 3/4 of my 1st floor into a Jungle/ African Reserve. I have tons of stuffed animals that will be placed strategically throughout the party area. I am debating on ordering pizza or breaking out the grill and doing hot dogs and hamburgers. I will have the Madagascar movie playing during the party, and I have a few games lined up for the children to play. Toddler Bowling, Pin the tail on the Zebra, Karaoke, and I have a Pinata to name a few. I'm still putting on the finishing touches to bring my vision to life. If you have any suggestions, please share. I'm all ears! Party is on Saturday, and I'll share pictures next week.

Party Decorations

Pinata

Cake

(This isn't the actual cake I ordered)

Jael Custom Designs

Post It Note Tuesday

When The Diva's Talk... If you missed it, Let's Recap!

The topics that we covered, and got into really good conversation about, were:

Have I piqued your interest yet? If so, then listen below!

Jael's Updates...

March 7th Radio Show: OSCARS TALK, CHILDHOOD OBESITY, TEEN SUICIDE & RADICAL PARENTING

This Weeks Show Topics:

How do you listen?

Spicy Beef Stir- Fry

Is It Tuesday AGAIN...

"When The Diva Talks" Radio Recap

Show Notes:

Measure your ASSets

It's Post It Note Tuesday...

Tiger, What Are You Thinking...

National Pancake Day

Post It Note Tuesday

Hot Spiced Pineapple Tea*

Post It Note Tuesday

I'm A Kiva Blogathon *WINNER*

Sticker/ Label Giveaway!

Congrats to Pricilla of The Maaaaa of Pricilla!

USS New York

Blog Design Giveaway!

Congrats to Mom of Many from over at "Raising A Quiver Full"! She was #48 chosen via random.org

I Love You But, You Can Keep Your Germs...

Carol’s Daughter “The Magical Beauty Collection” Product Review

Warm up with some Beef Chili!

Postcard Giveaway

Congrats to Tricia from Luvs Jurn3

Giving A Little Goes A Long Way

He Says, She Says… The Round Table Toilet Paper Debate

Party, Party, Party Wednesday!!!

I'm A Kiva Blogathon WINNER