This post is actually very hard to write. I am sitting here, tears streaming down my face, as I try and find the words to say what I want to. I don't think any words in the English language would do justice to my Mother-In-Law, Suzanne. I first met Suzanne when I was 13. I was dating my now husband, who just happens to be her little boy. I remember being nervous going to his house. Meeting the parents is always nerve-wrecking, especially when you're an awkward teen. But the woman that I met was among the most kind-spirited, beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Suzanne was literally the perfect wife and the perfect mother. She was very June Cleaver-esque, and never had an unkind word to say about anyone or anything. (And if she did, she kept it to herself.) I was fortunate enough to be in her presence many times, and she was always making cookies, treats, and sandwiches for us. I remember she gave the best hugs and always had a smile on her face. Suzanne was very involved in her church, in her marriage, and in her family. She was literally the rock that held everyone together. She was active in her childrens' lives, was always there for them and did all she could to make every day special. She showered them with her love, with her wisdom, and with her unwavering faith. Whether it be trips to Disney and breakfast with Mickey, supporting her kids' sports teams or cheerleading, or trips to the family's summer house and lazy days on the beach on Lake Michigan, Suzanne made every day magical for her kids. She was the mother I want to be when I grow up. But the thing that really made Suzanne stand out in my mind was her genuine kindness and love for life. She was the type of person who would gladly give someone the shirt off of her own back if she felt she could make a difference. She was always there to listen if anyone had a problem, and she genuinely cared for those around her. Suzanne had true beauty and grace, which emanated from the inside out. Her laughter was infectious, and you just couldn't help but smile when you were around her.
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Okay, I know what you're thinking. I can hear you now: "Brandy, you're already married. Why are you featuring Bridal Jewelry?!" Yes, I have been married for almost 4 years to the love of my life. BUT-We never had a real wedding. We couldn't afford to at the time, so we had a very, very small ceremony at of all places, the Reverend's house. There were only 3 other people in attendance: My father-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my son, Kyle. I didn't have the flowers, I didn't wear the dress, and there was no big reception. Of course at the time, we didn't mind. All we wanted was to get married. However, the lack of "real" wedding has bothered me some over the years, and we are planning to have a vow renewal ceremony within the next year. While we may not have the budget to have the Kim Kardashian wedding,(which incidentally may not be a bad thing, considering how brief Kim K's marriage ended up being) this time we plan to have more family and friends present, have a reception of sorts, and you guessed it: I will be wearing the dress. First I have to FIND the dress, but that's an entirely different post altogether! One thing a bride wants on her wedding day is to feel beautiful and glamorous like a princess. We women go to great lengths to do so. From having the perfect updo to the right make-up and manis, and of course the all-important dress, a bride wants to look her best on that special day. After all, you only have one wedding day! (Unless you're like me and have had 2. I'll chalk my first marriage up to being young and incredibly stupid,haha.) Aside from the dress, hair, nails, and make-up, there is another wedding essential that totally completes the look: Bridal jewelry! I have been scouring the internet looking for beautiful, yet affordable bridal jewelry. That's when I stumbled across Anna Bellagio. This online retailer offers a huge selection of absolutely stunning bridal jewelry and accessories that are sure to make any woman feel like a princess. They even offer Prom Jewelry, Flower Girl Jewelry, and even great options for Bridesmaids! While the look of these pieces is celebrity-worthy, the prices are fantastic making them affordable for those of us who don't live in Beverly Hills. (Which let's face it, is most of us!) If your kids are anything like mine, they LOVE fruit. Okay...I lied. My 2 year old actually hates fruit for some odd reason and only eats it if it's mixed into other foods...But my 1 year old and my 11 year old are die-hard fruit fans! One of their favorites? Clementines! Contrary to popular belief, Clementines are not simply miniature oranges. No, siree! The origins of Clementine Mandarins are shrouded in mystery. Some fruit historians – yes, there are such people – say it was Father Clement, an Algerian monk, who first discovered this unique hybrid and named it Clementino. Others claim the Clementine Mandarin originated in China. Whatever its origins, we know this: The Clementine Mandarin first came to the United States in 1909, to Florida. Five years later, the first saplings arrived at the Citrus Research Center in Riverside, California, where their production flourished. Their reputation soon spread. Fast-forward to the year 2000, when Sun Pacific and Paramount Citrus Association introduced the Cuties-brand California Mandrian. Grown in the sunny San Joaquin Valley, Cuties undergo extensive quality control inspections, guaranteeing the freshest, tastiest Clementines around! California Cuties are two varieties of mandarins: Clementine Mandarins and Murcott Mandarins. Cuties have several distinct characteristics that make them the perfect anytime, anywhere snack. Unlike other Mandarins or oranges, they are small enough for the littlest of hands to hold, completely free of seeds or any other "gunk" that will have to be spit-out creating a yucky, sticky mess to clean up, and they are also easy to peel. That's right! Kids can peel these babies all on their own, helping to foster a sense of pride and independence. On top of that, they're super sweet! No more tart, sour oranges. Cuties give kids the sweet taste they want in fruit. Heck, they may not even realize that Cuties are nutritious! (That's always a plus in my home. As soon as I say something is nutritious, my oldest son goes running!) As the proud mom of two babies...Okay, perhaps I should say toddlers at this point, one thing that can get awfully expensive FAST is baby food. Especially if you're like me and choose organic foods whenever possible! While I do buy some prepackaged foods, I also love to make my own baby food. There are a ton of advantages to making homemade baby food. For one, when making baby food in the comfort of your own kitchen, YOU are in complete control over what goes into the food you're preparing. No need to worry about fillers, chemicals, or preservatives. Another reason making homemade baby food is such a great idea is because it's very economical. Buying fresh ingredients and making large batches of food is a lot cheaper than buying prepackaged foods. And my favorite reason for making my own baby foods? I can get creative! My babies have pretty sophisticated palates, and I love exploring new flavor combinations. My daughter, who is about to turn 2 years old, loves spicy foods. (Weird, isn't it?!) I have actually made my own baby food using mild chilis, chicken, and veggie purees. My son, Xander, who is about to turn 1, loves Italian classics like spaghetti in meat sauce. He especially likes it when I make a puree of Roma tomatoes, ricotta cheese, spinach, and a hint of garlic. Yum! I have been making all of my baby food my hand...So naturally, I have been drooling over The Original Baby Bullet for quite some time now. Luckily, I will have the chance to review this amazing system very soon! With two toddlers in the house, one thing that has always been a sanity-saver is having a good baby carrier. I happen to love baby-wearing, and feel that it makes for a happier, more emotionally secure child. It also definitely helps to strengthen the parent-child bond while allowing Mom or Dad to perform everyday functions, like washing dishes or even vacuuming! I have tried many different baby carriers in the past, and I have found that I much prefer a structured carrier to a sling or wrap style carrier. I just feel that structured carriers provide much more stability and support. Let's face it: Safety is the most important factor when considering baby-wearing. A problem I have faced with many different carriers is lack of lumbar support. Baby carriers without added support can leave a parent with awful shoulder and back pain. Carrying around even a newborn for extended periods of time can put a lot of strain on the body. When my oldest child, who is now 11, was a baby, I used the Snugli. I was in constant pain, since this carrier offered absolutely no lumbar support. Luckily, baby carriers have come a long way, and there are some amazing options available now that are ergonomically designed to be safe, secure and comfortable for both baby and parent. (Hallelujia!) Recently, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to try the Beco Butterfly2 Baby Carrier in their absolutely stunning Tyler print. I absolutely LOVE this print, since it's perfect for my family. I have a 2 year old girl as well as an 11 month old boy, and the Tyler is beautifully gender neutral. I've always loved prints in baby carriers, but have found that many are too feminine to wear my son in. I thought I was doomed to have to use basic, solid colors until I discovered the fabulous prints that Beco has to offer. I mean, take a look! The Tyler print features a gorgeous leaf print in soothing shades of blue, gray, and white on a sleek black background. Not only is it very pretty and fashion-forward, it is also neutral enough for parents of little boys to wear. I think it has an almost tropical feel to it! Take a look! See this sweet, seemingly innocent little face? This is my 11 month old son, Xander. Sure, he may look adorable....But underneath the handsome exterior lays a not-so-pleasant alter ego.... This cute little guy is known in my home as "The Poop Monster." This child is always pooping, and it is the worst smelling, most rancid baby poo I have ever had to deal with. (And I have had to deal with a LOT of babies in my 30 years!) Being a cloth-diapering family, Xander's explosions have posed a bit of an unpleasant dilemma. For one, it's really gross having to spray his messes away. The other problem? Well, like I said, his poo STINKS to high heaven! Since we don't throw our diapers away once they're soiled, this leaves us with the task of finding away of effectively storing these diapers between wash loads without making the house smell like something died. No, that is not an exaggeration. Not at all. Don't believe me? Change my little man's diapers for a day and you'll see what I mean! So naturally, we are always in need of a good wet bag. When I was chosen to be a part of the Incredimoms blogger for the brand new cloth-diaper brand, Incredibum, I don't know if I was more excited about reviewing their gorgeous, bamboo diapers or their wet bags. Yep, wet bags get me excited. Haven't heard of Incredibum yet? You will! As a matter of fact, I will have more upcoming reviews and giveaways of these products, so stay tuned! Let me tell you a little about Incredibum. This company offers a great selection of bamboo cloth diapers as well as must-have diapering accessories like bamboo wipes and of course, wet bags! All of their products come in a fun range of attractive colors and are specifically designed to be effective and durable, all while remaining eco-friendly as well as economical. I have some lucky winners to announce!
Uncommon Goods: Lisa W. Silk: Sandy H. SmartKlean: Hannah Congrats, ladies! I have e-mailed you all and you have 48 hours to claim your prizes! Thanks so much to everyone who entered. Be sure to check back for more awesome giveaways, including something sparkly! Yes, I was VERY pregnant here! As the mom of 3 crazy, wonderful kids, I take a LOT of photos. And I do mean a lot! Every month, I wouldn't be at all surprised if I capture thousands of images of my children. One great way to incorporate these priceless memories into great holiday gifts is through scrapbooking! I have to admit, I have zero artistic ability. I am lucky if I can make a stick figure look like more than well, a stick! That's why I never really got into making scrapbooks from scratch. I wouldn't know where to begin! My craftiness exists only in cross-stitching, which I am actually quite good at. Beyond that, I am hopeless. I don't think I would be very good at coming up with themes and page designs for a scrapbook. This is something I have always wanted to do, though. Not only do scrapbooks make fabulous gifts, they are also a great way to capture and display memories in today's digital world. A scrapbook can be cherished for generations. Well now, thanks to My Memories Suite, even I, who lacks any and all crafting ability, can create beautiful scrapbooks, calendars, greeting cards and more with their easy to use digital software! My Memories is a digital scrapbooking program that allows the user to create so many wonderful items. The software is easy to download and install, and is very user friendly, even for those who are lacking any crafting ability like me! I am the mother of a child who gets bullied for being "different." It is heartbreaking to see my child cry because other kids are cruel to him. My son is 11 years old and shouldn't have to worry about anything other than being the best person he can be. My son is kind, gentle, talented, empathetic, compassionate, funny....But he is also struggling with his own identity. Other boys like to call him names. Every. Single. Day. Here are some examples of the abuse my son faces every single day. He is called: Gay....Faggot....Queer...Sissy...and worse...They like to beat him down emotionally. He has even been physically assaulted in the past....all because he isn't like THEM. As a mother, I do not care what my son's sexual orientation happens to be. He is my child. He is worthwhile. And he is EXACTLY the way he was meant to be. All that matters to me is his happiness, however that may come. When I saw this video made my a very courageous teen named Jonah, it really hit home for me. His raw emotion, vulnerability, and brutal honesty made me, as the mother of a bullied child, cry like a baby. Please take a moment to watch this powerful video: Bullying is a REAL epidemic among our kids. It happens EVERY day. Sometimes, a child may not express their pain. It's hard to be vulnerable. It's hard to let those feelings out. It's hard to go through every day feeling like an outcast. It's OUR job as parents to let our kids know that it's never acceptable to bully someone else. Everyone is different, and no one deserves to be terrorized for their differences. We all have worth. We all have unique gifts. Let's become part of the solution by practicing kindness in our homes and being a positive example for our kids. There are too many Jonah's out there, silently suffering...I know...My son is one of them. Please share this video. We can make a difference.
Resources: http://www.stopbullying.gov http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/ Okay, so anyone who knows me knows I am a bit of a smartass. I have a wicked sense of humor and nothing ever really shocks me. Well, not usually, anyway. So naturally, when I got the opportunity to review the funny, sometimes offensive tees from Five Finger Tees, I jumped at the chance. This company is awesome, and has a wide variety of tees to choose from, both mild and a little wild. Five Finger Tees offers a ton of great categories to choose from, too! I love their funny tees, the movie tees, and of course, the offensive tees, too! They even have some great Geek shirts as well as Cult Classic tees. And priced at less than $10, their tees make a wonderful gift idea for that hard to shop for person on your holiday gift list. I chose the I Have The Body Of A God tee, seen above, for my review. I have some body image issues, and thought this was a good way to poke a little fun at myself. After spending the better part of the past 2 years pregnant, I got used to having the Buddha Belly! Of course that's long gone and I am back to a healthy 125-130lbs. Still, I thought this shirt was absolutely hilarious, and since I have lingering self-esteem issues, I found it to be a great way to lighten up and be able to laugh at myself. I am ALWAYS thinking I look too fat, and I know this is ridiculous. So when I am having an "Ugly day", I can put on this tee and laugh it off. Humor is one of the best ways to turn that frown upside down, in my opinion! My tee arrived quickly, and the first thing I noticed is the quality of the garment. It was a nice, heavy duty cotton, and the colors were vibrant and fun. The image on the tee was also very well done. The folks at Five Finger Tees don't skimp on quality! Their shirts are professionally screen-printed in the USA. They don't use iron-ons or heat transfers ever! Their tees can even be customized and are available in several different color options. Here are some of my favorites: |
PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
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