Celebrate Perfect Imperfection This Holiday Season! @MinuteMaid_US #DoinGood #DimeMedia #Ad

*DISCLAIMER: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Minute Maid and DiMe Media.  All opinions are my own.     Last year, I attended my friend Lauren's wedding.  We have been friends for almost ten years and we have been there for each other during good and bad times in our lives.  She was a beautiful bride and I was so happy for her because, by marrying her groom, she finally got the happiness that she has always deserved.  The best part was that, since they both had children from previous relationships, their family would now grow overnight by leaps and bounds.     As with any other blended family, they have experienced their share of ups and downs since coming together as one.  Getting all of the kids used to one another, as well as adding stepparents and exes into the mix, has proved to be extremely challenging at times.  The one single thing that has gotten them through it all is their love for one another and their … [Read more...]

Enjoy The Moment This Back To School Season! @MinuteMaid_US #DoinGood #DimeMedia #Ad

*DISCLAIMER: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Minute Maid and DiMe Media.  All opinions are my own.     This week here in New York City, students have headed back to school and I am back in the classroom teaching seventh and eighth grade like I do every year.  This is a very exciting time in our home with shopping for uniforms and school supplies.  However, it is also a time of sadness for me because, as a Working Mom, I really enjoy the time that I get to spend with my boys over the summer.     As a result, I try to cherish special moments throughout the school year despite the fact that we are often bogged down with hectic school and work schedules along with daily extracurricular and sports activities.  I'm sure that many parents feel the same way that I do and often wonder whether they are spending enough quality time with their kids.  The truth is that most of us are doing a much better job at being parents than we … [Read more...]

What Is The Definition Of A Good Father? @minutemaid_us #DoinGood #DiMe #Sweeps #Ad

*DISCLAIMER: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Minute Maid and DiMe Media.  Minute Maid will provide this prize. Minute Maid is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with the contest – and all opinions are my own.     Father's Day is right around the corner and I have found myself reflecting a lot on the qualities that define what a good father is.  If you think about it, being a dad is not an easy job.  It involves always being in mom's shadow and the truth is that fathers also play an integral role in the nurturing and development of their children.  Many fathers question whether they are doing a good job or not and, if you asked their children, they would probably say that they have the best fathers in the whole world!     I've been very fortunate in my life to be able to witness firsthand some of the best fathers in the world with the men in my own family.  Watching them over the years has allowed me see that any doubts that they might have … [Read more...]

You Are Better At Parenting Than You Think! @minutemaid_us #DoinGood #DiMe #Sweeps #Ad

*DISCLAIMER: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Minute Maid and DiMe Media.  Minute Maid will provide this prize. Minute Maid is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with the contest – and all opinions are my own.     This time of the year is very special because it honors all the moms and dads through the celebration of Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Although parents make many sacrifices for their children throughout the year with absolutely no expectation of recognition, it's really important to highlight what a wonderful job they are doing raising their kids.  After all, who doesn't like to hear that they are doing a good job, especially when that job is as monumental as being responsible for another human being?     I have to be completely honest, I don't always feel like I am doing the best job possible at raising my boys.  Although their father and I do everything possible to ensure that they are always safe and cared for, life … [Read more...]