The TRUTH About Motherhood

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chatbooks though all opinions about designing your own holiday cards are my own.
They say is a picture is worth a thousand words and, as a writer, I believe it. 1000%. Though I am a woman of many words, I am visual whether that be held in my hands or born of my imagination.
Every year, I love to send holiday cards. For many reasons but mostly because I like to connect with friends and loved ones. I do the dance. I send a card and tell them a little about our year and they do the same.
For me, I tell people about our lives every day. It’s my job. I’ve made a career of telling the world what’s going on with me and my family. Really, nothing is off the table. Don’t believe me? Go check out my blog or my Insta Stories.
But that is not how the world is for everyone. While I do have a lot of friends who are bloggers because that is my field, I have a lot of friends and family who are not. They don’t read my blog. Whew;) They don’t put all of their wins and losses online. So we connect in person, at family gatherings, via a Great-aunt gossip line and through those once year holiday cards.
They say it’s the thought that counts and the older I get, the more I believe that. There is truly nothing that makes me happier than thoughtful surprises in the mail. It doesn’t need to be of high monetary value, what I love is a well thought out gift. My favorite is a card with photos and a personal inscription (hey and bonus points if there’s a mixtape in there or some of my favorite tea.)
My point is that if you care enough to sift through your pictures from the past year, write a heartfelt message and wish me love and happiness that means more to me than any store bought gift ever could. This is why I do it. I hope it means as much to you that I thought of you. That you are in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers every day even when we don’t see each other.
This is why every year, I take a day (and honestly, with Chatbooks it was a matter of minutes) and sift through my cloud and find a few pics of my family to share with my friends. Not because we did anything special or my kids are particularly good-looking (though they are pretty stinkin’ cute) but because I know that I miss your faces and your children’s faces and I want to see them grow. I want to know how things have been going for you and what is new in your family’s life.
Sometimes space and time separate us from the people who mean the most to us. But space and time can’t stop that love we feel for them in our hearts. It can’t stop the ache to know those we love.
Life is busy for all of us. We all have places to be, things to do and people to see that are right here and right now. Sometimes it’s impossible to get to where we really want to be…home.
But, just because we can’t talk to the people that we love every single day, hug them and catch up whenever we want, we don’t have to lose touch. That’s what holiday cards are to me. They are an opportunity to reconnect with those I love most. It’s a way for me to let them know that they are in my heart.
It’s an opportunity to open up the lines of communication. You know sometimes, time passes so long that it almost feels hopeless to try to reconnect. You feel embarrassed to be like, “Hey, I know it’s been years but I just wanted to say hi!”
There’s no reason to give up. I know, personally, there is no statute of limitations on friendship for me. If we were friends, unless you killed my dog, we’re still friends…forever and you and your cards are always welcome in my life.
So maybe we can’t give a lot to everyone we want to this year but we can always afford to give a quick hello. And right now, using my special code, you can get 20% off of your holiday card order from Chatbooks.
It really is one of the easiest ways to create professional Photo Books albums and Holiday Cards out of your favorite social media pictures. It’s an amazing gift to give to loved ones or a way to physically keep all of your favorite memories in your home.
Holiday Cards are only $1 and you can order in packs of 20. The cards are made with premium and durable paper. Books start at just $10 – making them very affordable. Oh yes, I will be ordering a few. Did I mention how easy it was to create this year’s holiday cards? It seriously took me, from beginning to end, maybe 30 minutes.
If you want, you can subscribe to Chatbooks to auto-create and ship albums whenever you reach a certain number of new social media pictures. Then you will never have to worry about making the time again.
It’s so easy. Go here and click the link to order your cards now in time for the holidays.
Ordering Instructions:
1. Go to chatbooks.com
2. Create however many Holiday Cards ($1 each) you need, in increments of 20.
3. Select Premium shipping so you can get your cards in time
Thank you Chatbooks for sponsoring this post and for the first time, in a long time, allowing me to get my holiday cards out before Thanksgiving.
What are you waiting for? Order your holiday cards using my 20% off code Deborah20 and send well wishes and love to all of your friends and family.
2018/11/16
Social Media Works; You have to be Engaged to Engage Others
Social Media ~ I have noticed lately that there are a lot of big brands and companies out there who obviously do not fully comprehend the breadth and width of the social media reach. They’ve not been given the social media handbook ( because it doesn’t exist) or they didn’t read it, at the very least they don’t understand the etiquette. It takes practice to make perfect when it comes to social media. No one, not one of us, on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Youtube, Summify, About,Technorati, Myspace, Google+, Linkedin want to be shouted, preached at or commercial-ed to death. We don’t respond well to SoapBox media. This applies to individuals and brands. It’s social media 101, you have to be engaged to engage others. Big Brands are not the almighty OZ and we, the people, already have a brain. At the epicenter of all this engagement needs to be a person (a real life person) making real life relationships and having real conversations.THAT is how social media works.
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Photo Mirnabard.com
Social Media Experiment
This morning, my husband asked me to tweet out a simple request that people vote for Midmark Corporation to win the Dayton Journal Brand Madness competition. I’m not even sure what exactly they win aside from bragging rights but I love a challenge. When he asked me this, of course I obliged. When he asked me to do the tweet, the percentages were 6% for Midmark and 94% for the competition. Within in an hour, the odds were at 46% Midmark and 54% for the competition. Now, I’m not saying my tweets and FB requests of my followers did all of that but I think it’s too much to be called a coincidence. I think social media was working in Midmark’s favor. I did some research and on Twitter I have a little over 3200 tweeps that I tweet with on a daily basis. People that I engage and interact with and have real conversations. Each of them have anywhere from 100 followers to 200,000 followers. This increases my reach exponentially. Factor in the fact that they support me and vote or publicized the competition because I asked, it appeared on their walls and in their Twitter streams, and the reach is even larger. Midmark however has 374 people who follow on twitter. They do not engage actively every day and from what I saw, most of it is of the SoapBox variety. Tweeting out once every few weeks usually something that only other employees would be interested in reading. I have 900 total followers on Facebook and Midmark has 180. I am by no means a giant in the social media field but I I know what I am doing. The fact is that my social media reach is greater than this multimillion dollar company. Doesn’t that seem weird? Well, it shouldn’t because it proves my point that people respond to PEOPLE not auto tweets, auto DMS, spam and certainly not Soap Box Media.
Social Media Wins Again
This is not Midmark’s fault. I love Midmark but it proves a point that no one teaches social media. It’s still too new and ever changing. It’s like parenting. You learn as you go and then you are able to use your wisdom to do better. I would like to demonstrate this for Midmark that they need a specifically social media savvy type person to handle their social media. They need someone who understands all that social media entails. It’s social media not Soapbox media, to get the most out of it you have to engage and be social. A publicity blast will yield no return or at least not the kind you might want. Anyone, brand or person, who just tweets one-sided and does not engage in actual conversation will not get the full benefit of social media.I don’t usually ask for votes for anything but I really want to prove that social media reach is strong and there is value in people who employ the skills to effectively navigate social media. Please help me to help Midmark win this branding competition by clicking on this link and voting for Midmark. It will only take a second. If you rally want to let the big companies know that we individuals with social media savvy backgrounds are the way to promote their companies than add a comment after voting for Midmark letting them know that TruthfulMommy sent you. If it makes you feel any better, Midmark truly is an outstanding corporation who actually deserves to win. Voting is open until midnight tonight eastern standard time. They just don’t have the social media know how to let people know they are even in the running. Maybe I can prove the need for a Social Media guru. Thank you all so much for taking a second to vote. I promise it is a click on the link and then a click on the vote for Midmark. There are no forms to fill out. These big companies need to realize the value of social media and that it takes more than just a business degree and a few publicity blasts to grow your social media image. Help me prove that for social media to be effective, it takes people, like you and I, who sit at a computer, form relationships and hold conversations.
Social Media Savvy Wins
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2011/12/06
Xbox Kinect Fun for the entire family
Xbox Kinect~ Hands Free Fun
What is it? Kinect for Xbox 360. You are the controller. No gadgets. No gizmos, Just you!
Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways without using a controller. You can control movies and music with the wave of your hand or the sound of your voice. The new cutting edge gaming technology allows players to be free of cumbersome remotes. With Kinect, technology evaporates, letting the natural magic in all of us shine.
If you don’t have the budget for such gadgets yet, you can still have lots of fun with your smartphone by playing games on sites like 카지노 사이트.
What does it say it will do?
Features of the xbox kinect

Full Body Gaming:
Controller-free gaming means full body play. Kinect responds to how you move. So if you have to kick, then kick. If you have to jump, then jump. You already know how to play. All you have to do now is to get off the couch.
It’s All About You:
Once you wave your hand to activate the sensor, your Kinect will be able to recognize you and access your Avatar. Then you’ll be able to jump in and out of different games, and show off and share your moves.
Use Your Voice:
Kinect uses advanced entertainment technology to respond to the sound of your voice. Just say “Xbox” to reveal a series of voice commands. So you’ll be able to control HD movies with the sound of your voice—no remote required.
Endless Entertainment:
Enjoy HD movies, music and sports through Xbox LIVE without any extra accessories. Just use a wave of your hand or the sound of your voice to enjoy 3,500 games on ESPN, HD movies through Zune, streaming music from Last.fm.
Something for the Entire Family:
Whether you’re a gamer or not, anyone can play and have a blast. And with advanced parental controls and movies for the family, Kinect promises a gaming experience that’s safe, secure and fun for everyone.
Does it do what it says it will do? Yes, the Kinect for the Xbox does exactly what it says. The xbox kinect truly does release the player from the cumbersome use of a controller, allowing the player to spent he time enjoying the game rather than having to worry about working or figuring out how to use a controller. The only issue I had with it was if you were not at the right distance from the console or if there were too many people in it’s line of sight sometimes it would have a hard time recognizing the player. I love to play LoL. When you are buying League of Legends Smurf account from unrankedsmurfs.com then, you can open new challenges.

Do you need to consult a manual or is it “User Friendly”? The Xbox 360 Kinect console was extremely easy to use. All I needed to do was plug it in, connect a couple cords and push the power on button. In a matter of seconds, we were playing World of Warcraft and we also bought wow classic gold at gold 4 vanilla on our Xbox Kinect~hands free.
Xbox Kinect~ Hands Free Fun
2011/06/20
The Lone Ranger is Back
When I was a kid, I loved watching The Lone Ranger. My brother and I would pull up our kids sized chairs, mine a red teddy bear and his a rocker, and sit quietly waiting for the Lone ranger to start and then we would immediately start running around the house, pretending to ride horses and shoot bad guys. I remember it being a black and white television show from the 30’s and by the time I watched it for the first time, it had been in syndication for over 40 years but it was new to me and I loved it.It ranked right up there with the Monkees, New Zoo Revenue and the Captain ( Kangaroo to you).
I remember my brother and I running around the house, one playing the Lone Ranger and one playing Tonto and riding our imaginary horses, saving the world from the bad guys; yelling “ Hi-yo Silver!” and the other saying, “Yes, Ke-mo sah-bee!” I loved playing Tonto.
In case you are not familiar with the Lone Ranger, he was a fictional character; a masked, ex-law man who, along with his Native American companion Tonto, fought injustice in the Old West. It was such an awesome show because, not only did it show that the good guys always won, it showed that through tolerance and acceptance we could do the right thing and be the good guy.
Departing off into the sunset on his white stallion, Silver, the Lone Ranger would shout, “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” As they galloped off, someone would ask, “Who was that masked man anyway?”
Now, Disney is bringing The Lone Ranger to the big screen for a whole new generation and I cannot wait to go see it with my own girls.
From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes.
Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption. ~ Disney.com
The Lone Ranger also stars Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter.
The Lone Ranger releases in U.S. theaters on July 3, 2013. I will be there to see it. I can’t wait. Can you, Ke-mo Sah-bee?
Photo Source: Disney
2012/03/10
Nothing Says Holidays like Matching Pajamas & Visa Checkout
This is a sponsored post. I received compensation from Visa/Gymboree to buy my products and
use its Visa Checkout online payment service, but all thoughts reflected here are my own.

We had our first snow this week, Tchaikovsky’s been playing on a continuous loop and the first
fire of the season has been stoked in our fireplace. Tis the season of twinkling lights, cozy
pajamas and cuddling with those you love the most. It’s also a reminder that the holidays are
right around the corner.
This year it seems like everyone has decided to skip Thanksgiving and go directly to Christmas.
At first, I wasn’t really onboard with early Christmasing but suddenly I am all about Christmas.
I’m ready to put up the tree and deck the halls and falalalalala all over the place. Bring on the
shopping.
I’m planning ahead for breakfast with Santa and family Christmas card photos. Usually at this
point my head is consumed with thoughts of sugarplums dancing in my head and all things
Nutcracker. That’s what happens when you’re the mom of ballerinas. Your entire holiday season
is broken down into two categories; Nutcracker season and the hurried rush of the two weeks
until Christmas.
When most people are carefully planning their holidays, I am busy hurrying from one
performance to the next. I’m sure all the ballet moms reading this are shaking their heads in
agreement. Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally worth it and I love every minute of being a part of
this part of my daughters’ lives but it doesn’t leave a lot of leisurely time for things like baking
cookies, ice-skating and taking fun, family photos in matching Christmas PJs. I decided this year
things are changing, we’re doing the Christmas cards like everyone else (and not the week of
Christmas like I’ve been doing for the past 5 years.)
In fact, I got on the Internet a couple weeks ago and visited Gymboree and found the cutest
holiday pajamas for the entire family, yes, even my 6’5” husband. Not just coordinating pajamas
but real, honest to goodness, matching pajamas in all of our sizes; from newborn to Men’s 2XL. I
thought it was too easy. I love everything that makes my life easier. Streamlining is my happy
place.
When I went to checkout, I was pretty excited to see the Visa Checkout button. What’s Visa
Checkout? It’s a simple, easy ways to pay with any major credit or debit card online at the sites
you love. Simply create an account once and speed through all of your future purchases without
having to search for the wallet, get it out and re-enter payment and shipping information every
single time. I don’t know about you, but this is a super time saver during the busiest shopping
season of the year.
After the initial account is set up with your major credit or debit card, all that is required is your
username and password. It’s secure with Visa’s advanced security tools that leave customers
with zero liability in case of fraud and it allows shoppers to earn great rewards. Offering a
consistent, simple experience across desktop, mobile web and apps. Voila, who said the holidays
had to be hard?
Visa Checkout is already an option at many big retailers, and thanks to Visa’s vast network it’s
growing all the time and I know, for a fact, that it’s available at Gymboree.com. What are you
waiting for? Go make your life easier and spend that time actually enjoying your holidays.
2014/11/29
What the Air Fryer is and Why Every Mom Needs One
Are you looking for a way to improve your health? Was one of your New Year’s resolutions a new you? Want to lose weight but don’t want to give up some of your favorite foods? Ever considered buying an air fryer? Then wonder to yourself, how does an air fryer work? What’s the best air fryer? Looking for all the best air fryer recipes? Well, you are not alone sister.
I’d been on the fence about getting one for a long time. I had no idea how it worked or which one was the best? BTW, how the heck do you fry with air? Is that even possible? More importantly, why would you want to? What kind of witchery is an air fryer?
Then one day on a complete impulse buy between drop off and pick up at ballet, I found myself looking squarely in the direction of an air fryer and something compelled me to buy the dang thing. With no idea what to do with it and absolutely void of any Pinterest research on air fryer recipes, I did it. I bought the damn thing.
In my gut, I assumed it would end up in the back cabinet with all my other expensive cooking impulse buys; the pasta maker, the ice cream makers and the panini press keeping the Belgian waffle maker company. But, we all know how much I love French fries. For me the worst part about fried foods (aside from the health risks) is the guilt so why not go the healthy route, especially if the air fryer recipes make the food tastes as good as their fried counterpart and, as hard to believe as it is, they do!
READ ALSO: Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe
An air fryer is a game changer! For most of my adult life I’ve been teetering between baking everything and totally chucking my diet and eating all the McDonald’s French fries. But then we got the air fryer and we’ve made things like French fries, onion rings, fish fillets, chicken tenders and French toast sticks and it tastes great, crispy and has that crunch that I’ve been missing in my life all these years. Hard to believe, right?
Why Invest in an Air Fryer?
Well, you know the difference between frozen waffles and homemade ones or a cold cut sandwich and one on the panini press? That’s the difference. Who would believe that such a subtle difference can have such a flavorful impact? Who’d think that something as simple as a golden brown crunch can make all the difference?
Compared with deep-frying, air frying significantly reduces calorie intake. It can help reduce caloric intake by up to 70-80 percent.
Air fryers are time-efficient. You can actually bake a chicken breast faster in an air fryer than you can in the oven. Just imagine crispy fried chicken without all the grease. If you have picky eaters, you can make crispy veggies as snacks.
READ ALSO: Simple, Easy and Delicious Avocado Toast Recipe
One perk for me, because I hate the smell of fried foods in my house, air frying eliminates that odor.
Just because you are not using oil, you can still burn your food. The air fryer heats up really fast and it’s easy to burn yourself and char your food, so pay attention to time, as charred food is carcinogenic.
Bonus: Easy Clean Up
How does an Air Fryer work?
It uses hot-air circulation. The air fryer cooks your ingredients from all angles- with no oil needed. Compared to deep-frying, using an air fryer can reduce the amount of fat, calories and potentially harmful compounds in your food
Air Fryer Sriracha-Honey Chicken Wings via Karenskitchenstories.com
Best Air Fryer Recipes?
Any foods that are good when fried like potatoes and chicken cook amazingly in the air fryer. Sweet potato fries are a favorite of ours. Also, fish and chips come out lovely and delicious in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp and Apricot Sauce
Avocado Fries
Copy Cat Chik Fil A Sandwich
Mexican Street Corn/ Elote
Air Fryer Donuts
Air Fryer Sriracha-Honey Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Fried Nashville Chicken
Easy Air Fryer Crispy French Fries
The possibilities are endless. Are you considering buying one now? Understand how the air fryer works? Have you tried a few of the best AF recipes out there?
I’m addicted to our Air Fryer and everything I can make with it.
I’m doing this new year, new me thing slowly. This is one of my favorite things to help make healthier foods crispier. This is NOT a paid campaign. I am just really addicted to my air fryer and moms of little kids or kids on the go who need snacks after school, chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, even crispy Brussels sprouts, and grilled cheese sandwiches can be made deliciously and with less fat in a matter of minutes.
I’m looking for new things to cook in my air fryer. What’s your favorite air fryer recipe? Please share a link in the comments.

2019/01/17
Best Walt Disney World Resorts for Families and Free Disney Dining Plan
Going to Walt Disney World on vacation is one of a kind experience. There is nothing else like it in the world. However, staying in Walt Disney World Resorts takes that vacation to an entirely new level. Aside from being fully immersed in the Disney experience, there are lots of perks and extra magic involved in staying on property. Can you say Free Disney Dining Plan? Yes, some magical promotions include free food. If you are wondering which are the best Walt Disney World Resorts for Families to stay at, I’ve got you covered.
We’ve vacationed to Walt Disney World several times and no trip has been the same. That is part of the magic of a Disney vacation. You can have a different adventure every single time. We’ve gone as newlyweds, as a couple and with our daughters. We’ve stayed in several of the Disney Resorts and we’ve stayed off grounds and, for us, staying on property is our favorite way to vacation at Disney World.
READ ALSO: Secrets To Use Disney Tickets to Experience Magic Kingdom like an Insider
I imagine for first-timers, you may ask yourself, “Why stay on property when there are so many affordable resort options so close?” You make a valid point, on paper but once you’ve spent a Disney vacation staying in Walt Disney World Resorts with your family, you will know why you’ll never want to stay off grounds ever again.
Aside from convenience, early Magic hours, early access to fast pass and dining reservation plans, free transportation to and from parks and full immersion into the Walt Disney World experience for your family, there is the incomparable Walt Disney World resorts customer service. It is unbelievable and it doesn’t matter if you’re staying in the Grand Floridian or Pop Century; the warmth, helpfulness and general disposition of the characters are always the same…top notch. The best thing about Walt Disney resorts is that they have something for every budget.
READ ALSO: Tips to Beat the Heat at Disney
Here are my recommendations for the Best Walt Disney World Resorts for Families to stay at
Yacht Club
The Yacht Club where we stayed on our first trip to Disney World on our honeymoon. I was dazzled by the grand, turn-of-the-century Martha’s Vineyard summer home vibes that Disney’s Yacht Club Resort was giving off. It’s a deluxe-category hotel at Walt Disney World Resort and it felt romantic and whimsical for these honeymooners.
It’s conveniently located and guests can easily walk or travel by water taxi from the resorts to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Star Wars Land is coming sooner than you think). Convenient bus service transports guests throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
The luxury club hotel is on the shores of a 25-acre Crescent Lake. The resort’s décor will transport you back to the 1890s.
That east coast beach vibe continues throughout in Stormalong Bay, a 2 ½-acre water recreation area reminiscent of a Nantucket beach. It has a life-size shipwreck with water slides, snorkeling in a sandy lagoon and a lazy river swimming area that feels like it flows into the lake. The kids will love it and so will you. There is something about a sand-bottomed pool that induces relaxation. Also bonus, a standard room can fit up to 5 people with 2 queen beds and a twin daybed.
We love it so much; we will be staying there this fall for our anniversary trip.
Disney Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club resort is right next to Disney’s Yacht Club and they are both awesome in our book. Start your morning at Cape May Cafe for a delicious southern-style breakfast complete with Mickey. Then make your way over to Stormalong Bay. I told you it was awesome.
Tired of swimming? Take a break and grab a snack at the cabana or Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. Feel like hitting the parks? Epcot is a mere 5-minute walk away or jump on a water taxi and hit Hollywood Studios.
At night, you can watch a movie under the stars with your kids at the pool or you can take advantage of the onsite childcare and enjoy a romantic meal with your spouse at one of the resort’s 6 dining locations.
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Guests at Disney’s Beach Club Villas receive exclusive access to Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Disney’s Beach Club Villas also provides the Sandcastle Club, a supervised activity center for kids. Villas are equipped with kitchens and, in some cases, room for up to eight people. There are also nightly clambakes, volleyball and campfires at the Beach Club villas for added family fun.
Disney’s the Animal Kingdom
Want some adventure on your Disney World vacation? The Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to 4 wildlife savannas which you can watch from the lobby, visit with animal specialists, or tour as part of the Wanyama Safari and Dinner.
The Animal Kingdom Lodge also has the option to stay in a villa, which can sleep up to 9 guests, if you’re traveling with the whole family. No need for separate hotel rooms.
While you’re in this beautiful hotel, be sure to check out the 11,000-square-foot Uzimi pool with waterslides and whirlpool spas. Or get your fitness on at the onsite fitness and massage center. Did someone say massage center? Yes, please. This mom desperately needs a massage.
Disney World’s Polynesian
Aside from being beautiful and having Moana, you can get a Dole Whip on site. The lush Polynesian Village Resort has both traditional rooms and villas to choose from. The villas have kitchenettes, private back decks with barbecues, a plunge pool and room for up to 8 people.
This is perfect for big families or splitting costs with friends. If you’re like this mom, you heard the word kitchen and thought “Dishes. No thank you,” But if you stay at the villa, Mousekeeping takes care of washing the dishes. No dishes for you! I told you the customer service was amazing.
The resort has 9 restaurants, a nightly luau, and a character breakfast where kids can meet Lilo & Stitch. Lilo’s Clubhouse offers on-site childcare so you can enjoy a peaceful meal, visit to the spa, or a day at the pool while the kids are safely taken care of.
Bonus, the Polynesian Resort is on the monorail, making it super easy to access all of the parks, especially Epcot and the Magic Kingdom.
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary
Bay Lake Tower has rooms with views of the fireworks, so in case you have little kiddies, you won’t miss the magic. And believe me, it is magic. It is within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom and easily accessible via monorail. Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort features an unparalleled backdrop that includes Cinderella’s Castle and Space Mountain.
Bay Lake is a Disney Vacation Club Property. The resort offers up to three-bedroom villas with kitchenettes that accommodate up to nine people. It also has a restaurant and pool with a waterslide, so you and your family can relax when not at the parks.
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
This is my husband’s favorite resort on property. Our favorite feature of staying at the Boardwalk Inn is the actual boardwalk. Situated along Crescent Lake, the boardwalk features carnival games, restaurants, shops and surrey bike rentals. The Boardwalk also has a really fun pool with a waterslide and standard guestrooms that sleep up to five or six guests.
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
At Disney’s Boardwalk Villas, families staying there share amenities with guests at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. However, Disney’s Boardwalk Villas provide more amenities like full kitchens and balconies. Villas are larger and sleep up to four or eight guests.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
Port Orleans properties are divided into two resorts, the French Quarter and Riverside. Disney’s Port Orleans is a PG13 way to experience Mardi Gras all year round. Our favorite is the French Quarter because it feels just like being in New Orleans. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter has 1,008 accommodations, most sleep up to four or five guests.
Guests have access to bikes, boats, horse-drawn carriage rides, cane pole fishing and a pool, live jazz and beautiful architecture all make this resort located on 325 acres that feel worlds away from the theme parks. Don’t forget about the amazing Louisiana-style cuisine and beignets.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is like being in a beautiful, pristine national park cabin. While you might feel like you are off the grid in the serenity of your lodge, the Wilderness Lodge resort features added perks such as a beautiful pool and children’s activity center. Enjoy relaxing with your family at this rustic, luxurious rooms that sleep up to four guests, some even include bunk beds.
READ ALSO: Breaking News Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Opening Date Revealed
Just announced Free Disney Dining Plan Day this Summer!
This summer, enjoy a little extra flavor during a fun-filled stay that’s sure to delight little ones and grown-ups alike. Receive a FREE meal per person (ages 3 and up), per night at a select Walt Disney World Resort quick-service dining location when you purchase a non-discounted, Walt Disney World Travel Co. Package that includes a room for 4-nights at a select Disney Moderate or Value Resort Hotel and a 5-day theme park ticket. Offer valid for arrivals most nights from May 28 through August 21, 2019.
The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Advance reservations are required. Theme park tickets valid for admission beginning on the date of check-in and must be used within a limited number of days, depending on the length of stay and ticket. Visit disneyworld.com/usage for more details. Each quick-service meal includes one entrée and one non-alcoholic beverage (or if age 21 or over, one beer, wine or cocktail).
These are just a few of my favorite Walt Disney Resorts for families. What is your favorite place to stay in Walt Disney World? And where is your favorite place and thing to eat on the Disney Dining Plan?
2019/04/23
Do You Vaccinate?
Do you vaccinate your children? I do. Every time they are due for their vaccinations, I schedule an appointment with the pediatrician and we get our shots. According to the CDC, vaccines prevent more than 700,000 child deaths in the US.
While there are some childhood illnesses that are seldom found in the western world these days, because of vaccinations, there are others that are still very rampant in the world and they do not discriminate by race, color, religion or socioeconomic standing. These illnesses will attack where they can and either you are protected, or you are not.
I vaccinate my children because I want to protect them against childhood diseases that can wreak havoc on their immune systems and even be fatal. I realize that some children cannot be vaccinated due to health issues, and that’s why it is even more important that those who can do, to help protect these children as well.
What scares me is the fact that the entire concept of vaccines relies upon herd immunity, which is the idea that diseases won’t be communicable because most people are immune. If there are enough unvaccinated children roaming the world, the situation can allow for the spread of diseases that we thought were nearly eradicated, like measles, mumps and whooping cough.
The near and complete eradication of these childhood diseases due to vaccines keeps our children safe. Vaccines are a great thing. Now, cases of pertussis, measles and mumps are popping up all over the country. Don’t think it’s going to stop there. The less we vaccinate, the worse this is going to get. No matter the reason behind not vaccinating, being unvaccinated means being vulnerable and susceptible to these diseases.
My point is this: We live in a world where these diseases have become a thing of the past. We don’t plan for them, we don’t worry about them and we don’t know how to readily recognize them. If you are interested in discussing more ways to keep your children healthy and protected against dangerous childhood diseases, please join us for the #CDCvax Twitter Party
What: While it can be easy to think of vaccine-preventable diseases – such as measles or whooping cough – as issues of the past, most of these diseases still persist around the world. Just last year, in 2013, 189 people in the U.S. reported having measles, the largest reported outbreak in the U.S. since 1996.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States.
The Motherhood is joining The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in sharing how immunizations early in life can help protect children from 14 serious diseases before they turn two years old. We’ll be providing the CDC’s recommended immunization schedules, along with interesting facts and helpful tips.
Join us to learn more and share tips of your own for managing your family’s vaccinations and overall health!
When: Wednesday, April 30 at 1pm ET
Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #CDCvax hashtag to track the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite: https://twtvite.com/cdcvax
Hashtag: #CDCvax
Hosts: @TheMotherhood, @TheMotherhood25, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann
Your fellow co-hosts:
Amy, This Mama’s Life – @ThisMamas
Annie, Stowed Stuff – @anniestow
Deborah, The Truth About Motherhood – @TruthfulMommy
Donna, Blog by Donna – @DonnaChaffins
Jennifer, My Boys and Their Toys – @Lovesmytwoboys
Kathy, A Mom’s Impression – @amomsimpression
Kim, Two Kids and a Coupon – @2kidsandacoupon
Lori, A Day in Motherhood – @lomargie
Melissa, Sippy Cup Mom – @SippyCupMom
Sarah, Must Have Mom – @musthavemom

2014/04/29
Dear Unsubscriber
Dear Unsubscriber,
Hey, You, yeah you! The one who is wondering if she should waste a comment or just go. Yes, I know that you delicately tried to slip away out the back door without anyone noticing but damned if feedproxy wasn’t standing there, right behind you, yelling and pointing…“Hey, look she’s leaving! You suck!”
And just like that our blogger/reader love affair was over. I know that I don’t always say the right thing and sometimes I’m overtired and cranky and maybe I don’t even make sense but I thought you got me. I really thought you understood that not all of them are gold. I thought I was safe. This was a judge free zone. Some posts are flops but I didn’t know our relationship was so fickle that you would leave me over one bad day. One crap post. I’m sorry my dog died and my period came and the snow has been really bad. Sometimes a bloggers got to complain. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. But hey, I’ll do better next time. I’ll write a funny post about how to survive shark week without losing a limb or explaining your period to kids in a public bathroom at Panda Express.
You knew what you were getting into when we started this relationship. I told you from the beginning that it wasn’t always going to be sunshine and unicorns. I tell it like it is. I’m a real person and sometimes really bad and boring shit happens in my life. I thought our love was unconditional. I listen to your side in the comments. I don’t plug my ears and ignore you. I don’t delete what you have to say. You read and comment, I write and respond. We share. It’s symbiotic.Well, it used to be. We got to know one another. This isn’t match.com. You can’t just order up your flavor of the month and put me into a box. I have thoughts and opinions.
I never took you for the one giveaway type. I’ve never considered myself easy. Did you just pretend to like me to get into my “giveaways”? Say it isn’t so. Please tell me you didn’t subscribe to me JUST for the goodies that I could give you only to toss me aside once you’d had your way with me. I feel so used. Like a bloggy whore. I thought we meant more to one another than that.
Come back.Don’t leave. I won’t always be stressed and bloated and have cabin fever and my kids won’t always drive me up a wall. Things will get better. I won’t do it again. Let’s not take a break and if you are going to “unsubscribe” from this relationship, why not tell me why? Give a girl some closure. Think of it as an exit interview. Just drop me a note so I can grow and learn from it before I get my bloggy heart broken again.
I mean we shared at least one post that meant something to both of us, even if it was just a laugh while you were in the pick up line or an unsuspecting cry in the middle of the night when you couldn’t sleep? Or what about the time I made you shoot diet coke, wine or coffee out your nose? Let’s not even bring up the time you were reading about my labor while sitting on the toilet. I’ve shared my most personal stories with you. We’ve been intimate.
I wish you nothing but sunshine and unicorns unsubscriber. Just know that every time feedproxy sends me an unsubscribe notice, a blogger dies.
XOXO
P.S. If you would like to donate a subscription to the keep a blogger alive foundation subscribe here
2014/01/17
Wedding Ring Tattoos as the Ultimate Symbol of Devotion
I never expected it. In fact, I was dead set against it. In theory. For other people. It’s not really couple tattoos or wedding ring tattoos specifically but the whole putting someone’s name on your body. It seems so permanent in a world where almost nothing is guaranteed. I remember the day I saw my sister-in-law’s name tattooed on my brother’s arm and I thought to myself, “Well, that wasn’t smart.” I guess in the end I’m a cynic.
Two of my brothers are tattoo artists. They warn against putting significant other names on your body. It hurts to have wedding ring tattoos removed unlike taking off engagement rings. I’ve joked a lot how the only names I would ever put on my body are my children’s. I’m not good with permanency. I’m really not good with hanging my happiness on others and I might have some trust issues if we’re being honest. Not that the Big Guy has ever done anything to warrant losing my trust. I was just raised waiting for the other foot to drop.
This morning, the Big Guy said he was going to swing by “the shop” (my brothers’ tattoo shop) and discuss the final details of a new tattoo, A Call of Duty Juggernaut. I don’t quite get it but if it has meaning to him, it’s his body. Before I left, I jokingly said, “Make sure you have my brother sneak in my name. It can be like a hidden Mickey. You don’t even have to use my first name. It’ll be our little secret.” He left. I continued Marie Kondo-ing my house that’s looked like a hurricane hit since I started organizing way back in January 2019. Yep, that year-long month.
READ ALSO: When a Tattoo Heals Your Heart
An hour or so later he returned. I asked if my brother had stenciled his calf and if I could see this “juggernaut.” Sure, he bellowed. He’s a big guy, he sometimes bellows. He bounds up the stairs and I’m waiting for him to show me his calf. But he’s just standing there and I was so confused.
“Let me see it.” I was anxious to see what they had come up with and if he had, in fact, had my middle name hidden in the stencil. But he just smiled with an outstretched left hand and there it was, “Deborah” “5/15/99” and “Always” on his ring finger, where his wedding ring sits. I was speechless. I’m never speechless. If you know me, you know that I am a talker and never without words. Yet, there I was with no words.
As Bella says, I.Was. Shook! But I shouldn’t have been. This is just who he is. He jumps all in with his whole heart where I’ve always been cautiously optimistic. There was a time when I would have jumped blindly into matters of the heart. I loved love but then I got burned a couple times, more like set on fire by the frogs I kissed. By the time I met the Big Guy in college, I just expected things to be hard.
I was never one of those girls who felt like I needed to get married and have kids. I wanted all of that, eventually and I knew it would happen but it wasn’t anything I was losing sleep over. I had dated a few guys, been naively all in, written all the sappy letters and did all the silly things people do when they are teenagers/the early twenties and I was left with a lot of relationship “buyers remorse.”
READ ALSO: How Scrambled Eggs Made my Marriage Sexy
Then I met the Big Guy, 4 days after a break up with a guy I’d been dating for some time. We broke up for the last time on my birthday because he forgot my birthday… after almost 3 years of dating. Let’s be brutally honest, he didn’t forget so much as chose not to acknowledge it. Lucky me.
The really honest truth is that the Big Guy and I never should have met, logically speaking. I wasn’t supposed to be there. I was supposed to be in Boston. I was supposed to have already graduated. And on the night we met, I was supposed to have a boyfriend and I was supposed to be home studying for an astronomy exam.
But fate intervened or maybe destiny was in control the entire time because, under normal circumstances, he and I should have never met. Yet, here we are 22 Valentine’s Days later about to celebrate our 20^th wedding anniversary this spring. And they thought we wouldn’t make it?
I met this guy, who ended up being everything I never knew, I always wanted. This giant, loud, humble, sweet, smart, cute man who knew from about week 4 that he loved me. The same guy who told me that very thing. He wasn’t a game player. The certainty with which he loved me scared me a little bit because I’d never had s relationship like that before. The man who after meeting me that September, told my mom and sisters at Thanksgiving he was going to ask me to marry him on Valentine’s Day. (No one told me.)
READ ALSO: The Proposal Do-Over
The gentle giant who jumped the gun from nerves and asked me to marry him in the middle of the dance floor at our favorite college bar with no ring and no speech. He caught me off guard and still takes my breath away on the regular. I guess it’s kind of his thing. He re-proposed to me on our 11^th anniversary, on bended knee.
I guess I shouldn’t have been shocked when he showed up this past Saturday morning with my name tattooed on his finger. Nothing should ever surprise me about this incredible, generous and loving man. He can do anything. He’s more romantic today than he was on the day we got married. He lives through actions and not just words.
When he proposed he told me that I was his “soul mate.” I’m not even sure that I believed in the concept before him. He makes me want to be a better human being. His love changed me for the better. When you have someone as kind and thoughtful as the Big Guy loving you, you feel like you can do almost anything.
READ ALSO: I Love You Man
It’s not about what you have or don’t have. It’s about who you have. We fell in love through conversations under the stars. We fell in love in a bar on campus. We fell in love watching a Salma Hayek Rom Com. We fell in love sitting on the roof of his college house drinking beer and looking up at the moon. We fell in love staring into one another’s souls over the head of our newborn baby. We fell in love in the rain in New Orleans. We fell in love watching our oldest meet her sister for the first time. We even fell in love when we lost our third. We fell in love living in separate states. We fell in love poor. We fell in love rich. We’ve fallen in love a million times over the past 22 years and I fell in love all over again Saturday morning when I saw that tattoo.
I’m going to go and get one of my own because I realized that he’s already tattooed on my heart and he always will be. The imprint is already there. It probably has been since we met that night in 1997. I’m the only one who didn’t see it because I was afraid to let myself believe that I deserved to be loved like that. I’ve felt it every day since we met.
Have you ever considered getting wedding ring tattoos? If you were going to get couple tattoos what would you get?
2019/02/04