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Plagiarism ~ Back the Fuck Off my Intellectual Property
Plagiarism is NOT what I had intended to post about today. Of course, I also didn’t plan on having my posts, blog title (written exactly as I write mine) and philosophy/mission stolen and passed off as someone else’s. This is the third time in two weeks. I am irate.
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Photo Charlie S/Buzzle.com
Let me preface by telling you that I don’t subscribe to the “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” mentality. I believe that if you steal my intellectual property (written verbatim or closely resembling), you are a thief and, as such, you should have to be held accountable. Personally, I feel like you should be strung up and beaten like a pinata but perhaps that’s just because I am the victim of this despicable crime. Have you not read my About page? Oh yeah, of course you have, I can tell because you have copied my philosophy ( and my posts) but perhaps you didn’t read all the way to the bottom. If you had, you would already know that I do not tolerate…
plagiarism.
So, I am going to drop a little knowledge on you, according to PlagiarismdotOrg (see how I just did that? I just gave credit to the site whose information I am about to share with you because it is their intellectual property, their hard work and their talent. Try it, I might like you! )
What is Plagiarism?
Many people think of plagiarism as copying another’s work, or borrowing someone else’s original ideas. But terms like “copying” and “borrowing” can disguise the seriousness of the offense:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to “plagiarize” means
- to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own
- to use (another’s production) without crediting the source
- to commit literary theft
- to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else’s work and lying about it afterward. ( * I think if you put your name on it and not mine, if I wrote it…you lied!)

But can words and ideas really be stolen?
According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).
All of the following are considered plagiarism:
- turning in someone else’s work as your own
- copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
- failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
- giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
- changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
- copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on “fair use” rules)
Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism. See our section on citation for more information on how to cite sources properly. (*all you had to do was give me credit for my work.Link to me.Mention me. Something!)
But instead, these people think that my idea, philosophy, blog title, brand and posts are free for them to steal. They are not. If you want to cite @TruthfulMommy or The TRUTH about Motherhood then do so appropriately, if not, I am respectfully asking that YOU BACK THE FUCK OFF MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY or I will be forced to take legal action.
- If you ask me to write for you and I don’t and you “borrow” a post without permission, you are a plagiarist!
- If I submit an article for consideration and you decline it but that very article shows up on your site credited to another author, you are a plagiarist.
- If my post VERBATIM is on your site without MY permission, you are a plagiarist.
- If you are a plagiarist, I hate you!
Plagiarism
*Here is one of the plagiarist post https://t.co/YaD9qpQ compare it to my my post https://t.co/EgXgz9C . Verbatim!!! Feel free to leave comments to let them know how bloggers feel about plagiarist. I have sent them a legal notice to remove my post. We shall see. I will see what happens with the others before I reveal who they are.Plagiarism is NOT a victimless crime.
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2011/07/10
Wicked Good for the Entire Family
Feeling a little wicked this morning. Something just has my heart nostalgic for quieter times. We are caught up in the storm and chaos of everyday life. Somehow, it seems like the world just spins a little faster once school starts back. I thought things were crazy when the Big Guy and I were dating back in college. We were firing on all cylinders or so I thought. I had no idea what having children and a life together would really mean. It’s truly a beautiful mess and I love it but some days, it is a bit overwhelming so I love when we get the chance to experience something amazing and outside of ourselves together.
Hands touch, eyes meet, sudden silence, sudden heat Hearts leap in a giddy world. He could be that boy but I’m not that girl. Don’t dream too far. Don’t lose sight of who you are. Don’t remember that rush of joy. He could be that boy. I’m not that girl. Every so often we long to steal to the land of what might have been but that doesn’t soften the ache we feel when reality sets back in. Blithe smile, lithe limb. She who’s winsome, she wins him. Gold hair with a gentle curl, that’s the girl he chose and heaven knows, I’m not that girl. Don’t wish, don’t start. Wishing only wounds the heart. I wasn’t born for the rose and pearl. There’s a girl I know; he loves her so. I’m not that girl.
This is the lyrics from one of our favorite songs from Wicked, I’m Not That girl and now it’s a memory we will always share because we experienced it together. You know those special moments that happen when you least expect it.
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Wicked Emerald City Tour
There are people, places and things in life that magically transport us to another time. Most of my fondest memories can be inextricably linked to lyrics to songs, lines in movies or the way I felt the first time I read powerful words movingly strung together on a page. And now, all of these beautiful moments intertwine with my daughters and there is new joy and perspective seeing life through their fresh eyes.

One of my fondest memories as a child was watching The Wizard of Oz with my own mother, every year on Thanksgiving. Our family tradition had nothing to do with Black Friday shopping or things at all; it was about a warm, fuzzy feeling that permeated our togetherness like the lingering scent of a beautiful woman or the reassuring voice of a mother to her child in the middle of the night. Our tradition included football on the television while the food cooked, family sitting around the table sharing what they were most thankful for and then just when we are about to fall into a tryptophan induced turkey coma we’d settle down on top of one another vying for the best seat in the living room, next to my mom, and we’d, almost in a dream, watch this amazing movie. We were entranced for that entire hour and 52 minutes. It was magical.

When I was pregnant, I knew this would be a tradition that I wanted to continue with my own children. It was going to be just as magical as when I was a child. Then while I was pregnant with my first daughter in 2004, I read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the the West by Gregory Maguire. I was hooked. It changed my entire perspective of a favorite childhood movie. I wanted my girls to know this story. I needed my girls to know the “whole story”.

By the way, 12 years later, I have 2 beautiful daughters who love the theater as much as I do. We’ve spent our years cuddled in front of the big screen watching my old favorite, The Wizard of Oz but I promised myself that one day I would take them to see this amazing musical that was inspired by the Wicked novel. We play the soundtrack on repeat on most morning drives to school; all of us singing at the tops of our lungs.

Last year, I was in New York for business and I knew I had to see Wicked on Broadway. It was my first time actually getting to see the production. I bought whatever ticket I could find available and I went. It was more mesmerizing and magical than I could have ever imagined. It was absolutely amazing and I am not just using that term lightly. It exceeded every expectation I ever had. I left the Gershwin theater hopeful and inspired and knowing that I had to bring my family back. I didn’t even bother with souvenirs because that was almost too cruel. But when and how? We live in Indiana.

A few months ago, I saw that Wicked was touring and I was absolutely over the moon because one of the stops was near me; only a short 1.5-hour drive. I had to make it happen. It’s just one of those situations where you know that you have to do this with your family; like watching the inauguration of the first African-American president or voting for the first woman president or seeing the Grand Canyon or the Aurora Borealis in person. It’s a gift to my children; a memory that they will never forget.

So last Thursday, we took a little road trip on a school night and made our little girls’ dreams to see Wicked come true. Wicked is playing at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend, Indiana until Sunday, September 18th. If you are in the area, you should definitely get tickets and go see this amazing production.
But even if you are not, it’s touring all over the country and I’m sure Wicked is coming to a city near you.
If you live near the New York City area you can catch it at the Gershwin. It will be something you will never forget. Wicked has taken up residence in our hearts and we will never forget the night we all saw it together, not for as long as we live.
Wicked… You’ll be with me, like a handprint on my heart! Because we knew you, we have been changed for good.

Disclosure: I was provided media passes to the Wicked performance but the genuine love and adoration that I feel for this production are completely my own.

2016/09/16
Moral Blurred Lines for Robin Thicke & Miley Cyrus

The Internet has blurred lines for Robin Thicke and deemed Miley Cyrus a whore. I am also sick to death of women protecting Robin Thicke for his part in the performance. Look, I am not saying that Miley Cyrus was some sort of unsuspecting innocent child and she got turnt out by big, nasty Robin Thicke. Nope, not saying that at all. In fact, what’s the big fucking deal? She is grown. He is grown and it was the VMAs for God’s sake not Saturday morning cartoons on Sprout. It wasn’t like the Wiggles pulled this shit. What did you expect?
Be naked; be dressed like Beetlejuice. Dry hump, twerk. Do whatever makes you happy. What’s got me all hot around the collar is that grown women, mothers even, are all over the Internet calling Miley Cyrus a giant slut while, in the same breath, saying they see nothing wrong with what Robin Thicke was doing. In fact, they lay sole culpability at the feet of Miley Cyrus.What?
People, let’s clarify; This.Performance.Was.Choreographed.and.Rehearsed. He was not surprised. She did not just make up a move on the fly. It was not a case of she is a home wrecking slut and he is just a good church going man. IT.TAKES.TWO.TO.GET.A.LAP.DANCE! Giver and receiver because if you are giving and no one agrees to receive then no harm is done. There she would have stood, like a fool, twerkin in the wind.
In case you still think that Robin Thicke was ruined by Miley Cyrus, here is proof that he was ruined long before then and he did it all on his own.
Do you still think that Robin Thicke had nothing to do with what happened on stage Sunday night? If so, explain to me why you find Robin Thicke’s actions less offensive than Miley Cyrus’?
If you can’t hear what I’m trying to say
If you can’t read from the same page
Maybe I’m going deaf
Maybe I’m going blind
Maybe I’m out of my mind
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Ok, now he was close
Tried to domesticate you
But you’re an animal
Baby, it’s in your nature
Just let me liberate you
You don’t need no papers
That man is not your maker
And that’s why I’m gon’ take a
[Hook: Robin Thicke]
Good girl
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
You’re a good girl
Can’t let it get past me
You’re far from plastic
Talk about getting blasted
I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
But you’re a good girl
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty
Go ahead, get at me
[Verse 2: Robin Thicke]
What do they make dreams for
When you got them jeans on
What do we need steam for
You the hottest bitch in this place
I feel so lucky, you wanna hug me
What rhymes with hug me
Hey!
I guess even misogyny and slut shaming are tolerable as long as you put them to a good beat. By the way, if you watch the Blurred Lines video you will see that most of the Blurred lines performance was dictated from Mr. Thicke’s video.
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2013/08/27
Throat Punch Thursday~The Day Justin Bieber Almost got my Ass Beat Edition
The other morning, excitedly I grabbed my cup of coffee and jumped on Twitter, like I do most week day mornings. I could hardly stand the anticipation. I had been on a forced Twitter sabbatical the previous week, due to a back injury. A day of chatting up my tweeps ; pure bliss for a Mommy who seldom gets the opportunity to socialize in real life due to every other obligation I have to do. I was really just ready to immerse myself back into the fold of Twitter.Many of you know me as @TruthfulMommy. I am very active on Twitter and , while I was away from it, I couldn’t wait to come back. That was until Tuesday morning happened. I was jumping in and out of conversations, as I am known to do on a regular basis on Twitter. I am quite the Twitter social butterfly. When, I can tell you in retrospect, I incited one of the worst Twitter reactions I’ve ever had the misfortune of being part of. It all started with a simple Retweet of a seemingly innocuous tweet.Yeah, apparently not. What was this controversial most mind blowing of tweets, you ask? Here, be the judge for yourself.
RT: Oh & it’s Justin Bieber’s birthday. Girl, you’ll be a woman soon.
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You have to admit this kid has got the sweetest face ever.He's freaking adorable.I just want to pinch his little cheeks.
Admittedly, I retweeted it because I thought it was hilarious. I read it and it struck me funny and made me smile.The.END. Maybe it was because I hadn’t had enough sleep the night before.Maybe my sense of humor is that of a 12 year old boys. Maybe I was just in a ridiculously good mood and tweet happy.On any occasion, I did make the decision that this was RT worthy. What did I think was meant by this tweet? That’s an easy enough question. I thought it was a comment on how he is so young and sweet, practically prepubescent, and is growing up. To me, it was simply a commentary on the fact that a sweet, angel faced little boy was growing up.THAT.WAS.IT. Would I have gotten mad if I had a son and somebody said that about him? Maybe. Probably.Obviously, its not nice to call a boy a woman. I get that. But its not like the person who tweeted it was going out of their way to be derogatory or malicious and I certainly was not. (I know you are thinking to yourself “Its no big deal. Get the fuck over it!!!”) The point is that even though the original tweeter and myself may not have meant any foul, disgusting connotation be implied one of my followers did. No.I will not give you their handle. This is not about a boycott or throwing a person to the Twitter wolves.
But, this is what that Retweet earned me.
@TruthfulMommy Listen up, fool. Two weeks ago I was at gunpoint facing several cops who had a real issue with how I did womanhood. Whoa, is it just me or is someone else wondering when I started tweeting with Mr.T? I wonder if they were pitying me, too?P.S.Seriously, I don’t know why/how they ended up at gunpoint but I can imagine that was an awful experience.I’m sure that would make me a little jumpy , ready to pop of on a complete stranger, too. But how would I be privy to this information? I’m NOT your Mama.

@TruthfulMommy A lot of good people I know wind up in body bags because of shit thinking like you just displayed here. People, I had no idea!Y’all are killing each other over Mr. Bieber.That’s just crazy talk. Stop the madness. Like NOW!

@TruthfulMommy While you may think your shit is just for funsies, I assure you it is not, and it KILLS REAL PEOPLE. I really did not mean any maliciousness by the retweet. Damn, I am totally under analyzing my ripple on Twitter. Apparently, I totally am not fully aware of what a bigoted asshole I really am. By the way, can someone please tell me what exactly I was trying to imply by this RT? Anybody?Please.Bueller! Bueller!

@TruthfulMommy clean up your fucking act or get the fuck out. NOW. Well,You are following me so…. But I’ll do you a solid since you are so obviously cool tweeps, and unfollow and raise you a block!BooYAH!

@TruthfulMommy I know you by your words. That said, do not ever speak to me in that fashion. Educate yourself and learn basic respect. This was after I had responded with an apology because I TRULY was not trying to insult anyone. I merely found the original tweet entertaining and RT worthy much like all the “#Winning” and ” #tigerblood” RTs Obviously, I need to be more diligent about the twitter footprint I am leaving on the Twitterverse. I am sorry Twitterverse. I know that I am all that and a bag of Fritos but I should not pretend that I possess #AdonisDNA

and, @TruthfulMommy punches out after defending her gross gender bashing. Gender bashing? What? IS that what this is all about? Is that what they thought I was doing? Now,I’m really confused. This is what happened after I blocked them. They thought I gave up. Silly, silly tweep.My Mama didn’t raise no fools. Keep your tweeps close and keep your tweepenemies even closer!
I don’t give a rat’s ass if it is Beib*r, there are places you do not go as a cissie. Hmmm, is this person confused and thinks that I am someone that I am not.Was that supposed to be Sissy? That’s not my name.What is going on?
lost 4 followers over that mess. If you have any doubt about your ability to be a basically decent person, please unfollow me at once. Too late my friend,I’ve already gone.You’re out of my tread and soon to be outta my head.Just had to keep an eye on you for a minute or so to be sure that you weren’t planning some sort of ambush, Twitter drive by or the like.Scary shit people!

In fact, I encourage you to unfollow on genera principle. If you’re not motivated to stay, learn, and enjoy, get the fuck out now. Does anybody really need to be told twice by this person? I’m getting a whole over the top drama brewing vibe.I’m out! Peace!

and I am doubly pissed off that I had to defend a fool like Beib*r. Jaysus people, why do you have to be so stupid and hateful? So, let me understand, you are allowed to call poor little Bieber a “fool” ( not unlike you called me) but I’m not to RT that an adorable young man was growing up? Hhhmmm, which was more malicious? I think its more mean to call someone stupid than pretty. I’m just saying. But what do I know..I’m just a fool..like Justin Bieber. Wait a minute *BEEP*BEEP*BEEP* Back the truck up!Did this person just call me STUPID AND HATEFUL? Who’s the maleficent in this scenario again?
So MY Throat Punch Thursday most definitely goes to the drama inciting, twitter rage having ex follower of mine. Sorry that your Twitter tread is so light that you have to single out the one person who has a sense of humor and go into full on attack mode. I hope you get some help for that rage issue. I don’t feel the Twitterverse is a healthy place for you to be in at this point in time. I think perhaps you should know of which you speak before you actually open your mouth. You don’t know me. I don’t know you.That’s sorta the point. For you , I am pulling out the extra special Chuck Norris roundhouse monkey toe kick to the head with a side of nun-chucks to your derriere area, maybe that will help dislodge the stick up your ass.
As for the young Mr.Bieber, just let me say, YOU ARE ROCKING THE HELL OUTTA YOUR NEW EFRON DO! If I wasn’t old enough to be your Mama…
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I think Mama might have a slight case of Bieber Fever!WootWoot!

*No Biebers were harmed in the making of this edition of THROAT PUNCH THURSDAY.
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2011/03/03
Why I Did the Pregnancy Thing and Why I Will Never Do It Again
Pregnancy, why do any of us do it? They say a picture is worth a thousand words so let’s save some time..
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*Swoon*
Pregnancy End Result; My First Miracle
I know why I did it. I did it because I wanted to peer down into the face of awesome and feel my throat close itself with a giant lump of love. I wanted my heart to walk around outside of my body. I wanted to cry tears of awe and inspiration. I wanted to make the world a better place. I wanted to love something so completely that time and space could not measure it. I wanted to experience selflessness beyond measure. I wanted to have a physical piece of myself and the Big Guy joined forever. I did it because, since I can remember, I always wanted to be someone’s Mommy. I wanted someone to curl into that space between my neck and my shoulder and fill my heart completely. I wanted little fingers to wrap around mine and hold on for dear life. I wanted to experience hiccups in my belly. I wanted to experience the evolution of myself into a better version than I ever could have imagined. I wanted to feel small in the universe but mighty in my own life. I wanted to provide the change that I wanted to see in the world. I wanted to create a little person who I could call my very own. I wanted to hold the future in my arms and quietly sing her a lullaby. I did it for a purpose. I did it because my heart wanted to grow three times it original size. The love and joy quota that is met by having a child is addictive. At the moment of birth, I felt so small next to my little one who had come into the world and humbled me into wanting to make the world better for her sake.
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Our hearts were wide open after Ella and Begging for Abbi.So, we had #2!
Warning: Pregnancy Can be addictive
Then I did it again! But now, I am at a point where I am far enough away from the beginning of my babies and heading head first into big girl territory that my retrospective 20/20 vision is kicking in. The fog of baby bliss is giving way to the reality of sibling rivalry, no peeing in peace, no showering alone, no time to myself, temper tantrums, “You’re the meanest mother in the world”, changing outfits 75 times a day and picky eating habits with an even more discerning entertainment palate. I still love my girls with all that I am and for all that they are but now, sometimes…I need a moment or two to hit refresh. I have been spying small glimpses break through here and there of what the future holds…quiet time, me time and time alone with my husband. I hate the letting go and growing up part. It hurts to love someone so much that you can’t imagine a time when they will not be snuggled firmly in your lap or resting their sweet head on your shoulder but there is comfort in finding yourself again, with a renewed perspective and more bold take on life. I am looking forward to that. I frequently say that I am done, half true and I believe, half to convince myself. Either way, my heart is full and I have learned from experience to never say never.
Where are you on the pregnancy spectrum? Are you expecting? Anticipating? Unsure if you are ready to embark on the momentous occasion ? On the fence as to whether or not you want to go through it all again? Or contemplating being fulfilled with what you have now? Or have you decided that it is not for you at all? How did you come to where you are? Why? I’d love to hear your stories.
Pregnancy, to be or not to be
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2011/08/31
#BlogHer13 Bound or Bust!
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This is what I look like now.
I am FINALLY going to make it to a BLOGHER! I am pretty excited. This is my third try but every stinking year, something has come up. A move, job transfer, one of a million things always seems to be cock blocking my plans to get to BlogHer. I’ve been blogging for 4 years and it’s just time. I’ve earned the privilege of meeting my friends, leaving my girls to have some Daddy/daughter time together, spending some time to grow my career and learning how to take this whole thing to the next level. Seriously, the blog and I are about to go straight up steady. We’ve been shacking up for 4 years so it’s time to make an honest blog of it. (more…)
2013/07/22

Help my Kindergartner has been body snatched

My Bella at the moment she was born. Wasn’t she beautiful and glorious?


This is my Bella at age 1. She was so sweet! OMG, she held my whole heart in those tiny little hands.Those eyes could look right through my soul and make everything in teh whole world make sense.


This is my Bella at age 2. That small lovely face was my world. I lived for every moment that I could be her Mommy.I was the luckiest person alive to say that you were born to me.

This is my Bella at 3 years old. She was quirky, funny, full of life and happier than I thought was legally allowed or possible!


This is my Bella age 4. Her first day of preschool in Chesterfield. She was nervous, you can see the trepidation on her face.But she was excited and went on to adore WUMP and all of the cherished friendships that she made there.


This is my Bella at age 5 , her first day of Kindergarten! Since then, I have not seen this little girl! I miss that smiling, happy little girl!


This is who always seems to be waiting for me at Kindergarten pick up! Seriously, little girl..you are a crazy, emotional, overwhelmed and down right mean to your Mommy wreck. I can’t take this out of control 16 year old trapped in and taking my 5 year olds body hostage every day. Please give her back! I will pay whatever you want. You can have my house, my car, my dog…hell, I’ll even throw in a years supply of cootified Chuckie Cheese tokens for your enjoyment.Just give me back my Bella! Now, it’s almost 11,excuse me while I go face my doom at yet another kindergarten pick up. Seriously….Give me my girl back!

Hang in there baby. Mommy’s coming to save you.Uummm, save me us from your emotional state.No one told me the crazy em
otional teenage tantrums could appear this early.I think I know the remedy… that’s right, I’m bringing out the big guns. I’m bringing NAPS BACK!! Love you Baby!!…..even if you have lost your ever loving mind in Kindergarten!

2010/09/15

Am I Raising a Sizist?
According to the Urban Dictionary, Sizist ~
The belief that body weight, size or type accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular body weight, size or type is superior to others.
A couple of years ago my 2 year old told me, upon seeing a Victoria Secret Angel commercial, “Mommy, when I grow up I want to look like her.” I was a bit taken aback. But then I thought, she’s 2! 2?
Surely, she’s seeing pretty colors on a beautiful girl dressed like a fairy. Yeah, I can see why a 2 year old who spends her days playing dress up would want to be a real life grown up fairy. It’s an easy leap to make for a 2 year old.
I didn’t think about it again. Until now.
It was one of those pieces of Mommy guilt that you put in your back pocket and wait for it to hit you upside the head at a later date. How could I explain to a 2 year old that the girl on the commercial was not real. She was a product of youth, lighting, and airbrushing? It would have been completely above her head. I knew we’d be revisiting this subject again.
Am I unwittingly instilling a sizist attitude in my girls?
My goal; to raise healthy, intelligent, happy girls who were self-confident in the skin they are in. A concept completely lost on myself.
I try to avoid the pitfall of asking “Does this make me look fat?” of the Big Guy in front of the girls. I feed them healthy food, I keep them active and I make the focus health not weight. It’s not them it’s me.
It’s my responsibility, as their mother, to guide them into a healthy lifestyle without deprivation; to lead by example. Unfortunately, I’ve not been a consistent example. I’ve been pulling the “watch Mommy workout and eat healthy” then I get stressed and it becomes “Do what I say, not as I do!“
Without saying anything about body size, they see me constantly struggling to be thinner and they are forming their own opinions. I’m afraid that my girls are perceiving that there is something fundamentally wrong with not being the girl in the commercial.
Yesterday, upon seeing an overweight woman on television, my 4 year old announced “Mommy, I don’t like that woman. She’s fat! I don’t want to be fat!” Then she grabbed the skin on her tiny stomach.
I fell off my chair. A thousand questions flooded my mind.
Am I raising a sizist?
Why is she thinking about this? What’s wrong with being overweight that makes her NOT like someone simply by their size? Is she worrying about her own weight? Has she heard me say something about my own weight when I thought she wasn’t paying attention? Are my body issues genetic? Can you inherit eating disorders? Am I raising a sizist?
My head was spinning. All I could hear is my blood rushing through my body.
She.thinks.I’m.fat.
More importantly, what does this mean for her? I don’t want her to be a sizist and I certainly don’t want her to grow up to be a self-loathing overweight person. I don’t want her to think someone is less than because of the size of their body. I spent the better part of 30 minutes trying to convince her that people are not to be judged by their size and shape but by who they are on the inside. How I wish people’s insides matched their outsides, life would be so much easier. Is she a sizist?
Do all kids go through a sizist phase?
Photo Credit
2012/01/17
Tips for Surviving Summer Camp
Need some tips for surviving summer camp? I’ve got you covered. Camps are hard on everyone involved. On paper, they look great. You think 2 weeks to a month of kids who aren’t “bored” and it gives parents a nice mental health break. We always seem to forget how hard it really is; emotionally, physically and mentally. That which doesn’t break us makes us stronger, right?
We are in week 2 of ballet camp. It’s not like a regular camp where you swim, ride horses and eat s’mores with your friends in the woods and miss your parents. That would be awesome, right? No, it’s a lot more like boot camp. 8-hours a day of pushing your body to the limit. It’s basically football camp without the pads. No sleeping away, just grouchy parents and kids who have to get up way too early during the summer and are perpetually tired for 14 days.
The girls have blisters, leg cramps and blissful exhaustion to show for it. But they’ve stopped complaining and started embracing the challenges. In fact, I think they are actually starting to feel some pride in the hard work even if they do want to rip their feet off and beat everyone with them. I’m proud of them.
Epsom salt, rest, and repeat. That’s the drill. But when you’re pushing your body that hard, some things are unavoidable. Cramps and exhaustion are coming whether you want it or not. Your body can only be pushed so hard before it gives you the middle finger.
Here are our tips for surviving summer camp
1. High protein Snacks
Snacks help to keep you going when you are working out hard. Our favorites are whole almonds that can be tossed into the mouth during classes. Starkist tear and go tuna pouches because you just tear. Eat. Go. no can opener needed. Each pouch has at least 13+ gm of lean protein and only 110 calories, or less.
It’s perfect for starving ballerinas for lunch or after camp. They can just eat it right out of the pouch but sometimes waiting for dinner is not an option. My girls love the New Tuna Creations Thai Chili Style tuna on a sundried tomato cracker and topped with sliced avocado. It is delicious! And we never get bored because there are so many different flavors. Available in 21 varieties, including 13 deliciously seasoned Tuna & Salmon Creations, tuna & salmon in water or oil, as well as low sodium options.
2. Water and more water
Dehydration is no joke and nothing will make your legs cramp up more than overworking dehydrated legs. The recommended daily amount of water is 64 ounces so when dancing you should strive for at least that amount.
3. Epsom salt baths
Pushing your body hard can cause your muscles to ache and revolt. It’s the price you pay for being awesome. So if you are an athlete, just starting back to working out or a ballerina dancing her toes off, a 20-minute soak in an Epsom salt bath will help tremendously. Bonus points for achy ballerina feet if you use peppermint oil in your Epsom salt bath.
4. Sleep
You know how your mom always told you that you need at least 8-hours of sleep to feel rested. Mom was onto something. When you are working your body out, you need to give it time to heal and replenish. It’s like driving a car. You’ve got to put gas in that baby to get it going. Well, for the human body you need to feed it plenty of good foods and let it rest so it can go hard again the next day. If not, you’ll burn out and won’t be able to meet your goals.
5. Blister Band-Aids
New shoes, old shoes that or too small or just pointe shoes in general if you are going to be dancing for long amounts of time, you need to invest in blister Band-Aids. They are some sort of magical little Band-Aids that are silicon not latex and are very tiny (made just to cover the blister) and helps to speed up the healing process. I used these on my daughter’s toes last week and after one day, she was fine. These would also be great for anyone who has gotten a blister from breaking in new shoes, in general. I wish I had these when I was breaking in all those flats in middle school!

I know these all sound simple and like no brainers but they are still great tips for any athlete this summer; from the soccer field to the pool and even in the dance studio, these tips will help keep your little one (and yourself) upright and healthy so that they can do their best.
What are your best tips for surviving summer camp?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored collaboration with Starkist but all opinions and tips for surviving summer camp are my own.
2017/07/17
Fall Beauty tricks to get your Outside matching your Inside
Beauty~ Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit https://moms.dailybuzz.com/channel/style.
Today, I am going to share some of my beauty secrets. Now, I don’t share these with just anybody so you should feel pretty special. But seriously, who doesn’t want to live in a world full of beautiful truthful mommies running around all over the place? I know I would love it. You are all gorgeous on the inside, I know this for a fact from all the lovely comments you leave, and I am sure that he outside matches the inside so let’s help keep it that way.
Here are my fall beauty tips for keeping your outside beauty in sync with your inside beauty.
- Start the day with a hot bath and an invigorating, exfoliating body wash. I promise it wakes up your senses and get’s you going on those cold, dark mornings of late fall. And if you rinse off in cool water, it helps close up all those pores and hair follicles. BONUS!
- The exfoliating wash will help get rid of some of that dry skin and eliminate some of that awful itching that comes to us in the fall and winter months. If you really want to revitalize the way you look, you can actually opt for cosmetic treatments such as juvederm.
- Moisturize*Moisturize*Moisturize* I can not stress this enough. Honestly, you should be moisturizing every single day of the year , every season, from the age of puberty on but you most definitely need to moisturize during the colder, drier months. Moisturize your face at night with a night time wrinkle reducer, in the morning use a tinted moisturizer with some SPF protection. It will keep your skin hydrated and not pasty, plus help hold off crows feet. (*Also, wear your sunglasses year round.) When you get out of the shower, moisturize immediately. Lock in the moisture. And for those crazy dry feet,(* Shhhh, top secret beauty secret) slather those suckers in Vaseline ( I like the coco butter scented one) and put on some cozy socks to let them marinate for a bit. I swear it works.
- Shave your legs and paint your toenails! I know you think no one will see your legs or toes until spring but just remember this…if you feel pretty , you will look pretty. I always feel prettier when I’m presentable, besides I’ve seen a lot of wool shorts for this fall!
Beauty, you are worth it!
- Drink your water!I mean it , drink 64 ounces of water a day. It makes you look good. Your skin will glow. Your skin will be hydrated and not itch.It also helps flush your body of all that water weight we ladies tend to collect around shark week. Eat better. You need to get all of your daily recommended amount of vitamins,so eating fresh food and taking an actual vitamin can help replenish some of those nutrients that you will be lacking by being shut indoors and hibernating over the colder months. Bonus: Vitamins make your hair, nails and skin look better and grow. Hello, what’s sexier than a woman with long flowing hair, glowing, blemish free skin and nails that can beckon you to come hither?
- Whiten your teeth. I love the professional crest white strips professional effects. This best invisalign dentist nyc told me that they work as good as anything he would do in his office with the exception of the Zoom treatments, especially if your teeth are not that discolored. You know your skin will be paler so whitening will help your teeth look whiter versus the yellow tinged color they can look against pale skin after a autumn filled with hot coco, hot coffee, hot tea, hot toddies, Diet Coke and red wine! A girls gotta warm up.
- Wash your hair less. I know it sounds gross but again, the world is a drier place in the fall. In the summer, we are running all over town ~~sweating~~ glistening and our hair is full of oils and sunshine.In fall, our hair starts to dry out like the leaves on the trees. My suggestion, wash your hair every other day. I know it may sound disgusting to some of you but , in the long run, it will be better for you. OK, if you just can’t do it, wash every other day and on off days use a dry Shampoo. Also, hot oil treatments are your friend. Just pretend you are at a spa and spoil yourself. Or if you want to go the crunchy route, I hear mayonnaise brings out a wicked shine to your hair.
- Last, but certainly not least, I change my make up to all of my warm fall colors. No, your bright pink grapefruit kiss does not look good on your pasty skin in November. Think the colors of the fall foliage; warm colors. And don’t put away that bronzer, you still need some color. It’ll give you a little kiss of summer, smack dab in the middle of fall. You will glow.
These are my tips for looking like a hot Mommy in the fall. A few changes to accommodate for the weather and a few minutes of “me” time is all it takes. I promise you can sneak it in. They say beauty is pain, but really with these simple tips beauty is no pain at all! What are some of your go to fall beauty tips and tricks?
Thank you to Walgreens for sponsoring this blog post. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions and beauty tricks are my own.
Beauty is as beauty does
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2011/10/11