Winter Blizzard Checklist

I have been stuck in the house for the past five days with over 24" of snow already on the ground and 11-15" more coming tonight and tomorrow.  Schools are closed for the rest of the week, the kids are losing their minds (and so am I), and I am getting waaay off track with my "healthy" eating habits!

Below is my checklist from the past five days:

• Keep a close eye on the news for school closings - check
• Sleep in late as many days as possible - check
• Go stir crazy from being stuck in the house for five days - check
• Unsuccessfully attempt to make it to work this morning - check
• Play UNO with the kids - check
• Play the Wii with the kids - check
• Do laundry - check
• Clean the house - check
• Do more laundry - check
• Watch waaay too much Phineas and Ferb with the kids - check
• Watch waaay too many Disney movies with the kids - check
• Eat waaay too many cookies, chips, and marshmallows from sheer boredom - check
• Look out the window and wish I could go to the mall, to work, or anywhere - check
• Get online and check my Facebook account 100 times - check
• Get online and hope someone Tweets me - check
• Hope my 2yo and 3yo sons will stop stalking me for just five minutes while I take a shower - check
• Realize that my sons will never stop stalking me while we're home together - check
• Visit the fridge at least 10 times each day - check
• Drink waaay too many sodas - check
• Check my phone to be sure it's still working and hope somebody calls me to chit chat - check
• Express shock and disbelief that the kids will be home for six more days with no school - check
• Express shock and disbelief that it is snowing yet AGAIN - check

Cheryl

Making the Most of the 2010 Winter Blizzard in Maryland

For most of the week the weather forecasters have been warning that there would be extremely heavy snowfall in the DC/MD/VA area and residents should prepare to be snowed-in for at least 2-3 days. The prediction called for 19-30" of snow. People began clearing the shelves at all the local grocery stores... not even a loaf of bread was available. All the local hardware stores sold out of every shovel, snow pick, and bag of ICE to melt the impending snow. Even my employer, WHO NEVER EVER EVER closes, CLOSED for the day on Friday in preparation for this massive Winter Blizzard! Being the person I am, I doubted this "unrealistic and unlikely" weather prediction. But low-and-behold the forecast was absolutely correct. My family and I have been watching this non-stop gorgeous, soft white snow fall since Friday afternoon and it has not stopped. In fact, it is not expected to stop until some time around 10pm tonight. I don't believe I have seen this much snow since I was a little girl. Although a bit inconvenient the snow is actually a breath of fresh air as it gives me the perfect excuse to stay in my pjs ALL DAY LONG, send the kids out for a while to play in the snow, sip on hot chocolcate, make frequent trips to the refrigerator to reload on food, enjoy time with hubby and the kids playing board games, watching movies and playing the Wii, and not feeling guilty about any of it.  So instead of complaining I am just going to enjoy!

Cheryl

Honored To Be "Outstanding Business Woman of the Year"

The votes are in and I am honored to be named the Winner's Summit first "Outstanding Business Woman of the Year" (http://thewinnerssummit.com/cheryl-wood).  This prestigious award will be presented to me at the Winner's Summit Conference and Expo on March 19th, featuring an array of successful, dynamic women entrepreneurs.  The event also boasts a special performance by R&B artist, Tony Terry.  What a treat this will be!  If you are interested in attending please visit http://thewinnerssummit.com/ and enter the code "moms" for a phenomenal discount to this unprecedented event.

CEO and Owner

Wife and Mother of 3

Full-Time Career Woman

Blogger

Social Networker

College Student


Cheryl

Mocha, Mocha -- How I Love (And Need) Thee

At least four-out-of-five weekday mornings I anxiously anticipating getting to work -- on the other side of town after my morning hustle & bustle of dropping off the kids, rushing to get parking, and taking two crowded metro trains -- in order to settle-in and head downstairs for my morning ritual, a Grande Skim Mocha with Whip from Starbucks.  Fortunately, my love of Starbucks mocha's is well-known to those around me and I received a generous amount of Starbucks gift cards during the holidays.  So my morning RUSH has technically been FREE ever since December.  But today was the last of the freebies.  I sadly swiped my last gift card and even had to come out of pocket with $2 this morning.  But it was sooooo worth it.  After a grueling kickboxing class last night and not getting to bed until after midnight I needed that extra pick-me-up to make it through the morning.  THANK YOU Starbucks for such a tasty drink that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy in the mornings!

(The pics were taken with my not-so-good phone camera).

Cheryl

REVIEW: So Smart! DVDs

Last weekend I received two educational childrens dvd's for review from So Smart! Productions. So Smart! is a leading creator and producer of top-rated educational entertainment products for young children. I received the Baby’s First-Word Stories "Get Dressed" dvd and King Otis and The Kingdom of Goode "Phoose's Tale of Patience" dvd. My kids have been watching both dvds NON-STOP we received them. The funniest thing is that both my sons claim the dvd's as their own. My youngest son, who turned 2yrs old in October, claims the "Get Dressed" dvd as "HIS" dvd and my oldest son, who turned 3yrs old in December, claims the "Tale of Patience" dvd. Everyday when we get home both of them emphatically say, "mommy I want to watch MY dvd." In fact, my oldest son oftentimes doesn't even get out of his coat and hat without sitting in front of the television to watch this educational dvd. I have simply been amazed at how much they enjoy the dvds and want to watch them repeatedly. Believe it or not, even my 6yr old daughter enjoys the dvds.

The "Get Dressed" dvd is a series of short stories teaching younger children to appropriately dress themselves based on the weather or the activity they are engaging in. This So Smart! dvd introduces basic words about getting dressed and builds sentences and stories based around friends Edward, Iggy, Larry and Dee Dee. At the end of each short story the dvd asks the child to repeat words learned from the story. This dvd offers a very gentle pace, engaging imagery, and soothing music making it perfect for young children 1 to 3 years old, who are just beginning to explore the rich world of language.

Every parent will appreciate the "Tale of Patience" dvd as it teaches children the importance of having patience, sharing with others, and having respect for others. The dvd uses captivating stories, catchy songs, and lovable characters as Phoose and his fish-like friends --growing up in the Nowaki desert-- are tired of waiting for water. But after a series of misadventures, it is patience that finally makes their dreams of swimming come true! This dvd even offers a bonus of behind-the-scenes storyboards, two music videos, “Draw the Characters” on-screen tutorial, printable coloring sheets and trailers. (PC and Mac Compatible)

Trusted by parents for over a decade, So Smart! remains among the leaders in the baby-toddler video category because it uses:

• Gently animated, bright colors and simple images that are specially developed for babies and toddlers
• Minimal, smooth scene transitions, choreographed like a ballet of images woven together, while avoiding the use of sudden changes in viewpoint or camera angles, which can confuse and over-stimulate babies and toddlers
• Slow, easy-to-follow pace that encourages interaction and participation—usually in the form of laughing, clapping, "talking," and dancing; a unique technique that builds each new subject matter using different shapes, creating a puzzle-like effect and the excitement of "What happens next?"
• Narration, varied contexts and repetition to introduce first words, allowing babies to grasp the sounds of words and eventually, their meanings. Read our Our Ten Tips on Language for Little Ones
• Original artwork and adorable characters that are engaging for this age group; specially-selected classical music, or original music scores, that are enjoyable for both little ones and their parents
• Fun additional activities that are included in each DVD, for parents and children to do together. 

As a mother of three who is always conscious about what my children view, I highly recommend So Smart! products. In addition to dvds, So Smart! also offers music cds for children, multipacks and gift sets. Products offered by So Smart! are very reasonably priced and offer a bang for your buck.

 

Visit So Smart! website to purchase products:

http://www.sosmart.com/

Follow So Smart! on FACEBOOK:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/So-Smart-Productions/123496430761?v=wall

There's No Controlling Mother Nature

My daughter and I were extremely excited about her 6th birthday party with all her friends on Saturday.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature had a different plan.  Although I was aware that the forecast called for some snow, it was only expected to be a few light snow showers so I continued with my plans, got up early on Saturday to get my daughter's hair done for the party, packed everything in my car to take to the party site, and even sent out reminder emails telling everyone the party would go on!  Around 10am the snowfall began and it only got worse as the hours passed.  Being the person I am I was defiant against Mother Nature and was convinced that I would still make this party happen.  What happened?  I lost (LOL).  The roads were bad, my vendors started calling me to cancel, and parents started emailing me to tell me the roads were just too bad for them to still come.  So, much to my dismay, I had to pack everything back in my car and start notifying everyone that the party had to be postponed.  Fortunate for me several of my daughter's friends' parents did brave the bad weather and show-up for the party which made the "sting" of having to postpone the party much less dramatic for my baby girl.  She was so excited to see her friends that I think she completely forgot the party had been postponed.  She laughed and played with them for a while until it was time for us to trek back home and enjoy watching the snowfall from our windows.  We got home, got in our pjs, and my daughter enjoyed playing with the bday gifts she received from her friends who showed up for the party.

The plan was to reschedule the party for next Saturday but can you believe they're calling for even more snow next weekend too.  I guess my baby will get her party AT SOME POINT in the near future.

FREE Pampers... Don't Miss Out!

Like me, most moms I know are on a sure and tried budget. As frugal moms we pride ourselves on clipping coupons and finding sales events for everything from baby food to onesies and diapers. But I must admit I don't find many opportunities to get something FREE, especially in today's economy. That is why I am so excited to let all my mommy readers know that Pampers is offering FREE sample 3-packs of their new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max tomorrow morning. Simply click the link below tomorrow for your FREE sample pack.
http://www.pampers.com/en_US/home/

Pampers has completely redesigned its Cruisers diapers making them 20 percent thinner with no sacrifice in performance. This new high-performance diaper is Pampers’ biggest innovation in 25 years! The new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max officially hits shelves in March!

Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max offers the following benefits:
• New Dry Max technology to help lock wetness in up to 12 hours. The new thinner core gives baby freedom to move and play with all-around softness to keep him comfortable so playtime never ends.
• 20 percent less bulk, making it Pampers' thinnest diaper and driest ever. The thinner design allows mom to carry or store more of them within less space.
• Helps reduce impact on the environment. If current North American Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers users switched to the new Pampers with Dry Max diaper, they could together throw away the weight of a billion less diapers every three years.
• Will be offered for the same price as current Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers.
• Softer outer cover for comfort inside and out (pricing at sole discretion of the retailer).
• Tapered design.
• Sesame Street® characters.

If you think that's great, it only gets better.  Not only will you receive a FREE 3-pack of Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max but you will also have the opportunity to win a year's supply of Pampers diapers.  Pampers has teamed up with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to provide families with a year's supply of Pampers diapers.  If your sample pack includes a diaper stamped Team USA (randomly inserted in select sample packs), your baby wins a year’s supply of Pampers diapers!  In addition, Pampers is also providing babies across the country the opportunity to be in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics!  Here’s how, starting February 15, moms and dads can go to Pampers.com to load a video of their baby crawling left to right.  Pampers will compile randomly selected videos into a Pampers commercial that will air during the closing ceremony of the Olympics!

For many Olympic athletes, bringing home a medal is not just their dream – it’s their family dream.  And as such, Pampers is working with two medal contender athletes – 2006 Olympic gold medal speed skater, Chad Hedrick and 2007 World Skeleton, Noelle Pikus-Pace - as they and their families prepare to “go for gold” at the 2010 Olympic games.

Be sure to request your FREE Pampers sample pack online tomorrow morning at http://www.pampers.com/en_US/home/

STAY TUNED for my personal Review & Giveaway of great Pampers products in coming weeks.


Follow Pampers on FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/pampers?v=app_260676879928
Follow Pampers on TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/Pampersvillage

Moms R The Best presents a new collection of tees

Moms R The Best is thrilled to present its new collection of awesome tees for the empowerment of young girls, women, and moms alike (http://momsrthebest.com/.  We are prepping for a very successful Mother's Day with this new collection!  Check out the tees below and leave us a comment letting us know which is your favorite tee.

Cheryl

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY JAYANA

My darling daughter, Jayana, turned 6 years old on Wednesday, January 27th.  I can still vividly recall all I had to endure in order to have a successful pregnancy -- complete bed rest, over nine weeks straight in the hospital confined to my room, doses of turbutaline, magnesium sulfate and other drugs to avoid losing her because contractions started at 18 weeks of pregnancy, a false alarm transport by ambulance over 80 miles from one city to another for fear of an early, possibly fatal, delivery and, finally, the subsequent transport by ambulance over 80 miles in a snow storm resulting in her delivery by emergency c-section at 31 1/2 weeks.  My baby girl weighed in at 4lbs, 2oz. and remained at Johns Hopkins NICU for approximately one month.  She was then moved to a less critical facility until she was finally strong enough to come home.  I will never forget that joyous day.

Of course, being the princess that she is, there's a BIG birthday party planned for this weekend.  Mommy needs a part-time job just to keep up with all the glorious expectations this little girl has.  I keep asking her to direct me to the tree where I can go and pick money.  She then comes back to reality and responds, "okay mommy, I know, money doesn't grow on trees."  Although we've planned a big party for the weekend, dad and I simply couldn't let the day of her special birth pass without celebrating.  So, per Jayana's request, we had a wonderful family dinner at Red Hot & Blue, a local Memphis BBQ style restaurant.  It was absolutely perfect.  Granted, our kids were pretty much out of control as usual and we probably said "stop" "sit down" "don't touch that" "don't do that" about 100 times... but that's life as a parent!  They're only little once so you have to enjoy it and embrace it.

As my precious daughter gets older I do feel closer to her.  The maturity of 6 year old kids nowadays constantly amazes me.  Sometimes she says things that just melt my heart.  Needless to say I am very excited to see her continue to develop and grow into a gorgeous young woman with strong morals and values similar to what my mom instilled in me.  I love you Jayana.  You will always be mommy's princess!!


Cheryl

Appreciating My Fabulous Followers

I am thrilled to have over 200 followers on my blog although I've only been blogging since September 2009.  I just want to say THANKS to every follower who continues to take the time to follow me, read my blogs, and comment.  Blogging is very enjoyable to me and I enjoy sharing my life's journeys with you.  Please tell your friends to come, visit, and follow too!

Thanks.


Cheryl

Help Me To Win "Outstanding Business Woman of the Year"

I am thrilled to announce that I am among the top three finalists to win the "Outstanding Business Woman of the Year" Award from The Professional Black Woman.  I need all my mommy bloggers, women entrepreneurs, mothers, wives, and anyone willing to support me to PLEASE vote.

Anyone who knows me or reads my blog regularly knows how devoted I am to my children and my business, Moms R The Best (http://momsrthebest.com/).  Some may say "it's just a t-shirt business" but to me it's so much more.  Launching and growing Moms R The Best has allowed me to empower mothers and women of all backgrounds to recognize their true value and to say what's really on their minds.  Expressing ourselves, whether verbal or written, is a significant form of empowerment whether it's plastered on a t-shirt, written across a hat, posted on a billboard or expressed in a therapy session!  So I plan to continue working hard at growing my business and gaining as much recognition for this movement of empowering women as possible.  Please support me!

HOW TO VOTE:

1. If you're on Facebook just join "The Professional Black Woman" Group, then click http://thewinnerssummit.com/vote-here-for-the-oustanding-business-woman-of-the-year which takes you to the Winner's Summit page, scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can read more about me, then click the red button and vote for CHERYL WOOD.

OR

2. If you're NOT on Facebook you must join the PBW online group at http://theprofessionalblackwoman.ning.com/, then click on the link to vote for me at http://thewinnerssummit.com/vote-here-for-the-oustanding-business-woman-of-the-year which takes you to the Winner's Summit page, scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can read more about me, then click the red button and vote for CHERYL WOOD.

Voting ends Sunday, January 31, 2010! You must be a part of The Professional Black Woman online or Facebook Group to vote.

THANK YOU!!


Cheryl

REVIEW: Carol’s Daughter Magical Beauty Collection

Disney Consumer Products and Carol’s Daughter, the authentic hair, fragrance and body care line inspired by nature, have collaborated in celebration of Disney’s newest princess in more than ten years and the first African American Princess, Tiana. The Carol’s Daughter Magical Beauty Collection, inspired by Disney’s film The Princess and the Frog which began showing in theaters on December 11, 2009, is a four-piece line celebrating Princess Tiana’s hard work, determination, natural beauty, and universal appeal. Gentle enough for children and appealing to parents, the fanciful product line delivers the benefits of natural ingredients such as aloe leaf juice, sunflower seed oil, cranberry fruit extract and lemon peel. Each product features an inspirational message reflecting the values and lessons that Tiana learns during her journey, making the Magical Beauty Collection a way for girls to connect with Disney’s newest princess.

Needless to say, my 5-year-old daughter was thrilled to receive the shampoo, conditioner, and bubble bath from the Magical Beauty Collection and insisted on taking a bath and having her hair shampooed right away. She has been a Princess Tiana fan ever since we saw the movie with her Girl Scouts Troop a few days after it was released in theaters. The movie was simply magical and captivated both adults and children in the audience. Princess Tiana gives women and girls a new role model, who exemplifies all of the qualities of a true princess, and the Magical Beauty Collection captures the essence of Tiana’s story of inner beauty and believing in your dreams. When the Magical Beauty Collection arrived, I could see the sparkle in my daughter’s eyes as though she had been longing for these products in order to indulge in a feeling of luxury and lather, befitting of a true princess. As a mother, I was tickled to see her excitement and comforted by the fact that these products were made of natural, gentle ingredients. I was even more impressed with how well the products lathered despite the gentle ingredients. Each product contains an adorable photo from the movie along with an inspirational message reflecting the values and lessons that Tiana learns during her journey.

The Magical Beauty Collection is a truly unique, inspirational product line that every young princess will adore. The products are gentle and natural, and very affordable.  Not to mention the priceless memories you will gain from seeing the excitement and joy your child experiences from these products.

The Magical Beauty Collection by Carol’s Daughter includes:

Shampoo (“The Beauty Within”): Designed with a child’s delicate hair in mind, this cleanser gently removes dirt and residue without stripping hair of natural oils. The formula leaves hair silky smooth and soft to the touch. Renowned for its soothing, nourishing and calming properties, aloe leaf juice helps condition dry scalp and hair. SRP, $10.00

Conditioner (“Inner Shine”): This moisturizing conditioner provides long-lasting softness and shine, leaving hair more manageable for easy combing and styling. Sunflower seed oil cleanses as olive fruit oil and aloe leaf juice condition and hydrate. Protein-rich sweet almond promotes hair growth and adds luster while silk amino acids detangle for improved control and manageability. SRP, $10.00

Bubble Bath (“Sharing Means Caring”): This moisturizing bubble bath provides long-lasting bubbles that make bath time fun without irritation or drying delicate skin. The ultra rich formula cleanses and moisturizes skin with natural ingredients like aloe leaf juice. SRP, $8.00

Hair Detangler (“Dream Big”): This ‘wonder-product’ spray releases tangles while protecting hair against breakage, soothing tender scalps as it conditions. Aloe leaf juice nourishes and calms as cranberry fruit extract helps maintain a healthy, itch-free scalp. Lemon peel extract acts as a natural antiseptic, treating hair concerns while nourishing the scalp and adding shine. SRP, $10.00

Magical Beauty Collection Gift Set: Housed in a reusable tote, it includes shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath and a roseshaped loofah sponge. SRP, $24.00

The Magical Beauty Collection by Carol’s Daughter is available at Carol’s Daughter Stores, select Disney Stores, Macy’s, Dillard’s, carolsdaughter.com and DisneyStore.com. Customers may also contact Carol’s Daughter at (877) 540-2101.


Order products from Carol's Daughter:
http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

Follow Carol's Daughter on TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/carols_daughter

Follow Carol's Daughter on FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carols-Daughter/111744862223?v=wall&viewas=1048669640&ref=nf

Living a healthier lifestyle in 2010

One of my biggest goals for 2010 is to begin living a healthier lifestyle including changing my eating habits and incorporating a regular routine of exercise into my schedule.  In December 2009, I prepped for this change by signing up for a 5-week kickboxing course at a local gym which would start on January 4th.  I figured this would give me time to make it through the holidays and have a fresh start in the new year.  I would be remised if I didn't mention that before I had kids I was the picture of health & fitness!  Not only did I work out twice a day, but I watched every calorie I put in my mouth and lead a very active life.  But as every mom knows, once you have kids that mostly changes.  The kids become top priority and there's little time for mommy.  And considering how close in age my three little ones are we've mostly been hibernating in the house for the past two years because it's been almost impossible to take the boys, who are 10 months apart, out for activities without later asking myself, "why didn't I just stay at home."  So my lifestyle has become very sedentary in recent years.  I've had a desire to get healthy and fit again but there's always been an excuse or reason -- I'm too tired from working all day, I need to spend any free time I have as quality time with the kids, a membership at the gym is too expensive, I don't like doing workout tapes at home by myself, I prefer to take a class and there aren't any late evening classes.... blah blah blah.  Well, my excuses were finally halted when I discovered a late evening kickboxing class at my local gym.  The class is two nights each week from 8:45-9:45pm.  Now most people ask, "well aren't you exhausted by that time, and more tempted not to go back out of the house."  My answer, "of course, but there's no REAL excuse."  Taking a class that starts at 8:45pm affords me enough time to get home from work, pick up the kids, get home and give them baths, feed them dinner, and do homework... and still get out of the house in time to make my class.  What more can a working mommy ask for!  So, over the next few months I will post pictures and keep you updated on my progres.  Naturally, I'm a bit hesitant about posting "Before" pictures because I'm not sure what's really going to transpire over the next six months, but I figure it will be more incentive to actually work hard at losing my goal of 60-70 pounds... YES, THAT MUCH!  LOL

Below you will see my "Before" picture and some of the healthy eating habits I've been trying to incorporate more consistently, along with the new workout tennis my wonderful hubby bought me to help motivate me in my weight-loss mission.  Enjoy this journey with me!

Cheryl