Starting a business makes me wanna Swear!!!: I was starting to think I was the only one with th...

Starting a business makes me wanna Swear!!!: I was starting to think I was the only one with th...: "I was starting to think I was the only one with the loud alarms ringing inside my head! Lately there has been a barrage of articles and in..."

Now this means business!!!!

I was starting to think I was the only one with the loud alarms ringing inside my head!

Lately there has been a barrage of articles and interviews...who shall we blame for our children's downward spiral in the schools!!! Should we blame the teachers?...the parents?

Well here is my opinion in a round -a-bout way.....I have started a facebook page called P.A.C.E. (parents and children engaging)

I have been contemplating the plight of the parent for some time. With two girls of my own, 14 & 7, I have witnessed many different things. One being different parenting styles. Another is schooling. My oldest has been to 4 different schools... Don't get me started on that topic!!! BUT... she won the coveted Mayor's Award for being the most outstanding student in her school this yea!!.

I think of how I would have been starting over and over in new schools. Ugh!! So how did my shy, quiet little girl grow and blossom into to such an outstanding student and person? Maybe it is the resilience that comes with so much change?..the ability to adapt and chug a long like normal?....me friends different experiences? Parents who recognize it could all turn south without proper care and attention to her feelings and behaviour?... oh and let's throw a divorce in the mix for an added bonus of devastation! Seems like a recipe for childhood disaster to me!

Fortunately both are well adjusted dream kids!!! It is the right combination of nature vs nurture. We as parents are always talking, listening, teaching. I am always at the school, not so involved as I once was with my first (felt like I needed a salary!!) I know their teachers, the staff, their friends. I go to all the school events.. I am totally there to show support. I love seeing the auditorium filled with proud smiling faces! Then we hope nature is as kind well!! Those wonderful outside sources like peer pressure!!

I have seen kids fall behind.. who's fault?... what the question should the question be?.. what can WE , the parents AND school do? It's like a marriage... both must work together! How productive is casting blame... what purpose does that serve...

I hope to encourage parents and kids to run life's race together... must easier to support our little ones when we have covered many of life's paths twist and turns.

As I was thinking of this blog while driving.. I felt sooo inspired. Then I turned and looked at the car to my left while waiting at the light. what do I see?.... Mom smoking in the car with her kids... UGH!!!!!!!

Let's pick up the P.A.C.E. parents!!!!!!!!!!

When did the Media get the right to adopt our children?

Our kids are lazy!!! Everyone is yelling at us, the parents, to get our kids away from the hypnotizing tube, the mind numbing video games, eat more healthy.get outside...for shame parents.. time out for you!..

This is MY concern... WHY THE HELL ARE "THEY" TELLING US THIS!!! We as parents should already know. But what is really going on here.? The media who has been filling our kids with temptation after temptation is now the parent?. I am confused ! Media bombards us with conflicting messages in commercials and shows . On the one hand unrealistic body images..high sugar foods..cell phones for 10 year olds..glorifying celebrities running amuck...violence and sexuality in video games...Then in the same breathe, be happy in your own skin..take care of your planet..eat your vegetables.. pop and snack machines banned in schools...stop bullying campaigns.. wonder why our children are lazy, sexual charged, defiant.. confused.? So ergo the about face!

Lets face it, no matter what, it all comes down to our choices. And thank the Lord women now have sooo many of them.  But lets delve into that statement please... Because women have the wonderful opportunities to explore any career, both parents therefore work... away from the home.. long hours. Now the dilemma is can we effectively parent.? When I see the outcry that our kids are lazy, overweight, defiant, growing up too fast.. something has gone wrong. Please.. everyone .. go and pursue your dreams.. be all you can be.. but what are we first?.. PARENTS!! we chose to have children .. so why are we letting them down? Why are we letting the media control our children and now ultimately the parents?

My rant here as been ignited by a wonderful blog I read by Melissa Wardy at http://www.pigtailpals.com/ . She wrote of the Barbie/Princess phenomenon. She doesn't want her daughter getting swept off her feet by those unrealistic images. I too have daughters who loved the whole fairy princess, beautiful Barbie hype. My now 14 year old is a well rounded superstar! And she will tell you that I had a huge part in that. I have made it a point to always be there and be active in my daughter's lives. I have not one single regret that I fell short with her upbringing. I plan on the same principles dealing with my 7 year old. Yes, they have two distinct personalities but the foundations are still the same with how I parent. Just as Melissa mentioned in her blog.. a healthy dose of providing alternatives is a must. More importantly we are there to monitor. As I commented on Melissa's blog... I sat and played Barbies with my daughter and we made up stories that lacked the damsel in distress but involved stories with substance.. and of course goofy.. must have a laugh or too!! And how could you not laugh when Mattel came out with pregnant Barbie... come on..yeah had to try and explain that one off cleverly. Barbie as an Astronaut was easier!! But at least Mattel is slowly getting the picture that Barbie could possibly have a few brain cells!

We have such a hard time identifying ourselves. One part wants to be all pretty and have the door open for us.. the other says dude.. I can get the door!! I struggle with that all the time!! I am more the type that wants the man to know I can get my own damn door and you know it.. but I'd love it opened for me.. see. how complex and messed up is that!! lol Starting to feel sorry for the man in our lives.. or should I say mine!! lol.. I feel another blog!!

Please comment .. love to hear all the all the great insights into this steamy subject!!! More importantly, can we make a promise to stand up and take our children back from the big bad Media Monster!!!

TEA BAG?.. no, it isnt my latest purse design!!

I am stretching this one big time... this blog has nothing to do with purses but loved loved the BAG reference...

My daughter comes home.. looking at me with her head down..

."mom... we talked about something in health class that was.. well... I dont get it"..

Ok.. so what did you talk about?

I cant say it

What do you mean.. just tell me

Can't

K...so it was a word?

Yes

So Spell it

Nope

What does it start with?

T

Uhm.. ta tas.. testicles..

MOM!!

Well I am trying here... running outta T naughty words

It is something you drink...in a mug.. her arms are acting out some wierd actions.. I am cracking up

What!! I am clueless
WAIT.. OMG... TEA BAG?

Yep

What the heck.. why are you talking about THAT!

We had a question session.. someone asked what is was... and the teacher let another kid tell us what is was.. it was so gross.. I still don't get it

I am laughing and freaking out at the same time! My straight A, God loving, morally upstanding teenager is never going to want to have sex now... well I don't want her having it now.. I mean.. ever!! like after she is 30! My views are pretty liberal when it comes to most things. Talking about this level of sexuality, that most adults are unaware of, is intolerable in a school health class. But if I think about it sexual content seems to be running a muck these days.

There seems to be a lot of hoopla over the sexuality in shows, and especially in music.. not even undertones.. more like in your face screaming at you lyrics. Artists are going too far with the highly sexually charged content. Yes.. I do agree that some are not only pushing the envelope but opening it right up and displaying the contents for ya!! Is it necessary?.. NOPE.. but if we don't shock then it is boring and mainstream. It is the Madonna formula. Shocking = more publicity.  Her Truth or Dare tour could open up for Barney.. that is how raunchy music is now!

When I think back to my high school days and my music... I was a headbanger.. so Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Van Halen were some of my favs. Let's think of their lyrics. They had girls on the brain.. eluding to sex, drugs and rock and roll.. oh and let's throw some satanic references in there as well!! And as for the women of rock.. Lita Ford grinding on her guitar.. Lee Aaron chained up in her Metal Queen video. Is there really any difference? Maybe more explicit and violent lyrics but the same difference!

This is the real issue to me... Let me give you my theory. When we grew up we actually feared our parents. We wanted to do the right thing.. if we didn't.. there would be a nasty consequence. Parents now are encouraged to let our kids think free.. act free.. be boundary free. Heaven forbid we squash their identity. When in actually fact they don't have any identity.. they aren't old enough to establish such a huge request for the most part.  When they are forced to grow up so fast how can they get to know themselves first. So they walk around like sheep looking toward others to mirror instead of looking inward for the best answers. And why are they wondering around.. they do not have a Sheppard. And their peers.. more sheep.. the blind leading the blind. Where are the qualities our parents gave us?.. the tools to be a strong and boundaries for example so we don't veer off our paths. And if we did veer.. and dabble in temptations.. those values our parents left us surfaced to guide us back.

Temptation knows no boundaries.. it has no shame. The key is to prepare our children. Parents need to commit to this.. not shirk their responsibility and let the schools deal with it. In my opinion if your child cant read it isn't the school's complete fault.. you as a parent should be involved in your child's everyday life. If your child fails.. you have failed. If a child is a trouble maker is it the child's fault?... it is the parents! How many of you know what your child is studying in school right now?.Sometimes I think the parents need a report card as well!!  Just because you know how to have a baby..(maybe some of you conceived during one of those dirty songs..lol) doesn't mean you are qualified to raise it.

Strict is a term I am proud of. My girls know that Mom is pretty cool.. but when the important stuff is compromised.. watch out! Manners is huge for me. How we treat others. How we conduct ourselves. Respect for ourselves. I always tell my girls think before you do anything. Harder for my 7 years old to manage these ideals.. but she has displayed her understanding in different situations. She actually told me one time that a boy got his feelings hurt at school.. she said maybe now he will understand how I felt when he hurt mine. That was a beautiful revelation.. and for a 7 year old. Mamma was proud. 
I think the universe is testing us by intensifying these temptations to make the parents of the world wake up. Instead of fighting the industry, fighting advertising why not equip our children with their own protective shield that blocks conformity and being sucked into all the hype and nonsense. If we don't feed the beast it cant grow. Instead feed our children with tools that will help make them make world a better place. A place they are comfortable in, strong in values and beliefs and they are happy and love themselves. And you as a parent can smile and say.. damn.. I am sooo proud of MY kid(s)!!!!

How High is Your Fence? "Neighbourship" Woes!

People should not live in close quarters!! We shouldn't feel like we are on parade every time we get mail.. have to get something from the car or raking up the last remnants of crappy old winter!

We have great expectations and illusions of grandeur when we first move in to our money pit! Its hard enough work moving, painting, decorating and trying to make our house and home. But for some reason out come the neighbours with welcoming smiles and soothing words to make us feel like we have chosen the best house on the best street ever! We are the new celebrity, they stare, they talk, they conjure up stories about us... ooohhhhh fresh meat!! The first to make contact goes and spreads the gossip around the neighbourhood like a wild grass fire after three months of draught!

Next thing you know we are invited for a BBQ... kids playing.. it's a page out of a movie... perfect weather.. laughing, wonderful food. As time rolls on.. we think.. wow.. this is the greatest house on the greatest street. And all could be sunshine and roses... BUT!! we end up breaking the cardinal neighbour rule....

 WE GET TOO CLOSE! For some strange reason we become the confidant, the new best friend. We hear all about the gossip on the street.. who doesn't recycle,who's husband is out of town all the time and what couple go through a case of wine a week. You become the babysitter, plant waterer, mail collector because you just cant bring yourself to say no. The icing on the cake is when they open up all about their own marital issues. You are sucked in to this vile vortex for which there is no escape. You are doomed to look out your front window to have a quiet successful trip to the mailbox or put your garbage out!

My question is why are we the ones who are now put out.. made to live like a celebrity or prisoner in our homes while they go about their day.. usually waiting to see when you are available or being so bold as to just come over and knock.. and knock .. and knock. I had one who I swear could smell me when I was outside.. creepy! She would text, message, call.. all day!! UGH. We didn't ask for this twisted "neighbourship".. (my new word for neighbours who want to be too friendly). We only want a friendly hi when we pass.. or how are ya... great weather. We have friends whom we confide.. share feelings.. trust with secrets. This is a street with homes where we must all co habitat.. not high school with cliques and peer pressure. Didnt we have our share of that growing up.. and even in the workplace.? We just want to go home to our sanctuary.. where we can walk around naked.. blast tunes.. or have a quiet evening watching movies with the family.

Good Lord, where is that couple that go through the case of wine in a week... now I know why they do!!!

This blog was inspired by myself and my many neighbour woes and my sister who recently went through some crazy neighbour issues... tell me about yours!!!

Amanda

My Anchor is

"A ship is safe in the harbour, but that is not what ships are for".. William Shedd

Love that analogy.. and by now you should know how much I love to use the analogy!

SO this is day whatever in my journey to I don't know where the hell I am going with all this. One day I am focused, next day... dumbfounded.. next day discouraged.. next day..delirious.. next day... dry.. but my humidifier can remedy that one!!  But what do I do about the others?
Each day I also learn more... knowledge is a wonderful thing... always more to experience, gather, process, analyze, debate.. the list goes on and on.

One thing that remain true.. I have a strong desire fill the ships tank up and steer .. somewhere.. SOOO my journey through the high and low seas is simply that.. a journey. And for me to expect it to be all clear and perfect is unrealistic. It is the journey not the destination... we all know that gem!! Without high we wouldn't appreciated the lows.. no wait.. that is backwards!! But you catch my drift!

I will take the wheel and leave the harbour to destination wherever.. I will send you a postcard.. I swear!!

Ok... so I havent blogged cause I have been on a deep thinking exposition. One theme that always pops up with me... come on.. you know it... organization... time management... and more recently the myriad of people out there who want to help you solve those problems with all these wonderful tools of the trade.

But here is my dilemma... there are too many... helpful wide eyed success makers out there. All pulling you in different directions. The wonderful inspiring message at the end of the day tho is.... there ARE so many wonderful wide eyed success makers out there. AND , if you hook on to one.. they are more than willing to toot the horn of another colleague. So you spend the better part of the day perusing link after link and where are ya then... another 21 windows open and you really havent done a thing.

So many wonderful tools are out there now at our finger tips to help us... time is the key. Especially since there are so many "mompreneurs out there, each day is a juggling, three ring circus act.  Years ago I wanted to make a one stop shopping site/manual for business start ups. Everything from legalities, business numbers, marketing etc. Now, so much is online and the social marketing opportunites are staggering. So my answer is to compile resources to make life and business easier. Ah... the classic those who cant - teach!! But I firmly believe embarking on this project will ultimately turn myself into a time management marketing guru!! See... the method to my madness?.. then it becomes Doctor heal thyself!!  In summary....helping others will help me.. win win... :)

I am coining a new phrase.. WEBTACKS.. (tacks - direction, sweep, approach.. u get it!! )  it is the new web approach to marketing.. a new direction in marketing strategies. Which are more based on a sweep of all online based tools like Twitter, blogs, Facebook, myspace, youtube, LinkedIn.. the list goes on for miles.. all of them melding and mutating into a package for your client that is a multi-coloured smear that transcends your brain thru space and time and ... I think I have made my point with this epic run on sentence. Seeing as this is the new wave here.. I think it is deserving of its own special name.. so when we all get sick of it and move to something else.. our grandchildren's grandchildren can look it up on there own personalized portal device and go back in time to see the silly people using these primitive tools and laugh.. they will.... I SWEAR!!

Starting a business makes me wanna Swear!!!: Well... it is Monday... I need March to come in li...

Starting a business makes me wanna Swear!!!: Well... it is Monday... I need March to come in li...: "Well... it is Monday... I need March to come in like a lion!!! Not just in terms of weather but in terms of my work ethic. I want to ta..."

Well... it is Monday... I need March to come in like a lion!!! Not just in terms of weather but in terms of my work ethic. I want to take Spring by its' ears.. shake it and scream.. I got it...I have figured all this out!!!!!

But alas.. this Lion is going to end up a pussy cat. Each day I go thru my e-mail.. eagerly looking for inpsiration and knowledge. Inspiration is easy... how can you not be busting with hope when everyone on the planet has the answers for you just a click away or a newletter away.. or a webinar away. And whatever you do ACT NOW cause this offer will expire. So you spend a good portion of your morning and several cups of tea... creme no sugar please!! ...clicking, listening, reading, decifering, absorbing.

You know those e-mails begging and pleading for you to pass them on or else a plague of locusts will hunt you down or worse.. gasp... you just dont care enough to send your friends the defining letter to change their luck and their life.. shame on you!! I am starting to feel the same way about my business e-mails. A myriad of try this method, try that approach, it worked for me now I want to make it work for you....that all end up with the same message... buy my stuff!

Now.. dont get me wrong.. I highly respect these professionals who managed to make a success for themselves. I have discovered some wonderful people on my internet travels. But I have found that there is a very thin line between helping people and taking advantage of them.

Maybe my work is taking a more investigative journalisim approach now.. hmmmmmm  damn my curiosity... must sew.. must sew... ok.. maybe some more digging around.. then sewing.. I swear!!!

More of the same... but yet different.. somewhat..

OK.. remember how I said I was now obsessed with Internet marketing and such?... Well.. now I am concentrating... see how I didn't say obsessed again cause it was scaring me... lol . Anyways, concentrating on the stats from these newly found tactics.
One thing I love is the immediate gratification. And these up to minute numbers are WOW! To think.. someone has read my words.. my words...
I was on a wonderful site getting wisdom and some much needed grounding.. and another facet has peeked my interest.. the NEWSLETTER!! I feel like Wyle E Coyote.. super genius... not that I am .. but like him, the ideas and the enthusiasm cup overfloweth!!! I just hope I don't have his outcomes!! YIKES! But I do want to share his never give up way of thinking.
But I have to ask myself how much is too much... are my eyes bigger than my stomach as my Grandfather used to say after I still had food remaining on my plate. These other people seem to juggle every ball they can effortlessly. AHHHHH.. I get it... it's that darned time management.. planning.. organizing..I just cannot get away from this can I?
So enough for now... off I go to regroup.. rejuvenate... rethink.. and tomorrow will begin the planning... the organizing.. the planning... really.. this will be it.. I swear!!!

Amanda

So, in keeping with the last blogs theme of sailing off .... I have been cruising cyberspace marketing tactics, I am completely obsessed with  computer creativity. Before, I was crazy with finding fabrics that called out to me...sewing...OH.. I create purses along with my mom.. have a website too.. www.mandicandi.com  might be nice if you know what the heck I do!! Although I do have this purse on my profile... well anyways.. I must straighten out my seams here and get back on track!! Now, it is twitter, blogs, Facebooking, and one website leads you to more.. which leads you to more... and so on..

The Internet sure is a huge time sucker.. but wow the stuff you can find. And if you know what you are doing ...can be very very lucrative. And if you don't... it is just another aspect to fill you up and leave you breathless AND you are left with 17 open windows and cant remember where you started from!!

Message that comes across everytime tho...... time planning and organization!!!!  I believe they are truly the keys to any amount of success. I turned my nose at this idea before... but day after day I would end up so frustrated by asking myself what I did that day and really... was very disappointed. WAIT... you know what the real KEY IS... not the realization that you have to plan and organize.. no no no!! Here is it... READY?

THE KEY IS TO START.. SIT YOUR BUTT DOWN AND DO IT.. NOT TALK ABOUT DOING IT. JUST DO IT

I have great expectations the night before... tons of ideas fighting to get out but cant.... I envision my brain like a giant sale... people lined up for miles.. all want to be first when the doors open... and when they do.. the pushing and shoving gets everyone stuck in the entry.. big clogged up mess!! So this organization stuff is like teaching those ideas in your head to have some bloody manners and respect for the other ideas. For heavens sake this isn't an idea competition.. first out is not the best... they just need to get out!!

I think there needs to be a day where you do not allow yourself to come into contact with your computer... just go back to the caveman.. sorry, caveperson approach of pen and paper. Write down all the ideas without any notifications, beeps, twitters, texts or rings from these technological gadgets that make our lives easier and complicated..... simultaneously!!
So off I go to take my own advice of Just Do It... after I check my e-mail... just my e-mail.. that is it.. I swear!!!

Amanda

May I vent?

The rush of having an idea is overwhelmingly euphoric.... but it is also overwhelmingly chaotic!
In my head are visions that I need to get out and make sense of on paper... wait... the computer.
Do I spew them out tho?... NOPE.. I try to juggle my thoughts and apply them how I see fit. BIG MISTAKE!!!
I am by nature a creative person.. so I, of course, want to create... not write down a list and organize my ideas... ugh.. that is boring and tedious!!!
So what ends up happening?.... I end the day with an A in procrastination and house cleaning... and an F in organization :(
Now that I have officially become a PRO procrastinator, I have decided to give myself the proverbial kick in the butt and set sail for planning land... a wondrous place I hear rich in clarity.. to do lists...goal setting...
Ship is leaving the dock soon... will keep you posted in my blog.. hopefully I don't get sea sick!!