Every summer we take the “Stew Crew” to Disney World. Actually, we take the kids to Disney about 3 times a year. This summer has been so busy, we kept pushing it back. My son is turning 5 next Tuesday (time flies), so we agreed it would be the perfect time to head up. I am not sure what parks we will head to, but I am preparing for the heat. Last summer I refused to go anywhere but the pool before 6 p.m. So now I am off to pack for four and find a boarding spot for Charlie (golden retriever). I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

I can’t believe there is only three weeks before school starts. Where did the summer go? If you have been following the blog, you know I have had a busy summer. We have been enjoying the kids, sleeping in and staying fit. I hope you all have been enjoying your summer too. I thought I would dedicate this post to old school summertime favorites. When we didn’t have ipads or WiiU or laptops. It was roller skates, freeze pops and rushing home before the street light came on. How many times did you get scratched from those slip and slides? I cherish those memories of childhood friends, family reunions, summer camp and back to school shopping!

So last week I made it to Nordstrom for a little shopping. It is still my birthday month! 🙂 One of my favorite purchases was this handbag from Big Buddah. It is a great size. This bag is perfect for Mommas like me who carry a lot of kid stuff. The best part about it is the price($95). I love a rich looking bag at a fraction of the cost. It comes in four different colors. Check out the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Happy Shopping!

www.nordstrom.com

I had the opportunity to participate in Hey Girlfriend’s “A night on the Town” last night. It was a great evening of networking, good food, free drinks and a fabulous speaker. Casandra “Coach Cass” Roache from @Inspire Many was the guest speaker. She is a life coach, teacher and a pretty funny lady. Last month she went on a missionary trip to Kenya and she shared her experience. A few things stood out from her presentation. First, never judge a person (book) by it’s cover. A simple hello or giving a compliment can lead to a new friendship or business partnership. The second thing that struck a nerve was to be grateful. While visiting Africa she saw a lot of poor, uneducated women and children, but they were happy and friendly. Sometimes we complain about the little things. Remember they are just that “little things”. There are people around the world that don’t even have running water or a roof over their heads. Finally, take advantage that you have the freedom to do whatever it is you want to do. Maybe it is going back to school, starting a business or changing career paths. You can do it. Visit Coach Cass at www.inspiremany.com.

Shilesa Chandler (Hey Girlfriend), Coach Cass (Inspire Many), and Sharonda (Sporty Mommas)

I was up late last night reflecting on the weekend and planning for this week. I got on twitter way to late because I could not fall asleep and I came across this tweet from Deion Sanders. “It’s About Time”. I went to his blog and read his post and it hit home. “I have to move at the speed of life. And when it comes to being a success in life – TIMING IS EVERYTHING – it’s all about time. The only reason you know me and respect me for my athletic efforts is because my time was Prime. I took advantage of opportunities that were before me…right in front of your eyes. You can either allow your frustration to cause you to give up on your dreams or you can keep yourself motivated and prepared for when opportunity comes your way. As my spiritual father would say, you MUST maximize your moments! The moment I finally woke up and realized that it’s all about time, I also realized that it’s only a matter of time. It’s only a matter of time before your dream becomes a reality. You just need to have a little patience.” -Deion Sanders

It is about time! It is my time and it is your time! Don’t allow fear to hold you back another day. Make it happen!!!!!

I am so glad it is the weekend! I might get to sleep past eight tomorrow. This week has been hectic as usual. Drop off, pick up, training sessions with Mike and Mari… not complaining I am just explaining. A special thanks to Tracey Seabrook for our first guest blog post yesterday. The Nordstrom Anniversary sale started today. I am looking to purchase a new pair of sunglasses, some shoes and a handbag. (Wish me luck) Another great deal is from my favorite spot “Field of Flowers” all roses are an extra 20% off their already low prices. I grabbed two bunches of coral baby roses yesterday and they are gorgeous. My kitchen looks fabulous. I’m off to shop. Have a fabulous Friday!!!!! Take time to smell the roses!

Happy Thankful Thursday Everyone!

As educators, my mother and I always have random conversations about the state of education today. We were talking about how discouraging it is to see today’s young people with such little value in education and wondering why this is happening? Is it because technology is evolving so quickly that we cannot hold their attention? Is it the lack of parental support or investment in their children’s education? Are kids today less disciplined and more disrespectful? Is it the politicized “Bad Teachers”? Or is it a combination of things? I recall mentioning to her that, as a child, it never occured to me to not attend and graduate from college. The way my parents, aunts, and uncles described it… it was just the natural progression after high school. So, here i am… 32 with not only a Bachelor’s degree, but 2 graduate degrees. And that is a blessing all by itself.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a screening of the documentary ‘GIRL RISING’. It follows several young girls from different countries and their quests for one thing… an education. Here are young people doing whatever it took, under some of the most unfathomable circumstances, doing some very courageous things in order to get an education. They understood the importance of being educated. Because in the places they live… education is not a right… it is a privilege and a one way ticket out of heartbreaking circumstances. Things I could never imagine because of WHERE I was born. No one complained about how boring it was. No one failed to do assignments or turned in sloppy or incomplete work. No one was out of dress code. The teachers were respected by students and supported by parents. Teachers were not expected to provide materials. I am not going into detail about the film because I believe everyone should see it for themselves. But I will say that I left the movie feeling undeniably greatful and blessed for the oppirtunities that I had… because the education I always assumed I would recieve, is what many can only hope for.

Tracey C. Seabrook, B.A., M.S, Psy.S

Remember a few weeks ago when I said I needed a new pair of sneakers? Well, I got these really cool Nike Free 5.0’s for my birthday. They are so light and flexible. My last pair of frees are like 5 years old (lol). I wore them so much I changed the inserts several times. Thanks to my hubby, I got these oh so fashionable sneaks to rock. They make a statement every time I wear them because of the vibrant colors. You know what that means. I have to coordinate my gear to match my shoes. It has been fun and every time I step out of the house I get compliments. Who ever thought sneakers would grab so much attention. Here is a peak of my new kicks and some options to wear with them.

www.nike.com

It has been three days since the Trayvon Martin verdict. It was suppose to be the George Zimmerman verdict but it seems like Trayvon was the one on trial. This case is causing an uproar all over the country with no sights of it ending anytime soon. Today, I pray for peace. Peace for Trayvon’s family and friends and for this country. We have come a long way, but there is a long way to go before things are really equal. I pray for young boys, like my five year old son, that have no idea what is going on. Hopefully he will never experience anything like this. Peace love and blessing to you all.