What's For Breakfast?

I guess, maybe, I'm hungry. While researching other blogs my stomach started growling. It actually made me think about my childhood. When I was younger, my mom used to cook us a hot breakfast complete with pancakes, sausage, eggs, grits, toast and juice. To be truthful, I really don't like breakfast food but I could go for my childhood breakfast right now.

Then I thought: Zaria does not have those many memories of a hot breakfast. Everything is rushed. We're hurrying for school so she'll grab a pop-tart. Most times she will just have a bowl of cereal and juice. Sometimes on those rare occasions when I feel like it, I will cook grilled cheese and sausage. Man, the more i write about this the more I feel like a heel. I should start getting up an hour early and prepare a good nutritious hot breakfast like my mom did.

But wait, my mom was a stay-at-home mom. She didn't work(until we were older) She didn't own a business. She didn't manage a nonprofit. She didn't plan regular children events. She didn't attend networking functions. She didn't drive. She didn't chaffeur us to after-school and Saturday events.

She had time to make a hot breakfast.

What's your excuse for not cooking breakfast? LOL

She Loves Books But Justin Bieber is her Favorite

About a month ago, Zaria brought home one of those Scholastic Book Forms. You remember those? It's the one that has about 50+ book descriptions with cover pics. Well, Zaria picked her 4 book choices right away....a month ago. Everyday since then she's been reminding me that I have to give her $12.00 for the books. "OK Zaria. I'll give it to you when it's due."

Today it was due. Last night she says that I need to give her the book money. Well, the thing is I had some unexpected things come up so we had to limit the book purchase from 4 to 1. She didn't like that at all. "Ok. But we're having a book sale at my school this week, too. How many books can I get there?

"Look, I say. Either you are going to order the books from this form or buy one at the book sale at school, not both.(In my sternest mommy voice, if you can believe that. LOL). She decided to order the book.

Finaly, I say "What book did you decide on?" Thinking maybe she would have selected the book on magic tricks(she loves to watch magic shows) No. Maybe the book on The Purple Princess, after all she is Princess Zaria. No, not that one either. "Well, I guess you want that scary book since Halloween was last week." No, not that one either.

Out of all the books in that catalog, Zaria decided on " The Justin Bieber Quiz Book." Everything You Ever Want To Know About Justin Bieber

Go Figure. LOL

My Halloween

Hi everyone,
It's me, Zaria.
Halloweeen was October 31, 2010. How was your Halloween? Mine was fun. I had a lot of candy but I did not eat it when I first got it. I didn't know if it was bad or good. I'm smart. I went trick -or-treating with my cousins. I was Dorothy (From The Wizard of Oz/ The Wiz). When my auntie took me home I was very sleepy. My feet were hurting from me running and walking. I fell right to sleep. What did you do for Halloween?

Where is the Music For Children?

A few months ago, I was talking with a friend about music for our kids. If you tune in anytime to any music station on any given day you hear explicit lyrics and racy undertones. What do our kids have to listen to? There, of course, is KidBop but it is just kids singing those racy songs with a few words taken out. It's not the same. I have a 9 year old daughter who loves music. What option does she have? There is Radio Disney. They play songs by artists such as Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers.....but as they have gotten older some of their lyrics have evolved. What's a parent to do?



In walks Cyphonique aka Lil' Miss Swagger. For those of you who don't know, she is Master P's daughter and Romeo's sister. She is doing it real big. She has clean lyrics and she is hitting the music industry by storm.





Now, Willow Smith is doing her thang with "Whip My Hair." This has become the national anthem for young girls all over the world. I don't feel weird letting my daughter listen to these little girls.



What do you let your children listen to?

She Will Remember This Forever

One of my side jobs is that of a publicist. I usually work with authors so I am a self-proclaimed literary publicist(in my spare time). I do, however, work with local small businesses and nonprofits, as well. Recently, I had the opportunity to assist a Detroit area Professional Face Painter (http://www.sandysland.com) with media exposure.

The angle was for a Halloween segment. The facepainter described what paints are good for children skin, etc. Well, Princess Zaria was the live model! At first, she was nervous. i mean, a nine year old on broadcast television(http://www.clickondetroit.com/) can be a little unnerving. But, she handled it like a pro. She was even able to put the facepainter at ease.....she was extremely nervous:)

As I spoke with Zaria later that evening about the experience, she told me "I will remember this forever.This was the best time of my life." Wow! Imagine as a mom or dad---hearing that.

What memories do you recall as a child? What experiences have you shared with your child that will last for a lifetime? If you are a child, what memories do you cherish?

I Wear So Many Hats That Sometimes My Head Hurts

I love being a wife, mother, author, student, writer, literary publicist, speaker, mommy blogger, non-profit executive, business owner, LSCO member and event coordinator but sometimes I get overwhelmed. There are just so many hours in a day! Sometimes I feel like I take on too many projects but, again, I love what I do. I think there must be a balance, though.



Everyday I must be a wife and mother. There is no getting around that. But I think I can chhose how I allocate my time with other "jobs." Maybe I can write on Mondays and Wednesdays. I could promote my clients on Fridays. I could perform the administrative duties of the business and nonprofit on Saturdays and Sundays(no, wait-that's my family time). OK. Maybe weekend nights I could do that. I could do my homework in the car while waiting for Zaria to get out of school. The LSCO meetings are planned so I don't have to worry about that. Unless Zaria has a Yoga lesson on that Tuesday.

When do I fit in my grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning the house...

OK. Let me start over. Wife and mother everyday. Author on Tuesday. Event Coordinator on Thursday...

Now, I need to add Time Manager to my list of duties but I don't know when I would find the time.

Ouch. My head hurts!

It's So Hard Getting Ready In The Morning

I make a promise to myself every school year that I am going to start doing better with the organization of my time. I do ok for the first 6 weeks and then things start to fall off. I promise that i will wake up an hour and a half earlier to prepare myself for the day, make a hot breakfast, do Zaria's hair, make sure her clothes are ironed and get her to school on time. It doesn't happen that way.

It seems I wake up 20 to 30 minutes before we have to leave. We're rushing to get in a bowl of cold cereal. Hair is all over the place(both of ours, LOL).Clothes are super wrinkled. Zaria can't find her shoes. "Mommy, where is my bookbag?" AAAARRG! I want to scream!!

Last week, I braided Zaria's hair the night before(thinking I was doing something), put a silk scarf on to keep everything in place and wouldn't you know it.....The next morning(Zaria is a wild sleeper). I couldn't find half of her barrettes. Somehow they came out while she slept. We're looking under the pillow, behind the bed, under the doll's arm----They were on the floor behind the rug!

I can't win for losing!

This week I promised that I would be more organized. I will go to bed early, lay out crisply ironed clothes the night before, do Zaria's hair(minus the barrettes until the morning), get up an hour earlier and fix a hot breakfast before getting her to school on time.

We've only been late twice......and today is Tuesday! HELP!