What Plans Are You Cooking Up, On Your First Quarantine Memorial Day?

Usually we are all scattered about with our different plans for Memorial Day. This Memorial Day however we are all in the same boat together. We will all probably be at home spending a intimate and low key Memorial Day. Whatever your plans are, I am sure it will be a wonderful day spent with family and friends. I am thankful for life and family on this quarantine Memorial Day.

I will spend my Memorial Day in my backyard with my family. It's all about loving and honoring each other. I hope your quarantine Memorial Day is a great one!!!

This Is What I Am Looking Forward To This Summer

It seems like this quarantine just won't end! 😓

I won't let quarantine drown out the summer, my family and I need fresh air and exercise.

Fresh air and exercise is good for the body and mind.

My husband and I have been doing a major overhaul of our yard. 

We are not thinking about vacationing this year, we are bringing the vacation to our backyard.

We are creating a relaxing hideaway where we can feel refreshed and rejuvenated. 

Parks are also safe as long as we are social distancing and wearing masks when needed. 

I plan on having good quality time with my family this summer.

grilling, outdoor games and relaxation. 

How Are You Holding Up In Extended Quarantine!?

Yes! Our Governor really declared extended quarantine in New Jersey.
We are going to be in the house until June 5, 2020
These days home schooling, cooking and cleaning are my days.


And yes, my mom hair bun is getting bigger as the days go by. 😁

This is what I keep reminding myself, I am trying to keep up doing healthy activities in quarantine.
It is not easy to stay focus, because I am constantly reminded by the sadness of this pandemic. However, my children keep me busy and they are my motivation to stay healthy and calm in this sad situation. There are a few people in my church community that have passed away due to COVID-19. It is sad and heart breaking. My heart goes out to everyone that has a loved one who passed away and those that are going through this illness. We are all experiencing a collective traumatic experience, we are in this together and we will make it through together. I am doing my part by staying home and caring for my family. I check on my extended family and I send positive and post encourage messages through my social media. I also stay connected to my church community through social media. We are all doing what we can to make it through this healthy and strong.

I've always practiced hand washing and sanitizing, but now it is even more. I am sanitizing my house and everything that comes in my house. It's a lot of work but I rather be safe than sorry.

School Is Closed For The Rest Of The Year, Now What!? #Quarantine

Well mommies, we made it this far!

Give yourselves a pat on the back because 2020 hasn't been so easy.👏👏👏👏

I want to start off by saying congratulations to parents who have children graduating high school, Congratulations Class of 2020!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Many of you might be facing the same reality that I am, school doors are closed and virtual learning continues. Your child may be a senior faced with the reality that prom and graduation are also cancelled this year. It is a hard time for parents and students everywhere and I feel your pain. The upside is that us precious children are safe and healthy and that is the most important thing. 

Are My Children Alright?

I am trying to make sure that my children are alright with all the changes that has been happening. I want to be there for them as much as I can. The whole world has been dealing with uncertainty and being away from friends and family. It's been a lot to wrap my head around, I can just imagine how hard it might be for a child to process. I check in with my children on  a daily basis to make sure they are doing well. We try to keep the fun going so that we are not easily disturbed by all the sadness that is happening. I also, encourage my children to stay in contact with their friends. My children are reporting that they are doing alright, I am doing the best that I can  to support them and hoping for the best.

This year was suppose to be my daughter's 8th grade graduation, 8th grade dance, 8th grade trip and field day. All of that is up in the air at this point, we will be lucky if she even got a graduation this year. I feel a little guilty that she will miss out on some of these events. My son enjoyed his 8th grade activities 2 years ago at the same school, we wished the same thing for my daughter. My husband and I made a big deal about my son's 8th grade graduation and we planned on doing the same for my daughter. My daughter worked so hard, she spent so much time and energy on preparing for high school  entrance exams, interviews and auditions. She truly deserved to have the bells and whistles for her hard work. High school decisions were also deferred and so we are now playing the waiting game. Life has come to a halt, but I am hopeful and being positive that there will be a great outcome. 

Regardless, of the decisions about graduation, I will make my daughter's 8th grade year very special. I may have to get creative and do it at home but it will be special. Us moms we do the best we can with what we have, we are moms and we are resilient. 

Hang in there mommies, we are all in this together!!!

Better Late Than Never, Your Latter Will Be Greater Moms!

It's been quite a Journey, I am 16 years in as a stay at home mom. Life has gotten so busy, sometimes it felt like time was going too fast, and sometimes it felt like time was not moving fast enough. If you are a stay at home mom, you now exactly what I'm talking about. It seems like my children has grown up so fast, they years has flown by. At the same time, the day to day work can become tedious and repetitive. The repetitiveness and not enough me time as left me thinking if this is all there is to life. Motherhood is blessing, but I am not going to lie it can be tiring. I have often admired moms who are able to work full-time and still be there for their children. How do they do it? Although, I was a working mom in the earlier years, I don't fully know if could have done that the entire time. I am sure that I could have done it if I had to. I am thankful that I had the choice to decide what I wanted to do. It was a blessing being their for my children, and being present to see all of their milestones.


Home Bound

I was a person who always had a job, I held at least two jobs while going to school full-time. That is not an easy thing to do as a college student but I was highly motivated. Upon graduating college, I got my first job as a substitute teacher. I worked as a substitute teacher for 3 years and I had my first child in my 2nd year of teaching. Shortly there after I had my second child, and made the decision to stay at home full time. It was a very hard adjustment for me, because I was use to being in control of my own finances. It was scary and nerve wrecking to put it lightly. I was also going through depression and work was a distraction for me, I was afraid that being home would enhance my depression. There were a lot of factors to consider when I decide to stay at home. I dove into it head first and took on all of the consequences that came with my decision.

Rusty And Dusty

Honestly, being home for so long was a blow to my self-esteem. I stopped doing everything that I loved to do and became a devoted care taker for my family. Previously, I enjoyed reading and talking about books with fellow English majors and readers. I also enjoyed, going to see plays of all kind, and visiting museums. I was absolutely obsessed with writing and listening to music. I had gotten to the point were I was in a slump and I was starved for intellectual conversation and the activities that I was accustomed to.

Identity Crisis

I was more than rusty, I was in an identity crisis. I did not keep up with the activities that I enjoyed, and I was not giving myself the self-care that I deserved. It had been ages since I dressed up and went anywhere. I was still wearing maternity clothes years after giving birth, and my brain was completely fried from not having any other adult to talk to all day. I was taking care of my family and loving on my family, but I forgot to love and care for myself. Many years had passed and I looked into the mirror and did not know who this person was.

A  Familiar Reflection 

I was in my early 30's when I decided go back to school for to enter the human services field. I felt like I was starting over again, I had a chance for ado over. It felt like old times learning an growing, I am like a sponge and I love to learn. I made it through the program and graduated with an 4.0 GPA, I was so proud of myself. After graduation, I began volunteering in my community. My life experiences and my love for volunteering, inspired me to start  a support group in my community. Today, it's been 4 years since my support group has been hosted by a local hospital. I am making time for self care and I am feeling like myself again. I am writing a lot again and enjoying activities that brings me joy. I am learning that I can be a mom & wife and still be me. I have dreams and goals and I am excited for what the future holds.

MOMS YOUR DREAMS MATTER, GO FOR IT MOMMIES!!!

My Love Language To My Family In #Quarantine

I see mom's across the globe virtually showing the love for their families through food.
There are ways to show love to our families, having a great meal with our family is just one of them. It makes me happy to cook a great meal for my family, and it's even better sitting down with them and enjoying that meal. I love to see the smiles and the joy that they feel when they eat a meal, I have made for them. Every mom has a love language that works for their family, food is one of my love language to my family. Although, I do have many other love languages to my family, food seems to be very prominent.

My other love language to my family is quality time, we love to go on family walks in the park. Our favorite thing to do at the park is to see the cherry blossoms. We missed the cherry blossoms this year due to the current pandemic, parks are closed in New Jersey. It's been hard to take a walk in our neighborhood because of the mandatory #stayhome order in our town. However, we are doing our best to do other activities as a family, we have a backyard that we can use for outdoor activities. My family and I also enjoy family game night, we have plenty board games to keep the fun going. Movie time is also among our favorite activities ( if we all agree on what movie to watch). Whatever, the circumstances are my love language to my family remains the same. Every mom wants to have a happy and healthy family, this gives me great joy. What is your love language to your family?

Surviving Home School In #Quarantine

 Well hello parents, all of us have become full time teachers overnight, thanks to quarantine! 😁

I was previously a substitute teacher, before I became a stay at home mom some 15 years ago.
boy! that is a long time ago, I am pretty rusty at this teaching thing. I have been trying to get back into the swing of this teaching thing.

Everyone is up at 8 A.M. and I make sure my children are following there schedules and turning in their assignments. Also, I am their advocate and secretary when it comes to communicating with teachers and administration. This new quarantine and home school life is our new reality for now, I am making the best of it. Hope you guys are holding up well with home schooling.