Silence and Support for Sandy Hook Elementary

Thinking of the 26 victims & their families.

Bern

A Day of Silence for the Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary

As a mother to a Kindergartener and a 1st Grader, the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, December 14, 2012 touched me to my very core. I sat listening to the news in the carpool line, waiting to pick my girls up from school and I wept.  How could I not? There were 20 mommies that would never get to do what I was doing again. Twenty mommies that dropped off their kids with a hug and a kiss and promises of "I'll see you after school" that would never get to see that promise fulfilled. There were children whose mommies would not be returning home from the school day. Teachers who were heroes that day. Teachers, Administrators and School Personnel who died trying to protect the children under their care.

I switched off the news as my girls got into the car, not ready to share the news with them yet. I hugged them both tightly. I hugged them so tightly, they giggled and begged me to let them go - I couldn't. I was so thankful that I had this moment. This moment that 20 other mommies would not have that day. It was heartbreaking.

I can not begin to imagine how the families of the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary feel. An entire community is getting ready to bury 26 of its loved ones as we go through our daily lives - working, dropping off and picking up our kids from school, finishing our Christmas shopping, cooking, running errands, tidying up our house and doing laundry - let us take time to hold them in our hearts.

On Tuesday, December 18th many bloggers will be observing a day of silence for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary. We will be posting the button below & that's it.

If you would like to donate to those tragically affected you can make a donation to Newtown Family Youth and Family Services. 

"Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING."

Bern

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU & 2nd Bloggy Anniversary to ME!

Just wanted to take a moment to say,

that I am thankful for each and every one of you

that takes the time to visit us and share in what we do here.

I started this blog 2 years ago with my husband following me -
we have come a long way since then and I never imagined that so many people would want to read my ideas and share in what we do.
It is truly a blessing.

There have been many days over the course of the last few months
when I felt like throwing in the towel and shutting it all down.
Being back at work and having the Lil Divas in school full time
has really required an adjustment from all of us.

Then, I'll get an email from one of you -
thanking me for what we do and telling me how much it has helped you.
Honestly, YOU have helped ME more than I can say.
You have given me the motivation to continue on this journey,
I have derived strength from your emails and comments.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
You are all so wonderful.

It is lovely to know that I am not on this journey alone.
Let's see where the future takes us -
TOGETHER!

Happy Thanksgiving
&
I hope you enjoy your time with your family.


Bern

Back to School... for Mommy!

You know how people say you should "expect the unexpected". Well, it's true! This week, this Mama got a job! Yes, you read that correctly. I am going back into the classroom - as a Preschool Teacher (with 3 year olds)! After sharing my "lack of finding a job" woes with you, I am thrilled to now be able to share this good news. 

You can't even begin to imagine how excited I am to have my own classroom again... or how nervous I feel. Not because I don't think I can do it  (I know I can!) but because I don't have much time to get myself, my classroom or my "stuff" in order. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to things like that, so not having planned ahead for this and being thrust into it last minute, has me a bit thrown for a loop.

My head is spinning with thoughts of classroom layout, welcome gifts for the kiddos, letters to parents, first activities, etc. It feels so good to be thinking of all this again though, it's what I LOVE to do. 

The Lil Divas are, for the most part, excited for me. The Littlest Diva has had a few moments of jealousy.  She may or may not have casually mentioned a few times that she didn't want me working with "cute little kids".  (haha!)  Of course, it will be an adjustment for all of us but I am confident that things will go well. It really couldn't be better timing.  Both Lil Divas are in school full days this year and my teaching hours are part-time so I will still get to drop them off at school every morning and pick them up in the afternoons. We couldn't ask for more. 

You might be wondering what this will mean for the blog? I have been thinking about that too, a lot. I am hoping that not much will be affected here.  This blog is first and foremost about the things the Lil Divas and I do together.  That is what it will continue to be. I plan to continue our "after school fun" activities at home. After all, enriching my Lil Divas is always my #1 priority. Realistically, I might not get to post every day. Truth be told, it's always been hard for me on a regular basis to keep that up anyway.  My plan is to continue to write and post as I can and I am aiming for 4-5 times a week (versus my current 7) but we'll see how it goes so please bear with me as I get myself organized and get into a groove. 

Above all, wish me luck! 

I could use your positive vibes and well wishes.

Bern

Last Day to VOTE for Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas - Top 25 Teacher Mom Blogs!

Finally!

The end is near and the finish line is in our sights.

We are so close to finishing out #1, WooHoo!

on Circle of Moms Top 25 Teacher Mom Blogs.

We can totally do this -

with YOUR HELP.

I love what we do and share here on our little blog.

This is a piece of our lives I share with you all.

So it means so much that you let us into your lives each day by reading,

giving us your support and providing feedback.

When I started this little blog I had no idea anyone besides my family and friends would be interested in what I do at home with my girls. I can not tell you how much it still surprises me that you are all out there reading this (haha!) but YOU inspire and motivate ME to do more, to think outside the box, to continue sharing. For that I thank YOU.

Writing a blog is time consuming. I'm sure you know that. I lose sleep writing posts at night when my Lil Divas are safely tucked in their beds. Yet, I honestly enjoy it. I LOVE sitting down and putting photos together that showcase the fun we had. I LOVE seeing their little faces in the pictures - happy, excited, in serious concentration, etc... That is my reward for taking the time to work with my girls and I wouldn't trade it for anything. That you enjoy it too, well that's the icing on the cake. :)

So today on this final day of the contest,

I not only wanted to beg for your votes one last time

(because let's be real - I am total doing that too!)

but I wanted to thank you for being here.

Thank you for letting me share with you each day.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Thank you for inspiring me and letting me inspire you.

Thank you for letting us into your lives.

Without you, our dear readers & friends, 

this blog would be a lonely place!

Now go VOTE!

Bern

UPDATE: We made it! We tied at the top of the list
on Circle of Moms Top 25 Teacher Mom Blogs!

Thank you for all your amazing support!

Our Attempt at (Modified) Screen Free Week

Have you heard?

April 30th thru May 6th is Screen Free Week!

Let me just admit that the thought of going completely Screen Free is

scary!

When you think about how much we do on the computer each day,

I knew I couldn't go 100% Screen Free but........

if I am also going to be 100% honest,

I do spend way too much time on the computer!

So, in honor of Screen Free Week I have decided to make some changes

that I know will benefit my family, free up quite a bit of my time 

& get me focused on what is directly in front of me versus on the web.

Here are my 

Screen Free Week Goals:

1. Be Screen Free when I am with my kids! - I am so guilty of checking email, Facebook & Twitter for a quick minute from my laptop, phone, etc throughout the day. Of course, it never really lasts one quick minute does it? The internet is a time suck for me (is it that way for you too?) - I get pulled in & time passes around me. I vow to be 100% present with my kids this week, everything else can wait.

2. No TV for the girls - I am not against television (I LOVE my TV actually) but it's nice to break away from it and spend time engaged in activities that will get us talking, interacting, etc. This week we will play board games, play outdoors more, read, craft and just spend time together. I figure I will take their lead so it should be interesting! 

3. Limit MY Screen Time - This is going to be a big one for me! My nights typically involve me sitting in bed with my shows on and my laptop on my lap (does this scenario sound familiar?) as I work on blog posts, catch up on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc........ the list goes on and on doesn't it! I am up till the wee hours of the morning because I never let myself simply relax and get sleepy. So this week I am limiting my time to no more than 2 hrs at night (my goal is to actually keep it at 1 hr but I am being realistic & know that will be difficult for me). I hope to catch up on some books that I've been meaning to read for ages, spend time with my husband, get some more sleep than I usually do and just have some time to relax! I definitely do NOT do those things enough! (Do you?)

I figured just doing these 3 things would add up to some big changes for us and that's the main goal behind screen free week. So although, I won't be 100% Screen Free (I have some commitments I need to keep for the girls school and some work that I need to get done so it just isn't possible) I expect the week will be filled with lots of family time, hopefully some "ME" time and some much needed relaxation. My life has been very fast paced lately and I have been feeling tired, stressed out and incredibly overwhelmed. I am hoping this week will give me a bit of much needed respite from all that.

Will you be taking part in Screen Free Week?

I'd love to hear what you will be doing (or should I say NOT doing)

and how you are making it work for you?

Need some ideas for what to do 

with the kids during Screen Free Week?

Well, you are definitely at the right place :)

We have tons of fun inspiration here! Check out our -

Science Experiments

Alphabet Fun

Hand & Foot Print Art

Spring Crafts

Preschool Learning Fun

Kindergarten Fun

Learning to Read Activities

Fun with Food

Kid Friendly Food

Painting Fun

I will still be posting this week so don't fret!  I will be sharing some awesome (prescheduled) reviews and amazing giveaways/sweepstakes with you in honor of my birthday.  I couldn't just leave you hanging like that, could I? I worked hard this weekend to get posts done ahead of time (that's rare for me). So be sure to continue stopping by as our little blog won't be asleep for the week. I am just trying to find more of a balance which I think is essential, don't you? 

Bern

Happy 1st Blogaversary to Me!

Wow, one year ago on 11/18/10 I started this blog. I did not know exactly what I wanted to do with it or what I wanted from it. I simply wanted to write and try my hand at something new so Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas was born/created.

Tonight, I went back to re-read my very 1st post and I could not stop laughing. An entire year has passed, so many new things have happened and yet my life is mostly the same today as it was that day. It was a "Mom" post, a glimpse into my unglorious daily life and it made me smile.

Today, I would like to share it with you again since there are so many more of you here with me now then there were back then. I think that very 1st post deserves a few more eyes on our 1 yr. blogaversary, don't you?

Tomorrow, I Will Do it All 

(originally posted 11/18/10)

I always thought being primarily a Stay at Home Mom would mean I had time to do everything! HA! What a ridiculous notion! Despite my best intentions, I just do not complete my To Do List on any given day. Why? Children & Life are unpredictable!

Here's a perfect example of what I mean:

I woke up this morning armed with my mental To Do List -

1. Throw in a load of laundry while getting everyone up & dressed

2. Drop off library books before dropping girls off at school at 9am & put in a few hours at work

3. Leave work early enough to run to the grocery store for milk, OJ & bread before picking girls up at 12.

4. Catch up on e-mails, return calls, & finish work while girls nap in afternoon

5. Finish laundry while girls are at dance class

Seems doable right? Wrong! Here's why:

My girls decided to wake up on the wrong side of the bed! For starters, they argued about everything from who would get to use the bathroom first to what they had to wear. Amidst the chaos, I completely forgot about throwing in a load of laundry - I was focused on just getting them dressed and downstairs for breakfast. Maybe at nap time I can get the laundry done.

Getting off to school was another adventure! The Littlest Diva decided she wanted to wear flip flops (not allowed). After 5-10mins of a struggle, I finally wrangle socks & sneakers on her amidst high pitched crying on her part. We're finally ready to go! Of course, the Oldest Diva now needs to use the bathroom! Now we are officially running late! I guess the library will have to wait until after I pick the girls up from school.

I drop the girls off at school (finally!) where the teacher asks me if I can come in early to help sort papers that need to go home today :) Of course I say, yes!

I rush to work to get what I need to finish today completed with (hopefully) enough time to get to the supermarket before I return to the girls school to help the teacher. Of course that did not happen! My desk is piled with things that need attention, calls are coming in, e-mails are awaiting answers and I have less than 2 hours to accomplish everything! I end up losing track of time and barely make it back to school with no more than 15 mins to help the teacher. We will have to stop at the library and the grocery store on the way home from school!

After school I stop at the library. Before going in we go over the rules: 1. quiet voices  2. stay with mommy. As soon as the door opens, both girls go running - so much for rule #2! I chase after them and decide my best bet will be carrying the youngest to ensure their cooperation. This leads to wails and cries of "put me down" - so much for rule #1! I speed  through the drop off and check out process in record time - it still can't be fast enough for me at this point!

In the car the girls begin to fight over who can see which book first while I am driving. At the next red light, I confiscate all books which only leads to crying from both of them. I finally make it home, only to realize..... we never stopped at the grocery store! Aargh!

After lunch, I put the girls in their beds for a nap and hope to finally get some things done. Nope! After 30 mins of them playing and my going back and forth trying to force convince them to take a nap, I give up! I am just to tired to fight about it. So much for getting some housework done.

By the time dance class is over, dinner has been cooked and eaten, dishes done, baths given, stories read and the girls are finally tucked in bed for the night - I am EXHAUSTED! I think about my To Do List and all that I did not accomplish. Oh well! Tomorrow, I will do it all!

*************

See what I mean? Same thing, different day! Ah, the glamourous life of a Mom. Yet, I wouldn't trade it for anything because not only do I get blog writing material from it (haha!) but I am truly blessed to have had this time with my girls and we have made many wonderful memories together in this last year. It has been a privilege to share it with you, to grow this little blog and to find our way. 

Thank you for letting us into your lives, for sharing in ours and for being with us along for the ride over this past year. I am sure there will be more changes, more growth and even more of the same of what you've come to expect (and hopefully love) from us. I am looking forward to it all and I hope you are too!

Bern

WE DID IT!

YAY! Sorry for all the bloggy shouting but I am quite excited!

Why? Well, we did it!

We finished on top of the

  Circle of Moms Top 25 Teacher Mom Blogs List!

I am beyond thrilled, amazed & thankful.

I am blessed to have the most supportive family, friends & followers
and for that I am truly thankful.

I wish I could give you all a HUGE hug but

since I can't you'll have to settle for some cyber ones

xoxoxoxoxoxox

and know that I will continue to work hard to bring you 

amazing things here on Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas!

Stay Tuned -

lots of fun things on the way!

Bern 

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Monthly Top 5 - September 2011

I have seen quite a few blogs do monthly re-caps and I thought it would be fun to share my top 5 with you in case you missed anything uber important :)

September 2011's Top 5 Posts:

1. ABC Fun A is for Apple Torn Paper Art

2. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Pre-K/K Unit

3. Rotten Apple! A Sight Word Learning Game

4. My Name is Special: Pre-K/K Name Recognition Activities

5. If You Give a Moose a Muffin Pre-K/K Learning Fun

Top 5 Referring URL's


1. No Time for Flashcards

2. ABC & 123

3. Homeschool Creations

4. Tightwad in Utah

5. I Can Teach My Child


Top 5 Referring Sites:

1. Google

2. Facebook

3. Pinterest

4. Twitter

5. No Time for Flashcards

A HUGE Thank you to all my referring blogs - You ROCK!

Vote for me in the Best of Blogs Awards - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

I am thrilled to announce that Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas has been nominated for a BOB (Best of Blogs) Award via South Florida's Sun-Sentinel.com.

Winners are selected via the number of votes so I would really appreciate it if you took a moment out of your busy day to click on the link below and vote for us! :)

Best of Blogs - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

We are under 2 categories - Family & Personal - so please, please vote for us both times and I would love it if you could spread the word for us!

Thank You so much & I appreciate your time & your votes! :) 

Bern

I've Failed Blogging 101 & I Don't Care! Do You?

Lately I have been reading so many blog posts/articles about blogging. I must say having only started this blog in November 2010 - I am a Newbie.

I admit, I don't get it all and I'm sure I make mistakes but at the end of the day this blog is ME. It is about who I am, what I think and feel and what I do. So how can others tell me what I should do or how I should do it? I don't get it!

I post when I can, I am a MOM - I am busy and I have responsibilities other than this blog. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE this blog. It is an outlet for me and a way to share with others and meet others. I just don't get why there should be a maximum or minimum of posts, certain content, etc...

Granted, that may be why I don't get 100 comments on my posts like some other blogs I frequent but I am happy with my few - it tells me people are out there and they are reading. I'm okay with that. Actually, I am happy with that. When I first started this blog - I figured no one would read it. I have been pleasantly suprised to find otherwise.

I might not be getting rich off this blog and I might not become famous (who am I kidding - most likely not, lol!) but it makes me happy to write my lil blog. If anyone decides to join me along the way - hooray! I am overjoyed to have you and I hope you find something you like and decide to stick around but that's not why I blog. I blog for ME.

Sure, I try to think about what other people may find interesting but honestly, that's hard & how can I please everybody? I can't! So after reading all those articles (and finding that I am probably doing everything wrong - according to their formulas for success) I have decided to stick with my own methods! I am going to keep writing about what interests me and what makes me happy - in my own way.

I hope you like what I have to offer here, even if it is sometimes all over the place. That's just me - it's how my mind works! I have a lot going on at once & I want to share it with you. Why limit myself for the sake of having a niche? I have no idea what my niche is & I'm ok with that, lol!

This blog is about sharing my adventures in motherhood, funny stories about my Lil Divas, our adventures in learning together at home, our family fun, great products, deals and events that are too good to keep to myself, and whatever else comes along that I deem post worthy! It might not adhere to any blogger success formulas but it's mine & I LOVE it! :)

So while I apparently have failed Blogging 101 - I don't really care! I'm happy with what I've got here! Are you?

Bern