Brandi Would Love Doing Movie Auditions - And Movies!

My kid is a ham. It doesn't matter if she is in a room full of people or alone with a mirror, she will find a way to be entertaining. A few months ago, she auditioned for the school play. They were doing The Wizard Of Oz, which is her all time favorite movie, and she had her heart set on being Dorothy. Unfortunately, because her school has fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in it, they gave all the leads to the sixth graders.  My poor little fourth grader was reduced to being a munchkin. She was heartbroken at first, but then she put her heart and soul into being the best little munchkin in the play.  That picture up there was taken right after the performance. The woman with Brandi directed the play, and for the life of me I can not remember her name.  She is an actress with a traveling show, and she took time out of her busy schedule to help these kids put on the best performance of The Wizard Of Oz I have ever seen.

If you ask Brandi what she wants to be when she grows up, she will tell you she wants to be an actress.  In fact, if she had her way, we would be living in L.A. right now and she would be starring in her own show on Disney or Nick.  Her ultimate dream is to work with Selena Gomez, who just so happens to be her idol. But, Movie Auditions are hard to come by I'm sure, especially for someone who has never worked in the business before.  There is website called My Big Movie Break that can help unknowns break into the business. The site has online auditions, as well as tips, and gives aspiring actors the chance to be in a feature film.

For now, I am going to keep this site a secret from Brandi.  If she were to find out about it, she would be auditioning for everything she could, and I would have to pack up and move across the country, because there is not a doubt in my mind that given the opportunity, she would be an awesome actress.

#EclosBeauty Review And Giveaway

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of éclos Skin Care for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was sent a sample kit of éclos Skin Care products to try out for a couple of weeks, and then share my opinion with all of you.  Before I get to my review, let me explain what these products are, and what they can do for your skin.

These éclos Skin Care products contain stem cells from a rare Swiss apple, which have been found to stimulate your own skin stem cells, thereby giving your skin a younger appearance.  They also contain PhytoPlex24, which is a combination of plant extracts, vitamins, and anti-pxidants, which work together to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Products similar to this used to only be found in department stores, and they usually had a hefty price tag attached.  These products can be found at Rite Aid, Walgreens, and GNC, and they are very affordable.

The starter kit I received has several products in it.  

The Facial Cleanser Skin Prep "removes makeup and cleans your skin, purifying your pores and leaving your skin refreshed". 

The Cellular Activator Face Serum "nourishes skin cells, enhancing their ability to function like younger cells. It also promotes collagen production and stimulates the growth of connective tissue, giving skin a more youthful look and it helps visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and protects against environmental damage".

The Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream "revitalizes skin stem cells, helping to tighten sagging skin and postpone wrinkles. It also helps skin to repair itself, slowing the signs of aging and protects against aging free radicals, preventing further signs of aging".

The Restorative Eye Cream "visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and increases moisture content to delicate eye area".

The Instant Radiance Facial Scrub "exfoliates dry, dull dead skin cells and enhances cell turnover, restores radiance and evens out skin tone and texture".

The Skin Renewal Clay Mask "cleanses skin, absorbs impurities, and helps unclog pores. It also helps restore smooth, youthful texture to skin, and it tightens pores, minimizing their appearance".

I know this seems like a lot of products to use on a daily basis, but trust me when I say they are worth it. My skin has never felt (or looked!) better! Here is a shot of me before I started using the products:

I turned 40 in February, and while I am told often that I do not look my age, I know that someday I will. Taking precautions now to keep my skin looking as young as possible will pay off when that time comes. These éclos Skin Care products smell wonderful, and honestly, I could tell a difference in my skin within a few days of using them.  My favorite, by far, was the Clay Mask. 

It left my skin feeling cleaner than it has in months, and since it has gotten so hot outside these past few weeks, driving in my hot van all day has really taken a toll on my pores.  This mask unclogged and tightened my pores, leaving my skin tight and smooth.I also love the headband that came in the kit. It kept my hair out of my face as I used the products, and if you know me at all, you know my hair is always in my face! You can see that in my after picture:

Doesn't my skin look amazing?

I was also sent a second starter kit (a $19.99 value) to give away to one of you, my loyal readers.  To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment telling me which of the products I discussed above would you most like to try, and why. Easy peasy. Please note, this giveaway is only open to residents of the continental US. Sorry! I will pick a random winner from the comments on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Good luck!

Will I See Tomatoes This Year?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

A couple of weeks ago, my boss needed a rental car.  Inside, he found a flat of tomato plants that someone had left behind.  They were dried up and pitiful, and he asked me if I wanted to take them home and try and nurse them back to health.  You can see the three that survived over there in that picture (ignore Lillie, which may be hard to do since she is so adorable!).  They still look pitiful, but they look a whole lot better than they did.  I don't have a yard since I live in an apartment, so those planters were the best I could do.  I used a cheap bag of potting soil to plant them in, but I think I need something better for them if I want them to eventually produce tomatoes.  

Whitney Farms® has a full line of 100% plant foods and soils that would surely help out my little plants.  Their organic soil and organic plant food have no additives and nothing artificial.  They are designed to help plants produce big, beautiful flowers and vegetables.  You can click on the links to find a $3 off coupon, which will make trying their products even cheaper!

The best thing, in my opinion, is that there is no manure odor, which can be pretty gross, considering I have these plants in my apartment.  I am really hoping that I get tomatoes this season, but my daughters friend, who is studying agriculture in school, says that is unlikely.  If I can keep them alive until next year, she said I should get lots of tomatoes.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  

Financial Aide

College is expensive, there is no doubt about that. I have two kids in high school, and I worry every day how they are going to afford to go to college.  Ryan will be a junior next year, and Kasi will be a sophomore.  Like I did, they will have to pay for their own college tuition, which I hate, but can't really do anything about.  They will both apply for financial aide, which can be confusing.  The following graphic was designed to help take a little bit of the confusion out of the process. Check it out if you are like me, and have kids heading in that direction, or if you are going to back to school yourself.

Brought to You by SNHU.EDU Online College Programs

Goodbye Doctor

I found out some news a couple of weeks ago that is breaking my heart.  The doctor that the kids and I have been seeing for ages is closing his office.  I don't remember exactly when we started seeing him, but I know he was the one who told me I was pregnant with Brandi, so it's been at least eleven years.  He diagnosed Ryan with ADHD, and always made sure his medications were working the way they should.

I do not have health insurance for my kids, because I can not afford it.  They do have medicaid, which is such a blessing. I have no health insurance at all, which worries me sometimes.  I mean, if I were to get really sick, I have no idea what I would do.  I need to do some research to try and find some kind of affordable health insurance for myself, but honestly, right now, I don't have any extra money at the end of the month to pay for it.  I thank God everyday that I am pretty healthy, and I hope I stay this way.

I don't know what I am going to do about finding another doctor for my kids. I have made a few phone calls, and most of the doctor's offices I have called are not accepting new patients, or they do not accept Medicaid.  It's pretty frustrating.  The only good thing is that now that Ryan is off all his ADHD meds (due to blood pressure issues) he doesn't need to see anyone on a regular basis anymore.  The only time my kids do see the doctor is when they are sick, so I may end up using the night and weekend clinics for now.  I know this is not a permanent solution, but I don't think I have any other option right now.

I Choose Happiness

Brandi and I had a conversation the other day about happiness.  She woke up in a bad mood, and was cranky and crying about going to school. Her friends were fighting, and she didn't want to deal with that stress.  I sat her down and told her that every day she has a choice to make when she wakes up.  She can choose to let other people take away her happiness, or she can choose to be happy, and let that happiness filter to the people around her.I told her that every day, I choose to be happy.

Now, I'm not saying it's easy.  I have bad days just like everyone else, but for the most part, I choose to be happy.  I go to work every day with a smile on my face, and make the best of each day.  It probably helps that I love my job.  I'm not sitting in an office, dealing with the politics that comes with being surrounded by coworkers.  I get to be on the road, enjoying the sunshine (or rain, depending on the weather) and the constantly changing scenery.  I can stop pretty much whenever I want to take a short break (aka use the potty).  I could probably check out some Wilmington NC real estate if I was in that area.

My point is, I have learned how to create my own happiness.  I have walked away from the people who tried to take it away from me, and I am not one bit sorry.  I am hoping that by sharing my little secret with Brandi, and by setting a good example, I can show her how to find her own happiness.

A Mother

Written By Brandi

A mother is someone who supports
whether she is tall or short
Someone who gives birth
to a monster or a little squirt

A mother is someone who cares
helps when things get tough or life dares
Every moment she cherishes
whether it's nice or embarrassing

A mother is someone who loves
like an angel from up above
When bullies make us cry
you'll straighten them up, you're not too shy

I love you mom! You are so awesome and nice.

Debt

I don't believe in credit cards.  Some days I wish I had one, but I know in the long run, it is better that I don't have any.  It would be so easy to use one to buy lunch or cigarettes on a day that I am short on cash, but I know that doing so would cost me more money in the long run.  So I live my life spending only the money I have in the bank.

These days, there are so many people struggling to pay their bills every month, and they depend on their credit cards just to get by.  Falling behind on payments and getting in over their heads happens so quickly, and sometimes, there seems like there is no way out.  High APR's and late fees end up costing them way more money than they originally charged, and some people seek out Debt Consolidation Advice.  Consolidating their debt often leads to one monthly payment, and there is no credit check or upfront fees to start.  This is a better option to moving high interest debt to lower interest cards.

I am thankful that I do not have to worry about credit card debt.  I have enough other things to worry about.

Home Schooling Is Not For Me

Every now and then, Brandi asks me to home school her.  She loves school, but she is at that age where all the girls in her class can not get along, and she is always asked to take sides when her friends fight.  It drives her crazy, because she has such a tender heart and doesn't want to have anyone mad at her.  She has one friend in particular who is especially mean to her, yet she forgives her time and time again.  I hate that she is going through this, but I guess it's all part of growing up.

I would love to home school her, and I know there are many resources out there available for parents who do. From Kindergarten Printables to high school classes that are available online for free, she wouldn't be lacking in information.  The only thing lacking is the time it would take for me to actually home school her, and the patience I would need.  I love her, don;t get me wrong, but I'm not sure I could handle having to be responsible for her education.

So, I simply tell her to be sweet, and when her friends fight, she needs to stay out of it.  I tell her to be careful about what she says, because words are hard to take back, and I make sure she knows to treat other people the way she would want to be treated.  What else can I do?