I have a dream.. Can you help me reach it??

There is a mobile home in my local area that I've been trying to buy outright. It is a very minimal investment to purchase, but needs TLC, which we are fully capable of accomplishing. The home has been offered to us and we need only $2,000 more to buy it out right.
Here is why buying this home is important to me. We all are "called" to do something. I feel as if I'm called to help others - any way I can. I want to purchase this home and fix it's needs and make it available to a local womens shelter as a home for a family they are sheltering.
This shelter is dedicated to ending domestic violence in lives, homes and communities. "The mission is to provide safe haven for abused women and their children, to raise public awareness about domestic violence and to advocate for social change against domestic violence."
I don't want to miss out on this opportunity over $2000. So I am reaching out to you. I am asking for donations to help us reach this goal. Any amount will help and be greatly appreciated! Any donation will bring us closer to reaching our $2000 goal.
If you are able, please donate. Please pass this along to others as well. Please help us achieve the calling that was placed in our hearts ti help others!


Our paypal address is:
rmcapaldi@aol.com

Balancing family, work and household tasks.

It's no surprise that in 2011 moms are expected to be super moms. Whether it is a working mom or a stay at home mom, "super" seems to precede any moms name. So I want to see how other moms balance family, work and household tasks.
Just as every family is different, so is the way households are run. I find some techniques friends and family use or suggest, just don't "fit" how I do my thing. But they fit that family structure just fine and help that family function well.
Some days I do find it hard to balance all the aspects of the mom role. I have more to do at some points than others. And all the "extras" make it hard to get done all the normal things that need to be done. It is these times that I often wonder how other large families handle these same situations, what new things I can apply to make these hectic times smoother for myself and the household, and what things can be set to the side so I still can accomplish the "musts" and have time with my husband and children.
So I ask you readers, how to do you balance? How do you make your busy and not-so-busy days flow as smoothly as they can? Lets share some tips and even just some encouragement with one another and maybe we can benefit from each other! Please post below!


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Career Change

My husband has decided to make a career change. I know, in this economy?  But he is very unhappy working in retail. He has decided to renew his paramedic license and return to that field. Luckily for us, that occupation pays the same, if not slightly more than he makes right now.  It should take him 1-2 months to study for and pass his exams and also get the other relevant certifications. He may also be getting a surgery in the near future (like within the month), so that will give him the free time to study while he is home recovering.
So hopefully, in the next few months he'll be settled into a career that he loves!

Feeling Discouraged

After a great first week on my diet, I lost 4.4 lbs. But today, I'm very discouraged. The make up of my diet plan is very restrictive. Typically, I would bag the whole thing and find another, easier way. But between the cost of the diet plan and the fact that I lost a nice amount off the bat, I feel trapped in this diet. I am so desperate to lose the weight, I feel like this is working and I have to stick with it. Even though I can't have anything really. Apparently my body type stores fat from everything, so the other 4 body types have flexibility, I have none.
I'd also hate to give up and not lose any weight and 6 months from now look back and have guilt that I didn't just stick with it - difficult or not. I just want to lose the weight! So yeah, I'm down and discouraged today.

Favorite On-Line Places!

I'm not talking about Facebook or ebay, I'm talking about other websites that you visit that peak your interest. I have to say that currently my favorite website (other than my own) is Beekman1802.com. If you are new to the site, you could spend literally HOURS reading and visiting all the areas of the site. For those of you who have no idea who Beekman1802 is, it is the website that accompanies the Channel Green reality series, "The Fabulous Beekman Boys."
Not only does this website have a shop option for you to purchase their great items (which I have done many times) it has blogs by various Beekman 1802 individuals, tips on gardening, they are promoting the worlds largest vegetable garden this growing season, and many other interesting things you can get engrossed in. Check it out, also check out the show, I'm sure you'll love it!
As I briefly mentioned above, I have my own website. This obviously is my most favorite. It is a mothering site for mothers of all ages. It is a calm, accepting site. Free of any fighting, prejudices and catty behavior. I honestly can say it is the best moms site on the web (especially if you are looking for good friendships, advice and a place to open up and be yourself!) If you are a mom and want to join us, you can visit the site at modernmamas.info.

6 week weight loss

As I posted previously, I am working on losing weight. One morning I was up early and one of those spammy infomercials was on. I was in the middle of reading something online when the infomercial actually caught my attention. I went to their website and bookmarked the page to look at later. A few days later, I remembered about the site and went to check it out and see if it was legitimate or not.
I read the site and it seemed very promising for someone who was looking to lose some major weight. I then Googled info on it, such as reviews, scams, and so on.  Pretty much what I found was that it was a legit diet and most people who dedicated themselves to it, had wonderful outcomes. It is a bit pricey, but they have a payment plan, so I signed up for it and my 6 week body makeover was on its way! I got it last week and it suggested you start it on a Monday. I have to say, opening the box and getting everything in order is very overwhelming. I almost gave up because I was so overwhelmed! But I read over what foods I needed and went on the website to get some recipe ideas and prepped myself to start.
I started it yesterday and already lost 1.6 lbs. Its pretty easy if you go by the "easy" recipe suggestions. I'm sure I'll branch out on my foods and meals when I get more comfortable with the program. I told my sister about it and she actually tried it a year or so ago, and gave up. The main thing the diet stresses is a salt free lifestyle. My sister is a salt-a-holic, so after a week and  a half, she gave up because she couldn't go without the salt. We have been a salt-free household for about 2-3 yrs now due to Kayleigh's dietary needs for her kidney disease. So that aspect wasn't an issue for me.
So hopefully, this program works and I can drop the weight I need to lose! Wish me luck!