Thank you, thank you ... you're far too kind, lol!

I won an award!! Thank you girlratesworld.com ☺

 

~The Rules~

1. Link back to the person who passed you the award √
2. Share 7 random things about yourself √

3. Award 15 blogs √

4. Drop them a note and tell them about it √

~My 7 Randoms~

1. Recently had a baby girl {this time, I'm done for real!}

2. I'm a Work @Home Mommy ☺

3. I recently became the Work @Home Mommy for Orlando's Examiner.com {I'll post here when I write new articles there}

4. I'm reading The Vixen Manual for the first time {even though I've had it for over a year}

5. I'm new to Twitter ... @CiaraDenise ... {I know, I'm later than late ☺}

6. I love reading blogs! {so drop me a comment with your blog address & I'll follow u 2}

7. I'm an author {you may have known that ☺}

... And the award goes to ...

http://www.bombchell.com/

http://www.lessonsfromthelionsden.blogspot.com/

http://www.katrinalomidze.com/

http://www.pinkcupcakes.com/

http://www.miahg.com/

http://www.keepitsimplesista.blogspot.com/

http://www.chicklitgurrl.com/

http://www.healthykisses.blogspot.com/

http://www.laneewrites.blogspot.com/

http://www.chymerehayes.blogspot.com/

http://www.beadsbraidsbeyond.blogspot.com/

http://www.professionally-fabulous.com/

http://www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com/

http://www.babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/

http://www.singordinarywords.blogspot.com/

I ♥ all of these blogs for one reason or another, so you should check them out

& tell them Cc sent you ☺

Summer, Summer, Summertime!!!

It's officially the very 1st day of summer!
Even though it's been feeling like summer since the start of Spring for some of us! Today marks the first day of the FUN season. Baby Lewis is all settled in and I'm adjusting way better than I thought I would. So I'm back to doing what I love ... writing ☺ As a Mommy, I know how quickly having the kiddies home from school can turn into a headache {I have 3 + a newborn running around here!} So I've compiled a new list of inexpensive ways to entertain them and ourselves. Hopefully, once August rolls around we'll still have our homes & sanity in tact!!
♦ Play School - Summer is prime time for kids to get lazy on learning. Head over to www.handwritingworksheets.com and print out fun activities that teach and entertain. You could also break out the coloring books for smaller kids or the flash cards for older kids. It's never too early to start practicing! Mommy perks: smart kids, quiet time & absolutely free
♦ Water Fun - It's hot. What other excuse do you need to find the nearest pool or beach?! Pick up some some beach balls & water games from your neighborhood Walmart and splash it up, while staying cool!
Mommy perks: usually free, worn-out kids after & tons of fun
♦ Bowling - AMF Bowling Centers offer free summer bowling for kiddies!! They even offer adult bowling at discounted prices. It's one of our favorite things to do as a family. The Wii is fun, but it's nothing like the real thing, baby! Sign-up for the kids free coupon at http://www.amfbowling.com/
Mommy perks: cheap fun, family time, worn-out kids after
♦ Wii & other games - Which brings me to my next option! Summer is all about getting some sun, but lets face it - it's also Stormy season. For those rainy days, nothing beats boredom like finding something to do together. Pull out the Wii remotes or the Scrabble board and get lost in the game until the sun is back!
Mommy perks: keep the kids busy, or play with them & never be bored again
♦ Sight-seeing - No matter how long you've lived in your town, there's always something new to see! Maybe a trip to the zoo or seaquarium, even a museum. Take a train ride like we did (that post), and have the kids point out areas they recognize and choose a fun destination!
Mommy perks: cheap fun, worn-out kids
♦ Movie Nights - If you have a game console you can make movie night (or day) super affordable! www.Netflix.com allows you to virtually rent movies and play them right on your home system. We pay about $8 a month after a free month trial and have movie night every weekend! Another rainy day option or you can find your closest $1 movie and take the family out for a very inexpensive date ☺
Mommy perks: quiet kids, good movies
♦ Internet - Is it sad that my 3 year old can almost navigate the Internet better than me ... and she can't even read!? Lol ☺www.Nickjr.com keeps her busy for hours when it's just me & her and I'm working on my computer. It teaches them as well, so let them go for it!
Mommy perks: smart kids, quiet time, & absolutely free
♦ Story Telling - The summer is the perfect time to get lost in a good book. I'm an avid reader and the kiddies love a good story as well. Gather at bedtime or better yet, camp out in the living room and share stories. Let the little ones practice reading to improve their skills.
Mommy perks: smart kids, fun times ☺


♥Ciara "Cc" Denise

What's holding you Back???

FINALLY I've had the chance to catch up on Tiny & Toya and I must say, it actually made me think. Really I just expected to be entertained by Tiny's {overly} Southern drawl and both of the ladies' story. I love seeing how other people live their lives. Seeing how they deal with life in general. Be it on tv or getting to know new people in my own life. I think it's important to know that there is more to life, more to the world than what you're used to seeing day to day in your own.
After recapping all 4 episodes that I've missed since the shows premier I actually feel motivated to go further with my own goals and aspirations. From each story I've gained something. Like Tiny's situation, I too have wondered if fighting to maintain my individuality will create a gap in my relationship. I have since realized that you absolutely have to in order to maintain a healthy relationship, even if it's not exactly what he may want at the time. But I know first hand how it can be really hard to 'rock the boat' when things seem to be coming along peacefully. When you finally get what you want, you tend to feel kind of guilty about wanting more. But it's human nature to continue to strive for bigger and better. Not only that, you have to be true to who you are or you'll begin to resent the other person, maybe even yourself for all the things you didn't do.
Toya, wow. The family issues I realate to 100%. My mom wasn't/isn't on drugs. But she wasn't there. To be fair, she was working to keep us out of the lifestyle that she grew up with. She wanted better for her kids, and we got it. I give her much credit for that. We never went without the neccesities, but that was it. I kind of feel like she did what she had to do, and that was it. Things that I should have learned as a girl, I didn't. Instead I'm learning as I go. Relationships that should have been cultivated as I grew up, weren't. I'm still learning things now as an adult that, in my opinion I should already know. Things that I worried about as a young adult were things that my friends are still not worrying about. All of which has made me into the self sufficient person that I am today ONLY because I decided a long time ago that the blame game wasn't going to help me to survive. I have grown a great deal, so yeah I know that my mom did the best she knew how to do, and I can't expect more than that. But it does hurt still when I'm with my friends and their families and you see the love. I didn't really feel that growing up in my home. I don't feel like I can call my Mom if all else fails. Or anyone else for that matter. I feel like I have no choice but to make it and I don't want my daughter to feel like that. I will have her back first and foremost no matter what happens and I want her to know that in her heart. All of my babies. Nothing should ever be more important than family.

What it all comes down to is that everyone is human. No matter how much money or fame you have aquired, you are still a PERSON. We all have our pains and struggles as well as our triumphs. I laughed, I cried. I'm definitely going to try catch the show. Or atleast keep up on Bet.com!!!

Time waits for no one ....

Can you believe it's already 1/2 way through 2009?!?!? This year is really zooming by and I can't help but to think about all the things that I've resolved to do ... and haven't. I've told ya'll once before that I'm the queen of Procrastination .... but this time I think it's something else.

I really am trying to do waaaay too much.

Full time job. Full time Mommy. Full time Wifey. Part time writer. Part time student,

all while trying to stay Full time ME.

Not to mention trying to get every other aspect of my life in order all at the same time.

I have to come up with some kind of plan to balance it all so that I can do all the things that I need to and want to AND still manage to keep my sanity. I know there's a way, since Women have been doing it since the beginning on time ... I just have to find MY way.