Mommy of Many®

With gratitude for all who have given of themselves for our country, I plan to enjoy this rare day off with the kids!

I know I’ve been silent over here for the last few weeks. It’s been a whirlwind!

As you know, I started working full-time for a marketing agency as their Social Media Manager. I’ve enjoyed taking care of promoting small businesses and events through the social media outlets of Facebook and Twitter. Good Stuff! I’ve learned a lot in the short time I’ve been at the agency. One of the things I’ve learned is that this is the wrong time for me to take on full-time work. Unfortunately, it’s just not feasible for me to be in an office from 8-5 right now. With summer fast approaching and some personal issues that my kids are having, it’s become clear that I need to be at home as much as possible. So after only 3 weeks on the job, I’ve given my 30-Day notice. I will continue to work into mid June and then it’ll be back to part-time work for this M.O.M. Perhaps after summer I can look at that option again, but right now I’m needed at home. ~sigh~

In other news-Kateri graduated from college a couple of weeks ago! With the help of my sisters and some friends, I was able to take 4 days and go out to celebrate her achievement with her. I hadn’t been out to her since her Freshman year, so this was a LONG overdue trip! I was so SO proud watching her! She’s worked hard over the last 4 1/2 years and now she’s onto Grad School. Her dad and I were both able to be there to watch this marker in her life.

Before the Baccalaureate Mass

After the mass

Receiving her diploma (pic captured from the live stream that was watched by family members at home)

A new graduate!

Celebratory drink

I can’t believe my baby girl, the one who started my journey of adulthood and motherhood is a college graduate! Wow! Life really flies by!

Today I’m going to spend the day with the kiddos at a friends’ pool enjoying some Mommy chit chat and watching kiddos enjoy a day of relaxed fun. Lex will spend a good portion of the day in a Ninja Class, while the rest of us are at the pool. In case you didn’t know, Lex’s lifetime aspiration is to be a Ninja and one of my client’s is a martial arts studio and today they’re offering a fun, introductory class to all things Ninja. Good Stuff!

My little ninja will get some swimming time after he learns the tricks of the trade. Pictures to follow!

That’s it from over here. Just taking it all One-Day-At-A-Time and spending a good portion of each day in gratitude for all the fabulous people who are in my daily network, who step up to help me make it all happen. I am a fortunate M.O.M. to have several loving, giving, helpful people in my life and the lives of my children.

Doing the Dance of the Children~

I’ve been quieter and quieter over here but it’s not for lack of things to say. There’s been so much going on that I’ve just been too busy to sit down and put my thoughts and actions into words. However, yesterday I began a new journey which can and will take me and the kiddos into the future.

For the last three months I’ve been working with a marketing company and have been providing daily content and management for clients on their social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter). I was working part-time and piecing together other side jobs to make sure my budget was taken care of each month.

Last week I interviewed for a different company that was looking for someone to take over as Social Media Manager. I spent two days ahead of the interview in anxiety over the thought of trying to take on a full-time position, over the thought of a “real” job which can lead into a career, over my experience and knowledge, over my kids…I went to the interview and was invited to come back to meet clients at a monthly luncheon the next day. Then I was asked back to be made an offer and finally I was asked when I could start. That start day was yesterday. Again with the anxiety!

The day was more than fine. I spent it with the company’s current Social Media Manager, who is getting ready to leave on Maternity Leave (exciting!). We will get to work together for the next couple of weeks and then I’ll be on my own. The day brought me several realizations about what I truly do know and what I’m capable of. It also made me realize that I’ve NEVER sat at a desk for hours on end. I have to admit that by 11am I was antsy as could be. I’ll figure that out as time goes on. I am able to take my lunch around my kids getting out of school, so I am able to pick them up and get them home and then go back to finish the day. Then I’m home for the dinner/homework/bedtime routine. I count myself as a lucky girl! I haven’t quite figured out the summer yet, but that will come. It has to!

In a very short period of time I’ve gone from stay-at-home mom to writer/blogger to single mom who has been piecing bits of work together (blogging, office assisting, selling Silpada, working races) to working for a marketing company to provide daily content and working from home, to this! What a journey! I don’t know where this part of my journey will lead, but I know it’s going to be good. How can it not be?!

Into the future I go!

Doing the Dance of the Children With All My Hats in Hand~

It’s time to put on your sombrero, break out your maracas, grab a stack of your business cards and head out to network with local business owners and entrepreneurs, Cinco De Ocho style (we have to keep the Tweetup on Tuesdays and Cinco De Mayo just wasn’t cooperating this year)!

This month’s Placer Business Tweetup is being held at Mas Cocina Mexicana, a local mexican food restaurant with a menu full of homestyle cooking. Not only will chips and salsa be brought to your table, but warm bean and queso dip automatically accompanies.

We ordered the fresh guacamole to add to the chip ensemble and I have to admit that I didn’t have much room left to order more. But when I saw the chalk board by the bar that announced a FREE VIP quesadilla when you check in on Facebook, I couldn’t resist. Mas gained a new fan on their Facebook page and this girl was treated to a delicious quesadilla full of carnitas and veggies.

You can bet that fresh guacamole and warm bean dip topped the quesadilla perfectly! Let’s be honest, what Mexican Restaurant experience would be complete without a margarita? We sampled their top shelf margarita and if you’re looking for a drink with a punch, that’s the one to order.

For the Tweetup we will be gathering on the back patio area and there will be a set offering of food and drink specials, but lingering after or trying the restaurant out beforehand is recommended.

The Placer Business Tweetup meets once a month (usually on the 3rd Tuesday) at a different, local venue and is THE gathering for meeting like-minded members of our local, business community. Networking in a relaxed and friendly environment, while supporting our local businesses and restaurants is what brings each of these great people back, month after month and is what brings new business owners and entrepreneurs to check out the group.

The  Tweetup is a FREE event, but to register, you need to click here and then head over to the Facebook page and add your “like” to the growing community of fans.

Placer Business Tweetup and Mas Cocina Mexicana…La Combinacion Perfecta!

I’m always looking for fun things to do with the kids that are easy to get to, inexpensive and fun. Downtown Tuesday Nights fits all of those criteria! I remember, last summer, that we stumbled onto a DTN, but didn’t know it was a regularly occurring event. This year, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know about the event from a behind-the-scenes perspective, by providing daily content for the event’s social media platform. This gave me even more reason to grab the kids, tuck a few dollars into my pocket and head out to enjoy the evening.

We spent a total of $5 at the event, but the kids came away with balloons, stuffed animals, tickets and passes to Dave and Buster’s, free water bottles, a few pieces of candy each and the desire to go back next week! We are looking forward to experiencing the fun of the kids’ zone where there are pony rides and bounce houses to be explored. And you better believe that we each have our own list of what vendors’ foods we want to sample. On top of all of that, I’m looking forward to heading down there on a Tuesday without the kiddos, where I can sit for awhile in the margarita garden, enjoy the live music and then walk into The Place for a fabulous dinner. Good Stuff to look forward to!

Everyone we saw was having a good time. The music was being enjoyed, the cars were being drooled over (I have my own dream pick…someday!) and everyone was enjoying time out with family and friends. Roseville’s Downtown Tuesday Nights is full of great things that bring the community together. What’s better?!

The Hank Biggs Band was keepin’ it moving tonight.

This couple was so fun to watch! They made the rest of us wish we knew how to dance!

The kids were in awe of this car. The sign said something like “1922″ or perhaps it was “1944″. Whatever it was, it was incredibly old and amazing!

Max and Tristan both felt that this car was their favorite of the night.

Gabi wanted to pose with this beauty of a car.

This has always been my dream car. Do you see the “For Sale” sign? Do you?! Mother’s Day is right around the corner! Just sayin’~

This is my uncle’s car! We ran into him and his Pride and Joy and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to snap a picture.

Doing the Dance of the Children and Enjoying Our New Community~