GottaLoveMom

I would love to be Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives  because I love to eat, I really do. Even though I can't pronounce Fieri right, I would love to travel, meet different people and gobble-gobble on those scrumptious food. I most definitely would have a stomach ache, but I would have enjoyed every bite of the burgers, potatoes, home made cobblers and of course, apple pie with vanilla ice cream! (photo credit: Food Network website ) Even when I'm on the train and trying to find ways to take the jitters away, I would end up browsing through Pinterest and re-pinning every photos of food online - well, except shell fish! Oh my, just writing this quick post makes me hungry! Anyway, back to what I  wanted to share to begin with... Almost every night, after the daily craziness in our home -- school, dinner, schlepping back and forth to the high school, gymnastics school and the train station, at around 11pm, when the boys are in bed, my husband and I would lay in o

by resident writer, Anne Godoy-Organista of Writers Space. Many times these past few months, I caught myself feeling giddy at the thought that I can do something new and radical. Yet in the same breath, I felt my heart thump louder and louder with the scary feeling that doing something like that might be past my prime. Midlife made me think and for a while believe that at this stage, my options are limited. A quick glance at the job market confirmed that thought seeing how most employers preferred the creative minds and the adventurous spirit of young people over the skills and wide experience of the older ones. Midlife, I’ve heard many times, is the school for hard knocks. What else is new?  Isn’t life the same way too? So I’ve learned to move on and realized that though something may have ended when I lost my youth, the loss ultimately gave way for something new to begin. When I realized I was no longer young... ·          I was able to let go of the fears t

I received a lot of inquiries and emails about creative writing after I published, “ Out of Status” .  I am not an expert, but I do plan on writing the steps I took in getting the book published. It’s amazing how modern technology helped and I would love to share what I learned - and I learned plenty! Journal writing is one of the ways you can creatively express and record your feelings. I started writing since grade school. I had a notebook next to my bed. At the end of the day, I made sure I wrote something. So if you’re interested in writing anything at all, start with acquiring a notebook -- the old fashioned, paper notebook! Customize your notebook with whatever design or cover that makes you smile, and keep that notebook handy. This journal/notebook was given by my daughter awhile back. This is just one of many journals I used in putting together my thoughts about the book. Inspiration comes at any time, so whatever idea comes to mind – write it down: Text it t

I'm not complaining that I haven't had the necessity to shovel mountains of snow. Unlike last year, every inch was covered with snow. Every snow day was a fun day to make snow angels and be a kid! This year, winter felt like spring. But it's only February.  As my husband says, "March is a tricky month." So who knows, maybe we'll have one more snowy day. What about you? Do you miss winter? On a different note, the proofs for my book "Out of Status" arrived yesterday. I was like a child who got to play outside on Snow Day! "Out of Status" is now available as e-books on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

I had a dream. I was sitting on a bench at the Metropolitan Museum of Art staring at a 14x14 canvas in an olive green wooden frame. In the center was a red dot the size of a dollar coin. My eyes were transfixed on the red dot. A voice whispered to me: “Can you see the red dot?” I nodded. “Was that the first thing you noticed?” the voice continued. I nodded again. “Can you see the olive green border? Was that the second thing that you noticed?” the voice carried on. “Yes,” I answered. “Did you spot the white background at all?” I shook my head from side to side.

You can now buy my book,  "Out of Status "  through  Amazon.com  . In her debut book “Out of Status”, Jenjen Furer traces her journey from her native Philippines to the United States as a twenty year old woman determined to fulfill her dreams. She chronicles her struggles and triumphs with adjustment, love, money, family, and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. A true page-turner, this uniquely fast-moving autobiography will have the re ader laughing, crying, and ultimately understanding why the American Dream remains alive and well in the hearts and minds of people around the world. Jenjen Furer was born in the Philippines , the third child of six, and the only girl.  She earned full scholarships from 5 th grade through college.  Her life during these years consisted of two things: school and home.  At the age of 19 she graduated college at the top of her class, and set about looking for a job.  None were to be found.  At 20 years old, sh

By Izzy Woods When raising our kids, it’s important to help them become content and confident with their own bodies, personalities and everything about themselves. This sounds like a huge task but it doesn’t need to be, we just need to be good parents and then they’ll soon realize they’re good people too. Confidence is a quality which everybody wants their kids to embody but we don’t want arrogant, spoilt children so it’s hard to find a happy medium. Spoiling our kids is never a good idea, so even though you want to buy all the best designer baby clothes , expensive toys and treats, this does our kids no good in the long run. There are a few simple measures you can keep in mind when helping your kids to reach their true potential, be happy and confidence in themselves. Offer encouragement, not praise Praising your kids is a good idea in some senses, especially when they’re learning new skills when they’re very young but as they grow older, encouragement is much more valuable and

On Thursday, February 16, at 9:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time), I will be pushing the "PUBLISH" button at Amazon.com's Kindle Direct Publishing. At that moment, I invite you to raise your glasses, do the dance and celebrate with me in finally submitting my memoir, "Out of Status" , for electronic publication. If you're in the area, feel free to stop by! "Out of Status" is a work of love. It's a collaborative effort of family, friends and the occasional unsuspecting stranger. That's why you absolutely have to join me in this celebration! But why you? Because this book is dedicated  To those  w ho have taken risks,    who have endured the consequences,    who have celebrated the victories of their choices,    who are uncertain of what lies ahead,    who persevere through the trials that life throws our way, and    who believe in kindness and virtue.    This book is for us. I know you will be with me when I finall

Remember when you couldn’t wait to hear your child’s first words? You hoped it would be “Mama”, but you were equally happy albeit amazed when his first words were “Da-da” and “Donuts”. And then before you knew it, your child was reciting poems and reading chapter books. Kids always have stories to share. Their mind is full of imagination that you can’t stop them from exploring different adventures – be it in the pretend world, or in the real world. My 10yo loves to read – we all love to read. But nothing beats my father-in-law when it comes to reading. Every time he’s in the house, you’ll see him in the living room -reading.  Children tend to emulate people around them, which is why I’m thankful that I’m blessed with providing my child with such role models. We take it for granted, but sadly, there are children who don’t have somebody to look up to. My 10yo has been reading Lemony Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events and R.L. Stine’s Goose Bumps – books that