Vote For Me on Babble.com

Recently, I have been working as a marketing consultant to  www.gaynycdad.com and providing him with advice on establishing his blog and brand. My client has made me realize that I don't do enough to promote my own brand, myself or my blog, so as my late father always proclaimed "if you don't ask, you don't get."

So I am reaching out to you and asking for your help in promoting my site. I recently ran across babble.com's  Top 50 mommy bloggers. As I was reviewing the top 50 bloggers,  I noticed that the site also included  "Nominate a blogger" category and surprise, surprise or actually shock, shock, someone had nominated me. So far, I have two likes.

If you have a moment, I would love it if you could link to the www.babble.com/nominate a blogger site and click on "I like this blogger " in support of New York City Single Mom. You don't have to be a blogger to vote (this is aimed at you, my loyal friends who don't have a blog.)

Thanks for your support.

http://www.babble.com/babble-50/mommy-bloggers/nominate-a-blogger/index.aspx

Dear Kid Saturday - A Compassionate Friend

Dear Darling Daughter,

This week you were wonderful compassionate friend taking the time to write a get well card for one of your upper classmates who broke her ankle. I think it says a lot about your nature that you would think of someone other than yourself.

I hope you never lose this trait as you get older and mature.
Love always,
Mommy

Wanna play? Here’s how to participate in Dear Kid Saturday:

1. Write your own Dear Kid letter on your blog.
2. Grab a Dear Kid Saturday button for your post and/or your sidebar.
3. Sign the latest Dear Kid Saturday MckLinky with your name and the link to your Dear Kid post – the specific post URL, not the homepage of your blog.

Getting My Exercise In - Running of the Bulls (oh I mean, Buses)

A few months back, I chronicled our morning routine "Walking to School - Living in the Moment."   The routine chronicled in that post takes place in the warmer months.

Now that the weather has grown colder, we now have to take the bus. Personally, I rather keep walking because I need the exercise and I save $5.00  (bus fare is now $2.25 each way.) Unfortunately, dealing with a 6 1/2 year old child whining about the cold is just not worth the mental aggravation so we take the bus.

You would think that taking the bus would simplify our morning routine but alas you would be wrong, it has only added to the craziness of getting my daughter up and out the door so we get to school on time.

Why??? Because unlike the rush hour subway schedule when trains come every few minutes, the New York City buses are notoriously late. If we want to get to school on time, we actually have to leave our house fifteen minutes earlier in order to make a bus before 8:00 am, otherwise you are screwed because to wait even until 8:05 means we won't make it and we get the dreaded late pass which goes on my daughter's school records.

Getting my daughter out the door fifteen minutes earlier is not bad enough, we have now taken to literally running down the block and across the street (sometimes as the blinking light is signaling that it's going to turn red) so that we don't miss that last bus.

So whether I want to or not, I am getting an early morning cardio workout. At least, it goes to the 10,000 steps we are supposed to get in every day.

What I find the most amusing thing is that my daughter finds the running of the buses, fun.

Therapy Thursday - Dealing with Temper Tantrums

Dealing with temper tantrums are  never easy. I am constantly trying to improve how I handle the situation when it arises. Some situations are better than others.

To help me manage when these incidents happen, my therapist recommended a book to deal with my daughter's anger, "What To Do When Your Tempers Flares."

After last week's incident where my daughter insisted on going to Game Stop on a school night and just wouldn't let it go,  I decided to pull the book out and address and hopefully gain some control over her anger.

When I pulled the book out and she read the title, she asked "are we reading the book because of my temper tantrum?" She is soo perceptive.

"Yes, I thought we could read it together and see if it helps us both deal with our anger. You know sometimes mommy loses her temper, too" I said.

"Okay, good idea," she replied shaking her head in agreement.

Although the book is recommended for ages 6-12, you really need to read each chapter to see if it's appropriate for your child. Some of the situations are best for older kids and frankly you will probably spend a lot of time explaining the words. We skipped Chapter One "In the Driver's Seat" (we don't have  car so the example would be lost on my daughter) and proceeded to Chapter Two "A Secret About Anger." I'll bet you are dying to know the secret. Sorry, you have to wait.

I liked that chapter is interactive in that the exercises require the child to answer several questions as you move through the chapter.

• Think of words that all mean "angry." Good exercise but some of the written words were all new to my daughter so we had to get over the hurdle of explaining words like  irritated, seething, enraged.. 
• Write down things that make you mad - This was an eye-opener. My daughter wrote "you say mean things, you yell at me, you don't give me hugs and kisses (this one I need to explain and yes I feel bad because at some point my daughter will not want to hug and kiss me but she is always (I mean always) wanting a hug and kisses.) 
• Situations where someone takes your last cookie or if the teacher gives you homework over vacation. How does it make you feel and what are the thoughts in your head? 

So what is the big secret of the chapter?  Others don't cause you to be angry, its your thoughts that make you angry.
My daughter did get the concept of thoughts making you angry so that's good. Now when she gets a little angry, I reinforce the concept "remember it's not ... that makes you angry, your thoughts are making you angry."

All in all, I like the book. I will have to find time to get to the next chapter. 

Wordless Wednesday - Christian Louboutin Shoes I Wish I Could Wear

I happened upon the Christian Louboutin shoe store in the Meatpacking district and had to capture these shoes. They are just so fun, I should have gone into try some on but alas not enough time.

In case you have never heard of Christian Louboutin, you have probably seen his shoes on vast celebrities, actresses, just look for the signature red bottom of the shoe. You can't miss them and if you watch Oprah or Regis/Kelly you definitely can't miss them.

Check out the Christian Louboutin, if you love shoes and you love a good website. He does carry flats and mid-heels, who knew but the best part is the shoes marked extremely high heels.

As I always say, his high heels are meant to be walked in from your town car/limo to the event. In all the years, I have lived in NYC, I have never ever seen a woman walking down the street in those heels unless she was hailing a cab or getting into a town car.

The Jumpstart Project - 365 Day Challenge to Shatter Complacency January Update

Here is an update of The Jumpstart Project -
Sorry I have been remiss in providing weekly updates so for the first post I will provide the monthly highlights. That's next month's goal, "try to be more timely and print this every week AND chart this everyday. I seemed to have forgotten some days.



Tuesday, January 5
Contacted former colleague from my first job in advertising who just happens to be the Publisher of Working Mother magazine. She gave me great career advice as well a great recommendation of an organization to join.




Thursday, January 7
Tried a home made facial made from ingredients I already have in my home. Here is the recipe from
  www.SpaIndex.com 
Spa Index Honey Oatmeal Facial 
Honey is a natural antiseptic whereas the oatmeal absorbs excess oil and acts as a natural exfoliant.
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons of honey

Finely grind the or process the oatmeal in a blender or food processor. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir honey and yogurt. Then add the oatmeal. Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste consistency has been reached. Smooth over your face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes and rinse off with warm daily. Can be used daily.

For other spa recipes - check out at www.SpaIndex.com 

January 11, 2010 - Took a podcasting class at Apple. Of course, I have yet to make a podcast. February goal.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Joined the Advertising Women of New York and volunteered for a committee. In all my professional years, I have never part of any organization.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
This is a weird one. I actually did not make an effort to talk to someone. Pet peeve I have is fathers who don't even make an effort to talk to you and you are always the one to make the effort because it's the polite thing to do.  I got into the elevator with the dad who never talks (no, how are you? how's school, nada) and forced myself to say absolutely nothing and got off without saying goodbye, have a night evening. NOTHING.!!! Just a follow up, the next time I saw him he actually spoke first. Well, see he can make effort, dammit.

Friday, January 22, 2010
Met with Onica @blasianbabynotes.blogspot.com to discuss doing a book together. Details to follow.

Wednesday, January 23, 2010
Met with personal coach on ideas to networking/finding a job and came up with hire me page for my website. Let's face it, getting a job is all about networking.

Thursday, January 28, 2010
Went to blog event and ran into another blogger/writer and asked her how I could invited to toy fair and she said she would send me her contact. Low and behold,  its done and I am going.

Friday, January 29, 2010
Met with to two gym buddies to come up business ideas. We came up a with a couple so I need to come up with a name for the business and follow up notes.


Saturday, January 30, 2010
Decided it was time to get fitted for a bra. Okay,  shock of shocks, I am wearing the wrong bra size. I was wearing 38C and I am actually 40D.