Category Archives: Uncategorized

Burnt Cookies, Exploding Coffee Maker & an Overflowing Sink

You know those moments when everything seems to go wrong simultaneously? Yep, me too! 😉

It started with a craving. I had the ingredients on hand and some free time, so I decided to make cookies. No big deal there; I’ve done it a million times. Into the oven they went, and that’s when it became interesting.

The phone rang. Then the door bell rang. Then the cat threw up. As I went from task to task, I started to smell burning. Either I didn’t set a timer or I didn’t hear it because of the commotion, but the cookies were definitely overbaked. Oh, and I scorched my hand through a pot holder grabbing them.

I prefer chewy over crispy, but a crunchy treat is ok for me if it’s dunked into coffee. Still frazzled, I didn’t shut it completely and before I knew it, the machine is hissing and steaming and the lid pops up, spewing hot grounds down its sides and onto the counter. 

By the time that’s cleaned, I had a mountain of dishes waiting. I turned on the sink, letting the hot water pressure soften some baked-on gunk, and then more distractions led to further disaster. I literally walked out of the kitchen for 5 minutes to put some laundry away and returned to find water dripping down and soaking the floor. (Lest you think I’m a total half-wit, the drain plug was not in and a plate was covering it unintentionally.)

Evidently, I am highly distractible, can’t multi-task, or just really unlucky. (Mix of everything, perhaps?) Guess it was just one of those days…

Is R. Kelly Worse than Bill Cosby? New Documentary Details Decades of Abuse

A startling new documentary produced by the BBC tries to uncover the truth behind R&B star R Kelly’s alleged abuse of underage girls that stretches back over two decades. 

Always controversial for his explicit lyrics, he was very popular during the 90’s when I was a teen. Most of his songs weren’t my style, but I did like “I Believe I can Fly” which was from the Space Jam soundtrack. 

Throughout the years, there have been persistent rumors that his lyrics were influenced by his unconventional lifestyle—a marriage to singer Aaliyah when she was only 15-years-old, a highly publicized trial that charged him with taping a sexual encounter with another teen girl and urinating on her (he was acquitted), and numerous public appearances with very, very young girls as part of his entourage. 

As if that wasn’t bad enough, sources who were willing to speak on camera claim it’s worse than anyone could’ve imagined, detailing a horrific nightmare that includes girls being held in a virtual harem inside his Chicago home, locked in rooms, beaten, kicked, punched, slapped, starved, and raped. And we’re not talking about one girl, or one incident; this involves tons of girls and tons of unwanted contact. 

Quite frankly, I am shocked and disgusted that R. Kelly has been able to act so openly, without fear of repercussion, year after year, victim after victim, with few authorities taking an interest. Just like Bill Cosby, he has been able to operate as a one-man abuse factory, terrorizing girls around America, while still earning millions of dollars and enjoying celebrity status. 

I don’t know if it was the failed prosecution that prevented more court cases, or a lack of concern because the victims are overwhelmingly black and poor, but it’s absolutely evil and needs to be stopped now

In some ways, because he is basically practicing slavery, R. Kelly’s crimes are even worse than Bill Cosby. While Cosby’s victims have suffered tremendously, and I am not downplaying that for a second, none were held in long-term captivity. 

We are supposed to have safeguards in place to protect the vulnerable from predators. One of the most mind-boggling parts of the documentary was hearing a lady say that R. Kelly routinely picks up teens at McDonald’s, shopping malls, and his old high school. This is a fifty-year-old man! Everyone should be extremely creeped out by such inappropriate behavior. 

We have to stop, as a society, worshipping fame and allowing celebrities to commit crimes that average people can’t get away with—especially serious, violent ones that cause lifelong damage for victims. There is more than enough evidence to bring charges; let’s hope someone is brave enough to file them soon. 

 

Bedtime Always a Fight? SleepBuddy System Can Help

One of the most stressful parts of being a mom is the chronic sleep deprivation. There have been some mornings when I was so bone-weary and stressed, I literally sobbed before I even left my bed, afraid to face the day! With a newborn, it’s an unfortunate given, but by the toddler stage, things can improve if the right steps are used. (No, it will never just happen magically.)

Certainly, establishing a set time frame for bed, usually a 1-2 hour window, is a great place to start. Some children are able to adapt quickly, while others seem to struggle for years. (All of mine have been terrible sleepers, probably because insomnia runs in the family.) We always read stories before bed and give baths, so there was a routine in place, but it still wasn’t enough.

I needed something relaxing, that would help the kids not only fall asleep on time, but also sleep through the whole night. After doing some research online and talking to some of my mom friends, I heard about SleepBuddy.

The complete SleepBuddy system contains everything needed to make bedtime and naptime easier:

  • Glowing Light
  • Children’s Book
  • Rewards Chart
  • Stickers
  • Parent’s Guide

I started by reading the Parent’s Guide to familiarize myself with how the system works. It contains lots of great info about how much sleep a child actually requires, based on age, which I found very helpful. Once I understood it, I then read the Children’s version aloud.

Basically, all that’s required is plug it in, set the desired time, and it will glow bright blue when in use. (If you can program an alarm clock, you can use SleepBuddy.) For little ones who don’t understand the concept of time but do understand colors, it was very simple for me to explain and for my kids to catch on.

Both naptime and bedtime can be pre-set and the progress is recorded with the incentive chart and smiley face stickers. Every time a sleep goal is reached, they are rewarded with a sticker plus another goodie. I use M&M’s and teeny stuffed animals as prizes. Since every child has different interests, by customizing the reward, this can be a huge incentive to make the system work!

As a bonus, it doubles as a nightlight (which we were already using) so that cuts down on things to buy. Since most kids have some fear of the dark, you probably have a nightlight anyway, and it won’t be tough to introduce it. If complaints about brightness occur, there are 7 different settings to control it.

SleepBuddy is available for sale on their website and Amazon. Check out my video review to see it in action.

 

The Definition of a “Throuple” & Why I’m Against It

Have you ever heard of a “Throuple?” I’m not sure if the Today show coined the term, but that’s where I was introduced to it, with a segment that featured non-traditional relationships. A “Throuple” is a couple that consists of 3 people—in this case 2 girls and a guy.

Not only do these folks share a home, but all three sleep in the same bed! If that wasn’t complicated enough, there are 3 children involved from a multitude of partner combinations, plus another on the way.

Brooke Shedd, one of the mothers, claims: “Our kids are more well-rounded, because there are three different styles of parenting that they deal with every day.”

Call me provincial, but children don’t need 3 parents, they need two—a mother and a father, ideally the biological ones that created them. Any time folks deviate from that plan, tragedy is far more likely to occur.

I feel strongly that we must look to Scripture as our guide. God is very clear about what relationships are healthy. When a man and a woman are married only to each other and are committed to raising the children they produce, the likelihood of family harmony isn’t perfect, but it’s much higher.

Living as a “throuple” with multiple partners, unmarried, all having relations indiscriminately with each other is dangerous—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

If people want to live in a group setting, that’s their choice, and everyone has free will. I, however, wouldn’t share my man with anyone, under any circumstances and I think it’s absolutely perverse.

The man is using these women and would cheat on them in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself and vice versa. When the bonds of monogamy are broken, how can there be any trust or security? Where is the love, the commitment, the decency? Odds are high that the “throuple” won’t go the distance.