August Photo a Day - Sibling

Hey there.  You see that guy up there?  Yup, that's my brother.  He posted this pic on Instagram not too long ago and I thought it was hilarious.  Not so much the pose or any thing like that.  It's the fact that we were at the same place, The Downey Brewery, earlier that week my brother was irked that he wasn't invited.  lol  So in retaliation, he sent this pic to show my friends and I, "how he does it."  lol  Yeah, we're awesome like that.  The last time my brother and I were both at The Downey Brewery at the same time, we each had about 6 boots (28 ounces of beer per boot!) and the wife had banned me from setting foot at the Brewery again.  lol  Yeah, that happened.

Anyways, it's always a fun time when I'm hanging with my bro so here's a little shout out to the only sibling I have, my lil brother.  *Cheers*  Later!

August Photo a Day - Heart

Hey there.  Today's photo is supposed to be of a heart.  I decided that I would do a quick sketch of a heart with the names of my wife and kids surrounding it.  In essence, that is my heart.  The wife and kids will always be in my heart and they always come first.  The sketch is not one of my best hearts ever drawn, but it's something that I wanted to share with you.  Later!

Potty Training with Pull Ups

Hey there.  I am officially ready to declare my 2 year old boy potty trained!  YES!  No more dirty diapers but that has been replaced by many, and I do mean many, trips to my son's potty.  For those of you that haven't had the experience of potty training a child, let me tell you... it's not an easy task.  It can be very frustrating, messy, and may sometimes feel down right impossible.  But don't worry!  From my experience, it's all about the right technique to help your child learn to use the potty.  But before you embark on this incredible task with your child, you need to make sure you are well prepared.  A kid's potty, dependable Pull Ups, plenty of baby wipes, and a lot of patience will go a long way to making sure your child becomes successful!

The Magic of Chucky and Child's Play

Hi, I'm Chucky wanna play?

Hey there.  It's Friday night and we're hanging out at home looking for a movie to watch.  We could go out and catch a just released film but we decided to browse through Netflix to see what we could find.  What we decided on was Child's Play, the 1988 cult classic.  The kids haven't seen it.  They're more into the new stuff.  They care not for 80s awesome unless I bring it up and tell them about it.  I always said how some of my earliest memories are that of my dad and I staying up watching movies on HBO.  I'm sure my mother didn't approve.  I was no more than 8 years old or so and there I was, watching Child's Play, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Phantasm, Hellraiser, you know, movies along those lines.  Looking back at them now, they aren't really child material and I wouldn't show my kids stuff like that at that young of an age.  Anyways, Child's Play came up on Netflix and there I go, saying how awesome it is that we just have to watch it.

The Color Run was Freakin' Awesome

Hey there.  So yesterday was our first ever 5K.  I've wrote about it a few times before and if you don't know what The Color Run is, shame on you!  lol  If you don't know, I forgive you this time.  The Color Run is a short 5K run where you get splattered with paint after every kilometer.  We were a group of 4, but the kids went with us as well.  We found out that our youngest was able to run for free so my wife made him a number and pinned it to his shirt.  The older kids didn't miss out, though.  They didn't get a chance to run the 5K, poor planning on my part, but they did get a chance to join us at the finish line and be a part of the massive coloring celebration!  Enough talking!  On to the pics!

Daaaaaaad! Moooooooom!

Cute:  Daaaaad!!! Look!  I sit myself!

Hey there.  MOM!!!  DAD!!!  What parent hasn't heard their kid screaming at the top of their lungs because at that moment in time, they need their mom or dad?  lol  When the kids are under 4 or 5, it's cute.  The other weekend, I was playing basketball with friends and family and I took the kids to the park.  The wife wasn't feeling all that great that morning so when our 2 year old needed a parent, what do you think I heard? DAAAAAAAD!!!  lol  And you know what... he was a cutie pie doing it.  The guys that I was playing basketball with are dads too so they knew the drill.  We all heard dad out in the distance and we stopped and turned around to see where it was coming from and to make sure the young one wasn't hurt.  He wasn't hurt...  he needed help sitting on the bench... or he needed me to get his older sister to NOT tie his hair... or, in his eyes, did something awesome and NEEDED dad to see.  lol  Like I said, under 5 years old, it's cute.

The Importance of Taking a Mental Health Day

A strong indication that you need a Mental Health Day!

Hey there.  You know... I work to hard.  I don't take many vacations.  Not because I don't want to, but because I always seem needed at work.  I've been working at the same place for well over 8 years now...  it will be 9 years this May.  And even though I am proud that I have managed to discover a career, it's tough to know that the time off is rare.  And if I do get time off, it's in small spurts.  I could never request weeks, let alone, a full month off at work.  It's just not possible.  With my, I'm lucky to get 3 days straight.  That was what was supposed to happen this week, but it didn't.  Instead, I'm settling for today, Friday, off and next Wednesday and Thursday.  Mondays and Tuesdays and are out of the question because of the meetings that I am a part of.  I think that I need to simply accept that this is what it is and cherish the moments that I can take off from work.

Top Movies to Catch This Easter Period

Hey there.  Are you parent that can't seem to pry your kids away from video games?  Never fear!  Although I condone a healthy dose of daily video games, I also condone a healthy dose of family time and what better way to do that than with family movie night!  Check out some of the awesome movies that will keep your family entertain during this Easter period.

A Thousand Words

Starring Eddie Murphy, A Thousand Words tells the story of Jack McCall, a literary agent famed for his ability to close any deal. In the movie, Jack targets Dr. Sinja, yet Dr. Sinja is wise to his ways and plants a magical Bodhi tree in his backyard. Whenever Jack speaks, a leaf drops from the tree and he soon realizes that upon the fall of the last leaf, bad things will happen to him. This leads to Jack conjuring up outrageous ways in which to communicate with others. Will be released on April the 6th.  This film is most suitable for high school kids.

My Christmas Story - Banjo Kazooie, N64, and a Snitch

With Christmas being literally around corner, we all have our christmas stories. Whether it'd be getting that special gift, giving that special gift or just remembering the times you've had with your family and friends. I got my own Christmas stories to tell, maybe too many, to be honest. There's one I remember the most, its the one that makes me laugh and it reminds me of how much the memories of family means to me.

Making Hickory Farms a Family Tradition

Hey there.  No matter what goes down in your daily life, at the end of the day, you come home to your family.  Always inviting, always waiting there for.  It's the best time of day, actually.  Well, at least for me it is.  After working hard all day, it's great to be able to spend some time with the wife and kids and dinner time is a great way to open up with each other and share the day's experiences.  It's a welcome change from the stresses of being a working parent.  And nothing makes the conversation better than an awesome meal from the wife.  But not just any meal, but a meal prepared using some Hickory Farms products.

Getting Screwed by Bank of America... Again

Hey there.  I have strong disdain towards Bank of America.  Throughout my years, they have managed to screw me over with my checking account, a credit card, and now my home.  Or should I say, previous home.  That's right, the bastards took my house.  It's a long story, one that starts about 2 years ago, but the stress didn't amp up until March of this year.  So here's the story...

P&G Family Movie Night Presents: Game of Your Life

Hey there.  Our good friends at Walmart and P&G have another great film on the horizon!  Game of Your Life is set to air on Friday, December 2nd on NBC at 8pm ET/7pm CT.  If you guys are not familiar with these films, they are family films that you can sit and watch with the family that primarily focus on tough subject matters that kids should know about.  They are films of morals, loyalty, family,drugs, and the like, that can open the door for parents to talk with their kids about these tough subject matters.  These talks can no longer be awkward when the film has already nudged the conversation to start.  This week's film is no different.

Are You Ready For Some UNO Roboto?

Hey there.  Who doesn't like to play the classic game of UNO?  I used to play this with my family and friends all the time.  When ever a deck of UNO cards were sitting around in someone's house, we'd all gather to play. Even today, it's one of the few games from my childhood that I enjoy playing.  It has it all, deception, unpredictability, strategy, and plenty of laughs!  So when the opportunity came knocking to try out UNO Roboto, I just had to jump on it.

Thoughts on... The Duggars Expecting Their 20th Child

Congrats???

Hey there.  Many years ago, the world was introduced to the Duggar family.  TLC first brought them to the limelight with their spectacular show, 16 and Counting (I think...).  Since then, the Duggars have welcomed a few more additions to their family and have even welcomed a grandchild.  All showcased on TLC for the world to hear.  Today, the Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar appeared on NBC's Today Show and announced that they are now expecting their 20th child.  WOW!!!

Enjoy T.G.I. Friday's at Home with Entrees for One Frozen Dinners

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of T.G.I. FRiDAY'S for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hey there.  Who doesn't enjoy a great dinner at a restaurant?  You don't have to worry about making dinner, you don't need to worry whether or not the kids will make a face while eating it, you don't have to worry about prep time and getting all the ingredient, and you definitely don't have to worry about washing pots, pans, and dishes afterwards.  It's great for fun night out with the family.  But sometimes, money is tight and you can't always go out.  Especially when you have a large family like mine.  A dinner at a restaurant can easily exceed $100 for a family of 6 and that can make a dent into the family's budget.  So how can I have that family dinner experience without breaking the bank?  With T.G.I. FRiDAY’S “Entrées for One”!  That's how!

Finally Taking my Daughters to See Chicago on Broadway

Guest post written by Esther Hall

Back when I was first planning our recent trip to New York City, I was having a really hard time figuring out exactly which Broadway play I should take my kids to go and see. I know that some of the plays can be a little risque, but then again I have teenage girls and I'm sure that I can find something that won't be nearly as bad as some of the reality TV shows that I've caught them watching before.

Family Movie Night! Game Time: Tackling the Past on NBC September 3rd

Hey there.  Here's another game winning movie to enjoy with your family courtesy of P&G!  Game Time: Tackling the Past is a great film to sit down and watch with your family and have that discussion with your kids that winning isn't everything.  We all grow up to be the best that we can but sometimes we all lose focus on the real meaning behind that phrase.  It doesn't mean that if you don't win, you're a loser.  It simply means that as long as you give it your all, you should be satisfied with your results.  If you feel as if you can do better next time, then go for it!!!  But what if you take that phrase and take it to heart.  What if winning is everything to you and you can't accept defeat?  What's left for you if winning is out of the equation?  These are some of the great questions that arise in Game Time: Tackling the Past.

Benefit of Being in the Military - VA Loans

Hey there.  I have a few friends that recently finished their duty in the military.  It's been over 10 years since I've seen them in high school and I remember during that senior year how military personnel would go to the school and provide us with information about joining.  At the time, you tell yourself, the army, the best of the best are sent off to fight wars.  You really only get that message as a young adult.  You strive to better yourself.  For those young adults that struggled during high school, they see it as means to start over.  For those that are grateful for all the opportunities that they've had in this great country, they see it as a civil service to give back.  But as a young adult, you never really think about the long term benefits.  You're not thinking of buying a home or of a family.  One of the greatest benefits for being in the military is qualifying for a Military VA loan.

Piccolo Pete's American Mexican Food Service

Hey there.  I'm a foodie.  I love food.  When the wife and I eat out, I tend to finish my plate and still eat about half of hers.  It's so much a mutual understanding now that the wife will order something from the menu considering my taste.  lol  Anyways, I told myself that I would start doing restaurant and food reviews.  Why?  Well, I say why not!  I started last week with my experience at the Palms Steakfood and Restaurant but I should have given you a heads up.  That's why, I'm letting you guys know that the next place I'm trying is...  PICCOLO PETE'S AMERICAN MEXICAN FOOD SERVICE!

UPromise Wants to Hear Your Dream

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPromise for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

UPromise is celebrating it's 10th anniversary!  Can you believe it's been 10 years already?  I've been a fan of UPromise for many years now and if you haven't signed up to earn cash back for college, you definitely should. UPromise members have already received over $600 million in college savings and now it's time to celebrate with a sweepstakes.  UPromise is having a sweepstakes that will grant $1,000 to 10 winners and a grand prize winner will score the $10,000 prize.  How do you participate?  By daring to support a child's dream by sharing your experience.

Go to www.upromisetodream.com and share your experience of a parent that has supported a child's dream.  Whether it be a single mother working 2 jobs to help pay for college or a parent trading in a cherished possession to obtain a musical instrument for their child.  There are many good deeds done everyday to help spark an interest in education in children.  Whether it be arts, music, or language, a child's eagerness to learn starts at home and when parents go beyond the call of duty for thier kids, they must be praised.  Once you have shared your story, you can vote for winners by "liking" their stories.  You can check out the dream wall official rules to make sure you qualify to enter.

So what's my story?  My experience?  Coming from the inner city, it was tough to get school without some obstacles.  It would have been easy lose focus on school and fall into "temptations" and it didn't help that my mother, being a single mother at that, worked most of the day to help support out family.  I was into music.  I needed an instrument and I stayed long hours in school.  My brother was into basketball.  He needed money for tournaments and equipment.  My music instructor/his basketball coach/our family pushed and supported us in any way that they could.  We struggled.  We learned.  We managed.  We thrived.  These are the people that helped shape our lives.

So what's your experience?  Who in your life sparked that special interest in school.  A teacher?  A coach?  A family member?  Share that experience on the UPromise dream wall and you may end up being a winner!  Remember that these are real life experiences and we need to spread the word of good deeds.  Share the most awesome stories and let's spread the word that the UPromise dream wall is here!  Best of luck, friends.  Later!