Moments of Musing

A Personal Pause

Filed Under: motherhood, unplug, Unplugging //

Dad, sons, dad and sons, family time, great pause, unplug, nature, hiking, family hike, poconos

We are off the to the mountains. I see this as an opportunity to reset. It will be my time to unplug, be present, and enjoy the moments.

You know those moments? The candid, real, raw, unstaged, unphotographed moments? I feel like I’ve missed out on some lately as I find myself overwhelmed by all that’s going on. There is just so much. It seems like there’s information overload, and not all of it is even true. There is debating, there is selfishness, there is racism …  and so many people are losing their loved ones during this time. Its sad. It’s frustrating. It’s a lot.

As a nonprofit employee , self-care isn’t as simple as just turning off the news or not going on social media, especially when your organization’s work is related to all that’s going on and social media is part of my job. Therefore, it seems the only way to truly make myself tune out was to take time off. I need it. My husband needs it. My kids need it. They have been such troopers during this time.

So during this Great Pause I have decided that I too am taking a bit of a personal pause and will be on social media, especially Instagram, a lot less. I will post to stories more because they’re in-the-moment and don’t require editing or writing deep captions, which take longer than you probably think.

I just want to enjoy all the moments I can with my loves.

Mom, mom life, working mom, motherhood, musings, present, family time, great pause, unplug, nature, hiking, family hike, poconos

Back to School Fall 2020

Filed Under: back to school, back to school 2020, fall 2020, motherhood //

This post is sponsored by Discount Glasses but all opinions are my own.

 
Whatever you decide regarding back to school this fall, I think the consensus is that this is a particularly more stressful back to school season. There’s no easy or best decision, really. We are still awaiting reopening guidelines for S’ preschool. That being said, my husband and I are torn but currently leaning one way… 

Before I discuss which way we are leaning in our decision-making process, I want to say that my (very involved) husband and I are both home full-time. Due to this, we are able to share household and parenting duties. I know many others do not have this and therefore school / activities serve multiple purposes in addition to education, i.e. provide the ability for parents to get work done; mental health breaks; etc.  

We trust that the preschool will take precautions to keep the kids safe. We also appreciate that the school is a nursery school, so only open to 2-4-year-olds. However, we are still worried about what fall will be like here in the NYC surrounding area. Cases have begun increasing again here, and while the number is low, I am worried it will continue rising as cold and flu season arrive. Also, the benefits of social interaction seem outweighed by the possibility of social distancing. 

Therefore,  we are leaning toward homeschooling, or virtual school if that is an option. We do know just how much S enjoyed school so we will wait until we receive reopening plans to make our final decision.

One less thing I, and everyone who needs glasses for school and work, have to worry about during this stressful BTS season is renewing my vision prescription and ordering new glasses. Discount Glasses offers the convenience of doing from the comfort and safety of your home! Plus, if you’re like me and have little ones who have broken your glasses, or have little ones who might break their own, you can appreciate the affordable prices. 

Discount Glasses’ virtual try-on is so helpful to help you decide which glasses to buy! Once you have decided on glasses, you can go ahead and take the Discount Glasses Online Vision Test if you need to renew your prescription. 

The Online Vision Test offers the following benefits:

  • Free
  • Quick Exam (about 15 minutes)
  • Fast results (within 24 hours)
  • No Appointment Needed
  • At Home
Though it might seem difficult, it is really simple. Here are Step-by-Step Instructions to help guide you through the process:


1. Go Through Checkout

Once you’ve added your eyeglasses to your cart, choose the “Renew Your Prescription” option during the “Prescription Step” of the Checkout.

2. Complete Order
Add payment information and complete your order. Don’t worry, your card will not be charged until after you’ve finished the test and your order is on the way.

3. Click the “Get Rx” Button
A link to renew your prescription will be shown on the order confirmation page or sent via your order confirmation email.

4. Enter State and Birthday
If your state and birthday are deemed to be eligible, the next questions will appear. If not, you will be sent to search for a doctor in your state.

5. Answer Health Questions
A few health questions will be asked to make sure you meet the qualifications to renew your prescription without seeing a doctor.

6. Take the Test
If you meet the qualifications, you will be guided through the test with video tutorials to help. You will need your smartphone, your computer, and 10 feet of space.

7. Receive New Prescription
Once you’ve completed the test, a doctor will review it within 24 hours. A PDF of your valid prescription will be sent to you via email and your package will be shipped!

Learning How to Responsibly Grow My Business

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Tracking PixelThis post is sponsored by Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers by Russel Brunson. All opinion are my own.

Over the past month, my mind has been spinning. I have been disappointed and concerned with the state of our country. 

Still, however, work must continue because (1) the work my antiviolence nonprofit does is important work needed even more, and (2) using my voice and platform is even more important now, too. 

When I first started (secretly) blogging in 2011, I would have loved to generate an extra income from it but had no idea where to start. I was a bit busy with law school at the time so I solely focused on obtaining my law degree, passing the bar and becoming a lawyer. Over the next few years, I would write every few days or few weeks but writing definitely took a backseat to my legal career. To be frank, I was happy with my job and lifestyle, and though I had much more time to write, I did not really have the desire to do so as I do now.

Fast forward to return to work from maternity leave in October 2016. I was crying hysterically on the ew York City subway, feeling sad and guilty for leaving my baby. Though I eventually got accustomed to my working mom routine, I knew I did not want to work the traditional 9AM-5PM work hours anymore. The feeling grew and eventually, I knew something had to change. I had been writing on my blog more regularly since becoming pregnant because I wanted to document the time and because I was experiencing a lot of emotions. 

In Spring 2017, I decided it was time to stop hiding. 

If I wanted to monetize my blog, I would have to tell people about it. 

I went public with my blog and Instagram on March 1, 2017 and slowly but surely built a following and an income that was steadily growing. Then, 2020 happened and I got worried. But now, I realize there are more important issues going on than the stagnant growth of my blog and Instagram. Instead, I can take this time to utilize my platforms in ways that are constructive and socially responsible, as well as to learn how to make them more successful.  



I started the book,Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers by Russel Brunson, and completed the 30-day challenge. By doing so, I’ve learned key strategies to increase my site and social media traffic.

I have learned that the biggest issue that most entrepreneurs have isn’t creating an amazing product or service. 

The biggest problem entrepreneurs face is getting discovered by future customers and clients. 

Every year, tens of thousands of businesses start and fail because the owners seemingly do not know how to get noticed by potential consumers.

In Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers, Brunson explains the classic and important direct marketing techniques that will help you to be at the forefront of new trends and find opportunities that others are missing, as well as how to utilize funnels to reach your dream customers.



“First, you were a dream⁣⁣⁣”

Filed Under: MOM Poem, motherhood //

First, you were a dream⁣⁣⁣

Then, you were two lines⁣⁣⁣

Then, a heartbeat, a growing bump, kicks & hiccups ⁣⁣⁣

And when I finally held you in my arms⁣⁣⁣

After hearing that reassuring first cry⁣⁣⁣

I too cried, knowing you’d forever changed my life⁣⁣⁣

By making me your Mom 

mommy and me, mama

All Mothers Were Summoned

Filed Under: motherhood //

“𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢!”⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
They call out for me. I am their home base, their sounding board, their protector.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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“𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢!”⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
George Floyd cried out to her, for her. But she couldn’t protect him from being murdered by those sworn to protect. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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As a mother, I am heartbroken. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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As a human, I am devastated. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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As the daughter of a police officer and as a former prosecutor who worked alongside POs, I know very well the roles & responsibilities those jobs entail.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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I also know those and all institutions can 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 be as “good” as their weakest links.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
I know how unjust the criminal “justice” system can be.⁣
I know how institutions meant to uphold & protect American “values” were created to benefit White Americans, & fail every single day to help communities of color.⁣
I know that in this country and across the world, resources are not shared, but hoarded by the privileged & spread thin among those in need.⁣
I 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 peace is possible—if those in power fully acknowledge the problem; hold themselves & institutions accountable; & implement fundamental, sustaining racial justice change.⁣
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White lives and⁣ “Blue” lives can not continue to matter more than Black Lives Matter.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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• Black mamas are suffering from maternal mortality rates 2-3x higher.⁣*
• Black men are 2.5x more likely to be killed by police, 3x more likely to be searched at a traffic stop, & 6x more likely to go jail than a white person.⁣*
• Black children are 3x more likely to be suspended, 18x more likely to be sentenced as adults, and make up nearly 60% of children in prisons.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣*
• Black families’ median net worth is just $28.5K as compared to $265K, the median net worth of white families.* 
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Someone dear to me recently told me, “It was when I became a mother that I was the most deeply radicalized.”⁣⁣
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And I felt it to my core. Motherhood has changed me fundamentally in many ways, while also amplifying my beliefs and cementing my ideals. ⁣⁣
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Motherhood has gently nudged me into the practices of radical empathy and radical compassion. And it has reminded me that conscious parenting and antiracism are practices, too—ones that must be modeled everyday because our kids are listening to us … our kids are watching us … our kids are modeling us. All of our kids are, and not just now—always.
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As we begin a new week + some people move on from the initial shock of the last couple weeks, I just wanted to remind us all to continue weaving these practices into our everyday lives, practices too important to ever stop. ⁣⁣

My heart is heavy, but my hope in humanity remains. It’s the only way I can believe that violence will end & the change will come. 
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Now is our time to use our privilege for good.⁣ Speak up, rise up & demand REAL change.⁣
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“𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴.”-𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯⁣

*Source: US News