Help Kids Graduate with Taco Bell and Mark Wahlberg

What did you worry about in high school? Was it your hair? What boys you liked... and liked you back? Was it your grades, or getting into a good college?

What if you had to worry about where you were going to sleep that night? Or if there would be food on the dinner table for your family?

Not every kid gets to focus on school like we did. In fact, three out of 10 kids in America never graduate high school.

Mona Dixon could have been one of those three kids. As 10-year-0ld living on the street, Mona could barely think about school because she was constantly worrying about where she would sleep, if her family would be safe, and where she would get her next meal.

Mona found the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and through the Taco Bell Graduate to Go program, she got the resources and help she needed to succeed.

Today, Mona helps other kids overcome their challenges.

Graduate to Go Helps Kids Stay in School and Succeed

The Taco Bell Foundation for Teens serves more than 100,000 teens and awards more than 350 grants and scholarships each year.

Through their Graduate to Go initiative, the Foundation support includes the Graduate to Go Multi-Media Studios, Graduate to Go Business Camp, and National Keystone leadership program at 1,600 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.

Actor/Producer Mark Wahlberg, the Graduate to Go ambassador for the third consecutive year, is helping the project, and will appear in a national TV with Mona Dixon, who was helped by the Graduate to Go program through her involvement with the Club.

Wahlberg also continues to support teens through his Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.

How You Can Help Kids Graduate to Go

Girls' Lunch Out is honored to work with the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation to help kids graduate high school.

Please join us and help raise money and awareness for this amazing cause!

When: Tuesday, June 5th at 9pm EST

Hosts: Follow @girlslunchout

Hashtag: #GraduateToGo

RSVP: http://twtvite.com/graduatetogo

Prizes: We will be showering Twitter party attendees with gift cards!

Help spread the word and Tweet this message out:

Support @TacoBell and @mark_wahlberg to help kids #GraduateToGo on 6/5 at 9pmET with @girlslunchout http://bit.ly/LOGLDb

Other ways you can get involved:

"Like" the custom-designed graduation caps created by Boys & Girls Club teens that will be posted on the Taco Bell Facebook page.

Share Mark Wahlberg's new TV commercial, featuring inspiring teen, Mona Dixon.

For every tweet or retweet with the #GraduateToGo hashtag, Taco Bell will donate $5 to the cause.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  Winners will be chosen randomly from those that have RSVP'd and participate during the party.

Memorial Day Weekend: Enjoying the Moment

Sometimes we get so caught up in day-to-day life that we lose sight of the little moments of joy and pleasure. I am so guilty of this. My mind always seems to be 2 steps ahead of my body. Plus, ask any blogger what they are usually thinking when they are in a situation, and you're likely to hear this response, "How can I turn this into a blog post?".

It is sooo true. It's always on my mind, I can tell you that.

But this weekend I wanted things to be different. I wanted to enjoy the time with my husband and kids...without distractions. I'm not gonna lie. When you are constantly in the mindset of a blogger, it's mighty difficult to switch gears. So, I turned off the part of my brain that it always anticipating the next post, the next tweets, the tweets to which I want to respond, and the unanswered emails.

I picked up my camera and took pictures while paying close attention to the moment. When we've got those cameras in our hands, it so easy to miss fleeting moments. In the blink of eye and the click of the shutter, they are gone. It could be a first dive, a first ball hit into the outfield, a first goal scored, a first wave ridden. Those are moments we don't want to miss.

We jam-packed our weekend with lots of fun, food, family, and friends. Last night when we were beyond exhausted, we all agreed that we had a pretty fantastic start to the summer!

Family Fun Day at Monmouth Park Racetrack.

S'mores galore!

Swimming, breakfast at Starbucks, and dinner al fresco on the deck.

We topped the weekend off with ice cream from the one and only Hoffman's. If you visit the Jersey shore, you MUST make a stop at Hoffman's. O. M. G! I love the s'mores flavor, but you can't go wrong with any of them, especially the butterscotch krimpet. Yeah, to die for and worth every. single. calorie.

When was the last time you stopped to smell the roses? It had been a while for me, but I know I'll definitely be doing it more often.

Friday Fun: Mirassou Wines #mirassou

It's Friday! It's the unofficial start of summer! It's time to kick back, unplug, and enjoy the first weekend of the summer season. Woo hoo!

In addition to paying tribute to the wonderful servicemen and service women of our country, I am also paying tribute to Mirassou wines. Mirassou is the official wine sponsor of Bloggy Boot Camp. At the close of each Bloggy Boot Camp, the SITS girls host a fabulous cocktail party featuring the wines of Mirassou.

My favorites were the sauvignon blanc and the pinot grigio. Hey, it's summer. I like a nice, crisp, chilled white wine. The word on the street was how yummy the moscato was. I gave it a shot knowing that it's a bit sweeter than I prefer. I have to say, it was tasty, but I just can't get into the lingering sweetness.

The cocktail parties always include a "red carpet" complete with some fun props. Jessica and I had some fun with the signage!

Be sure to check out the many varietals of Mirassou wines. They are such a great value for the money. Most bottles cost about $12 and can be found at many locations throughout the U.S.

You must be 21 to consume alcoholic beverages. When doing so, please drink responsibly. No drinking and driving, and no drinking and texting!

My Summer Reading List

Ever since finishing the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' trilogy for the second time, I haven't been inspired to pick up a book. But now that summer is upon us, I'll kick up my summer reading a notch. I've drafted a summer reading list and have every hope and intention of finishing each and every book on my list.


Here's what I'll be reading this summer. Have you read any of these?


1. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (currently reading)
A story of two 10 year old girls in Copenhagen during World War II. My daughter is currently reading this book for her 4th grade class. It sounded compelling, so I decided to download it and read along.


2. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
An historically fictitious account of Ernest Hemingway's first wife Hadley's life in 1920's Paris. After seeing the movie Midnight in Paris, I knew I had to read this book.


3. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins


4. Skinnydipping by Bethenny Frankel
In Frankel's first novel, we follow the adventures of Faith Brightstone as she pursues her dream of having it all in the city of angels.


5. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
I've wanted to read this book for what seems like forever. Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bike in rural Vermont. Her life is forever changed. Laurel withdrawals into her photography and spend most of her time at a homeless shelter.

6. I Do, Now What?: Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-In-Love Couple by Giuliana and Bill Rancic


You can find me on the beach or lounging by the pool with my face buried in a book or in my Nook.


Do you have a summer reading list? Do you have any books that you'd recommend I add to my list?

Recap: #GLOParty Cocktail Party

I had been looking forward to the pre-Bloggy Boot Camp cocktail party hosted by Girls' Lunch Out {GLO} for what seemed like FOR-EVAH!!!! On Friday, it was showtime!

I arrived early at the Marathon Grill to help check-in attendees. There were close to 100 women in attendance, but Pam and I kept pace with the mass onslaught of arriving women. It has been such a rewarding experience to see how women have embraced GLO.

Yeah, you were there or you were square! Lots of wining and dining! The place was hoppin'!

UPS, the title sponsor, was on hand to fill attendees in on their offerings, including UPS My Choice, a service that allows you to schedule your deliveries around YOUR schedule. Love that!!!!

Although I was busy at the check-in desk for much of the night, I was able to sneak away for a picture.

photo credit: Girls' Lunch Out

With GLO co-founders Tina (second from left) and Erica (far right), and fellow blogger, Rebecca.

With Rebecca.

And I may or may not have indulged in one or two of these scrumptious cupcakes throughout the night!

It was yet another successful Girls' Lunch Out event! I am so honored to be part of the GLO team. I value the professional relationship as well as the friendship that I've developed with Erica and Tina, and I look forward to sharing many future events with the lovely ladies of GLO.

Were you at the party? If so, what did you love most about your experience?

Lessons I Learned at Bloggy Bootcamp #BBCPhilly

Despite how much you know, there is always something to learn. Never was this more clear to me than this past weekend when I attended my second Bloggy Boot Camp.

Tiffany and Fran are the beauty and brains behind SITS Bloggy Boot Camp, a blog conference geared towards beginner, intermediate, and advanced bloggers. What I love about Bloggy Boot Camp is that it's a travelling conference, hitting up to 6 cities per year. For many, travelling to a distant city isn't an option. Often it's a matter of timing. Other times, it's the cost that is often an obstacle. SITS makes it possible to attend a conference within driving distance while taking just a day out of your schedule.

While many bloggers are writing recap posts, I'm taking a different approach. Because I walked away armed with pages upon pages of notes, I thought I'd recap the lessons I learned.

Lessons Learned at Bloggy Boot Camp Philly

1. Work with intention
This was advice that I desperately needed. It seems as though I've been flopping all over the place lately, and I needed someone to set me on the right path.

•   Set office hours. This will help set expectations with your family. They know when you are off limits, and office hours will help you to better manage your time.
•   Read email twice per day. Time spent on email is time spent away from something else. Block out time for Facebook and Twitter too.

2. Protect Your Social Identity
Don't post online (whether it's on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+) when you are having the worst day of your life. Your brand should reflect the best of you. The worst of times hardly bring out the best in us.

3. Be Seen IRL
Social media by default is an industry in which people hide behind computers, iPads and smart phones. Get out and get in front of others in social media. The best connections and deals are made face-to-face.

4. Know How Much Your Blog Costs Per Day
If your goal is to make money on your blog, you need to know what your blog is costing you per day. From expenses such as domain names and hosting costs to the amount of time that YOU spend on it each day, every expense needs to be taken into consideration.

5. Don't Try to Label Yourself as a Niche Blogger If You Are Not
It's OK to not have a niche. The key is to work your unique angle, and the loyal readers and opportunities will follow.

6. Vlogging is the Next Big Thing
Vlogging is the next big thing in blogging. Vlogging gives your readers a chance to see you in a different way, an active way. They see you and they hear you. What a concept! More and more brands are turning to bloggers who successfully connect with their readers through videos to promote their products. I really need to step up my game here.

7. Be Loyal to Your Readers

•     - Consistency is key. Post at the same time each day. I need to focus efforts here as I am very inconsistent with my posting schedule.
•     - Sponsored posts should tell a personal story. Make a connection between you and the sponsoring brand.
•     - Have your readers' backs. Use language that shows your readers that you are watching out for them. If you are loyal to them, they will reciprocate.

8. Stay Ahead of the Trend
Being the first to blog about a product, a book, a concept, or a current event yields traffic. Be the first to offer it, and the readers are sure to come.

My favorite quote of the day:
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

There were lots of famous people quoted throughout the day, but the above was by far my favorite. When I worked in software consulting, I always said that there were two types of people: the visionaries and the worker bees. Some people have great talent in the form of ideas and concepts. Others are productive and  execute with hard work. There are the lucky ones who have both. On the days when your talent isn't working its A game, stick to good old-fashioned hard work. You won't go wrong.

If you are a blogger and are considering attending Bloggy Boot Camp, you must do it. In addition to a great education, you'll also get to meet and network with incredibly talented women. To be in a room with 150 fellow bloggers who share your vision and your goals not to mention that they just "get" you is priceless. You seriously cannot put a price tag on it. It is so worth the $100.

Where's my mojo???

Ever have one of those weeks where your motivation totally ditches you? Just takes an unexpected hike, and you have no idea how to track it down?

Yep. It's been one of those weeks.

It started on Monday. Waking up to some pretty crappy weather didn't lend itself to starting the week off with a jump start.

I had a pretty great week last week. I had 2 fabulous Paint The Town Pink events including meeting Bill Rancic. My oldest turned 10! I spent Saturday with my girls at an Angelina Ballerina performance and a nice lunch. And Sunday was Mother's Day. It was such a wonderful week filled with lots of fun events and activities.

Of course, this week paled in comparison.

I haven't been to they gym all week - not because I've been busy, but because I've been a little less than motivated.

I've barely posted on my blog all week.

My presence on Facebook and Twitter has been fair at best. I've almost completely forgotten about Foursquare.

I did crank out an article for Meridian Momtourage on avoiding distractions during family vacations. You can read it here. Plus, I've been volunteering at the Scholastic book fair at the girls' elementary school and helping to plan the 4th grade breakfast. I like to think that those count for something.

But still...I can count the number of productive things I've done this week on one hand. Now that the week is winding down, I have this overwhelming feeling that I've wasted most of it.

Even as I write this, I struggle to get out of my funk. I am scrambling to turn things around this week. Better late than never, right?

This weekend is Bloggy Bootcamp in Philadelphia. I'll be there Friday night and all day Saturday. I am seriously hoping for some major inspiration to strike as a result of the weekend's social media activities. I am in dire need of recharging and refreshing. The Girls' Lunch Out cocktail party on Friday night and Saturday's conference should be just the things I need.

Do you ever have days or weeks like this? I never do, and this is a rare and unwelcome feeling for me. What do you do to get your mojo back?

Mother's Day Photo Shoot

Each year, the girls and I take a few commemorative shots for Mother's Day. I set up the tripod and program the self-timer and snap away.

It's so much fun. We get goofy and playful and usually end up giggling like crazy. But this year, something was different. The kids were indifferent about the photo shoot. I was disappointed. I don't ask for anything fancy. I just wanna have some fun with my little girls. I can't put my finger on what exactly was the road block this year, but I suspect it may have had something to do with the fact that this was our first Mother's Day without our beloved cat.

He has always been a part of the Mother's Day photo shoot. This year his absence was felt. We missed him, and the photo shoot just wasn't the same. I didn't insist on the tripod. I took some impromptu shots with my iPhone. And in the end, it was a suitable replacement for the usual photo shoot. It was actually fun!

Wordless Wednesday: Belmar Fishing Pier

The Belmar Fishing Pier, Belmar, NJ on a cloudy day in May.

A Night with Bill Rancic #paintthetownpink

Last night I had the pleasure of spending the evening with Bill Rancic. The devoted husband and savvy businessman visited Red Bank, New Jersey where he spoke at the Count Basie Theatre as part of the Paint The Town Pink's week-long event to raise breast cancer awareness.

The event was sponsored by Meridian Health and as one of their MomTourage bloggers, I was invited to attend the event as a representative of MomTourage.

Rancic's wife, Guiliana, an anchor on E! News, announced in October 2011 that she had been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Originally scheduled to undergo a lumpectomy, Rancic later disclosed that she chose to undergo a double mastectomy.

During last night's show, Bill Rancic spoke candidly and openly about the couple's struggle with infertility and later with breast cancer. It was refreshing to hear his honesty, to hear him admit how frightened he and Guiliana had been. He spoke of their "dark" days and how eventually, the sun began to shine brightly for them.

The couple is now expecting their first child, thanks to the generous efforts of a gestational carrier. This, clearly, is a couple who deserves a happy ending.

Rancic's face lights up when he talks about how he and his wife first met and their subsequent courtship. You can't deny that he's a man in love.

Rancic sat down for a chat with Meridian mom blogger and moderator Chrissy MacCarrick.

During the informal chat, Chrissy asked Rancic questions that were submitted by audience members. You literally had the feeling that you were sitting in your living room directly chatting with Rancic.

Rancic was kind enough to stick around to sign autographs and pose for pictures at a VIP meet and greet following the show.

I can't say it enough...this is an all-around fabulous guy. He is the salt of the Earth. Guiliana is lucky to have him. They are lucky to have each other.

Bill and Guiliana are proof that miracles and happy endings really do happen. Can't wait for them to become parents!