If you look around you will see all types of Moms in every stage of life. Pregnant Moms, New Moms, Moms of Preschoolers, Girl Scout Moms, Boy Scout Moms… But as a Mom, it is sometimes easy to feel unseen – especially in those “in between” times. When I had the chance to team up with My Florida Prepaid and their Mother's Day Campaign, I knew I had to give a nod to all of us moms who are living in the “in between.”

All of my adult life I have been a mom. I had my daughter just two weeks shy of turning 19 – so it is hard for me to even remember a time where I wasn’t responsible for someone other than myself. I was somewhere “in between” a child and an adult myself and suddenly my whole life revolved around this little girl.

Then seven years later Midge came along – and suddenly I was responsible for two little humans. My time then became split between two – while still managing to run a business and keep my household. Life was spent “in between” math homework and nighttime feedings, Carpool and Conference Calls.

Then there was a time where I felt like my very existence was simply to stay “in between” these two to keep them from killing each other. But then there were also those moments where the love between them was palpable, and I watched as the friendship between them grew into something I never had as an only child.

As they got older life got even more “in between.” While one was watching Dora the Explorer, the other was learning to drive my Ford Explorer. One was dressing up like a fairy princess while the other was dressing up for Homecoming.

I feel like I am at the peak of the “in between” now – with one child a freshman in college and living on her own, and the other one just now coming into her teenage years and deciding who and what she is going to be in life. It seems now that my girls are in their own “in between” even though they are not yet moms.

My oldest is in between adulthood and teenager – learning to live on her own while still having to call me for just about everything. My youngest is in between childhood and teenager – learning to do her hair and makeup while still enjoying a morning spent watching cartoons.

This year I find myself yet again in the “in between” – a not-quite-empty-nester who is torn between being elated to see these girls fly away and wanting to lock every window and door in the house so they can never leave.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I think it’s a great time to acknowledge the “in between” – and no matter what stage of life or motherhood you are in, celebrate it and be thankful for it all. And while it may not always feel like it, it is important to remember that we appreciate you– all of you – at every stage, every milestone, and every “in between.”

MyFloridaPrepaid said it best – “Mother’s Day is a big deal, and it should be. Mother’s Day is the day we all say, “We appreciate you.” And we mean it.”

Thank you to MyFloridaPrepaid for this campaign, and for recognizing how us Moms sometimes feel “unseen” – and for giving me a chance to walk down memory lane and the last 19 years.

How to make Beach Theme Save The Date Cards for your beach theme wedding! Step by step photos and instructions as well as a free printable download!

When Mike and I decided to finally get married after nearly 9 years together, I was ecstatic. For years he and I had gone back and forth over the details of the wedding - big or small, midday or evening, beach or church, modern or traditional... we could never decide.

But finally one day everything just clicked, and we sat down and put together the perfect plan that brought everything I love (the beach) and everything he loves (traditional) together in one.

It was truly the best day of my life as we stood surrounded by our loved ones, and it all began with these DIY Beach Theme Save The Date Cards.

I knew after making everyone wait this long I wanted to go all out on the details of this wedding. Having a Beach Themed Wedding has always been my dream. I have a deep love for all things beachy, and I wanted to incorporate it into every part of this wedding.

After pricing Beach Themed Wedding Invitations I just couldn't stomach the idea of some mass produced card going out. I knew it was time to get crafty and make my own... and I could not have been happier with the finished product.

DIY Beach Theme Save The Date Cards

Supplies Needed:

• Colored Cardstock to match your wedding theme colors
• White Cardstock
• This Template
• Winter Calligraphy free font (download and install to show on the template)
• Wired Burlap Ribbon
• Natural Craft Twine
• Assorted Seashells - I used these.
• Tiny Starfish - I used these.
• Pearl Ribbon - I used this one.
• Craft Glue
• Packing Tape
• Glue Sticks or Heavy Duty Double Sided Tape
• Scissors or I used this X-ACTO Plastic Base Laser Guillotine Trimmer

The first thing you want to do is cut your Colored Cardstock in half. This leaves you with an 8.5 tall x 5.5 wide card. This will be the base of your save the date card.

Then print out your Save The Date template on white cardstock and cut them to size. To make this easier I used an X-ACTO Plastic Base Laser Guillotine Trimmer cut out each one along the black lines of the template.

Next, line the wired burlap ribbon up to the card.

Make a small fold that wraps around the white cardstock and measures the length to securely wrap to the other side without being too tight and folds around the other side.

Cut the Burlap Ribbon and fold both edges around the white card.

Secure with Packing Tape for a strong hold.

Next, put another piece of packing tape on one end of your twine and wrap gently two times around - making a criss-cross off to the side.

Secure with another piece of packing tape.

The next step is to affix the white card to the colored card. You can either use a glue stick or heavy duty double sided tape to do this - just make sure you use a lot of whichever one you choose! You want to make sure the two pieces of cardstock are securely stuck together.

The final step is to add the seashells, starfish, and pearls to your liking. Put a dot of craft glue and then hold your embellishment securely for a few seconds to set.

To ship, simply wrap in bubble wrap and place in large envelopes with a tape seal.

Note: if you take them to the Post Office you can pay for postage that will be stickers instead of them running them through an automated machine. That will keep them looking nice and help to not crush the shells.

I could not be more happy with how these turned out. Everyone absolutely loved them. They were simple to make and much less expensive than mass printed cards.

Plus I love that each one was just a little bit different. They were the perfect way to announce our perfect day.

My story of having basal cell carcinoma removal on my face using the Mohs surgery procedure. Before and after pictures and what to expect.

"It looks like basal cell carcinoma."

Those were not the words I was expecting to hear my dermatologist say on the morning of January 2nd. I was accompanying my Dad for his checkup when I asked the doc to just take a look at what I thought was a clogged pore. I sat there stunned as he explained needing to send a sample off for a biopsy.

As a blogger and direct sales trainer I spend a good part of my week having to look at myself on camera - whether it is performing a live training webinar, Instagram story, or on my weekly video mastermind chats.

I noticed what I thought was a clogged pore on my nose - and not wanting to make it all big and red, I simply left it alone.

It went from looking like a blackhead to a tiny little flesh-colored bump - nothing at all that would cause alarm.

Over time though I noticed it getting bigger, and I tried several different facial masks to see if I could open the pore, and even went as far as ordering a set of aesthetician tools to see if I could eliminate it.

When my Dad said he had an appointment with his dermatologist and said I could go along, I went in to see if there was anything he could suggest to help me unclog this angry little pore.

When the doctor started poking around though he realized this was more than a clogged pore and decided he wanted to send off a sample for a biopsy.

Six days later I received a phone call - that it was, in fact, an infiltrating basal cell carcinoma - and he wanted me to have it removed ASAP.

I made an appointment at Henghold Skin Health & Surgery Group for January 18th and went on about my day. I remember having a mole removed from my neck as a child, so I expected this to be the same.

It was a simple outpatient procedure that required about 3 stitches and a day out of school. That was exactly what I anticipated for this. I could not have been more wrong.

On Monday, January 15th I got a phone call asking if I could come in sooner... like the next day. "No problem," I said, eager to get the surgery done and over with and back to my normal schedule.

I rearranged some meetings for later in the week, organized the girls' schedule, and arrived bright and early the next morning for the Mohs procedure.

Henghold Skin Health & Surgery Group is located just off North Davis Highway and is absolutely beautiful. The staff was fantastic and put me right at ease as my anxiety began to grow.

I still was expecting a simple in-and-out procedure with a couple little stitches, no big deal. I mean the spot was so tiny. I took my MacBook and a couple snacks and I was good to go.

The Mohs procedure is the best "skin-sparing" surgery for most basal cell carcinoma tumors. The doctor begins by removing the tumor, and then a small margin around the tumor for testing.

That skin is then put under a microscope to make sure there are no more cancer cells. If cancer cells are present, the doctor will take another small layer for testing until all cancer cells have been removed.

The nurse gave me a few local injections to numb the area, and the doctor made a perfect circle incision and then put a pressure dressing on the wound for me to wait while it was tested.

They said it can take up to an hour to test the sample to make sure no cancer cells are present. I headed to the waiting room where I was met with gentle smiles from others who had pressure dressings just like me on various places of their faces, neck, and hands.

The waiting room was nice and open and even had a table for me to work while I waited. They even gave me a little restaurant buzzer to let me know when my results were in! How cool is that!?

I settled in with my snacks and MacBook and began to work. Before I knew it my buzzer was going off.

I was very fortunate that Dr. Henghold got all of my tumor on the very first try. The next step was to close the wound.

Because of the location and because of how deep he had to go to get all of the tumor, Dr. Henghold had to get pretty creative in how he closed me up.

Because he is also a plastic surgeon he was able to work with the contours of my face to put me back together in the most natural way possible.

This called for some significant cutting and pulling though, and by the time it was all over I had about 30 stitches in the shape of what resembles an upside down question mark.

This part took over an hour - Dr Henghold took his time to make sure it was absolutely perfect. I have to say though, it is an indescribable feeling to be able to hear someone cutting the skin on your face and sewing it back together.

The nurse fixed me up with another pressure dressing and a prescription for pain meds and an antibiotic and I was ready to go.

As I was checking out, the weight of it all finally hit me. As I sat there I was hit with a wave of emotions and the tears just started falling.

In just two weeks I had gone from thinking I had an annoying blocked pore to hearing I had skin cancer to having a pretty extensive "minor" surgery that will forever change my appearance. It was a lot to take in.

The staff was incredible and sat there with me and let me just talk through my emotions - helping me pat the tears from around the dressing and kinda "put me back together" emotionally before I left.

Mike picked me up and we went to fill my prescriptions and get a few snacks before heading home. The lidocaine was already wearing off and I knew then I was in for some pretty serious pain.

I took the prescribed pain pill, but by that evening the pressure was unbearable and I had to call in for something stronger. Finally, I was able to get some relief and was able to sleep off and on for about an hour at a time that night.

My first day post-op was pretty easy. The pressure dressing has to stay on for the first 48 hours - which was not uncomfortable but because of the location, it was difficult to see around it very well.

My instructions were to take it easy and rest as much as possible... but I am a terrible patient and wanted to get up and work.

Needless to say, I wore myself out pretty quickly. The worst part was dealing with the pain medication side effects. I was itchy and irritable and felt like I was in a fog.

The second day I was able to take off the pressure dressing and really see what was underneath... which was two surgery shiner black eyes and a lot of swelling.

I got pretty nauseated while cleaning the wound and redressing it - not necessarily because of the pain but also the anxiety around what I was doing and seeing just how much damage had been done.

I was unable to open my left eye when I first woke up. Since the tumor went down the left side of my nose, the left side of my face bore the brunt of the surgery and was also pulled the tightest on the closure.

By midday though I was feeling much better and took a very restful nap that afternoon.

The third day was the worst - I was very very swollen and still in quite a bit of pain - even with very strong painkillers.

Because of how tightly the skin had to be pulled on my left eye it was very sore and swollen and constantly watered. I cleaned and redressed the wound again - not getting sick this time - and decided to relax more than I had the days before.

By the evening though the left side of my face had swelled pretty big - making it difficult to eat.

During the early morning hours of Day Four Mike woke me to take my pain meds. I barely woke up as I stammered to the kitchen to take a pill, and was thankfully able to get right back to sleep.

When I woke up later that morning I immediately noticed that I could open my eyes wider than I had the days before.

I was due for more pain meds in two hours but I felt great... so I just relaxed, had some coffee, and went about my normal morning routine. My left jaw was still very swollen but not as painful.

When it came time to take my pain meds I was not hurting... at all. So I didn't. Within a few hours, I felt like the brain fog from the painkillers was fading, and though I had some pain at the incision, I felt much much better as the day went on.

It is now the afternoon of Day Four, and while I look like I have some bulldog jowls and a pretty gruesome black eye, I am doing ok still with no pain meds - not even Tylenol.

On Tuesday I will have the stitches removed, and then I will continue my path to healing - both physically and emotionally. I am excited to see what my face will look like once these scars fade and I will be left with the memory of this week.

While basal cell carcinoma is one of the "best" cancers to get - left untreated it can still grow into nearby areas and invade the bone or other tissues beneath the skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that one in five adults will be diagnosed with skin cancer - nearly 9,500 diagnosed every day. Out of the six members of my immediate family on my Dad's side, I am the fifth to be diagnosed and go through this process. It is nice to know I am not alone.

Ironically, my scars will be healed about the time us Floridians start heading back to the beach, and it makes me acutely aware of the hours and hours I have spent "laying out" over the last 37 years.

The beach has always been my happy place - my "church" - and where I have "found myself" many, many times. It is where I go to recharge, to rest, and to fill my soul with a little "vitamin sea."

This year though I will go with a new respect for the sun, a big floppy hat, and copious amounts of sunscreen. My time at the beach will be more about the time and people, and less about achieving the "perfect tan."

I hope that sharing my basal cell carcinoma story encourages you to visit your dermatologist and stay diligent about your skin health. Never in a million years did I think that little spot was anything more than a clogged pore, or that I would need to have a full-blown surgery to remove it. My only regret is that I did not visit my doctor sooner.

Picking the best gifts for minimalists can be a struggle. Chances are if you ask a minimalist "What do you want for Christmas?" the response you get will be "Nothing." And it is true.

Your person isn't just being coy - the truth is he or she probably can not think of an item that they want to receive.

As a minimalist myself, I dread the commercialism of the holidays and often feel bad for seeming "difficult to shop for."

The truth is I do not want to receive something that I will feel guilty for giving away a week later. While that may seem harsh, it is painfully accurate.

I decided this year to try and help my fellow minimalists - as well as those who have one on their shopping list - to make this holiday season a little less... difficult.

Holiday Gifts for Minimalists

Donation to Favorite Charity

When I received a card in the mail that informed me that my Weekly Mastermind Group had gotten together and donated towards my local animal shelter as a wedding gift, I literally teared up.

Those ladies knew that the animal shelter is near to my heart, and their generosity was overwhelming.

What is he or she passionate about? Make a donation to that charity in their name.

Food & Drink

One thing we all have in common - we gotta eat! Giving a gift that includes food - whether a restaurant giftcard or a basket of goodies from your local market - is a great gift for anyone on your shopping list.

If your minimalist is a wine lover like me you can even send wine! I mean, does it get any better?!

Experiences

Minimalists know that true happiness is not found in STUFF but in moments. Our focus is to rack up experiences the way some people like to rack up pairs of shoes!

Giving gifts such as music lessons, event tickets, interesting classes (like Painting with a Twist for instance!) will be well loved.

Kindle Books

Many minimalists love to read... we just do not want the clutter of books. The gift of a Kindle or an Amazon gift card will allow your loved one to download the book he or she wants right to their favorite device.

You can also get magazine and newspaper subscriptions which can be delivered right to their favorite device or email.

Their Personal Collection

Even the strictest of minimalists have a collection of some sort. For me, it is Pandora charms, which are small and dainty and remind me of love and occasions in my life.

I also love succulents - which is pretty much the unofficial flower of the minimalist community.

TIME

Ultimately, this is the best gift you can give - to your favorite minimalist - or anyone on your holiday shopping list.

Time is the one thing we do not get more of, and spending quality time with those you love is the best gift of all.

So I am only a few weeks into planning our wedding, and I am already a bit overwhelmed. It is a good thing - the TypeA in me is enjoying planning every detail - but I have to admit I had underestimated how many fine details there are to pulling off your perfect day. Everything from flowers to cakes to Gifts for Bridesmaids and Gifts for Groomsmen - the list seems to go on and on. Even though we have a couple months to go - three months and eight days to be exact - I have already begun purchasing things for our Wedding Party that I know they will love. Since everything about our wedding is going to be unique, I wanted to find some Unique Bridesmaid Gifts for my girls that they would cherish forever but that also goes along with the theme and feel of our wedding. I discovered a company called UncommonGoods and to be honest... it has been difficult not to buy it ALL.

UncommonGoods specializes in handmade, organic, and recycled products where sustainability is the #1 priority. They want to make a positive impact on the workplace beyond just "being green," and even offer a Better To Give Program which allows you to select a non-profit at checkout to send a donation to. Now I do not want to give away too much about our wedding, but let's just say that Mike and I both agree that it is better to give than to receive, and after nearly nine years together there is nothing we "need" anyway... I love that I can purchase the things I need for my wedding while giving back to those in need. It is a total win-win.

I absolutely must have these Blossoms Earrings - made by an artist in California. Succulents are all the rage right now - and I have to admit I have jumped on the bandwagon in a big way! These earrings come with a tiny little cork, so you can choose what you want to put inside.

I also love these Customized State Necklaces. Often times when I see a Florida Necklace, the stone or heart is in the wrong part of the state! These beautiful Sterling Silver necklaces are customizable so you can choose where you want your diamond placed! How cool is that!?! I have to think that this artist from Kansas knows how much we love our small towns, so when you check out you tell her which zip code to place your little 1.9mm white diamond. My heart - and my diamond - belongs in Pensacola!

If you would prefer not going the jewelry route, how about something like this Sparking Wine Making Kit? I am not sure there is anything better than being able to make your own bubbly - especially if you are a wine-loving bride like yours truly.

This Spa Tower would make a great gift for Bridesmaids, Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Groom - or even the Wedding Planner! "Inside the five glass jars stacked in the tower you'll find a honey scrub, soak, mask, honey body butter, and a fragrant candle that all work together to transform your humble bathroom into a soothing Eastern Shore spa retreat." Perfect!

If you are looking for Customizable Wedding Gifts or Gifts For The Bridal Shower, UncommonGoods has you covered too! I mean how incredible is this Personalized Cutting Board?!! I have never seen anything like it!

I just love that UncommonGoods offers all kinds of gifts, jewelry, home decor, and more that are as unique and beautiful as they are sustainable. From helping those in low-income countries to live better lives to helping artisans share their creative gift with the world, you can feel good about every purchase. Check out everything they have to offer at UncommonGoods.com.

This may sound cheesy, but Valentine's Day has always been my favorite holiday. Even when I was single, I love everything about the idea of a holiday that celebrates love! Even when I was a little girl I remember having so much fun making little paper Valentine's for all of my classmates. I love the decorations, I love seeing huge bouquets of roses everywhere, I love the little teddy bears hanging on to everything. I just love it! Lucky for me, I have eight amazing friends that love it as well - that is why we all teamed up to do a super fun Valentine's Day Event for all of our amazing readers.

I, along with eight other bloggers, are each running great giveaways individually to help you have an amazing Valentine's Day. Each one of the links below has a great tip and a giveaway that you can enter! How cool is that!? You can scroll down to see my tip and giveaway, and then hop over to these ladies and enter theirs too! Each giveaway is completely separate - that means you could even win all nine!

The Little Kitchen | A Helicopter Mom | Life On Summerhill | Midlife Boulevard | A Savings Wow |

Tips For A Romantic Valentine's Day

Ok so let's be real for a moment... there is a lot of pressure put on Valentine's Day that really is unnecessary! Why stress over something as natural as love?! Whether this is your first Valentine's Day together or one of many - or even if you are gonna rock this holiday single with your besties - Valentine's Day can be amazing with just a few little tips.

1 - Don't overthink it. What does he/she mean to you? What are his/her favorite things? This isn't a contest. You aren't being graded here.  Think back - where was your first date? First kiss? Or what is his/her favorite dessert? Favorite hobby? Have you ever written a love note? A heartfelt gift with sentimental meaning of some sort goes way further than simply spending a bunch of money.

2 - Don't wait until the last minute. For the love guys... here is your warning. You have THREE WEEKS until the big day. Do not go walking into the store on February 14th and be made when everything looks picked through. The stores have had Valentine's stuff out since before Christmas... I know you have seen it! Get it while the good looking stuff is still there. Even if you are simply writing a letter to tell your person how much they mean, do not wait three weeks to get started. If your person finds it early - it will be a great surprise and they will love that you were already thinking about Valentine's Day! Trust me - you will win either way.

3 - Remember that the point is LOVE. That's it. I can not think of one thing that we need more of in our lives than love. (ehh... maybe money, but I still think love wins) So make sure you lead with that. Relationships are tough, and we do not always take the time to tell our people just how much we care. And that goes beyond just your primary relationships to include your family and your friends. If your "heart" is in the right place (pun intended) Valentine's Day can be a wonderful holiday for everyone.

Last week my friend Patty invited Mike and I to a "couples night" at Painting With A Twist - an instructional art studio that lets you create your very own masterpiece with the instruction and guidance of a lively instructor. She had seen an advertisement for the "Pride Over Pensacola Beach" piece, and being that we absolutely love our city, I jumped at the chance. The Pride Over Pensacola Beach is a Van Gogh inspired painting that includes two iconic pieces of Pensacola Beach - our beach ball water tower and our beach sign - swirled with a bright rainbow of colors over our sandy white beaches. I checked out the painting, absolutely loved it, and registered Mike and I without a second thought. It was a much needed, long overdue date night.

When we arrived our table was already set up and ready with our canvas, paint, brushes - everything we were going to need. Since this was a couples paint - we got to choose which side we wanted to do. I actually only chose the right side because I wanted a better view of Jaime - the awesomely funny instructor - so that I could get a better shot to Periscope a part of her presentation. That put me in charge of the Pensacola Beach Sign which was a bit intimidating, but they assured me they would help if I needed it.

Once we got settled in and got our aprons on, Jaime did a quick intro and we we ready to roll. Basically the way that it works is your artist goes step by step explaining how to do each part - giving you just a minute or two in between to paint along with her. The atmosphere is totally relaxed and fun, everyone was laughing while jamming out to a pretty eclectic playlist. The instructions are actually super simple, and I was impressed with how easily I was able to follow along. It did not take long for me to realize that while the point of the painting was to be matchy matchy... that was not going to happen in our case. Mike is a blender - I am a dabber.

Every little while you have to take a break to let the paint dry before moving on to the next step. I took this as an opportunity to grab another drink walk around to see all of the other paintings that are offered at Painting With A Twist. I absolutely MUST go to the Pensacola Wine Glasses one - I was wanting to buy that set right off the wall. I can not think of a more perfect painting for my MoscatoMom office!!!

The entire painting took about three hours - but really we were having so much fun we didn't realize how late it was getting. Several RLI members came that night and it was fun to get to hang with them in a totally different atmosphere outside of work. We took a few breaks, ate some amazing food that Patty brought in, drank a few drinks and just all in all had an absolutely wonderful time. This was Mike and my second time doing a painting date like this, and it made me wonder why in the world we have waited so long. You can bet we will be back regularly now.

Even though Mike is a blender and I am a dabber, I was really happy with how our Pride Over Pensacola Beach painting turned out. In fact I thought all of them were absolutely fantastic. If you are looking for a fun date night, girls night out, or even a team building networking meeting, I highly encourage you to check out Painting With a Twist. It is located right here in Pensacola in the Target shopping center on Bayou Boulevard - across from Cordova Mall. You can check out all of the details as well as their upcoming calendar and register for a painting class right on their website.

Two years ago I went to my grandmother's house for Fourth of July. The girls always go to their Dads for the 4th and Mike had a big tournament - so I took the opportunity to unplug for a few days and go hang with the family. While I was there I received a text from Mike and the conversation went something like this:

Mike: Hey babe, what do you think about owning a coffee stand?

Me: Mike, do you even DRINK coffee?

Mike: What does me drinking coffee have to do with me selling coffee?

Me: Well I guess that's a good point.

That was it.

Fast forward two days when I came home, and Mike proudly announced that he had purchased the coffee stand and we had a new business to fill the fourteen seconds of spare time we had one week. Naturally I hit the ceiling over this, all the while him insisting "WE DISCUSSED IT!"

Gentlemen, can I take a moment here to say that a four sentence text exchange is NOT in fact discussing it. At all. 

But the deal was done, the purchase was made, and the ink was dry. We were now the owners of a little coffee stand inside our civic center. Two people - neither of who even drank coffee - were now in charge of serving hundreds of people for every hockey game, seminar, concert, circus - you name it.

For the first year I was pissed. Honestly. I told Mike "This thing is YOUR responsibility. I am entirely too busy to go play at your little coffee shop." But I worked a few hockey games... then a concert or two... then Pensacon (where I hung out with James Leary all day - that was all kinds of awesome.) I began seeing the same smiling faces coming to get their warm cup of happiness before heading back down to the ice to cheer for the home team. I learned how to make Cappuccinos and Lattes and Macchiatos and Americanos... and before I knew it, I was hooked.

I now know the schedule better than Mike does - and I work every single event. The back of my Acura stays empty because several times a week I am loading it up with espresso and milk and whipped cream and Hershey's syrup.

I can tell you the Ice Flyers statistics, who all will be coming to Pensacola in concert, the names of just about every employee, and exactly how to make the most amazing Hazelnut triple shot cappuccino you have ever had.

Now here I sit - two years later - feeling sad because the season is almost over. In just a few weeks I will pack up our little stand and lock everything up for the Summer. I will say goodbye to all of my friends that call me "Mrs Java Hut" and tell them to have a great Summer. And then... when the temps start dropping again... I will load up my car and happily head back to my little coffee stand to do it all over again.

Never in a million years would I have thought I would want to own a coffee stand in the Civic Center. But now it's something I can't imagine ever doing without.

~Lynsey

As I have mentioned a few times, Mike and I are starting to talk about the M word.... Marriage.  Since Mike has never been married before and is the "baby" of the family, both he - and his Mom - want us to have an actual WEDDING.  Me?  I am a lets-just-elope-to-Vegas kind of gal, but I know how important it is to them, and well... I do love the idea of making all of the DIY favors and stuff.... oh and of course wedding dress shopping....!

http://pinterest.com/pin/195906652510908928/

Now, it isn't that I am against marriage or even that I don't plan to spend the rest of my life with Mike, but my desire to elope has much more to do with my (our!?) family's ability to put the "fun" back into "dysfunctional" when we are all gathered together under one roof.  Much like the plot in the upcoming movie - The Big Wedding - my "long time divorced parents" sometimes struggle a bit with ummm... "playing nice." 

With an all-star cast led by Robert DeNiro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams, THE BIG WEDDING is an uproarious romantic comedy about a charmingly modern family trying to survive a weekend wedding celebration that has the potential to become a full blown family fiasco.  To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin (De Niro and Keaton) are once again forced to play the happy couple for the sake of their adopted son's wedding after his ultra conservative biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly halfway across the world to attend. With all of the wedding guests looking on, the Griffins are hilariously forced to confront their past, present and future - and hopefully avoid killing each other in the process. Screenplay by Justin Zackham. Directed by Justin Zackham.

Truth is I can see so many of these funny scenes going down at my own wedding with both my family and Mike's family that I almost want to hire a video crew just for the occasion.  The idea of my mom and dad having to pretend to be married again - or even Mike's mom and dad for that matter - would sure lead to some absolutely hysterical exchanges.   You can check out the trailer for The Big Wedding on their official page - https://www.thebigweddingmovie.com/

Thankfully there is no one we will have to fool on our Big Day, and I know I will have a blast putting the wedding together with all of the ideas I have found on Pinterest lately.  (gosh I can lose hours on that site)  Here are some of my favorite DIY Wedding Ideas:

These DIY Beach Theme Wedding Invitations are a must:

With my love for Cake Pops, I can't imagine a more perfect cake:

http://pinterest.com/pin/195906652510991297/

We plan to get married outside in the evening - how perfect are these?

http://pinterest.com/pin/195906652511069164/

Well, what else would you expect from MoscatoMom for place card holders!?

http://pinterest.com/pin/195906652511448065/

Glow In The Dark BUBBLES!?!?

http://pinterest.com/pin/278378820687523229/

Ours of course will be a "K" - but I love this idea for having a "Guest Book" that I will actually LOOK AT again... no one ever looks through a traditional guest book!  This would be beautiful having on our wall:

http://pinterest.com/pin/2251868535736632/

Wedding Favors - Seed Bombs.  I can think of all kinds of ideas for these!

http://pinterest.com/pin/83738874293479838/

Now obviously most of that is my inspiration - but we will have a lot of Mike in there as well.... can't you see Midge tossing these onto the ground?

http://pinterest.com/pin/41095415322073429/

And I'm not sure I have ever seen a more perfect Groom's Cake for Mike:

http://pinterest.com/pin/195906652513154864/

And I would happily raise my Moscato in these to toast:

http://pinterest.com/pin/93942342197325172/

I am actually looking forward to promising to love that man forever - surrounded by everyone we love most.  And I am looking forward to putting little bits of our personalities into all of the little touches.  AND I am even looking forward to watching The Big Wedding - in theaters April 26th. 😉

Did you make anything for your own wedding?

A few months ago I noticed The Teen frantically typing away on her iPhone, laughing hysterically.  I asked her what was up and she kept saying "nothing...nothing."  And then would break out into laughter again.

Now, the Mother in me figured she was watching something inappropriate on YouTube or making fun of someone in what could be a hurtful way, so I gently snatched the phone away to make sure all was well in iPhoneland... here is the "conversation" that I found -

Now, after *I* cracked up laughing and asked Sami when Taylor Swift changed up the lyrics and had a grammar crash course in your/you're *cough* I was superbly impressed with the girls creativity.  However then this weekend as I was blog hopping to my favorite girl crushes bloggers I ran across this - Text Wars, Part 3.

So I thought I would borrow some inspiration from Roo and send one of my own.... ya know... cause I am cool still... right.... hello?

Yeah, so not only did I send it when the child was in a movie - that I KNEW she was going to - apparently I messed up a word... although I am not sure how that translates into the lyrics.... but then again she has probably only heard the "clean" radio version.

Either way The Teen and I agreed that Katie and Roo have the skills for Text Wars and well.... she and I don't.  We will stick to just normal texting... and the grammar lessons. 

Last week some of my BBBs (Best Blogger Buddies) Trisha and Blondie and I got the honor of attending one of the largest Mardi Gras Balls in the city of Mobile - The  Mystic Stripers.  Trisha's husband Chris is a brand new "Striper" and we flew in Blondie to join us for the event as my "date."

The day began horrific - with me getting soaked to the bone in torrential rain just trying to get to my car.   I was ready for a drink at 7:13am. By the time I got to Mobile however, the skies had cleared and Trisha, Blondie, and I headed off for a day at the salon - complete with pedicures, hair treatments, updo's, and professional makeup.  We literally spent over 7 hours in a salon.  It was kind of crazy.  And totally worth it.

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The most common thing I hear from people is "I don't know how you do it all!"  It's true, I have a pretty remarkably full plate:

• I single-handedly run Party Plan Divas - the largest online training community for women in the home party plan/ direct sales industry where I have weekly conference calls, exclusive call series, monthly twitter parties, personally coach and train consultants one on one, as well as work with individual companies on their corporate level training and structure.
• In addition to that, I have a blog for that business, The Party Plan Coach,  where I offer free direct sales training, reviews, giveaways, and more.
• I run this blog - MoscatoMom - where I work with companies like Florida Prepaid, Fresh From Florida, Disney, and more.  Plus this is my place to share all of the things I love, places I go, and stuff I don't screw up in the kitchen!!
• I own a small coffee stand called Java Hut in our local civic center where we are open for every hockey game, concert, and numerous other events throughout the year.
• I own White Sands Media Group where I help small to medium-sized businesses with their online presence by building websites, SEO services, and print media.
• I co-own a moving company with my husband and handle all of the scheduling, deliveries, payroll, taxes, and invoicing for two large furniture stores.
• I am a Ghost Writer for a handful of other bloggers and friends.

And that is just the "work" list.  I also am a mother of two daughters with opposite school schedules, wife to a workaholic, mom to three furbabies, and a part of a ridiculously active social life. 

Still, I manage to find time to read, work out, go for jogs often, and spend at least one day a week palling around with friends, and my house is "guest-ready" 99% of the time. 

Oh, and dinner WILL be on the table every night at 5pm, though I admit sometimes we go out to dinner, but that has way more to do with my poor culinary skills than schedule or time.

So how do I do it?

A schedule.

Not just any schedule or a "to do" list.  A full on, OCD - with a splash of ADD - schedule.  Check out my Planner this week - yes, I still use paper!!  

My Planner actually has everything from my schedule to my webinar schedule, post info, PR Reps, Conference details, Brand events, workout schedule... no app is going to touch that. 

Whether you are a party plan consultant, blogger, full-time employee, business owner,  mother, father, caretaker.... it is important for EVERYONE to manage their time well. 

Life is simply easier and more enjoyable when you aren't stretched too thin and always pressed for time. So how do you get started?

Step 1 - What are your "hats"

The first step is to make a list of "hats" that you wear - or what roles/responsibilities you have.  For instance, my hats (in no particular order) are

• 1 - Party Plan Divas
• 2 - MoscatoMom
• 3 - Java Hut
• 4 - White Sands Media Group
• 5 - KDM Services
• 4 - Ghost Writer
• 5 - Personal/Mom/Wife/Friend

Step 2 - Color Match Your Hats

As you can tell from the picture, I have a slight addiction to highlighters.  Its how I stay on track and know exactly what I am working on each day. 

Get a package of highlighters, I like the little portable keychain ones so I can clip them to my Planner and carry them at all times, and then assign a color to each "hat."  For me:

• Party Plan Divas - pink
• MoscatoMom - orange
• Java Hut - blue
• KDM Services - yellow
• White Sands Media - green
• Ghost Writing - gray
• Personal - purple

 Step 3 - Write it ALL Down.

Everything.  People who think they can "remember it all" are doing nothing but fooling themselves.  Your schedule can become your "To Do" list and vice versa.  

When you have it ALL written down, you know EXACTLY what you have to do, what you can add or take away, and what you must accomplish every day before going to bed. 

Spend time every single day doing a "brain dump" of everything you must do.  If you are a night owl, do this at night before going to bed, so you wake up to your tasks the next day. 

If you are a morning person, make this list while you are having your morning coffee.  Just make sure you get into this habit DAILY, and do it when you feel your best - not tired and crabby.

Step 4 - Use Scheduling Software

If you have other people needing a piece of your time - like I do with my coaching - then use a great Scheduling Software that integrates with your online calendars. 

Because I love Gmail I also use a Google Calendar, which is sync'd to CalenGoo - my #1 app on my iPhone. 

To schedule appointments, I use ScheduleOnce, which let's me put in my availability and I can email anyone needing my time my personal link to schedule an appointment.  As soon as they do, it updates my Google Calendar, which updates CalenGoo - and even color codes it for which "hat" it is associated with. 

It also removes that spot on the availability so I literally cannot double book myself.  When I confirm any appointment, I also write it in my  Planner - which is what I use every day on my desk to stay on track. 

Now I know for sure that I A - cant double schedule anything, B -  get notifications on my phone 1 hour and 15 minutes before anything begins, and C - because my  Planner is never out of arms reach, I have absolutely everything I need for any kind of appointment or event at my fingertips.

Step 5 - Get 100% Committed to Managing Your Time

You have to understand that poor time management is not a trait - it is a HABIT.  The true definition of a habit is - "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary." 

In other words, YOU acquired this behavior by doing it over and over and over again to the point that now you do it almost on autopilot. 

Do you know someone who is ALWAYS late?  That is a habit they have formed.  It's not a trait - they aren't even intentionally being rude (although super annoying) it is just a habit they have created for themselves.

To truly get control of your life and your time, you have to get rid of the habit of disorganization and crappy time management skills by creating a new one. 

Habits cannot be broken - they must be REPLACED.  So you have to commit to being very very strict with your Time Management UNTIL your NEW habit is everything running smoothly, and effectively.  

I have been doing it long enough now that it IS what is second nature to me - just look -

If you are struggling with Time Management and Disorganization, start NOW on making a change.  The longer you put it off, the harder that habit will be to break - just ask anyone who has smoked cigarettes for longer than 10 minutes.  

Stop what you are doing right now and do these 5 tasks.  Then set reminders on your phone to go off and remind you to do a "brain dump" EVERY DAY. 

Keep your calendar or planner with you - all day, every day.  And get committed to getting control of your time.  Trust me when I tell you in just a few days you will start feeling more focused, more efficient, and less stressed out.

Isn't it about time?

If you have been on Facebook recently (and let's face it, who hasnt?)  you have probably seen dozens of eCards floating around.  My friend Trisha hates them.  *I* on the other hand, think they are absolutely hysterical, and miss the MySpace days of having the "profile" with all of the funny pictures laid out on your page.  So, I do the next best thing - and post them here on my blog.  Here are 10 of my favorites.  Enjoy.

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When I was nine I went on a Christmas Caroling Hayride around Pensacola with a lady my Dad worked with and her friends and family. It was an unbelievably cold December night in Florida, and while the truck was moving I was absolutely freezing. A boy about my age with brown hair and blue eyes shared his blanket with me and we huddled together on the ride to stay warm. He gave me the majority of the blanket, and I am sure he half froze to death, but we shared and laughed driving around town singing Christmas Carols.

A few years later, when my parents divorced, the lady my Dad worked with became like a second mother to me. My Mom took a job in another state and I stayed with Dad, but Wanda stepped in to help get me to and from school, make sure dinner was edible cooked, and make sure my homework was done. She began taking me with her to family functions and events, and her entire family - including Jason, the boy with brown hair and blue eyes - welcomed me in with no hesitation as part of their family.

I remember Summer afternoons spent playing as kids. Since I had no siblings, I was excited to have my new "cousins" - Jason, Jeremy, David, Doc, and Randy. Jason and I would be "Mom and Dad" and Doc was our "Son." We were probably 11. Doc was about 3. Jason let me boss him around, let his "real" cousins poke fun at him for being "married." He didnt mind, and he would laugh and smile.

Jason and I were always the closest in our newly knit family. We took family vacations together - the most memorable was going to his great grandmothers in Louisiana where we played from sun up to sun down in the river - and then scared each other with ghost stories in the cemetery at night. He would hold my hand on the way back to make sure I didnt fall - or get eaten by zombies.  He taught me how to shoot a gun, and how to play pool - he even let me win in front of his friends.  He had no problem being "beaten by a girl."

When the hurricanes hit when I was 15, my Dad and I lost our home. We moved in with Wanda and her husband Steve while our house was being repaired, but another hurricane quickly took that idea right out from under us. After losing my home I remember feeling lost. Wanda's family - our new family - was always there for us. They were there for every holiday, every birthday, every meltdown (I was a teen girl - I had a lot) every milestone - they were always there. We were family.

While we were in high school I remember many many nights watching Jason play baseball. Even though I groaned about going many nights, I always had a fantastic time once I got there. I would help Jeanine in the concession stand, and a few times she tried to teach me how to keep the books in the press box, but mostly we just cheered for Jason, who was arguably the best pitcher to ever take the mound at Brent Ball Park. His brother Jeremy played as well - the both of them were always a force to be reckoned with - both on and off the baseball field. If anyone ever messed with me or Jeremy, they would have to deal with Jason, even though Jason would get in trouble for it later.

The year we turned 21 we spent New Year's Eve together. Not at a bar or club, but in a park, talking - an oath of sobriety between us. Both Jason and I had spent our teenage years testing the limits and making mistakes that we regretted. We sat in the park on swings just talking about where we had been and where we wanted to go. I wanted a career and fame and fortune. Jason wanted a family.

In the years since then we have both gotten what we dreamed of - Jason with a wife and two daughters and a stepson he loved like his own. I built my business and became a success and was lucky enough to have a family of my own as well. We got caught up in life and grew apart, but still saw each other at every holiday and event, and an occasional night out.

This past Christmas, as we all gathered in Wanda's home, we sat and talked for what seemed like hours. We talked about growing up, how we all have families of our own now. We laughed about me carrying Doc around - I think he is a full foot taller than I am now.  We laughed and hugged, and promised we would keep in better touch as we said our goodbyes.

Saturday night - after a long day of exploring Chicago and a night of playing on the Navy Pier I received the news. My uncle had been watching my Facebook checkins, waiting for me to get back to the hotel - not wanting to ruin our night at the Pier. I sat in the bathroom - trying not to wake Samantha as I tried to wrap my brain around a world with no Jason.

It has been three days and I think I am still in shock. I came home and have talked to everyone on the phone and Facebook, but I have yet to go to his house - I am not sure I am ready for that yet. I feel like I am on a roller coaster - fine one minute, sobbing the next, and then I will get a flash of anger.  I can not understand why God took Jason from us all, and why we will never get to live out all of those dreams we set out for many years ago.

I will hold all of our memories dear to my heart, and though I will never understand why he is gone, I do have peace that Jason was Saved, and I will see him again.  Jason and I were not related by marriage or by blood, but we were - and always will be - family.

They say that blood is thicker than water... but I think love is thicker than blood.

Rest in Peace Jason, you will forever be missed. 

Let me apologize in advance for the following post to everyone who is under snow and ice this weekend.   Let me remind you of this when it is so hot here we want to peel our skin off and you are enjoying beautiful Spring like weather.

Mike and I headed out for lunch today and it seemed like every intersection was littered with people in bathing suits and flips flops holding big card board signs declaring "Car Wash" for every kind of group, sorority, and organization you can imagine.  I remember well doing these car washes in high school - I think I volunteered for every single one.   Mike on the other hand loathed them.

As we passed I noticed that one was going on in the parking lot of an Oil Change place.  Since I just returned from Texas I knew I was in need of an Oil Change, so we whipped into the bay for a quick service.  I asked Mike if he had cash to do the Car Wash, and he said he did.

He had four dollars.

Now, thankfully I asked before pulling into the "Car Wash Lane" and avoided a scene, but I just do not think $4 to wash a very dirty (I mentioned I was in Texas a week right?! I love y'all but MAN it is dusty out there!) car is not enough.  Even the drive-thru one up the street charges $6 and that's to have a machine do it.  But Mike insists that $4 is more than enough money for a group of children to wash a car.

As I mentioned, I remember doing Car Washes, and I remember scrubbing down the nastiest of cars for one or two dollars.  I remember also washing pristine cars that we were almost afraid to touch and the owners would give us a $20 in support of our group.   Washing a car is hard work - especially at 5-foot-2 when I have to REALLY STRETCH to even reach the center of the hood - much less the roof.

Somehow I felt it was almost an insult to give these kids only $4 for washing my car - especially when it is covered in dust, pollen, and bugs. I wanted to go to an ATM and give the kids at least $10 - one because it is dirty, two because that is still HALF the cost of the Simoniz car wash, and three because as a former fundraiser-car-washer I wanted to support them in their efforts.

So I need a little back up here -

How much is too much?   Is Mike right that $4 is appropriate?  Am I nuts to want to spend $10 at a kids Car Wash (knowing of course that they will not do as good of a job as Simoniz, but still)

We ended up just coming home after the Oil Change, and I have the car parked now where I can wash it... or at least what I can reach.