JAK CHAT

And the minute countdown So it's about 11:15pm on Thursday, December 30th. T minus 45 minutes to get the correct date stamp on this email newsletter and I've got a way to go. My mind both full and empty as to how to fill up this commentary space.  So why not talk about resolutions? 'Tis the season afterall! I've got my personal New Year's resolution, pretty much the same as last year...loose some weight.  This year my weight loss goal is bigger than last year's.  Go figure, I am heavier this year than I was last year at this time.  I started out great creating a Facebook page called "Fat Girl in a Skinny World" .  It was a place where myself as well as others documented our daily successes and challenges of weight loss.  I had two previous successes with Weight Watchers, so I plugged into an old points program.  This time, I thought I could do it on my own (without the weekly meetings).  I was holding myself publicly accountable with the

Yes Victoria, There is a Santa Clause One would think that with having two teenage girls who have worked through the ranks of the "tween" years, that I'd be exceptionally prepared for just about anything my 8 year old daughter might throw my way.  Yah, right! I just finished the gihugic project of sorting through the clothes of all four of my kids. Discard.  Carry over.  Donate.  Those were the 3 major stacks that consumed my life for way too long.  I'd be embarrassed to share with you how long this process took. There's about a six year gap between daughter #2 of 3 and daughter #3 of 3.  So all of those cute bib overalls....bye bye.  (I finally got rid of my own beloved bib overalls last year.  Love 'em!  Waiting for that comeback!) Among one of the few things I am storing for my 8 year old's future use is all of the training bras we have. As I start loading the 11/12 year old stuff into a rubber storage tote, darling 8 year old grabs them.

Take Center Stage For those of you who have subscribed to JAK Happenings for a while, you know that this space is typically dedicated to sharing my family life experiences and observations as a Racine mom, who is married, with four school-aged children. I know some of the commentary here has started great conversations, stirred up some emotions, and perhaps initiated a little bit of controversy. We've had fun, now we're movin' on... Read more. Just Add Kids ' focus is to deliver the most complete and up-to-date kid-oriented, family-friendly event and activity resource mostly with the Happenings Calendar of Events and this weekly email. JAK strives to serve all families with children 0-18 in Southeastern Wisconsin, with an emphasis on Racine and Kenosha counties. With that in mind, Just Add Kids would like to know what happens in the ordinary day of other families living here in the greater Racine and Kenosha area.  Experiencing any life challenges or other

Insurance Hikes Maybe the holidays, coupled with two of my childrens' December birthdays is making me a bit more melancholy these days.  Depression really hasn't set in (I am quite happy, thank you!), just reflecting on the gift of ordinary days in the life of this aging parent.  So yeah, if you read last week's JAK Happenings , I shared with you my thoughts on my "baby" turning seven.  This weekend we'll celebrate child #2's fourteenth birthday. Happy Birthday to my gorgeous, talented, brainiac daughter. Another milestone we're experiencing in our household is Read more. our oldest daughter's new adventure in learning how to drive a car. Yup, she's got her temps.  It seems like just yesterday I was pushing her around in the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe .  Now, she is grabbing at the car keys and every opportunity to hop into the driver's seat.  Though she lacks in experience, she is quite skilled.  Still, my feet make it up to the

He's Eight!  Ain't it Great!? Well, one would think so.  But, he's my baby, and I can't seem to accept it.  See?  I still refer to him as "my baby".  What is wrong with me?  Is it my refusal to accept the fact that I am getting old?  Or is it because I know, just like with my older two kids, there lingers around the corner that unpinpointable day when his body will no longer be of the small snuggable variety, or he just doesn't want to be physically coddled (at least in public). So we'll celebrate and have a great time.  I'll post pictures of him through the years on my Facebook to honor this milestone.  I'll smile in the process. And I'll cry.  Read more. As days, weeks, and years continue to come and go faster and faster, this birthday reminds me of how special each and every minute is with him. I'll appreciate those spontaneous "I love mom"('s) that flow so naturally from his mouth or is drawn out thoughtful

November Warm Up: Bank Mutual Coat Drive If you missed donating to Condella's Coats for Kids , or any other organized coat donation drive, don't panic!  But, don't delay either! For the second year, Bank Mutual is taking coat donations to benefit the residents of Bethany Apartments , at both of their Racine branches: 3039 S.Green Bay Road (near Regency Mall ) and 5133 Douglas Avenue, near K-mart and Pick N Save on the north side.  Bethany Apartments is a battered women's and children's center. Please drop your coats off before the end of this week! Bethany Apartment's website is http://bethanyapartments.org/ Additionally, Downtown Racine merchants are conducting a Toy Drive that is being kicked off this Friday evening, December 3rd, in conjunction with Downtown Racine First Friday event.  Merchants are accepting donations of new and gently used toys and books for children with unfair life challenges. Collections will then continue through Downtown's H

The Story of Glen Snow It was Easter Day 2007 and I was as yellow as an Easter egg. No, I am not messed up here with my holidays, you'll see where I am going with this!  Please keep reading... I was ripe for gall bladder issues. Victims many times have these 4 F's in common: forty/ies, female, fertile, fat.  (See what you have to look forward to, young mommas?  It's quite common.) After a weekend of vomiting and lying on the couch, my husband drove me to the urgent care clinic and quickly I was being processed "STAT".  It was a crazy series of events as I was admitted on Monday and released on Thursday, with a laparoscopic surgery procedure.  Typically, you are released within a day.  I had no idea that the challenges I was dealing with while in the hospital would pale in comparison to the issues I would experience post op with my health insurance coverage. Read more. Unbeknownst to me, the contract between this large health care provider and my employer's ins

The Rubber Obsession I think my 6 year old son was the first in his class to be told he can no longer wear his silly bands or Silly Bandz (not sure if they are the real thing, or imitation, who really cares?!) to school.  That was already back on September 2nd, his second day of first grade.  That started it's own trend, the full blown ban of those rubbery. colorful, object-shaped bracelets in his classroom.  Perhaps we'll see the full school ban in the future, or has the fad run it's course? If you're a pair of dad entrepreneurs, you hope not!  They recently jumped on the Silly Bandz craze and brought to market The Original Silly Stand , designed to do what else, but keep those crazy rubber bands organized. In my house, I think we need a Silly Bandz detector. I swear, we must have a over 100, but who even knows where they are (although I dedicated a container for each of my younger silly band wearers).  The funny thing is, my kids aren't wearing them a

The Case of the Scandalous Bracelet (from JAK Happenings 08.12.2010) I love a great trend like anyone else. Some say as a young woman, I was a bit of a trendsetter. In the eighties, I was a huge Madonna fan and dunned the black lace hair bow in my blondish/brown awesomely ratted out hair. Along with that iconic accessory were the couple dozen black rubber bracelets mixed in with some other fun chains and charms on my forearms. Okay, so I didn't start the trend, but I wore it well (as I am sure did many of you)! We've all been active witnesses to the evolution of the rubber, now silicone bracelet crazes in our lifetimes. The black rubber version transformed into a colorful variety known as "jelly bracelets". And now, of course, our kids have Silly Bandz. Several weeks back, my 15 year-old daughter walked in the door from a trip to the mall with her hands full of several shopping bags. I was excited to see what she had purchased with, I am sure, her entire previous

It's A Blog! If you've been a JAK Happenings subscriber for some time, you're probably used to the format of this weekly email: big JAK logo at the top, partner banner ad, this commentary section, little index box, more fantastic partner ads, then the meat of the message...JAK Happenings calendar picks, finally some closing comments. I've made excuses for my lack of editorial correctness, as I do not claim to be a writer. Just a mom who has got a lot on my mind, hoping that you don't mind listening to what's going on in this 40 something's head (and house). Apparently, many of you don't! In fact, this commentary section gets strong response in terms of how many of you click thru to Read more. I've had great feedback on some hot topics and much to my surprise, a lot of compliments. So here goes...Just Add Kids newest family member is JAKChat. It'll be a way to archive the commentary section of JAK Happenings email every week, so if you care t

1am on Saturday Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that we were splashing around in the pool, soaking up the summer sun?  Time flies. And quite honestly, I just hate it. I do find autumn to be a pleasant time of the year, especially when it's sunny and hovering in the 60's.  The change of colors is absolutely stunning.  There is so much to do...soccer practice and games, football games, pick and carve pumpkins,  trips to the pumpkin farm, costume creating, Trick or Treat.  Just as the end of the October, the climax, nears...it all turns south.  Grey, cloudy, windy, rainy. gloomy.  (I pretty much described today). In the midst of the temperature downturn and the thermostat crank up, comes the little gift of time that means so much to me, it's almost ridiculous When I was a young lady, the end of Daylight Savings Time for me was awesome.   I could start my Saturday evening with Happy Hour and wrap up the night (rather morning) with an hour later bar time.  Whoot  whoot*! As