JAK CHAT

Creating Phamily Phun @ Your Phingertips! Oh my gosh, what was up with the weather today?!  Cloudy, then sunny, then slushie pellets of rain, back to sunny again.  My lights: on, then off, then on again. Windshield wipers on, sunroof open, my seater heater on high, rainbows....simply crazy.  'Tis the season! While most of my day was consumed with office work, I did have to venture out to do some post school day commuting.  I felt for those who had plans to enjoy some soon-to-be-ending outdoor fall harvest fun. Say you find yourself having to move your plans back to or keep it at the home front (...it's raining, you're knocked out by the enteroviral bug, it's stay warm and dry time, or you are  just wanting to be artsy & craftsy & have some funsy with the kidsies...) Read More... Have you ever been "Booed" or "Ghosted"?  While the season will be wrapping up in a couple of days, it's not to late to jump on this fun and unique craze!  I say

(Fund)Raising Active Kids    by JAK's guest mom blogger from Pleasant Prairie, Bonnie Hahn You know how before you had kids everyone would tell you how expensive they are?  I just couldn't wrap my head around it.  I mean, how expensive could they possibly be?  Oh, believe me when I say I've figured it out, but just for kicks let's all get a good laugh at my expense at how clueless I was. Using just my first (child) as the example, I had myself convinced that kids are no big deal in the financial department.  Here's a bit about how I fooled myself: Making babies the traditional way is free.  Hallelujah.  Might have been down a bit for a bottle of wine and a nice dinner, but whatevs.  Insurance paid for most of the doctor visits, hospital stay, etc.  We were out a couple hundred bucks. Cutie maternity clothes...I spent a bit.  Had to be a fashionable preggie, right? Baby shower.  Everything you could possibly need to feed, clothe, and care for a baby, except the

Pink Optimism by JAK’s guest mom blogger from Racine, Hope Bosak Last week I bought a cozy, fleecy, pinky, jacket for my soon to be five year old daughter. It had a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon adorning the front. Now it wasn't cheap, and I don't have money to burn, but after what we've been through, I felt this jacket was made for her. What other four year old is so observant of that pink ribbon, that she would proudly wear it on her jacket? Her face beamed when I surprised her with it! One and a half years ago (April Fools Day, 2010), I was shockingly diagnosed with Stage 2 ,Grade 3 Breast Cancer Read More.... As a wife, mother of a ten and a three year old, and a licensed In-Home Family Child Care Provider  for the past 15 years, this was not part of our plan. Anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer will tell you; when you hear those words” Yes, you do have cancer”, your life is immediately, and forever, changed.  You adapt to your NEW NORMAL, as it is current

Attention:  This blog layout is experiencing some design challenges.  The reading is still good..... Blocked Parties    Racine sure knows how to party!  And this past week has been no exception to that statement. What a great week I had participating in two big celebrations.  The first was on Saturday at Downtown Racine's "Party on the Pavement" , and the other was last night at "Max & Ruby: Bunny Party" which was held at Memorial Hall. Probably wasn't going to write about what I am about to write about.  Bullying, breast cancer awareness were ideas floating around in my head, but was dealing with a bit of writer's block with the approach.  Thankfully, last night, being "blocked out" of the party with the bunnies from a cute little girl standing on her daddy's lap helped me overcome filling up this blank space. Take a look at the pictures, and you'll know exactly what I am talking about!  Read More.... [caption id="attachment_