You Have the Power to Change the Person Looking Back at You

I don't like myself. I look in the mirror and tell myself, "You're not a nice person." And when you don't like what you see reflected back at you, it can perpetuate the behavior that you don't like. It's quite the self-defeating cycle. 

I'm crabby and irritable. I snap at the people I love. I wake up with a headache and I cry myself to sleep. I feel an enormous weight on my shoulders. Constantly. I worry about money. Or lack thereof. I wonder if anyone will take us in when we're evicted. Or will some miracle happen enabling me to save my home from foreclosure? I worry that I won't be able to feed my kids. I feel seething anger toward my ex who doesn't live up to his responsibilities. I fear living like this for the rest of my life. I agonize over decisions that will affect me and my kids forever. I let these fears rule my life. I let them dictate my behavior. And I hate it.

When you look in the mirror and don't like the person looking back, it can hurl you into a deep depression. Unless you look in that mirror and realize that you have the power to change the person looking back at you.

I had to go to the store today. I absolutely detest going to this particular store that rhymes with Halmart. I push my cart around, loudly sighing and rolling my eyes every time I encounter another patron blocking the aisle or walking slowly in front of me. I grunt and snort and make other passive aggressive noises, getting more and more angry with every person I encounter. By the time I reach the check-out, which is always 419 people deep, I'm texting my friends, Stand by with bail money. I'm at that store that rhymes with Halmart, and I'm about to go postal.

Today, however, I made it a point to smile at everyone. I grinned at every single person I encountered. Ordinarily I would've muttered under my breath a sarcastic, "Could you take up any more room?" to the woman blocking the entire aisle and completely clueless to my presence as I tried to push my cart past her. Today, I smiled and said, "Excuse me." 

Instead of contrition and an apology, however, she had the unmitigated gall to look at ME like I was annoying HER. Normally, I would have made a barely audible, snotty comment, calling her clueless and annoying, implying that she should live in a zoo, or something along those lines. Don't get me wrong; I'm not proud of that. I'm admitting that I've become a mean, impatient, short-tempered person with no tolerance for others. But today, I merely pushed my cart along, ignoring her surliness, a smile plastered to my face.

I left the store and pushed my cart along the walkway, stuck behind an elderly woman who was propelling her cart exceedingly slowly as she struggled to maneuver it along the path in front of the store. I didn't get frustrated, as I followed along toward the crosswalk that leads into the parking lot.

I loaded my groceries into my car, proud of myself for not losing my cool the entire trip. Then I stopped. I was congratulating myself on not being a total jerk. What was wrong with me? That behavior is not worthy of congratulations; that behavior is just how humans are supposed to act! I returned my cart to the corral and looked around the parking lot, searching for the older woman. I found her a couple rows over in a handicapped spot, and I headed that way.

As I approached her, I had second thoughts. "What am I doing? I'm such a dork!" I told myself as I walked up to her, then continued walking, lest she (or anyone else) think I was weird for stopping to help her. Angry once again with myself for the way I was acting, I screeched to a stop, pivoted on my heel and turned right back around. Great, I thought as I paced back and forth in front of this woman, she probably thinks I'm casing her, weighing my chances of stealing her purse and getting away with it. She's going to take out her cane and beat me with it, no doubt, because I'm being so weird and creepy.

"Hi. I'll take your cart for you," I offered.

She looked at me and smiled, joking, "Can I get my groceries out of it first?"

I laughed and said, "I don't know. I forgot to buy ice cream and that looks pretty good," eyeing her bags of food. Oh yeah, good move, Dawn. Imply you're going to steal a senior citizen's ice cream. That's great! I berated myself with sarcasm while looking to see if she was picking up her cane to clock me.

I helped her put her bags in her trunk while making small talk about the weather. Although it was super hot and humid, she asserted that she was happy for the heat because her laundry was hanging on the clothes line at home. We chatted about laundry and HOAs and her husband for a few minutes. Then I told her to have a great afternoon as I took her cart and walked across the parking lot to the cart-return. I smiled the whole way. Not because I was forcing the smile on my face. Not because I was proud of myself for doing what everyone should do every day just because it's right. I smiled because I felt good. For the first time in a long time, I just felt good.

It doesn't matter what you're going through because guess what - everyone else is going through stuff too. Wallowing in self pity and taking out your frustration on others doesn't fix anything. It doesn't help the situation; it just makes you feel worse. Getting outside yourself and your issues and putting others before you makes you feel good. It lets you forget about the garbage in your life and enables you to focus on someone else, so not only are you helping another person, but you are making yourself feel better in the process. Win-win!

It seems brainless, right? Why wouldn't we do this every minute of every day? Why indeed. We let ourselves get so wrapped up in our own little lives and our own little problems that we have blinders on to the rest of the world. We need to remind ourselves every single day to take those blinders off, look in the mirror and act in a manner we want reflected back at us.

Style It Yourself with Suave's Luxe Style Infusion!

I've been using Suave hair care products for years! Not only are they a FRACTION of salon products (and even other drugstore brands), but they do an AMAZING job! As a single mom to 6 kiddos, I'm always looking for ways to save money, but so often you get what you pay for; you may save money, but you'll sacrifice performance. It's so rare that you find a product that is affordable yet works as well as more expensive brands. Suave is that brand! Luxe Style Infusion are those products!

I have very thick, coarse, dry hair. I live in Florida where there's always 1000% humidity. By the end of the day, I look like Roseanne Roseannadanna.



Really. See the resemblance?

Who has the time or the money to get a blow-out every week? But thanks to Suave's Smoothing Light Weight Weather-Proof Cream, and Anti-Humidity Hairspray, I can look like this . . .

I love how lightweight the smoothing cream feels. My hair doesn't feel weighed down with a lot of "gunk" when I use it. I use a small amount of the Smoothing Light Weight Weather-Proof Cream on my wet hair, then I blow it dry if I have the time. If not, I let it air dry while I do other chores. Then I use a flat iron to smooth it out. Finally, I finish with a mist of the Anti-Humidity Hairspray. Voila!

Ignore the weird face I'm making. It was a quicky selfie.

On days that I don't have time to flat iron my hair, I use Suave's Curl Defining Gel Serum. This stuff is awesome! I just pump a couple squirts in my hand, distribute it throughout my wet hair, and go. (If you use too much, it can make your hair a little crunchy. A squirt or 2 is all it takes.) It tames my curls/waves and prevents the frizz of epic proportions that would otherwise occur.

Suave also has a line of volumizing styling products if you have thin, limp hair. You can check out Suave's Luxe Style Infusion products and instructions on how to Style It Yourself HERE!

23 Signs It's Summer Vacation

The temps are high, the days are long, the smell of freshly mowed lawns fills the air, and the sound of kids whining, “I’m bored” engulfs your senses. Ahhh, summer vacation … that magical time of year when the kids are home. All. Day. Long. As a parent, I have a love/hate relationship with summer vacation. On the one hand, I love that my kids are home and no one has to get up early! But on the other hand, I really hate that all I do all day long is pick up “stuff” and do dishes!

Here are 29 tell-tale signs it’s summer vacation …

CONTINUE READING HERE!

Driving Safely on Cooper Tires

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Cooper Tire and Vehicle Testing Center (CTVTC) in Texas. While I was there, I got to drive SUVs that were identical in every way except their tires. One was equipped with Cooper SRX tires, the other had a set of the leading, comparable, competitor's tires. I drove three laps in each vehicle on Cooper's wet pad. (Driving on the wet surface, enables one to get a good idea of tire performance at lower, safer speeds than would be required on a dry surface.)

Several bloggers took turns driving before I had the chance to test the tires. As they completed their laps, they got out of the vehicle, exclaiming what a difference they felt between the two sets of tires. Ever skeptical, I didn't buy it. I didn't think there would be any discernible difference. I mean, they're tires! Comparable tires! How different could they be, right? I expressed my skepticism to one of the guys from Cooper. "I don't think I'll be able to tell a difference," I stated confidently. "No offense, but they're tires! Tires are tires, right?"

"Just give it a try. It's a safe closed track, so remember to really push the vehicles," he encouraged me. 

So I did.

 

Seeing (or driving) is believing. The Cooper SRX tires way outperformed the competitor's tires, and when you discover that Cooper tires are more affordable than brands like Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, etc., it's a no-brainer. 

I never really thought much about tires until I visited the CTVTC. Honestly, they're just tires so who cares? But after experiencing the difference in tires firsthand, it has made me rethink things. Like most of you, I haul the most precious cargo ever - my kids. Skidding all over the place on a closed track is one thing; I wouldn't want to skid into oncoming traffic on the highway, however. And I have teens who, although they're good drivers, are inexperienced drivers. I don't want them driving on tires that aren't going to keep them safe.

Unfortunately, tires are one of those things that you have to buy blind, and oftentimes you need to purchase tires on an emergency basis - your tire goes flat and you need a new one pronto. You can't go to a tire dealer and say, "Hey, will you put these Cooper tires on my car and I'll test drive them for a week and let you know if I want to keep them, okay?" It just doesn't work that way. Cooper understands this and offers a 45-Day Road Test Warranty which lets you try out the tires and if you aren't satisfied, you may return them to your original dealer within 45 days of purchase for a FREE OF CHARGE Cooper brand replacement, including mounting and balancing.

The next time your vehicle needs tires, I urge you to check out the Cooper SRX or CS5 tires. I really believe that, like me, you'll be pleasantly surprised! 

Turn Off the Light! No, YOU Turn Off the Light!

I was letting my friend's dog out last night when my daughter texted me this.

This was quickly followed by a text from Mara . . .

Tell me I'm not the only one. Lie to me if you have to. These girls are planning to move into their own apartment in less than a year. Maybe I should get them a Clapper for a housewarming present. Do they still make those?

11 Things You MUST Know Before Dating A Woman Fluent In Sarcasm

Sarcastic women aren't THAT funny. Just kidding, we totally are. (That was sarcasm.)

I've been told I'm sarcastic, but I just call it an intolerance for stupidity. Most of my friends appreciate my quick wit even if it can be snarky at times.

Now and then, I run across someone who doesn't get my humor. I had a date with a guy I'd met on an online dating site last week. We started talking and he asked, "How many kids do you have?" I responded, "I have 6. Yeah, it seemed like a good idea at the time."

The waiter stopped by to take our order and my date asked me, "Do you drink?" I answered with, "Did you not hear the part about 6 kids?" He continued to stare, solemn-faced, waiting for me to answer him. I knew right then that there was no chance of a relationship with this guy.

 

Not everyone can appreciate the utter brilliance of a sarcastic person. Not everyone "gets it." Not everyone can handle dating someone with a sarcastic sense of humor. Can you?

Here are 11 things you need to know before embarking on a relationship with someone whose primary mode of communication is sarcasm.

CONTINUE READING HERE!

21 Struggles Only Chronically Late People Understand

I had a date last week. We were supposed to meet at a restaurant at 7 p.m. At 7 p.m., when I was still miles away from the restaurant, I texted the guy and said, "This might be a good time to mention that I'm one of those annoying, perpetually late people."

Way to make a first impression, right? The thing is, I really thought I'd be on time. In fact, I thought I'd be early.

I was late for a variety of reasons: my hair looked crazy, my kids needed to tell me a very long, involved story about hunting for Sasquatch right as I was about to walk out the door, the place we were supposed to meet at was 40 minutes away, I got lost, I got stuck behind a train, and I was also dealing with the paradoxical "extra time."

 

The struggle is real, people. Here are 21 struggles of perpetually late people:

CONTINUE READING HERE!

That Time I Got To Do Laps With Johnny Unser In A Corvette At Cooper Tire

I had the privilege of attending the Cooper Tire Ride-n-Drive event in Texas last month and I learned so much valuable information while I was there! If you missed it, you can see my post about TIRE SAFETY HERE! It's chock-full of really great tips that will benefit anyone.

While I was there, not only did I get to test drive vehicles with different tires, but I got to do some hot laps with veteran race car driver, Johnny Unser. That was FUN! I want that job - testing Cooper tires by racing around the track! Here's a video from my laps in the Corvette Stingray with Johnny. He told me we were going about 90 mph. That may not seem all that fast, but when you're flying around corners at that speed, it's like the most awesome roller coaster ever! (Note how Johnny stays upright in his seat while I flop around like a ragdoll. Ha ha!)

80s Movies on Netflix

I believe it’s my duty as a parent to teach my kids all they need to know to grow up to be conscientious adults and well-adjusted, contributing members of society. I also believe that education just wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t share the classic movies of the 80s with them. I mean, John Hughes defined a generation! What kind of parent would I be if I didn’t share those iconic movies with my kids? Enter Netflix! My kids and I have watched The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Adventures in Babysitting, The Goonies, The Karate Kid, and many more on Netflix. And you know what, they love those movies as much as I do! Okay, maybe they don’t love them quite as much as I do, but they do have an appreciation for them. Hmmmm, maybe they just humor me and tolerate them . . . Nah, that can’t be it. I’ve heard them quote the movies (sad and demented, but social) so I know they like them. Plus there are lessons to be learned from each movie!

Here are some of the 80s movies you can catch on Netflix right now! The only question is - which one will you share with your teens first?

Dirty Dancing – Who, when confronted with a cute boy, hasn’t completely frozen up and stuttered something ridiculous? “I carried a watermelon.”

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Girls Just Want to Have Fun – I’ve used this sentence as my go-to topic changer for as long as I can remember. I think I probably originally got it from this movie. “So! How about them Cubs? I think it's their year!”

Labyrinth – You have to kind of wonder what kind of drugs everyone was on when they made this movie. This is a good lesson for your kids. Don’t do drugs. “You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind me of the babe.”

Top Gun - "I feel the need, the need for speed!"

Heathers

Footloose - You can't go wrong with a choreographed dance number.

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure




Stand by Me



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The Rules of Being a Baseball Parent

It’s baseball season once again, which means it’s the perfect time to remind everyone of the most important rules of the sport. And I’m not talking about stuff like infield flies, here. I’m not even talking about how to be supportive without trying to relive your glory days through your kids, or why you shouldn’t yell at the poor high school kid who’s umping for your son’s game — which are all good rules.

Nope, I’m talking about those truths that veteran baseball parents know. But really, most of these can apply to any sport your child plays. Pay attention, rookies! You’ll thank me later.

CONTINUE READING HERE!

Tires 101 For Dummies

I had the opportunity to visit the Cooper Tire & Vehicle Testing Center (CTVTC) in Texas last week and wow, did I learn A LOT in the couple days I was there! I feel a little stupid; I feel like I should have already known these things, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one out there who is undereducated when it comes to tires. I attribute my ignorance to the fact that I was married for 18 years to a guy who took care of all my car maintenance. I never had to give it a second thought. Also, and I think most of us fall into this category, who thinks about tires? Really, as long as your vehicle is running, who really ponders the tires on which it sits?

This happened to my tire a few months ago. It happened on my way to work in a really bad neighborhood. Thankfully, it was only inconvenient for me; it could have been disastrous. Yes, I realize it's extreme and most people would have recognized that their tire was completely bald long before it split like this. I didn't. I never considered checking my tires. I never thought about it. When the tow truck arrived, I had them take my van to Walmart where I bought one tire to replace the flat. I'm a single mom of 6 kiddos, trying to make ends meet, and I was going for the cheapest option possible. But, as is always the case, you get what you pay for.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn much about tires and tire maintenance, and I'm excited to share that information with you because there's no reason for a flat tire (like that pictured above) to happen to anyone!

Check your tires once a month

1. You can't see when your tires are low.
At the CTVTC, folks from Cooper had me walk around a truck to inspect the tires, then they asked me which one had low pressure. "The back right. No. Yes. Wait, maybe it's the front left. Yeah. No, wait. I'm not sure.Yes, definitely the front left." They had me check all the tires with a tire pressure gauge. The back right one was low. The moral of this story is that you cannot tell if a tire is low just by looking at it. By the time you can visually see that the tire is a little flat, it's significantly low on air. That is why you should check them regularly.

2.  Those little caps don't hold in the air.

These caps don't keep the air from escaping the tire, but they do keep dirt, gravel, salt, and other debris away from the valve, preventing problems with it. You should always keep the valves covered. If you're missing some caps, pick up new ones at an auto parts store.

3.  Maintain proper inflation.
Do not go by the number printed on the tire itself; that number indicates the maximum pressure the tire can hold, not the recommended pressure for the tire/vehicle. The correct amount of inflation for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and is usually shown inside the driver's door (and also in the owner's manual.)

4.  Check your tires when they're cool. 
Wait at least 3 hours after driving to get an accurate measurement of tire pressure.

5.  Use a tire gauge to measure pressure.
Make sure the slide ruler part of the tire gauge is pushed all the way in before measuring to get an accurate reading.

6.  Do not overinflate.
More is not always better. At any given time, the surface area of the tire which is in contact with the ground is about the size of your hand. (We teased the good folks at Cooper about being hand models here!) If you put too much air in the tire, you reduce the area of the tire in contact with the pavement. Less contact - less control.

7.  Save money.
Proper tire inflation leads to better fuel consumption, saving you money. It also helps you get the most potential wear out of your tires, so they don't need to be replaced as often.

8.  Inspect tire tread while checking inflation. 
Visually check your tires for signs of nails or other embedded objects, gouges, cuts, bulges, or other irregularities. Check to make sure you still have enough tread. Traction and resistance to hydroplaning is diminished as tread wears down. An easy test is to place a penny, upside down, in one of the grooves. If part of Lincoln's head is covered by the tread, you're okay. If his entire head is showing, your tread is too worn and your tire needs to be replaced.

9.  Check the Wear Squares.
Cooper Tires come equipped with a number of Wear Squares on each tire. This is a super-handy, fool-proof indicator that takes the guess work out of deciding when you need to replace your tires. When your tires are brand new, you see a full square imprinted on the tire. As they wear, you see the sides of the square disappear until you're left with an "!" as a message to replace the tire.
(This video features a different tire than the one I tried out, but it has a great demonstration of the Wear Square.)





10.  Compare your tires.
Compare the Wear Squares and/or the tread on all 4 tires to determine if they're wearing evenly. Uneven wear may indicate a problem with alignment that needs to be corrected.

I hope you have found this information as helpful as I did. Stay tuned for Tires 102 for Dummies coming this week, as there was much too much information to condense into one blog post.

Cooper Tire paid for my trip to learn about their tires. The opinions expressed here are entirely mine.

Legally Blonde on Netflix

Now on Netflix: Legally Blonde! I love Reese Witherspoon and I enjoy this movie, but I think it's especially cool because I met the writer, Kiwi Smith a few years ago when I was in Hollywood for the Glamour Reel Moments movie premiere. 

Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is Miss Popularity. She's the president of her sorority, dates Warner, the cutest guy on campus, and is loved by all. When her boyfriend leaves to go to Harvard and dumps her because she's too "blonde" to be accepted by his blue blood family, Elle is determined to win him back. She works to be accepted into Harvard law school, then proves to Warner, and more importantly, to herself, that she's more than just some blonde.

Me and Kiwi Smith at Chateau Marmont in Hollywood after the Glamour Reel Moments premiere.

I love movies that demonstrate a girl can be pretty, feminine, sweet and kind to everyone she meets, and still kick a little butt in the intelligence department! I enjoy watching these with my teens girls. It's important to me to teach them to believe in themselves.

What's your favorite Girl Power movie?

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