Real World Mom

This week’s assignment from Becca at BeccA’s Buzz: Give Me Five favorite candies–either current or past.

1. Hershey Kisses



2. Twizzlers Licorice (strawberry, black or chocolate)



3. Dove Miniatures



4. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups



5. The good old-fashioned Hershey Bar (My dream Hershey Bar pictured here!)

The ‘Give Me Five’ Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple, short list! Here’s how it works: Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn’t have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.Sign up for weekly reminder emails at beccagirl@charter.net.

Recently I was asked to review a book on teenage pregnancy. Although I was married and my pregnancy was planned, I was a teen mom. I’m also the mother of a 13 year old daughter. When I learned that the book, “Hope…Joy (and a Few Little THOUGHTS)™ for Pregnant Teens” was written to inspire and give hope to young mothers, I knew I had to read it.

Something else that impressed me was that the author, Rachel Brignoni, wrote from experience, not just opinion. Rachel herself gave birth to a son at the age of 17.

Simply stated, this book offers hope and encouragement to pregnant teenagers and teen moms. Which, unfortunately, is not typically easy to find in our society.

Rachel suggests ways of helping to change negative thoughts into positive ones, creating a happier, more confident person. She also includes exercises in the book to put readers on the path of finding out who they are, what they want from life and how to set–and attain– the necessary goals to turn it into a reality.

One of my favorite quotes from the book (which can be applied to all of us) is, “Your perceptions of your situation, positive or negative, have the power to shape your experience.” In my opinion, this is absolutely true, and all the more reason that pregnant teens–or anyone going through a difficult situation–should be surrounded by as much positive influence and encouragement as possible. This book should definitely be a part of that network of support.

Included with the book is a cd entitled “A Whisper of Hope.” (Click on the title to be taken to YouTube to see the video and hear the song.)

If you know any teenagers who are pregnant or have recently become mothers, please consider recommending this book to them. It’s currently available through the publisher’s website: Hope…Joy (and a Few Little THOUGHTS)™, as well as Amazon.com (see below).

“My Dog Madison”, originally posted on 12/9/07, is my re-post for this week’s Scrolling Saturday.

In case you weren’t aware of it yet, I started a new blog, The Salty Mooch, in honor of Madison. Although you will see photos and updates about her there, the main idea of the blog is to share animal related stories, news and information.

The latest post, Oprah Sheds Light on the Reality of Puppy Mills, focuses on the cruel circumstances that the dogs in those places exist (not live). The show was heart-wrenching, and I cried through most of it. I hope you will take the time to go and read it and pitch in where you can.

The Salty Mooch

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“My Dog Madison”

Madison, aka “Maddie”, is 6 years old, and the sweetest, most gentle creature I’ve ever known. I once saw a sign that read, “Dogs are people with fur.” That describes Maddie as though the phrase were inspired by her!Our love seat has become her “Princess Couch,” & she enjoys lounging & napping there quite frequently! (Although, as I write this, she is sound asleep & snoring on the bed right behind me!)

Madison is not into playing ball or chewing on squeaky toys. What Maddie enjoys most is being near her family– showing us how much she loves us with the “whomp, whomp, whomp” of her ‘tail of destruction’ (you’d appreciate this affectionate nickname if you ever witnessed it clear a table or felt it make contact with your leg!) , or gracing us with her sweet puppy smile.

Stay tuned for more tails of “Maddie the Mooch”!

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Scrolling Saturday was created by Melissa at Such Simple Pleasures and Coleen at Manners and Moxie.

The beautiful, witty and talented dkaye from Cold Coffee…and Reruns presented me with the Caption This Award. She participates in Wordless Wednesday, the Daily Edition. There is a weekly contest that goes along with it, where you can enter by writing a caption for the photo of the day. A few weeks ago, I won! (Sorry for the delay in getting this posted!) Go to dkaye’s blog and play along. Maybe you too can have one of these cool awards on your site!

One of my new friends, Dette, from Dance of Motherhood, awarded me with the You Make My Day Award. Thank you, this really makes my day, Dette!

The rules for the “You Make My Day” award are to re-present it to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blog land. Let them know through email or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times yourself, and if you do, consider yourself really, really loved.

I choose to pass this award on to the following awesome bloggers:

1.  Jen @ Huckdoll’s Hood
2. Maria @ Immoral Matriarch: Catechizer
3. Colin @ Life
4. Misty @ My Dogs Keep Me Sane
5. Caroline @ The Bingham Diaries
6. OH Mommy @ Classy Chaos
7. dkaye @ Cold Coffee… and Reruns
8. Melissa @ Such Simple Pleasures
9. Tara @ If Mom Says Ok
10. Nissa @ Nissa’s Niceties

(Not so wordless really.)

Tim and I took the desk out of the other bedroom and brought it into our room (aka: “Command Central”) this morning. I actually have an office-like space now! With room to work! (Which I will surely appreciate even more when I start school in September!)

We worked our butts off for about three hours, rearranging, organizing and cleaning. Our efforts definitely paid off though! Thank you, Sweetie! I owe you another massage.