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Cindy Snyder

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10 Tips When Traveling with Your Terrifying Young Teens

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traveling with teens

I was such a smug mother in the very beginning. My kids are only 15 months apart, practically twins. I had a one and two-year-old, and I couldn’t wait to tell everyone how brilliant of me to have kids so close in age. They had the same frame of reference. We took them to the same movies, watched the same TV shows, went to the same mommy and me classes, and even had the same friends. I made it seem like this was the divine plan, not that I was 40 when I had my first kid, so I needed to act quickly on the second. Wasn’t I wonderful? That lasted one year. Then my daughter started to speak, and she realized that an annoying creature was ruining her life. It wasn’t that bad. Most of the reasons I mentioned above held fast. The elementary school years went super quickly.…

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My Fashion-Sense Left me at Pregnancy and Never Returned.

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There was a very brief period in my life when I embraced a bit of style. Although no one would ever call me a trendsetter, more like a trendlagger, I did try. I wandered into a boutique specializing in selling overpriced merchandise designed for young stylish women but was sold to suburban grandmothers. I tried but not quite sure I succeeded. The clothing was hawked by saleswomen that should have hung up their belly-shirts at least two decades prior. It was a moment in time when the stars aligned. Newly married with two incomes, the only big expenses were a mortgage and a weird Greyhound. Things changed in a nanosecond with pregnancy. Not Quite a Muumuu Long before stretchy yoga pants and inexpensive, sort-of designer maternity clothes arrived in Target, there were only three options. I can’t remember the store names as I break out in a sweat even now…

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Lifestyling

Forget the Romance on Valentine’s Day

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I am now the Scrooge of Valentine’s Day. I loved Valentine’s Day as a kid but never associated it with romance. There were plenty of gifts for me on that day, and it didn’t even matter that they were always Pepto-Bismal color themes. Whether it was pajamas, socks, or a stuffed animal, it was pink. As I got older, the gifts slowed down, but the goofy cards never did. I enjoy the fun whimsicalness of the day. Some Years Were Dry Even though I have had a few, who am I kidding there were many, years without any potential valentines hanging around; life went on. I continued my loser tradition of heading out to the drug store on Feb. 15th and getting myself some cut-rate candy. What Does One Do With a Gold-Dipped Rose? As I spent the time leading up to Valentine’s Day listening to advertisements hawking teddy bears…

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Random Thoughts

Things You Must Do (and Not Do) When Giving a Eulogy

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Eulogy-funeral

I write a killer eulogy. As troubling as it is that I claim it as my superpower, it’s 100 % true. Within two years, I attended eight funerals. Sadly, it included the passing of both my parents. During this time, I learned what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t. Some would say I am a horrible person to critique someone at their lowest and saddest time. A time when they are putting all their feelings out there for family, friends, and the few creepy people at a funeral that no one ever knows. Nevertheless, this is good information to have. Below are tips that will help you create a eulogy and leave the audience with the true essence of the loved one that passed. Communicate with the Other Speakers At a funeral for a family friend, multiple family members gave eulogies. From the brave college student grandchild to the eldest…

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5 Benefits of Walking Around a Lake ~ unless you are me

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lake-walking

Why I walk I’m sick of people that brag about the 200,000 steps they get in a day. I strive for 10,000, but I’m lucky if I hit 8,000. In summertime, I can quickly go over the magic number when I’m walking around summer beach communities looking at houses or, as my kids say, just being a creepy peeping Tom. I have been walking forever. Well, at least since I was 2, I was a late walker. There has been some tracking device on my wrist since they were called pedometers and were $9.99 at Walmart. I have upgraded from a crappy plastic thing to a Fitbit over the years. I am now wearing a first-generation, 6-year old Apple Watch that was a Bat Mitzvah gift my daughter gave me when she returned to a crappy plastic waterproof watch. Here comes the lake part Five years ago, we moved to…

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Lazy and Unmotivated? You can still start a Fun and Productive Habit in Only 10 Minutes.

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If I needed to choose one word to describe me, it would be unfollowthrougher. Another would be Idontfinishanything. Ok, I cant do it in one word. I start things with great intention and purpose, but then I stop. There is some productivity. I don’t always quit before I achieve anything. Thanks to my ability to start new things, I can create calligraphy, make greeting cards, paint a flower, sew a mask, and occasionally lose weight. If you have a big project to do that seems a bit overwhelming, you should break it down and start small. Easier said than done. For example, I’ve convinced myself that I am a Yogi because I have a yoga mat and a 30 class card to a yoga studio. When I am at the studio, I love it. I walk out of the class every time, saying that I will do this regularly. But…

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5 Great Blogs Almost Empty Nester Moms will love..

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and will not find on my Blog Below are five Blogs geared toward Women whose kids have flown the coop or are about to fly out of the nest. I love that they are all written by women (and a man or two) approaching a new stage of life, finding a purpose, and sharing their journey. Or they want to make a quick buck which I can’t fault. These grown and flown kids can still suck your wallet dry. Older Mommy Still Yummy Older Mommy Still Yummy I rarely ever bake. When I do, it’s something with a gazillion calories and always chocolate. If it’s not chocolate, it’s not worth my effort. Monica creates fun desserts that might make a complete baking idiot like me dust off my silicone spatula. As well as sharing yummy treats, Monica and her husband also travel, entertain and even throw in some healthy living options.…

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20 Reasons to Read The Unpurposeful Mother

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You are bored.You are so over Jigsaw Puzzles.PTA has left the building.Your kids have flown the coop.You want a new purpose.You want anything new.You are ready to try Calligraphy.Did she say watercolor?Crafting may be callling you.You have lots of coupons for Michaels /AC Moore/JoAnn Fabrics.You are tired of reading lists of what you should be doing.You are out of wine.The house needs cleaning and the wash needs folding.The future looks scary.You want to laugh with (at) others in the same boat.You are looking for some funny quotes.You are looking for fun not perfection.Your not talking to your Husband/Partner this week. Cooking does not bring you joy.You want find true peace and happiness ( This may be stretching it a bit).

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Falling in Love Again with Reading…….Cheaply

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I love to read. I love love love to read. I am weeks away from achieving a goal to read 60 books in one year. I am an avid reader, but evil things out there do nothing but divert me from this goal. At first, it was the iPhone. It was those stupid Angry Birds thwarting me from the very start. Next was Candy Crush, followed by Words with Friends, and then back to Candy Crush. Who can pick up a book when there are texts, emails, and Youtube videos of Princess Diana’s secret affairs or how to apply makeup correctly. In the olden days, TV kept me away for only a few hours of must-see TV on a Thursday night. Now with Netflix and 1000 different Real Housewives, it’s a struggle to lure me away from the TV. Before kids, a real job and laziness set in, I was…

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