Z is for Zinger

Zinger is for the month of April! Where did it go? I was amazed at how fast the month disappeared.

But there is also a sense of accomplishment. I fulfilled the April A-Z Challenge. I did get behind a few times, but always got caught up. It was fun to write something everyday for a different letter of the alphabet. I hope that there was something for all of my readers. I may have strutted like a peacock when talking about my kids and grand kids, but then, that is my right. I hope I didn't offend anyone when I got down or maybe had different opinions than any of you. Again, why does anyone have to pretend they are anything than who they are. I hope over the course of the last month, each of you got to know Monica a little better.

Y is for Youth

Youth.

Are we talking about our own days gone by? Or are we talking about the younger generation? They are equally important.

Do you remember when we were younger? Nothing could stand in our way. We were invinsible. We were reckless and impulsive. The future would happen later.

Fast forward 30 years. We let everything stand in our way from money, health and time. We sadly recognize our own mortality. We think and plan till we take the fun out of everything. Our future is here and now. Why do so many of us give up our youth because we aren't 20 anymore?

I hear so many people say, I'm too old for that or that is for the younger generation. Why? I am a firm believer that age is a number, not a state of mind. I am fast approaching 50. Am I dreading it? Heck no...it beats the alternative! Do I want to relive my youth? Absolutely not. But I don't want my mind to grow old. Sure activities and interests change over the course of one's life. But why not have a passion for what ever you enjoy. You did 30 years ago!

Here is my challenge to everyone out there in the blog-o-sphere. Do something you enjoyed when you were younger. It doesn't matter what. It could be dancing, swinging at the park, playing hoops, reading,... It can be something as simple as skipping down the sidewalk. Just do it! You will be amazed at the transformation in your mind.

U is for UMI Shoe Review

We were so excited to see the UPS man today. A brand new pair of sandals by Umi Shoes arrived! I have no experience but I have heard wonderful praise for their product. So when I received the opportunity to review their shoes, I jumped at the chance.

I decided to choose a size for my grand daughter, Alexis. The shoes are in European sizes, but the comparison size chart is perfect. We chose the Tampico sandal in a two tone brown. Alexis was so excited to put them on her feet. She barely gave me time to take a picture.

The sandals have a double velcro strap at the ankle. The colors are like rich dark chocolate and milk chocolate intertwined. They are absolutely beautiful shades of brown. The style is perfect for the young lady who isn't a toddler anymore but not quite a "big" girl.


Umi Shoes believes that it takes years of experience to make a great pair of shoes. They also believe that caring for little feet also means caring for the earth. They have high standards for safety and durability and meet strict guidelines for child-safe materials. As well as being great shoes for your child, Umi Shoes are great for the environment.

Become a fan of Umi Shoes on Facebook and Follow Umi Shoes on Twitter to keep up with the latest on their shoes and little feet.

As you can see, the sandals are a fabulous fit and Alexis is an absolute diva about showing off her new footwear.

X is for Xylophone

X is the toughest letter in the English alphabet. I found lots of cool words that begin with the letter X, but the were all Greek to me.(ha ha -no pun intended) Most of the words that begin with X are in fact Greek words. But they don't mean anything to me.

I pick Xylophone because most everyone had one of these musical contraptions when they were young.We were making beautiful music and our parents thought we were attempting to break the sound barrier. OK, so neither one of us were correct.

But I think that when you watch a child play a Xylophone, it is magical. The look on their faces when they first discover that they are making the sounds and changing the sounds. I have yet to see anything but joy on a young child's face as they discover the joy of making music.

W is for A Woman Who Helped Me

There have been many women who have made an impact on my life. The greatest of these was my sister Jo. She helped me to be a better person just by being her friend and sister. As a kid, she was a pain in my butt. She was 5 years younger than I and always taking my clothes and getting into my stuff.

As we grew older, we had our share of spats. And growing up in the household we lived in, grudges were taught to be the norm. Somehow, we always managed to break that mold. Our love and respect for each other overcame the need to be right.

As an adult, we had a wonderful relationship. We have been each other's rock through some really bad times and each other's cheer squad through the good times. We learned from each other as well as supported each other over the bumpy roads of marriage and motherhood. We both had our quirks, but we brought out the best in each other.

We would talk everyday, even if it was a game of phone tag. We could laugh and cry. We could vent and support. The one thing I appreciated the most was that we could disagree. And we did! But we could discuss opposing views (quite passionately at times) and still end the conversation with I love you. And mean it!

She has been gone 4 months now and I still carry this huge hole in my chest. I still dial her number on my phone. I still look at her facebook page everyday. I miss her. Amazing how that skinny little kid grew up to be the most influential woman in my life. She helped me to really live!


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Below are are few examples from this extrordinary collection. The baskets are exquisite. And the colors are vibrant. Visit Macy's to look at the entire collection and find the perfect gift for Mom or another special woman in your life.

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This discount is also applicable to Rwanda Path to Peace products.

But hurry. This offer is good May 3rd-5th.

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I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.