Summer came super late for us this year - our school year didn't end until July 21st! Partially because of snow day makeups and partially because in 2016 our Maryland governor delayed the start of the school year until after Labor Day (in order to encourage and extend beach tourism a few more weekends - the drama continues); so, because we start late, we end late. As you can imagine, my crew was more than ready to be out of school by the time last Friday came. I gave them one week to do nothing and laze around (although "nothing" ended up being a day trip to NYC; a visit to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture (aka the "Blacksonian"); a campus visit with their college-bound cousin to Howard University; my son's 11th birthday party and more. Now that I think of it, they are probably exhausted from their week of doing "nothing" LOL. While I am a firm believer in kids having plenty of downtime during the summer, I also don't want their brains to turn to mush, so starting tomorrow I am going to bring out their Summer Activity Kits (that I have yet to create, tee hee). They each have 1 camp that they'll attend in July and then in August we will have a family vacation, God willing. So, in true Mom-fashion, I've got the kids all set - but I have to be intentional and make sure that I enjoy my summer too! Tara of The Self-Care Suite sent out an email newsletter the other day about her Summer Bucket List and I loved that idea - I've been doing that albeit under other names for years. It helps me to not just let the days blur by and to ensure that I get in all of the goodness of my favorite season. So, without further ado, here is my 2019 Summer Bucket List! Fergie's 2019 Summer Bucket List Take in a Festival or Two (or Three). The DC area comes alive with festivals starting Memorial Day weekend and through September - it's the best! There's something about the energy of people enjoying the weather, music and, of course, Festival Food. We've already done the DC Jazz Fest at The Wharf which was super fun. Another fave is the Summer Spirit Festival at Merriweather Post Pavillion. I also am headed to see Nas Illmatic 25th Anniversary with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolftrap, a part of its Summer Performance Festival in a couple of weeks. It's gonna be dope. Get My Fill of the Beach and the Pool. Nothing says summer like the scent of sunscreen, splashing around in cool water and basking in the sun. The problem here is that my family does not appreciate the beaches north of Florida. They have been spoiled by the crystal clear waters and pristine sand of down South and the Caribbean and so any beach I take them to in the Mid-Atlantic or NE area generates eye rolls and frowns and a refusal to go in the water. It drives me batty. I'm anticipating having to go by myself this summer to a nearby beach. We did make our first pool trip yesterday though. Our normal pool is not in the budget this summer so we found a public … [Read more...] about My Summer Bucket List 🏖️
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[podcast interview] building your brand strategy w. businessese
“What is my mission? What is my brand story?” They say that a dream without a plan is just a wish. That a goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline. We're going to say that a business without a dream, a goal, a plan, and a deadline is a mess.A well developed brand strategy ties all of these essential elements together for your business. It refines your why (your overall vision and dream) and your what and when (specific goals on a specific timeline) before nailing down the how with a long-term plan that moves you toward achieving your goals. It can feel like a tremendous undertaking, but once your brand strategy is clearly defined it provides a framework to follow. Your day to day decisions and path to success will become easier and more clearly defined as well. Listen to my tips for building a successful digital brand on the Businessese podcast HERE! Wanna craft a successful brand strategy for your business? Check out my course: 4 Essential Secrets to a Killer Brand Strategy! … [Read more...] about [podcast interview] building your brand strategy w. businessese
giving the people what they want
This morning I was in church with Hubby and got out my phone to take some notes (after all, Pastor Anderson is fiyah!), and saw a text come in from my 14yo. It said: "Mom. Can you make Sunday Dinner today? Thanks." And it was accompanied by 2 photos - obviously from Instagram - of other people's Sunday Dinner plates. I chuckled and had to admit that the bbq chicken, mac and cheese, yams, and cornbread looked good. So I replied back: "Sure!" And started plotting my spread. Fast forward 6 hours and everyone is sitting around in that Sunday-lazy-sort-of-way, after chowing down on smothered pork chops, red bliss garlic mashed potatoes, greens and cornbread. Mission Accomplished. And evidence that kids really do notice and appreciate traditions that you set out to create for them. A great way to kickoff the new year. It's been 7 years since I wrote a Sunday Dinner Diaries installment! Check them out HERE. … [Read more...] about giving the people what they want
solo travel: apparently i’ve been missing out
Over the holiday break I met my friend Monica for brunch to catch up. Somehow our conversation turned to trips and travel and my dirty little secret came to light: I've never taken a solo vacation! Monica was truly surprised and told me that it was a MUST, and she challenged me to add this to my goal list for 2019. I mean, I've been on solo trips, don't get me wrong. Like, traveling to a conference or a business meeting and that kind of thing. But as far as me accompanying myself to a resort for a couple of days and just enjoying my own company? Especially amid all of the energy it takes to be a mom? Nope. It's interesting because I have several friends who do this regularly; it just never occurred to me that I was missing out. My friend Jana used to take herself to the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island yearly for her solo getaway. And let's not even get started on Jazzy. She is a pro at solo vacays (and even - intentionally - spent Christmas by herself in a beachfront hotel). And so, in the spirit of New Year, New Me, I've decided to make this a goal of mine. Nothing big or major like a trip to New Zealand; I'll be super happy with a long weekend in Destin, FL or Tulum, MX. All I need is the hot sun and a beach! What's your take on solo vacations? … [Read more...] about solo travel: apparently i’ve been missing out
Budgeting, Staying Within Limits, and Financial Life Lessons
This post was created in partnership with American Express. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I’ve taken to calling 2018 as our Year of Adulting. Here’s why: for the last several months, Hubby and I have been getting our financial house all the way in order. The other day we were asked what our monthly budget looks like. I chuckled because this topic has been an ongoing debate between Hubby and I for years. He doesn’t “believe” in budgeting - he calls it “living within your means.” On the flipside, my perspective is that having a budget means that we can plan for activities that might *seem* beyond our means but that are actually attainable with some preparation. Our difference in approach has resulted in miscommunications and tiffs, but during our budgeting discussion a friend pointed out that we are actually saying the same things, just differently. That was an eye opener! While we don’t have a set monthly budget that breaks down how much we can spend of various things, we do have a number that we try to stay under each month as a whole. How do we do this? We put almost all of our purchases on one credit card and we pay off the entire balance each month, so we don’t pay interest. We keep an eye on the balance as the month goes on to make sure that we are on track to not exceed our agreed upon number. Of course, some months are harder than others (i.e. back to school or Christmas) but we try to plan for those (aka budget!) It’s been working for us AND we earn rewards from putting all of our expenses on the credit card each month. We really try to keep the kids looped in on where we stand with spending on a regular basis. I try to be mindful to walk the line between keeping them informed so that they will have a firm grasp on financial impact of eating out or buying a new video game, and allowing them to enjoy the blissful ignorance of youth. One key part of keeping them in the loop is going through monthly statements together now that my eldest is an Additional Card Member. We’re able to track her own budgeting so that she can get a grasp on understanding how to dissect monthly statements. In the meantime, our current system works for us. And now we even earn rewards on the purchases our teen makes on her Additional Card the same way we do on our own purchases. As we move through our Year of Adulting, we’re testing out different ways to approach our finances and are looking forward to teaching our children responsible spending habits and lessons that will stay with them for life. Here’s to being grown! Learn more about how to add your teen to your account as an Additional Card Member here: https://amex.co/2njaoF2 … [Read more...] about Budgeting, Staying Within Limits, and Financial Life Lessons
