This post was created in partnership with American Express. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Given that money and finances are such a crucial part of life, it's baffling that more lessons on financial responsibility aren't taught in schools. All that means is that it's up to us parents to pick up the slack. At the end of the day, what we teach our children about money will largely depend on our own experiences with finances.Confession time: I've never been fantastic at budgeting or being financially responsible. While I've had a job ever since I was legally able to work, I was not the best "saver" and I had (have!) champagne taste. That said, my parents tried their best to instill work-ethic and the concept of earning potential in me via tried and true strategies like allowance. I distinctly remember having to complete my set of chores (including cleaning the bathrooms, ugh) weekly, so that I could get my bi-weekly allowance to do with whatever I pleased (within teenage limits, of course).One story that my mom loves to tell (still, to this day) is about how she would give my sister and I money to purchase our city bus pass; we had a choice: we could either use the money to buy the bus pass, or decide to walk to school and just purchase a strip of bus tickets in the event that the weather was bad. Lo and behold, once we got the cash in hand, we quickly opted to walk - go figure! It was great lesson in weighing the pros and cons of making a purchase, and appreciating the value of money.Fast forward to 2018 and here I am with a rising high schooler of my own. She is actually the most responsible of my three kids and approached my husband and I about earning an allowance a couple of years ago. She's very good about completing her chores and saving (and spending!) and recently she's been having to "pay us back" using her cash allowance savings so that she can order items online using our credit cards. Let's face it - it's a different time than when we were teens! We didn't have big online brands so we didn't have the same need for an online payment option as these kids do today.Enter the American Express Additional Card. If you're an American Express account holder, you can add your teen to your account as an Additional Card Member. You'll receive a separate card, tied to your account, for your teen that you can monitor. Adding your child as an Additional Card Member is great way to teach kids financial independence and responsibility, while being able to set alerts and spending budgets. You can add Additional Card Members from ages 13 and older to your account to start teaching responsible spending habits and help those over 18 years old begin building their own credit.Here's the part that I like the most: you can set a monthly budget - as well as alerts, so that I can keep on top of their spending. What's also really cool is that charges for each Additional Card Member on your account are separated on your monthly … [Read more...] about Helping Your Child Develop Financially Responsible Habits Through The Use of American Express Additional Card Membership
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[PODCAST INTERVIEW] Living Over Existing EP 29: From Blogger to Conference Curator
I had the pleasure of being invited to be a guest on the Living Over Existing Podcast! Don't you just love the name of it? I mean, since my motto is that Life IS the Party and that we need to celebrate everyday, of course I totally vibe with the idea that we need to LIVE rather than simply EXIST.In this episode we chat about the purpose and start of the Blogalicious community and conference, how I transitioned from my career as an attorney to full-time entrepreneur and so much more.Click over HERE to take a listen and to checkout the show notes AND find out what the favorite quote of the episode was. You can also listen to it on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play! … [Read more...] about [PODCAST INTERVIEW] Living Over Existing EP 29: From Blogger to Conference Curator
Articulate Your Value: #DisruptAging w. These 4 Easy Steps #Sponsored
Confession time. For the past few weeks I've been struggling with the feeling like I am "behind" or that my "time has passed" because of the climate on social media. When it comes to being an entrepreneur - and one whose platform is based on social media - the day-to-day can be daunting: the steady streams of content and social media feeds presents everyone as 'killing it' in terms of their successes, accolades, lifestyle, and fancy projects. Here's the thing - from where I sit, most all of those influencers online that I compare myself to (I know, I know) are millennials.They don't have to worry about raising 3 kids and all that entails.They may not even have to worry about having a healthy relationship with a partner.They might not have to think about the responsibilities of a mortgage (or two), car payments, college funds and the like.So I see them as being footloose and fancy-free whereas I am a 40-year old wife and mom FIRST and businesswoman SECOND. Enter Cindy Gallop.Cindy is is an English advertising consultant, founder and former chair of the US branch of advertising firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and founder of the IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn companies. Or, as she likes to describe herself: "I like to blow shit up. I am the Michael Bay of business." You love her already, yes?She recently was a speaker at the Teen Vogue Summit held in Los Angeles last month and spoke on the topic Nothing But A Number: Why You're Never Too Young (Or Too Old) To Do Anything *Presented by #DisruptAging* and a group of influencers had the opportunity to speak with her about her perspective on aging. Her approach is OH SO refreshing; for example:She tells people how old she is (58) as often as she can She deliberately associates her age with whatever she is doing anything from entrepreneurship to dating She encourages older women, especially in the workplace, to actively articulate their own valueHer reasoning for being so revolutionary with the concept of age is because she is on a mission to disrupt stereotypes in the age and gender realm, especially as they relate to entrepreneurship. When I heard that, I felt like she was speaking directly to me!By far the biggest takeaway that stuck with me is that I need to own my age and make the point that because of my age, I have this amazing value that I bring to the table. I mean, it makes so much sense, right? If I were to reframe my previous trepidations, I would say that because I am 40(fabulous), I have the leadership, people management skills, and nurturing spirit that only a mother of multiple children could have. I would say that because I am 40(fine), I understand the concepts of communication, compromise and partnership that only a woman who has been married to her husband of 15 years could have. I would say that because I am 40(fierce), I have the wherewithal to budget, manage assets and debts, and build wealth in a way that only a woman who owns more … [Read more...] about Articulate Your Value: #DisruptAging w. These 4 Easy Steps #Sponsored
Relaxing, recharging and rejoicing at Kingsmill Resort
You guys. How is it only the end of January and already I feel like I've been on the go-go-go train for forever? The new year started with a bang and I've been non-stop ever since! Everything from on-boarding a new cycle of mastermind students to hosting houseguests for the long weekend, to attending parents' night for ... high school (!!) orientation. Thank goodness a girls' weekend had been on the calendar for weeks - it came at just the right time.Weekend before last, I had the pleasure of stealing away for two whole nights with my blogging BFFs Jessica McFadden of A Parent In Silver Spring, Amy Mascott of Teach Mama, and Sandie Chen of The DC Moms to Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA, and it was just what the doctor ordered. Spending time with good girlfriends always recharges me and being able to do so in a gorgeous and tranquil setting was icing on the cake.Jess did us the honor of driving and we caught up on life by chatting non-stop for the almost-5-hour-drive down. [Note: without traffic the drive from where we live in Maryland is just under 3 hours, but we left smack in the middle of rush hour and we stopped for a bite a Cracker Barrel - a must-do on a road trip through Virginia.] Check-in was a breeze and they gave us the keys for our 2-bedroom condo with gorgeous views of the James River. By the way, the Resort offers all kinds of accommodations, from guest rooms to private vacation homes. Check it.About Kingsmill Resort The only AAA Four Diamond Condominium Resort in historic Williamsburg, Kingsmill Resort offers luxurious riverside accommodations. From our (anything but) standard guestrooms to our 1,2, and 3-bedroom condos we have the perfect place to rest your head after a busy day. And whether you’re traveling for business, a weekend away with the family, or a romantic getaway for two, resort amenities like fantastic golf, a relaxing spa, and sumptuous dining options will enhance your visit. Because when you stay at Kingsmill, it’s more than just a hotel room—it’s an experience. Our spacious digs were fully appointed and had a full kitchen, dining room, living room and fireplace, making us feel right at home. Of course we did what any group of girlfriends would do and stayed up late talking and snacking and talking and laughing. Perfection. The next day was... Spa Day!! We enjoyed a combination of pedicures and massages in the on-site Kingsmill Spa. Sandie and I got a little bit "lost" on our walk over to the Spa (there was no good reason other than we were yapping) and the friendliest guy driving a golf cart for the Resort took pity on us and gave us a lift. He literally couldn't stop laughing because he thought we were such a mess. What can I say? If the shoe fits!The Resort has a full-service spa and is fabulous. I truly wasn't expecting such a luxurious facility! The staff were all helpful and sweet and one of the best parts of the day was kicking back in the spa lounge in our … [Read more...] about Relaxing, recharging and rejoicing at Kingsmill Resort
Fergie’s Feel-Good Gift Guide 2017
1.Rachel Roy Party Shift Dress via Jaci Blue // 2. The Crybaby Club Big Girl Panties Enamel Pin via Jaci Blue // 3. The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna // 4. Shortcakes from Callie's Charleston Biscuits // 5. Russell's Reserve 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey // 6. Women's Mayliss 6-inch Boots by Timberland // 7. Lady Bey Votive Candle (similar) It's that time of year again! The holiday season is upon us. And not a moment too soon given the BAMBOOZLE OF A YEAR that we've lived through. If I thought that we needed a Feel-Good Gift Guide last year, then this year we need a Feel-GREAT Guide, amirite? The last 11 months were a series of ups and downs for me.The Ups? Celebrating my birthday 5 months early at Trinidad Carnival; a fun family Spring Break road trip to Charlotte, NC; witnessing The Teen run in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics at North Carolina AT&T and qualify for Nationals; pouring into the businesses of my Cycle 2 influencers in the Rockstar Program; presenting at Black Social Media Summit in Austin during SXSW; getting my whole entire life at Odyssey Retreat in Amelia Island as a guest of Coca-Cola; the Tween starting Middle School; rescuing a Bulldog/Boxer mix named Lola; giving a keynote talk at sea during the Midwest Women's Empowerment Summit cruise; eating my face off in New Orleans at the Being Boss Vacation; producing the 9th Annual Blogalicious Weekend in Miami...The Downs? Above everything, the complications that resulted from my hysterectomy and the 6 weeks of tubes, physical and emotional suffering and procedures that followed. The other major down? Your president. I'll leave it at that. And so, in the interest of bringing a little bit of 'Up' into your holiday season, check out my picks for Feel-Good Gifts!Feel-Good for My Curves: Anything from Jaci Blue Boutique (1+2) When I was in NOLA last month, I scheduled my trip so that I would land back home in Maryland just in time to do a quick change and head out to Howard University Homecoming. I wanted to rock something cute so I Yelp'd boutiques in New Orleans since I had a couple of hours to kill before my flight out. Something told me to set myself up for success and to just search for plus-size boutiques so that I wouldn't be wasting time at stores that didn't have clothes that would fit me properly. Imagine my delight when Jaci Blue's Boutique came up in my search - amazing ratings, a cute website and it was open: score! The shop was adorable and the owner was so great - she helped me pick out items to try on and I learned that this was her second venture in the retail game. What I loved most about the boutique was the emphasis on positive body image: she had love notes in the dressing room and books and pins - like the Big Girl Panties pin - and other merch that reinforced her motto that "beauty is a mindset, not a waistline." She even has a blog. My girl.Feel-Good for My … [Read more...] about Fergie’s Feel-Good Gift Guide 2017
