It's official - I accepted a new full-time job, and I will be taking over the role of primary wage earner in our family. This is something I've been considering for a while now, but I've been rather torn about the idea. Women today have so many choices about what they do for a living. At times those choices seem stressful and guilt inducing, rather than liberating. That's certainly been the case for me.

In our household, I hold the college degree. This is something I'm proud of. It's also something that's contributed a great deal to my sense of guilt over the years. As the degree holder, there is a wider availability of jobs out there for me. Jobs with potentially higher pay and better benefits. But as a woman and a mom, my heart has told me my place has been at home with my babies. So that's where I decided to place myself when I became pregnant with Brady. I was fortunate enough to be with my older two their first three years of life, and that's truly where I wanted to be with Brady. I was willing to make sacrifices to do that.

However, now the time has come that I am ready to get back to the workforce. To put my degrees to use and to stop feeling like a burden to my husband. In case you don't know, Bill is twenty years my senior. He's had more than his fair share of work over his lifetime. It's time for me to contribute financially to our family in a more significant way. Truthfully, though, I'm not sure that four years ago would have been the time for Bill to take on the role of stay at home daddy. Now that Brady's nearly four, he and his daddy are able to spend more fun times together, telling stories "out of their heads" or playing games, and the big kids are more independent as well. Now seems like a good time for us to switch roles. I'm ready to give up the chauffering and cleaning up the potty training accidents, and he's ready to give up some of the pressure associated with being the breadwinner. It's all good.

But I haven't even told you about my job yet! I have two pretty spiffy titles - Behavior Specialist Consultant and Mobile Therapist. Basically, what I'll be doing is helping families to learn more productive behavioral techniques in dealing with the day to day things life throws our way. It's a challenging job, but I know that it will be rewarding as well. I've done this kind of a position in the past, and there's lots of flexibility and creativity involved in the position. I love that. Did I mention the benefits are amazing AND affordable? I couldn't pass any of this up.

Am I nervous though? Oh, hell yeah! Now it's my turn to take on that pressure of bringing in the income. It's been a while since I was in that position. Truthfully, though, I miss the sense of autonomy that comes with earning a full time income. It will also be nice to derive the sense of identity that comes with working a full time job.

I'm not giving up my blogger identity, though. I love it too much. Being a blogger also allows me creativity and lets me connect with like-minded people in a way I never have. It's fun and exciting, and I'm simply too damn addicted to the lifestyle and the community to ever give it up. I'm kind of selfish. I want it all. I want my fun side gig AND the responsible day job. I know so many people who are working their asses off to make blogging that full-time gig, but for me, I really struggled with that. I think I finally realized the reason. Like the person who loves to cook, but doesn't want to be a professional chef for fear of no longer loving it, I do think that blogging was a bit like that for me. The pressure of making it my full time gig and HAVING to earn a living from my writing was too much pressure. I found it hard to love the writing process. I truly think I've made the decision that will work best for me and for my family. I sure hope I have.

On a side note, this whole post reminds me of the book Good Enough is the New Perfect by my friends Becky and Hollee. Check out this guest post they wrote for me on reinventing your career. I guess that's really what I'm doing now.

Oh my! Where do I start with this? Oral care, unfortunately, is not my strong suit. I used to have great teeth growing up. Then, three pregnancies and a lot of dental neglect later, I've now got a less than stellar smile. I know that oral health has an impact on overall health, and I wish I had taken better care of my teeth over the years. I intend to help my kids avoid the mistakes I have. Fortunately, I've been asked by the Motherhood to take part in the Listerine and Reach Healthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge.

The goal of this challenge is to take a look at your oral care habits and re-evaluate what you can do to improve the health of your mouth. The challenge lasts three weeks, and families are encouraged to take a few extra minutes each day to incorporate brushing, flossing and rinsing into their daily routines to help establish healthy, lasting habits.

As a part of this challenge, I've learned a lot of new things about oral health and care. Bet you didn't know:

• Brushing teeth alone misses about 75% of the germs in your mouth.
• Nearly 75% of Americans suffer from some sort of gum disease and may not even know it.
• According to a survey conducted by Reach and Listerine, over one third of Americans don't eat their favorite foods or smile in photos due to the condition of their teeth.
• 15% of people avoid kissing their loved ones because of their dental problems.

Listerine and Reach have a number of products that can help us with our challenge. My kids are totally excited about the line of Smart Rinse products. These rinses allow you to actually see in the sink what was left behind by brushing. Yeah, it's kind of gross, but kind of cool at the same time! I like the Total Care Zero rinse so far, myself. We've decided to use these products to help us focus on improving our oral care routines. The kids have already started reminding me to brush my teeth, and I've noticed them actually talking about brushing their teeth, rather than having to be nagged about it. Even my little guy is so excited by his new Reach toothbrush that he likes to get in on the brushing action. It's important to try to make brushing fun to encourage kids. We're all actually looking forward to committing to improving our brushing, flossing and rinsing over the next three weeks!

If you're interested in learning more about the Listering and Reach products, head to Walmart to check out the full line. You can also follow the hashtag #healthyhabits on Twitter where myself and other bloggers will be talking about our experience on the challenge. I'd love to have you join us. And please feel free to share any oral care tips you may have in the comments. I could use the help and encouragement!

* I was provided products and compensation in exchange for sharing information and my opinion on the Listerine and Reach Healthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge. All opinions are my own.

I had an assignment for the photo a day challenge I'm working on called "Your Shoes." So I chose to take a picture of my bright raspberry colored comfy shoes. I like them so much because they add a pop of color to my usual neutral outfits. I posted the picture to Facebook and got some positive comments. They're really not the prettiest or most stylish of shoes, but they're so comfortable. It hit me in an a-ha moment that ALL of my shoes are comfortable. When did I stop wearing shoes exclusively for the cute factor?

That's not to say that all my shoes are ugly old lady shoes. I have some cute shoes. I particularly like to shop for comfortable and sporty women's sneakers. A cute pair of sneakers works well for running errands with the kids, especially in this snowy, slushy weather we've had. But, seriously, what happened to my love of fun, funky shoes? Shoes with chunky heels or pointy toes? I can't even imagine wearing a pointy toed heel today! I'm not sure when it happened. I remember, vaguely, the days of walking in heels for eight or ten hours. Those were the days of working in an office or retail environment.

I guess there's not much call for wearing heels or fancy shoes for picking up the kids from pre-school, gymnastics or Boy Scouts. Unfortunately, it's been quite some time since Bill and I went out on a date. I'm thinking I need to come up with a sexy shoe occasion. What do you think? And do you base your shoe selection on comfort or are you still choosing shoes primarily for appearance? Try searching online for some cute shoes with these exclusive Macys coupons if you're on a budget!

Valentine's Day is tomorrow, I know. In my opinion, though, any time is a good time for a present. If you're looking to treat yourself or to show a little appreciation to an awesome woman in your life, you'll want to check out Marco Polo Designs. Their jewelry is unique and affordable. There's sure to be something that will catch your eye and be just perfect for that special someone - especially if that special someone is you! It's a well-known fact that I am an advocate of treating yourself. We moms deserve it!

Now is the perfect time to look into Marco Polo Designs, as two of their signature lines are the Dark Chocolate and Couture Hearts collections. In fact, Marco Polo Designs is having a fabulous deal right now - use the code ROMANCE12 to get a 20% discount off of anything from these collections!

I received two pieces of jewelry for review - the Heartbeat Heart Pendant from the Couture Hearts Collection and the Dark Chocolate Bracelet from the Dark Chocolate Collection. Oh my, these pieces of jewelry are stunning! Take a look!

Just look at that gorgeous red color of the Heartbeat pendant! This pendant is handmade with 24K gold and molten glass in what's known as the "rubino oro" color, which means "ruby gold." It's the most valuable glass because real gold is mixed with the molten glass, giving it the effect of practically glowing from within. I can't describe to you how intensely beautiful it is. Mine came with a black cord, but you can also choose a gold vermeil chain. I really like the way the pendant lays around my neck. Sometimes chains or cords are too short for me, but this one is just perfect. It really makes a statement wtihout being gaudy. I've already gotten tons of compliments! Here's a picture of a model wearing the pendant. I've worn mine with a much more casual outfit, and it looks just as good as with a more formal dress.

The Dark Chocolate Bracelet is amazing. The glass beads are infused with not only 24K gold foil, but also copper dust and rich brown swirls. The texture really pops in these beads. A very cool feature is that the bracelet can be customized to fit various sized wrists by choosing one of two loops to insert the toggle closure into. It secures easily and makes me feel confident that I won't lose this gorgeous bracelet.

Here's a picture of the necklace to match. Which, by the way, will be my next present. I believe Mother's Day is coming soon. Right, honey?

I always try to balance my reviews with something that could be considered a negative. I'm having a hard tiime coming up with one here. At first, I thought that the $165 price tag on the Dark Chocolate Bracelet might be a bit cost prohibitive, but knowing the materials that go into it and that it's hand made, I truly feel that's a fair charge. And the Heartbeat Pendant sells for only $60. Marco Polo Designs offers a wide selection of styles and prices; there truly is something for everyone. I love that! I try only to promote items that are attainable for the average mom, and this company fits the bill.

Finally, the service is sensational. I received my jewelry extremely quickly, along with a personalized note from the company's co-owners, Claude and Penny Cruz. I was very impressed with such a personal touch. I'd recommend not only buying a Marco Polo Designs creation for yourself, but checking out their Facebook page for more information and news of upcoming sales and events.

I received two pieces of jewelry for review. All opinions are mine and are true - I love this jewelry and will be making a purchase in the future! Thank you, Marco Polo Designs for the opportunity to experience your fine artisan jewelry.

Valentine's Day is next week! Whoa, where has the time gone? Have you gotten your loved one a gift? Yeah, me neither. My husband's not a real sentimental, gift-giving kind of guy. I've learned to accept that and deal with it. I've also learned that I just have to give myself my own gifts sometimes. And what better time than Valentine's Day to show yourself some love?

If you're a photography lover and enjoy keeping cherished photographic memories close at hand, you're going to want to ask your honey for a CEIVA Connected Digital Photo Frame. Or just buy it for yourself, if your situation is anything like mine. This product is amazing, and it's innovative. It's not just a digital frame. This frame allows you to send photos to anyone who has a CEIVA frame, and they can view them once they're uploaded to their frame. It's a fantastic way to share memories with loved ones near and far.

I've written a CEIVA review here on the blog awhile back. You can take a look at it to learn a bit more in-depth information about the frame. You may also want to visit the CEIVA website to learn more. Here are a few features I like best about my CEIVA:

• You can send pictures from your computer, Facebook, email or your  cell phone, to any frame. I send photos to my frame as well as my mom's. She lives in Missouri, and I'm in Pennsylvania.
• It connects by wi-fi, so it cuts down on the wires as my desk.
• You can control which pictures are displayed on your frame and set up albums to display when you want them.
• Anyone can send pictures to your frame for free. You just have to give them your CEIVA email address.
• It's easy to use and to customize.
• It's a conversation piece. Everyone always asks about my frame.
• It's fun. I enjoy checking every morning to see if there are any new pictures on my frame. It's a great way to share memories!

The frames are well-priced, but you do have to purchase a yearly picture plan to be able to recieve and send photos. CEIVA is having an awesome special right now. Here's the information:

To celebrate Valentine's Day, you can purchase a CEIVAshare Connected Photo Frame(tm) with one-year of PicturePlan for $99.95 and a CEIVAPro 80 Connected Digital Frame(tm) with one- year of PicturePlan for $119.95.  Free ground shipping is also available for orders over $99.00.  Buy any two frames and get an additional $10 off your order; $20 off when buying three! Show how much you care by giving a CEIVA to someone you love.  For more information contact CEIVA's U.S. based Customer Care Team toll-free at 1-877-692-3482 or go to www.ceiva.com.

Seriously, folks. This is one of the best, most personal gifts you could give or recieve this Valentine's Day. A CEIVA Connected Digital Frame continues to give all year long.

I received a free yearly picture plan in exchange for sharing informaiton on this promotion, but I truly can't say enough wonderful things about my CEIVA!

I enjoy cooking. I truly do. It's fun to plan, shop for and prepare a special meal for my family. It's also time-consuming, and we moms just don't always have that kind of time. That's why it's so great when I come across a great time saver product like Bertolli Meal Soup. These soups are found in the frozen food aisle and can be prepared in minutes. What I love is that they taste homemade. That's quite a compliment coming from me, as I love my soup and am rather picky!

Bertolli Meal Soup comes in three varieties - Chicken Minestrone, Tuscan-Style Beef & Vegetables and Tomato Florentine & Tortellini With Chicken. I chose the Tomato Florentine & Tortellini With Chicken because it sounded so different from most soups I've purchased at the store. I was not disappointed!

I decided to make this soup last weekend on the day we got our new kitty. It was an exciting day, and I didn't want to spend much time on dinner. I wanted to play with our new friend. Bertolli Meal Soup was just fabulous for a hearty meal in a hurry. It comes in a bag that's easy to open. Just pour the contents in a pan and add a cup of water, then heat. So easy. Take a look at all those zesty ingredients! After cooking, the soup comes together and looks like this.

Yum! There are pieces of tomato in a smooth, creamy tomato soup. There's lots of spinach, and the cheesy tortellini is the perfect texture. It was SO good. So good, in fact, I picked up two more this week at the grocery store! I knew my husband and son would want a little more to sink their teeth into, so I prepared grilled cheese while the soup was cooking, and we had a tasty, fast meal.

I absolutely recommend Bertolli Meal Soup and can't wait to try the other varieties. You can catch up with Bertolli:

On their Facebook page

On Twitter

And at the Bertolli website.

I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge. All opinions are my own.

We just got a new cat this past weekend. A lot of people may not have chosen this particular cat. You see, she's 7 years old with long fur that sheds everywhere. She's also very shy. I, however, just knew she was meant to be our cat. Here's the backstory.

The kids and I fought a hard battle with my husband a couple years ago to get a cat. He didn't necessarily want the added responsibility or cost of a pet. But we wanted a furry friend we could hold and love. Ultimately, we won. I got in touch with an old friend who runs an animal rescue, and we were able to bring a very nice cat home for only a $25 donation to the rescue. Her name was Minnie. I've written about my writing buddy here before.

Unfortunatley, we didn't have her in our lives for very long. After about a year and a half, she stopped eating and lost a great deal of weight. I took her to the vet and learned that she had a pretty advanced kidney problem. We chose to put her to sleep, rather than deal with the possibility of putting her through various treatments on a regular basis. The kids were devastated. I promised them we'd get another kitty someday.

Bill and I decided not to get a cat right away. We wanted to give the kids some time to grieve. We also knew we'd need to wait until we had a bit of a financial cushion put away in case of another pet health issue. It can cost quite a bit of money to care for a sick animal even for a short while, as we learned. So we made the decision to wait.

It's been about six months since we lost Minnie, and the kids and I started to become antsy. We miss watching our kitty's antics and enjoying her company, when she chose to give it to us. So I started looking at the shelter websites and talking to friends. Long story short, I ended up inquiring about a "sweet, long haired kitty" for adoption through a private owner. Something told me it couldn't hurt to ask about this sweet kitty.

So after some preliminary online back and forth, I asked for a photo of the kitty in question. This is the text I received.

The screen shot is a little small. It says, "Meet Minnie." I almost fell over. What are the chances that we would be looking at adopting another cat named Minnie? After taking a closer look, I realized this cat was a tortoiseshell. Another unbelievable coincidence. When I was in college, my first husband and I had a tortoiseshell kitty that we loved very much. In fact, I had just been admiring my online friend Cindi's tortoiseshell kitty on Facebook and telling her that I'd like to look into getting one myself!

Long story short, Minnie came home with us on Saturday. I surprised the kids, and they're completely in love with her. She's adapting quite well. Initially, she came out to visit us only in the morning and at night. Today, she's been out and about all day long. In fact, she's made herself at home in my office chair, which is where predecessor used to love to sit. So far, she hasn't made any attempt to balance on the back of the chair!