Big Hero 6 + mini lessons on Moving Forward

8:54 AM Ghettomomma 0 Comments

Over the weekend, we went to see Big Hero 6. Having seen the preview, the bois and I were super excited to see the adorable big marshmallow turn into a superhero. 
The word Superhero alone makes the boys extremely excited to see it. 

It instantly became our favorite movie of the year. We laughed, I cried, we laughed some more. I swear, it was absolutely hilarious. 

While I already love action filled cartoon movies, I really liked the lessons that came with it too. 

Here are a few things we can learn from Big Hero 6. I am going to try my bestest to not spoil the movie for you - if you haven't seen it yet. 

1.) In times of trouble, We need friends. We would much rather be alone and throw ourselves a pity party - nothing wrong with that. But let's face it, as much as we think we're ok without them, we need them and if you have people in your life that want to be there for you, don't shut them out, let them. You will up your recovery progress x10. 

2.) Hugs are the best. The same that a smile goes a long way, hugs can make you feel 10x better. From a family, a friend, heck, hug a stranger. You don't know if they need it too :) 
(just be safe!)

3.) Revenge is always the initial reaction to pain. Yep, when we get hurt, we want them to feel the same way they've hurt us - sometimes, even more. Its natural, that's how we're built but... 

4.) You have a choice. When he said, "We are not programmed to destroy." - that was him making a choice. For all we know, he could've. But he didn't, it wouldn't change the past, the current situation and it wouldn't make things better. 

5.) Go for an adventure. You can go all out if you can, otherwise, mini adventures are just as fun. It's good for you. It keeps your mind away for a bit. It will help clear your head and it is an effective treatment ;) 

Big Hero 6 is a big thumbs up on our books. Watch it with your kids, your families, even alone - make it your mini adventure. It is sure to give you a good laugh :) 


There, I did my bestest not to spoil it for you, but if you've already seen it and would like to add on and share your thoughts, I'd love to hear them :) 

Happy Monday! 
#Letsdothis, I'm cheering on you! 
GhettoMomma 

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On Dreams and Hustlin' : When hard work pays off...

8:41 AM Ghettomomma 3 Comments

It's been a week since I've switched over to a stay at home - work at home momma. Which means running the business FULL TIME. Which means, I get to stay home more and be away for work less.

I have put soo much time on work for the past year. I have worked a full time job and did shoots or covered events on the weekend. Some weekdays, I would go to work from 6-2 and still work on photos for the rest of the afternoon, all while trying to juggle in laundry, groceries, playing referee between the two boys, packing lunches and making sure the kids are ready to go the next day. Then I had the opportunity to earn a bit more when I switched over jobs the summer, I had a blast and I learned so much from the experience but it required us to be away for some days in a week and back on some weekends, all while dealing with events to cover on weekends and it got me to a point where I was no longer there for my kids. I struggled.

The good thing about all this is that, there was a plan. I had a choice of sacrificing a bit of time to hustle it up, give up a bit of comfort to save money, to get me closer to the goal of being able to be there as a present parent for my kids - physically, financially, emotionally. That, or to keep working a steady job, getting part time gigs to cover up extra expenses and be left with not enough time and energy to spend on taking care of the boys. 

I'm happy to say that through all the sweat and tears, we have made it. Or at least, we are closer to where we want to be. 

We have lived off the basics & stayed on budget for other expenses which allowed us to save enough to get us through another few months. I am happy to say that our bills and rent have been paid off for the rest of the year and this has allowed me to let go of a full time job and instead stay at home & work at home to be there more for the bois. 

There has not been a time this week that I would be close to the door and Jaeden would ask me if I had to go to work, it gives me the biggest pleasure to say that "Mommy doesn't work anymore" (of course, that's not true, I just don't have to be away when he's home.), the biggest smile I get with a big "YAY!" is simply priceless. 

Hard work does pay off & this is my biggest prize. 











There's still a lot of work, we're not there yet, but it feels good to know we're a step closer =)

If you're out there hustlin' for your family or your dreams, Keep hustlin'. Go for it 10 times harder. Focus on your goal. It's not gonna be easy but I can tell you this, IT WILL PAY OFF!
 & when it does, it's gonna Feel Damn Good! 

#Letsdothis, I'm cheerin' on you! 
GhettoMomma

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Parenting : On Anger, Filtering Words and Actions.

8:01 AM Ghettomomma 0 Comments

Sometimes, I envy children for being able to express themselves freely in words and in actions. When they haven't learned to filter themselves, to put a mask on.
Sometimes, I wonder why we teach them to. 

It brings me back to times when my now 10 year old would come home and cry and be so angry with other kids. I would ask him what he'd like to do. He would respond saying that he would like to punch the kids in the face. He would tell me how angry he is. 

I would stay with him and let him cry, let him scream his anger out, and he would. You could feel his pain and his anger with his screams, and I would be so angry at these kids that I would like to go out there myself and punch their faces. 

But that's not what we do. That's not what we were taught as kids. & That's not what we're gonna teach our kids. 

Yesterday, I was in the same situation as my 10 year old was. I was so angry. I wanted to hurt people for taking out hurtful words towards my child. 

I screamed and cried like a 10 year old. & then I am reminded of the things that I tell my children.

Being angry won't change the situation. Being angry won't make you a better person. You are better than that. 

& Let go. 



I blame my parents for being the nicest people in the planet. For raising me in this way. 
For teaching me to filter my words and actions. If it won't benefit or build up, they are not worth your energy and time. 

I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing. But I believe in the good and I believe that people do not mean or intend to hurt other people. 

& if this is what I would like to teach my children, this is how I'm ought to live by. 

Struggling with a heavy heart, I'll leave you with this. 

“It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.” -L.R. Knost

xoxo, 
GhettoMomma

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MoneyMatters: Retail Theraphy and Guilt Free Shopping

8:56 PM Ghettomomma 0 Comments

So you know the times when you go into a store and you see this really nice shirt and you want it and then you see the pricetag and you're like, maybe I'll hold on to it for a bit and see if I really like it. Then you walk around some more and you find more stuff that you like, oooh that purse and this shoe would look soo good with that shirt and so you grab them all and feel exactly the same thing as you did with the shirt. 

& then, you get to the counter and feel sooo much guilt that you just let it all go, and leave. 

That. That was me for the last 10 months. The first few months were the toughest.. and then you just kinda get sick of it, skip the mall altogether and you just kinda forget. 

Yes. You forget. 

My rule for guilt free spending and saving is this, that you only allow yourself to spend 10% of what's left in your bank account after taking money out for the things you "need" for anything that goes into the category of "Want". 

10 months later, I finally had enough saved to actually go Shopping - Guilt Free and I'm gonna tell you this, it feels Damn Good. 





&its true what they say, some things are really worth the wait :) 

Let's do this! 
-GhettoMomma 

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Single Parenting: School Family Night

8:53 PM Ghettomomma 0 Comments

Jaeden had his first family night in school. 

The invite said Pizza! of course we had to be there :) 

We also had to bring a family photo for a frame making activity that will be kept in their classroom. 

For the longest time, it was my biggest struggle. I always thought that the decision to let go of our marriage was very selfish. That it would mean that I am depriving the boys of growing up in a complete family. 

So as much as possible, in any family event, we would make it so that the both of us (parents) can be there for the boys. 

I think we're still trying to figure it out. But this works, for now. 

All I know is that we share the same stand on this, whatever makes the boys happy, we're happy :) 


Jaeden was too busy playing with his friends so we couldn't get him in a photo. He also pointed to this pretty little girl and said "I like that girl!" and couldn't stop giggling! Lol 

It was a fun night. But I'm curious to know: Single Parents, how do you handle family nights? 

xoxo, 
GhettoMomma





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The plastic bag.

12:28 AM Ghettomomma 0 Comments

Once upon a time, this momma went to an airport with nothing but a wallet and a plastic bag. She went and asked where she could get a flight back to Edmonton from Vancity and this man looked at her and asked, "Do you have money?". 

I have never felt so looked down upon in my life. But I don't blame him, It wasn't my brightest shining moment. 

A little pissed at this man, I walked straight to the counter and swiped my credit card.

He had a point. I didn't have money. I was spending somebody else's money. 

The plastic bag. 
It is my biggest reminder to never go back to that time in my life where I am carelessly spending away money - what I've earned and what's not really mine - 
for pleasures that I don't really need and won't really last. 

Life is really that simple. A vacation, shopping spree and that kickass looking car all look pretty tempting. But it's not something I can afford right now. These things can wait. 

For now, I'll stick with my plastic bag. 

Let's do this, 
GhettoMomma 

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Life does get better! But first.... here's Step#1.

10:14 PM Ghettomomma 0 Comments

On the 1st day of year 2014, I made a decision to strive for Change. Setting Goals and laying out a game plan were the first steps.

My goals were simple really. To be able to  provide the best life that I can for the boys. That meant, being there for them financially, emotionally and physically. Hello, Single Parenting! 

Big decisions had to be made. Should I get a second job? Will it be worth the time it takes me away from my kids? Will I be able to handle it without crashing? What's the best plan to go with? 

I knew right there that if I wanted to reach my goals, I needed a change of lifestyle. I needed to be sooo sick of where my life is at the moment and be as motivated as I can to get out of it. 

We were at that point of having close to nothing, didn't know where to find money for rent, surviving through discounted meals at work, giving up the comforts of our big bedroom to squeeze in a smaller one. All that and $20,000 worth of debt -I am still trying to figure out where it came from. 

I cried that one weekend when my boys wanted pizza and I could not squeeze any money out of my pocket for it. 

But here we are, halfway through the year, we are surviving. 

I am at the "healthiest" or "fittest" I've ever been in my life, I learned to face one of my biggest fears in life - the road and driving, I own a $900 #ghettocar, I have started re-building my photography business, and guess what! The boys and I can finally afford weekend pizzas, even date nights. I also start a new full time job next week which I'm really excited about. Oh, and a reduced debt of $8,000. Win! 

I'm here to share my story because if you are in the same place, I want you to know that you can do it and that life does get better. 

I think we have been super blessed to be surrounded by amazing family and friends that continue to help us, share their experiences and give advices especially with things that i know nothing about. 

"Set goals and put together a game plan. Challenge yourself daily and watch for progress. Do your research but also more importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help." 

Thats all for tonight :) 
This momma needs to catch up on sleep. Happy weekend! 

Let's do this, 
GhettoMomma 

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I have a confession to make, "I have failed my marriage and I am now a Single Mom."

2:27 PM Ghettomomma 3 Comments

Ohla! 

A year and a half (or more) ago, life decided to throw an unexpected bomb on me. One that I didn't think I could survive. It broke me down so bad, I didn't know how to get my life back together - or if I was ever going to.

But I survived. Or rather, I'm still Surviving. Along with my two superboys, We're Surviving. 

Going through a failed marriage is never an easy thing. I strongly believed that separation and divorce should never be an option. But life happened, and as we all know, it just never turns out the way we expect them to.

Before anything else, There are two reasons I'm starting this blog.

 A) The first and selfish reason is that on the 1st day of 2014, I made it a mission to make this year the year I Face my Fears. This is going to be the year that I get up my ass and just DO; To cross off my to do list from the last 100000039743292742 years, to not let fear get in the way of my goals, to stop being afraid, to get myself together, to face the things that scare me, to be Brave.

 To be able to openly talk about the real story behind my seemingly perfect life has been a struggle. I'm sure a few of our family and friends have heard about it one way or the other. People who I see in a regular basis may know a little about it. For a while now, I have hidden behind a new facebook account that I share with very limited "friends". Because really, who would be so proud to tell the world that they have failed their marriage and is now a Single Mom. But here it goes, with very deep breaths, I have a confession to make. "I have failed my marriage and I am now a Single Mom."

 B) The second reason, which outweighs the first, is that I'm sure I'm not the first and the only one going through a failed marriage, a separation or divorce. It breaks my heart in so many ways when I hear about a family or friend that's going through the same thing, but at the same time, I understand it a little better now. I am blessed enough to be surrounded by people who have helped me get myself together and back up. I'm sure others may have different experiences, but through what I've experienced, Every single day is a Challenge. I have learned so much having had to push through financially, emotionally and physically as a person and as a parent. 

If you're going through the same thing, I'm here to tell you that It Gets Better. You will be OK. No Lie. 

In the hopes of passing on the encouragement and support to the everyday challenges of being a single (or even non-single) parents, I'm here to share with you the challenges - the wins and fails, maybe a few stories in between.

If you've made it all the way down here, Thank you for being here with me. It's hard enough facing fears and pushing through challenges on your own, Let's get through this together.


& with very very many deep deep breaths, I say #letsdothis!
- GhettoMomma

3 comments: