The Age of Venus

    Girls and women are tired of being in the background. It's finally our time to shine. It's the age of Venus, and we're more powerful than even. (Thanks to our ancestors helping to pave the way for all women!)

The Age of Venus

    Women around the world are coming out of the shadows. They're embracing their differences, and using them to recreate themselves. Women are stepping forth, and paving the way for the girls of our future. They're doing so by starting their own businesses, and entering the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.)

    No longer is it a "man's world," because women are here to stay. We are taking over the workforce, and doing jobs that were once only held by men. We're teaching our daughters and nieces that they too can have their own business or develop video games and apps. There are even programs designed specifically to instill a love of these things into our girls. 

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

    I myself refused to back down. I knew this wasn't just a man's world. When I was eighteen I got my first tattoo kit. After a few years of practice on oranges and grapefruits, (and eventually family and friends,) I moved to Florida. The first thing I did was take my portfolio into a tattoo shop. I was hired on the spot. Back then (in 2002,) there weren't a ton of female tattoo artists. Within a year, I had my own booth and my own clients. Eventually I relocated to Alabama, where again, I was hired on the spot. They featured me in commercials, and I worked about 70 hours per week doing what I loved.

    Now a special needs mom, I can no longer be a tattoo artist. So instead, I took my love of writing, and developed it into a freelance business. I can work from home, while still caring for my son, and tending to his home school lessons. Oh and housework. That dreaded h word! But yes, I do that too. And you know what? I'm still happy. I'm more confident than I have ever been [maybe that's just because I'm becoming (older) wise.]

Chrissy Weems

    Another inspiring woman is Chrissy Weems. She is the co-founder and CEO of Origami Owl. (By the way, thanks for having Autism charms, Chrissy! My fellow autism moms and I love that you thought of our kids!) Her experience in interior design, art, and beauty have helped turn her into the force of nature she is today. 

    Wife of twenty five years, and mom to five wonderful children, Chrissy is proof that women can be successful, and still have a gorgeous family. Women can have families, start businesses, run businesses, pave the way in the arts, create amazing video games, and so much more! We can do anything we put our minds to, as can our daughters, sisters, and nieces. By encouraging one another, lifting each other up, and inspiring the next generation of girls to do the same, we can create an equal workforce. One that doesn't see gender, just talent. Fantastic talent and minds!

Make More Fun on the Beach

    The countdown is on! We're heading south in just over a month. (The ocean has been screaming my name!) When you have kids, you're always looking for new ways to have fun on the beach. I found the perfect toys!

Make More Fun on the Beach

    Building sand castles is a must for beach visits. My son is twelve and yes, he and I still enjoy building castles, because there's no age limit on fun! We've been through a lot of sand sets through the years, and the same thing ALWAYS happens. They snap and they crack. You can't enjoy building castles, or making little sand animals with toys that just break. Which is why I love this set from Meigo. 

    This set is made from sturdy polypropylene plastic, so it's sturdy enough to handle sand, but it also has more flex to it than traditional plastics. (It's BPA free too.) Because this set is made of PP plastic, it has rounded edges, and since it's soft, it's more gentle on little hands.

Eighteen Piece Set

    The Meigo beach set has eighteen fun pieces. There are two different sized shovels, and a nice rake. You also get a little water bucket, a sifter, and a watering can. It comes with six castle molds to create amazing works of sand art! There is also six shape molds. You get a tree, a train, a sea star, a fish, turtle and a crab. What I love about these molds is they have air holes in them. These holes, and the softer plastic, makes it easier to release your sand creations from them. 

Carrying Tote

    Meigo knows that we need to keep the kids toys together. So they also included a mesh carrying bag. It fits all of these toys, with plenty of room to spare! It will even make an awesome shell collection bag too! The mesh means that the sand can easily be shaken out, which also means, less sand in our vehicles!

Why Do You Need Master Data Management

    You may be wondering what MDM, or Master Data Management is? Basically put, it's streamlining critical data for organizations. If you have a business then Master Data Management is important for you.

What is Master Data Management and Why Do You Need It

"Master Data Management is the practice of defining and maintaining consistent definitions of business entities, then sharing them via integration techniques across multiple IT systems within an enterprise and sometimes beyond to partnering companies or customers" -Philip Russom Ph.D Industry Analyst TWDI

    If you run a business, you know all about the files and information that you collect. However, how do you keep it all straight? Or how do you make it less confusing, and easily accessible to pertinent employees? Master Data Management is the linking of all of those critical files and having them in one common place of reference. Basically put, it's streamlining your data across all platforms. This way it can be shared quickly and easily between all departments in a business.

Fewer Errors and Less Redundancy

     When you merge all of your information in this way, it leads to fewer errors. It also leads to less redundancy in your business processes. For example, when a customers information changes, it's updated in the master files, so every department has access to the most up to date information. 

Why Does it Matter?

    Inconsistent and inaccurate data can be costing you money. If you have an incorrect price on something can cause a monetary disaster to your business. Similarly, an incorrect account number can wreak havoc as well. What if you have the wrong address for a customer? They may not receive their bills, or the marketing materials that you need sent to them. All of this will cause a huge headache to you and your employees. This is why you need Master Data Management.

How Does Master Data Management Impact Your Business?

    What is your business without your customers, products, and your employees? Nothing, right? All of these things contribute to your master data. So without streamlining it and making it easily accessible, you're leaving yourself and your business open to errors. Mistakes that could prove to be very costly, and cause you, your customers, and your employees a ton of unnecessary headaches. 

Master Data Management

    As you can see, Master Data Management is a vital part of your business. Keeping it consolidated, up to date, and in check may not be an easy task, but rest assured, there's help out there! Profisee® is the fastest growing company in data management. Their platform for data management is trusted and proven to work. (You don't have to take my word for it. Check out the reviews on their website!) They have experience helping gads of other businesses, and are here to help yours as well. Contact them today. Request and demo and see how they can help your business.

eBook Download

    Profisee® even has a handy ebook that you can download. It will help you understand get started with the Master Data Management process. The ebook offers nine tangible steps that you can take, as well as, tips for understanding the scope of MDM, what topics to educate yourself on, and more.

Look and Feel Gorgeous Without Makeup

    I love to apply makeup, and never leave the house without it. However, I don't always feel up to it. Sometimes I want to look and feel gorgeous without the hassle.

Look and Feel Gorgeous Without Makeup

    I really do love to put on makeup. However, with chronic illness, sometimes I just don't feel up to it. That being said, I don't like leaving the house without at least some eyeliner and mascara. Add in seasonal allergies (and since northeast Pennsylvania can't choose a season, I've been suffering with them since March!) My eyes water and itch, so wearing eye makeup is sometimes more messy and leaves me feeling and looking a bit gross. Then I discovered Magnetic Lashes.

No Glue, No Hassle

    The first time I donned a pair of false eyelashes was Halloween of 1999. I loved the look of them so much, that I applied them every day before work. That lasted about a year, and I finally became tired of gluing them in place, and then peeling the lashes and the glue off my eyelids every night. Time warp to 2018. I keep seeing women talking or posting about magnetic eyelashes, so I knew I had to try them out! I got these Full Size Triple Magnetic False Eyelashes on Amazon, and couldn't wait to give them a go! 

No Mess

    I think first and foremost I was excited that I wouldn't have to hassle with eyelash glue. Secondly, I was excited because if you've ever worn false lashes, you know that they not only amplify your eyes, but there's really no need for eyeliner, unless that is you want to create some nice wings in the corners of your eyes.

Realistic

    To be honest, it did take me a few tries to perfect putting on the Magnetic Eyelashes. However, once I got the hang of it, I can now apply them in no time. (Here's a hint: Use a bit of mascara, and apply the top lash. Once in place, attach the bottom lash.) They look super realistic and absolutely gorgeous. I am in love!! Hey, back to school season is creeping up on us. Don't put makeup on for school drop off or pick up. Just don some magnetic lashes.

Art is Important Too!

    I home school Liam with a cyber school. Though I love them and most of their lessons, I feel that there needs to be more of a focus on art. After all, it's important too! Being an artist myself, I make sure that we incorporate it into our daily lives. Because learning happens everywhere, and when you least expect it!

Art is Important Too!

    To me, art is any way you can express yourself. Whether it's sketching, painting, sculpting, or even writing poetry. Sadly, for many brick and mortar schools, art classes are nixed due to funding. Even in cyber school, there's not much focus on the arts. I however know what it's like to have a creative mind and need an outlet for it. I also know how important it has been in my own life, so I make sure I expose my son to various forms of art in his life.

Self portrait from 1st grade (finger paints)

Self Portraits

    One of my favorite projects to do with Liam is self portraits. Each year as we begin a new school year, his first art assignment is to create a self portrait. I give him his sketchbook, and allow him to use any mediums he desires. He has grown from using finger paints and crayons, to markers, to colored pencils, and now even uses chalk pastels or watercolors.

    What's amazing is seeing how your children view themselves. And then seeing how that changes from year to year. You will notice how the little details like eyes and ears will vary as they learn better ways to draw. It's fantastic! I gather them up and file them away, so that each year when he is finished, we can dig them out and compare them.

Lasten Sketchbooks

    I happen to love this set of sketchbooks from Lasten. You get two books. One is large (16.5 inches by 11.4 inches,) and the second is smaller at 11.4 inches by 8.3 inches. They paper is of amazing quality. It's smooth, pure white, and thick. You can sketch, draw, paint and more in the Lasten Sketchbooks. My son loves the handles on them. They're perfect for taking anywhere you or your child roams. It's back to school season, so grab some for the upcoming school year. Then get outside, and have an art lesson in the yard, or at the creek! 

You Don't Need to be an Artist to Expose Your Kids to Art

    It's true, you don't! With the internet we can now access various tutorials on drawing, painting, sculpting and more. If you're like me, you'll join your child and learn with them. It's a great way to bond and to keep your own brain fresh and open to new learning. 

    We're currently learning how to sculpt. It's something I have always wanted to do, but was never much good at it. However, we found this young lady on YouTube that creates kawaii sculpts and so we have been watching her and learning that. It's a great way to expose your child to a new art form. Who knows, maybe Liam will be sculpting more in depth pieces soon!

Easy DIY Pineapple Cheesecake Pops

    We're on a ice pop kick here in this house thanks to our new Lebice popsicle molds. Liam's bestie and I wanted to create an easy no bake cheesecake recipe, and in doing so, we came up with these Pineapple Cheesecake Pops. They are FANTABULOUS!

Easy DIY Pineapple Cheesecake Pops

    Abs was showing me Musical.ly videos where people were creating no bake cheesecake from scratch. I saw what they were using and decided we should give it a go. It was super easy, and only took a few ingredients. The following recipe filled all six of our popsicle molds with just a teeny bit left over. If you double it, you should have plenty of filling to fill a premade graham cracker crust. So let's get started!

What You'll Need

• Popsicle Molds or Pre Made Crust (We used these ones from Lebice.)
• 1 package (8 ounces) of cream cheese
• 1 envelope of Knox Unflavored Gelatin
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 can of pineapple

Let's Get Mixing!

    First, start your water to boil. While that is heating up, combine your Knox and sugar in a bowl. Mix it well. Pour in your boiling water and stir until all of the Knox and sugar is dissolved. In a separate bowl, beat your cream cheese and vanilla. Next, gradually add in the gelatin mix. In a blender or food processor, blend up your pineapple, and then fold it into your cream cheese mix.

     Fill your popsicle molds evenly with the top edge. Now put on the bottoms, and place them in the freezer. In a few hours, you will have perfect pineapple cheesecake pops. For added bougie goodness, roll them in some crushed up graham crackers before serving. (If you're having a problem removing them from the mold, let them set a bit longer, then run them under hot water to release.)

    If you're filling a pie, just pour the mixture into the crust, and put it in the fridge until firm. That's it. That's all there is to this recipe, and it's divine! 

Back to School Means Back to Gym

    Back to school means back to gym class. For tweens and teens that means locker rooms and showers. Help them keep their shower items together so they can save time.

Back to School Means Back to Gym

    The kids will be heading back to school soon. I see some of my friend's children are headed back in the next week, while in my area, kids don't go back until the end of August. Either way, that means gym class is right around the corner. For the older ones this means locker rooms and showers.

    I just discovered the handiest Cosmetics Bags from Maange, that would be perfect for keeping their gym class neccessities together. These drawstring bags are waterproof, so you won't have to worry about them getting ruined if you son or daughter has them in the shower room. It can also be washed, so you won't have to worry that it will be stinking up their lockers.

Plenty of Room

    These bags are actually designed for cosmetics, so there's plenty of room for what they need. Whether it's makeup, deodorant, hair products, feminine needs, soap, and more, they will have tons of room to carry it all. The top has a drawstring so the bag is easy to carry, and it will keep their contents from spilling out.

    The Maange bags even come with a zipper pouch that snaps securely inside the bag. There's also a PVC pouch which is perfect for cosmetic brushes, or even a toothbrush or two.

Two for One

    The Maange Cosmetic bags come with two bags. You get one pink bag, and one in blue. This is perfect if you have two kids in middle or high school. Or you can give one to your child, and keep one for yourself. After all, it's still summer, and there's plenty of time for vacation. These bags are perfect for packing your cosmetics to take on your trip!

Personal Injury is More Than a Pain

    I'm more familiar with personal injury than I'd like to be. When I was a teen my parents were in a car accident, and it turned our world upside down. Personal injury is more than just a pain. It changes your entire life.

Personal Injury is More Than a Pain

    One summer afternoon, just a mere five minutes from my childhood home, my parents were hit by a car that tried passing them as they were signaled and turning onto our dirt road. That day, my parents were changed forever, as were our lives. 

    Not only were my parents injured, (injuries they still have to deal with to this day,) but our only vehicle was totaled, and my mom suffered from PTSD. The accident was investigated by the state police, and my parents were not at fault. But what good did that do? They were hurting, mentally and physically, and now we had no form of transportation. My parents did the only thing they could, search for a lawyer.

    Our lives were in turmoil for years. The other drivers were from another country, driving a rental car, and to be honest, my parent's lawyer wasn't well versed in how to handle their case. Which is why you need to do research and find a law firm that knows how to handle personal injury cases.

Personal Injury Attorney Tampa

    Hunter Law is a firm located in sunny and gorgeous Tampa Florida. (I used to live in Tampa, and how I miss it!) The folks at Hunter Law specialize in personal injury. You can be sure that they will handle your case with integrity, knowledge, reliability, and a commitment to excellence.

    Personal injury is not something to be taken lightly. It's literally While you're resting and recovering, you want to be sure to stay focused on your healing. Which is where Hunter Law comes in. They will handle your case, so that you can keep your mind on your health. 

So What is a Personal Injury?

    Personal injury is literally defined as a physical or mental injury. This can take place from an accident, abuse, assault and more. It can also be the result of medical or dental negligence. Another type of personal injury is industrial disease. Conditions that come from the workplace such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, chronic bronchitis and more.

    According to the American Bar Association, the most common personal injury results from a vehicle accident. That's the type that most of us are familiar with. However, if any of the above applies to you as well, then it may be time to contact Hunter Law. 

Family Law

    Hunter Law doesn't just specialize in Personal Injury. They can also assist you with your family law needs as well. Whether you need help with a divorce, alimony, child support, prenuptial agreements, or more, Hunter Law is here to help. In times of need, you want a lawyer and a firm that you can trust. They will handle any case with excellence, knowledge, and reliability. So whether you contact them for a personal injury claim, or family law, rest assured, you will be taken care of.

PetTastic is Fantastic

    If you're looking for a quality collar that looks great too, then look no further. PetTastic is fantastic! We love them, and so do my girls.

PetTastic is Fantastic

    Not too long ago, I got our sweet Josie Joy a gorgeous collar from PetTastic. I loved it so much, that I just had to get one for my other fur daughter, Bayleigh. Not only are their collars adorable and beautiful, but they're safe, and convenient.

    The outside of the collar is made of printed, high density printed polyester. The inner part of the collar is made of comfortable neoprene so your pet will love the feel. The buckles are sturdy and made from eco-friendly plastic. The D ring to clip the leash to is strong and covered with chrome for added style and durability. 

Special Place for Tags

    Other than the great designs of these collars, I have to say what caught my attention is the special ring for your dogs ID, rabies, and license tags. This specialized loop is just for those important tags, which is great because unlike other collars, they're not hanging from the D ring. That just gets in the way when your using their leash.

Three Sizes to Fit Your Fur Baby

    The PetTastic Collars come in three sizes. You can choose from Small, Medium, and Large, to accommodate your canine. Bayleigh is a German Shepherd, so I got her a large. It fits perfectly, and has plenty of room in the event that I need to make it larger. (Josie wears a medium. Even though she's a small dog, she has a larger neck.)

Keep His Junk in the Trunk Organized

    Tired of his car being a mess? With this organizer, he can keep the junk in his trunk organized.

Keep His Junk in the Junk Organized

    My hubby doesn't keep a neat car. He does good to start, but when the novelty wears off, so does the gumption to keep the interior clean. It drives me batty. I can't stand it. However, I just got him this awesome trunk organizer from Big Ant. So he had better start keeping our Jeep tidier! (If not, my OCD may seriously go off the deep end!)

Big Ant Trunk Organizer

    I know he's going to love this Trunk Organizer from Big Ant. First of all, it has camouflage on it, which automatically makes it in a winner in his book. Secondly, it comes with two straps to keep it in place in your vehicle. This is one of his peeves of the smaller totes I got him. They move all over the trunk and the contents spill out. No, my hubby isn't an erratic driver. We live in a very rural area with pot holed and dirt roads. 

    The Big Ant Trunk Organizer has two large sections. You can use them to store your auto supplies, fluids, tools, jumper cables and more. You can even use it to keep groceries from flying all around your trunk on the way home. 

    When you're not using your Big Ant Trunk Organizer, it collapses and the ends clip together, for neat and tidy storage. It doesn't take up much space so you can store it in your trunk, or even in the garage. 

Here are Some More Details

    Features:

-Strong three layer waterproof nylon/rubber bottom

-Extra thick mesh/poly cloth pocket outside

-Strong unbreakable handles, fortified cross stitch for heavy loading

-2 extra strips and 4 four rubber pads for prevent from sliding

Durable Structure:

-600D oxford polyester

-Waterproof PU leather( at the bottom)

-Non-woven fabric handle

-PE hard stay plate

Safely Take Your Indoor Cats Outdoors

    We have a once feral, now fat and domesticated cat. However, she still wants to play outside at times. But we can't let her out for fear she will get hurt. That is until we found this awesome cat tunnel. Now Liam can safely take his cat outdoors.

Safely Take Your Indoor Cats Outdoors

    Even though my furry granddaughter is spayed, up to date on vaccinations and has adequate flea and tick prevention, we couldn't let her outside. We were afraid she would get hurt, or worse, take off looking for her feral family. However, that has changed because we just got her this awesome outdoor cat tunnel!

Collapsible and Safe

    Roraima's Outdoor Cat Tent is the best! It's collapsible so not only is it portable, but it's easy to store when not in use. It's made of a sturdy mesh so your kitty can see and breathe freely, however, they're safely confined to the play tunnel.

    The tent is seventeen inches wide, and a generous fifty-nine inches in length. It's plenty big enough for a large cat, or even two smaller ones.

Take Your Cat Camping

    Love to camp but want to take your cat? This cat tunnel collapses easily and stores away without taking up much room at all.  It even comes with a nice carrying bag! Therefore you can stash it in your camper, and take your feline friend with you. Then on nice days, set up your kitty tunnel, put them inside and let them enjoy the great outdoors with you. My son even puts some of his fur daughter's favorite toys in with her. Heck, even our dogs enjoy playing with Clara in the tent.

Roly Poly

    When your cat is in their Roraima tunnel, you will feel good knowing that they are safe. However, they can walk and move their tent. Much like a hamster wheel or ball, this tunnel will roll as they walk. So with any toy, make sure you are watching them as they are enjoying their fresh air.

Connects to Play Tents

    Roraima's Outdoor Tunnel attaches to a play tent. Since both ends zip up to keep your cat confined, you choose either end to attach to a play tent. Your kitty can have a safe, outdoor play area, in the comfort of any yard.

Plantar Fasciitis is a Pain!

    If you or someone you love suffers from Plantar Fasciitis, then you know what a pain it is. But how can you help?

Plantar Fasciitis is a Pain

    I don't personally live with Plantar Fasciitis, but my brother does. I loathe seeing him suffer from the pain. If you're not completely familiar with it, it's basically inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament. These are the thick fibrous bands in your foot that run from your heel to toes. (Incidentally, it's actually the largest ligament in the human body.)

    These tissues support your all the muscles in your feet, as well as the arch. When they become strained they can tear, causing immense pain and stiffness in your feet. When your feet are hurting, walking becomes a chore. And since we have things like jobs, families, and lives, we can't just sit around all day waiting for our feet to heal. So what do we do?

Invest in Compression Socks

    We've all got jobs to do, places to go, and people to see and care for. So invest is some Plantar Fasciitis Compression Socks. These compression sleeves for your feet are designed to help alleviate your pain. They also offer support to your arch and ankle to keep pressure off of the Plantar Fasciitis Ligament. These compression socks support blood flow to reduce foot fatigue and encourage recovery.

Wicks Away Moisture

    These Plantar Fasciitis Compression Socks are made of 86% Nylon and 14% Spandex. They will wick moisture away from your feet to keep you from getting sweaty socks. They're toeless to give your feet more air, and can be worn alone, or under a pair of socks.

Two for the Price of One!

    This pack of Plantar Fasciitis Compression Socks comes with two pairs. That way you can always have a fresh pair. They also come with a mesh bag for washing your socks. You can't beat that deal at all! I got some for my brother for Christmas. He has had great success with these socks, and I wanted him to have access to more pairs.

Back to School Guide

We're working hard to bring you cool and useful products for Back to School season!
Check out our thoughts and the links below.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR OWN LINKS

If you want to be added, contact me at alegionforliam@gmail.com

Give the Safe Gift of Theft and Identity Protection

    Yes, I realize it's July, but that doesn't mean we can't be thinking ahead to Christmas. This holiday season I will be giving my eldest son the gift of theft and identity protection. I want him to feel safe in life, so to me, this is the perfect present.

Give the Safe Gift of Theft and Identity Protection

    Sadly, it's becoming easier for hackers to get our information. While we all enjoy the advances in new technology, it does come with a hefty price tag. (Both literally and figuratively.) Skimmers can now steal our information and even money just by being near us. Our credit cards, drivers license, and even passports have RFID technology. While this is useful for us, hackers have learned how to steal that information without ever laying a finger on any of those cards. So what are we to do?

RFID Blocking Wallet

    The answer is simple. Get an RFID blocking wallet. I just got my son this one from Amelleon. It's designed with the latest RFID blocking technology to keep his personal information, and his credit and bank cards safe. This wallet is engineered to block 13.56MHz or even higher RFID signals. This means that you can feel safe from cyber pickpocketing in your daily life.

    It's genuine leather, so not only is it a safe way to carry your important cards and cash, but it looks nice as well. The leather is soft, and the seams are well stitched. So you're not just getting a nice looking wallet, you're getting a quality wallet.

   This Amelleon wallet is a trifold, that isn't bulky. Unlike typical trifolds that fold over themselves three times, this one is bifold size, with the third fold, being inside the wallet. It's even clear on the top, so you can easily display your driver's license or ID when you get carded.