What I Like Most About Being Single

August 30, 2021Leave a comment

When I realized I was going to be single, and a single mom, I was scared. I felt a lot more emotions than that, but it felt the strongest. As time went on I was able to feel other things and gain the confidence that I needed in order to be a successful mom and business owner.

However, here I am still single years later, people often ask me why. There are a few different reasons, all of which are that I am enjoying life. There is so much that I am enjoying right now. I got married young and I wasn’t able to truly enjoy my 20’s the way I could have. I am thankful for the past, but living in the present right now I am doing things that I want to do.

Too many times people think there is something wrong with the person if they are single for too long. I can let you know that I have boundaries, but also I am able to truly enjoy my life and go after my goals and hobbies. Here are some quick things that I enjoy the most:

Do whatever I want. If I cant get the dishes done, then it’s fine. If I want to go out to eat with myself or son, I can. I make my own time and schedule. I can organize my schedule and house as I see fit!
Enjoy the extra time with my son. I get twice the cuddles and hugs and LOVE IT. He is growing too quick.
Work on myself. I have been working on myself in many ways: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I realized that I needed some assistance and took action.
Enjoy hobbies. I am getting back into the swing of this, people ask me what I do outside of work and I honestly don’t even know! So I started to spike an interest where I saw fit.
Relax. I can sit down and take time out to pause through out the day!
Rely on me. I like being in control and taking charge of my life. I enjoy being able to trust in myself and make decisions.

Yes, I get lonely but I wouldn’t change it just yet. I will only be at this place one time in my life, so I might as well enjoy it and embrace it. What tips do you have for other parents who are single?

Susie Liberatore is the owner, and Art Director, of Visions2images Creative Services. She helps established businesses grow their brand awareness by using digital marketing and professional branding techniques. With over a decade of agency and corporate experience, she brings businesses’ visions to life, while watching their return on investment increase.

Susie helps businesses grow their brand presence and connect with their target audience.

The Ultimate Branding Guide to Win New Clients in 7 Days

How to be successful as a Single Mom

May 9, 2020November 8, 2020Leave a comment

The other day I was on the phone with a client and she said those words “I think I’m going to get divorced.” My heart sank I remember that feeling all too well. I wanted to cry with her and empower her. I felt the chills as she was telling me her struggles. I honestly never thought I could be a single mom and 100% on my own, I never thought I could.

So of course… Her biggest question to me was “how do I do this Susie financially and mentally.”

My heart sank again, I wondered the same thing when I started my divorce process. I fought trying to save my marriage. I questioned myself DAILY this same thing before I was divorced. We all think about this whenever it might happen.

I have no right answers it’s tough and hard period; there is no way easy way around there. However, I was able to grow my business during a divorce and be 100% independent and profitable in a few months. I call it hustling you can call it whatever you want. I knew I was going to be on my own and be a mother to my son. I knew my business could be successful so I had to make plans.

When you become a single mom, you realize all the things that you have to take care of and do in order to be on your own. So here is my advice if you are going through a divorce, or thinking about it, and even starting a business as a single mom:

Make a plan: You have to figure out a way to make it, you have to set realistic goals. These goals can be financially, mentally, professionally or all the above. Rely on yourself and know that you are one person but can achieve goals.
Look at a budget: You will have a new budget any way you look at it. You have to look at things to cut back on, how to shop smarter, and how much you will bring in. All of these factors are important. I ended up hiring an accountant and financial advisor because I wanted to be smart about this since this was a huge change for me.
Ask for help: This is huge because I always was stubborn but I ended up hiring a lawn guy, CPA, babysitter, and so many other people to help me. I ask for help whenever I might need it. For example, I have had my neighbor help me unclog my toilet a few times; there are times you will need to ask for help. DO IT and pick your battles.
Hustle for clients: Set goals for how much money you want to make then divide it by how you can make it and how many you need to achieve that week. You will be surprised at how much money you can make when it comes to hustling.
Hire a sales coach or business coach: My biggest advice for anyone starting a business is you need a tribe and also a coach of some sort. Having a business, or sales, a coach can help you have accountability. We need accountability as an entrepreneur because we can put things off to the back burner to procrastinate whenever possible.
Set deadlines: You can set deadlines, but you must achieve them and have that accountability in order for them to work. I always tell myself every single day I will accomplish these three things after that anything else accomplished is considered a huge success.
Celebrate wins: There will be days where you feel like you have not accomplished anything, or feel down. It happens no matter what. You have to look at how far you have come, but also what you have accomplished. Whether that accomplishment is personal, financial, or professional, you need to celebrate it.
Celebrate failures: You will feel defeated and like a failure sometimes. This is normal with anyone but you have to learn from these failures or mistakes. I always look whenever I can for new ways to grow and overcome mistakes.
Outsource: In order to grow my business I needed to find ways to outsource. What did I outsource? The things that I can not do but know that my clients need such as SEO, website development, and copy editing. I also realized that I needed to have a VA/assistant.
Revisit your business: You need to be able to revisit your business as often as you can. Whenever I revisit I see so many more new opportunities. I launched some new programs and found ways to make additional revenue.

My heart goes to you, I feel your pain. I feel it 100%, but you got this. You are strong. Here are the strong business owners.

HelloFresh Is The BEST Way To Get Your Food

April 8, 2020November 8, 20202 Comments

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I HATE COOKING and I hate meal prepping. It is one of my worst features. I would do anything to get out of it if I could. I am not the healthiest eater since I do not like to cook so I eat fast food or carbs.

Since all this pandemic has happened, it has been near impossible to get groceries. I typically order my groceries online, and it takes WEEKS to get them now. I was thinking of how to get the food that I need. I was doing local carry out for a little while as well, but I just felt like something was missing and it was getting repetitive. When you are stuck in quarantine you constantly want to eat and eat junk.

My brothers sent me a text and said here you go, we ordered you HelloFresh. I knew about it before, for sure but never tried it. I was only on the fence because I had to still cook and didn’t know if I would like it and thought it was pretty pricey as well.

It seemed like it is was the perfect time to try out HelloFresh now. I have to say that I was quite impressed with it. I was in love with how the packaging was, the instructions were so easy. I really enjoyed cooking for once. The food was quite tasty of course. I had three different meal options for the first round and each one was delicious.

There are so many options for meals and I love how diverse they are. It fills you right up and you have so many healthy options with it. The best thing is there is also no commitment you can skip or cancel weeks if you have other meals in mind.

The best benefits of HelloFresh:

Easy-to-follow recipes with clear nutritional info
Fresh food and affordable
High-quality ingredients sourced straight from the farm
Convenient meal kits that fit perfectly in the fridge
A fun cooking experience that makes you feel unstoppable

Another great thing is I love how there are leftovers and super easy to make; it makes me feel productive and like a great cook. I can eat the leftovers days later and it is still as delicious as ever.

Go ahead and give it a try

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How To Keep Calm During a Pandemic

March 21, 2020April 4, 2020Leave a comment

So many people are hurting from the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). I know people are hurting. I know people are sad, miserable, and worried. People aren’t working, kids are home from school. Life is a MESS. I get it. We all have our own thoughts and feelings of what is going on. I am a single mother to an autistic child, I get it. My mothers surgery got cancelled… her trip got cancelled.. so many things are affecting us. Friends have gotten tested, anxiety has been high trust me when I say you are not alone.

Everything is closing, or is already closed. Schools are being shut down, children are at home. I GET IT. Do you hear me?! I GET IT! There isn’t much of anything open and they don’t want people going out if they don’t have to. We are staying inside since my son is high risk.

Here are a list of ideas for you to do… FOR FREE. You can have fun and even learn with your children right at home.

Virtual Tours FOR CHILDREN:

The San Diego Zoo
Mud Volcano, Mammoth Hot Springs
Tour Yellowstone National Park!
Explore the surface of Mars
Live Cams at the San Diego Zoo
Monterey Bay Aquarium live cams
Panda Cam at Zoo Atlanta
6 Animal Cams at Houston Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Saturn 5 Rocket
The Louvre with this virtual field trip.
Great Wall of China
Boston Children’s Museum

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN:

ABC MOUSE First MONTH FREE! :More than 850 Lessons Across 10 Levels. The Step-by-Step Learning Path presents the full ABCmouse.com curriculum in a carefullydesigned program of more than 850 lessons in ten levels.

Scholastic: Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, connecting educators and families through accessibility, engagement, and expertise. We are a leading provider of literacy curriculum, professional services, and classroom magazines, and a producer of educational and popular children’s media.
Rosetta Stone: Start fine-tuning your pronunciation from the very first lesson with our patented TruAccent speech-recognition engine. That way, you’ll be confident that you know what to say and how to say it.
Melissa and Doug: Play ideas for when you are stuck at home, because let’s face it – you are.
Crayola: unleash your imagination and create~ DIY things for the kids through coloring, drawing, and painting.ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS

Instacart: Groceries delivered in as little as 1 hour. Find 1,000’s of productsfrom the stores you already shop at.
HelloFresh: America’s Most, Popular Meal Kit. Now offering the most recipe variety
and meals starting at $7.49
Blue Apron :Choose your meals Our chef-designed recipes include balanced Mediterranean meals, quick one-pan dinners, and top-rated customer favorites.
Uber Eats: Order with $0 Delivery Fee. To support the community, you get a $0 Delivery Fee on any order from a local restaurant.
This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

How are you dealing with this Pandemic? —> Join me over in my private little clubhouse for FREE RIGHT NOW, before we no longer accept new members!!

Nothing Happens Overnight – Take Care of Yourself

January 25, 2019December 12, 2018Leave a comment

It doesn’t matter what you want to achieve; it takes time and dedication. Lately, I have been down. There are so many factors. There have been personal, business, and life obstacles. Nothing that we can’t handle, and I know we all go through challenges. But, I have to keep reminding myself that nothing happens overnight.

Finding good friends or family members to confide in is essential. It is incredible how pieces come together. In order to achieve anything, you need to realize a few things that will help you to make changes in the future.

Patience. Always know that matters do take time. Find ways to get rid of your nervousness or anxiousness. Going to the gym can help a ton. Discover something to help your mind keep going so that you don’t get caught over thinking about the current situation. Enjoy the work out book.
Change bad habits. This item can be harder than anything else. It takes a lot of time and patience, for sure. Whatever your bad habits are, write them down, and put into play how you are going to change them. For example, I am trying to be much more positive and stop complaining. We all do it, but I need to let things go that either I don’t like or bother me. I have kept a journal to help me stay focused and remind me daily. Make sure to get a journal.
Set goals. Whatever your goals are (personal, financial, etc.), establish them, and make them as realistic as possible. There is nothing worse than setting goals that aren’t attainable. These goals are just something simple and fun.
Reflect. Always take the time to reflect on life, goals, etc. If you aren’t moving forward, why not? Take note of anything in the process, as well. If something isn’t working, observe and explain the reason. I can’t stress how vital a journal is for this and other cases.

Realize that time does fly by and nothing happens overnight. Give yourself a break, and truly take the time to enjoy and reflect on life. selfcare

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Bedtime activities that will have your kids saying ‘thank you’

September 25, 2017September 5, 201733 Comments

“Your children are so polite and well behaved!” This is a statement every parent wants to hear! Without a doubt, we all want our children to be respectful; to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’; and to grow up to be competent teenagers and adults worth every “good citizenship” medal the world has to offer.

Unfortunately, children don’t just grow up being honest and gracious. These are character traits that must be purposely taught (and practiced) in order to be mastered. And while school focuses on teaching math, history, and science, it is at home where children learn to be thoughtful and well mannered, to show sympathy for friends, and to understand the meaning of community.

Our job as parents is to cultivate and teach positive character traits at home… every single day. But teaching life lessons to our kids doesn’t have to be burdensome nor undesirable.

Really… who wants to be that parent who’s always lecturing and nagging the kids about this type of stuff? We sure don’t! Instead, we’ve found an easier (and more gratifying) way to teach our children the personal skills they need, and have some fun while we’re at it: Bedtime activities games. That is why Koala Time is the best option for parents!

Mini Board Games – There is something magical about board games. Starting with the set up of pawns, cards, and special components, there is always a feeling of adventure about a board game. Even after having played the same game before, there is always a new path, a different method, a unique ending. This is probably what makes board games such an excellent teaching tool! You can spark up conversations about decision-making, planning techniques, and even life strategies! All while your child is carefully listening and strategizing her next move.

Card Games – Card games are a great way to challenge thought-process and reasoning speed. ‘Memory’ style games encourage children to think fast while recalling images and pictures. This is a skill parents can use to teach how to make connections or to encourage the appreciation of different points of views. Card games are useful with topics on emotions, character training, and making good choices.

Puzzles – From paper-and-pencil, to mechanical and 3D widgets, every puzzle requires the understanding and recognition of patterns, which reinforce problem-solving skills. Puzzles games are a great way to introduce conversation topics on creativity, communication, and perseverance.

We love this quote from Joseph Cornell: “Children understand and remember concepts best when they learn from direct personal experience” This is why we choose to teach character, work ethics, and relationships through “playthings” It works!

Their eyes light up and immediately their playful and learning senses are turned on when they hear “let’s play a game!” Of course our goal as parents is to nurture their development, guide their behaviors, and bring out the best in them along the way. But who said it had to be boring? Actually, it can be lots of fun!

We can instill character values and create memorable experiences for our children if we purposely incorporate playfulness and amusement into their lives. Kids are ready to play. Kids are ready to learn. It is up to us to embrace that opportunity and live out our parenthood to the fullest. Sharing fun bedtime activities is a great way to do just that. Have you tried playing games as part of your bedtime routine yet? Sign up for your Koala subscription today!

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Five things you need to do weekly

September 11, 2017August 17, 201717 Comments

I never had anxiety or worried until I became a mother. I mean it makes sense, but I still wonder how and why. My doctor gave me a list of things to do to help but I am who I am and I needed to find my own way to do things.

take care of yourself. Get a massage or a facial or a hair cut. I promise you that even if it is bi weekly or monthly you need to make sure to take care of yourself.
detox social media when I went on vacation I literally left social media behind. Some were scheduled some weren’t. People do it all the time and you will be able to just relax and detox.
do a hobby so my hobbies are music and photography. But my thing is that I make a list of new things to do. We play corn hole weekly and I never thought I would like it! It kept my mind busy and helped me enjoy something new
take a walk it doesn’t matter where you go or for how long just do it. It will help clear your mind and let the stress go away
enjoy a bath there is nothing more calming to me than to enjoy some music and put oils in the tub and just literally enjoy life.

Furthermore, there are things that I do daily; this helps me get through the day and push through anxiety.

go sit in my hammock I literally love to watch things happen outside and enjoy the nature noises.
read the bible this has become something new to me. I used to go to church when I was younger and now I realize that I need it again.
listen to upbeat music or whatever music you like that will make you feel good.
keep a schedule this helps me stay focused and get things done.
have a notebook I constantly write in it about my thoughts, notes, things to do, etc. This helps me again stay focused and let all my mental thoughts pass by.

What are some things you do?

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Why everyone needs a vacation

September 8, 2017August 17, 2017Leave a comment

I know some people say that they can’t afford a vacation but let me tell you it doesn’t have to be anything special.

You need a vacation to relax and get your mind off things. We took our first family vacation with my son this year (he’s two!) he kinda knows but doesn’t. Regardless I want to have those memories and photos.

I was sitting with my husband while my parents had Antonio and my brother were playing corn hole. It was like the deepest conversation we had in months. It wasn’t about Antonio either. I asked him if he was having fun his response was I’m relaxing and got to spend time with Antonio. As a parent you know that you don’t always get these moments together.

My heart was melting; I loved watching them at the beach. I love seeing the different faces on him as he explores. I love how he holds both our hands on the beach. I love it all and fought back a few years because of how beautiful and precious life truly is.

I don’t care if I have to work twice as hard to take a vacation; this is better than any tangible gift you can ever give. Even if your child might not remember it, you will have the memories and photos to share it as they get older. It does more than this though you can clear your mind and have a great time away from life.

My goal is to take a leaf one vacation a year. I think about it like this… think of how much we spend on tangible items instead of the memories and time together…. we could fix that and actually be able to all afford a vacation.

When is the last time you had a vacation?

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The Constant Battle of Being a Mother

September 6, 2017September 6, 201726 Comments

You can’t have it all. I hear people say their baby hasn’t slept in years! I hear others say they have chronic ear problems. I hear people say their kid is behind. There are so many moms who are worried and down when it comes to this.

I often find myself comparing and getting upset. Most of you know my son is incredibly behind. He was sick for a good 6-9 months, we found out he had asthma! Then found out he had mono and then he had chronic ear infections! We had to do several ear tube surgeries. My kid is so behind because of his hearing and I constantly worried and put the blame on myself.

Now we are questioning if he is autistic and we are getting him tested. I haven’t given this much thought because honestly he is who he is and I’m going to love him no matter what.

I see kids his age who run, climb jump skip and have full sentences we aren’t even close to that. But then I hear that those kids don’t sleep through the night and mine does. So you have to give and take on times like this because you can’t have it all.

I can’t compare my kid to anyone else because he has been through a lot. Everyone goes through obstacles or problems its only natural. Some kids have been through a lot and others have been sick once in their life. I am okay with all of it because it made me stronger and love my kid much more.

I don’t want moms to compare or say “I could never do that” or feel bad for me because at the end of the day… I get all the hugs kisses and laughs I need to know that my son is perfect the way he is. We, as mothers, are all in this together. We need to help each other out more and stop comparing.

Maybe he will catch up someday maybe he will catch a ball and talk in sentences right now I am happy of how far we have come and how we have went through an extremely hard time where I constantly worried about my baby boy.

So the moral of the story is we can’t compare and feel bad for one another. It will drive you nuts. Every kid is unique. Every kid develops different and has their own personality. We can’t force kids to be someone they aren’t let’s let them play outside in mud and be kids and stop worrying (easier said than it is) but truly!

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The comfiest blankets like EVER! Featuring bizy belle

July 15, 2017August 19, 2017Leave a comment

Recently we re did Antonios room a little bit. We painted his walls blue and re arranged furniture, soon we will be adding in there a toddler bed. But for now, momma can’t think about that. The blue walls grew on me, at first I didn’t like them, but now I don’t mind them.

I was so happy when I found Bizy Belle; we have been using the same blankets for antonio since he was born! So when I saw her blanket options I was super happy and couldn’t wait to use it.

More importantly, I was happy that I could find something that was super comfy and could match his room. We have blues, greys, and reds that we use for his theme in the room. Antonio defaintely loved and enjoyed this blanket!!

The BizyBelle brand all started from a mother’s desire for quality, luxurious, and modern blankets. Each item is custom designed and handmade to fit the needs of the client. BizyBelle has grown into an international brand! You can find BizyBelle featured in many blogs and sold in boutiques all over the world!

It is so incredibly exciting to see BizyBelle designs being used as the focal point of nurseries and rooms. It is a great honor to know that BizyBelle blankets are given as gifts and are often the very first blanket that our smallest clients will ever snuggle into! The very foundation of BizyBelle is a mother’s love. Go get your shopping on!!