I finally did it! I finally participated in my first 5K.

Doing a 5K has been something on my bucket list for quite some time now. When I used to think of a 5K I used to think of people racing to get to the finish line. When I learned that there were other types of 5K events that were for fun and not a race, I knew I wanted to participate. A couple years ago I heard about the Color Run. I had a friend on Facebook mention she was doing the Color Run and I remember searching on Google to find out what she was talking about. Then last year the Color Run came and went and I was bummed that I didn’t get a chance to get in on the fun.

This year I was determined that I was going to do the Color Run in Sacramento. I didn’t want to do it alone though, I wanted my daughter Hailey to come with me. I knew that she would have just as much fun as I would getting all colored up while burning some calories too!

So I did it! I registered both Hailey and I to participate and I made sure that I did not plan anything else for that day.

The day of the Color Run we woke up early and were prepared to get messy with color! Not knowing that I could pickup my packet before the event we got to downtown Sacramento about an hour early. I don’t like waiting in lines and was lucky and and was one of the first ones to pickup our packets with our Color Run t-shirts and bibs from the check-in booth. We then spent the next hour walking around taking pictures.

Once the 5K started everyone made their way through downtown going through the different color stations. I wanted to get really colored so I made sure to walk close to the volunteers who were having a blast coating the participants in blasts of color out their bottles. Next time I will turn my head though so I don’t get paint in my ears.

We had fun fast walking with the participants. It was an excitement to see what color station was going to be next. Would be it pink, blue, purple, etc….

Check us out going through the PINK station…

Walking that 5K was such a blast that it went by extremely fast. For me I have been out of shape this last year so I thought I was going to hard walking that far but it wasn’t.

At the end when you crossed the finish line there was even more fun. Music and lots of color in the air!

I had fun and I was HAPPY. We had so much fun that I want to participate in another 5K before the end of this year. I will definitely be registering for the Color Run in Sacramento for 2015 too! Maybe with the whole family.

To see some of the other pictures I took visit my Color Run Flickr album at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/32839660@N04/sets/72157646245880202/

Have you ever done a 5K? Which one is your favorite?

“I participated in a Blog Blast on behalf of Mom Central for Urbini. I received information from Urbini to facilitate my post as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

When I was pregnant with my first child I try to read whatever I could to get me prepared for my new arrival. I had so many questions and so many concerns. I remember reading not only books but also looking for groups of moms online to join. When I was pregnant with my second child I had those same worries and I remember reading some of the same books I did with my first pregnancy. I remember even bringing a book to the hospital to read as if I would have to read.

For those of you like me that are looking to connect with other moms, Mom Voyáge that has been launched by Urbini is a community of Mom bloggers who are sharing their experiences in motherhood from all around the globe. On the Mom Voyáge website you will find featured contributors from the Netherlands, France, Britain, Holland, Japan, China and Australia as well as the US.

Here are some of the topics you will find on the Mom Voyáge website:

• Dutch Pregnancy Cravings
• Birth Plan Checklist
• Choosing A Baby Name In America
• Baby Shower Traditions
• Maternity Leave Around The World

Being a mom of four children, communities like Mom Voyáge come in handy for moms to be, new moms and moms that have already been moms for a while!

You can find Urbini on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

“I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Anheuser-Busch’s Family Talk About Drinking program. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

After two decades working on the front lines of childhood education, MJ Corcoran had a revelation. She realized that one of the best ways to help children was to teach their parents how to become more effective communicators.

Starting in 2010, this mother of two became an official spokesperson for the Anheuser-Busch Family Talk About Drinking program. An engaging and highly sought-after speaker, Corcoran offers stunning insights into the mind­­s of children and teens, and shows how the simple act of better communication can prepare kids to make smart decisions about underage drinking.

Corcoran’s revolutionary approach emphasizes asking open-ended questions, practicing active listening and setting clear expectations as ways to help children build self-confidence, deal effectively with peer pressure and make better choices. Her practical, ongoing strategies help families establish enduring, meaningful communication and strengthen the relationships between parents and kids, no matter their ages. Thanks to Corcoran, Family Talk has grown into a vibrant online community that helps thousands of parents use the power of their influence to help prevent underage drinking.

I was lucky and was able to do a phone interview with MJ Corcoran last month. She gave me some helpful information on methods that I can use to get involved with talking to my kids about underage drinking. I am also giving one of my LUCKY readers a chance to WIN a 30 minute PRIVATE phone session with MJ Corcoran. This is a once in a life opportunity to get some expert advice on what and how to talk with your teens about moving out, going to college, alcohol, underage drinking and more!

For your chance to WIN a private 30-minute phone session with MJ Corcoran, please use the Rafflecopter below:

To learn more about MJ Corcoran and Family Talk About Drinking, visit www.Facebook.com/ABFamilyTalk.

Summer vacation has flew by for many that means it is time to go back to school. Some are just starting school for the first time while others have graduated high school and are heading off for college. For those of you with teens, it is important to keep your children educated about alcohol and underage drinking. Just because your child is going off to college, there are many responsibilities you must still remember as a parent when your child is away from home.

Whether your young adult is attending college, enlisting in the military or moving out on their own, it’s the ideal time for parents to talk to their children about underage drinking.

Tip #1: When your child is moving out, help them with the transition by setting clear expectations. Your child moving out does NOT free the young adult from responsibilities, family values, expectations or laws.

Tip #2: Take time to acknowledge positive choices and be sure to encourage your child when they are moving in the right direction.

Tip #3: Stay connected with your child. Schedule a time each week with your child to talk with them. By establishing a routine you are helping to open the lines of communication which allows you to create conversations around your child’s school events, activities and other things they are doing for the week.

This month I had the opportunity to interview MJ Corcoran, the official spokesperson for the Anheuser-Busch Family Talk About Drinking program. I had a question that I asked her that I wanted to share. For those of you with a child that doesn’t want to talk about drinking, here is another important tip to keep in mind.

I asked MJ Corcoran what should parents do when their child doesn’t want to talk about alcohol and underage drinking. Many of us are lucky and have children that don’t mind talking about the subject but many of us have children that shy away from it was well.

Tip #4: Her answer was to tell your child that you have a request. Simply tell your child that you need to talk to them and when is a good time. Respect their feelings and their schedule and allow them to pick a time that they can talk to you when its easiest for them.

My oldest child is 17 and will be a senior in high school in just a couple weeks. I have been discussing underage drinking throughout her years in high school and will continue to ask my daughter questions as she gets closer to turning 18 and graduating.

Above are just some of the important things that parents should remember when their young child is moving out. The Anheiser-Bush’s Family Talk About Drinking Facebook page offers a FREE downloadable parent guide that gives parents proven ways to get started with talking to your teens about underage drinking.