A year in review! Happy New Year!

 2014 has been such a year of growth, change and joy. I tackled some new challenges, some old challenges and enjoyed a lot of family time! I think my greatest lesson I learned the year was the art of letting go. I travelled a lot! I enjoyed the beaches and city of Jacksonville and Clearwater, visited friends and had amazing new photos done by Clay Spann photography in Alabama, visited family


Danni got Married Renaissance Style!

Memaw turned 89!

and friends in Tampa and Tarpon Springs, Florida, Columbia, SC and Pennsylvania, visited friends in North Carolina and travelled to Richmond, Va to audition for America's Got Talent!

 I also faced a lot of transition which is VERY exciting so with it comes a lot of changes for 2015! We had a military retirement after 21 years in the family and of course some pretty special Birthdays and weddings!

15 months and so adorable!

I feel incredibly blessed for the love and family in my life!

New Beginnings! What a great year!

#AGT2015 Stay tuned!

My miracle!

Clay and Joey! (Clay Spann Photography and Competitive Image and my family! I love them so much!) 



International Stage ready in #JAX !



My besties!



Retirement!



Backstage Selfie!



Aunt Lois and Carter at Busch Garden, Tampa!



Bella Boo and I! I love you!



Caught in the action at the hotel in #jax!






beginnings......has it been that long already?

I have so many other photos I want to share and hope to add over the next week but thank you for sharing the year with me!

May your new year be one of new beginnings, blessings and hope!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE IN 2015!

EXCITED for 2015!

#AGT2015
#HappyNewYear
#beginnings
#blessings
#faith
#family

Deanna Maria 
 
 
 

God only gives special children to special people....giving thanks!

Christmas is such an odd time for so many people. I am Mom and as I sit next to my little girl while typing my VERY VERY active little boy is crawling around and not the conventional way but trust me when say he is EXTREMELY active. He crawls on his back and in just a few short days , January 2, he turns 6. You see, Carter, my son, was born at 23 weeks and spent 165 days in the NICU and his will to live and his fight to thrive has amazed us all for years but as Mommy...I never once doubted him. I trust I annoyed many neonatologist and nurses in the NICU because I was that Mom that was there every day but I fought hard to have him (I had 4 precious loses prior) and even harder to keep him when those that doubted went down the route of negativity.

This I thought would be a very good time of year to share some post/threads of friends about businesses and people who give back to our very special children that are often forgotten:

Happy Holidays! Sharing the joy!

TRIBUTE TO LEGOLAND
Dear Legoland,
As we experience the joy of the holiday season, we have been talking as a family about the best parts of the past year. There is no question that one of the most wonderful experiences the four of us shared was at Legoland in Carlsbad, CA. For our almost seven-year-old son, who builds the 1000 piece Lego sets in a matter of hours, Legoland was his nirvana. For his now five-year-old sister, it was an incredible example of the genuine kindne...ss that we can all aspire to.

Our daughter Eva has generalized developmental delays with no known cause. Principally, she has difficulties with mobility and communication, thought to be primarily muscle weakness and challenges with motor planning. Often this means that people whom she meets initially will not know quite how to connect with her and may shy away.
When we got to the Legoland factory tour, Renate, a member of the staff, sought her out and brought us all to the "behind the scenes" tour. She gave us a special look at the pre-Lego materials, and let Eva dig her hands through the plastic pellets. She furnished us with all manners of special Legoland bricks, and made our son and daughter feel like VIPs. Most of all, she treated our daughter with respect and caring. Our daughter communicates with those she likes by hugging, and Renate graciously accepted all the hugs she had to give.
Travel can be a challenge for the four of us, with all the assorted gear and extra time needed to navigate through a world not always made so accessible to everyone. Legoland, and specifically Renate, stands out as a place that worked to make us feel like we were truly on holiday. We will always be grateful for this kindness and hope to get back to Legoland in the coming years.
Huge thanks and happy holidays to Renate and the rest of the staff! We will always remember your warmth and the way you made our kids feel special.
Sincerely,
The Chambers Family (thank you Richard Chambers)
(attached is a photo of Renate with Jordan and Eva)

 

From Jenna Cohen Goldblatt:  Check out Bryce's Buddies on FACEBOOK!

Thank you Wegmans for ordering Caroline's carts for your stores. This will give so many families an opportunity to go grocery shopping with their children with special needs..‪#‎wegmans
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Melissa's Story

Truly such an amazing and beautiful Women, Mom and soul. A true inspiration and hero. Prayer warriors needed. Thank you Chelsea for sharing this video.

Breath Of Heaven - Amy Grant (A fan music video)

Harmony and health~

I have been searching as well all do in life for our walkway of sorts. Our path. I have always been in the health and beauty industry as a buyer, on air personality and in production so that is a given. Then, there is my music. My music is my soul. Its my painting. So many ups and downs but its like makeup, its expression. Then, there's food. My demon from birth yet my current passion. I love and appreciate the small taste to the great big burst, the pairing of a great wine, searing and resting a perfect filet and most of all the perfect poached egg. So I want to take this time in my life to appreciate and share what I have learned each day and my finds as I find them. (Pardon a few news breaks in between the wanna be writer in me:)

I want to start with something that is VERY important to me and yes food plays a role to...skincare for the women over 30. I know it may shock you ( I hope you know I am laughing) but I in fact am over 30. Oh I fight it EVERYDAY. I started working in H&B (health and beauty) as a counter manager for Clinique in my early 20's. Don't discount them, they are trained, but they are pretty scared when you walk up to the counter because every counter has a goal to meet so they pretty much will sell you the sun, moon and stars. Don't hate them, they need to eat to but go in educated and truly if you are over 30 walk past Clinique. MAC really paved the way for makeup artistry as did Bobbi Brown. Bobbi Brown is my personal idol but I prefer natural and she gave the brown base tones life. My Father, God rest his soul, hated brown lipstick, but the naturals have survived and I still believe in her and her line. Pink, Rose and natural tone. OK....these are DEPARTMENT store brands and not even skincare. I'll come back to color on a different day.

Skincare. Hum, well....my Mom was Cherokee Indian (I know, right?) but I did get her cheekbones and fire just not her skintone. I CANNOT stress this enough that a daily moisturizer with SPF is key. 15 and above is fine. You get sun just walking to you car, the train or in a window.  Exfoliation. YES. Don't be harsh. SKINN Cosmetics has a great microdermabrasion that I use in the shower that does not strip my skin and I am dry. Moisturize even if you are OILY. I actually use oil of olay. I also like Lancôme and Skinn but Oil of Olay has served me well.

Your skin is your largest organ....take care of it....also in love with L'Oreal's new skincare oil !

Happy Holidays!

Retired!

Although only married for 10 years I do feel like I put in the full 21 with all of the deployments etc but he truly did the time and I am forever proud of him. Retirement happened this past week and I am so proud. Andy went to West Point and is a very wonderful Father. Incredible Father actually, even when I never expected him to be. A great Father is a great man in my book. Thank you for also loving me at times I really don't know why.Congrats and thank you for your service! We love you always! Its been a journey. On to the next! Your my best friend always and I am so proud of you!

America's Got Talent!

So I am a big believer in doing it and not just talking about it so I did it, well, we did it, Lindsy and I. Auditioned for America's Got Talent. Honestly, what the heck do I have to loose? You don't get the call? Listen, I put myself out there so not getting the call I am pretty good at. In fact I would say a good top 10 in the lottery department on that one. So I put on my best leather pants and a really awesome friend and off we went on a road trip. 

 Of course it was raining and there were approximately 3000 other hopefuls in Richmond, VA but it was an amazing day. We arrived at 11:30am and gleefully sang at 8:30pm. I did an original, thank you Wil Hodge. All day I hung with an amazing group of people. Artist are funny. We bond quickly and who knows maybe one of us might be your next winner?

"Team Squad"

Photos on the inside were not allowed but stay tuned.....its going to be an exciting year! #agt10

Updates to be posted in 2015!