Friday Four: Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey’s Circus Extreme: Reveiw

 Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey’s Circus Xtreme is rocking the Queen’s City !  How do I know? Because we attended this week of course!

Grab our family, run to the nearest Chick Fil A for a discount ticket and click on Ticketmaster for yourself!  You do not want to miss this show. We are the last show before the elephants retire to Florida!

There is a reason some brands become household names. They find something needed and they make it happen OVER ,and Over, and Over again! I love the fact that I still hold my breath as they walk the tight rope  in fours and as the  jump rope action intensified on the centrifugal  wheel! And who does not love a good cannon ball send off? It was incredible!

While I am a serious  classic Ringling Brothers girl, I will say that I am open to change. Now my children on the other hand. They almost wanted to cry when i told them the elephants were retiring. I’m sure they will get over it! There’s so much more to love!

Even as you exist, the gifts continue! Guest were sent home with gift cards for free Chick Fil A food!

Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey’s Circus Extreme will be in Charlotte until Sunday the 31st! Get your tickets (here!)

Below are the remaining show dates and times-

Saturday January 30 at 3 p.m.  

Saturday January 30 at 7 p.m.

Sunday January 31 at 11 a.m.

Sunday January 31 at 3 p.m.

Sunday January 31 at 7 p.m.

But That’s Not All…… Oh No! (cheesy saying but true!)

Free with your ticket purchase, is the All Access Pre-show. You and your family can meet international cast of performers and get up close to our menagerie of animals. You can touch, feel, ask questions, take a picture and make a new friend there!

 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Circus XTREME, along with local sponsor Chick-fil-A,  visited pediatric patients from Levine’s Children’s Hospital as well as hosted a Painting with Pachyderms Party for patients and their families. Children receiving treatment from Levine’s participated in two action-packed days filled with lots of Ringling entertainment, creativity, laughter and lots of fun! You should have seen the smiles on their faces! it’s was truly priceless. Even the guardians in attendance were  glowing with joy! 

 Watch the video HERE! It’s from the Pachyderm Painting Party! 

After the painting party,everyone was treated a to wonderful lunch from Chick Fil A. Which happens to be a sponsor of the event. Great team up if you ask me!

Here’s my four tips for attending a Ringling Brothers Circus:

1. Have a zoo party at home or go by the local party store for circus related accessories.

2. Eat before you arrive. Water is $2.00! I usually take fruits.

3. Get there at least an hour early to smell, touch and take pictures with the animals, and entertainers. The sweet memories will last longer!

4. Park On East Trade. There is a $5- FIVE dollar lot on the other side of the CAT’s bus area.

******Just so you know, I am a Feld Ambassador. For sharing my honest opinion, I am given tickets to the show. But the opinions are mine!  Well ours, as the kids help out with family shows like these. Come on and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Tumbler, Pinterest, Google, and Youtube. 

Have a magical weekend!

Jabela

 

Taxes Smaxes! My Tips for SBO

It’s coming. Are you ready? If you are like me and own a small business, this time of the year can be a headache if not organized! Yes, you have until the 15th of April, but why wait? Here’s some tips to get you on the road to a low stress tax filing season!  The goal  is to pay the lowest tax you are legally required to pay.  This will help! This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business adviser or tax adviser with respect to matters referenced in this post.

 

Small Business Owner Check List

✔ A copy of the last three year’s Federal and State tax return

✔ Articles of Incorporation, Partnership Agreement, Operating Agreement, etc.

✔ Copy of current period balance sheet, income statement, trial balance and general ledger

✔ Prior year financial statements

✔ List of all business owners including: ✔ Name, ✔ social security numbers, ✔ address, ✔ percent of ownership, ✔ date ownership acquired and ✔ detail of distributions

✔ Schedule of owner fringe benefits received

✔ Schedule of loans to/from owners including loan agreements

✔ Details of any related party transactions

✔ Copies of all payroll forms and 1099 forms for the year

✔ Amounts of any estimated tax payments

✔ Listing of interest and dividend income

✔ Vehicle information and use, including vehicle leases

✔ Information on any employee benefit plans including retirement plans, health insurance, etc.

✔ Details of meals and entertainment expense

✔ Any Internal Revenue Service and Department of Revenue correspondence received during the year

✔ List of any activities in other states

✔ Details of fixed assets and depreciation schedules

Schedule C, Self-employed Checklist

Income 

List of bank deposits 

All 1099s 

Other income (interest etc.) Cost of good sold 

Beginning inventory 

Purchases of goods sold 

Materials & supplies 

Ending inventory Auto expense 

Lease payments 

Auto insurance 

Interest of auto loan 

Repairs & maintenance 

Total miles driven 

Business miles driven 

Total gas purchases 

Date car purchased 

Model and make of auto Salaries & wages 

Total gross wages paid 

Company paid FICA 

Federal unemployment paid 

State unemployment paid 

Worker’s compensation paid Expenses 

Advertising 

Commissions paid 

Liability insurance 

Interest paid 

Legal & professional fees paid 

Office supplies 

Rent paid 

Dues & subscriptions 

Travel expense 

Meals & entertainment 

Utilities 

Bank charges 

List of assets (cost & date acquired) 

Health insurance premiums Office in home 

Total square feet of home 

Total square feet of office 

Mortgage interest 

Real estate taxes 

Utilities paid 

Home repairs 

Home insurance [1040 General; Schedule E, Rental property checklist

Ready to do your taxes? Get a 50% of code. Request your Turbo Tax code here!

Friday Four: Finding Chastity

Ok, yes, I know it may be strange for a teen mom like myself to bring up chastity, but YES…. I am. I mean, think about it. Who better? I think I scared my husband so much that when he found out we were having daughters, the first thing came out of his mouth was”I want to get my girls to wear chastity belts!” True story.    It was the first time I have ever heard about chastity belts, but as time past, it was shout out time after time at very interesting times ranging from self preservation to political statements.

Enter a caption

 

Believe it or not, there was an Italian woman forced to ask firefighters to liberate her from a chastity belt because she lost the key to the contraption. The woman, who has not been named due to privacy reasons, reportedly wore the belt of her own volition to stop herself from having sexual relations. Chastity belts were long thought to have been inflicted on medieval wives in order to prevent them from having affairs, but historians now believe that they are the stuff of myth; most references to chastity belts in medieval literature are satirical. Our anonymous Italian friend, it seems, did not get the memo. If only she had guarded the key to her iron panties with the same sort of fervor that she dedicated to protecting her loins. NY TIMES

“I tried to push her away, but she wouldn’t stop until she was finished. When she was, she said, “You better not say shit to no one or else you gonna get a terrible whupping.” R. Kelly via The Black Voices

4 Ways to ENCOURAGE chastity to teens:

1. Protect what your child is exposed.  Give the talk, but walk the walk. Our children can more easily recognize the distinction between right and wrong when we are consistent models of right behavior in all matters. So know that there are some magazines, t.v. shows. and conversations you may need to keep out their reach.

“I tried to push her away, but she wouldn’t stop until she was finished. When she was, she said, “You better not say shit to no one or else you gonna get a terrible whupping.” R. Kelly via The Black Voices

2. Be mindful of who your child is exposed to. Having the right influence around your children is detrimental. My husband and I never let our children out of our sight until they were old enough to articulate what went on around them and understood that their body was private. Our ideal influence are positive, loving (but not too loving*) respectful and non over sexually seductive -dressed person, media, t.v. programs and music..

When my niece was young, like 12,  she made it very clear that not only did she know her daughter had a boyfriend she also said that she did care.  She though because her daughter didn’t go anywhere with the boy, that meant there was no concern for that relationship. Well guess what happened less than 3 years later? Yes, she got pregnant. While I didn’t rub it in her face or reminded  her that girls don’t go from pumps to flops. Sex was bound to happen. I thanked God that I never questioned my rules toward my daughters on having boyfriends at a young age.

3. If you haven’t already, build trust. That leads to many opportunities for discussion  and  influence on the subject. We parents have so much more power than we give our-self credit for.

4.Last but not least. Get your child involved in worthwhile activities, like music, sports, drama, and hobbies that develop talents.

I never share pictures of gifts, but I had to share this one. Kaylah’s Sweet 16 gift arrived. Kudos to my Dad, the first man to place a ring on his granddaughter’s hand, he has definitely set the bar. Love him infinity. He said “who’s her Grandpa”!!

More great tips on teen chastity

eHere – yes, just click that 🙂

Alright ladies, keep it locked down.

Jabela!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Contest

I know 6 little ones that are super excited to see the circus next week! If last year, is anything like this year…… they are in for a treat! SEE blog post from last year

The excitement starts an hour before show time with the All Access Pre-show where your family can meet the amazing cast members and get up close and purr-sonal with their tigers and other animals. Performers include high-wire wizards, strong men, BMX trick riders, daredevils on the trampoline bungee aerial skydiving and more.

Purchase tickets here.

Show Schedule 
Wednesday January 27 at 7 p.m.
Thursday January 28 at 7 p.m.
Friday January 29 at 10:30 a.m.
Friday January 29 at 7 p.m.
Saturday January 30 at 11 a.m.
Saturday January 30 at 3 p.m.
Saturday January 30 at 7 p.m.
Sunday January 31 at 11 a.m.
Sunday January 31 at 3 p.m.

{Contest Info} Win a family four pack to the show on Thursday, January 28th at 7pm. I won’t even make you pile into a clown car – nope – just do any of the following – 1 entry per completion.

1. Comment on our Facebook post with your favorite circus act.
2. Comment on THIS blog with your favorite circus act.
3. Share the Facebook post publicly (you have to change the post privacy to public so I can see it)

I’ll draw a winner on January 25th. Good luck!

Wednesday Wow: From Old to New

Did you know  that n 2010, the average American generated more than 1,500 pounds of waste over the course of the year (and only 551 pounds of that amount was recycled or composted). Over seven billion pounds of PVC plastic are chucked every year, while only one percent of that amount is recycled. Whether you’re an Earth Mama or a proud SUV owner, the truth is we’re throwing away too much stuff.

I love recycling, re-purposing, and saving the lives of good stuff that would otherwise end up in the dumpster. To me, living within our means includes getting every bit of life out of everything we own. I think just about everything can be recycled into something new and amazing!

This is the flow of our home.

1. I buy or receive something and the family love it, or at least like it…….for a while or until it’s  destroyed (that time is rarely more than 3 years TOPS)
2. My husband takes in out to the back yard while the children and I are away.
3. I find it, get anger and bring it back in the house.I may or may not hide it.
4. I  quickly go to Pinterest for ideas on how to reuse it if I don’t have one already in mind. For example, my old couch cushions.

My current project is to convert our old couch cushion pads into a . I will convertible bed/chair, for our middle age boys room. It will look something like this.

The only difference will be the using a pillow protector. These zippered cases go directly on the pillow, beneath the pillowcase. Protectors are typically affordable and prevent moisture and some allergens from reaching your pillow, keeping it healthy and sanitary longer.

This is a ZippySack. It’s where I got the idea from If you want ,you can buy yours here* from Amazon.

I’m also getting an Angry Bird cover to use as the first slip case. I’ll share the completed project on my Facebook page.

Earth911 has  info on recycling pillow’s!

The Greatist has incredible tips for just about everything!

How often do you swap out your pillows? What uses have you found for the old ones? Share below!

Charlotte Family Events

2016 is coming in like a lion! There is so much to enjoy this month! We started with Kwanzaa and now we’re getting ready for our next list of adventures. Take a look and come along! https://www.facebook.com/TheQCSupermom/videos/1007314052665244/

The Laugh Out Loud Adventure In Theaters 1/15!

TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA | JANUARY 8 & 9

MONSTER JAM

The 2016 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement, providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family’s budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old. This event will feature eight different trucks including Captain’s Curse, Doomsday, El Toro Loco, Grave Digger, Hot Wheels, Mad Scientist, MM Dalmatian and Zombie Hunter. Approximately 12-feet-tall and about 12-feet-wide, Monster Jam trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, these trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster Jam trucks can fly up to 130 feet over 14 cars side-by-side and up to 35 feet in the air.

 This will be our 3rd year and each year it’s absolutely amazing! Don’t wait to get your tickets ya’ll. Buy them here- at the

Ticketmaster

And  last but not least, for any mom that is afraid of her money, or allowing it to control her, this is for you. We will broadcast it live on Persicope! Under QCSUPERMOOM

Now our 3rd Family Valentines Day party…… it will be like the others —- AMAZING! Tickets are on sale NOW!

#NormOfTheNorth, #TurboTaxParty , #MonsterJam,and #QCFamilyValentinesDayParty . We bring these things to you because we like having nice and safe fun with our precious children all over the QC