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Microsoft Innovations: Empowering the Mobile Experience

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Microsoft is a global technology leader, constantly driving innovation and transforming the digital landscape. With cutting-edge mobile applications and cloud solutions, the company enables users to work, learn, and enjoy entertainment wherever they are.

Innovative Solutions for Business and Personal Use

Products such as Office 365 and the Azure platform have revolutionized the way both businesses and individuals operate. Microsoft’s mobile solutions provide seamless access to essential tools, ensuring productivity and connectivity on the go.

Security and Reliability

Security remains a top priority for Microsoft. Regular updates and advanced protection technologies guarantee that users’ data stays secure, whether they’re managing business tasks or accessing personal information.

Discover More

Committed to making technology accessible for everyone, Microsoft continues to innovate and grow. To explore the latest developments and learn more about their diverse range of products, visit the official website at Microsoft.

You Can Take The Girl Out of Texas… Reflections on Hurricane Harvey

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A wise one said “You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take the Texas out of the girl.” Never has that been more true than this past week as I watched from afar while Hurricane Harvey took its toll on the state, city, and people I love. Houston was my home for the first 18 years of my life, and it’s hard to imagine the place we visited on vacation just 2 weeks ago is unrecognizable.

Photo cred: Patrick Mallare

I’ve “gone dark” online because nothing I could say would adequately convey the waves of anxiety, fear, and love that have taken over each day. How my family’s homes were spared in the midst of all the destruction, I will never know. But I am forever grateful.

Houston has shown us the best of humanity and I want share my gratitude. Thank you to…

  • The first responders and the Texas National Guard who have been working around the clock rescuing people trapped in their homes.
  • The families of those first responders and Guard members who sit at home worried for their safety as they do this important work.
  • The good people of Houston who, without any rescue training, got out there and saved lives.
  • My friends and family who kept me updated on Facebook/called/emailed/texted throughout the horrifying experience, and who made sure my people were safe.
  • Everyone who shared addresses of people who needed help, and those who went out there to save them.
  • The people who made a human chain to save an SUV driver stuck in flood waters.
  • The disaster relief workers who haven’t slept in days, and are making families feel as comfortable and taken-care-of as they can under these circumstances.
  • The Cajun Navy.
  • Mattress Mack.
  • JJ Watt. Kevin Hart. The Rock. Miley Cyrus.
  • The people creating and sharing the hilarious memes that are actually making us laugh for a moment—even in the midst of this tragedy.
  • All the hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that have been giving things for FREE to hurricane victims and disaster workers.
  • The reporters who have been helping keep people safe and informed, and even saving lives themselves (did you guys see the woman doing a live shot who helped save the guy sinking in his 18-wheeler??)
  • Whoever got those nursing home patients out of that facility where they were waist-deep in water.
  • The guy that was carrying the woman with the sleeping baby on her chest through the floodwaters to safety.
  • The animal lovers who’ve been saving and caring for the pets left stranded. 
  • Everyone who has made a donation to help Harvey victims.

Houston, you make me so proud. My heart is full and I can’t wait to come home again. There’s no denying this girl has been “taken” out of Texas (thanks a lot, Dave)—but rest assured, the Texas will never be taken out of the girl. Y’all are my people. Sending so much love…

August 2017

The Internet is the New Baby Book

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Remember when I used to sit up at night writing memories in a baby book for my children to cherish forever and pass down to their children and their children’s children? Yeah, me neither.

Lucky for kids these days, we have the internet. When I started writing a list of all the things I love about Lorik in commemoration of his birthday, a Word doc on my computer or a text convo with Dave didn’t seem quite celebratory enough. So I’m sharing it here.

I love the way Lorik…

  • Grabs a blanket and sits on the couch and says “get cozy”
  • Has very specific views on utensils and changes them multiple times each meal (think grilled cheese sandwich with a fork)
  • Says “NEE-night” when he’s ready to go to sleep and “chair” if he wants to be rocked first
  • Dances (ok, gallops) whenever he hears music dance party
  • Says “Come on Baby” every time a certain Ed Sheeran song comes on
  • Runs fearlessly into the pool no matter how many times he ends up under water
  • Never gives up when I tell him he can’t have something, yet instead of throwing a massive tantrum says “wheh ee e go?” aka “where did it go?”
  • Won’t leave the house without “Nana” or “EE-ya” EVER and constantly checks on them if they’re not in sight
  • Gets curly hair when the humidity rises
  • Likes to stare at himself in selfie mode on my phone and say “Lo-WICK” with a hard K at the end
  • Is freaked out when I make a fish face and wants to make sure it’s still me, so he keeps saying “mommy? Mommy?” until I stop
  • Loves Shrek with a passion only felt by Fiona
  • Shrieks loudly when things around him get noisy… just to make sure his voice is still heard
  • Confuses the colors pink and green
  • Knows every word to “1, 2, 3 Texas” including “di-WOAH” and “Hot Pepah… Spicy”
  • Always skips the number 3. “one, two, four…”
  • Says “not nice” to himself when he does something that’s not nice
  • Whacks his sisters with a light saber and says “A-Star Wars!”
  • Says “okay” as often as Lil John
  • Wants to push any and all buttons aka “butts”
  • Sings “Raining, pouring…” and then makes up the rest anytime anyone says the word rain
  • NEEDS his coffee at the corner shop. We can’t pass the place without him going in for “KAH-fee” and high-fiving the owner
  • Perfected the hug at such a young age. He could seriously teach a class on how to hold on tightly and never let go.

Happy Birthday, Lorik. I hope I make you even half as happy as you make me. #forevermyboobear

A Is For Apple, F is For…

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You know when kids have that exciting breakthrough in reading? They’re no longer struggling to sound out works, but instead announce every word they see loudly to the world- so confident and proud. This is Zana right now.

“Barber shop!”

And a few minutes later, “do not enter!”

As we were leaving her sister’s Capitol Hill soccer game this past weekend she couldn’t wait to yell out the two words spray painted on the electrical box: “F*ck Gil!”

Shocked silence from everyone including me.

“SHHHHH,” I said just as loudly as she had screamed “f*ck!”

“What?” She was confused.

I told her it wasn’t a nice word and that she shouldn’t say it ever again.

Zana: what does it mean?

Me: don’t worry about that. All you need to know is not to say it.

Zana (whispering): ohhh you’re going to tell me when we get to the car?

Me: no, you just need to not say it

Zana (no longer whispering): I’m just going to keep saying “f*ck” until you tell me what it means!

Typical Zana. The same kid who wasn’t satisfied with my answer to how babies come out (“between your legs”) and grilled me on how a human could come out of a “peepee hole.”

You just never know how far the conversation will have to go with that one.

So I gave the best on-the-fly answer I could come up with: “It’s a not-nice word for sex.” (*please don’t ask me what that means*)

And she didn’t.

F*cking Gil and those f*cking kids he ticked off. Now can we please get this cleaned up before next Saturday so other parents don’t have to explain f*cking profanities to their kids??

America’s Next Top Model, 1 Year Old Edition

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You know that book, “All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten?” Well, all Lorik (age 1) really needs to know he learned from Tyra. When my friend at KidFriendlyDC told me she was looking for a baby model for a Sneekis DC-themed onesie… it felt like graduation day.

Lorik has been preparing for this moment his whole life—watching Top Model before he was even born. Picture a pregnant lady, too nauseous and lazy to leave the couch, shoveling Ben & Jerry’s and practicing the “smize” and the “booty-touch” with each spoonful. I swear Lorik would give me an elbow in the gut every time Tyra told a contestant they were no longer in the running.

But back to the point… Lorik was ready. We put on the long-sleeved onesie and headed outside in the 90+ degree heat for a photo shoot. Like Tyra says… it’s a model’s job to be professional. Nobody asks a model if they’re hot or cold. Uncomfortable, tired, hungry? Not important.

I put him outside on our front stoop and tried to get him to stand up so we could see that super-cute DC onesie.

We got so many amazing shots, like this one:

Sad Baby Model

Some models have “blue steel,” Lorik has the “wah, pick me up” face.

Don’t worry, though. The big sisters got involved to help Lorik perfect his pose…

Sibling photo props

But since we weren’t trying to model Target-brand size 4 diapers (as seen clearly in the photo above), we had to keep trying. This time, Dave was behind the lens. And Lorik turned into Naomi Campbell, wanting no part of any of this anymore.

Done Modeling

Then my neighbor walked outside. She couldn’t see the baby from where she was standing and thought Dave and I were taking pictures of each other. You know… as lovers do.

As if.

But thank goodness for my neighbor because she somehow got my moody model to stand up and W-E-R-K.

Check it out…

Baby Model

DC Onsie

He totally nailed it! Don’t you suddenly want to rock a onesie? Are bodysuits back in? Because I want one!

PS- Sneekis does make grown up clothes, too. Just not grown-up onesies. But that DC flag with beer or coffee incorporated in the design? Gold!

Once Lorik’s work was done, we rewarded him by letting him eat lunch. I don’t know why he was so cranky… a model should know we can’t have any rolls in these photos. He only had to lose 10 pounds for the shoot. What’s the big deal?

*** Check out KidFriendly DC for a Sneekis t-shirt giveaway happening this week!***