Christie Pettus
Christie Pettus is a full time working wife and mother living her suburban cul de sac dream in Orange Park, Fl. She is Mom to two awesome teenagers, McKenzie and Ethan, who have come to accept that certain parts of their lives will be blogged about, so they should act accordingly. As graduates of the University of Florida, she and her husband Ryan can be found rooting on their alma mater every chance they get including the more obscure sports. LaCrosse anyone? When she’s not judging her kids' questionable teenage choices, she can be found hiding in a room buried in a good book or writing, editing, and dreaming about being a full-time author.
Graduation, College, and Saving… Oh, My!
As the mother of two high schoolers, the talks about post-graduation plans, colleges, and future careers are prevalent in our home. My sophomore daughter receives daily mail from colleges and universities after taking the...
I’m Done Apologizing
One night, I sat in bed overanalyzing a situation as I'm inclined to do. Were my words understood? My actions accepted? Should I apologize on the off chance that someone might think differently of...
Florida Prepaid: Investing In Your Child’s Future
As new parents, the last thing my husband and I wanted to think about when our daughter was born was one day sending her away to college and absorbing the rising costs associated with...
Who Let Me Parent? Sage Advice from a Seasoned Mom
I was the first of my friends to get pregnant. There was no seasoned veteran around to call upon when my water broke at the end of that pregnancy game. Suddenly, I was the...
Nailed It: Parenting Advice Gone Wrong
I love my kids. They are the best thing I've ever done, and I wouldn't trade the honor of being their mother for anything. But... some days I look at them from across the...
Moms Doing More In The 904: Donna Orender, Author & Founder of Generation WOW
Donna Orender is a true example of how hard work and determination leads to success. After graduating as a five-sport athlete in high school and continuing as an all-star basketball player in college, Donna...
A Reluctant Runner’s Guide To Half-Marathon Success
I ran 13.1 miles! Who am I, and what have I done with the girl who forged more than a few notes in high school to get out of running just one single mile?
If you...
If Our Kids Judged Us By Facebook
Like most days, I find myself aimlessly scrolling through my Facebook feed, catching up on my friends' lives, wishing them a happy birthday, or commenting on pictures of their kids. On its best day,...
So Much for My ‘Chill’ Mom Vibe
While other moms are preparing for back-to-school by mapping out how to buy school supplies without breaking the bank and deciding what gear they can't live without, I'm over here losing my collective you-know-what. Not...
Finding the Perfect Co-Vacation Family
Summer is in full swing, and with time off of school comes prime family vacation time. Whether you have an epic trip overseas or a laidback weekend at the beach planned, family vacations are...
If I Could Turn Back Time
I had my first child almost 16 years ago. I was 26 and full of excitement, terror, and toggling between "When will the baby get here?" and "Let's keep her in a little bit longer." The...
Raising Teenagers: A Day in the Life
If I had a dollar for every time a parent of young kids asked me what it's like to parent teenagers, I'd be rich. The questions range from mildly curious to positively terrified.
"Are they...