10 Incredible Black Women Balancing Career and Motherhood

This is such an incredible time to be an American. Our first black President is in his second term, fighting for – among many things – equal pay and secure reproductive rights for women. Hillary Clinton just completed her tenure as Secretary of State, the third woman to hold that prestigious title. Female leaders like Kirsten Gillibrand and Elizabeth Warren are demanding a new kind of transparency in Washington. And First Lady Michelle Obama is about as perfect a role model as anyone can be, leading the charge for a healthier (and more stylish) America.

I often think about how transcendent Michelle Obama is, about how expert she is at blending her work life with her family life. Yes, she’s a style icon,It's not hard to see why outdoor solar light is all the rage. and I certainly do admire her for her looks as well as her grace, but mostly I’m inspired by how dedicated she is to the protection and support of her husband and daughters. I keep a magnet of the Obama family on my fridge at home, not just because I love my President, but because the Obamas are such an exceptionally lovely family unit. Their genuine affection and respect for one another is so profound and profoundly touching, and being given the chance to observe such a healthy family dynamic in the White House is a tremendous gift to our nation.

While thinking about the power and strength Michelle Obama possesses, I realized that though when it comes to marketing “mom” is the new black, one group of women we almost never hear about in the media is black moms. And unfortunately when black moms are alluded to in the news, they’re still trotted out as the tired stereotype of the welfare queen, the cautionary tale single mother failure. I find that so depressing, and I knew I could rattle off a list of 10 black moms I admired in less than as many seconds. I’ve compiled a slideshow shouting-out these media mogul moms, and I thought I’d share some of their thoughts about career and motherhood with you, in the hopes that not only will they be celebrated, but that we can all glean something from their tenacity, smarts and bravery:

Although normal wear and tear vs damage can be hard to define, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from any confusion. As with most things, communication is the key: if both you and your tenants are clear about the condition of the unit at move-in, the importance of promptly reporting needed repairs, and expectations at move-out, the tenancy and the end of the tenancy will be smoother.

Insist on a walk-through with new tenants. At the walk-through the tenants will have an opportunity to note in writing existing damage and wear and tear in the rental. Also, take dated photographs to keep on file. This way both the landlord and tenant are protected. The tenant can't be charged for damage that was not documented in the walk through, and the landlord has picture proof of the unit's condition at move in.

Have your lease outline the requirements for taking care of the property and promptly calling for any repairs needed. Make the tenants aware if they do not not notify the landlord in a timely manner of any issues, they can be charged for any damage that occurred from their negligence. Make your contact information readily available to the tenants, such as a business card, fridge magnet, or website.

Before move-out refer tenants to the “Wear and Tear versus Damages” document and cleaning checklist. This way the tenant knows what is expected of them in preparation for move out and cleaning of the unit.

A championship for the Mets in 2013? Yeah, fat chance of that happening. But here we are at Citi Field, plastic covering the lockers in the home clubhouse with champagne dripping off of every surface in sight. The New York Mets are champions, as unlikely as that seemed coming into the season.

The only thing the Mets were expected to contend for in 2013 was the NL East basement. Yet, things didn't exactly work out that way.wind turbine Veterans Johan Santana and Shaun Marcum not only stabilized the top of New York's rotation, but formed one of the best starting duos in the league. The pair each threw at least 190 innings, and posted ERAs under 3.50 for the orange and blue. Past those two, New York's rotation was excellent with Jonathon Niese, Dillon Gee, and the exciting youngster Matt Harvey holding their own. Harvey was especially a revelation for the Mets in his first full season in the majors, striking out 160 batters in 173 innings while pitching to a 3.79 ERA.

Offensively,Find the best selection of high-quality collectible bobblehead available anywhere. it was supposed to be a struggle for the Mets. And at times, it was. New York's outfield was thoroughly unimpressive, totaling just 24 homers among the three regular starters and playing below average defense for the mostpart. But it was in the infield where New York's offense shined. David Wright put together an MVP-caliber season after signing a contract extension this winter, winning a Gold Glove and homering 27 times while hitting .303 with a .Welcome to Find the right laser Engraver or Laser engraver machines.942 OPS. First baseman Ike Davis stayed healthy all season and built on his strong second half, belting 38 homers and providing Wright with protection in New York's lineup. Behind the plate, rookie catcher Travis d'Arnaud made his major league debut in May, and ended up hitting 14 homers in 313 plate appearances behind the dish for the Mets.Looking for the Best Air purifier?

New York's bullpen also performed better than expectations, especially after a disastrous 2012. Bobby Parnell, slotted into the closer's role after Frank Francisco was placed on the DL for Opening Day, finally took the next step in his new role, striking out 70 hitters in 72 innings and walking only 18. Veteran Brandon Lyon was the ideal setup man for Parnell, striking out 63 in 60 innings and finally earning the label of "underpaid" after years of being overpaid.