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And then I became a grown-up. By eating a grown-up. Or hiring a grown-up. One of those.

TheBloggess.com

Jenny the bloggess

25 Jan 2012 | 9:39 pm

Six weeks ago I told twitter that I desperately needed an assistant to work a few hours a week, to help me weed through bad pitches and tell me to take my meds. Many fabulous people offered and I promptly ran away because I’m not responsible enough to hire an assistant, and I ended up hiding under the table and wishing I had some sort of an assistant to do this stuff for me. Then Victor yelled at me because I’m making myself sick from working 12 hour day, but it seems sort of self-indulgent and weird to have an assistant when you have a job where you write about porn and giant…
Someday I’ll Tell You About Kenmore

Jessica Gottlieb A Los Angeles Mom

Jessica Gottlieb

26 Jan 2012 | 4:04 pm

Traveling to Chicago in the winter is a bear. It’s cold and the traffic is miserable. If there’s only one thing you ever learn from me in your entire life let it be this: There is a train station in O’Hare Airport. Use it. I was really happy to meet so many women who I’ve followed online for years. One in particular is Bobbie who had a very serious accident on her way home. Of course I was happy to be with new and old friends but after coming home and hearing about Bobbie, her husband and her kids (just bumps for them, yay!) I sort of didn’t have energy to write about the day. I…
Call for Submissions at KoreanAmericanStory.org

Kimchi Mamas

Kimchi

26 Jan 2012 | 8:26 pm

Do you or your family members have stories to share for an anthology devoted to the Korean immigrant experience in the 70's and 80's? If so, please consider submitting it for publication at KoreanAmericanStory.org. They are collecting content in a variety of formats, and they will compensate for the stories they select for publication. Details can be found here. --Julie
Nuance PaperPort Notes For iPad: Create Notes By Speaking

Techmamas - Curating the Best of Tech and Social Media for Families

Beth B.

26 Jan 2012 | 5:21 pm

Nuance announced this week that that their PaperPort Notes app for the Apple iPad now has dictation capabilities powered by Nuance’s Dragon voice recognition – which means you can create notes on the iPad by speaking. This is a great app for busy moms who barely have time to type anything – but who can sneak in a few notes by speaking. While there are many ways now to interact with mobile devices using voice – I am happy to see established brands like Nuance adding new voice features to productivity apps. Until an Android version is available, those with Android…
Passing: Maybe not as “White” but Still Passing for Something

Jessica Gottlieb A Los Angeles Mom

Jessica Gottlieb

27 Jan 2012 | 5:04 pm

Today I had a three hour salon appointment and one of those hours was spent listening to my stylist complain about Those Old Jewish Ladies. Only five or so minutes was spent with her regaling me with the tale of how she pretended to be Jewish to get out of a speeding ticket. As she was flat ironing my hair and complaining about the Horrible Old Jewish Ladies who do nothing but complain I sat smiling and wondering if I was doing the right thing. Should I have gotten up from the chair with my hair half done and caused a scene? Should I have said to her, “I’m Jewish.” Should I have goaded…

Kimchi Mamas
Call for Submissions at KoreanAmericanStory.org

Kimchi

26 Jan 2012 | 8:26 pm

Do you or your family members have stories to share for an anthology devoted to the Korean immigrant experience in the 70's and 80's? If so, please consider submitting it for publication at KoreanAmericanStory.org. They are collecting content in a variety of formats, and they will compensate for the stories they select for publication. Details can be found here. --Julie
Kimchi Mama Honor Roll: Hee Jun Han on "American Idol"

Kimchi

20 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm

"American Idol" featured a Korean American contestant yesterday named Hee Jun Han. With the goofy music playing in the background, the extended interview, and the overenthusiasm, I didn't know what to expect. But Hee Jun, who hails from Flushing, NY, definitely gave "American Idol" some motherland flavor, from complimenting Ryan Seacrest on his small face (even comparing his face to...
The Korean Man's Anger

Kimchi

20 Jan 2012 | 12:06 am

By now you've probably heard or read about Pinkberry co-founder, Young Lee, attacking a homeless man with a tire iron. When I was reading some of the details of what happened, and also accounts of his previous shady behaviors (like making threats against someone's life), I was like... I can totally picture a lot of Korean men doing this. I...

Techmamas - Curating the Best of Tech and Social Media for Families
Nuance PaperPort Notes For iPad: Create Notes By Speaking

Beth B.

26 Jan 2012 | 5:21 pm

Nuance announced this week that that their PaperPort Notes app for the Apple iPad now has dictation capabilities powered by Nuance’s Dragon voice recognition – which means you can create notes on the iPad by speaking. This is a great app for busy moms who barely have time to type anything – but who can sneak in a few notes by speaking. While there are many ways now to interact with mobile devices using voice – I am happy to see established brands like Nuance adding new voice features to productivity apps. Until an Android version is available, those with Android…
CES 2012 – Tech Adventure

Beth B.

20 Jan 2012 | 3:30 pm

International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a yearly conference held in Las Vegas that focuses on none other then my favorite topic: consumer electronics across all product categories (including emerging tech, hardware, software, gaming, digital health, auto, accessories and telecom). The CES website press release explained: “The 2012 International CES was the largest in the event’s 44 year history, with a record number of more than 3,100 exhibitors across the largest show floor in CES history – 1.861 million net square feet of exhibit space – and drawing a record of more…
CES 2012 – Here I Come!

Beth B.

8 Jan 2012 | 11:10 am

Today I am heading to CES2012. I will be doing my best to Tweet (using my Twitter ID TechMama) and post about whats up with consumer electronics. My sense is that the hot tickets will be 1. Consumer Electronics that are attachment to Laptop, tablet or smartphone. 2. Consumer Electronics and cars that have app integration. 3. More internet integration into consumer electronics such as TV’s. I will be posting under the categories CES2012 in the TechEvents and TechPress columns.

Jessica Gottlieb A Los Angeles Mom
Passing: Maybe not as “White” but Still Passing for Something

Jessica Gottlieb

27 Jan 2012 | 5:04 pm

Today I had a three hour salon appointment and one of those hours was spent listening to my stylist complain about Those Old Jewish Ladies. Only five or so minutes was spent with her regaling me with the tale of how she pretended to be Jewish to get out of a speeding ticket. As she was flat ironing my hair and complaining about the Horrible Old Jewish Ladies who do nothing but complain I sat smiling and wondering if I was doing the right thing. Should I have gotten up from the chair with my hair half done and caused a scene? Should I have said to her, “I’m Jewish.” Should I have goaded…
Someday I’ll Tell You About Kenmore

Jessica Gottlieb

26 Jan 2012 | 4:04 pm

Traveling to Chicago in the winter is a bear. It’s cold and the traffic is miserable. If there’s only one thing you ever learn from me in your entire life let it be this: There is a train station in O’Hare Airport. Use it. I was really happy to meet so many women who I’ve followed online for years. One in particular is Bobbie who had a very serious accident on her way home. Of course I was happy to be with new and old friends but after coming home and hearing about Bobbie, her husband and her kids (just bumps for them, yay!) I sort of didn’t have energy to write about the day. I…
LuxeYard: First Impressions

Jessica Gottlieb

24 Jan 2012 | 2:01 am

I met Braden Richter for lunch in Hollywood last week. The first thing I noticed was the laptop. In addition to being one of those radtastic titanium PCs that weigh next to nothing and can be tossed safely from an airplane, his screensaver was a picture of his son playing football that could have been a poster for Friday Night Lights. Braden is a Los Angeles based furniture entrepreneur. As he detailed his career path for me I was slackjawed. He humbly talks about going from UCLA to making “some stuff” for someone he knew… which of course became Shabby Chic. Braden quickly left school…

The Tasteful Life
An Italian Snack: Cannellini Dip and Parmigiano Pita Chips

Carrie Pacini

26 Jan 2012 | 3:33 pm

This is one of my favorite spreads that I like to serve with appetizers. I think it’s healthy and full of protein and pairs well with a crudite platter. Instead of grabbing chickpeas or a store bought hummus opt for a can of cannellini beans and make a fast and easy puree. Cannellini beans are large with a traditional kidney shape. They have a slight nutty taste with a mild earthiness. They are tender and creamy which makes them perfect for spreads and dips. Cannellini Dip and Warm Parmigiano Pita Chips Ingredients: 2 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons…
Smoothilicious

Marla

26 Jan 2012 | 1:02 pm

This smoothie rocks. I love them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Smoothilicious

Marla

26 Jan 2012 | 1:02 pm

This smoothie rocks. I love them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Selfish Mom
How to power nap correctly

Amy

27 Jan 2012 | 3:03 pm

Years ago I read something that totally changed the way I napped. Sometimes, when I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore, I would lay down for a nap, and wake up groggy a couple of hours later. Or, I’d set an alarm for 15 minutes, supposedly the right amount of time for a power nap, [...]
Gorgeous, easy curls with The BeachWaver

Amy

26 Jan 2012 | 5:04 pm

I’ve wanted curly hair longer than I can remember. I’ve gotten more perms than I can count. I’ve purchased at least ten curling irons in my lifetime. But have you ever seen me with curly hair? Rarely. Even the irons that do work take so long – I have a ton of hair and hate [...]
Today’s Agenda: keeping up the momentum

Amy

26 Jan 2012 | 10:03 am

So there are six days left in the DietBet blogger contest and I’m happy to say that I’ve met my goal of losing 4% of my body weight in four weeks! But, I can’t really stop trying to lose because I want a buffer for the weigh-in. I am exactly at the goal, and what [...]

Mrs. Mogul
Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber's New $3.9 Million Digs

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 pm

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber have bought a new pad in NYC. It's a $3.9 million loft in Tribeca.The 4,315 square foot space includes key-lock elevator access, 14 foot ceilings, painted linoleum tile floors, two kitchens, and Hudson River views from the southwestern corner or the building.Nice! However from the outside it doesn't look like much. In fact, I would have never guessed such space existed in that plain looking building...and is that grafitti?(source: X17online)
The Most Coolest Drawing Yet

21 Jan 2012 | 10:37 am

Last night my daughter gave me this drawing she did.Daughter: Look, it's a bear.Me: Ohh...a bear! What a nice bear!Daughter: No, no it's a pear!Me: Oh a pear? That's a good pear.Daughter: Nooo...a beer!Me: Ohhhh...beer. Like what daddy drinks?Daughter grins and smiles happily.
A Way To Kill Time In The Car: Track Santa

20 Dec 2011 | 12:14 pm

I think this could be entertaining if you're on a long drive with the kids this week.Each year the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks Santa Claus’ Christmas Eve journey to deliver presents to good boys and girls all over the world. For the third year, OnStar is partnering with NORAD to help kids follow St. Nick’s travels from any vehicle with OnStar (which now includes non-GM vehicles with OnStar FMV)!So while the family is traveling to family and friends homes, just press the blue OnStar button to get Santa’s official location!

Miscellaneous Mum - Trying to find the objective correlative, everyday
Cherry Oat Biscuits

Karen

27 Jan 2012 | 4:13 pm

I was recently reading the Bourke Street Bakery cookbook and there was a recipe in it for ‘oat and barberry biscuits’. Normally I’d skip past a biscuit recipe, but this one made me stop – foremost because I wondered ‘What on earth is a barberry?’ Then I looked at the ingredients and thought, Yippee! I have all those (except the barberries, naturally). I looked in the cupboard and found some glace cherries and thought the might do as a substitute. And they did! If you’re thinking it looks like an Anzac biscuit you’d be right – the…
What I’m Reading – January 2012

Karen

25 Jan 2012 | 4:55 pm

(No vlog this month on account of my sore mouth and our internet being drastically shaped. It would take ten weeks to upload any video to YouTube at the moment.) 1. Cat’s Cradle – Alas, unfinished. I think it’s because I loved Slaughterhouse Five so much and this is quite different in tone (even more biting and critical) and I had to adjust my expectations (whatever they were). Next time when I pick it up – and I will – I’ll be better prepared. Vonnegut does dialogue brilliantly. 2. Burning Your Boats - A collection of Carter’s short stories (or a…
When A Seven Year Old Gets Preachy About Blogging – And What I Learned From This

Karen

23 Jan 2012 | 9:48 pm

Keira was sitting on the lounge reading Surprise! [The more cynical of you might think this is a setup, but it's true.] She was reading a library copy. She prefers those to our own here at home as library ones are virtually guaranteed to have pictures by other children in the back. She likes poring over these the best, appreciating the gift they’ve given, these little insights into other lives and talents. Anyway, I thought this would be a nice chance to pick up on a debate we’ve had many times: that I do not ‘work’ because I made the choice to be a stay at home mother. See,…

entrepreMusings
Leadership, Management and Unicorns

Aruni

20 Jan 2012 | 10:58 am

The older I get more experience I gain working for different organizations, the more I realize that good leadership is rare and good management is even rarer. I think we all see this played out on TV with the incompetence demonstrated by our business and political leaders. I don’t really know why this happens and it’s sometimes a miracle that companies get built and keep going. It’s somewhat of an enigma to me….might be a bunch of great workers covering up for the incompetence of their leaders & managers. The reason I think good management is rarer than good…
Thanks For Dreaming Mr. King

Aruni

16 Jan 2012 | 7:08 am

Martin Luther King Martin Luther King, Jr. had a big dream. He had more courage and vision in his pinky than most of us have in our whole bodies. Here is an except from his speech “I Have A Dream.” (Go listen to the recording of his speech at this link). Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:…
Motherhood Is The Necessity of Re-Invention

Aruni

15 Jan 2012 | 3:24 pm

Other ways to say this that might make more sense to a brain that doesn’t have little kids around the house: Necessity is the Mothership of Re-invention Necessity is the mother of invention – most popular Motherhood/Parenthood/Fatherhood necessitates constant reinvention Working Motherhood/Parenthood/Fatherhood requires you to try touching your elbow to your ear (yes, I tried it to make sure it was near impossible to do so) on more occasions than you’d like to admit I hope in all this living around parents with an accidental (prone to earthquakes) entrepreneurial foundation,…

i am lotus
Photo Talk Plus, EP7 With Nicole S Young

Lotus, aka Sarcastic Mom

27 Jan 2012 | 12:42 pm

If you missed this episode with special guest Nicole S Young, you can watch it here easily. Nicole is a successful professional photographer who makes a decent income doing food / stock photography. She gave many tips and insight into doing this kind of work. You can view all her books by clicking here. In addition to interviewing Nicole, along with our panelists Timothy Jordan, Ivan Makarov, Gino Barasa and Kimberly Pemberton we discussed the following topics: Best of 2011 – G+ Photography Book SOPA/PIPA New Google+ text on photos feature Google+ photography related hashtags Trey…
You Visit Me In My Sleep

Lotus, aka Sarcastic Mom

26 Jan 2012 | 9:14 am
Maybe I’ll Just Run The Other Way

Lotus, aka Sarcastic Mom

21 Jan 2012 | 7:57 pm

TravelingMamas.com
Why Now is the Best Time to Take a Cruise

CajunMama

24 Jan 2012 | 8:34 am

TravelingMamas.com sends thoughts and prayers to the crew and passengers involved in the Costa Concordia accident. For recent updates from Costa Cruises, visit the official site. I was looking at the itinerary for the Carnival Breeze, set to launch in June of this year, when I saw the news about the Costa Concordia. Any time tragedy occurs, especially in the travel industry, consumers and the experts begin to criticize safety, and they analyze what could have or should have been done in the circumstances. One thing I’ve noticed about these types of events is that safety and security…
Clearly, a good deal in Florida

RollingMama

21 Jan 2012 | 10:09 am

Beat the winter blahs with a tranquil trip to sunny Florida. Travelers booking a flight plus hotel vacation package for four or more nights to St. Petersburg or Clearwater beaches can save $100 per reservation. Use code SUN100 when booking a flight and hotel on Southwest Airlines Vacations. Choose a participating hotel and receive one night free. Save as much as $120 per person roundtrip with the Bags Fly Free–even golf bags. Vacations must be booked between now and February 9, 2012, (6 pm CST). Trip must be taken between January 14 and May 25, 2012. Black out dates apply and one day…
Love is in the air in Albuquerque

RollingMama

20 Jan 2012 | 9:08 am

One hundred hot air balloons will fly over Albuquerque, New Mexico on Valentine’s Day weekend. You and a guest could win a romantic getaway for two and celebrate during the Friends and Lovers Hot Air Balloon Rally. The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau is sponsoring a contest and giving away: Two nights accommodations at the Crown Plaza Albuquerque Balloon ride for two at the Friends and Lovers Hot Air Balloon Rally A $200 Visa card–useful for either airfare, gas, dinner or shopping Contest entries must be received by 11:59 pm MST January 31, 2012. Enter online at…

Adventures in Babywearing
Let's go down to the mermaid cafe

24 Jan 2012 | 9:44 pm

"Let's stay here forever," she said. We had made a tent out of a quilt on top of my bed, and hid inside, light from the window made all my favorite colors. And her words meant the world. And that she said them right then, there was no doubt she was just like me. One day Ivy came up to me so sad, with bottom lip out and she said, "Mom, I really wish I were a mermaid." So I knit her a tail and she wore it to bed, and she even wore it to grandma's. And earlier when she brushed her teeth the fin peeked out from around the bathroom door. She learned to walk up and down the stairs, holding the tail…
Piece of my tooth

23 Jan 2012 | 9:03 pm

I vacuumed out my purse the other day. And today I was tentatively diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I go to the lab for blood tests in the morning. Something is not right. I sat at dinner, and looked at my family, and wanted pen and paper right there so I could start listing all the things I really love and how I so desperately want to do more of them. Like eating together. And what I won't miss. I just don't think I'll ever look back and think "I wish I watched more TV," or "I wish I spent more time on Facebook." I know I won't say I wish I did more laundry. I don't think that's…
A Bedtime Story: The Karate Princess

22 Jan 2012 | 2:51 pm

Maybe someday I'll write again. Until then...

TheBloggess.com
Advanced cooking lessons

Jenny the bloggess

28 Jan 2012 | 12:20 am

Conversation I had after wandering into Victor’s office. me: Hey. How do you make hot water? Victor: …Really? “How do you make hot water?” Are you fucking with me? me: No. I want to make a tea but I don’t know how. Victor: Go write this on your blog right now. You just asked me how to heat up water. You basically just confirmed everything I’ve ever said about your cooking skills in a single sentence. me: I know how to get hot water. I know how the tap works. I just don’t know how to use the coffee maker and I thought maybe…
And then I became a grown-up. By eating a grown-up. Or hiring a grown-up. One of those.

Jenny the bloggess

25 Jan 2012 | 9:39 pm

Six weeks ago I told twitter that I desperately needed an assistant to work a few hours a week, to help me weed through bad pitches and tell me to take my meds. Many fabulous people offered and I promptly ran away because I’m not responsible enough to hire an assistant, and I ended up hiding under the table and wishing I had some sort of an assistant to do this stuff for me. Then Victor yelled at me because I’m making myself sick from working 12 hour day, but it seems sort of self-indulgent and weird to have an assistant when you have a job where you write about porn and giant…
UPDATED: The post where I make it up to you. And then make things worse. And then apologize again.

Jenny the bloggess

23 Jan 2012 | 12:57 am

Yesterday I went out to the nearby market because we live in rural Texas so we go to all the various country fairs and trade days because that’s what we have instead of a mall. They are awesome and terrible and I never come home without part of an iron lung, or a 60 year old book about “why naked midgets are awesome”. Yesterday at one stop I found 100′s of doll heads on spikes. It stretched on for a half-acre. Also, the doll torsos and limbs were in various buckets around, so it was sort of like Build-a-Bear except that you end up with a misproportioned, evil…

babyshrink.com
Dr. Heather’s First Live TV Appearance

Dr. Heather

18 Jan 2012 | 4:33 pm

Mahalo to Jill and the gang at KITV! Despite awakening at 4 am with bloodshot eyes from an allergy attack (perfect for HDTV, right?) — I was psyched to head down to KITV yesterday morning to talk story with the gang about parenting. So mahalo to Jill Kuramoto for inviting me, and a big aloha to Mahealani Richardson, Moanike’ala Nabarro, and Yasmin Dar for making me feel so at home in the studio. Looking forward to seeing you all again next month! Here’s the link: Dr. Heather on KITV — January 17, 2012 Aloha, Dr. Heather The BabyShrink
Work/Life Balance with Young Children

Dr. Heather

6 Jan 2012 | 7:52 pm

It’s a fact of life: Whether you work at home or out of the home, part time or full time, life with young kids is always a juggling act. Rip it up, girl!Achieving balance is really only aspirational — never truly possible. But living in Hawaii has shown me that surfing is an apt metaphor for what we all aspire to — a sense of freedom and control in the face of powerful life forces. I’m especially proud of this post I wrote for my fab partners over at The Learning Care Group: Check it out, and let me know what YOUR tips are for staying sane when trying to stay on top of…
“Crying It Out”: Acceptable — or Abuse?

Dr. Heather

14 Dec 2011 | 1:48 pm

Sometimes I need a good cry before a nap, too. One of the most primitive, innate reactions any mom has is to comfort her crying child. But as we’ve talked about here before, many babies can tolerate — and thrive — with some crying, when their parents thoughtfully decide why and when that might be necessary. That’s why articles like this leave me mystified — especially when they come from one of my shrink colleagues. Her bottom line is that CIO is dangerous. She trots out all the old arguments, hailing the Dr. Sears “science” behind her claims, and…

So Close
School Report Back

Tertia

27 Jan 2012 | 5:48 am

Touch wood, things are going swimmingly well so far! The twins have settled in to Grade 1 really well. They each have a lovely teacher and as I keep saying, I absolutely love our school. I don't have any experience with other schools (my schooling was so long ago that it is all a distant memory*) so I can't say if our school is any better or any worse than other schools, but I am extremely happy with how things are run. Everything is so organized and so efficient. And the support I get from the other professionals on site (the educational psychologist and OT) is fantastic.

mod*mom
Organic House

modmom

2 Jan 2012 | 11:56 pm

i want this organic house i saw on hgtvarquitecturaorganica
molecular level testing :: targeted cancer treatment :: is my cancer different

modmom

3 Nov 2011 | 1:18 pm

my cancer is different: extra aggressive her2neu breast cancer with grim prognosis + not calcified.molecular-level testing prescribed the targeted cancer drug herceptin, in addition to chemo, shrank my huge tumor completely, but i still had to have deforming surgery + radiation, in case a single cell of cancer survived. detecting cancer that isn't calcified, like "my different cancer" that mammograms aren't designed to detect, requires an MRI + self exams.i wish detecting breast cancer didn't depend on waiting for a tumor to grow.
google doodle :: mary blair 100th birthday

modmom

21 Oct 2011 | 11:36 am

mary blair google doodle today :: it's a small world illustrator designer 100th birthday :) vintage mary blair designs :: i want to take mod*tot to it's a small world!!!

Blogging Mama
Julep committed to making your nails vibrant and colorful

Tina

26 Jan 2012 | 12:15 am

As promised from my friends at Julep.com, a Sneak Peek Box arrived today for me to try. The box included the Julep Glow On Age Defying Hand Brightener, Taylor Julep Nail Vernis, and Maya Julep Nail Vernis. I like that Julep is committed to creating vibrant nail colors and the most effective Mani and Pedi Care products, without the useless toxins and cacinogens. Watch out for my product review on Julep Maven. My initial unboxing thoughts, however, is telling me that I’ll have vibrant nail colors over the weekend. Let’s see how this goes.
Kung Hei Fat Choi (Happy New Year)

Tina

23 Jan 2012 | 10:41 pm

January 23,2012 is Chinese New Year and in Chinese astrology it is the year of the water dragon. It is believed that the year of the dragon brings growth and change in career, love and life. A great feasting is also celebrated to bring abundance, happiness, prosperity, good health and long life. The food to be prepared always symbolizes something. I only prepared two types of food among the long list in the Chinese culture. Sauted Rice Stick (Pancit Bihon) and Sweet and Sour Fish. Noodles symbolize longevity. It stands for long life and is said to be unlucky to cut up a strand when cooking.
Black and White Cookie tops New York Cupcakes

Tina

19 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm

While craving for sweets today, I decided to stop by three bakeshops near my office that are popular for their cupcakes. However, I ended grabbing my favorite New York Black and White Cookie. Baked by Melissa at 109 East 42nd Street is famous for their bite-size stuffed cupcakes. They also have In Chocolate, mini cupcakes dipped in chocolate. The cupcakes are cute and adorable but I still have to try them if they are as good as they look. I also visited Magnolia Bakery at Grand Central. Their cupcakes became more popular after the girls from “Sex and the City” was seen in one of…

Pregnancy Stories By Age
Another baby at 44

Catherine

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

Hey, I conceived twins at 42! And then another baby at 44.I'll soon be 47, and no sign of another one yet. I'm thinking things might be winding down here. And that's okay. I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams!Never did I imagine having four babies in my 40's!Photo credit: ecahalAll rights reservedLife Begins... - Miscarriage stories of loss, hope & helpStories of Pregnancy over 44 years old - sharing stories I find online, for inspiration!You Can Get Pregnant in Your 40's - Sharing articles, discussing options & suggestions
Pregnant with 1st at 44

Catherine

26 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

I'm 44 on September 6th and found out last Wednesday that I'm pregnant with my first baby. Baby is due May 3/07 according to internet.First Doctor's appointment is on September 20th. I'm a little afraid due to all the statistics, but I believe God gave us this blessing and I'm going to stay positive.I was glad to find a place for my age to post where God is glorified. Hubby and I got married last year. He has a 19 year old daughter having her first baby in December!This is my first marriage and first pregnancy.Photo credit: loserladyAll rights reservedLife Begins... - Miscarriage stories of…
Six weeks along at 44

Catherine

25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

I am 44 and due on April 10/07... only six weeks along right now, but my first ultrasound looked good this week!I have a 19 year old son, an 18 year old daughter and an 11 year old step-son. All siblings are very excited about this upcoming birth!I will be 45 at delivery but am at complete peace with this pregnancy as I know it is all in God's hands. My husband and I were not expecting this at all, but we are feeling truly blessed and excited beyond belief!I'm glad I found this site as it is very encouraging... Thank You!Photo credit: coolzaAll rights reservedLife Begins... - Miscarriage…

dooce® main feed
Joshu's Dog

dooce

27 Jan 2012 | 12:45 pm

Has a dog Buddha-nature? This is the most serious question of all. If you say yes or no, You lose your own Buddha-nature. click image above to see the photo on dooce.comby dooce in Daily Chuck© Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Joshu's Dog. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.
Stash

dooce

27 Jan 2012 | 12:19 pm

Yesterday while I was out I ran across a stuffed puppy and could not resist bringing it home to Marlo. Okay. Lie. I ran across two stuffed puppies. When I got home I held them behind my back, but she could see the foot of one of the puppies peeking out and OH MY GOD the squeal. "HOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEE!" It shot me straight in the gut and almost knocked me over. I folded up that moment and put it in my pocket. click image above to see the photo on dooce.comby dooce in Daily Photo© Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Stash. This…
Fire drill

dooce

26 Jan 2012 | 1:48 pm

The last three days have been a clumsy stumble through my thoughts and over my feet, and suddenly I'm gripped with almost paralyzing fear. I expected to feel profound sadness, but I didn't know I'd get this scared. Fear over absolutely nothing and then everything all at once. It's like a scene in a movie where you suddenly notice the ghost of a little girl peeking inside the window. This morning at 5 AM the smoke detectors in my room and Leta's room started beeping. The piercing sound lasted about ten seconds and then stopped just as abruptly as it had started. Five minutes later the smoke…

Stories of Pregnancy & Birth over 44 years old
Cynthia Nixon, 44, Welcomes a Son

Catherine

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

February 8, 2011 - It's a boy for Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni!Marinoni gave birth to the couple's son, Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni, on Monday, Feb. 7, Nixon's rep confirms."Christine and baby are doing great," her rep tells PEOPLE.Nixon, 44, and Marinoni, 43, began dating in 2004 and announced their engagement in 2009. The Sex and the City star has two children, Samantha, 14, and Charles, 8, from her previous relationship with teacher Danny Mozes.Read rest of articleFollow us on Twitter, join the conversation on our Facebook page, circle us on Google+.More "Pregnancy Over 40" blogs…
Grandma who's a mum again at 53

Catherine

26 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

At the age of 53, Debbie Hughes imagined the only babies she would be looking after would be her granddaughters.Instead, despite taking the contraceptive Pill, she has become one of Britain's oldest ever naturally conceiving mothers – giving birth to a healthy baby boy named Kyle.Miss Hughes took a pregnancy test after her family teased her about putting on weight, expecting the notion that she was having another child to be swiftly ruled out.But after putting on her reading glasses to decipher the result, the astonishing news began to sink in.Read rest of articleFollow us on Twitter, join…
Sam Taylor-Wood welcomes her 2nd child

Catherine

25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

Artist/director Sam Taylor-Wood and fiancé Aaron Johnson have become parents again to a baby girl.The new arrival - whose name has not been revealed - was born this month, joining big sister Wylda Rae, 18 months.The birth means Nowhere Boy star Johnson is now outnumbered in a house full of females, along with Taylor-Wood's two older daughters Anjelica, 14, and Jessie, five, from her previous marriage to art dealer Jay Jopling.Read rest of articleFollow us on Twitter, join the conversation on our Facebook page, circle us on Google+.More "Pregnancy Over 40" blogs to visit:Life Begins... -…

Mommies With Style
I’ve Lost My Workout Mojo

Whitney

27 Jan 2012 | 9:44 am

After posting a little over a week ago about how my stupid 30-something body does not want to let me lose weight easily, I’ve been slowly losing my exercise mojo. Another week gone by of working hard and I stayed the same in my weight. So this week, I’ve totally lost it. I know how this story goes because it’s happened before – I bust myself for a few weeks, don’t like the results and then I fall off the bandwagon. Today’s Friday and here I am dressed for the gym and I’m on my couch. They’ve kicked me off the wagon and I’m sitting in the…
Fashion Friday: Colorful Jewelry

Whitney

27 Jan 2012 | 5:37 am

Recently, I had to research a style piece for jewelry trends for the spring and summer. The overwhelming consensus with those “in the know” with fashion trends was that colored or colorful jewelry (and bold) is going to be the trend in the coming months. Why not get a jump start on the spring with some of these colorful pieces of jewelry? If nothing else, the color will give you a little bright fun during an otherwise snowy or rainy day. Drop earrings are also in! I love the look of having dangly earrings with a simple necklace (I like to go simple earrings if my necklace is…
Valentine’s Day #Giveaway with Cracker Barrel

Whitney

26 Jan 2012 | 7:21 am

Hey Moms, remember that awesome 12 Days of Giveaways I did over Christmas? One of the giveaways we had was an awesome giveaway from Cracker Barrel. Now, back by popular demand, we have another giveaway from Cracker Barrel! Did you know that not only is Cracker Barrel a restaurant but they have a store attached to everyone restaurant where you can get great gifts and items for your family? Everything in the Valentine’s Day themed picture above is available at the Cracker Barrel store online or in person. One lucky Mommies with Style winner will win a Valentine’s Day themed…

Hot Mommas® (blog)
How to make more money, be more successful, and have more fun in 2012

hotmommas

11 Jan 2012 | 11:19 am

I’m in a group called “Circle.” Here, each month, eight of us confide about business and personal matters to trusted advisors. It pretty much rocks. Kassie Rempel is one of the members. Today, I received what I deemed a “Circle 911” from another member of the group.
#46 – How to Build a Million Dollar Business Part Time

hotmommas

19 Nov 2011 | 4:39 pm

If you want to build a million dollar business, Cameron Herold is the man to help you do it. Welcome, my home slices, to a new (or renewed belief system. In yourself.
Can Just One Person Make a Difference for Women and Girls? Rachel Eberhardt Says Yes, and Leads the Way as Sis U Winner

hotmommas

23 Sep 2011 | 2:55 pm

Do you think just one person can make a difference for women and girls?

june cleaver nirvana
snow holiday

Holly

20 Jan 2012 | 8:55 pm

June Cleaver Nirvana is on a snow holiday and will resume normal business next week. In a week without email and internet {intentional}, the only checking in I did was on Epic Mix.
vegetarian sliders

Holly

13 Jan 2012 | 7:57 am

OK, I have been promising this for over a week now. This was a Quinoa experiment that went VERY WELL. I made Vegetarian Sliders which is just perfect for that {indoor} January picnic. This recipe was inspired by two I came across on Pinterest – both used Quinoa and the recipes were very similar. One was Quinoa Burger from Eating Well…Living Thin and the other was Cheesy Quinoa Cakes from Spoon Fork Bacon. Both appear on my Recipes I like {already tried} board. I made a few modifications and turned them into mini sandwiches…because tiny food just tastes better.
irs, ftc and google

Holly

12 Jan 2012 | 9:27 pm

It is funny. I am the most opinionated person I know, yet when I write that is not what comes out. It may be my head saying…don’t split your audience! It may just be that things that I am emotional about are harder to write. Either way, this place {my writing home} has turned into a non-controversial haven. Every silly story has a happy ending! *insert smiley face here* A year or so ago I wrote a melancholy piece about what it means to be a mom blogger. That resulted in my email inbox being filled with concerned friends that I might be losing it. I wasn’t. Perkiness is a…

Toddler Planet
How did we get here?

Susan / @WhyMommy

22 Jan 2012 | 10:43 am

– A conversation with my husband, shortly after arriving home this afternoon with fresh oxygen tanks, spots on my liver, fluid pushing around my lungs (likely filled with cancer, as are the tumors inside) and at least one broken vertebra that must be healed before we resume any kind of treatment. – How did we get here? I asked my love, across the bed strewn with children’s toys, books, and an oxygen tank. We got here because of your amazing strength, commitment, and love for your family that you have shown since you were diagnosed – almost 5 years since diagnosis, 4.5…
A little trouble

Susan / @WhyMommy

17 Jan 2012 | 3:07 pm

I’ve been having shortness of breath for several weeks, which we chalked up to the pneumonia, but it’s just gotten worse. Yesterday I had trouble just walking from one room to the next. Today, just sitting on the couch with a friend. In fact, I’m still having trouble, even though I’ve been hooked up to the oxygen all day. We’re going to the ER now, to get scans, at the direction of my oncologist. Please pray for us tonight. Love to you all and all whom you love, Susan Filed under: breast cancer, cancer, chemotherapy, community, faith, friends, health, hope…
Looking for help? (cancer)

Susan / @WhyMommy

13 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pm

I’m still fighting pneumonia and the associated fatigue, but I received the most beautiful scarf in the mail from the people at L. Erickson’s Good Wishes program, which sends a silk scarf or head wrap to anyone losing their hair as a result of illness or treatment. I’m assuming they mean cancer only and not alopecia, but it couldn’t hurt to ask! Thank you, Good Wishes! I’ve updated a resource page at Mothers With Cancer accordingly — check there if you’re helping a cancer patient and looking for resources for cleaning, cooking, hats and scarves,…

Fluid Pudding
With a #2 Pencil to Fill in the Spaces

fluidpudding

26 Jan 2012 | 3:49 pm

My Vibe: I’m still sort of cranky, sort of feeling the post-holiday whatevers, but totally excited about the link a friend sent to me on how to make hummus out of sweet potatoes. Stay tuned. Hummus is about to get very interesting at my house. Turning Pages: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a great choice to fit that First Book of 2012 category. I’m about a third of the way in (I read only at night, and I tend to fall asleep with the spunk of a narcoleptic), but I’m loving it. Quantum mechanically speaking, I really do believe that another me is out there being all…
Der Stiefel!

fluidpudding

24 Jan 2012 | 9:09 pm

Yesterday morning I drove about ten miles south to meet a sports medicine orthopedic guy about my ankle. He took an x-ray of both legs (posterior tibial stress fracture in the left, nothing in the right!) and an MRI of my left ankle (results pending!). He also told me that I might need to think about cross-training as I work toward the 5K gig. Me: Does that have anything to do with swimming? Because I can’t swim. Doctor: No. I’m talking about the treadmill and perhaps a stationary bike. Me: Would you like me to ride a horse? I’ve never ridden one! Doctor: No horses. Me: How…
Bees and the Bedecking of my Blowhole

fluidpudding

21 Jan 2012 | 7:21 pm

I absolutely love that most of you remember the spelling word that took you down in elementary school. The word that Meredith will remember for the rest of her life? Defiantly. The great news? Meredith finished in third place. (Of course, because she’s just like me, she HATES that she came in third. She’s PISSED that she came in third. This anger will drive her to work extra hard next year.) ((She knew Defiantly. She got nervous and tripped. Many of the other participants did the same thing. In fact, the very first speller missed his very first (and only) word. My heart broke for…

champuru.net
New Leaf

Donna

19 Jan 2012 | 4:01 am

One day, Lil’ K asked me if I could pick her up from school without the car so that we could walk home. We live a stone’s throw away from the preschool, so I thought this would be a great idea. I assured her that if it wasn’t raining, then we would walk home together. Our walks are wonderful. Lil’ K just loves the outdoors and is enamored with nature. We play made-up games like “old leaf, new leaf” where I ask her to find an old leaf or a new leaf on the ground as we’re walking. Finding old fallen leaves on the ground is simple. The street is lined…
Pre-planning for the inevitable

Donna

18 Jan 2012 | 8:12 pm

As the saying goes, “‘In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Death is an inevitability that all of us will encounter someday, but none of us like to think about. (Taxes, too, but that’s another story entirely.) In 1977, my parents made the wise decision to pre-plan their funeral/burial expenses. They purchased a plan which covered most of the expenses associated with their passing. For $1300, they secured 4 cemetery plots – now valued at over $7500 for EACH plot!. (This is only the cost of the land itself and does not cover the…
Drawing Together

Donna

18 Jan 2012 | 3:44 am

Despite the many toys that Lil’ K has, one of her favorite pastimes involves only a box of crayons and a sheet of paper. As I draw with Lil’ K I am noticing that she tries to imitate. This is today’s example. Although I am not a great artist, I think there is benefit to drawing with your child to encourage their interest and creativity. Now I totally want to take an art class.

Momo Fali's
Planning Ahead

Momo Fali

26 Jan 2012 | 9:16 pm

My nine year old son got upset last night watching his 13 year old sister use the calculator on her cell phone. That’s right, my kids fight over math. You can’t touch this kind of brilliance. Or, geekdom. My son was complaining because he wants a cell phone and telling him he had to wait until he was 13 apparently came across as, “You have to wait an eternity! Mwah ha ha!” Then I waved my wand and threw some eye of newt on his pizza. So, I made a deal with him. I said, “If you get good grades and are well-behaved, you can get a cell phone when you’re…
10 Tips on How to Choose a Personal Trainer

Momo Fali

24 Jan 2012 | 9:59 am

On the heels of my How Not to Make a Dog Vomit post, I thought I’d go with another “how-to.” This pretty much means I’m an expert…in everything. My husband and I recently splurged for the cost of a personal trainer. First of all, it’s not as expensive to hire a trainer in Ohio as it is in more metropolitan areas and secondly, I figure the money we spend on it will save us in doctor bills later. Other than the cost, I can’t say anything negative about this experience thus far. Even the pain feels great. I know I’m getting stronger because of it…
How Not to Make a Dog Vomit

Momo Fali

19 Jan 2012 | 12:14 am

The first time it happened, I had to tackle her. I was pregnant, with bulbous belly, tromping around the back yard with a spoon in one hand and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in the other. I took her down on the small hill next to our house. Once I had her trapped underneath me I didn’t really know what to do. How would I remove the bottle cap, pour peroxide into the spoon and shove it into the mouth of a 65 pound, squirming Labrador? I did it, but it wasn’t pretty; nor was what came out of her stomach about 10 minutes later. Have you seen The Exorcist? Yeah, that. Thirteen years…

Single Mom Seeking
My story about getting optioned

singlemomseeking

3 Jan 2012 | 7:07 pm

It was last summer — before I got pregnant — when I opened this email from a guy in “TV comedy development” at 20th Century Fox. I read it quickly: “I came upon your book Single Mom Seeking and we’re interested in optioning your title for possible development… Please don’t hesitate to contact me.” My eyes went to the word “possible.” Yes, he’d said possible. The skeptic in me translated this to mean “illusive.” So, I’d skimmed his email again and thought, “This can’t be for real.”…
He loves hardwood

singlemomseeking

12 Dec 2011 | 3:27 pm

It probably won’t surprise you that Thunderpants is the kind of man who loves hardwood floors. And me? I am drawn to the look and feel of bamboo, like these from Empire Flooring. During our extensive after-hours talks, we’ve even toyed with some far-out ideas, like using reclaimed whiskey barrels (photo below). One concerned friend did ask: “But will it make your home smell like whiskey all the time?” Fortunately, we have agreed about one thing: no carpet. After more research, however, he has made some good points: although bamboo is renewable (it’s a grass that…
Pregnant again

singlemomseeking

12 Nov 2011 | 6:29 pm

“Everyone take one more guess,” Thunderpants said. “Boy or girl?“ We all guessed “boy,” including our daughter. The first time I was pregnant, more than a decade ago, I wanted my baby’s gender to be a surprise. I didn’t want to carry around any preconceived notions about having a boy vs. a girl. And I wanted to be surprised when I gave birth. It was amazing how many people asked me, “Are you having a boy or a girl?” — and seemed shocked that I didn’t want to know. Looking back, I can’t believe that I had the…

A Mom in Red High Heels - Beauty & Style Tips for Moms
In Honor of Charla Krupp: Key Tips For Looking Younger

Tammy Gibson

27 Jan 2012 | 1:17 am

Author and beauty adviser, Charla Krupp lost the battle to breast cancer on Monday at age 58. Charla wrote a couple of really great books that I often refer to called, “HOW TO NEVER LOOK FAT AGAIN: Over 1000 Ways to Dress Thinner Without Dieting” and “HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look Ten Years Younger, Ten Pounds Lighter, Ten Times Better.” Charla was also, at one time, Beauty Director for Glamour magazine. In honor of Charla and her great work, here are some of my favorite tips from her book “HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD: Fast and Effortless Ways to…
Twisted Silver Flash Sale TODAY

Tammy Gibson

26 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

Ladies, send your man to Twisted-Silver.com TODAY to shop for Valentines Day gifts for you (or go ahead and shop for yourself)! Details below! Don’t miss this! *Sale is from 4-9pm Pacific time on Thursday, January 26 *Over 20 beautiful designs will be up to 64% off for 5 hours only *CRUSH is a special exclusive necklace never-before-seen-and-not-available-anywhere gift with purchases over $100. Only available as a gift during the Flash Sale while supplies last… it’s not going into the regular collection (see above) *Free shipping on orders over $100 *One contest every hour…
Red High Heels: The Year of the Dragon

Tammy Gibson

24 Jan 2012 | 2:40 am

The Year of the Dragon should be celebrated properly…by wearing a red high heel featuring a black dragon print! Isn’t the Asian print gorgeous? $58 Pin Up Girl Clothing Related posts: Red High Heels: Sexy Details What’s not to love about this sexy high heel? It’s... 2011 Edition: The 12 Days of Red High Heels- Day 10 On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave... The Finest Red High Heels Have Gold Heels Who else thinks these heels are hot, hot, hot? If... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

A Mommy Story
Appreciating Hot Water (Especially When It's Gone)

Christina

25 Jan 2012 | 8:13 am

It's easy to take for granted so many of the conveniences in our lives. Our homes have electric, heating and cooling, indoor plumbing, and so many other little things that make the day-to-day existence more comfortable. I'm so used to all of these things that I never really appreciate them until they're gone. (Wait...does internet access count as one of those modern conveniences? 'Cause I'm a panicky, weepy mess when that goes out in the house.) But lately one first-world comfort has been making our lives a little more...exciting? frustrating? game-show-like? (Take your pick, really.)…
What I've Been Up To This Week

Christina

20 Jan 2012 | 6:30 pm

It's been a busy week for me. Aside from the normal work, kids, dog, etc., I also had a quick flight out to New York for one of those "is this really happening to me" moments. Why? I'm now a brand ambassador for Slim-Fast for the next 4 months. I'll be updating my progress on Losing My Hind and hosting some giveaways soon on Mommy's Must Haves. But I'll be sure to give you all a heads up here as well so you don't miss out on a chance at some freebies! Now just cross your fingers and hope that the winter storm heading our way doesn't keep us stuck in the house all weekend. Because then I might…
Not So Funny?

Christina

16 Jan 2012 | 8:56 am

I was reading through Facebook updates last week and came across an image shared by a friend of mine. Like so many of the word images shared on Facebook, I immediately laughed when I read it. The image? But more interesting was the commentary beneath it. My friend also found this funny, saying this was so like her. Another of her friends, however, replied that as a mother of a child with ADD, she didn't find it funny at all. Hmmm. It make me wonder if I should feel guilty for laughing? Would this be considered making fun of a disability? I don't know. I mean, for many types of humor,…

DeliciousBaby.com
Photo Friday: 70's Carseat

26 Jan 2012 | 3:32 pm

Strolee of California Car Seat Instructions I've been helping my mom clean out her house, and I found this old instruction sheet from the carseat I sat in when I was a child. The seat's goal was more about lifting the child up to see out the window than about safety, though I'm sure that not having a toddler wriggle out of the lap belt was a real benefit! It's a reminder about how much things have changed in terms of keeping our kids safe when we head out on a road trip. Related Links How to Choose a Booster Seat Best Bet Car Seats for Every Age What is Photo Friday? Post a travel photo on…
Weekly Deals and Great Giveaways for Jan 26

26 Jan 2012 | 2:47 pm

Featured Family Travel Deal Jet Blue's Winter Fare Sale includes deals beginning at just $59 including taxes. We're planning a New York in the spring, so I'm excited about round trip fares from Seattle to New York for just $320 including taxes! Whistler lodging and lift ticket packages offer some great rates for a midwinter ski break. With much of the country experiencing lower than usual levels of snow, this could be a great choice. Want to learn more? Check out my Whistler with Kids Guide Featured Travel Gear Deal In the market for a new car seat or booster? Amazon is running specials on…
Best Bet Carseats for Every Age

24 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

Yesterday I posted an exhaustive post about how to choose a booster seat. Admittedly, it's a lot of work to scour all the resources I listed and pick the best carseat for your family. With three kids age 2, 5, and 6, I've bought my fair share of carseats, and I thought I'd share the choices I would make for different situations. Best Bet Infat Seat Graco Snugride Car Seat We used the Graco Snugride carseat for all three of our kids. Why? It's got a great safety track record, it's inexpensive, and you can buy a second base to keep in a second car or to use when you travel. Unlike some seats,…

Single Mom | Single Mom Blog | Ms. Single Mama
Kissing in front of the kids (gasp).

mssinglemama

24 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am

I know I will get blasted for this one. But, whatever, bring on the hate. This is reality, this is love and this is modern parenthood. We both put our children first and care about them more than anything in the world. What’s the most amazing of all is how much we have all fallen in love with each other.————One of our hugs leads to a kiss.When we open our eyes all three are staring up at us. Their heads tilted upwards and smiles spread across their faces. All of them, beaming the purest form of happiness. Collectively they look like a little cheering section for…
New year. New job?

mssinglemama

14 Jan 2012 | 3:06 pm

Three years ago this May I quit my day job.Some of you called me crazy, but most of you were cheering me on. I was “crazy” I guess. I left a solid career at a solid advertising agency during a recession to chase a dream of working for myself. Why? Because I was tired of trying to fit their rigid, corporate structure – and all of the bull that comes with it – into my life as a single mother. Try explaining 9-5 to a two year old who needs you more than anything in the world. And try explaining to a typical boss that motherhood is more important than their bottom…
And then there were three…

mssinglemama

9 Jan 2012 | 8:11 pm

And I absolutely love them all.The Mr. and I were talking today about blending families. From our initial digging on Amazon, it doesn’t look like there are very many books on the subject for modern single parents.Any others out there becoming step-parents or blending families with young children? Tips or advice? Or what questions do you have about it all? Let’s start the discussion here… and see where it takes us. I’m thinking another Website entirely could be in order. Maybe with both his and my perspectives?Related posts:Research.A dad you have to meetGetting over…

Suburban Kamikaze
Separated at birth

Suburban Kamikaze

27 Jan 2012 | 8:43 pm

Seventeen years and 3,000 gallons of milk later, a full-grown man has sprung up right before our eyes. I'm not going to lie to you, we did it for the money.
An optimist sees the chair as half empty

Suburban Kamikaze

20 Jan 2012 | 1:36 pm

from our winter clearance sale: A Blizzard Runs Through It, Cold Play, The 5 Stages of Winter
Putting the "i" in honor roll

Suburban Kamikaze

18 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am

We are working our way through a list of class choices for her freshman year when the girl's anxiety begins to show. She begins high school in the fall, and as chair of the household Education and Paperwork Committee, it's my job to ensure that all 987 pieces of paper associated with registration and class selection are filled out, lost and then rediscovered in a pile of dust behind the couch at the last possible minute. As chair of the Stuff that Requires Tools Committee, it is Mr. Kamikaze's job to roll his eyes while fixing things that the children and I adamantly deny having…

Greeblemonkey
My Non-Sleep Sleep Week

26 Jan 2012 | 12:51 pm

Sometimes I forget I have a sleep disorder. Because, so long ago, we mostly fixed it.It used to be, I would wake up screaming, flailing, punching, crying - and swearing there were people in the room attacking me. About three times a week. For years and year and years. For so long I didn't realize how unnormal it all was.Then I got tired of hurting my husband, tired of feeling terrible, tired of fearing bedtime - just plain tired.So, I had a therapy, a sleep study, was diagnosed with "arousal disorder" - I still giggle when I say that - and started taking large doses of crazy meds.That was…
That Time My Video Was Playing in Times Square.

24 Jan 2012 | 10:41 am

Here is how this all happened.1. I was asked to speak at EVO.2. I was on a photography panel with Jenny Cisney of Kodak.3. Jenny had some leftover cameras from the conference and I grabbed the waterproof Playsport.3. I spent the summer shooting water footage.4. I put it all together along with a song by friends here in town, My Body Sings Electric.5. I sent it to Jenny.6. She told me about a contest the camera folks were running for the Playsport.7. I didn't win the grand prize in the contest.8. But I did get a runner-up prize - which was having my video play every 15 minutes on the Kodak…
Lovely Friends, Lovely Time at Alt Summit

22 Jan 2012 | 2:18 pm

I am in the airport, waiting for my flight back to Denver from Salt Lake City. My mind is a blur of ideas and emotions from Alt Summit. But one thing sticks out. Well, three things actually. Three friends who I have known online for a while, who I met in person for the first time at Camp Shutter Sisters, and who made this past weekend one of the funnest I have had in a long time. Many thanks to Meghan, Lindsey and Mae for being a big huge dose of awesome.P.S. Photo shamelessly stolen from Meghan's Instagram feed.P.P.S. Mae stole it first.

whoorl
New York

whoorl

26 Jan 2012 | 2:46 pm

The one nice thing about flying to New York and back for one day of work is that I can recap every detail of my trip in 13 photos. Proceed! Sunday morning. The family drops me off at the airport. Wita starts crying. Wito starts crying. I start crying. While completely heart-wrenching at first, I quickly deduce that the children aren’t, in fact, crying solely due to my departure. Nope, at this point, they are competitvely trying to OUT-CRY one another, resulting in some eardrum-shattering decibels and concerned looks from bystanders. Thanks for the sendoff, little ones. Fly to New York.
I Might Buy Something Today (+ Instagram Update)

whoorl

21 Jan 2012 | 9:55 am

1. I’m leaving for New York tomorrow morning. I’ll actually BE in New York for 36 hours. Way too short, if you ask me. 2. I’m filming some spring fashion and beauty segments, and I need to dress appropriately. 3. I’m probably going to buy something today. At J. Crew. Because I CAN’T CONTROL MYSELF. 4. But I’m going to be on film, people! Talking about spring! Shouldn’t this situation give me a No Shopping Challenge pardon or something? I didn’t buy anything new for last week’s style documentary, but this is too much! 5. I’m a loser…
How To Create Loose Waves (The No-Clamp Curling Iron Method)

whoorl

20 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

You know what I think you should do this weekend? Create soft, loose, and bouncy curls in your hair and make all the other ladies completely envious. Awwww, yeahhhh. For those of you who go waayyyy back with me, my very first hair tutorial involved creating loose curls with a curling iron, but not using the clamp. (I did that post 5 years ago. Isn’t that crazy?!) Well, five years later, I finally decided to update that tutorial with a video for Style United. (It was actually early last year, hence the shorter hair length.) Take a gander if you’re interested. (Remember how my 2012…

Southern Bella's Ways To Save | Southern Mom Blog | Frugal Living | Reviews & Giveaways
Pin It Friday: Disney-licious

Kas

27 Jan 2012 | 3:08 pm

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting Pin It Friday with Pinterest so I decided to join in on the fun and share some of my favorite Disney-licious pins. Disney is all the talk right now with all the news... More here
My New Year Trop50 True Resolutions

Kas

26 Jan 2012 | 5:34 pm

I know it’s a little late to be sharing New Years resolutions, but hey it’s still January right? In 2012, I want to lose weight in order to do more adventurous stuff. In late December I... More here
And The Winner Is… General Mills Cereal Prize Pack

Kas

26 Jan 2012 | 5:15 pm

The winner of the General Mills Cereal Prize Pack is post #65 Ashley Hatten who said “rss feed reader subscriber” Thanks for sharing~ CONGRATS! I’ll get in contact with you so I can... More here

Secret Agent Josephine
Free Little Valentine Book (for the Kindle and devices using Kindle apps)

SAJ

26 Jan 2012 | 6:30 pm

I forgot to tell you guys I have a free book out today!! (How could I forget something like that? I don’t know!!!) It’s basically a bunch of my Valentine art all in one place that you can download on your Kindle or phone (if you have the kindle app) and you can share with your sweetheart. Kinda like a little “phonetine”. Wouldn’t it be fun to send this to your sweetheart as a gift of maybe cuddle up with your kiddos on Valentine’s Day and read it to them? I think so. Anyway, it’s FREE until midnight tonight! So if you want it, get on it! Free is…
Valentine Hand-Warmers

SAJ

26 Jan 2012 | 12:09 pm

Bug and I made some super cozy warm Valentine Hand-Warmer’s for Alpha+Mom yesterday. We tried them on the commute to school this morning. They were awesome! Perfect for pockets and that tight spot on your shoulder (that I ALWAYS have). Bug doesn’t like how her’s smelled like cooked rice so I think I’m going to make some more with dried lavender mixed in. Check ‘em out! I wonder if coffee beans would microwave…?
The Magical, Mystical, Wonderful, Six-in-the-Sticks Fairy Birthday Party!

SAJ

23 Jan 2012 | 7:31 am

You know what they always tell me: It always works out. This party was no exception. No matter how much you fret and worry and freak-out about the severe storm warnings, the wind, the lack of space, the unknown-non-rsvp-ing mystery guest list, the kids who get bored in five minutes if there isn’t a bounce house and all the many many things you wish you could fix in your old broken-down mobile home…it all works out. It all worked out perfectly thanks to many whispered prayers. Of course everything started really early in the morning. I was making the stump cake (which by the way…

Simply Being Mommy
$100 Thirty-One Gifts Gift Card Giveaway

Crystal

27 Jan 2012 | 9:47 pm

TweetI think I’ve just found a way to save my checkbook while still buying those cute boutique inspired goodies that I’ve become addicted to. Not that I need another addiction (chocolate and purses is enough) in this economy. I was just recently introduced to Thirty-One Gifts and I loved reading how it all started. Thirty-One comes from Proverbs 31, and every day, I strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman. Just reading why Cindy started Thirty-One, reminds me of why I started this blog. Thirty-One Gifts is currently running a promotion on two styles of their Thermal Totes. They are…
CutiesKids.com Cutest Kid Video Contest + Giveaway

Crystal

26 Jan 2012 | 7:49 pm

TweetIf you could see my grocery shopping list each week, there are some things that are weekly needs and Cuties are always on the list. Not only do I love them for a quick and easy snack, the kids eat them up like candy. Cuties has recently introduced a new website that was created especially for the little ones. The site will feature videos and pictures that have been uploaded by proud parents, featuring all the fun, silly and cute things that kids do best. But it doesn’t end with bragging rights — Cuties is giving away a college scholarship worth $150,000 to the star of the…
Queso Burger

Crystal

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Tweet Dinner time is a special time in our house. I especially look forward to this time because I get to talk with the whole family and we just share everything about our day — the good and the bad! It seems like dinner time is the only time that we have where we are all seated together and things are somewhat calm. Before dinner, it’s the rush of homework, and after dinner, it’s the rush of cleaning up the dinner mess, getting the kids cleaned up for the next day and then, I have to get all the blog work done. So, needless to say, dinner time is our family’s special…

Mommy Needs Coffee
My dog can out-read your dog because he is a hipster, yo. (Nearly Wordless Wednesday)

Jenn

4 Jan 2012 | 10:52 pm

This is my Doberbutt. He is hipster, yo. And sometimes, he can chase a ball. But he prefers to listen to Dub Step and watch indie movies.
Ready. Set. The beginning of the last semester at 3 schools.

Jenn

3 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am

Today marks the second semester of this school year. As I frantically try to get the kids back into a routine, I don’t have time to think about what a monumental year this will be for all of my children. But as the house became quiet and it was just me and the Doberbutt, it sank it. It is my oldest son’s graduating year. After 13 years we are finally seeing the finish line. I will admit with no shame at all, I did cry when I ordered his graduation announcements and they handed me his “commemorative tassel” to mark this his senior year. How did it go by so quickly? It…
Some sort of resolutions that I may or may not keep but chances are I’ll break one before I even hit publish.

Jenn

2 Jan 2012 | 10:24 pm

Let’s face it, I don’t really do resolutions. These are the goals I wrote last year. Yeah. I sucked. So why set myself up to look back at 2012 and think “Gee, that was a massive fail.” There are some I will do (or die trying) without a doubt. Finish and hand over to my agent my original manuscript. Bonus points if I can hand over the one I wrote when I couldn’t write the first one. Goal date for my agent to be blown away: 6/2/12. (That gives me 6 months to edit and polish at least one.) Blog here at least every other day. Okay, let’s be real here: at least…

Lavagal
Converting Hot Flashes into Athletic Prowess

lavagal

22 Jan 2012 | 11:39 pm

I’ve joked about losing my grip on the slippery rope of youth. I ride my bicycle because I love it, but deep down I want it to keep me young. I swim because I love it, but deep down, I want it to keep me young and slim and lithe. When I run, I don’t really love it, but after the first mile or so, I forget about the twinges in my ankle, the knees don’t bug me as much, and I sink into my zone of breathing and keeping cadence with my feet, lost in my thoughts. Before I know it, I’m done, and I’m very glad I’ve done it. Why? Because I think it will keep me…
What’s at the End of Your Rainbow?

lavagal

20 Jan 2012 | 3:41 pm

If you own a business and you are successful, then it’s probably OK to make your avatar on Twitter and your profile pic on Facebook your favorite body parts, or your favorite finger with your tongue sticking out behind it. It’s funny, it’s startling, and people look at them. This is exactly what you want, need, and crave. It’s your little piece of virtual real estate with which to do what you wish. Expose yourself on the Internet carefully. Consider the outside chance that something might change. You might like the idea of having a job where there’s an HR…
Kona Winds, Vog, Hawaii Paragliding Association

lavagal

17 Jan 2012 | 1:48 am

Paragliders make faces in the sky above Diamond Head Lookout. I know it’s not nice to whine about the weather in Hawaii. But in the winter we sometimes experience Kona breezes — hot, muggy, winds from the south that deliver high humidity and vog, aka, volcanic haze. I don’t think any of us actually like being hot and sticky with stuffy noses and, for those of us with asthma, coughs that make us sound like we’re hacking up Hawaiian hair balls. For more information visit www.windlines.net. Here’s a video of a few guys in the sky. Here’s a video of a perfect…

Sleepless Nights
My blog is not about you, or what you want.

Veronica

27 Jan 2012 | 6:28 pm

In the last couple of months, I’ve seen a few posts about the tracks that haven’t sat terribly well with me. Bloggers trying to justify why they’re not reading a certain other blog, or why they’re not commenting, or not driven to subscribe. And I’m here to say: My blog is not about you, or what you want. No, it really really isn’t. It REALLY isn’t. I write my blog because it makes me happy. I’ve slowly developed a like-minded community here, who enjoy what I write and have followed me along in this journey. Frankly, this is awesome and this is…
Maybe this one will be a wizard, rather than a toad

Veronica

25 Jan 2012 | 1:35 am

When Isaac was five months old, way back in June of 2009 (right before my grandmother died and part of my family decided that they really didn’t approve of me and everything went to fucking hell) Isaac was hospitalised for a suspected intussusception in his bowel. The ultrasound was inconclusive, but the screaming (good God, the screaming) was not and he was admitted for observation. In the morning, whatever had caused the pain had eased, and we were sent home, none the wiser as to cause. Then life went to hell for a while and a few years later, we are finally clawing our way back to…
A discussion about vaginas – seems like I’m back to Real Life

Veronica

22 Jan 2012 | 8:58 pm

The hardest part about attending MONA FOMA and all that it entails, is coming back to real life afterwards. The transition from blogging photos of rock gigs, back to everyday life conversations about how are calves are born (hang on kid, I’ll youtube a cow birth for you) and why is that bird dead (the cat tried to eat it, but the dog stole it instead) and can I poke it (please don’t, it probably has lice, but if you want to watch it finish dying, go ahead. Maybe we can get the cat back to speed the process up). That is the hard part. Of course, any morning that has an entire…

babyfruit: the (mis)adventures of mommyhood
Lucky girl

Aliza Sherman

26 Jan 2012 | 11:28 am

At bedtime, 5yo said, "I'm very lucky to have a good mommy and daddy who take care of me when I'm sick."
Missing me

Aliza Sherman

24 Jan 2012 | 11:23 am

The other day, before I left on a business trip, I was getting the 5yo ready for school. I ended up braiding her hair "wrong" & put socks on her feet that were "too big." She started sobbing.
Honoring her heart

Aliza Sherman

22 Jan 2012 | 11:15 pm

I try to honor her taste in clothing, her attempts to express herself, and work really hard to uncover what lies beneath her distress when she gets upset.

Absolutely Bananas: Seattle mom blog
Parenting snapshot

bananas

23 Jan 2012 | 9:46 pm

There is a six-shooter handcuffed to my bathroom door. That is all. Related Posts: He’s getting into gold Dear Santa On skin color
Magic (with a side of party igloo)

bananas

20 Jan 2012 | 9:13 am

“We should go for a walk in the snow!” I say. Jay looks at me like I’m crazy. We’ve just finished dinner, it’s 9:00 at night, and everyone knows the civilized thing to do is put CJ to bed, pour … Continue reading →
Working from home, the real-life edition

bananas

19 Jan 2012 | 9:20 am

When Seattle gets anywhere above 1cm of snow, everyone in our office works from home. Or, as they call it on the street, WFH. The first day that it happened, I woke up to a beautiful sparkly white blanket covering … Continue reading →

Let the dog in!
Anti-Gravity Movie Popcorn

wendy

26 Jan 2012 | 10:36 am

[Warning: she's getting her bitch on] I took the Kid to see Hugo in 3D after ripping into our lottery winnings in our mattress. The movie was great in a very dontwealllovethemovies kinda way. If you go, be on time or you’ll never have me as your movie date because the opening shot in 3D is the highlight of the film, imo. But this post is not about the movie. It’s about the concession stand. What they think we are not seeing them do there. First off, I am a popcorn fiend. I admit it. I am powerless to it. So, I usually always get some at the movies, however nasty it may be. I said…
how to make yourself feel better with a scarf (G-rated)

wendy

19 Jan 2012 | 2:43 am

I have recently made a discovery. I am sad, desperate child who will take any crumb of chocolate chip cookie the Universe will toss to me. I’m not proud. I’m just confessing because I have realized a certain shall-we-say manipulation that you humans are powerless to refuse. It is . . . my pink scarf. To be honest, once I realized my powers I felt a tad guilty, but hey, I got over that… Here’s the deal. Whenever I wear my scarf, whenever wherever, someone tells me how awesome it is. They can’t help it. So, now, I put it on every day wondering what unsuspecting…
The Shiny Coat Series: Food in Your Dish

wendy

12 Jan 2012 | 12:37 pm

A new year, a new beginning, and lots of folks are getting on that terrible invention, the bathroom scale. I feel your pain. I am one of those people who has had the same 20 pounds come and go. And come and go. For thirty years. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against starting a new eating plan with the new year. Really, who starts anything on a Saturday except a hangover? No one. We humans need some external event to shake us up and drive us towards a healthier existence for pretty much everything, like New Year’s, or your high school reunion, or becoming pregnant, or getting…

Social Media Mom
Win Free Tickets To ABC’s, The Revolution

Kristina Carpenter

25 Jan 2012 | 8:39 am

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes If you are a fan of Ty Pennington, or of daytime talk shows, or of living a better life – this is your chance to be front and center. ABC is offering free tickets to be a part of their new show’s live studio audience. This is a wonderful opportunity. I am very impressed with the entire premise of the show. Here on Social Media Mom, we often talk about living a better and more balanced life, which is the idea behind The Revolution. When it comes to style, adventure, health, and fitness – The Revolution is doing its part to make people happy…
A Guide To Travel Therapy Jobs

socialmediamom

18 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm

Reading time: < 1 minute Many of us spend our lives looking for that dream job, and in this economy, we are forced to take what we can get. This is part of the reason Onward Healthcare's new infographic resonated with me. It is always reassuring to see industries that help job creation. This particular career track is interesting because: you can live comfortably off of it, you have the resources to help others, and you get to travel the country. Check out the following infographic for more information on this career, and let us know if you know anyone in this field or are interested in…
Faces iMake App. Stimulates Creativity

socialmediamom

16 Jan 2012 | 9:36 am

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes The new app. for your iPhone and iPad, is an award winning activity for your kids. Your child will take everyday objects and make faces out of them. It helps your child to be more creative and stimulates right brain activity. The application was created by children’s book author, Hanoch Piven, and is loved by parents just as much as kids. Many parents have called it addicting, and say it even makes them feel they are being more creative. The game is easy and intuitive for your children, and has been said to be very helpful to children with…

Busy Mom Blog
Leaving (for) Las Vegas

28 Jan 2012 | 12:14 am

Thanks for all the kind blog-birthday wishes In celebration, I'm headed to Las Vegas in the morning. OK, it's not really for my blogaversary, but I am going to Sin City for the first time ever! I'll tell you more about it later, but it's going to be a quick trip. I'm staying downtown and not on the strip, so I don't know what I'll be seeing, or if I'll even make it to the strip. I guess I should try though, huh? It's not like I'll be going back anytime soon as far as I know. I wish you could all come with me, wouldn't that be fun? "I need a table for The Internet, please. We can pull up some…
Leaving (for) Las Vegas

28 Jan 2012 | 12:14 am

Thanks for all the kind blog-birthday wishes. In celebration, I'm headed to Las Vegas in the morning. OK, it's not really for my blogaversary, but I am going to Sin City for the first time ever! I'll tell you more about it later, but it's going to be a quick trip. I'm staying downtown and not on the strip, so I don't know what I'll be seeing, or if I'll even make it to the strip. I guess I should try though, huh? It's not like I'll be going back anytime soon as far as I know. I wish you could all come with me, wouldn't that be fun? "I need a table for The Internet, please. We can pull up some…
Happy Birthday, Busy Mom Blog

22 Jan 2012 | 4:03 pm

Today is my Blogaversary. 9 years, to be precise. (Note: if you're looking at the archives, you'll see they begin in April of 2003. I had a couple of urls before this one, so you'll just have to trust me.) I'm not sure what I can say that I haven't said the other 8 years, but I never dreamed that day I opened a Blogspot account and chose "Busy Mom" (because everything else I wanted had been taken already) would lead to everything I've been privileged enough to do here. Thank you. Truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

In the Trenches of Mommyhood....
Forget About Finding Bigfoot!

Sarahviz

26 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am

My boyz are obsessed with the show "Finding Bigfoot" on the Animal Planet channel. Our DVR is chock-full of episodes, and every time I enter the room, there the 3 of them are, eyes glued to the screen. (Nevermind Bigfoot, now THAT is a phenomenon! 3 boyz sitting quietly and NOT fighting?!) Honestly, I haven't given the show much attention. While they are watching, I am usually making a
So What Happened To Your Face?

Sarahviz

24 Jan 2012 | 10:59 am

You know when it's either *that time of the month* or when you're feeling stressed? You feel it start to form. That red bump. Usually on your face, and of course just conspicuous enough to not be hidden by any turtleneck, scarf, etc... That red bump that grows. Right from the get-go, you know it's not gonna be a *normal* one. One that behaves appropriately. One that cooperates. One that
I Have Never...

Sarahviz

20 Jan 2012 | 4:58 am

In order to try to get myself back into the habit of blogging, I thought I'd write this fun post about things I have never done before... Believe it or not, the idea for this came about as I was in the salad bar line at work, watching someone put clumps of tofu (I believe that's the technical term) on their salad. And I thought to myself, "Hmmm...I have honestly NEVER tried tofu before." So I.

Parenting Squad
Quick, Easy Access to Medical Advice

Nancy Flanders

28 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

By Nancy FlandersThanks to new technology, parents no longer need to wonder in the middle of the night if their baby's symptoms are serious. There is no need to call a doctor to check if your child is meeting the right milestones at the right time. Although contacting a doctor directly is still the best way to go if you are concerned about your child, modern moms and dads can get advice and insight regarding both their baby's development and ailments in a moment's notice. By computer and by phone, the medical information we want is right at our fingertips. WebMD Baby This new app for the…
3 Alternatives to Traditional Baby Showers

Alyssa Chirco

27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

By Alyssa ChircoTraditional baby showers can be boring — yes, I said it. Celebrating the impending birth of a baby is a big deal, but your party doesn't necessarily require a registry full of baby gear that will never be used (I'm looking at you, wipes warmer), or yet another round of Guess Mommy's Tummy Size. Want to host a baby shower with a twist? Check out the following 3 trendy new ways to celebrate baby's upcoming birth with style. A Blessingway Also known as a "Mother Blessing," a blessingway is nothing new. The Native American tradition has been around for centuries,…
Join our Tweetchat Today, Thursday, 1/26 For a Chance To Win an Amazon Gift Card

Rhonda Franz

26 Jan 2012 | 6:46 am

By Rhonda FranzJoin us today over on Twitter, where we'll be chattin' it up about volunteering at your child's school at #pschat at 11:00 PST / 1:00 CST / 2:00 EST. (Make sure you're following us: @parentingsquad) How much time do you spend volunteering at your child's school? Do you think parent volunteerism has increased as school budgets have decreased? Do you find it fufilling, or just another obligation? Discuss answers to these questions for a chance to win our weekly giveaway: a $10 Amazon gift card! Permalink | Comments | Rhonda Franz's blog |…

Playgroups are No Place For Children
The Good Guys

Jennifer

24 Jan 2012 | 6:52 am

It all began with Blue’s Clues, Carson became a devoted clue finder as a toddler. His love for Blue extended into books and songs, and into his imaginative play. Then it was Thomas the Train and All About John Deere movies that led he and his sister to play for hours on end, chuffing, plowing, and absorbed in their elaborate play pretending to be engineers and farmers. I know that watching too much TV is bad, but I also know that movies and shows have inspired their love for not only reenacting the stories, but extending the stories with their own imaginations into epic adventures. Our…
It’s because I desperately miss the share function on Google Reader

Jennifer

20 Jan 2012 | 3:34 pm

How has it already been a week since I last posted?! Grand plans I had! There were so many times this week that I thought, I need to sit down and write about this. And yet. I’ve just recently signed on with Hallmark as part of their Life is a Special Occasion campaign. I’m really excited because I will now have no excuse to not write here in this space and talk about the little, big, and everything in between events happening ’round these, here parts. I’m also excited because, well, it’s Hallmark! Continuing with the theme of: Talking About Myself,…
Snow Day Traditions

Jennifer

13 Jan 2012 | 12:27 pm

I tried to tell them. “There’s not really enough snow for playing. It’s just a dusting. You can see most of the grass, for goodness sakes!” “No, Mommy, see?” Carson pointed out the window. “There’s snow all over the driveway!” Well, they did cancel school. I guess it wouldn’t have been a real snow day if we hadn’t: 1. Taken 45 minutes to find all the hats, mittens, and boots. 2. Taken another 45 minutes to get dressed in double layers. 3. Made a snow angel in what little snow there was 4. Played for two minutes outside…

Mom to the Screaming Masses
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head

Carmen Staicer

27 Jan 2012 | 3:15 pm

I went to TRX/Kettlebells today - a friend of mine is the instructor and he invited me. It was a *great* class and I left totally drenched and exhausted. And very, very happy, for that's my favorite way to feel after exercise. On my way to class, the sky looked very much like this: And while we were busy sweating and cursing, the skies opened up and the rain fell. It pelted the roof and sounded quite as if it would come through at one point. Leaving class, I was behind a very small little boy, maybe not quite 2, and his grandmother. He was properly attired for the weather, wearing the…
How is it Thursday Already?

Carmen Staicer

26 Jan 2012 | 8:27 pm

I know I'm getting old when I say something like this, but, for realz - where did this week go? I have not dropped the ball on Project 366, although I have been faithfully chronicaling my days with my phone. Let's use the photos to see what I've been up to - play along as if you are interested. Please. It will make me feel so much better. On Tuesday evening, we decided that we needed to spend some time together as a family, and we joined the school at Family Skate Night. I skated. Typically, I don't skate, but I decided that I really needed to blow off some steam/get some…
Afternoon Frivolity

Carmen Staicer

24 Jan 2012 | 8:35 pm

So, today was interesting. My son has had a cold for quite some time, and in the manner of a true asthmatic, it settled into his lungs. Where it has rattled around for quite a while, steadily creeping into just a bit more but maybe it's not anything to be alarmed about yet but maybe it is and let's just treat it with some more medicine and maybe let's add this one and for kicks, just one more - and then today we ended up in the allergist office, getting back to back breathing treatments that were tethered to an oxygen tank, with steroids added. And there were tears and tantrums…

Stefanie Wilder Taylor
Lazy Girl’s Guide to Health

Stefanie Wilder Taylor

23 Jan 2012 | 11:37 am

When I first quit drinking over two and a half years ago (it will be three years on May 22nd) (Hold your applause! Calm yourselves, seriously! This isn’t an AA meeting!), I was under the impression that I was a fairly healthy person living an adequately healthy life, but my plan was to step it up and be an incredibly healthy person. Despite the fact that I am someone who is the indoor type, who loves nothing more than to lie on the couch watching Real Housewives and who can’t think of anything less appealing than a hike, I was going to be the opposite. I was going to instantly be a person…
Want to be on the TV?

Stefanie Wilder Taylor

17 Jan 2012 | 12:09 pm

PARENTS!!! – Oprah Winfrey Network – NOW CASTING FAMILIES: The company bringing you Undercover Boss has a new family show! This show is positive, uplifting and will offer solutions. Raising a family is a challenge for every parent – We’re seeking a family who is at the end of their rope with the kids’ behavior: • Does your teen break all your rules? • Is your child a victim of peer pressure or bullying? • Is your child acting out, talking back, failing school? • Smoking, drinking, experimenting with drugs? • Ditching, sneaking out, or hanging out with the wrong crowd? •…
Don’t Get Drunk Fridays: Mary’s Story

Stefanie Wilder Taylor

13 Jan 2012 | 10:22 am

Please enjoy Mary’s story and if you relate and want to talk about it you can go to our online support group The Booze Free Brigade. All people with a desire to quit drinking or at least examine their drinking are welcome. For those who know me well, most would be shocked that I quit drinking. Funny thing is that I am the one who is shocked the most. Always the party girl throughout college, I really enjoyed the idea of getting ready to go party, the idea of drinking with my friends, meeting guys, but not always remembering everything I did or say the next day. Oh God. I never gave…

doobleh-vay
kneed some info on KNEES

amy turn sharp of doobleh-vay

27 Jan 2012 | 5:04 pm

My mom is having a knee replacement next month & it kinda freaks me out. {bc I love her and hate her having surgery} Anyone know much about it? Had one? Family? Friend? Tell me things... Thanks xo photo source
{one spot left} Winter Writing Retreat in Ohio

amy turn sharp of doobleh-vay

26 Jan 2012 | 8:15 am

Sign up here! xo
Blaise you are *five years old*

amy turn sharp of doobleh-vay

25 Jan 2012 | 7:52 am

*five*with cupcake frosting on your faceat 7am you are a passion filled spirityou are everything I ever thought a kid should beback before I had kiddosand just imagined the future you surprise me dailywe have our own secret languageand share the humor of insanitywe laugh like hyenas togetherour days are preciousand I lose you to school this yearand that breaks my heartI am so lucky to have you as my boy fiveyou are *five*(my head just fell off)

Susiej
Hospital Sushi

SusieJ

25 Jan 2012 | 4:25 pm

While we were staying at the hospital for our 23 hour tour, he was not allowed to eat. Surgery may have been eminent. His IV was hooked up for fluids (spare me the memory of watching him squirm and cry while his vein “blew” three times just trying to place the IV). The next morning, it had been 18 hours since our last meal. I was ravenous… but I didn’t dare ask him if he was, for fear of inciting latent hunger pangs lingering in his tummy, just below the surface. Mamma’s gotta eat… I needed my strength for whatever else would be laid out in front of me for…
Black Raspberry Cobbler Cheesecake

SusieJ

23 Jan 2012 | 6:41 pm

So, friend, this is what I ended up making for that dinner party. This cobbler cheesecake was so beautiful when it came out of the oven. However, by the time I had the camera ready, this is all that was left. It was so gorgeous, with the parchment paper all crinkly and brown and the perfectly round cheesecake nestled inside of the brown scorched parchment paper… all of those almonds glistening on top. January is a tough month to come up with a creative dessert. It’s hard to follow Christmas, without doing Christmas. I didn’t want anything to…
Just Like Curious George

SusieJ

21 Jan 2012 | 9:57 am

He’s fine. We thought he was having an acute appendicitis… which called for an overnight “Observation.” While there, he miraculously got better. Thank goodness… no cutting involved. The hospital has just undergone a major renovation… the rooms, were beautiful. Sadly beautiful, like a posh hotel. Which, is truly, such a tragedy, that we ever need such beautiful spaces to keep parents and kids so happy during a scary time in their lives. Our friend Seth, missed this renovation… and we missed him during our stay. He would have loved this room. (Except…

crazedparent
I use to own these boots.

Charlene Prince Birkeland

11 Jan 2012 | 11:10 am

Vintage Collection boots (see more white winter boots) Only mine were off-white. And I'm a tinge sad that I gave them away years ago. Not that I'd wear them again. At least I don't think I'd wear them. I'll stop: My poker face can't even convince me that I'm being honest. I would wear them. Shameless and full of glee.

Rookie Moms
Flashback Friday: 10 years ago today

RookieMom Heather

27 Jan 2012 | 12:40 pm

Ten years ago, Whitney and I ran the San Francisco Half Marathon with another friend. We were fairly fit in those days between running and biking but doing a half marathon was no easy feat. Look how grainy pictures were ten years ago. That's me, Whit, and Ann On that fateful day, I met the man who would become RookieDad Alec. A mutual friend introduced us shortly after this photo was taken. Since I was sort of in the middle of something (Umm, excuse me, I’m busy running here! Who cares about your friend?!), I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to that cute guy. We officially…
Giveaway: Pretty slings by upa-lala

Whitney

26 Jan 2012 | 3:48 pm

While I do love gender-neutral baby gear, there’s something really sweet about these pretty slings (that my husband would not wear) from independent seamstress Brittan Hlista, owner and designer of upa-lala. I’m thinking when your base layer is a tshirt and dull-from-too-many-washings yoga pants, these vibrant patterns could really distract the eye! (Note to sling-makers of the world: We need to see newborn mama models with bigger post-pregnancy tummies, please! Or maybe she’s an adoptive mom?) Regardless, aren’t these lovely? (Also, rest assured that these slings…
If you named your baby after your pregnancy craving…

RookieMom Heather

25 Jan 2012 | 1:40 pm

What would his or her name be? I read this thread in my babycenter birth club and I just about peed my pants laughing so hard. I tended toward sweet indulgences each time and I had no idea that Taco Bell was such a popular craving food. My son Sawyer would have to be called Cereal because Cracklin’ Oat Bran is too long (though it goes better with our last name). My son Milo would have to be Watermelon. Although, at various times, they could have all been named watermelon. My son Holden would probably have been named Guinness for the unlikely beer preference that started with him. Heck,…

Musings of The Mom Jen
I Owe the World Big Time Positive Karma

The Mom Jen

18 Jan 2012 | 12:07 pm

Remember when those flashing lights got me the last time when I was climbing over the back seat?If you forgot, read this post when I got carded twice in one night, http://www.themomjen.com/2008/07/i-was-carded-twice-in-one-night.html.So over the weekend we had a MOST relaxing few days up in the sierras with my husband's family.Eat, cozy by the fire, throw rocks in the lake, nap, repeat.Glorious.Well, one of the nights we drove across the stateline to a sports bar for dinner. I was not drinking, hubby indulged in 5 glasses a glass or two of beer.Of course I was going to drive home, and…
This Kid Cracks Me Up!

The Mom Jen

6 Jan 2012 | 2:26 pm

You know how I've always documented my youngest's cute words and sayings?If not, scroll through the posts labeled K-lish, it's her cute little language, err speech impediments, well...they're super cute.Now that my girl is less than a month away from her 6th birthday she is still saying THE cutest stuff that puts a smile on my face.**This morning, she was walking around with a puka shell necklace, you know the ones with the teeny shells, and was putting them up to her ear saying, "ooh, ooh, yep I can hear the ocean. It sounds little."**Last night my husband was sacked out on the couch…
Um, About the Christmas Cards on my Desk...

The Mom Jen

27 Dec 2011 | 1:26 pm

Thanks to my friend Ana, she gave me fuel for a blog post.Last year's photo drama was the last of trying too hard.I'm letting Christmas photos happen naturally.And, by naturally, I mean I'm not going to force or bribe the kids to smile in pressured conditions.And, I'm not going to sweat uncontrollably for one great shot that I won't spend hours photoshopping to make my daughter's smile look real.This year, the Oahu backdrop was more than ideal.The kids look natural...minus my son's slight imbalance and trying not to fall into the ocean fully clothed. I worked with a fabulous company to make a…

Table for Five
I Just Did Something Really Stupid

Elizabeth

27 Jan 2012 | 8:30 am

I slept really badly last night and woke up exhausted, clearly that’s not the best state of mind for me to be in when drafting a blog post. I went into my Friday Fives post from last week to grab the badge code so I could just copy/paste it into today’s post – and somehow ended up writing OVER the post from last week. Like, I have no idea how that even happened. But the 1-20-12 post is gone, and the 16 comments left on it are now attached to today’s post. And I’ve even had coffee already this morning. Sigh. Okay, so does anyone know how I can recover that post?
Friday Fives 1-27-12 And A Special Reminder!

Elizabeth

27 Jan 2012 | 8:18 am

Note: This coming Monday, January 30th, is my 45th birthday! Every year since I started blogging I’ve put up a special birthday post and asked my readers to leave the number of comments that equal my age. Which means that this Monday, I’m hoping to get 45 comments! I hope you’ll stop by, delurk, visit again if it’s been a while, and leave a comment. Thanks everybody! Welcome to Friday Fives, a new weekly meme where we share lists of, well, anything! To participate in this blog hop, all you have to do is write a post on your blog or site and share five things you like,…
Getting Real About My New Year’s Resolutions

Elizabeth

27 Jan 2012 | 7:01 am

There’s something about the promise of a New Year that makes people think they can change their entire life, right? I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions years ago, because I was just setting myself up for disappointment come New Year’s Eve. “I’m going to lose 80 pounds this year! That’s only 6 pounds a month, every month, no problem!” “I’m going to quit smoking this year! I’m sure once I stop, I’ll never want another cigarette again!” “I’m going to start exercising this year! Once I start, I’m sure…

mommy bytes
My Brookstone Cat aka Body Bean

11 Jan 2012 | 10:17 pm

Now that I've reached that age that is nine times older than five, or perhaps only three times older than fifteen, the one thing that has changed over the years is my tolerance to cold. I used to be just like my kids, hating sweaters and scarves and never ever feeling cold until just before frostbite hits. Now, when my nose gets cold and I am completely uncomfortable! Thankfully Brookstone has the perfect solution for cold noses, cold hands, aching muscles, and any place that requires warming. They call it the Body Bean, but I call it my Brookstone cat. The Body Bean is a…
Just in Time Holidays

18 Dec 2011 | 11:07 pm

If there's one thing that I'm always on time for, it's the holiday season. Usually, the gifts are purchased well before Thanksgiving, the OCD gift list is dotted and crossed, and the decorations go up on Thanksgiving weekend. This year I am woefully behind. Our holiday portrait was not even taken until one week before Christmas! But in keeping with just in time (JIT) production, we've managed to pull it together before the holidays (minus the gift list). Without further ado, here is Dova's annual holiday video greeting. "We wish you a Happy New Year! < giggle, giggle, giggle…
Double Rainbow Thanksgiving

2 Dec 2011 | 5:40 pm

Instead of the usual stories of turkeys, stuffing and pie (mmm four berry pie), our Thanksgiving was filled double rainbows. We had a tiny gathering of 5 including my mother. But she brought along her iPad, a device that my kids had never laid eyes upon in person. And with that came our first double rainbow. I may have a slight addiction to Bejeweled as evidenced by Jewel Mania in 2006, then denial by using big scientific words like Stochasticity in July 2009 and finally admitting the need for intervention in Novemeber 2009. Nowadays, I have pretty much…

Mom Blog | From Dates to Diapers™
The Cutest Little Man Ever

Christine - From Dates to Diapers

22 Jan 2012 | 9:14 pm

TweetOur littlest man in training. Kicking back, watching the game. Go Niners!! Would you like to read the rest of this post? Be sure to visit fromdatestodiapers.com for the full post.
A Great Napa Getaway for Two {A Perfect Date}

Ray

21 Jan 2012 | 9:41 pm

TweetHave you ever had a massage or sat in a sauna in a cave…that’s under a wine vineyard? How about wine tasting in an adjacent underground chamber? That’s part of what makes The... Would you like to read the rest of this post? Be sure to visit fromdatestodiapers.com for the full post.
What’s Your Mothering Style?

Christine - From Dates to Diapers

20 Jan 2012 | 9:23 pm

TweetMy good friend recently posted on her Facebook wall that she had taken a quiz that gave a bit of insight in to her mothering style. Of the sixteen possible styles, her answers showed her to be... Would you like to read the rest of this post? Be sure to visit fromdatestodiapers.com for the full post.

Mommy Poppins - Things to Do in NYC with Kids
Weekly Wrap Up: Film Festivals, Cool Kids' Concerts, Yoga for Families

Raven

26 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

It's hard to believe that last weekend there was enough snow on the ground to go sledding. This week, temperatures were so mild, we actually saw a few shoots popping out of the ground. But don't be fooled: Winter isn't going anywhere. That's why we posted about a lot of fun indoor activities this week, like children's yoga classes, sing-alongs and a bunch of family film festivals. You can find more cool seasonal activities in our Winter Fun Guide In the interest of brevity, from now on our weekly wrap ups will primarily feature stories from Mommy Poppins NYC, although…
What's for Dinner? Meal-Planning Sites and Apps for NYC Families

Allison

26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

Eons ago (okay, just five years) we did a post on family meal planning. In fact, it was one of the very first things we blogged about here at Mommy Poppins. But a lot's changed since then, and the rise of smartphones, social networks and a gazillion new websites gives us many new options to chew on when it comes to making meals. You can't overestimate the importance of sitting down to family meals. Studies show that eating as a family benefits everyone, especially children, who are then less likely to become obese, fall into substance abuse or have low self-esteem. Of course preparing…
Free and Fun Things to Do this Weekend for NYC Kids: Chinese New Year Parades & Festivals, Tu B'Shevat, Cool Music January 28-29

Stephanie

25 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

The Year of the Dragon kicked off on Monday, and many of the big celebrations happen this weekend, including Lunar New Year parades in Manhattan and Brooklyn. This weekend also marks Tu B'Shevat (Jewish Arbor Day), and there are festivals at the Museum at Eldridge Street and Central Park's Dana Discovery Center. It's also a great weekend for music. Families can choose from cool classical, jazz and rock concerts, including live performances by Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band and the genre-busting Hot Peas N’ Butter. Those are just a few of the great things going on this…

Workout Mommy
Get up and get moving with Kinect Sports (review)

workoutmommy

27 Jan 2012 | 11:09 am

Yes, I refer to my husband as “Lazy Daddy”. He has starred in a few things on my blog but generally he likes to watch things from the comfort of the couch. He usually laughs at me when I test out some of the things I get for review, like this one. (no, I couldn’t make him get on it!) This time, however, the review package that arrived had his name written all over it: Kinect Sports Season Two. Enough said, right? Lazy Daddy and my oldest son (age 6) played the football game for hours! (seriously, I was sick of hearing them cheer!) It was fun though and got them…
5 reasons why I love headbands from Sparkly Soul (giveaway)

workoutmommy

25 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

Oh Sparkly Soul headbands, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: They do NOT slip. I know…you have heard that before….but these really don’t! See how they are stretchy ALL the way around? They really do stay in place! They do not squeeze my head to the point of a migraine! I have a big melon and therefore some headbands just dig into my head and hurt. These do not! They tame my wild hair without pain. Score! Sparkly Soul headbands come in two different sizes! I love the thicker one (5/8 inch) for everyday wear and found the thinner one (3/8 inch)…
Ultimate treadmill playlist (guest post)

workoutmommy

24 Jan 2012 | 5:58 am

***Today’s guest post is courtesy of Lauren**** When the weather is awful and there’s no way you’re going to step outside to go for your evening run, there’s no other option but to hop on your treadmill and run nowhere to get your fitness fix. There’s no doubt that exercising on your wet-weather-investment V-fit treadmill is preferable to heading out into the wet and windy British winter weather, but there’s nothing more soul destroying than running on the spot without the help of some good tunes to keep you motivated. It has been proven that music can help motivate runners as…

All & Sundry
Off to the deep end

Linda

26 Jan 2012 | 10:40 pm

I have written here a few times about some of Riley’s sensory-related quirks—things like being unable to tolerate balloons or loud noises or water or new foods or tense scenes in movies. God knows I haven’t always handled it very well, but I’d like to think I learned a thing or two about how to be encouraging without being overbearing. Or, fuck, maybe I didn’t, it’s hard to say. What’s easy to see, however, is that Riley is a very different kid these days. I actually noticed a pretty big change when he started going to school, although maybe that just…
That’s what kids do

Linda

24 Jan 2012 | 9:18 am

Dylan’s 4th birthday is coming right up (FOUR!) and I spent last night scrabbling around in some sort of endless Amazon.com rabbithole, surfing pages and pages of toys and lingering over the reviews in a futile attempt to understand how one person could say the Batcopter was absolutely for sure the best invention since the printing press while the next person vehemently described it as an utter piece of shit that was probably assembled by hallucinating orangutans. I don’t know why I even read the reviews ever, because no matter how many 5-star ratings a product gets if even one…
We now paws (HAAA) for dog identification

Linda

20 Jan 2012 | 2:24 pm

We’ve been pretty much snowed in since … what, Tuesday? It’s all a blur. A blur of days spent mostly inside and having a lot of fun together but also maybe getting a tiny bit cabin fever-y as evidenced by the fact that my first attempt at this blog entry was just 14 consecutive pages of this: Speaking of Jack! JB went to the grocery store last night and on his way home he called me to ask if I could put the cat in the utility room. I allowed as I could probably go ahead and do that but was there any particular reason, or was this some sort of weird sex metaphor where…

Cutie Booty Cakes
Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 - Giveaway!

Renée aka Mekhismom

6 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm

Thank you to Ubisoft for providing me with a copy of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 and sponsoring this fitness diary series. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. This is my final fitness diary entry documenting my experience with Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012. In my video I highlight my entire workout with the game and my overall opinion of it. I can tell you that I highly recommend this game if you have the XBox Kinect. As a matter of fact, if you leave a comment on this post you are…
Fitness Diary - Week 4 Family Workout!

Renée aka Mekhismom

30 Dec 2011 | 4:16 pm

Thank you to Ubisoft for providing me with a copy of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 and sponsoring this fitness diary series. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. My son has been my partner in crime since I started my journey to fitness. He has been my biggest cheerleader and has participated in all of my fitness activity! I love being a role model for my son because he has already established that exercise is a natural part of life and something that we all…
Holiday Attire!

Renée aka Mekhismom

22 Dec 2011 | 12:13 pm

One thing I love about the holiday season is having the opportunity to dress up. When I look at my wardrobe I mostly see workout attire and comfy yoga pants. On a regular day that is my uniform yoga pants or workout pants and a comfortable top. I might switch things up and wear some jeans but I usually take the ultra casual route. But give me a reason to glam up and I am ready to go! I was sent the Boogie Woogie dress from Shabby Apple that I'm wearing in the photo above and I can tell you that I received compliments the entire night! I wore it for a speaking engagement followed by a…

The Dalai Mama
The Band’s First Practice

The Dalai Mama

23 Jan 2012 | 11:17 am

Please ignore me on this video. The kids sat down to put on a concert for me the other night–it was pretty funny. In case you weren’t sure who the performer was in our house, this clarifies it.
Above Water

The Dalai Mama

20 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pm

I feel like I am barely holding my head above water. I am so busy. I know stop whining, everyone is busy. Just the same, this is a different type of busy for me. My new job is keeping me very busy and the the semester just started and I’m teaching 2 classes–I know, what the hell was I thinking? I have been traveling a lot for work–it is usually just an overnight trip–but that is still a lot when you have little ones who you usually put to bed and a husband you feel like you never see. I know its a phase and that things will settle down. I’ll find a…
Change

The Dalai Mama

17 Jan 2012 | 9:39 am

Noah is growing so fast. He can put together Legos for 7-14-year-olds with very little assistance aside from finding the elusive piece. He is very very impressed by this. He has all of a sudden stopped the daily tantrums and when a tantrum does occur it is usually because he feels like he failed at something. He has higher expectations for himself than I would ever dream of having. He is such a great and cool kid. It was time to do his hair last night-which was a matted up hot mess. He put it off and off and off and finally said NO. “Really? You can let me do it or we shave it.”…

superdumb supervillain
Mr. Chewy: Delivering Pet Happiness

26 Jan 2012 | 9:08 pm

Mr. Chewy is a new shopping destination for pet lovers. We have four cats, a basset hound, two frogs and a turtle, so I'd say our household is definitely in their target demographic. It seems like I am always making a last-minute run to the pet food store, so I was intrigued by the concept of ordering supplies online. Mr. Chewy offers free shipping on orders over $49 and if you schedule regular deliveries, you'll receive 15% off your first shipment. Plus, they stock over 70 of the most popular pet food and flea/tick protection brands. I placed an order for two bags of the Iams…
Frugal Dad Knows Cool Stuff…

24 Jan 2012 | 11:30 am

… like the real cost of cupcakes: and just how common pawn shops are in the US: Source: http://frugaldad.com
January 23rd: National Handwriting Day

20 Jan 2012 | 1:16 pm

I used to have excellent penmanship. I remember using the very smallest micro-lead mechanical pencils and practicing on vellum with a lined guidesheet underneath, just for kicks. I liked using inkwells and pens with nibs, especially white ink on dark paper. I pored over manuals of calligraphy and typography with a watchful eye. Over the years, my handwriting has gone dramatically downhill. Nowadays, it's a near doctor-caliber catscratched scrawl. I type so much that I actually get a hand cramp when I address holiday cards. Embarrassing! I was surprised to discover that many of our local…

Motherhood Uncensored
For Susan

Motherhooduncensored

25 Jan 2012 | 7:52 am

I'm not quite sure when or how I was virtually introduced to Susan. I met up with her friend (and now mine) Marty on my long drive from Philadelphia to Atlanta and she told me that they were both from Mississippi. "And you read my blog?" I asked, which at the time was not full of high praise for the Southern state. I joked that Susan was probably the best and smartest thing to ever come out of that state. ***** A few years ago I wrote a post about my boobs (shocking, I know) whining about their post-partum state....
Note to self: This is why they invented the Internet

Motherhooduncensored

23 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

My husband and I smartened up for this recent visit from the in-laws and scheduled a much needed date night. And a few fancy drinks and an Irish car bomb later, we found ourselves scrambling around our bedroom for lube using an iPhone as a flash light and doing our best not to wake the baby who still sleeps in our closet. Now my my drawers are usually overflowing with lube since many companies so generously offer up samples for me to try and write about on my sex column. But apparently after the tragic foyer oil slick incident of...
January 19, 2047

Motherhooduncensored

19 Jan 2012 | 4:11 am

His phone went right to voice mail so I called his house and she answered. She always answers. "Oh hi! It's..." She cut me off. "Hey! Sorry, no, he's on a trip again..." She kept talking but I got distracted by the kids screaming in the background. The phone beeped a few times. "Oh God! Kids! Why do they always grab it when I'm talking on it?" I smiled. "Anyway, he got the gift. It's amazing. And I know he meant to..." I know, I know. Call to say "thanks," and "how much he loved it." "Oh I know he's...

Cool Mom Picks
Hit me with your best 80s tee

27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

When my kids were little, I was constantly on the lookout for cool kids tees--something a little different.If you've got a thing for rock-inspired tees for your toddler, I've got the answer.
All in favor of gorgeous diaper bags, say Oi.

27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

I can't say that I mourn the fact that my diaper bag carrying days are over. But really, it's the diapers I'm glad to be over with, not the bags. Especially when they're as awesome as this one.
Web Coolness - Special Valentines, getting organized, and hugs from the internet

27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Here are some things we've liked reading around the web this week. We hope you will too.

Attack of the Redneck Mommy
Tsarina T

Redneck Mommy

25 Jan 2012 | 3:17 pm

There is one person in this world who is allowed to call me “Mommy.” Hint: It’s not my husband. Because…ew. Nor is it the PR flackies who keeps sending me bizarre email pitches addressed to Mommy. My name is Tanis. And if you don’t want to use that one, I’ll accept Tsarina T. The only person who could get away with calling me Mommy is, ironically, the only person who can’t. And he gets a free pass because dammit, he’s cute. I wrote a post about how my kid called me Mommy and how I had to resist the urge to laugh and/or shank him afterwards.
For the Record: There is No Point to This Post

Redneck Mommy

23 Jan 2012 | 12:51 pm

When I was 13, I was convinced that when I grew up I was not going to look at all like anything I currently resembled. Time would work it’s magic and erase the curse of genetics and biology and I’d suddenly sprout to be my dream height of 5’11, have a pert C-cup, thick wavy blonde hair and a face made for magazine covers. Because, like duh, someone had to look like that so why couldn’t it be me? I may not have been the brightest child, but I like to think I get points for being one of the most optimistic. Of course, I have somehow managed to grow up and not look a…
Whacky Tobacky

Redneck Mommy

6 Jan 2012 | 2:19 pm

There are few things I dread more than having to venture into the city to go to a medical appointment. Perhaps because I’ve now spent the bulk of my adult life sitting in a waiting room because of my desire to have children who are either born broken or born with a tendency to try and slice off their digits at every given opportunity. I’ve done my time with the medical establishment. Which is why it seems a cruel hard fate to know that today I have to make the long drive into the city, pay for parking, wear one of those ugly hospital gowns that never seem to snap shut properly and…

DivineCaroline Parenting
Sugar and Spice and Dressing for Vice

BRENDA TOBIAS

27 Jan 2012 | 6:06 pm

I have long ago accepted that clothing retailers consider children a v...
A Glut of Eggs and Wave of Mortality ...

Erika Ross

27 Jan 2012 | 1:18 pm

We are looking up good recipes for deviled eggs. We are baking more of...
Is Cheese Safe to Eat During Pregnancy?

Michelle Moss

26 Jan 2012 | 5:24 pm

Are you confused about WHICH cheese is SAFE to eat during pregnancy? C...

Product Reviews by The Experimental Mommy
Easy Side Dishes From All Natural Alexia Food Products {Giveaway}

Beth

26 Jan 2012 | 8:53 pm

One of my biggest downfalls in cooking is definitely side dishes. It never seems to fail that I cook a nice meal for my family and 30 minutes before it is time to eat I remember I have nothing to go with the main dish I just prepared. Alexia Foods has the perfect solution for all of your side dishes. From their website: “We love food as much as you. That’s why we make it exactly how you would: all-natural, gourmet-inspired, and absolutely delicious. OUR BEGINNINGS: At Alexia, our creativity and passion for the highest quality side dishes runs deep in our roots. As a…
Spread the Love with Minted.com Valentine’s Day Cards

admin

26 Jan 2012 | 8:49 pm

In an effort to be ahead of the game, I was strolling down the Valentine’s aisle at my local store. Looking over the selection of candies and cards was fun but everything was just….typical. There were your average cards featuring today’s pop stars, Disney characters, and cute baby animals, but I really wanted something more personal for my daughters. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the selection of kids Valentine’s Day cards at Minted.com. We have been honored to try Minted’s Holiday cards in the past and were very pleased with the results, so we…
Pecan Pork Tenderloin with KRAFT Fresh Take {Recipe}

admin

25 Jan 2012 | 9:50 pm

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to visit the KRAFT kitchens as part of the BlogEats Blogger Conference. One of the products we learned about, Fresh Take, was top secret…until NOW! This January, KRAFT Fresh Take will make it’s way to your local grocery store and you do NOT want to miss it! As a busy Mom, I tend to get stuck in the same meal plan week after week (the kids even know to look for Red Beans and Rice on Mondays). So, I was excited to have KRAFT show me a Fresh Take on dinner. The mix can be found in the refrigerated dairy section of your grocery store…

One Chic Mama
It’s My Birthday… And I want to give you a gift!

4 Jan 2012 | 11:49 am

Yes, today on the 4th of January I celebrate my 44th birthday. It’s hard to believe I’m now in my mid-forties (time flies when you’re having fun!) but I certainly don’t feel it and am proud to share my age.It’s not all I want to share with you. I know you want to achieve big things this year and I want to help you by sharing my expertise. I’ve been at this for a very long time and feel that my knowledge can help give you the confidence and the edge you need to succeed in business, in your relationships and in your life! I know firsthand that when you don’t feel great about how…
Breakthroughs, Confidence and Clarity, Oh My!

14 Dec 2011 | 10:16 am

As the year draws to a close, it's time to reflect on what your year was like. Did you have a major personal or professional breakthrough where you overcame a challenge that had been holding you back for years? Did your confidence kick in and help you to soar to new heights? Did you gain clarity on who you truly are and what you really want in life? My hope is that you experienced at least 2 out of 3. I know the clients I've worked with this year have. Here is just a sampling of the feedback I’ve received from my amazing clients just over the past week…“Thanks so much for all the…
A Bra to Remember

12 Dec 2011 | 11:11 am

Lately it seems that I've had more conversations about bras than I can remember. I think in my line of work the topic comes up often because I always recommend to my clients that they have a bra fitting. But what I've found has been eye-opening. I've heard from many clients and friends alike how disappointed they've been with many of their not-inexpensive bras, and how bras don't seem to hold up or wear nearly as well as they used to. So I've been paying close attention to bras and trying to discern which ones make the cut.Well the Playtex SecretsCotton Shaping Underwire bra certainly got my…

Swistle
Stomach Virus (NOT FLU)

Swistle

27 Jan 2012 | 5:14 am

Describing a run-of-the-mill illness is like describing a dream. "I was too sick to take a shower." "It was so weird, it was LIKE our house, but it was ALSO our old apartment." "I sat in my recliner, but that turned out to be too active for me, so I had to lie on the couch." "You were you? but it was weird, you were also NOT you, you know?" "The barfing was bad, but it was the whole-body soreness that really got to me." "We were walking through, like, a park? I guess? And, like, you were telling me about your cat, but then suddenly Allison was there, and..." "I was TOO SICK TO CHECK…
Moms' Storage Pack

Swistle

22 Jan 2012 | 3:23 pm

Let's discuss: What makes this a "Moms'" storage pack?
MAMMALS

Swistle

20 Jan 2012 | 6:22 am

I dreamed last night that we were snowed in and stranded, so I nursed a friend's baby. Which reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in a long time, which is the time I DID nurse a friend's baby.We were out shopping with our babies, far from home; she'd forgotten her diaper bag; we were considering whether she wanted to buy a pack of bottles and a can of formula and then try to wash the new items and mix a bottle in the bathroom; and while we were talking over the options we went to the baby section and found the store was out of the kind of formula she needed. My friend remarked how…

All Adither
Updates!

All Adither

10 Jan 2012 | 4:48 pm

You might recall that back in May I wrote about my endometrial ablation. Endometrial ablation is when a woman is put under general anesthesia for a half hour, given a D&C, and the lining of her uterus is scorched out. The purpose is to stop or greatly lessen the monthly bloodbath. A few of you asked me to report my results. The results? They are freaking sweet. I can leave the house whenever I want now! I no longer feel flu-ish for 72 hours out of every 24 days. In fact, besides the spazzy irritability that hits once a month (yeah, that doesn't go away), I barely notice when it's that…
Maurice Sendak on Fresh Air – If this doesn't do it for you, I don't know what will

All Adither

30 Dec 2011 | 12:29 am

I drove downtown tonight to meet my friend for drinks and apps. On the way, I listened to what was, perhaps, the most moving interview I've ever heard. It was Terry Gross from Fresh Air chatting with 83-year-old Maurice Sendak. He knows he's facing the end of his life, he's sad, he's athiest, yet he's full of wonder and love for the world. If you have 20 minutes, go here and listen. It's so worth your time.
Since I saw you last

All Adither

27 Dec 2011 | 10:53 pm

I've floated this household across a sea of corndogs and Ore-Ida Fast Food french fries, made cookies, constructed gingerbread houses, put up and taken down a dead fir tree from the corner of the living room, wrapped and opened presents, gone snow tubing at Snoqualmie pass, snapped at my children, hissed violently at J. for doing the same, turned 43, started reading a book on a Kindle, considered e-publishing my "quiet" YA manuscript Spectacle, begun planning a solo trip to China for next October, consulted with a plastic surgeon about my wrinkles then decided that I am a map and a storybook…

Balancing Motherhood
Amazing Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (and Gluten Free)

Alicia at BalancingMotherhood.com

23 Jan 2012 | 8:43 am

Pin it These are amazing cookies. Simple recipe, organic ingredients and my new go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. There are only six ingredients in this recipe: egg, almond butter, Sucanat (whole cane sugar), baking soda, sea salt and chocolate. Just put them in the bowl (minus the chips, save those for the end) and mix [...]
‘Make the Bread, Buy the Butter,’ But What About Everything Else?

Alicia at BalancingMotherhood.com

16 Jan 2012 | 4:18 pm

Pin itBefore the holidays I saw a clip on “Good Morning America,” about a mother who spent a year figuring out what foods are cheaper to make at home. Intrigued, I received a copy of her book and began to read it through. Author Jennifer Reese is an accomplished journalist who decided, after being laid [...]
Happy New Year

Alicia at BalancingMotherhood.com

1 Jan 2012 | 12:08 pm

Pin it I’m not the biggest fan of New Year’s except the fact that it’s considered a holiday and gives people time off work to be with our families. It’s a time of reflection and hope for the future. It’s also a time when we should consider planning our future instead of just accepting what [...]

Manic Mommies® Media, Inc.
Recipe of the Week: Chicken Empanadas

mealmakeover

26 Jan 2012 | 8:19 pm

What’s your take on Paula Deen’s announcement last week that she (a) has Type 2 Diabetes and (b) she’s now a spokesperson for drug company, Novo Nordisk? We’re conflicted. On the one hand, we suspect Paula’s style of high fat, high sugar, high calorie cooking/eating may have contributed to her condition. And she certainly doesn’t hold back on butter and cream on her cooking shows. On the other hand, we see a unique opportunity here for Paula to educate her fans about the prevention, detection, and management of diabetes. We certainly hope she embraces that role, and…
So you are going to Disney World

Kristin

25 Jan 2012 | 7:02 pm

Since leaving for our family “vacation” I’ve been surprised by the number of friends and acquantinces who have asked for our advice as they approach their own trips to the “happiest place on earth.” (I think the quest for tips is because you know you are about to spend a good amount of money, and you don’t want to miss a thing.) Now, there is no question, that on all things Disney I am not an expert. And there are many sites, books, podcasts and videos dedicated to giving you the inside scoop on the house of mouse. But my husband and I did discover a few things we thought were…
Podcast: Disney Memories

Kristin

22 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm

Kristin has returned from her family “vacation” to Disney World and has the stories to prove it! This episode is sponsored by Sleep Number. To find a Sleep Number store near you, call 1-800-995-4177. And please, be sure to tell them the Manic Mommies sent you. Manic Mommies is supported in part by Audible.com. Visit AudibleTrial.com/ManicMommies for your free trial. Check out our Pinterest board for recommendations. Listen: iTunes | Zune | MP3 Links: Pirate League | Princess Dinner | Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba | Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure

CityMama™
Party fare: Greek-Style 9-Layer Dip

CityMama™

16 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pm

One of my favorite things to do is to take classic recipes and add my own variation. I made this delicious layered dip for a Golden Globes party last night—it's my twist on a Mexican 7-layered dip. Not that 7-layered dip needs any improvement... It's perfect for awards season or football season. Don't you love this time of year? The dip reminds me of Greek moussaka. It has all those rich and warm flavors without being a total gut-bomb. It's easiest to serve by setting the pan out with a spoon and let people serve portions onto their plates that they can then scoop up with pita chips. The…
Cook Your CSA: Crustless Spinach Quiche

CityMama™

3 Jan 2012 | 2:44 pm

This is what we made for dear lunch guests visiting us from Italy today. It used up two week's-worth of CSA spinach. I served it with a black-eyed pea salad on the side, but a green salad would have been fine, too. CRUSTLESS SPINACH QUICHE Ingredients: 2 bunches of fresh spinach, triple-washed and drained 3 cloves of garlic, chopped one small onion, chopped olive oil a splash of white wine (if you like, and I do!) 5 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup of half and half a dash of nutmeg 2 cups of shredded light 3-cheese mixture (Trader Joe's) sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste Preheat oven to…
Starting a new workout routine in 2012?

CityMama™

2 Jan 2012 | 6:35 pm

Here's some inspiration (not just workout, but, I dare say, fashion as well), Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta-style. My eyes. They don't know where to look.

Hormone-Colored Days
What I've been up to

27 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm

Moving in! Slowly. We've been bringing boxes and more boxes over from my parents' place to our new home. And then we've been unpacking and trying to find the perfect space for all that stuff.Also, I've been busy with my Science Olympiad team. I'm coaching food science, which is baking, only baking where you write it up as an experiment, measure each ingredient to the nearest gram or milliliter, as well as each and every cookie in the batch. And then we assess the cookies on a sensory scale, weigh them to determine the percentage of moisture lost during baking and we might even test the…
How Will Social Media Moms Fare in 2012? Here Are My Predictions

2 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

I cut back on my "brands and bloggers" post in 2011partly because client work, family needs, and our new-to-us house (plus the related blog, of course) kept me busy. Also? I'm tired of the repetitive conversation about blogs and brands.Just a few weeks ago, there was a flurry of posts about whether bloggers should ever write for free. I'd already chimed in about working for free in April, reiterating what I'd already said in 2010.{yawn} (For the record, I pretty much agree with these smart women.)Still, I did step on my soap box a handful of times in 2011. I spoke on the topic of Social Media…
Motorola Xoom and Verizon Wireless Campaign Wrap-up

23 Dec 2011 | 11:26 am

In just another week, the Verizon Wireless #MidwestMoms will come to an end. I've really enjoyed using the Motorola Xoom I received as part of the program. Unlike 99.6% of mombloggers, I'm not in the habit of having internet on the go, and have actually avoided being connected everywhere, all the time.But it's pretty handy.As the program finishes, I'm debating whether to continue the Verizon data plan on my own. I need to look beyond whether it's simply fun being able to Tweet/Facebook/check emails on the go to considering the business case for such access, especially now that the new house…

Denver Mommy Blogger, Family Travel Writer, Mom Blog :: Crazy Bloggin Canuck
How you know you're raising Casanova

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

Bode is a man's man. If you were to give him the choice between hanging out with boys vs. girls, he would choose boys 100 percent of the time.However, when there are no boys available, he rises to the occasion and hooks his sweet sinkers into many an adoring lassie.Case-in-point: yesterday we went to our neighborhood skate park. When we arrived, there were no girls on the playground so Bode hung out with Denai, a cute girl from his kindergarten class. Or rather, Denai hung onto him. Denai is a funny one and looked like she was having the time of her life.I previously thought she was a bit of…
The Boy Conspiracy

24 Jan 2012 | 2:30 pm

Haddie is in the middle of what we hope will be her final round of swim lessons before she tries swim team. The schedule is later than I would like and we don't arrive home until 6:30 p.m.Our family thinks they are going to die if we don't eat by 6 p.m. Anyone else seeing a problem here?Though Jamie is great in the kitchen, I do 99% percent of the cooking and I'm hesitant to ask him for help because he's so darn busy. But one night, I didn't have a chance to prepare anything so asked him if he and Bode could be in charge of warming up leftovers so dinner would be ready when we walked in the…
On Raising Ying and Yang

20 Jan 2012 | 8:12 am

I couldn't have had two more different kids if I tried. Where Bode is easy-going, Hadley is bossy. Where Bode can't draw a picture to save his soul, Hadley is already a gifted little artist. Where Hadley can barely count to 100, Bode is doing equations in his head.Opposites.Over the past couple of months their differences have come into play, starting with their report cards. Bode excelled in math and reading and squeaked by in the arts. Hadley was just the opposite. Bode loves any sport with a ball. Hadley's affinity is toward solo activities like skiing, hiking and mountain biking.And then…

Mile High Mamas
The Year of the Ultrabook and Intel AppUp

hannah

28 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am

A few short months ago I met with Mark Miller of Intel (Director of Communication – Netbook and Tablet Group). We spent time discussing tablets and netbooks that would soon be hitting the market and we also spoke about Intel AppUp. In short, AppUp is the newest app store on the block – it runs on Windows computers (similar to what the Mac App Store does) and many smart phones (Android and Windows phones). Apps are what I do – I write about them, market them, evaluate them for companies, and consume them just for the fun of it. When Mark shared AppUp with me, I was surprised…
February Family Volunteer Opportunity: Throw a Valentine’s Party!

Guest Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Did you know: “Over 66% of nursing care residents receive an average of ONE visit per year. 50% of us will spend some portion of our lives in long-term care.” -Rainbow Bridge 2010 Join Volunteers of America at their February Family Volunteer Event as they throw a Valentine’s Day party for low-income seniors and make their day special!! When: Saturday, February 11, 2012; 10 a.m.-noon Where: 1. Volunteers of America’s Sunset Towers, 1925 Larimer Street, Denver 80202 or 2. Volunteers of America’s Montbello Manor, 4355 Carson Street, Denver 80239 Who: You and your…
What parents should know about the conflicting news on school food

Guest Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

The very same week we learned about the push to ban trans fats from Colorado school food, both at lunch and in before- and after-school snacks, another study asserted that junk food in school vending machines has no impact on students’ weight or obesity levels. It’s confusing. Kind like all the conflicting studies about coffee – or red wine. (I know how I choose to interpret them…) Does healthy school food make a difference? Or doesn’t it? Should we just keep healthy food on the lunch tray (read all about the Obama administration’s changes to subsidized school meals announced this…

(More than) Fourinarow.net
PINK!

Susan

13 Jan 2012 | 12:37 pm

So, my good friend Erin is having a baby. Soon. And, after three boys, she is having a GIRL! Oh, brother! I mean, sister! We can’t help spoiling her already. While the kids were in school this morning, some moms came over to my house for a Pink Party. (None of those hand-me-downs have enough fluff or sparkle to them!) The “cake”: The spread: The Honoree: The guests: The quilt: The decor:
Angry Birds

Susan

11 Jan 2012 | 10:04 pm

Pinterest strikes again!
Catching Up

Susan

7 Jan 2012 | 11:22 pm

So… I just downloaded the pictures I had on my camera and I realized that I hadn’t done it in a while. Nor, obviously, have I posted in a while. So, here’s a quick update and then I’ll be back soon with more goings-on. Christmas Clothes from Troy! Fancy Christmas Manicure First Time on Santa's Lap Captain Jack Sparrow in the Christmas Play (What? It's Kindergarten!) Just Before We Lost Him on the Tree Farm Found a Tree and Andrew. Whew!

Fussy | Eden M. Kennedy
Peace out

Eden M. Kennedy

27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

Videos of people waiting and trying to be still because they think I’m just trying to take their picture delight me for some reason. If that didn’t do it for you, maybe my latest thing over at The Stir will suit your mood. My best actor and actress Oscar predictions are informed by nothing but whimsy and hubris, as will surprise no one. Have a wonderful weekend wherever you end up standing, sitting, or lying down, on camera or off.
This is why I cannot shop online

Eden M. Kennedy

26 Jan 2012 | 8:17 pm

A couple of weeks ago I pulled my old wool royal blue pencil skirt out of the closet, and then I wore it to work and it looked terrible on me all day. It bags in the front and it bags in the back and the waistband itches and the zipper fell out when I was 23 and a dry cleaner on east 86th Street sewed it back in for two dollars. Yes, when did I buy the Sad Blue Skirt? In college, which was 25 years ago, from a thrift store, when the skirt was already at least 20 years old. So I wore a 50-year-old skirt to work the other day and was shocked to discover that it was tired. It needs a rest. It…
Growth is painful

Eden M. Kennedy

24 Jan 2012 | 4:44 pm

Yeah, I cut my hair again. (Did you really think I wouldn’t?) I may have to finally admit that long hair is for those who have long-hair lifestyles and long-hair self images. People who are able to ignore the pain and frustration of hair blowing into their face/eyes; who are not irritated as fuck when their hair gets tangled in their bag strap or zipped into a dress. These are the blessed, for whom being romantic and windswept looks natural, instead of laughable. Unfortunately, my son is in the thick of his need for me to look “like other moms,” for which this hair cut does…

Cheaty Monkey
Empty box of vegan gummy bears

Haley-O

17 Jan 2012 | 9:36 pm

I should really stop writing blog posts in my head. Because they never actually make it to the blog. I used to write a blog post a day in my head and then transcribe it seamlessly here. But now they come about once a week, and the finished product looks nothing like its mental predecessor. Yes, these days, since I blog 3-4 times a day over at Today’s Parent, sitting down in the evening to write this blog, I gotta say, takes some effort, extra stamina, and vegan gummy bears. And the only reason I have vegan gummy bears in my pantry is because the Rascal loves them. I personally think…
The Structure of Trying

Haley-O

5 Jan 2012 | 10:10 pm

I try. I try to be a good mother. I try to be a good wife and daughter and friend and relative. I try to be a good person. I try to be a good student and employee and coworker. I try to write well. I try to entertain and delight. I try eat well. I try to practice yoga. Every day. I try to exercise. I try to breathe and meditate and be spiritual. I try to look presentable. I try to be compassionate. I try not to eat or wear animal products. I try to keep a clean house. I try not to lie, get mad, eat too much sugar, skip meals, spend too much money. I try to manage anxious thoughts, stave off…
Happy Holidays, Mint-Chocolate Dream, Parenting Holiday, Awful Twists, Metaphors BZZZZZZ…

Haley-O

22 Dec 2011 | 9:15 pm

Happy Holidays, Gorgeouses! I have nothing to say. Mostly because I’ve been eating way too much sugar. So now, as I sit down and attempt to craft a brilliant Happy-Holidays blog post, all I hear in my mind is this: bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Eventually the sugar buzz will go away, and I’ll probably have to eat some more sugar. UGH, there are just so many sugary goodies in my house. IT’S SO UNFAAAAAAAIR! How am I supposed to eat healthy when, for example, our amazing Todaysparent.com General Manager, Elana, leaves THIS on my desk…. Of course, it’s vegan and fair trade, so…

Vintage Thirty
Please Hold While We Transfer this Blog

12 Jan 2012 | 1:50 am

Yep! I'm moving over here ...it's fresh, it's new, it's lean, it's...whatever, I'm dropping the Vintage Thirty (although everything here is staying here) and keeping the Tootsie. Please come visit, update your readers (do people still do that?) and whatever else needs updating! See you in the new place!
Dear Indiana Jones: You're not the Only One that Hates Snakes

5 May 2011 | 12:01 pm

Five days ago a neighbor on my street and who also happens to be a friend on Facebook, updated her status that her immediate next door neighbor had found a rattlesnake in their garage. E-freakin'-gads! It's not the first time we've had rattlesnakes on our street. In the last almost 14 years that we've lived here there are two neighbors whose dogs have been bitten, one neighbor who both surprised the snake lying beneath and himself when wheeling out his trash container, and my own husband who found one curled up behind the wheel of our car in our own driveway.And those are just the occasions…
A Rose by any Other Name is...Something Completely Different

27 Apr 2011 | 2:44 pm

A friend of mine and I were discussing recently the names of our children and what their names would have been had they been the opposite sex and also, what would we name them if they were born today. The answer to the latter part of that discussion was: no, we wouldn't. [Note to Editor: edit before you post, Nimrod, because the latter part of that discussion should ask would they use the same names if their children were born today] Not that there's anything wrong with the names that were chosen and because the names are theirs they, of course, suit them. They're a part of who they…

Queen of Spain Blog
Taking Inspiration From Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

Queen of Spain

23 Jan 2012 | 11:46 am

I can’t imagine what a violent act, such as suffered by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, feels like. To have your life nearly taken, to battle back from against the odds, and then to work hard to try and ‘do’ your job. I can imagine what it feels like to want to do your job, and be unable- because you have to focus on your health. To want to make a difference, change lives, and show people how politics can, in fact, work and give every citizen a voice. Of all the work and hats I would wear at BlogHer, there was nothing I loved more than connecting women and elected…
Sugar 2.0

Queen of Spain

20 Jan 2012 | 1:28 am

As I’ve done the speaking circuit for several years now on this whole social media thing I’ve always had my schpeil about it being my ‘virtual cup of sugar.’ You know, gone are the days where we borrow that cup of sugar from our neighbor and we talk kids and schools and life and we’ve moved that conversation and companionship online. I’ve found my ‘virtual’ cup of sugar in my blogging and social media communities. We still share the same friendship and advice and community-we just do it through our computers and smartphones and tablets and…
Magic Hats Can Explain SOPA, PIPA, & Internet “Strikes”

Queen of Spain

18 Jan 2012 | 7:12 pm

It seems only appropriate that on this day, a day of protest here in the wild World Wide Web, I showcase the hat sent to me by BlogHer CEO Lisa Stone: Just the hat though, that’s all you get to see…as I’m reading and educating myself on a very important Internet issue- freedom. I’m starting by reading up on the two bills headed through (or stalled, or being changed, or fill-in-the-blank-status as of now) Congress and then I will contact my representative. As a pioneer in making sure women’s voices are heard online and throughout the world, Lisa Stone (or as we…

Blonde Mom Blog
Soup, It’s What’s For Supper

Blonde Mom

27 Jan 2012 | 9:59 am

So far so good on my New Year’s resolution to eat dinner at home EVERY night this month! I feel like I’m running in an organized mom marathon and WINNING (for a change). Yes! I may pass out at the end of the month, gripping my crockpot, but I’m in the home stretch now. One [...]
Seven Months Til Middle School

Blonde Mom

24 Jan 2012 | 7:48 pm

I sat in the car pickup line skimming my email with my index finger as usual when I saw one from my older daughter’s teacher that caught my eye. The topic caught me off guard – 4th Grade Graduation. I may or may not have sucked in my breath. I clicked it open and read… [...]
I’m Sleepy And I Know It

Blonde Mom

23 Jan 2012 | 1:49 pm

I may be a tad neurotic when it comes to severe weather, especially if tornado warnings are involved. Unfortunately my neuroses brings out the inner Jim Cantore in my girls. When hubby dropped off Miss C at indoor soccer practice last night she apparently ran into the gym like a town crier, excitedly shouting, “There’s A TORNADO [...]

dkmommyspot.com
How to Use Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) for Soft, Shiny Hair

Diane Kidman

19 Jan 2012 | 3:46 pm

I’m a sucker for a good hair rinse, and lately I’ve been experimenting with how to use horsetail -or shavegrasss – (Equisetum arvense) for softer, shinier hair. Horsetail is full of silica, which gives your hair a lustrous, flax-like sheen and softness, not to mention strength. In fact, silica has such a penchant for strengthening that many chicken feed mixtures include a form of silica so the chickens lay eggs with stronger shells. So if you have weak hair, hair loss, or split ends, horsetail is for you. Its antifungal properties make it fantastic for many scalp issues,…
Herbs Gone Wild eBook – Gone FREE for One Day Only

Diane Kidman

6 Jan 2012 | 7:59 am

If you got a new Kindle for Christmas this year, you’ll want to feed that baby a healthy diet; I recommend Herbs Gone Wild, my herbal remedy ebook. And for today only, it’s free. Every Kindle deserves a great start on its new electronic life, and Herbs Gone Wild is filled with leafy greens, herbal goodness, and remedies that are natural and pure as the driven snow. And it’s free. Which is great, because if there’s one thing a Kindle likes, it’s being filled with ebooks. Good ones. Funny ones. Ones with cute baby owls on the cover munching bright pink echinacea…
Why Hard Water Isn’t So Bad

Diane Kidman

2 Jan 2012 | 7:51 am

Please enjoy today’s special guest report on why hard water isn’t so bad, and Happy New Year! Water is crucial to our survival, and something that most of us don’t get enough of each day. In our attempts to be more healthy and drink more water, several of us spend thousands of dollars a year on bottled water and other pricey filtration systems. Another growing trend to give ourselves the best water possible is the installation of a water softener. Many people believe that hard water, which is generally full of certain minerals such as calcium and magnesium, is bad for them.

Girl's Gone Child
Seven

GIRL'S GONE CHILD

26 Jan 2012 | 2:09 pm

When you're in Vegas, seven is the luckiest number. Seven is the jackpot. Seven is what you pray for at slot machines with empty pockets. 7 and 7 is the drink you order before you pull the lever, surrounded by 1.lust and 2.gluttony, 3. greed and 4. sloth, 5. wrath, 6. envy and 7.pride. Seven is for winners. Seven is for sinners. This should be a country western song. Every night we go to bed at midnight. It used to be later but then we had one kid and two kids and four kids and now we go to bed at midnight. It should be earlier but the babies don't go down until 11:00 so the last hour of the…
105/100

GIRL'S GONE CHILD

26 Jan 2012 | 9:39 am

I've posted The Head and the Heart before but it's been a while. This one's for everyone I love who doesn't live inside my house. Sigh... missing you.105. Rivers and Roads by: The Head and the HeartGGC
Eat Well: Easy as (Red Lentils and) Chocolate Pie

GIRL'S GONE CHILD

25 Jan 2012 | 9:23 am

The following post was written by my mom, WWW. Thanks, mom!When Archer was born, I didn’t stay with Rebecca and Hal like I did at the births of their other children. Their apartment was so small I would have had to sleep in the bathtub shower. The day Archer was born, Larry and I, Rachel and David, drove up from San Diego, arriving minutes after his birth. We held and stared at him all day, but when I left that night I cried wishing I could hold him longer, be there, breathe him in. I remember feeling betrayed that no one had ever told me that the hardest thing about being a grandparent is…

Motherhood is the New MBA
Rotary

15 Jan 2012 | 9:46 am

When my book first published, I visited several cities for book signing events. When I travel, I always contact the Rotary club of the town I am about to visit and ask if they want me to speak at their meeting. I've had such a good time doing these presentations that I’ve started hitting up Rotary clubs in my own state. So far I’ve presented to 18 Rotary clubs. I speak about how anyone can be a
National Youth Involvement Board

8 Jan 2012 | 9:51 am

I've just been invited to speak at this conference in August.
What Michigan Thought of Me

20 Nov 2011 | 2:39 pm

In September, I visited the Michigan Credit Union League and gave a presentation on the ten most intriguing products for 2012. Here are the ratings I received: If you can't read it:23% "Greatly Exceeded Expectations"64% "Exceeded Expectations"9% "Met Expectations"5% "Almost Met Expectations" (otherwise known as - "there's one in every crowd")

Notes from the Trenches
That’s My Boy

Chris

24 Jan 2012 | 10:34 am

Making an 80 yard* touchdown run. We spent the weekend at a tournament in the middle of nowhere Texas. I’ll have a weekend recap of the craziness later. But look! That’s my baby! (*according to him. 70 according to my eyes in the stands.) ****** I have a new post up over at Alphamom. [...]
Sums Up My Weekend

Chris

23 Jan 2012 | 4:44 pm
The Beginning

Chris

20 Jan 2012 | 9:45 am

The first 20 miles are pure bliss. And then it begins. “How much longer?” “Just another 250 miles or so!”

acte gratuit: A look at life in between naps.
Something is Falling Apart--And It's Probably Me.

acte gratuit

24 Jan 2012 | 11:58 am

I couldn't fall asleep last night. It happened the night before too. It was late, I climbed in bed, kissed Doug three times, closed my eyes and.... nothing. Actually, not nothing. A lot of annoying somethings. My hair was bothering my neck. The sheets were pestering my arms and legs. My body pillow was trying to melt my skin with its heat, but the room was too cold to take the comforter off. I couldn't stop scratching. I couldn't get comfortable. Couldn't stop THINKING. What was the problem? I was wearing my cozy socks. (check) No…
How (and Why) to Use Pinterest

acte gratuit

18 Jan 2012 | 6:51 pm

So I have a new hobby lately... Pinterest.com Of course I'd heard about pinning from a few people before I bothered to look into it and see what it was about. When I finally did, it was love at first pin. Here's the scoop for those of you who are clueless! (No offense...) Pinterest is an on-line bulletin board for everything you see around the web, that you want to keep track of. See a recipe you want to try? Pin it to your "Recipes that will surely make me fat" pin board. See a book you want to read? Pin it to you "Books I'll never get around to reading" pin board.
Two Little Boy-related Things

acte gratuit

16 Jan 2012 | 12:06 pm

Item 1: Doug: "Sam went and jumped on Max and squirted him with a juice box in bed this morning. Gotta go. Love you!" Um, WHAT?!? It is seven a.m.. I can barely get my eyes to open! Seven o'clock in the freakin' morning and my sons have already been making JUICE messes!?! Yes, it turns out that when Sam asked me last night to set his alarm for midnight, it wasn't just so he could wake up at midnight. He had nefarious plans in mind. (I should never let these things go without adequate grilling!) Since I WOULDN'T set his alarm, he woke himself up around 6…

Sarah and the Goon Squad
I Think it is Really All About the Pick Axe

Goon Squad Sarah

27 Jan 2012 | 10:53 am

Him: I think I want to be a miner when I grown up. Me: A miner? Him: Yes. A miner. Me: You want to dig mines or you want to actually mine coal? Him: I want to be a miner. I read about it in “Boys Life”. My Internal Monologue: “Boys Life” his encouraging scouts to become miners when they grow up? The economy isn’t that bad. His Dad: You mean you want to explore caves? That isn’t really mining, that is spelunking. Him: I want to be a miner. I want to carry around a pickaxe and collect gems. Don’t we all? Now that I work for Disney I can probably use…
The Things that Come Out of My Mouth

Goon Squad Sarah

19 Jan 2012 | 11:14 am

When I told somebody that my notary was in Aruba I thought it was probably the most ridiculous sentence that had ever come out of my mouth. It was true (if by my notary you mean my friend who I just found out was a notary, but he lives really close to me and he will be back in three days) it just sounds really uppity. So I am thinking, well at least I won’t say anything that sounds weirder than that for a while. But no. Because when a restaurant I have been trying to get into for – well, forever – called me and said they had a cancellation tomorrow night at 9:30 I said…
Nesting

Goon Squad Sarah

17 Jan 2012 | 3:25 pm

I’m nesting. I’m not pregnant. I am not adopting. I’m not even getting a puppy, but I am nesting. I started thinking about my recent actions. I’m clearing room on my calendar. I am doing home renovations. I am purging my belongings. I am making room for something. I just don’t know quite what that something is yet. Let me clarify, when I say purging my belongings, I really mean giving away things that don’t fit and things I don’t use. I still have a huge amount of crap in my house. I will never be a minimalist when it comes to things. It just seems…

Sara O'Flaherty
The History of Gay Rights (Video)

Sara O'Flaherty

27 Jan 2012 | 9:32 am

We’ve come a long way, but not nearly far enough.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u62OtM_vt5k© Sara O'Flaherty for Sara O'Flaherty, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: gay, marriage, rights, video Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh
100 Things to Eat Before You Die

Sara O'Flaherty

12 Jan 2012 | 2:28 pm

Ran across this today and thought it was pretty cool. How many have you tried?1. Abalone 2. Absinthe 3. Alligator 4. Baba Ghanoush 5. Bagel and lox 6. Baklava 7. Barbecue ribs 8. Bellini 9. Bird’s Nest Soup 10. Biscuits and gravy 11. Black Pudding 12. Black Truffle 13. Borscht 14. Calamari 15. Carp 16. Caviar 17. Cheese fondue 18. Chicken and waffles 19. Chicken Tikka Masala 20. Chile Relleno 21. Chitterlings/Chitlins 22. Churros 23. Clam Chowder 24. Cognac 25. Crabcake 26. Crickets 27. Currywurst 28. Dandelion wine 29. Dulce de leche 30. Durian 31. Eel 32. Eggs benedict 33. Fish Tacos 34.
Read It, Live It

Sara O'Flaherty

1 Jan 2012 | 10:56 am

Everything you need to know to make 2012 the best year ever (especially that not watching tv part!)© Sara O'Flaherty for Sara O'Flaherty, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Surrender, Dorothy
Don'ts for Wives and Other Things People Used to and Still Do Think About Women

Rita Arens

26 Jan 2012 | 9:25 am

One of the things I love about my husband is his awareness of my domestic shortcomings. I'm a terrible cook. I don't know how to bleach clothes. I'm loathe to scrub floors. It's not that I do nothing -- I do a lot of the laundry (while not using bleach), I clean the house weekly, I have learned how to use the lawn mower, I "cook" pretty often (tuna buns and mac & cheese, usually). My problem isn't that I'm too stupid to learn how to do these chores properly. My problem is that I just don't give a shit about knowing how to do them. I tried for a few…

Sweetney
How they are

sweetney

27 Jan 2012 | 8:24 am

They are like this: And they are like this: They are, well, completely and totally perfect together. And it probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it: I’m totally the luckiest woman alive. How they are is a post from Sweetney. © 2012 Sweetney.com. All rights reserved.
Required Reading for January 26th, 2012

sweetney

26 Jan 2012 | 11:20 am

Rare Pictures From the Dawn of NASA Spaceflight – “Breathtaking” is too small a word here, folks.Make-up tips for photography – I hate having my picture taken. This might help. I SAID *MIGHT.*A Healthy Information Diet: The Case for Conscious Consumption - “…an intelligent manifesto for optimizing the 11 hours we spend consuming information on any given day (a number that, for some of us, might be frighteningly higher) in a way that serves our intellectual, creative, and psychological well-being.”Famous Photogs Pose With Their Most Iconic Images…
All the good things

sweetney

26 Jan 2012 | 8:37 am

Life is, more often than not, complicated and challenging. So when a few bits of pure good rise to the surface of our own personal-sized portion of the Steaming Soup of Humanity, it seems important to pause, and savor, and share.1. Yesterday Charlie heard that he got a gig writing for HGTV.com. He’ll be writing about, well, Home and Garden things, as the name suggests. We honestly can’t get into the details yet, because what he’ll be doing is woven into something that is kind of Top Secret, so you’ll just have to trust me when I say, OMG SQUEE AWESOMEZ!1!!!At our…

Scribbit | A Blog About Motherhood in Alaska
Have a Happy New Year

31 Dec 2011 | 3:59 pm

I've been gone so long that the emails have stopped coming and I've stopped looking. But for those kind enough to wonder where I've taken off to I thought I'd at least let you know we're alive and well and looking forward to another year but I'm afraid life has given me other things to do instead of blogging. Here's a picture of our last camping trip at the end of the summer at Quartz Creek where we had a great time and the kids kayaked and rode horses till they nearly dropped from exhaustion. Andrew, Spencer and Grace ran the zombie half-marathon at Halloween and now she's waiting…
Talkeetna, Alaska--the Top of the World

16 Aug 2011 | 1:42 pm

Long time, no see? Well today--most glorious of days--is the First Day of School which means I have time to take a shower without being interrupted. I can finally eat breakfast sitting down and possibly find some time to do a bit of writing here and there. We've had a nice summer--Grace worked for the Parks and Rec department again. She now has a motor scooter (I should post pictures) and I even have a new nephew. The men took a 50+ mile kayak trip on Lake Louise, they also hiked to Gull Rock and I've been reading lots of great books while they're out sleeping in their tents. And…
Barbecue Soup

6 Jun 2011 | 3:00 am

My mom came back from a trip to the Outer Banks last month, raving about some soup she'd had there. Apparently it was good enough to warrant a scouring of the internet for the recipe that could copy such gastronomical bliss, and (lucky for me) she was successful. Listed as "Get a Husband Stew," it makes the prodigious claim of being the soup with the power to change your marital status. That, sir, is no small boast. And if that wasn't enough to rouse my interest, Mom said that while she didn't get any more husbands after fixing this soup, it certainly did delight and thrill the husband she…

MomsRising Blog
Asian American Health Mysteries and Dragon Babies – Some Fire for Thought

Rebecca Spence

27 Jan 2012 | 4:04 pm

If you don’t follow the lunar calendar and Chinese Zodiac, the Year of the Dragon just roared to life this week. It’s an auspicious time for having children in many Asian countries, and a baby boom of little dragons may soon be upon us all. Photo by flickr user Mananetwork Earlier this week, Thao Nguyen covered some important improvements that will make the future brighter for all American dragon babies. Significantly, dragon babies can not be denied insurance due to preexisting conditions under President Obama’s health care reform law. Yet, for Asian American mothers, this lucky year…
Lunar New Year: A Time of Celebration and Family

Karen K. Narasaki

27 Jan 2012 | 11:30 am

For many Asian Americans, the Lunar New Year is a time of celebration. Customs and traditions are as diverse as those who practice them, but one thing remains constant – celebrating as a family. To Asian Americans missing their loved ones abroad, the celebrations are tinged with sadness. Sadly, thousands of Asian Americans and other immigrant families know all too well the pain of being apart from their close family members not only on holidays but birthdays, graduations, funerals and weddings. Even the simple ritual of a weekend family dinner is impossible. Nearly two-thirds of Asian…
Being Chinese in America

Tracey Black

26 Jan 2012 | 6:38 pm

It’s Chinese New Year. For me, it’s a time of celebration with dumplings, noodles, red envelopes filled with money, and a reflection of what it means to be Chinese. I’m proud of my heritage and all the accomplishments Chinese people have contributed to society. I’m often repeating things my mom told me as a child to my own kids ala Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, such as, “Did you know fireworks, gun powder, and noodles were invented by Chinese people? While I’m proud to be Chinese, I’ve also had to endure a lot of stereotypes for being a Chinese-American.

The Silent "I"
Granny's Chicken & Dumplings Recipe: DailyBuzz Moms 9x9

Glennia

24 Jan 2012 | 12:31 pm

Granny's Chicken and Dumplings Growing up in Ohio, Sunday dinner meant one thing to me: Granny's Chicken & Dumplings, a warm and hearty stew made of the simplest ingredients of flour, chicken, salt and pepper. A staple in the Midwest and South, chicken and dumplings is about as comforting as a comfort food can get. It seems to be something born of hard times, when only the bare necessities were on-hand to make a meal for a crowd. As a child, I watched my grandmother roll out dumpling and make quick work of cutting out dumplings into little bite-sized squares. Her knife skills would put…
The Bachelor Commentary: A Review of the 1/9/12 Episode in Tweets

Glennia

10 Jan 2012 | 6:47 pm

On Monday nights, my Twitter stream is filled with snarky commentary on ABC's The Bachelor. I probably wouldn't watch the show without these folks. This is a sample of those tweets, using Storify, in case you missed it. [View the story "The Bachelor: January 9, 2012 Edition" on Storify]
Saguaro National Park: Beauty Takes on Many Forms

Glennia

9 Jan 2012 | 7:04 pm

When planning our December roadtrip, a stop at the Saguaro National Park was an absolute must-see for my husband Frank. Frank loves cacti of all shapes and varieties. He has kept a cactus collection for more than twenty years through moves from California to Texas and back, with only a few casualties along the way. He loves cactus so much that Alex and I teased him throughout the trip by pointing at every wilted, dried out cactus we encountered and saying, "Hey, Dad, look! A cactus! Don't you want to take a picture of it?" We thought it was hilarious. Frank just rolled his eyes, and…

TheMacMommy
Creature Comforts

12 Jan 2012 | 1:15 am
Ask Siri anything. Almost anything.

9 Jan 2012 | 4:51 pm

What have YOU asked Siri for lately?
Happy Holidays

27 Dec 2011 | 12:05 am

See the full gallery on Posterous Posted via email from TheMacMommy

This Full House
Please Excuse My Daughter For Being Absent from School Yesterday....My Hormones Were Raging.

Liz@ThisFullHouse

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

I don't scare easily. I have 4 kids, 3 of whom are teenagers, which simply means, not unlike Wolverine, I have evolved (somewhat) and grown nerves of steel, my friends: Wolvermom, if you will. Wait, I lied. No, not about...
Wordless Wednesday: Sympathy Pains

Liz@ThisFullHouse

25 Jan 2012 | 7:41 am

Our youngest is home sick on the couch with a stomach bug and looks to me Doofus-Dawg is having some serious sympathy pains. © 2003 - 2012 This Full House Freshly-Brewed Elsewhere: Did you ever forget your kid's birthday? I...
HALP! There's ANOTHER Teenager in the House!

Liz@ThisFullHouse

23 Jan 2012 | 9:44 am

I remember when I first became the mother of a teenager -- which, considering my oldest girl is 18 now (SOB!) truly is an amazing thing (that I even remember it, I mean!) Then my middle girl turned 13 and,...

Velveteen Mind
Let It Burn. Let It Rage.

velveteenmind@gmail.com (Megan Jordan)

5 Jan 2012 | 10:35 am

He wanted the fire only large enough to last ten minutes. I wanted it to rage. I spent 2011 in a slow, smoldering state, never able to maintain my flame for long. Reading my friend Emily’s year-end favorite posts list, however, reminded me that I started it raging. Damn it, this year did not go at all as I had planned. With that longing in mind, I built a fire New Year’s Eve night to light up the bayou. Let it burn. Let it rage. I’ll stand here until the last ember smolders. To hell with control. So. The skin cancer. The last time I wrote about it was July, shortly after two full…
Jack Stinkyfeet: Christmas Morning with an Elf On The Shelf

velveteenmind@gmail.com (Megan Jordan)

2 Dec 2011 | 10:54 am

Jack Stinkyfeet. That’s the name our kids gave our Elf On The Shelf two years ago, when the boys were five and three. I wanted something ironic. I remember recommending something like “Jose Heffernan.” Something, you know, believable for when the kids got older and grew skeptical of the legend. If you aren’t familiar with it, an Elf On The Shelf is a boxed set that includes a story book (sharing the background myth) and a very retro little dude doll with flexible arms and legs, a soft body, and a head straight from the 1950’s. Your Elf is one of Santa’s elves and arrives some time…
John Wayne and Clark W. Griswold Do Thanksgiving

velveteenmind@gmail.com (Megan Jordan)

21 Nov 2011 | 2:08 pm

How did I not notice that the kids are off an entire week for Thanksgiving vacation? How did I not notice this until last Friday?! We were packing backpacks, on our way out the door for school Friday morning, when I double checked Grey's homework folder and noticed that "THANKSGIVING BREAK" stretched out across every single block of Thanksgiving week. I hollered for the boys and demanded to know if they knew about this extended vacation business. Their perplexed faces revealed that they both didn't know about the break and couldn't fathom why their mother appeared to be either furious or…

and baby makes 6!
And He walks to me across the Water

Jody

4 Jan 2012 | 11:20 am

2011 was the year that we stopped going to church on Sundays. It was not something that we schemed or thought out. It just happened. Bill was working very hard over the spring, baseball was going full speed ahead and … Continue reading →
That’s my girl!

Jody

30 Dec 2011 | 9:41 pm

Make a video – it’s fun, easy and free!www.onetruemedia.com
Party attire for beach bums

Jody

27 Dec 2011 | 11:42 am

Continue reading →

IzzyMom
Tween Compliments Adult: Hell Has Officially Frozen Over

IzzyMom

9 Jan 2012 | 11:54 am

Aside from wanting to be involved in my daughter, N’s, life (because she’s 11 and I know my opportunities will soon evaporate), I also find being around the groups of young girls in her scout troop and cheer squad absolutely fascinating. They’re such strange creatures and the ever-shifting group dynamics are a better study in [...]
The Truth About Santa: A Cautionary Tale

IzzyMom

27 Dec 2011 | 4:08 pm

I knew this day would come eventually but I never dreamed it would be so heart-wrenching. You see, my daughter has been dropping hints about her wavering belief in Santa Claus for a several months now. Her questions about the existence of Santa, however, always came when my six year old was nearby so I [...]
Book Review: Laughing at Wall Street

IzzyMom

16 Dec 2011 | 1:29 pm

I recently received and read a review copy of Laughing at Wall Street by Chris Camillo. I was intrigued by the subtitle of the book, “How I Beat the Pros at Investing (by Reading Tabloids, Shopping at the Mall, and Connecting on Facebook) and How You Can, Too” I’m a sucker for “rags to riches” [...]

Three Kid Circus
Barbie Hair

10 Jan 2012 | 2:48 pm

My almost 13-year-old daughter stands a good 4 inches taller than me now - no great feat, since I'm 4-11 on a good day, but still. She got her hair trimmed this last weekend, finally agreeing that perhaps the Jan Brady wasn't the look she wanted, and ended up allowing our long suffering stylist to cut chin length layers that taper to the full length in the front. As we were leaving the salon, the stylist mentioned that she could use a straightener to get a smooth, polished look. Now, I have a straightener. And I can only successfully straighten about 1/4 of my hair before I get bored or lazy…
Mirror, mirror

7 Jan 2012 | 10:10 am

Last night, I stayed up until midnight watching episodes of Say Yes to the Dress. I don't know why exactly, but there I was, watching bride after bride try on multi-thousand dollar dresses. Sticker shock aside, what struck me was the fact that these women would put on a dress away from the eyes of family and friends, smile, preen a bit, and then parade out onto the store's runway, where their assembled nearest and dearest proceeded to tear them down and make them feel unlovely in a dress that made them feel pretty moments before. It was painful to watch. It made me so glad that I never…
What she sees

6 Jan 2012 | 10:46 am

My oldest daughter spends a lot of time looking at herself in the mirror these days. Sometimes, she's primping and preening, but sometimes she stands there making funny faces at herself. She invites her siblings to join her at the mirror, and they all get in the act. When I look at her, I see beauty, intelligence and humor spark across her features as she pouts and snarls into the glass. I wonder what she sees? While watching a movie last night, my daughter identified herself with the ditzy afghan hound that gets beaned in the head and goes, ow, Frisbee! (at 49 seconds on the video) She also…

slackermama . com
This is surely a sign that I have gotten old

Marilyn

27 Jan 2012 | 1:40 pm

Pin it See this picture? I nabbed it off Pinterest but I’ve come across it before. And every time I see it, I think, “Oh my God… YES.”. Because I so totally do this. I consistently loose an entire decade. When people talk about something in 1992 having taken place 20 years ago, I ALWAYS think, rather derisively, “Fools, they mean ten years ago. Pfft.” (Even now, as I wrote the above sentence I had to stop and figure out if it was right. This totally proves my point.) What the heck?? Why do I do this? The only possible explanation is the 2000′s were so…
Stay hungry, stay foolish

Marilyn

23 Jan 2012 | 6:48 pm

Pin itReno finally got some snow this last weekend! Not an enormous amount, but a heck of a lot more than we’ve had all winter so at least it’s something. More importantly, the mountains got snow too. They needed it soooo bad. Of course it’s supposed to be like 60 degrees on Wednesday, so we’ll see how long it lasts. I can only hope that these storms were just the beginning and that we’ll see some more in due time. Did I tell you all that I started watching “Doctor Who” on Netflix? I had to see what all the fuss was about, of course. It’s kinda…
My Take: iPad 2 vs. Kindle Fire

Marilyn

19 Jan 2012 | 10:23 pm

Pin itOkay, I tried and I simply couldn’t resist. Yes, when I decided to get the Kindle Fire, I was thinking it would be an adequate replacement for the iPad, which I thought of as too expensive. And before I really get started, I want to give full disclosure. Kile and I both wanted e-readers for Christmas this year. For a long time we couldn’t decide between the Nook and the Kindle. Then they announced the Kindle Fire. And for a bit more than we were planning on spending, we could get a quasi-iPad. It seemed like the best choice. But I have to admit that the usability of the…

Karen Sugarpants
Best. Run. Ever

Karen Sugarpants

15 Jan 2012 | 5:33 pm

This wasn’t just any run. It started with Beyonce empowering every step with Run the World. I conquered the big hill and walked a little, as my right shin is tight and bugging me. I stop to stretch it out really well. It’s cold. It’s bitterly cold but it feels refreshing and my lungs are filling with crisp, clean air. I pick it up again and find a groove, running by the hospital. I start thinking about my future career (I’m in nursing school, for those who don’t know). I think about the patients and the nurses I will meet and the excitement is…
Sugarpants’ Weird and Funny Holiday Comforts

Karen Sugarpants

17 Nov 2011 | 9:11 pm

This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love. Christmas is fast approaching and with nursing school dominating my life, I’ve had to set Christmas on the back burner. Now usually, I do all the decorating, shopping, arranging and other such craziness. This year, I’m in exams right up until December 16th and I think the week after that, I’ll be able to get everything done. I made a wish list last…
“You Suck.”

Karen Sugarpants

29 Oct 2011 | 4:39 pm

“You Suck.” I have heard this, in one form or another, many times since I started school last year. I’m not gonna lie, it kinda hurts. Between school, kids, the husband, the house and trying to maintain my sanity by sleeping and exercising enough, I have said no to many things: - Girls nights. Girls nights in PJ’s, with wine and too much food and lots and lots of laughs. - Parties that involve my credit card. You know the ones – Tupperware, Fantasia, Pampered Chef, etc. Not really parties, but still a fun night to hang out with the girls and do a little…

Woulda Coulda Shoulda
So. Um. Yeah.

Mir

26 Jan 2012 | 7:34 am

I can’t remember where I got it from… a long ago friend started it, I think… but there used to be a group of us who would follow any awkward silence or unprecedented/weird turn of conversation with, “Hey, did you catch that game? You know… the one… they play with… that ball?” None of us [...]
So a few of you have asked…

Mir

24 Jan 2012 | 11:36 am

… how The Vagina Monologues is going. It’s going! I am rusty, much rustier than I expected. I mean, sure, getting up on stage is just like riding a bike in that I guess you kind of have this kinesthetic memory that doesn’t forget how it all works, but on the other hand, I’m guessing [...]
It’s not contagious

Mir

23 Jan 2012 | 8:57 am

We had a pretty uneventful weekend, here. We watched football (go Patriots!). We grumbled about the weather. I swore I was going to do laundry and go grocery shopping and then I did lots of laundry but neglected to go grocery shopping, which meant that this morning I packed everyone a delicious lunch of various [...]

glamaLIFE...embrace LIFE. get LOVE. be GLAM.
Young Girls and Self Esteem: Photoshop Lies Exposed

heather@glamaLIFE.com (Heather Schuck)

17 Jan 2012 | 11:18 am

The debate over “photoshopped” models and celebrities has raged for years in the media. Glossy magazines are emblazoned with pictures of celebrities that somehow appear 20 lbs lighter, tattoo-free, and without a line in sight on their 40 year old face. Are they just genetically blessed or are we being deceived by technology? While no one is willing to offer a straight-forward answer, students at Dartmouth might have found a way to get answers. They’ve created a software program that can detect whether an image has been altered and to what degree. (Read the research here) Personally,…
Benefits of Roughhousing: It Makes Kids Brilliant

heather@glamaLIFE.com (Heather Schuck)

11 Jan 2012 | 12:37 pm

A bold claim from a bold book called The Art of Roughhousing. But they don’t stop there, here’s the full claim here: Play—especially active physical play, like roughhousing—makes kids smart, emotionally intelligent, lovable and likable, ethical, physically fit, and joyful. I for one couldn’t agree more. I’ve been roughhousing with my littles since they were babies. I’m a firm believer in being physical with your kids. My kids and I are the “touchy-feely” type and our affection for each other isn’t expressed only through hugs -but with pile drivers, tickle fests, and…
Raising Creative Kids: Teaching What Our Schools Won’t

heather@glamaLIFE.com (Heather Schuck)

2 Jan 2012 | 2:39 pm

When it comes to raising creative kids, I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with our public schools. While there are many merits to celebrate, there are also areas where our kids are being hindered and starved. My biggest complaint is in the creative thinking department. Our efforts to save a couple bucks with relentless budget cuts are depriving our children opportunities for growth as innovators, creators, and intellectuals. Instead of encouraging and inspiring our next generation to free-think, we are teaching them to memorize data and regurgitate facts. Hardly an atmosphere for nurturing the…

amalah . com
:(

amalah

27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

After a brief turn for the better last night and this morning, we're now back to taking it one sip of Pedialyte at a time over here. Even popsicles are too wild and crazy for this party. And the less said about that banana, the better. Fuck this week. I'm out. Let's meet up on Monday for a do-over, deal?
Because You're Worth It

amalah

26 Jan 2012 | 11:18 am

Warning: This is probably going to be the grossest thing I have ever written about on the Internet. And I have written some gross fucking things. So, proceed with caution. Or don't. Just leave. Run away! Look out, behind you! It's a compulsive oversharing blogger in her pajamas! OH MY GOD WE'RE DOOMED. Yesterday afternoon, Ezra shuffled from his room post-nap. "My tummy hurts," he whined. We had a little chat about Poop, Do You Need To Go Do That, and I expertly diagnosed him with Who The Hell Knows, But Let's Try Some Cuddling On The Couch. So we cuddled. On…

Blisstree » LIVE
Afternoon Links: Prep A Quick And Healthy Dinner

Emily Moorhouse

27 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pm

• Master the art of resilience. (HuffPost Fitness) • Ways to prep a quick, healthy dinner. (fitsugar) • A quick fix for feeling down in the dumps. (The Stir) • Can you make your husband change? (YourTango) • How to handle your debt. (HuffPost Women • How to handle difficult people. (YouBeauty) • Vegetable cocktails you should try. (Organic Authority) • Health and fitness books you should buy. (Well + Good) Post from: Blisstree
6 Reasons Why Your Period Might Be Irregular

Hanna Brooks Olsen

27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm

Contrary to what you may be inclined to believe by the period-shaming media, your monthly flow is not embarrassing, not blue, not consistant, and often, not monthly at all. In fact, for most women, at some point in their lives, unusual menstruation is the norm–and that perfect, 28-day cycle is an illusive creature, like a hormonal unicorn leaping over rainbows of body-positive tampon ads off on the horizon. But even with that knowledge, when your period does something unpredicted, it can still be worrisome. I asked Heather Corinna, Founder and Executive Director of…
Why Snooki Should Promote Exercise And Diet Instead of Zantrex3

Briana Rognlin

27 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm

I’ve already written about how amazing it is that Snooki‘s new Zantrex commercial features the same music as Jessie Spano‘s caffeine pill breakdown. Now it’s time for me to have a serious talk about her new body and why I’m so bummed that she’s peddling diet drugs instead of focusing on all the other hard work she’s been doing to get healthy. Snooki has been showing off her newly toned (albeit badly photoshopped) body on Twitter since December, and she even appeared on Ellen reporting on her new—dare I say it?—healthy habits, like working out…

Chicken And Cheese
Wild Boy

Mrs. Chicken

26 Jan 2012 | 10:42 pm

Henry has grown three inches since school began in August. I swear I can hear it at night when he sleeps, a creaky groan over the baby monitor I can’t seem to part with. I like hearing him in the night, his little coos and sighs, his snores and babbling. Sometimes, he says my name. Mama! He’s such a big, wild boy now in his underpants and crewcut. Every month his father takes him to the barber and he comes home shorn, a little sheep, a cadet, a seal pup. His eyes get exponentially bigger as his hair gets shorter. His face is changing, morphing from baby to boy and back again in…
Oh! Hey!

Mrs. Chicken

11 Jan 2012 | 2:36 pm

So 2011 can suckit. And you know what? IT’S OVER. OVER OVER OVER. And I could not be happier. Granted, my buddy 2011 signed off by leaving me unemployed (and remind me to tell you about how I resigned and they FIRED ME ANYWAYS) but it’s alllll gooooood, as the kids say. Is that what the kids say? Anywho. I have a lot of stuff to get done this year. I’m trying to be more organized and shit by keeping lists so I’m kicking off my 2012 blogging with a few scratch notes and reminders to myself. 1. Get a proper bra fitting. Like, seriously, my low-hanging, 40-year-old boobs…
Gifts, Simple and Not

Mrs. Chicken

1 Jan 2012 | 7:19 pm

At 0800 hours this morning Operation Dismantle Christmas got under way. Getting that dead tree out of my living room felt like taking a giant deep breath. We had a nice enough holiday, seeing everyone we wanted and needed to with a minimum of traveling but still, my heart wasn’t really in it this year. The kids just didn’t seem excited about their gifts and the weather was too warm to feel cozy. When our last set of guests departed early yesterday morning you could hear the entire house sigh, and then settle. Also, about two weeks before we left for the East Coast, we got a card…

The Domestic Diva
This Weeks Coupon Haul

The Domestic Diva

26 Jan 2012 | 1:22 am

With each passing week I’m finding that it is getting easier and easier learning how to coupon. I look forward to shopping trips now because of the deals and savings I’m going to get. It is only the middle of the week and I think I’ve scored some pretty decent deals to add to my stockpile… Deals at CVS CVS has quickly become one of my favorite places to coupon because of their Extra Care Bucks, Beauty Club Rewards, and their Green Bag Tag. Blistex Fruit Smoothies Lip Balm (pack of 3), $4.49 On Sale: $2.87 Get $2 ECB -$.35/1 coupon Buy 2 Revlon Products, Get $7 ECB 1…
DIY Project: Creating a Kids Space in Moms Office

The Domestic Diva

24 Jan 2012 | 12:59 am

It wasn’t too long ago when Hubby and I decided to “trade work spaces”. He decided to move his office upstairs and I decided to take over the basement. Moving and changing up the look, feel, and purpose of a room is something that my husband and I enjoy. I spend a lot of time on Pinterest. It is such an amazing source for inspiration. But one of the things that I like most about Pinterest is that it encourages me to actually get up off the couch computer to try something new & different. One such inspiration came when I was pinning happily along one day late at night…
Clipped 2 Savings Haul: Covergirl Shineblast Lipgloss Clearance at Walgreens

The Domestic Diva

20 Jan 2012 | 11:39 pm

This week started out rather slowly. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to find any real “wow” deals this week. I’ve been a little discouraged this week since it was such a slow week but finally on Thursday I found some good deals. Here’s is my savings recap for the week: Saved at CVS 2 CVS Brand Skin Care, lotions $1.49 Sale: Buy 1, Get 1 50% off Saved: $.75 Used -$1/2 CVS Brand Skin Care coupon printed from the Coupon Machine Total Paid: $1.23 Total Saved: $1.75 Buy 3 American Greeting Cards Get $3 ECB Bought 3 Cards $.99 each. Paid using ECB from last week :)…

Home Ec 101
Baked Pork Egg Rolls a Recipe from the Pork Board

Heather

27 Jan 2012 | 8:23 pm

Skip right to the recipe for baked pork eggrolls.Heather says:I was recently contacted by the National Pork Board and Publix to see if I was interested in participating in a campaign to help promote the Good and Good for You Challenge. The National Pork Board is asking people to take a pledge to eat healthy throughout 2012. This week the campaign is focusing on pork tenderloin.What is a pork tenderloin, you ask?Just like with beef tenderloin the tenderloin of a pig comes from a muscle along the central spine which is exceptionally tender as it’s really only used only for posture rather…
How to Clean a Grimy Bathtub and Surround

Heather

26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

Dear Home-Ec 101,I have a 25 year white tub surround that has accumulated a darkened tint due to left over scum even after cleaning it often enough for this very busy mom and full time art teacher. What is fast and quick and odorless, green, effective, etc. Seems that I am also very good at damaging our home, as I tend to be impulsive when it comes to cleaning.Help me please, thanks.Signed,Grimy in GridleyHeather says: Before I explain how to clean a tub surround, I thought I’d explain exactly what a tub surround is for those who may be unsure. In some bathrooms the shower and tub…
Are Appliance Bulbs Safe for Ovens?

Heather

25 Jan 2012 | 7:51 am

Dear Home-Ec 101,Does “appliance bulb” mean any appliance?My oven light bulb went out. The previous home owners did not leave the manual, and I’ve had no luck finding one on the internet.My Lowe’s sales clerk was “almost positive” that the bulbs that include “appliances” in the list of recommended uses would be safe because of the thick glass cover that goes over the bulb. I also found the following statement:“Most interior oven lights require a universal 40 watt appliance bulb, which can be found in our parts section.”As the bulb I…

Working Moms Against Guilt
Help Me Feed My Family (Without Pulling Out My Hair)!

Sara

10 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm

While most people were out celebrating New Year’s Eve, I was having a mini-meltdown. We’d had a wonderful Christmas and then… something about the coming new year just filled me with dread. After having a good cry and discussing it with my husband, I narrowed the reason down to the fact that the first few months of every year are Very Very Hard for me. That’s because my husband’s a tax accountant, and it doesn’t take long for those long Busy Season hours to kick in. Starting early February I’m virtually a single mom, responsible for getting kids ready…
The Year of Not Sweating the Small Stuff

Becky

5 Jan 2012 | 10:25 am

Hey all! Ok. I have been slacking on the posts. So I thought it was time to jump back in and get things going again! Through the holidays and into the new year, I made a commitment to myself for 2012. This will be the year to not sweat the small stuff. Because, in reality, does all that little stuff really matter? Does it matter if the clothes are folded wrong or dinner is on a little late? Does the email really need sent to express your opinion just to express it? Do the kids really have to have a spotless room every waking moment? Holidays tend to bring out tensions in a lot…
Holiday Helpers: Shop Local!

Becky

4 Dec 2011 | 8:45 am

I have been following along with a neat program put on by Yelp!. They have been doing a Golden Ticket Hunt to encourage people to shop local and look for a golden ticket to win prizes. That reminded me to share some great places for shopping local. Cincinnati Area Check out Family Friendly Cincinnati - They have compiled this great Family Friendly Cincinnati Shop Local Guide PDF that includes special offers for people that use it. Over the Rhine Gateway – There are some nice places to shop in OTR and they have assembled a great guide to check out as well! CincyFavorites – And…

the Disney Driven Life
Disney’s Three Caballeros

Bill I. (NDH#35)

27 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm

At the end of the 1930s, the Disney Studios fantastic successes with Mickey Mouse and the classic animated Movie, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” began to wane. War clouds were gathering over Europe and the kind of comic relief Mickey and the Silly Symphonies gave the depression-weary country was lost over the impeding fear of a global war. After the war started in September, 1939, the mood was even sourer. In addition, the release of Pinocchio on February 2, 1940 hoped to be as successful as Snow White, was not. The long anticipated “Fantasia” released on November, 13, 1940 was…
Dinosaur

NDI47

24 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm

You climb aboard a time rover. Everything is going smoothly as you are watching dinosaurs graze and stroll the jungle…but this is only for a short time. There is a meteorite coming your way! You have to save yourself! The attraction I am speaking of can be none other than Dinosaur in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, which is located in the Dinoland USA portion of the park. Originally, this was called Countdown to Extinction, which opened the same day that Animal Kingdom itself opened, on April 22, 1998. However, it was re-named Dinosaur to promote the…
Disney’s 2012 Movie Slate

Ryan K. (NDD#137)

16 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm

It’s that time again! With a year behind us in 2011, it’s time to look forward to see what Disney has planned for 2012. If you listen to the Disney Film Project Podcast, you know which one I’m looking forward to the most, but here’s the slate of films Disney will treat us to in 2012. January 13 – Beauty and the Beast in 3D – Not much to say about this, except that it is probably the best hand drawn animated film ever, and it did get nominated for Best Picture. The addition of 3D did wonders for the box office of The Lion King, and I’d expect the same here. This will be a…

Joy Unexpected
It's a Nice Day For A Play Wedding

26 Jan 2012 | 3:27 pm
Watch Out, Boys

25 Jan 2012 | 8:33 pm

"Mommy, today a boy called me dumb." "Why did he call you dumb?" I asked. "I don't know. I was just standing in line at lunch time, talking to my friend and he told me that I was dumb." She continued. "But don't worry, I looked right at his face and said 'OH NO YOU DI'INT!!!'" I held back my laughter because she was dead serious. "What did he say?" "He just looked at me and turned his head and didn't talk to me again. I stood up for myself, Mommy, just like you told me to! Aren't you so proud of me?" Oh, yes little girl of mine. Always so proud of you.
My New Tagline?

25 Jan 2012 | 9:25 am

This morning I woke up and sat up in my bed. My daughter was in my room, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, combing her hair. I saw her face in the mirror and said "Good morning!" "Mommy, you look SO pretty!" She said. That sweet compliment from my daughter made me feel so good. "Really?" I said. "Yes!" She responded. What a nice thing to hear first thing in the morning. I definitely do not feel pretty when I wake up with my puffy face and my messy hair. She wasn't finished with her compliment. "You look prettier than a rat. Because you know how rats look kind of scary and evil? You…

Momformation
7 reasons to eat more fat

BabyCenter Guest Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 9:52 pm

by BabyCenter Guest Blogger posted in Life & Home By: Katie Kimball, Kitchen Stewardship I was the teenager who scowled at her father, “Don't butter my toast! You always put too much on!” The girl who sopped the grease off her pizza and Polish kielbasa with a napkin. The one who sprayed “I Can't Believe... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.
Used baby gear: yay or nay?

Molly Balint

27 Jan 2012 | 7:11 pm

by Molly Balint posted in Products & Prizes High end tastes but a low end budget? Then maybe I have the perfect solution for you. reCrib is a online site created in 2011 by two New York City parents who put their experiences as advertising and retail execs and "parents with too much baby gear... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.
What if you lost your family?

Denise Cortes

27 Jan 2012 | 4:33 pm

by Denise Cortes posted in Mom Stories We've all had this same thought at one time or another. Perhaps it crosses your mind as you're pulling away from the curb to run an errand, and the kids stay with their father. Or maybe it's the other way around and they're leaving for a fun afternoon... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.

Stimeyland
:(

24 Jan 2012 | 9:50 pm

Hey. It's not been an awesome couple of weeks, has it? If you're looking for funny and self-righteous outrage, can we just pretend that I posted this column about how terrible homework is here? Mostly, however, I just want to send my love to my friend Susan. She's one of the good ones.
The Izz-Bird

18 Jan 2012 | 10:49 pm

I had a cat named Izzy. She used to be Isabella, but about five minutes after I brought her home, I realized that Isabella was way too sophisticated for her, and Izzy she became. Also, sometimes Izz-Bird, or more accurately, The Izz-Bird. This is her: Now, I'm sure YOUR cat is awesome and all, but Izzy is the best cat. She spent the first half of her life being a silly, playful cat and then she relaxed into a wonderful, cuddly cat for a long time. I used to have to fake sleep in the morning, because if she caught me with my eyes open, she would poke at my face with her paw so I would pet her.
Rear Window

17 Jan 2012 | 9:40 pm

My family is having a little bit of a pet crisis today. It will be "resolved" tomorrow, but not in the happy way. I'll tell you about it later. I decided to tell you about something different and light and funny because it is less sad. Somewhere along the line, I decided that the light and funny post should be about my rear windshield wiper. Because that is a logical leap. I think I mistook "light and funny" with "stupid and boring." I even Photoshopped a whole graphic about the rear windshield wiper story. Then, I got ready to actually write the post and I looked at the notes that I'd…

Smiley Cat: Christian Watson's Web Design Blog
Are Error Messages Getting Too Cute For Their Own Good

19 Jan 2012 | 10:45 pm

I enjoyed this post by Golden Krishna on the Cooper blog about how error messages are becoming increasingly less useful in helping you identify what has gone wrong. Fortunately, some suggestions on writing good error messages are included towards the end, including this one from UXmatters.
How a Proactive Pop Up Increased Online Chats by Over 200%

14 Jan 2012 | 6:57 pm

A few months ago I updated the live chat tool for one of the websites I manage so that it would proactively pop up after a visitor had been on the site for a couple of minutes and had viewed several pages. The pop-up is pretty intrusive which concerned me from a user experience standpoint, but I thought I would try it out anyway.Here's how the chat popup looks — you can't navigate the site without closing it: We've now been running the proactive for four months, and the increase in the number of online chats it has generated is quite substantial: MonthIncrease in # of chats September…
How to Make Data Tables Viewable On Mobile Devices

2 Jan 2012 | 6:26 pm

I enjoyed this well explained tutorial on how to code multi-column data tables responsively (demo) so that they display in a usable format on small screen devices. The solution? Assign 'essential' and 'optional' classes to the the data columns and hide the optional columns at smaller screen widths using CSS3 media queries. Very nicely done. [via CSS Tricks]

Los Angeles Mamma Blog
Sometimes My Fridge is Musty

Alexia

25 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm

I hate to admit it, but I don’t clean out my fridge as often as I should. And that’s not a good thing. Sometimes things stay in there for a month! Eeeek. I can’t believe I just admited that. The Oransi fridge air purifier was made with me in mind. Seriously. No more musty. Occassionally there is a smell, and whatever is causing that gets thrown out, but with all the JUNK that lives in my fridge, Oransi has allowed it to remain decent smelling and feeling. Things seem fresher, or more crisp even. Vegetables look better, I think. I love Oransi, and I’m so glad I got…
FreeScore

Alexia

28 Dec 2011 | 6:19 pm

Get your credit score for free at FreeScore. You get to view three scores from the 3 credit bureaus. At a time when identity theft and credit security are of definite importance, it’s good to know where you stand; as well as make sure you are safe and no one has gotten a hold of your personal information. Keep informed. It’s pretty easy to do with the click of a button. The Freescore commercial recently released is somewhat entertaining, so for some entertainment value take a look at it. It’s a short, 60 second commercial. I’d love to know what you…
A Drink That Promotes Wellness

Alexia

28 Dec 2011 | 1:52 am

Nopalea (No-pah lay’uh) is a tasty wellness drink sourced from the fruit of the Nopal cactus (Opuntia Ficus Indica). The healing properties of the Nopal cactus have been relied on for centuries by native peoples, and they’re now available in Nopalea. Each 32–ounce bottle of Nopalea brims with the health benefits of the Nopal fruit. Nopalea helps your body neutralize its inner toxins and reduce its inflammation. It contains rare and potent antioxidants that are SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to help the body REDUCE INFLAMMATION If you or someone you know suffer from inflammation and its…

Parent Hacks
Organize art supplies with dollar store bins + laminated labels

Asha Dornfest

27 Jan 2012 | 12:46 pm

via tinyleafstudio.com Several attendees of the "Getting Organized" chat asked for tips on how to organize art supplies. My overarching strategy for all organizing projects is "Simplify, Routinize, Delegate," and Jess of Tiny Leaf Studio did just that with her craft closet. Simplify: Declutter then sort the art supplies into categories. That way you know how much storage space you need and how many containers to buy. Routinize: Create a home for each category of supplies. In this case, Jess chose a closet shelf and clearly-labeled handled bins. Having a specific home for…
Writer, mother, extrovert: a tricky balance

Asha Dornfest

25 Jan 2012 | 1:18 pm

How did I, a fundamentaly social person, end up self-employed as a writer, followed by stay-at-home motherhood? Two of the most isolating, solitary jobs one could do? In my latest post at Babble Voices, I talk about how easy it can be to forget about your fundamental needs even as you walk down the path toward a full and happy life. And one easy thing you can do to adjust course. Read the full post at Babble Voices: The Accidental Expert: Writer, Mother, Extrovert: A Tricky Balance
New favorite craft material: polymer clay

Asha Dornfest

25 Jan 2012 | 7:38 am

Polymer clay (such as Sculpey and Fimo) has everything going for it: it's inexpensive, widely-available, versatile, long-lasting, easy to use, easy to clean up, and open to endless interpretation. Best of all, it's one of those magic materials (like Legos, unlike Play-Doh) that provides double-fun: fun in the crafting, and fun in playing with the finished product. (Once you've made something out of polymer clay, you bake it for 15 minutes. After your creation cools it's pretty much unbreakable.) My daughter spent hours one rainy weekend fashioning tiny polymer clay treasures.

Blisstree » LIVE
Afternoon Links: Prep A Quick And Healthy Dinner

Emily Moorhouse

27 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pm

• Master the art of resilience. (HuffPost Fitness) • Ways to prep a quick, healthy dinner. (fitsugar) • A quick fix for feeling down in the dumps. (The Stir) • Can you make your husband change? (YourTango) • How to handle your debt. (HuffPost Women • How to handle difficult people. (YouBeauty) • Vegetable cocktails you should try. (Organic Authority) • Health and fitness books you should buy. (Well + Good) Post from: Blisstree
6 Reasons Why Your Period Might Be Irregular

Hanna Brooks Olsen

27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm

Contrary to what you may be inclined to believe by the period-shaming media, your monthly flow is not embarrassing, not blue, not consistant, and often, not monthly at all. In fact, for most women, at some point in their lives, unusual menstruation is the norm–and that perfect, 28-day cycle is an illusive creature, like a hormonal unicorn leaping over rainbows of body-positive tampon ads off on the horizon. But even with that knowledge, when your period does something unpredicted, it can still be worrisome. I asked Heather Corinna, Founder and Executive Director of…
Why Snooki Should Promote Exercise And Diet Instead of Zantrex3

Briana Rognlin

27 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm

I’ve already written about how amazing it is that Snooki‘s new Zantrex commercial features the same music as Jessie Spano‘s caffeine pill breakdown. Now it’s time for me to have a serious talk about her new body and why I’m so bummed that she’s peddling diet drugs instead of focusing on all the other hard work she’s been doing to get healthy. Snooki has been showing off her newly toned (albeit badly photoshopped) body on Twitter since December, and she even appeared on Ellen reporting on her new—dare I say it?—healthy habits, like working out…

[Mis]Adventures of an Ad Girl in New York
How Motherhood Turns You Into a Sentimental Sap

20 Jan 2012 | 8:45 pm

As we write this, we are going back and forth to check on a sleeping child, to savor the last few breaths of the wonder that was six years old because we're just not ready for the seven year old we will see tomorrow. Happy birthday, mini. May you one day know the joy of having your insides shaken up every day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recently, someone asked us to to describe the experience of parenting and we didn't quite know where to begin. There's the honest, yet cheesy answer about…
On Our Soapbox

18 Jan 2012 | 8:09 am

We're asking for trouble, we know. But if someone could take a minute to explain our constitution to us, that'd be swell. Because, we thought we learned about this little thing in our constitution called the first amendment, which calls for separation of church and state. Since we were in the third grade and since we were young and gullible we believed it. Here's where we get stuck. Let's say you believe in this whole separation of church and state thing, which we'd like to. OK, OK, so the first amendment doesn't actually mention separation of church and…
Review: Cookies for people with food allergies that actually taste like cookies

5 Jan 2012 | 7:46 am

We had the recent pleasure of devouring elegantly tasting some new products from Home Free Treats. A little about Home Free: the company was started by a mom who has a child with food allergies and like many of us, was frustrated by the lack of options out there. These were our favorite. Shocking, we know. Mini was most excited at this project, as she rarely gets store-bought cookies, if ever. One of the downsides of having a mother who can bake, we suppose. But these are lazy-day alternatives we can actually feel good about: they have more whole grains and less "bad"…

Mombian
Discrimination Means Children with LGBT Parents May Face Extra Economic Hardships

Dana

27 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pm

There’s a myth that LGBT parents are all affluent—a myth perpetuated by many in the media, who tend to focus on upper-middle and upper class families when they do LGBT family stories. The reality is much different. Children being raised by same-sex couples are in fact twice as likely to live in poverty as those being raised by married heterosexual parents. (There has been less research about children of single LGB parents—but it seems reasonable to assume the same is true for them.) And the transgender population has a higher poverty rate than the general population,…
Seeking Binational Same-Sex Couples Raising Children

Dana

26 Jan 2012 | 12:57 pm

Passing along this message from Immigration Equality, a national organization fighting for equality under U.S. immigration law for LGBT and HIV-positive individuals. They are seeking binational same-sex couples with children for an awareness campaign. Please respond to them at the link below if you are interested. Immigration Equality is hoping to find binational couples, who are raising children, for a campaign highlighting the unique obstacles binational parents face while raising children and trying to remain together here in the United States. We know, from recent research by the…
Family Equality Council Launches New Web Site for LGBT Parents

Dana

26 Jan 2012 | 9:38 am

The Family Equality Council, which “connects, supports, and represents the one million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender parents in this country and the two million children they are raising,” has launched a new Web site. The redesigned site has all kinds of resources for LGBT parents, including one of my favorites, an interactive map of LGBT parenting groups around the country. Check it out—and marvel that they’re celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. LGBT families, as I’ve said before, are not a new phenomenon.

Pajama Mommy - A Women and Mothers Blogger Community A Women and Mothers Magazine
The Benefits for Opting for Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

Jessica

25 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

We’ve all been there at one point or another- the wait to be seen at an emergency room can seem like an eternity. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average time that hospital emergency department (ED) patients wait to see a doctor has grown from about 38 minutes to almost an hour over the past decade. In reality, in inner city hospitals, this wait can be up to eight hours before being seen by a provider! However, the introduction of urgent care facilities now provides patients an alternative that offers the expertise, but not the long wait. “I…
Shift Change: Balancing Work and Home for Whole-Life Success

Jessica

25 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

By Ed and Ellen Schack Today’s driven success-minded professional strives to “have it all” – and do it all – with respect to their personal and professional life. However, all too often, this shotgun effort leads to disappointing results on many, if not all, fronts. The complexity lies in creating abundance in your professional life while still being able to relax and enjoy your personal life to its fullest. Realizing whole-life success is possible. The secret lies in creating and committing to boundaries that keep work and home life separate, so that you may remain…
Treating Children’s Medical Problems with Food

Jessica

24 Jan 2012 | 4:21 pm

A long time ago, when kids got sick, Grandma knew just what to feed them to help them get better. Yes, feed them. Food is medicine for our bodies. It gives us strength, nutrients, and can help us fight sickness. Without it we die. Food is nature’s way of playing doctor. So, what medical problems can your child get that you can treat with food and which foods? Well, we’re here to tell you. But keep in mind that your doctor should always be the last word in treating your children. Feed that Cold Colds are the most common sickness a kid gets. They can get several in a year and love to spread…

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman | Ree Drummond
Tony, Bill, Football, Food, & Fun

Ree

27 Jan 2012 | 6:41 am

Tomorrow’s show on Food Network is, I think, my favorite one so far. That’s because Tony and Bill, Marlboro Man’s two good friends from college, visit the ranch to watch Arizona State (their alma mater) play Arizona (their arch rival) on TV. I’ve blogged about Tony and Bill here and there, as Marlboro Man has stayed in close touch with them through the years and we get to see them every so often. Tony lives in Virginia, Bill lives in Chicago, and both of them wanted to come to the ranch and sleep in, relax, and watch football. Instead Marlboro Man woke them up…
Smile!

Ree

25 Jan 2012 | 12:46 pm

…And the world smiles with you. It takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Turn that frown upside down. Smile – It’s the second best thing you can do with your lips. “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” Phyllis Diller “Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” Mother Teresa “One word or a pleasing smile is often enough to raise up a saddened and wounded soul.” Therese Of Lisieux “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Dr. Seuss “What sunshine…
The Two Very Best Cats in the World, I Think

Ree

23 Jan 2012 | 7:26 am

They’re affectionate. They’re communicative. They lie on their backs and allow me to rub their bellies without instinctively clawing and biting my hand because they’re afraid my hand is going to attack their internal organs. I assume that’s why most cats don’t let people rub their bellies, but I’m not sure. Maybe cats are just ticklish. Either way, I rub my cats’ bellies with impunity. They’re sweet to each other. They lick each other’s ears. They lick each other’s paws. They start purring when anyone starts talking to them. They…

GoodyBlog
Is Your Child Prepared for an Emergency?

Allison Berry

27 Jan 2012 | 12:06 pm

The thought of witnessing someone in danger can send chills down your spine, but the thought of that person being your own child is downright terrifying. NBC News recently did a report on how 9-year-old Malik Gipson performed the Heimlich maneuver after his 2-year-old brother started choking on a piece of candy. Gipson’s quick thinking and heroism ultimately saved the life of his younger brother. While the emergency technique is good for everyone to know, this story shows how important it is to prepare your children for emergency situations. Gipson was lucky to have seen the Heimlich on a…
Parents Daily News Roundup

April Rueb

27 Jan 2012 | 10:32 am

A Touch During Recess, and Reaction Is Swift The incident of the 6-year-old boy suspended from elementary school for a case of “sexual assault” is not isolated, experts say. Student Faces Town’s Wrath in Protest Against a Prayer A girl’s successful lawsuit to have a prayer removed from her high school has roiled the heavily Roman Catholic city of Cranston, where residents are appealing the decision. Utah Teens Arrested in Alleged School Bomb Plot A Utah high school student bragged to police that he was smarter than the Columbine killers and was plotting with an older student to set…
Q&A with Susan Senator, Author of ‘Dirt’

Grace Gavilanes

26 Jan 2012 | 8:10 pm

I just read Dirt, a novel written by Susan Senator, that centers on the life of Emmy, a suburban mom whose oldest of three sons, Nick, has severe autism. Susan’s oldest son, Nat, also has autism, and she’s written two other nonfiction books: The Autism Mom’s Survival Guide and Making Peace With Autism. Dirt is poignant and leaves an impression. Although the story as a whole is about how parents Emmy and Eric, and younger brothers Henry and Dan, cope with Nick’s autism, I came away feeling that the book has something for everyone—whether you have a child with autism, or enjoy…

Design Mom
A Few Things

Design Mom

27 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am

Hello Friends! How are you? Today was the day the jet lag finally caught up with me. I put my head down to rest for a few minutes and woke up 6 hours later. Hah! Now I’m curious to see what time I’ll fall asleep this evening. : ) Do you have any fun plan for the weekend? I’m in the mood for a really practical few days of laundry, ironing and errands. Seriously, those tasks sound so good! Maybe for some extra fun we’ll take a spin in our happy little car. In the meantime, here a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you: - I’m flat out in love with this…
Little Paris Paintings

Design Mom

27 Jan 2012 | 8:19 am

Remember when you traveled to Paris and fell in love? With the city, with your husband, with the croissants — or all of the above? Well, my brother-in-law, Paul Ferney, painted a series of little Paris store fronts. They would make a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift to remind you of your romantic trip. Grab one before they’re completely sold out. I think they’d make the perfect souvenir!
Tea Collection Giveaway

Design Mom

26 Jan 2012 | 9:41 am

You will love today’s giveaway. Super stylish Tea Collection is offering a generous $150 gift certificate! I’m such a Tea Collection fan — and I think the timing of this giveaway is perfect. Because Tea Collection is in the middle of their semi-annual sale, so you can snag something cozy to help your kids make it through the winter — at up to 60% off! Like this sweet raglan dress and this cool plaid hoodie. Both are under $20. (I love a good bargain hunt!) Or, if you’re looking for something sunny, take a peek at their spring catalog and daydream of the warmer weather…

The Vintage Mama
Finding Your Parenting Purpose

Lydia Poblano

26 Jan 2012 | 3:12 am

School’s have motto’s. Company’s have mission statements. Blogs have taglines. What do all these things have in common and what do they have to do with old fashioned motherhood? It’s about purpose. Purpose: The reason for which something exists, or is done, made, used, etc (dictionary.com) Purpose give you clarity on what your next move should be when it comes to parenting. It’s so easy to get caught up in the moment when Tommy talks back to you or when Mary just slammed the door when you sent her to her room. Or when little Johnny is throwing a tantrum in the…
How Do You Do “Vintage”?

Lydia Poblano

20 Jan 2012 | 11:24 am

When I tell people that I write about vintage motherhood and living, one of the first things they ask is where I like to shop for vintage clothes. Of course dressing up vintage could be one way to “do vintage”, but there are SO MANY other ways that mama’s do vintage. Now what I want to know is…how do you do “vintage”? Perhaps you have your home decorated in “vintage”? Is it farmhouse, shabby chic, earthy, 50′s pink, Victorian, retro or another take on vintage decorating? Maybe you like to treat your family to old fashioned Betty Crocker…
Freedom in Giving Up

Lydia Poblano

10 Jan 2012 | 10:34 am

On my New Years Eve post, I shared with you some ideas to help make this year just a bit more simple. Many mama’s emailed me to let me know how much they appreciated those idea’s (glad to help!). There was one suggestion on that list that seemed to really hit home with many and in just the few weeks that I have implemented it myself (I like to start before the official new year) I’ve already seen many positive changes. Give up something on your “one day” list At first the idea of giving something up scared me. What was I willing to give up? For how long? What…

Dutch Blitz
Making Me Smile

angella

27 Jan 2012 | 12:16 pm

Thanks so much for your comments, emails and DM’s. January is a tough month for a lot of you, too. It’s also the month that most relationships break up. True story. Matthew and I are fine, though we’ve both had a horrible case of The Januarys (Januaries?) and we’re kind of DONE with this blasted month. Today is a new day, and better yet, it’s a GOOD day. By 9:30 a.m. I’d: worked out, done two loads of laundry, cleaned three bathrooms and unloaded/loaded the dishwasher. None of this moping around business. I didn’t want to leave that dreary post up…
The Dark Side

angella

26 Jan 2012 | 12:10 am

I’ve talked a lot this fall and winter about how I thought I had finally beaten the S.A.D. monster. I ramped up my vitamins, I’m exercising at least five days a week, and we’ve taken up skiing. That, there, has been HUGE. Being above the clouds, in the sunshine and fresh air, exercising (my demons) all day long. Throw in a birthday weekend full of happy kids, good food, and beautiful friends, and I thought I had January beat. Then Monday came along. (Cue DJ, scratching a needle across a record and then, complete silence.) I hit a perfect storm on Monday morning which saw me…
Sunshine On A Snowy Day

angella

23 Jan 2012 | 12:10 am

When I was a kid, I kind of hated having a January birthday. January is a pretty word/name, but the month itself is kind of … meh. The fun and happy and excitement of Christmas and all of the other December holidays have left town and you’re left with grey skies and grey moods and a special kind of bleakness. Having your birthday mere weeks after Christmas can be disappointing as a kid, because I would generally get what I wanted for Christmas and then for my birthday, I had no new ideas. I envied my sister and her July birthday, because she got a deposit of Awesome halfway…

Mommycosm
Dreaming of summer while wearing Crocs winter boots

Mommycosm

27 Jan 2012 | 9:15 am

Want to know a little trick I use to bring a touch of summer back into dreary winter days? Every once in a while, when I can't take any more of the sky and land blending into one greyish hue, I apply sunscreen instead of my normal moisturizer. It warms my soul to smell like beach all day and reminds me that there is (sun) light at the end of that dark tunnel also known as a NH winter. My daughter is an Aruba baby and has a really hard time with winter. Like mother like daughter, right? She's a fourth grader. Read: way too cool to play in the snow at school. No…
Why is it so easy to be passive aggressive with your spouse?

Mommycosm

26 Jan 2012 | 7:06 am

Looking for an anwer? Yeah. Take a number. I am as well. I woke up to not one, but TWO kids with a golden Stay Home from School Sick Ticket yesterday. Now, I know I work from home so that I can handle these unexpected times more easily than if I worked for someone else. It's supposedly a perk of me having an in-home office. heh But it's getting to the point where I cannot drop everything work related just because I have sick kids at home. Reality set in really, really quickly after I made the sick call to the school and looked down at my planner. My…
@eBay's new site puts Green on steroids, plus enter to win $1,000 gc #spon

Mommycosm

25 Jan 2012 | 4:16 pm

Last week, members of eBay's Parent Panel were granted a sneak peak into the new eBay Green site. Let me tell you, it's way cool. Whether you want to buy green, sell green or participate in an active green community, this site has it all. I mean, if you think about it, eBay is inherently green to begin with. They've pretty much mastered Reuse, don't you think? OK back to the site. There's so much coolness, I cannot cover it all in one blog post. It's like they took green and put it on steroids. I'm just going to share with you my top 3 favorite…

Boss Sanders
Tater Tot Crack… I mean … Casserole. Another Recipe!

bosssanders

21 Jan 2012 | 8:38 am

Ingredients 1 (10-ounce ) can cream of mushroom or chicken soup 1 cup milk 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil 1 pound of ground beef 1 teaspoon of minced garlic 1 tablespoon of fresh basil 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme dash of Cayenne pepper dash of Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, divided Velveeta cheese to taste 1 pound package of frozen tater tots Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or spray a 9 x 9 inch casserole dish with non-stick spray; set aside. Whisk together the cream soup and…
White Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas — A Recipe!

bosssanders

18 Jan 2012 | 8:26 am

This recipe is one of our all-time favorites! If you like cheesy yumminess and chicken… well, you won’t go wrong with this one! Ingredients 1/2 c green pepper, chopped 2 T butter 2 c cooked chicken 1 4 oz can green chili peppers, chopped 3 T butter 1/4 c flour 1 t ground coriander 3/4 t. salt 2 1/2 c chicken broth 1 c sour cream 6 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded 12 6-inch tortillas Instructions Cook green pepper in 2 T. butter until tender. Combine green pepper in a bowl with chicken and chili peppers; set aside. For sauce, melt 3 T. butter and stir in flour, coriander,…
Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies! –A Recipe

bosssanders

16 Jan 2012 | 10:26 pm

I’ve been on a search for some “new-to-me” favorite recipes. I think this one has made it onto our family’s list. Ingredients ½ cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons instant coffee powder 1 ¾ cups flour 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks Instructions Cream the butter with the sugars until fluffy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract. Combine the dry ingredients and beat into the butter…

SECRET AGENT MAMA
Confession Time

Mishelle

20 Jan 2012 | 10:36 am

I have two confessions to make. Here it goes. I’ve been going to my gym since the end of October. I didn’t want to wait until the new year to make a resolution to get fit, but believe me I thought about it. I decided it was time to be held accountable for my actions (or should I say, quite literally, my inactivity.) It’s the best thing that I have done for myself in a long, long time. That said, earlier this month, on Curvy Girl Guide, we Reinvented the Resolution in an effort to define our lives by a number other than the one that pops up on the stupid…
It’s 2012

Mishelle

5 Jan 2012 | 10:52 am

It’s already January 5th. How in the world did that happen? Here are some things that have been going on between the end of last year and the beginning of this new one: On December 28th, Davey turned FIVE! Lucky boy, it was Moe’s Wednesday, and we all headed there for lunch. It’s our favorite place to go; not only because on Wednesdays kids eat free, but we totally love their food! After a week of having Michael gone, through Christmas, he was home and we all enjoyed our lunch together (which concluded with a visit to the Western store where Davey got one of those…
Picture the Holidays – Days Twenty-Eight, Nine, Thirty, & Thirty-One

Mishelle

30 Dec 2011 | 11:00 pm

Through the Looking Glass A Toast There’s No Looking Back Gather Your Thoughts When then is lost, as time is by, we look upon the yearly wine to see our substance in the lees. Did tribe and purse most pleasing leave? To look for clear and faithful sense, that gives a bodied stance bouquet, then see the vat at mirror’s face and find in it, the yearly pace. —E. Marshall, Vintner Epilogue (Happy Old Year)

Piper on the Mountain
Records

Piper of Love

7 Jan 2012 | 9:16 pm

He spent the whole day working on a record player, just for me. It's a lovely old '60's console, with speakers and big knobs to turn the settings. He tinkered with all the tiny parts and wires, took it all apart, and put it back together better than it ever was.I asked him if he's ever fixed a record player before. He hasn't ever even worked on one before, and I'm keeping him forever.I found some of my records yesterday, the ones hidden in some box I packed a million years ago. It was like stumbling into those old friends of yours that you shared that one magical summer with when you were 18,…
Enthusiasm Like There's No Tomorrow

Piper of Love

31 Oct 2011 | 10:17 am

One of these days I'm going to get back in this blogging game full throttle. I really am too, with gusto... enthusiastic gusto! And it's going to be so great, I can already tell.Until that day dawns, however, it's possible I'll only manage to post when I've got something I just CANNOT wait to share. Not that all my news isn't newsflash worthy, of course, but you know, sometimes some stuff is just way more worth blasting over the internets than others. And this is one of those times. For sure.It all started last week when my friend Denise emailed me saying she and her family were going to be…
Indian Summer

Piper of Love

9 Oct 2011 | 9:58 am

The other day I opened our mailbox and was surprised find two magazines with my new name on them. Veranda and Town & Country, my mother's long time favorites, subscriptions as a gift for me. Mom is so good like that, always sending inspiration of some kind. And her taste is excellent, it's true.She sends me the richest inspirations; the finest of clothes, food, and decor. Email forwards from her beloved Horchow, and Neiman Marcus, and thoughtful reminders to look for such hot goodies in the thrift stores in Aspen.I do love the thrift stores in Aspen.The only thing is, which I don't think…

Chicken Fried Therapy
The Most Pinteresting Woman In The World

Chick

14 Jan 2012 | 12:31 pm

[by Chick] First it was blogging, then Facebook, followed by Twitter and Instagram. But now it seems Pinterest is the hot new social media sensation whereby I currently derive one hundred percent of my self-worth and daily fulfillment. And I’ve only been on it for two and a half days. If you aren't familiar with Pinterest, it’s a website where you can “pin” pictures of anything and everything that tickles your fancy…clothes, food, art, home decor, exotic hotels, motivational signs, books, films, etc. You organize your pins onto themed boards to keep track. For those of us who used…
Very Superstitious

Legally Blonde

13 Jan 2012 | 7:40 am

[By Legally Blonde] Today is Friday the 13th, a day when adults who were scarred by watching the Friday the 13th movies at an impressionable age will be looking around every corner for Freddy Krueger. And superstitious individuals will be on edge all day waiting for bad things to happen, things that would never happen if it were instead Friday the 12th or 14th. I have spent years trying to wean myself off all the superstitions I learned growing up. I’m sure most of you are familiar with certain of these -- step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Find a penny, pick it up, all…
As Usual, My Resolutions Read More Like True Confessions

Chick

3 Jan 2012 | 8:37 am

[by Chick] Like so many people starting a new year, I have a new batch of news years resolutions! Okay, who are we kidding? Many of them aren’t “new”, just repackaged and recycled with a regurgitated sense of hope that I just might achieve them. But really, this is my year, I swear. Here are just twelve of my goals for two thousand twelve. Some we’ve seen before, some are new… 1. Dive deep into the colored jean trend by buying at least one new color each month. I don’t want to miss this. I’ve already got a head start with some pale pink ones I bought on sale last August, plus…

Virtual Coach
Brilliant Facebook goodies, G+, Spine-Tingling Offline Closing ideas, Star Wars Bacon, more!

Barbara

26 Jan 2012 | 4:18 am

Hey there, Hope your Thursday has been more exciting than discovering your local Starbucks sent you a years' supply of whatever special brew you adore! Mine was pretty good except the time where my energy level fell faster than 8327 lead balloons (but an hour long moose-cuddle helped that bunches!). Got lots to share but first: Star Wars Bacon! www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=308119289241083&set=a.244765018909844.73277.244753448911001&type=1&theater Ouch! And onto today: Today is a…
Excellent IM Tax tips, mobile coupon goodness, “beyond” the WSO, more!

Barbara

25 Jan 2012 | 4:16 am

Good morning! It's Wednesday and half the weekend will be over…woot! I cannot believed I survived the stresses of yesterday; sometime soon I'm going to reveal to you just how I managed to reach the level I've accomplished (had a lot of help for it!) but for now… Let's talk about something new and dear to your heart! Taxes! Wheeee! Ever wish you knew how you could legally deduct your home based business expenses beautifully? If so, ==> IM Taxes (keeping what you deserve)!
Mini sub-woofers, video marketing shortcuts, offline webinar secrets, more!

Barbara

24 Jan 2012 | 4:15 am

Hey there, It's Tuesday evening and wow oh wow, what a day! Lots of good things to share but first… Sub woofers! www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=360091304020329&set=a.223098324386295.105971.205344452828349&type=1&theater And onto today! I'm thrilled to say my latest, ==> GUARANTEED Process+YOU=="Steve Jobs" of YOUR Niche? 47 Year Old Jersey Shore Parent Reveals All… www.barbaraling.com/seemore/ti.php is going grand! It reveals…

Crunchy Carpets
TMI

Crunchy Carpets

24 Jan 2012 | 2:57 pm

photo credit: Ambro This is me right now, but with yoga pants and an Old Navy cardigan. I have NO energy. I have been sick with coughs and colds since BEFORE Christmas and I feel WORSE now than I did then. Tara has been hacking away too. I did get her on antibiotics and I think they are helping her, but now she can’t stop sneezing and so today is SNOT day. I have never been so giddy about FINALLY getting to see my doctor tomorrow. The list of complaints is long. What isn’t helping is that it seems that my uterus also hates me. Hates me a lot. photo credit:…
Phineas and Ferb: LIVE

Crunchy Carpets

23 Jan 2012 | 6:50 pm

We love Phineas and Ferb. It is one of those cartoons that is clever enough for adults, yet safe and entertaining for kids. The dry humor and crazy song lyrics make for laugh out loud episodes for young and old. Needless to say, we were VERY curious to hear more about a touring LIVE show. They arrive in Vancouver on January 27th, for five shows. However, WE got to see the show down in Everett, Washington so we could tell you all about it. We got the VIP treatment and were very fortunate to meet some of the cast from the show including Phineas and Perry themselves. The cast were…
Crib Histories

Crunchy Carpets

20 Jan 2012 | 1:55 pm

Tara is now two and a half. Time to shop for a big girl bed. We are looking at bunk beds to help with the tight confines of the room she shares with her big sister. But (I suppose) this time the crib won’t be disassembled and stored away until “next time.” There won’t be a next time, and that is a bit wistful. A little bit sad. The crib has been great. A real solid piece of furniture that has done us well through three babies. That despite us breaking all the ‘safety’ rules when it comes to buying a crib. We found this one at a YARD SALE! …

Who's The Boss?
I may or may not be wearing a bra while writing this

Who's the Boss?

23 Jan 2012 | 3:22 pm

When I was Darius's age (shut up, it wasn't THAT long ago), I was a morning person. Sometime during college, that changed. Nowadays, I'm not a complete night owl either. I can stay up until midnight without yawning once. For all you whipper snappers, I realize that midnight is when most night clubs are just getting started. But for a full-time working mom, midnight is practically like pulling an all-nighter. Transitioning back to school hours has been really tough for me. Getting up at 7:30am is hard when I went to bed at 12:20am. And I realize that all you commuters are now…
Learning About Dr. Martin Luther King, One Cupcake at a Time

Who's the Boss?

16 Jan 2012 | 10:48 am

When Darius was in kindergarten, his teachers did a demonstration about segregation. They sent out an email to the parents to let us know that our kids would probably come up upset because the class would be divided into boys and girls. We, parents, were not to let on that we knew about the demonstration or that the changes weren't permanent. Instead we were to sympathize with our children and then ask them: "What could you do to change it?" It was the kindergarten version of the Civil Rights Movement. Two years later, it is a lesson that my son still talks about. The children…
2012: The Year of Intention

Who's the Boss?

5 Jan 2012 | 3:36 pm

Looking at the sad state of my underwear draw, it is safe to say that I didn't take care of myself during 2011. 2011 was The Year of Transition. Neville was promoted at work, leaving me home with the kids way more that a working parent should be home with the kids. I returned from my 6-month maternity leave to a job with a new team, new responsibilities, but the same title and pay. Darius moved from private school to public with a few hiccups along the way. 2011 wasn't a horrible year. But it wasn't The Year of Awesome. Change is often good. A lot of the changes we faced were…

Self-Made Mom
Blog for Choice Day

selfmademom

22 Jan 2012 | 10:40 am

Today is NARAL’s Blog for Choice Day – a day to recognize the important fact that a woman should have a right to choose on issues regarding their reproductive rights. To know me is to know that I feel very strongly about this issue. I’m very involved in NARAL Pro-Choice America. In fact, this year I’ve been selected to Co-Chair the Chicago Leadership Council – a great group consisting of NARAL national board members and local influencers in the Chicago community dedicated to keeping pro-choice candidates in office. On this Blog for Choice Day, NARAL is asking…
One year later

selfmademom

22 Jan 2012 | 10:25 am

I can’t believe that it has been a year since Caitlin and I formalized our company, 2 Moms Media. From a vision to reality, this year has been chock full of all cliches of owning your own business, ups, downs, screw-ups, successes and everything in between (including a huge grocery store delivery launch last week.) What started with the opening of a local play space turned into a national consumer product launch at 1500 Target stores nationwide and everything else in between. What I’m saying is, well, it’s been quite a year. It’s been a blast, a challenge and stressful…
My 10 non-mom blogger predictions for 2012

selfmademom

2 Jan 2012 | 7:58 pm

While my friends and the prominent bloggers of the land write their great prose about what’s in store for mom bloggers in 2012, I thought I’d take the time and opportunity to predict what non- mom bloggers might expect this year. Because, as much as we’d all like to think that the world is surrounded by mom bloggers, and while the numbers continue to multiply every darn day, what for the moms who don’t vlog, blog, tweet or Klout? Aren’t they people too? Herewith, my 2012 predictions for moms, in general: 1) Moms everywhere will still have to contend with carpool…

Beyond Mom
Navigating Multiple Online Classes

jennydecki

22 Jan 2012 | 1:26 am

This week the Spring school semester began. I’m taking six online classes. At first I thought, “This is going to be so easy! My school calendar is synced to my iPhone, I have the iStudiez Pro app, and my school is signed up for access to the Blackboard Mobile app. Wherever I am, I can post to discussion boards or otherwise keep up with my classes!” Of course, with a tool like Blackboard, the class is only as organized as the teacher who builds the class. A late syllabus will not come any faster via excellent connectivity if the teacher has not uploaded it. So I’m…
I’ve Never Been to Disney World

jennydecki

13 Jan 2012 | 11:40 am

When I was young we went to Disneyland. I have some good memories. We went because we lived within driving distance. I don’t remember much beyond the It’s a Small World ride and Space Mountain and the Pirates of the Carribean ride. I’m sure there was more. I don’t remember where we stayed. It was a long time ago. But it seems like there are these bursts of Disney activity online when someone goes to WDW and everyone else chimes in about their last trip and how much they are looking forward to going back. Once, when I was much younger, I applied to work at The Disney…
Breakfast Before School | Short Stories

jennydecki

16 Dec 2011 | 3:00 pm

The pain in my head lets me know I’ve fallen. I know I shouldn’t have been trying to climb fences in my uniform. Really, I do know better. It’s just… there’s an apple tree in my neighbor’s backyard and I was really hungry so I decided to, as my mom says, “Make my own luck.” I see the boys do it all the time. How was I supposed to know my skirt was going to get caught on the pointy bit at the top, just as I’m swinging my leg over to get down on the other side? I reach up and touch my forehead and I feel soft little trails where the pain is. I swear the…

Blessings in Life
Starbucks Valencia Macchiato

CharTherCT

20 Jan 2012 | 7:32 pm

We paid Starbucks Abreeza Ayala Mall Davao branch a visit again four days ago as I wanted to drink my fave hot Peppermint Mocha, one of their holiday beverages, before they stop serving it altogether. They still served it until yesterday as far as I know. They have this new drink they are promoting as the barista said which is the Starbucks Valencia Macchiato.This is what I read related to it… A mocha with Valencia (orange) syrup and an extra espresso shot added, with whipped cream and orangey sprinkles on top. These taste like the chocolate oranges you can buy in various stores. This…
Fun Game

CharTherCT

20 Jan 2012 | 6:05 pm

Many people find it truly exciting to play the fun game of bingo which is considered one of the oldest and most popular games that is now being played online. It is still a favorite past time and source of fun and enjoyment for many people up to this day after eight decades since bingo was invented in 1929. I have tried playing it so many years before with one of my sisters and my late brother in law. Indeed it was fun and you can feel the excitement that it creates inside you especially when you are close to shouting “bingo!” much to the envy and cheers of other players when you…
The Pianist at The Lobby Lounge of Marco Polo Hotel Davao

CharTherCT

20 Jan 2012 | 5:07 pm

The Pianist at The Lobby Lounge of Marco Polo Hotel Davao This is a SOOC shot taken of the pianist who looks like one blogger I know. *Wink* This was a quick shot as we just passed by the lobby lounge on our way home from the little boy’s birthday buffet dinner we had at Cafe Marco. While waiting for dinner actually since we were more than an hour early then, I already heard him playing songs. Then we went up to the restaurant for dinner but when I wanted to take a shot of him, he was already gone. Then when we went down after dinner, I saw the pianist back at the piano and playing once…

MumMums
Understanding Food Labels

Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

25 Jan 2012 | 5:09 pm

All of this discussion about choosing foods for babies and toddlers has this dietitian thinking that a little discussion about reading a food label can go a long way. We all have to eat, and navigating through the grocery store is no easy task these days, especially if your child has food allergies or is [...]
How to Choose Healthy Foods for Babies and Toddlers

Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

24 Jan 2012 | 7:46 pm

More and more studies have found several foods marketed to kids that are loaded with fat, salt, and sugar. It was assumed that baby and toddler foods were immune to the over-processing of many adult oriented foods but alas this is not the case. If you have recently started your baby on solids, you probably [...]
Starting Baby on Solids: Food Timeline

Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

20 Jan 2012 | 1:11 pm

Our most common question here at Mum Mum’s is when (and what) to start feeding your baby solid foods. Mum Mum’s provides an Infant and Toddler Feeding Guide, as well as Teething Tips as a permanent feature on our website under the ‘Nutrition Resources’ tab. Here are some general guidelines for food introduction but keep [...]

misszoot.com
Zach Woodlee: Glee’s Unsung Hero

zoot

27 Jan 2012 | 5:22 pm

Source: FOX I’m not a dancer. WHAT? I know, you’re totally surprised. But I love to watch dancing. I absorb every routine on So You Think You Can Dance every summer like it’s crack. I have my favorite choreographers (Wade Robson and Travis Wall) and my favorite dancers (Mark Kanemura and Mark Kanemura). So, of course I notice the dancing on Glee and in my personal, untrained opinion? Zach Woodlee, the show’s lead choreographer, is Glee’s greatest asset. Mainly because most of these kids are not trained dancers. With the exception of Grant Gustin, Heather Morris,…
Sharing Time!

zoot

27 Jan 2012 | 6:51 am

When you juggle as many balls as I do, you periodically drop one or two. It doesn’t mean you need to quit juggling, it just means you got a little overwhelmed and one hit the ground. What matters is the importance of that ball. Did you forget milk at the grocery store – something easily rectified by another trip down the road? Or did you forget your 10th anniversary…something you’ll never ever live down for the REST OF YOUR LIFE? It seems this week that the balls I’ve dropped have fallen more towards the more severe end of that spectrum. And let me tell you…
Insert Exasperated Sigh Here.

zoot

25 Jan 2012 | 1:26 pm

Wes is so adorable. Don’t let those big blue eyes fool you. He’s pure evil with big floppy blonde curls. I mentioned recently that Wes’s behavior been SO MUCH BETTER as he gets closer to the age of 4. I even took him to his first rehearsal for “Alice in Wonderland” the other day (He and Nikki are playing heart children in E’s play) and I was TERRIFIED that he’d be awful. But he wasn’t! He obeyed first time and amped up the “cute” factor so much that the director of the play had to coach the cast and remind them, “You will have…

Blue Badger
Lanvin Petite Pre-Fall 2012

27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

The first images from Lanvin Petite's Pre-fall collection are available. I have to say that I want this coat in my size. And my bank account is thankful everyday day that I don't have a daughter, because I would spend a small fortune at Lanvin Petite. Lanvin Petite is my absolute favorite mini-me fashion line. There are photos and a video below that shows more of the collection. The Resort collection is available online at Lanvin, Odile, and Barneys.
High and Low

26 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am

J Crew has produced a pretty good version of Celine's Luggage Tote. They are calling it the Tillary and it costs $328.
KARL by Karl Lagerfeld

26 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

You cannot just slap Karl Lagerfeld's silhouette on a tee and expect me to pay $100 for it.

Mrs. Flinger- Based on a True Story
Ode to the Office

frisbeeflingers@gmail.com

24 Jan 2012 | 12:43 pm

Ode to the cubical wall so tall and so gray It hides the world, the sun, the rain, life outside this day Ode to the second cup of coffee that so quickly is out You bring new life, energy before leaving me without Ode to the music of MOG which plays in my ear Knocking out sound of others conversations allowing me to disappear Ode to the florescent lights so nasty on my skin bringing new resolve to moisturize and cut back on the gin Ode to the coming paycheck so sweet to my account if it wasn’t for you, dear bills and debt, this life I could surmount
The Red Tent of Flinger-ville. Or something like that but modern and with less hay bails.

frisbeeflingers@gmail.com

4 Jan 2012 | 12:04 am

It was a familiar feeling, one I can easily conjure up in my mind. Not until I was leaving did I realize how long it’s actually been that the four of us where together in the same house. What was it, 1995? Was I married back then? Did Dani have to wear a bra back then? Did Kim have kids? Was I battling gray hair? My sister, my mother, my cousin and I sat drinking sprite infused juice (cough) while taking copious amounts of photos and rocking the baby to sleep. It was a familiar scene even though I can’t place when that would have ever happened. My sister lived in Tuscan Arizona…
May your holidays be everything you asked for and then some

frisbeeflingers@gmail.com

26 Dec 2011 | 3:41 pm

I am blessed with people in my life whom I share traditions with. We watch our children grow together. They bring me joy well beyond a generic word like “blessed.” Each year, for as many years as my youngest has been alive, we gather at Christmas to exchange gifts and create christmas memories to hang on our trees. These memories: beaded off-center balls, reindeer with too much glue, pictures of children years younger under glitter and foam; are treasures of magnificence. We hang each on branches every year in prideful spots. These ornaments, complete with thumbprint-smeared…

Blissfully Domestic
The Pleated Poppy – Custom Fashion at Handmade Marketplace

AngEngland

27 Jan 2012 | 9:59 pm

I am so excited about Blissdom’s Handmade Marketplace and am thrilled to introduce you all to The Pleated Poppy. Her fabric fashions are sure to be a hit – I love what I’ve seen others wearing at past blog conferences. Lindsey Cheney describes herself as “the fabric-hoarding, late-night working girl behind the pleated poppy, my little online shop where i get to create bits of goodness and send them out to customers far and wide.” While I can relate to hoardes of fabric stashes, mine do not turn into brilliant creations the way Lindsey’s do. Scarves, belts,…
Dress Inspiration (Hello BlissDom!)

Alli Worthington

27 Jan 2012 | 4:11 pm

Dresses make me happy and they’re probably one of my favorite clothing items. I just about live in them at BlissDom every year, too. They can be so versatile that they’re really hard to beat! Glitter is also their perfect match, so that probably won me over too. Here are some of my favorites that I’ve seen around. And who says we can’t stick a pair of fabulous shoes in here too? Which one do you like most? You have dream dresses too, right?
National Chocolate Cake Day

Malia Carden

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

I can’t think about chocolate cake without also thinking about this comedy skit from Bill Cosby. Let’s watch it shall we? Click here to view the embedded video. OK, now that we have that out of the way, it’s time to talk cake! January 27th is National Chocolate Cake Day and the possibilities for celebrating are endless. There is no wrong way to indulge on this great day. You could even eat it for breakfast, because as Bill points out, “Eggs! Eggs are in chocolate cake!” It’s health food, really. My go-to chocolate cake recipe is the one found on the back…

Nodin's Nest
Spring is Coming Soon

24 Jan 2012 | 12:39 pm

With Spring comes Easter! So I've started my spring crafting early with these pretty little Easter Egg ornaments. They came out so cheery and sweet, I think I'm going to make some more in different colors. You can see more ornaments and crafts for sale in my Etsy shop.
Life of Fred, Our Favorite Math Books

16 Jan 2012 | 4:15 pm

My son has always had a knack for math. He enjoys patterns and geometry. When he began learning math, everything was new and exciting and then we hit a wall. All of a sudden the textbooks wanted him to do pages of the same problems, just using different formulas to arrive at the same answer. He didn't get it, didn't even want to understand it. He knew how to solve the problem, so why did they want him to waste time doing it ten different ways? I know how he felt. I was the same way in school. If I arrived at the correct answer, why did it matter how I got there? Then one day while…
Sweetheart Pins.

12 Jan 2012 | 2:20 pm

New in my Etsy shop, sweetheart pins for Valentine's Day!

Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology
Texting on Touchscreens Easy with txtRng

Jennifer Wagner

25 Jan 2012 | 10:57 am

The one major advantage of owning a Blackberry over other smartphones is having actual buttons to text or type with. I am an iPhone lover and actually like the new Windows phone also, but the main drawbacks with these phones are the touchscreens. However, I found a product at CES that helps - txtRng;) txtRng;) is a little black ring with a stylus tip attached. They are sold in pairs. You wear them on your thumbs and it solves many problems: Much more precise typing because you are hitting each key with a small round tip of a stylus If you have fat thumbs (like me) you can now type much more…
Animation Software for Kids and Teens

Jennifer Wagner

24 Jan 2012 | 10:05 am

Do you want to give your teens, or kids of any age, the chance to make animated videos without frustration? Toon Boom Animation, an award winning company, has created many pieces of software for family or educational settings for kids to have fun animating. Flip Boom Doodle is an easy basic tool for kids of any age. You can create fun animated videos and upload them right to Facebook (if you are old enough to have an account). You are provided with templates and drawing, coloring, editing, animating and sharing tools. And this software, which usually sells for $29, and is on sale for $19, can…
Organize Cord Clutter with Colorful Dotz Products

Jennifer Wagner

22 Jan 2012 | 10:59 am

If your home is anything like mine, then you have so many cables coming out of your television sets that you can't possibly keep track of which is which .That is why, I was I was thrilled when I found the Dotz booth at CES. These little inexpensive buttons and wraps excited me more than the big technology gadgets. Dotz sells a few different type of organizing products: Dotz Cord Identifiers - This is what I was talking about up top and what I think is most important. If you have many cords into one item, these little round buttons snap onto each cord so that you can identify them. There are…

vintage everyday
Early Photographs by Kodak

a Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 7:39 am

In 1888, George Eastman invented the Kodak camera, which consisted of a simple wooden box with no adjustments, which took photographs of circular 6.35 cm diameter without cropping the image circle for a square or rectangle like most other cameras. Read more »
Trampolining, 1960

a Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 6:57 am

Read more »
1960's Polaroid Pictures of Signs in Washington

a Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 2:39 am

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Busy Mom's Journal
Snowmass Skiing January 2012

11 Jan 2012 | 3:33 pm

It's Day 4 of our two weeks in Snowmass, and we've decided to skip skiing today. We normally ski every day possible, but the conditions this year are just, frankly, horrible. The base is around 30", officially, but I don't really see that. They haven't had any snow, other than the 8 inches they received on the day we flew in, and I think they've tried to move the little snow they do have
Here's to letting go of the Routine!

4 Jan 2012 | 4:08 pm

It's 3:20 on a Wednesday and I haven't worked out yet. I have no idea what's for dinner and I just had lunch. I slept in until 8 a.m....something I haven't done in ages. I'm starting to get glimpses of what it will be like when H leaves for college. For the last 18 years, my life has been defined by the routines and schedules that come with being a mom. My schedule was her schedule.
Focusing on "Firsts", not "Lasts"

23 Oct 2011 | 5:14 pm

Last week we spent fall break in California, looking at colleges. At this point in H's college search, we're narrowing the list down, instead of adding to it. There were six colleges she was strongly interested in before the trip, and afterwards, there were only two. One thing I learned about California...specifically the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. They don't have enough roads

My Mommy's Place
Lucy Gleams and Glows

Leslie

26 Jan 2012 | 9:44 am

I’ve been looking pretty old and haggard, lately, and I made mention of it while combing Lucy’s hair after bath time recently. And so, she sang me the most heart-felt and sincere version of that song Rapunzel sings in Tangled to make her hair glow. “Do you feel better?” she asked. I gave her a smile. “I do.” She leaned in close and whispered, “I think my hair might be magic, too.” “I think you’re right. Will you sing that again?” She did. Definitely magic.
This is why I don’t get to work out*

Leslie

25 Jan 2012 | 9:53 am

Guess where this penny has been? If you guessed, “on a wild ride through Phoebe’s digestive system,” you win! (I won’t make you look at the penny-in-the-poop discovery photos.) I know. You’re shaking your head at me. Leslie, you understand that baby-proofing your house includes keeping small items like this picked up and put away so tiny hands can’t get them, don’t you? How did this happen? Well, I’ll tell you: It was my mother’s fault. No. No! I’m kidding!!! (Mom, I’m mostly kidding.) It was Julia and Lucy’s fault. My…
In Lucy’s mind, there is but one track.

Leslie

24 Jan 2012 | 8:30 am

Scene: Living Room. Julia and Lucy have wandered in having grown tired of their mother’s insistence that “waffles don’t magically appear simply because you want them” and “these things take time” and “just give me time to make them for Pete’s sake! YES, the waffle iron is hot! DO NOT TOUCH IT! Alright, out of the kitchen!” Grandpa is sitting in a chair by the fireplace. Lucy: “Grandpa, I’m hungry. Can YOU get me waffles?” Grandpa: “Aw, honey.” [He laughs and hugs Lucy.] Lucy: “Grandpa?” [She pats…

Problem Girl
The 1%

Jen

26 Jan 2012 | 12:28 pm

All last week I felt like I was on a death watch. Just waiting for my next ultrasound so I could see that the last baby had stopped growing, waiting for the next step, waiting for it to be over. I was 99% certain that Baby A was not going to make it. I prepared myself emotionally for the worst. I felt a black cloud hanging over me. I felt like when people looked at me they knew what was going on and I wanted to defend myself. "It's not my fault! I did everything I could! I followed all the rules! I didn't want this to happen!" When I went to the…
Ouch

Jen

20 Jan 2012 | 1:06 pm

Sadness hurts. It physically hurts. It settles into you bones and weighs you down. It stiffens your muscles and makes your joints ache. I am hurting right now. We are facing the fact that this pregnancy is not going to last much longer. Baby A is not going to make it. People are being very kind and saying there's still hope and that miracles happen but I know that's not going to be the case here. There are issues with these embryos that make it almost unbelievable that all three implanted. The fact that I've made it to almost 10 weeks pregnant…
Nobody said it would be easy but no one that it would be so hard

Jen

18 Jan 2012 | 9:57 pm

If there is one thing I have learned as I have gone through three surrogacy journeys it's that nothing is simple. You never move forward in a straight line. It's one step forward and two steps back. This pregnancy started out with a one in a million shot of triplets. That was scary but there was relief at the next ultrasound when we found out only two babies still had heartbeats. Today I had another ultrasound and we discovered that only one of the babies still has has a heartbeat. The other one looks like it stopped growing a week ago. Pretty much right after my…

Big Little Wolf's Daily Plate of Crazy
Female Body Image: Care to Share?

BigLittleWolf

27 Jan 2012 | 11:09 am

Female body image. Not a simple subject, is it. We carry our personal histories, our inherited traits, and we’re bombarded by conflicting messages from the time we’re little girls. So how do we make sense of it? Do we, ever? I find I have questions, as I’m finding my way to my own answers. But I would like to ask you about your experience as well, directly. Do you believe that a woman’s warmth and beauty truly translates on the flat screen or glossy page – at any age? What about a mature woman? Must we go beyond the visual to impart the aura of womanliness…
Getting Naked

BigLittleWolf

26 Jan 2012 | 11:23 am

When’s the last time you got naked? When’s the last time you got naked and felt good about it? It occurs to me how infrequently we get naked once we’re no longer kids. Sure, if you’re a nudist, you get naked on a regular basis. Naturally, we get naked when we bathe. But what about bed time, sliding under the sheets with the one we love? Do we leave the lights on and linger? Do we get naked without shame or fear of scrutiny? Without our own judgment? Most likely if you’re a woman – regardless of how you look – you get naked with trepidation –…
Parisian Parenting: Should We Take a Lesson?

BigLittleWolf

25 Jan 2012 | 10:12 am

Some say American mothers should just chillax. Come to think of it, my sons have been telling me that for years. Some say the French are nonchalant about their parenting. Or, at the very least, they don’t sweat it in the same way as we – the Anglo-Saxon types – seem to do. In fact, to hear Debra Ollivier tell the tale, mothers in France have a very different approach to their children. In reading her spot-on Huffington Post article highlighting differences between French parents and their American counterparts, may I offer you this line plucked from her copy, which pretty…

Born Just Right
No whats

Jen Lee Reeves

25 Jan 2012 | 10:50 pm

It really seems like the only thing I talk about is swimming but I have a little story that I think is worth sharing. Our community has a really cool indoor pool. When the kids were younger, we were members of the community recreation center that includes the cool pool. I moved to a different gym and stopped taking the kids there. I actually started avoiding that pool like the plague because it was one of the few locations in town were I had a really consistent time dealing with obnoxious questions about Jordan’s limb difference. I’m totally cool with questions. I don’t like…
Getting back to swimming (Video)

Jen Lee Reeves

25 Jan 2012 | 12:20 pm

I love trying to stay healthy and help my kids build healthy life skills… I run as often as I can and I love taking a Body Combat class when it fits within the kids’ schedules. Jordan has shown interest in distance running with me… And slowly she and I are learning ways to run together. The trick for me is she runs the most if she’s holding my hand. It is really hard to run long distances when a little child is holding my hand. We’ll work on that habit eventually. My biggest hope for Jordan and keeping healthy is in swimming. It’s one activity that she can…
Can I Show Them My Arm?

Jen Lee Reeves

19 Jan 2012 | 4:30 pm

Jordan went back to dance class Wednesday… it’s the first class since we missed her big holiday recital because we were in Chicago last month building her newest helper arm. When Jordan got to class today, her teacher told me the dancers all couldn’t stop asking about Jordan’s arm. Near the end of class, she came out of class and asked if she could show off her arm. I ran out to the car, snagged it and put her chilly arm on so she could show it off. The kids asked great questions, Jordan let them touch her new arm and she was very proud. After class, Jordan took her…

Simple Mom
Weekend Giveaway: Plan to Eat

Tsh

28 Jan 2012 | 12:30 am

Today’s giveaway comes from loyal monthly sponsor Plan to Eat, a genius little online program that pretty much does everything for you but actually cook your meals. This is a simple tool that allows you to store your favorite recipes (and import them from around the Internet!), create menu plans using those recipes, and even provide grocery lists based on those same recipes. My favorite feature? How simple it is. Its clean interface allows for intuitive interaction — it took me mere seconds to get my account up and running, and I had my weekly menu plan created in minutes. This is a…
Living a good story means living outside yourself

Tsh

26 Jan 2012 | 11:11 pm

My word for 2012 is story, but honestly, it kinda ended up being my word for 2011, too. At least, that’s what I see when I look back. See, my family and I, for the first time in a long while, lived in the States for more than a few months, and we did normal things like buy couches off Craigslist and find the best deals in town for ground beef. Tate went to school for kindergarten, we joined a homeschool co-op for first grade, and we finally caught up through season 5 on 30 Rock. In many ways, these daily liturgies were things I dreamed of when we lived overseas. I grew to love our…
5 ways to pull back the curtain on your home business

Heather

25 Jan 2012 | 9:06 am

Written by contributor Heather Allard of The Mogul Mom. “Where’s Mommy?” my son asked. “Where do you think she is, Brendan? She’s at the computer,” my husband replied in an annoyed tone. I overheard this exchange between my son and husband two years ago (when my son was three) and had a huge realization. While I was working on the computer—writing new posts, planning my editorial calendar, invoicing advertisers, responding to email and social media—my family had no idea what I was doing. To them, it looked like I was just farting around on Facebook, or…

Motherscribe
The familiar is heady

21 Jan 2012 | 1:35 am

As I drove in tonight late...the street quiet, most houses with their lights out, I was listening to NPR -hearing someone speaking from Paris and Berlin. Places that have hijacked spots in my wanderlust soul. Yet, I was struck with how much comfort I derive from the same daily path. I drive up my quiet street, lights off, cars parked neatly in driveways. The familiar is heady, when the lure of different is just that... a glimpse into another life. I'd love it for an hour or a day or maybe a week. But, then I'd stare wistfully at my street of warm habit and know that here is where I belong...I…
Forgive me, children...

17 Jan 2012 | 10:42 pm

There are those days in which you wish you had dreamt it. The gnashing of teeth and brooding brow. The roiling stomach and pounding head. Yet, the realization occurs to you that this emotion is a choice and a path you have wandered down...Today was such a day. From work obligations and tasks to constant interruptions, so that even the most simple of goals was broken into many layers. I wish I had the insight earlier. To know that this will pass, it is a phase, and only a moment in time. The minutia of a much bigger life not at odds.It was not my finest hour. To pull over onto a side street…
launching a call for great time management ideas!

13 Jan 2012 | 8:21 pm

Every once in a while JCK gets a bee in her bonnet about her need for organizational tips - life management/time management - the key word here is management. Over the course of this blog's life, JCK has snagged some great tips on ways that YOU organize and manage your time. It's the start of a new year, and JCK is... launching a call for great time management ideas! Come one and all! Please drop by and leave your little gems.These are the things that JCK would specifically like tips on, but feel free to add your own:Family timeTime with spouseFamily WorkWorking full-timeMeal PlanningGrocery…

I Should Be Folding Laundry
You Capture | Colorful

Beth

26 Jan 2012 | 9:44 am

Hi friends! Did you have a week full of color? Last week was Noah’s Lego party – it was filled with reds, blues, greens and yellows and uh, I forgot about You Capture. SHOOT! Luckily, I found color elsewhere. Like, Legos! aaand bowls of fruit! and macro strawberry shots! (still trying to figure out this lens!) and Eli! (HE’S IS SO CUTE IT HURTS.) That’s it for me folks, now it’s your turn to share! Be sure to check back this week to see the featured photo of the week! (I didn’t choose one last week because my blog was so broken. Made it too hard to link up…
She’s 9

Beth

25 Jan 2012 | 10:31 am

I have a nine year old. Even though I just typed that out and even though I just kissed her sweet birthday cheeks this morning, I still can’t believe it. She was the first one to teach us how amazing it was to be a parent, the first one to change our lives and show what was really important in life. She’s our entertainer, she’s a lover, she’s a tester (IS SHE EVER!) and she’s ours. Last night, I was able to ask her a few important questions. So, what’s tomorrow? My birthday. How old are you going to be? Nine. Do you feel older? A little bit, I feel very…
He’s 8

Beth

23 Jan 2012 | 9:46 am

Noah turned 8 on Friday. Typically, I write up a sweet little post for my babies on their special day but my blog was so broke. (did you notice?) So, here’s a little something for one of the sweetest boyd in all of the world. (this is fact, by the way.) (I’ve been interviewing Noah for many years, you can read previous interviews here. 4 years | 5 years | 6 years | 7 years So, Noah, how old are you going to be tomorrow? Eight Are you excited? Yeah. Very. Do you feel any different? Yeah, I feel taller. Do you like it when you and Anna are the same age for five days? Yeah.

We are THAT Family
Clean Up On Aisle 5

kristen

26 Jan 2012 | 9:50 pm

Coming Soon! Clean Up On Aisle 5 is a post from: We are THAT Family The Vintage Pearl Beautiful hand-stamped jewelry Professional Design-"Red Leaf Media Jewelry with a Cause-"My Adopt Shoppe Homeschool Curriculum-"AOP Homeschooling Great Homeschool Conventions-"Register today! My New Book: Don't Make Me Come Up There!-Buy it today!
Life [Photo Edition]

kristen

25 Jan 2012 | 9:49 pm

1. My neighbor and I hugged a cow the other day and fell in love with Chick Fil A even more. Is that even possible? 2. P.S. Yes, because they are now serving grilled chicken nuggets to our kiddos and there are warm chocolate chip cookies on the menu horizon. My thighs are afraid. 3. The other day, our youngest was giving my hubby some extra hugs and kisses. I pouted and said, “When is it my turn?” She ran over and hugged me. My hubby pouted and begged her to come back. She put her hands up in the air to stop the back and forth teasing, “Look, guys, I can do a…
This Picture Says It All

kristen

25 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pm

Our three new girls… This Picture Says It All is a post from: We are THAT Family The Vintage Pearl Beautiful hand-stamped jewelry Professional Design-"Red Leaf Media Jewelry with a Cause-"My Adopt Shoppe Homeschool Curriculum-"AOP Homeschooling Great Homeschool Conventions-"Register today! My New Book: Don't Make Me Come Up There!-Buy it today!

loraleeslooneytunes.com
High School Reunions

loralee

27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

“True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.” – Kurt Vonnegut I got added to a group on Facebook this week. This year is my 20th high school reunion. Let me repeat that. THIS YEAR IS MY 2oth HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. I simultaneously wanted to marvel that time flies by so fast and curl in the fetal position and throw chocolate at myself. As messages flew back and forth on the Facebook wall, the student body officers for our class announced the location and date and it turns out that it is smack dab in the middle of…
Red Letter Day

loralee

23 Jan 2012 | 6:16 pm

Telling a reporter from The New York Times that I needed to hang up the phone in the middle of our interview because my toddler was standing in the doorway naked, covered in black Sharpie marker and sporting a shaving cream Mohawk is one of the more interesting things that has happened in my life. It’s been a REALLY interesting day, people. Remember that last post of mine? The one where I told you all that my life seems to have both very bad things and very good things happen all at once? Today has been an excellent example of that. It certainly did not start off well. As some of you…
Curtains.

loralee

17 Jan 2012 | 11:30 pm

*It was pointed out to me that this title could be taken as me leaving the interwebs. Not the case and not deliberately done on my part. My apologies, dudes. ;P Sometimes I feel like my life is like this big set of stage curtains. It started out as this flaming red, beautiful and perfect thing. But as is the way of it, life has put all these rips, tears, frays and holes in that beautiful fabric. Some holes I’ve been able to patch up. Some patches are prettier and more well executed than others, and some are barely adhering with fabric glue. Some rips and tears haven’t been…

Scary Mommy: An honest look at motherhood
Parental Gift Etiquette

Scary Mommy

25 Jan 2012 | 11:30 pm

Pete is the Managing Editor of KCBS KCAL TV Los Angeles. He is currently cowering in a house with a wife and two little girls and cringing every time the girls use their new, favorite word “vagina”. He’s turned his Dadmissions into a book which he hopes to publish before the girls grow old. You can find him on Facebook at “Dadmissions the Book” The holidays have blown by, we’re in a new year, the wrapping paper and credit cards have all been stashed with care (or not)… So I’ve finally taken a breather and gotten down to thinking about gifts and…
Mommy Gone Crazy

Scary Mommy

24 Jan 2012 | 11:57 am

I ran into an acquaintance at school the other day. Barely slowing down our respective paces in the hallway, she quickly noted, “the book’s coming out soon — excited!?” “Yes!” I’m sure she expected to hear. “I’m super excited,” as we each made our way towards the parking lot. Of course I would be excited about my upcoming book release. What else would I possibly be feeling? It was the equivalent of asking “how are you” and anticipating a “fine” in response. Practically obligatory. Unfortunately for this…
Dad’s Get It The F$%^ Done Housekeeping Service

Scary Mommy

23 Jan 2012 | 11:50 pm

WineWhineWellbutrin is where crazy meets comfortable. Pamela is a mother of three whiny but lovable boys. She began writing to help maintain her sanity amongst her daily struggles of neurotic hilarity occurring in her household. Come join the circus–cry, laugh, curse and sing with us. My best friend, Andrea, is a mommy. Not just ANY mommy, mind you: she is my hero. She’s a SUV driving, kid chauffeuring, pet sitting, housekeeping, queen of coffee sipping/front porch gabbing, charity donating, church going, tell you like it is, best friend to the whole world (including me) AND…

San Diego Momma
The Dimwitted Adventures of a Dope

San Diego Momma

20 Jan 2012 | 7:16 pm

You know how you might have a super intelligent friend who is book smart, but a little dim when it comes to stuff like life? For instance, one of my dear friends, an attorney, is very smart and savvy. He wins every case. I would turn to him any day for legal advice. But he’s a big dope. After work, I’m pretty sure his brain falls out. His sense of direction is deplorable, and his boundaries are wobbly. In 1997, one week after my mom passed away, he introduced me as, “This is Deb! Her mom just died!” But I love the guy, I really do. He…
PROMPTuesday #178: Hair Atrocity

San Diego Momma

17 Jan 2012 | 1:38 pm

Something befuddling happens to me every five years that I’m hard put to explain. I get a most strange tingling in my hair follicles and am compelled to cut everything off my head. In other words, I go short. And every single solitary time, I hate it, and every time I forget I hate it and do it again five years later. In 2007, it wasn’t so so bad, just kind of shaggy and lopsided. It was 2002 that I regret with all my heart. There was curliness involved, a rat tail, and too much nape exposure. Which brings me to now, because if you’ve done the math, you’ll…
The Bubble

San Diego Momma

16 Jan 2012 | 2:45 pm

My girls chitter chatter in front of me as we walk to school in a jagged tangle of excitement. Hopping, running in stops and starts, both of them planning to be in line exactly when the bell rings at 8:55. I shuffle behind, waving to parents I know from the street, or the park, or anywhere in the benevolent bubble we call home. My girls’ backpacks bounce on their narrow backs; flowers, peace signs, hearts fuzzy in a kaleidoscope of wide eyes. It’s comforting here, and I glance like I always do at the kind hills that ring our suburbs as sentries. I’m still grateful for this…

Karen Cheng's Fashion and Life
Outfits and Accessories for My Chinese New Year

admin

27 Jan 2012 | 7:55 pm

This week, I’ve been a bit spoiled! My social life has exploded, I’ve been out and about every day and every evening! Not to mention, it was also Chinese New Year and Australia Day this week. So we have had a lot of food, fun, family and friends! The other night, I went out to dinner with good friends. We ate at a restaurant overlooking the beach. I watched the sky turn pink and the sun set over the Indian Ocean, while eating marron and slow cook pork belly. It was bliss! I sat opposite a huge mirror and just had to take a photo! I wore my black and lime, patterned tulip dress from…
Rabbit Soup Anyone?

admin

24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

The other day my toddler took his favourite bunny outside to play, and subsequently used it to rub CHALK DUST OFF THE CONCRETE. Mr Bunny looked awful. He looked like he was run over by a hideous, dusty rainbow. My toddler was a little upset. So I brought Mr Bunny inside and gave him a bath. I couldn’t quite clean all the dust off his fur, so I decided that he needed a good soak. I actually filled the bowl right to the top and placed a weight on his belly so he was completely submerged. But it looked really creepy. As in horror-movie creepy. His head underwater. That frozen smile. Those…
Crazy for Prints – Marni and Sonia Rykiel

admin

23 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

I bought two tops from The Outnet last week – from two of my favourite labels. Marni is an Italian label that always seems to catch my eye at fashion shows around the world. I love her (Consuelo Castiglioni) bold, colourful, quirky, off-beat style. While I wouldn’t actually wear most of the quirky-bold pieces in her collections, there are always some sleek designs that I drool after, and her accessories are just gorgeous. Top by Marni, denim shorts by Acne, shoes by Habbot Studios. Anyway, I was looking for some casual tops, that still looked a bit dressy. Something that I could wear…

The Chronicles of a SAHM
Long week

Nap Warden

26 Jan 2012 | 10:21 pm

This week I:Got the flu:(Designed 4 blogs.Colored all these pictures with The Little Man.I. Am. Tired.
Party for The Big Game

Nap Warden

22 Jan 2012 | 10:28 pm

Do I always watch the playoff games? Yeah, even though the Bears are sad. Sad. SAD...I still watch the game when I don't have a dog in the fight.When I was asked by Collective Bias "Would I like to go to the Walgreen's Flagship store on State and Randolph to purchase alcohol for a football playoff viewing party?" Ummm...Yes!!!Truth be told, I was waiting for an excuse to actually go downtown and shop the store after the fabulous grand opening party. So, I called my pal Sissy, 'cause I knew she'd want to check it out as well...and The Little Man will take any excuse to ride on a city bus...so…
Learning

Nap Warden

19 Jan 2012 | 9:04 pm

I think I'm coming out of it...at least I hope I am.It seems whenever life gets tough, I have to take a step back and remind myself, with every hurdle, with every bump in life's long road...if you're lucky...you learn something along the way.The last week and a half has been REALLY bumpy. I swear to you, last night...I sat down...took a breath...and felt like I had fought a war. I. Am. So. Tired. Then I thought to myself...This has been hard, what have I learned?You never can be too paranoid.No matter how sure you are that you can't shove a square peg in a round hole...sometimes it's a really…

What's That Smell?
Angry notes

Kim

27 Jan 2012 | 8:21 am

Has anyone ever left you an angry note? Maybe on your car or at work? Maybe you parked too close to someone or stole someone’s lunch? Or, have you ever left an angry note when someone parked too close to you or stole your lunch? It’s pretty easy to vent by leaving an anonymous note, and they are pretty funny to read too. Take a look at some angry notes people have left: For more angry notes check out this post: Passive-Aggressive Notes
Did you know?

Kim

26 Jan 2012 | 1:33 pm

Simple solutions for household problems: It’s funny how many of us don’t realize that there are often simple solutions to our problems. Common household issues that we deal with everyday and wish there was a simple solution for, there often is, we just didn’t know about it. We just accept it as a part of life and move on. But for some things you don’t have to. I received this in an email the other day. Take a look at some simple solutions to common problems and questions, most of them involving food. I have to admit I didn’t know any of these… Bananas…
Dyson Hot Fan Heater review

Kim

25 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

We live in a bi-level style house. We have 2 levels of equal size, the upstairs level contains our living room, kitchen and 3 bedrooms and the lower level contains our family room, a 4th bedroom and a laundry room. Because the lower level is halfway in the ground it gets pretty cold down there and we have tried number of different solutions during the cold winter months to keep it warm and livable. Left as-is, it really gets too cold on a daily basis during the winter to spend much time down there, so we have to have a heater of some sort. We have tried one that looked like a fireplace…

Classy Chaos
One still photo frame

27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

My parents are far away, having a romantic weekend in Paris - they deserve it, as empty nesters. But Feenie (their granddaughter) got a hair cut (while they were gone) and I didn't know who to share it with. Not enough info for Facebook, or enough for a blog post. But, if my mother saw the photo it would be enough info for her to create a novel of a story. Starting from Feenie's lips to the obnoxious feather in the stylist's hair. I miss my mom and her stories. We can talk forever. And ever. I can only imagine her words would include"You forgot Feenie's undershirt.That's why she is unhappy!"…
What modifications can achieve!

24 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am

One of the issues discussed at our intervention meeting last week was how bored my son was in math class. Every so often third-grade students are given a placement test to evaluate their skills/weaknesses and placed together in groups based on results. In theory, this is an excellent way for students to work at their own pace with similar skill level. This quarter Jay was placed in a group who was beginning to develop their multiplication facts, something he mastered in kindergarten with Dziadek. "Mom, I'm drawing squares and counting them. I tried to work ahead but the teacher stopped me." I…
Castaway Bay Waterpark: a family resort

23 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

This past weekend we were guests of Castaway Bay Resort & Waterpark (operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in Sandusky, Ohio). The blogger event was centered around a family dinner and craft hour but as soon as Jay, future roller coaster engineer, saw two men in ties with Cedar Point name tags enter the room he pushed aside his cookie decorating project and leapt out of his seat. "Can I ask them questions?" He stood before them asking every possible question he had ranging from top speeds to top heights and if they were planning any new coasters in the near future. The two gentleman…

Sprite's Keeper
Spin Cycle: Want the perfect job? Inquire WITHIN.

Sprite's Keeper

26 Jan 2012 | 10:06 am

Ooh, that title is so deep. People kvetch about their work all the time. Hate what they do. Wish about what they want. Cultivate the green grass growing on the other side of the fence while their own real patch of lawn shrivels and dies from lack of care. I am not one of those people. I like what I do. I like who I am. I really do have the dream jobs. Yes, I meant to make that word plural. I am an interior designer, contractor, decorator, thrifter. Anything going on, building related, in our home is done by John and me. Mostly me as of late since John is so busy with his evening job. Want the…
The Wanking Room

Sprite's Keeper

24 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

"I can do it at home, right? Then just bring it in?" "No. It's best to take care of it there." "But the directions say I have forty-five minutes to get it there. I can make it in time." "John. Just do it there." "Let me do it my way." "UGH! Don't make me remind you about rush hour and trying to beat the clock...Huh, get it? Beat?" "Not a good time, Jen." "Really, I'm going to have nightmares of your car filled with screams as they die one by one on their way to the clinic." "FINE! I'll…
Eye Spy

Sprite's Keeper

18 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

"Mommy, you want to play I Spy?" Ugh, no. Really, with all the power in my pinky finger, hell to the no. But we're stuck in traffic. We've already discussed her school day. I now know that Trey is in trouble. AGAIN. And I remind her once more not to play with Megan because Megan is evil will usually get Sprite into trouble. And she's already said hello to Daisy and Maisy, two of the fifty cows that continually graze in the field right beside the congestion. Please don't ask me how she knows which one is Daisy and which one is Maisy. (Although once in a while,…

Sweet Sky
Swan

stacy

27 Jan 2012 | 9:47 am

I was sitting with a rock. It felt big in my hands — too big — and my sense was that I wanted to be rid of it. I noticed that impulse (oh, my friend aversion come again), and turned my attention to my breath. A woman I had just met, I’ll call her Rita, sat across from me. Her task was to be with me, and later on, to take the rock when I offered it to her. I returned to myself, thinking through the instructions Dennis had given us. While holding the rock, recall a situation that remains unresolved for you… a challenging situation, perhaps where feelings of guilt, anger,…
Nest

stacy

24 Jan 2012 | 7:05 am

A tree fell across the path — a pine with a broad, low canopy, where the kids had loved to play. It seemed to have fallen slowly, and was resting there, leaning over, with most of its roots still in the ground. It had become too heavy with snow and ice. Orlando was showing me the tracks in the snow he had found (raccoon), and then we were both standing in front of the tree. I visited with it. I had seen a few other neighbors readying to cut it, and I wanted to say goodbye. Orlando said, “There’s a bird nest in that tree!” He remembered from before, and he and I looked…
What I’m Talking About…

stacy

22 Jan 2012 | 11:43 am

If you’re new around here or want to revisit some posts from the last year, I’ve rounded up a handful. An offering. I can see now, scanning back, that I circled around these familiar themes: connection, clarity, feelings, nature, trust. It seems I’ve been writing the same story all year… oops! : ) But I think that’s how stories of the heart go, and I don’t mind the repetitions anymore. It took me years, but I’ve come to accept this apparent sameness as the gift it is — giving up the shame over not having already learned something and turning…

LaLaGirl - Twinfinite Chaos! Parenting Multiples and Dealing with Autism
Back to school, finally!

LaLaLaura

24 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

What I’ve Heard in my Home Since December 16th: Justin Bieber songs, on repeat. The Mario theme. “Mooooooooom, I’m hungry! I don’t WANT an apple or a banana or a string cheese!” Mallory’s heeled boots, as she runs through the house constantly. “You are such a brat! I’m never playing with you again!” Selena Gomez songs, on repeat. The Angry Birds theme. The “beep-beep-beep” of the back door, every time it opens or closes. Which is constantly. “How many more days until our birthday?” Evil giggling, indicating…
Every Day I’m…

LaLaLaura

23 Jan 2012 | 11:37 am

Shufflin’…through piles of laundry and Legos. Huh. I took this picture and uploaded it, but apparently forgot to post it. Isn’t my hubby cute? He made this sign at work and it cracked me up. Possibly RelatedJanuary 9, 2012 -- Watching the Bronco Game with Daddy – 8/366January 7, 2012 -- Taking down the Christmas lights – 7/366January 6, 2012 -- Peanut Buttah Cookies – 6/366January 5, 2012 -- Centennial Center Park 5/366January 4, 2012 -- Staying in the Lines 4/366
Apparently, freezers freeze things.

LaLaLaura

20 Jan 2012 | 12:57 am

Pauly brought home some goodies for Nikki and Lexi last night for their birthday – balloons, candy, and a bottle of sparkling cider. He had me throw it into the freezer to chill it, and we promptly forgot about it. Fast forward to this morning, when I opened the freezer door and found this insane mess of sticky slush and broken glass. Fucking hell, man. At least the kiddos learned about science today, and how liquids expand when frozen. Teachable moments for the win! Possibly RelatedJanuary 9, 2012 -- Chiweenie wants her mommy. 9/366October 16, 2009 -- Update to the Campbells/Swanson…

Latest Activity on Outdoor Baby Network
Geoffrey Sutton is now a member of Outdoor Baby Network

27 Jan 2012 | 10:11 pm

Geoffrey Sutton is now a member of Outdoor Baby Network
Blog post by Granola Girl

27 Jan 2012 | 7:43 pm

Blog post by Granola GirlQuote of the Week: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel SilversteinBeing outside with your kids are some of the greatest family moments. So much can be experienced and seen through the beauties of nature and the exertion of outdoor athletics. One of largest benefits is the bond a family can make together through shared wonder. Talking with your kids about such moments can be a bit more difficult. As children grow, those communications tend to get even more frazzled. I can remember the awkward attempts my parents had whenever an important conversation was supposed…
Lianne Clough updated their profile

27 Jan 2012 | 12:21 pm

Lianne Clough updated their profile

moosh in indy.
(big babble) dining, lice-ing, losing and photographing

caseymullins

27 Jan 2012 | 1:10 pm

I taught Addie the importance of the 24 hour diner in her life. A girl and her furry brown cat. It's so lice to see you go! (Alternately titled, the extremes we went to in order to rid our life of lice.) How to prepare your child for getting lost. (Because like it or not, they're going to get lost at some point.) Photographing a child in CONSTANT MOTION. It isn't always pretty, but it sure is accurate.
(baby babble) reset, redo and regurgitate

caseymullins

27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

Ever have one of those days where you wished you could just CTRL+ALT+Z your entire life? Me too. Take comfort, that starlet probably has spit up in her Spanx. Vivi's 3rd week in 7 more photos. Peri Bottle vs. Giant Mug with Bendy Straw. Who wins? Cody jumped into the shower fully clothed. Find out why we both cried 'uncle' Monday night. Looking for a new product to replace California Baby? Why I'm brand loyal to Dolphin Organics.
I got a 32 on my ACT but that’s not the point.

Casey

25 Jan 2012 | 9:21 pm

(For those of you who are not from Indy, could care less about social media and/or the Super Bowl, please bear with me, I plan to get very philosophical towards the end.) Through a very convoluted process, 46 people in Indiana were invited to be a part of a group to help promote the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. I didn’t think much of it, I saw one passive aggressive tweet here, one snarky response there…then I started to look into it. I’ll admit, when I found out the group was selected using Klout, I was a little confused. While Klout may be considered a bit of a joke in the…

Lit and Laundry
WIP Wednesday: Henrietta

25 Jan 2012 | 12:03 pm

Today's Work in Progress is my "Henrietta Whiskers" quilt. Here are the mostly completed blocks up on my design wall: Most of them have a little sticky note reminding me what embroidery and buttons I still need to add. Please excuse the mess on my sewing table below. See how I carefully hide my Costco-sized tin of Almond Roca under some quilt blocks? Now you know where my candy stash is. You can also see my wood plaque with my favorite motto above my design wall. This is the next block. The wool pieces are pinned on and ready to applique. I…
Epic progress

24 Jan 2012 | 2:21 pm

I was asked in the comments last time if I could reveal what my epic project is. It's called "Snow White Discovers the Cottage" and it's part of the Disney Dreams collection. The finished project will look like this: Clicking on the picture will take you to a site where you can purchase it. Here is my progress so far: I'm working my way across the top and will fill down so I can roll the piece on my stretcher bars. This is the first time I've gridded out a big piece like this and it really makes the stitching go faster. Billions of color changes keep it interesting but it…
Totally Useless

23 Jan 2012 | 3:56 pm

Today is a new moon so it's also time for the first check-in of the year for the Totally Useless Stitch Along. This is the internet sewing bee where instead of showing our amazing progress on our projects, we show the little thread ends that we've saved up for the month as we worked on projects. I've started a new jar for this year, and even though I've been stitching away like crazy, it barely shows. I didn't even show the whole jar because the pile looks so puny at the bottom there. The Totally Useless Stitch Along (TUSAL for short) is hosted by Daffycat. I got a new…

The Stephford Diaries
Love and hope and getting out of my own head.

Steph

27 Jan 2012 | 11:49 am

This post is going to be all over the place probably. I have so much stuff I want to say, and I’m going all old skool Steph and just puking it all up for your perusal. Wait…that makes it sound kind of gross and not awesome to see, and I’m hoping it will actually be epic, so…oh hell. Let me just get started. So, I realized I really want to help people love themselves. It’s a priority for me and not just online, either. Admittedly, the Internet is my primary forum for this stuff, but I feel like if I don’t implement this stuff in “real” life,…
Still disheartened.

Steph

26 Jan 2012 | 8:46 am

So, since I climbed on board the fat acceptance train, I’ve started noticing how very little fat acceptance there actually is in the world. Some of the nicest people I know are beating their own asses for being overweight. These same people tell me on a semi-regular basis how beautiful I am. I think they legitimately mean both things. They really, truly believe that their fat is ugly and gross while simultaneously believing that my fat has no impact on me being one hot mama. Why do I think this is true? Well, because I did it myself for so very long. Everyone else was beautiful,…
Disheartened.

Steph

23 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

Last week, some stuff happened on my Facebook that had me pissed at first, but the more I think about it, the more I become disheartened. Let’s get something out of the way first, though, then I can move on to more things. If someone says to you, “I’m done discussing this topic with you,” that is NOT an invitation to continue the conversation. That is ignoring a clearly stated boundary, and it is incredibly selfish and rude. Further contact just shows that you really, truly don’t give a shit about the other person, as much as you think it’s SUPER IMPORTANT…

Twinfatuation
Tap for Two

Cheryl Lage

27 Jan 2012 | 9:20 am

Ready for school a bit early, She-Twin maximized the extra minutes to work in some dance time. Looks like Larry-Dog found the routine entertaining...
Way Back When-esday: You Can Pick Your Friends...

Cheryl Lage

25 Jan 2012 | 8:30 am

Dateline: January 2004Twins' Age: 2He-Twin selected this week's WBW age, and when we opened this image, all erupted with laughter.Unexpectedly funny moments captured warm my mid-week.Why don't you dive into your digital files and play along with Way Back When-esday?Seek out an overlooked snapshot or scan a scrapbook find...share an image you might not otherwise. Tell the tale and place a post on your blog. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and please leave a comment when you do!
You're Not the Boss of Me

Cheryl Lage

24 Jan 2012 | 8:10 am

...so stop trying to act like you are.When McDonald's stopped including Happy Meal toys in certain regions of California "for the children," my festering began. Childhood obesity is a problem; I get it.My guess is that obese children are not obese because they eat the toys; they're obese because they eat too much fat-laden food. Too much fat-laden food that yes, is scandalously, affordably priced. So I surmise the obese children can only afford the cheaply priced fatty food on their allowance-limited budget; that is why they are overweight and unhealthy. Everytime I set foot in a…

The Mom Crowd
6 Ways You Can Help Your Child with His Homework

admin

27 Jan 2012 | 7:41 am

Your son Joey does not want to do his homework tonight. The same thing happened last night and a few evenings last week. The problem is not that he does not know how to do his work but that he just seems to be unable to focus and just get down to it. As a mother you can offer help to your son to make sure that his homework gets done, not just tonight but every night that he has it to do. Here are some six suggestions as to how you can offer homework help for your child: Your child needs a special area where he can sit down and do his homework without being interrupted. It needs to be quiet…
Making Meal Times Fun and Interesting for Your Kids

admin

20 Jan 2012 | 9:34 am

Some kids look forward to meal times while others not so much. If your child does not want to eat- a problem that is particularly common with toddlers- then you need to find ways to make meal times as fun and interesting for your child and the rest of the family as possible. Here are some ideas that you can try. Some may work better for your little ones than others. Try a few and see what works for your family. You may be surprised how easy it is to make meal times an enjoyable experience for everyone at your table! Put Your Creative Juices to Work If you are a creative mother in general then…
Your Child’s New Friend is Imaginary – Should You be Concerned?

admin

17 Jan 2012 | 11:43 am

Your son Timothy has a new friend who is always around when he needs him and whenever he wants to play. He shares his toys with him, engages in lively conversations with him and talks about him to family members all of time. There is only one problem with Timothy’s friend. He is not real. Imaginary Friends- Not Uncommon Having imaginary friends is not that uncommon. Approximately 65 percent of children between the ages of three to five years of age create friends that are imaginary. It generally takes place at a time when a young child’s identity is starting to form and they are beginning…

Poot and Cubby for Women Site
Greatest natural teeth whitening tips

admin

25 Jan 2012 | 5:01 am

Nature gives lots and lots for all the people in the world today. We can solve our any diseases with the help of natural elements. Eating healthy natural foods is enough to you to recover your problem. At the same time, you should not forget to split your regular three times meals as six to eight times in a day. Eat good healthy fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, wheat, white layered eggs, low sugary products and low calorie foods regularly in order to maintain stronger and healthier physique. It is even more helped for gaining better whiter teeth. Most of the people are not very much…
Not All Are the Same waving Menstrual Cramps Relief best menstrual cramp relief towa

admin

23 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm

With the growth of technology, menstrual pain reliever to be available 24×7 by any means of communication. Are you working with the nicest Menstrual Cramps Relief that you could possibly have by being selective and knowlegeable about productivity and safety. Are you working with the nicest ease period pain however none of them have risen to the point of higher popularity than the military menstrual cramps relief sets. Your services should be menstrual but you have to make sure that the menstrual cramping you are hiring really knows how to have a super incredible time! It was all I wanted…
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admin

20 Jan 2012 | 9:05 am

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Mom Of 3 Girls
Weekly Update – Jan 23

Deb - Mom of 3 Girls

23 Jan 2012 | 1:04 pm

It’s been an interesting week weather-wise here – from more snow to an actual thunderstorm last night that had Abbi cowering in our bed with us – and no longer believing when we assure her that there are no thunderstorms in the winter, sigh. Here’s what I’ve been up to this week: The second-best day of her life Sometimes you win, and sometimes… Hacked Photo Story Friday – Snowmen And stay tuned in the next week or two for posts about Becca’s 6th birthday, how our Christmas and New Year’s went, my takes on Tide Coldwater laundry detergent, the new formulation of Moon…
Weekly update…

Deb - Mom of 3 Girls

12 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pm

So I still haven’t exactly figured out what I’m going to do with this site now that I’m posting regularly over at momstakeonthings.com instead… But for now and in case anyone over here isn’t getting updates from the other site, here’s a quick list of what I’ve had to say recently: Happy New Year (and new blog design too)! Sleeping on the same floor again Wherefore art thou, snow? Telling Santa what to do Stay active indoors this winter with Just Dance 3! #UbiChamps #spon Wordless Wednesday – Christmas gifts they made at school From bare feet to boots – 24 hours in Michigan…
Ready to introduce the ‘new’ site!

Deb - Mom of 3 Girls

4 Jan 2012 | 4:15 am

So I’m up way (way) too late, but I’m so excited to finally have the new theme on momstakeonthings.com ready to go! Head on over and take a look – isn’t it pretty? 2012 marks a few big blogging changes for me – not the least of which is combining my two sites into one. I’ve still got a few tweaks to make here and there, but for all intents and purposes, that is the NEW site where you’ll find reviews and giveaways as always, plus everything you’ve always found on this site too. And more of it all than you’ve seen on either site for the past few months. For those of…

The Loony Bin
Marin and Katie on a scooter

6 Jan 2012 | 6:48 am
Marin

5 Jan 2012 | 5:50 pm

Marin heard something on the news about Mitt Romney going to New Hampshire and asked, "Who's getting a hamster?"
House

16 Nov 2011 | 9:19 pm

The new construction is coming along nicely. The upstairs has walls now. The windows and doors are in. Most of the appliances have been purchased but I am still shopping for the range. I think I found the perfect one. It's pretty and stainless steel. The information on the website says that it has heavy-duty racks that can be left in during self-cleaning. I'm thinking that's nice, because I'm going to do it anyway. Guaranteed.

Kids Meal Crowd
Menu Plan Monday: Week of January 2, 2012

Danielle Thompson

2 Jan 2012 | 8:00 pm

Happy New Year! We had one more day off from school or work today, but real life will be back in full swing on Tuesday, January 3rd. No more making fun things like these reindeer pops: Thanks to my new found addiction love of a little something called Pinterest, I've found a bunch of cool new recipe ideas I am looking forward to testing. You can see my new finds when you take a peek at my "pins" and "boards". Let me know if you are on it so that I can follow you. Our first week of 2012 will include the following... MONDAY: Pizza Night Out after errands and gym time TUESDAY:…
Top Six DIY/Home Projects On My 2012 Goal List

Danielle Thompson

30 Dec 2011 | 6:00 am

I've been really inspired by the 2011 wrap up and 2012 goal posts I've been seeing this week. Recognizing that it's easy to make and then ignore these types of goals, I knew it would be important to share my list so that you all can keep me honest and I can keep you up to date on my progress. That said, here's the top six home/DIY projects on my list: Build and implement these useful-looking "laundry basket dressers" in our laundry area, and perhaps the bedrooms. We need a better system than we have now, and as most of the clean clothes seem to stay in baskets vs. the actual…
Redbox Discount Codes Available - "12 Days of Deals"

Danielle Thompson

22 Dec 2011 | 3:33 pm

Redbox is near the end of their "12 Days of Deals" promotion, but there is still time to get discounts on movies or games before Santa drops off your gifts under the tree. I sent a text and received a code for $1 off a rental before 11:59 PM CT on 12/24/11. Code must be used at the machine, not online. I'm planning on finding a Blu-Ray to rent while I am out doing errands tonight. Going online I was able to check out the inventory for one of the Redbox machines at a local grocery store so that I could reserve a couple of movies for the kids to watch as a motivator for…

Mommy Brain Reports
Think Your Product Can Make it Big?

Monica

27 Jan 2012 | 12:22 pm

Walmart recently announced the launch of Get on the Shelf, the first contest of its kind from a major retailer. Anyone can enter Get on the Shelf for the chance to get their product sold on Walmart.com and even in Walmart stores. Any product in any category currently covered by Walmart is eligible ranging from [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Happy 106th Birthday Rayovac!

Monica

17 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

You don’t look a year over 100! As a Rayovac Power Blogger, I have been given some pretty cool products, and in honor of their birthday today, I wanted to mention a couple of things that my family has really liked and why. We received the Sportsman Xtreme LED 4 Watt 3C Metal Flashlight. This [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Orange Juice Concerns

Monica

10 Jan 2012 | 10:29 pm

I saw on the news tonight that there are now concerns about pesticides in our orange juice! According to the Food and Drug Administration, a U.S. juice producer had detected low levels of carbendazim in orange juice concentrate imported from Brazil, the top grower accounting for more than 10 percent of the U.S. supply.The pesticide [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

mamasgotmoxie.com
vanessa mooney’s funky bracelets

niki d.

24 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

vanessa mooney, a self-taught jewelry designer in l.a. has a funky fly collection of arm candy. check out some of her latest offerings. Source: vanessamooney.com via niki on Pinterest Source: vanessamooney.com via niki on Pinterest Source: vanessamooney.com via niki on Pinterest Source: vanessamooney.com via niki on Pinterest Source: vanessamooney.com via niki on Pinterest Source: vanessamooney.com via niki on Pinterest
thinkin’ spring & head scarves

niki d.

24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

whenever my hair starts driving me a little nuts or i want a different look i wrap the madness up in a head scarf or bandana. years ago i wore a lot of head wraps, but these days it’s more of just the usual wrap it around the front, tie it in the back variety. but this spring my plan is to buy some beautifully colored scarves and try different wrapping techniques. here a few of my fave styles. rock it like a 60s turban style hat. via a beautiful mess. via sunday in bed more turban style via what i wore. via pinterest. luv, luv, luv this look. it’s my absolute favorite! keiko lynn…
laser cut goodness by moonc

niki d.

21 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

it’s everywhere! laser cut jewelry has been very popular over the past few years and it comes in a variety of materials: acrylic, wood, felt, leather… last year i featured rachel stewart‘s laser cut jewelry that included afro picks and cassette tapes and since then i’ve come across so many other designers with beautiful and unique pieces. moonc is my most recent find. these lithuanian designers create jewelry inspired by nature, history and architecture. moonc on etsy

Blogger For Hire
Airports

MomGrind

24 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

Airports are strange places, I think as I stand in front of the gate waiting for my father to arrive. His flight is not the only flight to arrive this early afternoon, and a flood of people is coming through the gate. Faces, strange faces, blur into each other, all looking the same. They are special to someone, I'm sure, each of them possessing the ability to light up the face of a few loved ones. But they are strangers to me, and they are annoying because the human clutter they create interferes with my ability to locate my father in the crowd. Â© All rights reserved. This post is from…
At Some Point, You Just Stop Reading This Crap

MomGrind

16 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm

I was bored, what can I say. I stopped buying women's magazines years ago, but when you sit at the hair salon getting a haircut, it's either staring at your familiar, boring face as the stylist works, or picking a magazine and reading it. I chose the latter, and as I was reading, leafing through page after page, I was thinking, how can so much crap fit into one magazine? Of course I had to share it with you, so despite horrified glances from the stylist, I started taking pictures. Here it is - a thoroughly depressing collection of ads and editorials, aimed at women, from one of the top…
My Life Is Kinda Boring

MomGrind

4 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

A week in Buenos Aires makes you realize just how boring your life in a quiet San Francisco suburb is. Of course, I love my life - I have stated so plenty of times on this blog - but my life IS kinda boring when compared with the intense energy of a big, vibrant, bustling, never-quite-asleep South American city. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city, but I'll spare you the photos of landmarks and monuments. Much more interesting is the street art and the graffiti - the city is basically covered in graffiti, some of it beautiful, some of it, not so much. It is also one of the dirtiest cities I have…

Kaiser Mommy
Why I won’t try online dating

admin

21 Jan 2012 | 8:11 am

Since I’m single and not exactly in a hotbed of male activity, the question has come up more than once. Frequently accompanied by “so and so met her husband that way”. I think it confuses people that I’m so “online” yet resist online dating. I’ve always hated the bars, the meat market, the feeling of having to sell myself. Over Christmas Break, I sat in front of one of the sites and scrolled though available options. Just about broke out in hives just from the looking. It felt skeevy and wrong. For me. This is one of those times where my gut pings…
The #suckit list

admin

17 Jan 2012 | 9:47 pm

I’m all about the good good stuff, but tonight my therapist made me cry when she called bullshit and saw through my “chin up, kid” attitude. So in honor of THAT. I give you a list of things that can just #suckit cancer calories Clothes that don’t fit dying check engine lights cold stomach flu sleeping alone love dishes laundry bills deadlines paperwork fingernails bedtime alarm clocks republicans democrats the sensors on my garage door that I can’t get adjusted ex-boyfriend tatted up skankwhores the nickname “kid” the nickname “baby” being…
So there I was . . .

admin

12 Jan 2012 | 7:34 pm

Disclaimer: If you have a weak stomach – do not read. If you would ever like to see me naked – do not read if grossness would change your mind. Anyway. I threw up. Easy as can be. None of that staring into the porcelain God misery waiting for the gagging to start. I spit a bit and realized how much better my stomach felt. Then I realized I had no idea where the fuck I was. It was dark, cool things pressed my body, and the last sounds of the toilet flushing were behind me. Huh. Oh right. I’d woken up at midnight-thirty and decided I needed to go to the bathroom.

Real Tech Mom
What beauty really looks like…

erincarrasco

13 Jan 2012 | 12:40 pm

My husband sent this to me. I am not a skinny girl. I’ve had two kids. And many moms (and non moms) feel horrible about their body because of the way media portrays what women should look like. Don’t I just sound like a feminist! But it’s true. As a teenager we are bombarded by [...] [Visit Real Tech Mom to read the rest of the story!]
Happy New Year 2012

erincarrasco

31 Dec 2011 | 10:28 am

This past year has been eventful in my life. We welcomed our second son into the world in June and it has rocked our world for the past 7 months. He is a wonderful baby and it is so very true how each baby is different. Having two kids has been a challenge to say [...] [Visit Real Tech Mom to read the rest of the story!]
Eff you Santa Picture

erincarrasco

23 Dec 2011 | 5:25 pm

I’m a man. Well not literally. But everything about my planning for Christmas is. I did not shop for Christmas until last night. Yes I’m crazy. AND I did not go for pictures for Santa until the 20th… the first time. Yes you heard me, the first time. I went again. Every year without fail [...] [Visit Real Tech Mom to read the rest of the story!]

Catnip and Coffee
a little iphoneography

Annette

26 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am

I’ve been playing with my iPhone camera more and more lately, using apps to play with filters, and borders, and cropping. It doesn’t seem like so much fun when I’m stuck at my desk editing in Photoshop but it’s a breeze to edit in apps like Camera+ and Instagram. I think it’s making me a better photographer if only because I’m noticing the world around me more. I always have my phone with me, so it’s easy to snap a shot when I see it instead of wishing I had a camera. I’ve been focusing on playing with patterns, light, and textures so I’m…
advice you didn’t know you needed: bodily fluids edition

Annette

22 Jan 2012 | 11:11 am

Hey feed readers, come on over see my color change. No more bleeding pink and red!* I’m going to give you all a few pieces of unasked for advice today. And you WILL thank me for it later. Um. If you’re squeamish, or a man, you might want to go ahead and leave right now. Okay ladies, we all know when we’re getting a UTI, right? We don’t need no stinkin’ medical degree to tell us this diagnosis. Ahem. But sometimes it’s the weekend and it’s snowing and you just don’t wanna** go sit at the walk-in clinic all day just so you can pee in a cup and…
I can’t make this stuff up

Annette

17 Jan 2012 | 11:49 am

This is what happens when your kid is better with apps than you are: I got his via email from Josh on Sunday morning. Yes, an email, from my kid, who was upstairs in his room at the time. 1. I have no idea how he got the writing on the photo. All he would tell me is that he used Camera + (on his iPod.) and 2. No, his closet isn’t usually that messy but we had company (hi Phil!) staying in his room so we shoved all kinds of stuff in there that day. George loooved that. and 3. Technology is weird. Eight year olds are even weirder.

A Cowboy's Wife
Get On the Shelf! No, Not You…Your Product!

A Cowboy's Wife

27 Jan 2012 | 11:33 pm

Do you have an awesome product that belongs on Walmart’s shelves? Well if so, you have got to check out ‘Get On the Shelf‘! Walmart recently launched an exciting opportunity, giving you the chance to have your product sold in Walmart’s stores! Have you been in the kids department lately? Have you seen the adorable cape and mask set? They come in red & blue or black & white and they are under $6 bucks! What a frugal way to be an awesome superhero! Anyways, those are made by moms like you and me. And when I was in Dallas a while back, I saw some…
2011 Little Moments

A Cowboy's Wife

9 Jan 2012 | 8:23 am

While I didn’t do much in the blogosphere in 2011, it was one of my most cherished years. I was there for my kids. I was there for every single moment that was important to them and me. A few ‘little moments’ that meant the world to me throughout 2011 include: Seeing my son be crowned football king and fall festival king all their sports moments from football to basketball being their for my son during his knee surgery and therapy silly moments in the car with my husband birthdays seeing my son in his play being with my son as tossed the glasses and got contacts…
Planning Our Life with Dave Ramsey

A Cowboy's Wife

1 Jan 2012 | 8:50 pm

Personal Finance is 80 percent Behavior and Only 20 percent Head Knowledge January 1st marks our first day on the Dave Ramsey Financial plan. After seeing where we spent our money in 2011, we knew we needed to make some changes if we were gonna survive in this economy with 3 kids, 2 of which will be attending college in the next 1-3 years. We needed a plan and we made a plan. Our first DR action was to combine accounts. After 18+years of having separate accounts, we decided to merge into one. One of our biggest arguments with each-other is the whole “I paid for this”…

Politics to Parenting and Everything in Between
#tweet4choice Aren't some choices so abhorrent they should not be made? #prolife #prochoice #parents #kids

Patty Littlebytesnews

22 Jan 2012 | 4:31 pm

Have you ever wondered what the pro-choice movement means by 'choice'? Don't we all have freedom of choice in this world? Aren't some choices so abhorrent they should not be made? After all, when the choice is life or death;wouldn't common sense tell you to choose life?In the case of abortion, women are told they have a choice to have the baby or not. In choosing not to have the child and carry to term a woman is given the legal right to hire an abortionist to end her pregnancy,which is essentially ending the life of a new human being at the earliest stage of development.The 'choice' in…
Illegal alien sexually assaults,rapes&kills One month old #parents #kids #abuse #tcot

Patty Littlebytesnews

11 Jan 2012 | 10:15 pm

If there isn't a better reason to secure our borders than this I don't know what is. In this heinous case a father is charged with raping his one year old daughter. It's not clear if he is the biological father but DNA tests are being taken to determine if he is. Either way, for any adult to do something this despicable to an infant is unforgivable. I don't care if he was on drugs or not, there is no excuse for this barbaric behavior.What makes this case even worse is that he had been deported previously and charged with child sexual abuse once before, however because our borders are not…
Baby Girl Abandoned by Protester at #OccupyDC Camp #parents #kids #tcot

Patty Littlebytesnews

11 Jan 2012 | 9:49 pm

Now this doesn't really surprise me after all the other crimes from rapes,drug abuse,murders and suicides that have occurred at the Occupy movement encampments throughout the country. Most involved in this movement are after all "prochoice" and the choice to abandon a baby is no different than disposing one in a dumpster or having one removed from your womb by a licensed doctor who makes millions killing the most defenseless among us. Abortion after all to me is the ultimate child abuse, the mothers 'choice' to neglect her commitment/obligation to carry her pregnancy to term& raise her…

RimaRama
Have I Said This Before?

Rima

25 Jan 2012 | 8:07 pm

My daughter the V-meister has a fantastic memory. She recalls a lot of very specific things that happened a long time ago and which I frankly sometimes wish she’d just as soon forget. “Hey, Mama. Remember when I was two and you forgot to buckle me into my car seat?” “No.” “Or how about that time we got stopped by a police officer and you said, ‘CRAP ON A CRAP CRACKER’!” She has always been a whiz at facts and figures, able to quickly summon very specific information as though retrieving it from some kind of file cabinet. (Her brain?)…
Five-Year-Olds: Better Than Prozac

Rima

20 Jan 2012 | 11:16 am

The Scene: My car. The Characters: Me, my five-year old son, and his best girl friend “Guess what, Mrs. Rama? What if da whole universe fell in da toilet?” (*riotous laughter, high-pitched squealing*) “Hey! I think I see da Eiffel tower! Are we in Pay-Wiss?” “Nope. That’s a church spire, you guys. We’re still in Cleveland.” “Are we going to Pay-Wiss?” “Nope, Playhouse Square. To see a puppet show, remember?” “Hey, I know! Let’s pretend this whole car is a hot dog and we’re eating it!” (*chomping…
The Tao of Decorating

Rima

13 Jan 2012 | 3:47 pm

This January has been a time of creativity and renewal here in the Rama household. After the holidays, I was seized with a deep and immediate desire to re-arrange furniture. First I organized some bookshelves into a rainbow: Then I pushed various items of furniture back and forth, back and forth across the family room and re-arranged objets d’art until I was blue in the face. The family room overhaul necessitated an emergency trip to TJ Maxx for some accent pieces, plus a new KitchenAid ice cream scooper, a bar of oatmeal soap and a special microfiber towel that is supposed to dry your…

Rancid Raves
Fridays of Intestinal Fortitude: Look Who's Coming for Dinner

27 Jan 2012 | 10:42 am

Note: Fridays of Intestinal Fortitude is a weekly(ish) feature about food, food and more FOOD. No, I do not necessarily want to be a food blogger, but I do LOVE to talk about food prep, cooking food, eating food and making sweet love to food.Okay, maybe not the "sweet love" part. After all, this is not meant to be an homage to 9 1/2 Weeks.I love having people over for dinner - Manoj stopped complimenting my cooking years ago and the kidlets are not appreciative anyway. Therefore, I like to invite people over and then force my captive audience to ply me with…
The Case of the Two Kindles

25 Jan 2012 | 10:48 am

"Literally Literary" is a feature in which I write about books, reading and more books. Why am I going to such bother? My hope is the post title will provide a subtle hint that I am posting about BOOKS. For those of you where the topic of books results in narcoleptic fits thereby causing you to faceplant onto your keyboard, this will allow you to just click away from the horror that is the written word. Also, I simply adore the word "literally", it is literally my favorite adverb. Bonus points if pronounced with a Rob Lowe/Parks n' Recreation affectation.Special Note: All posts contain…
Nice to meet you!

17 Jan 2012 | 7:08 am

I love, love social media meetups. Over the years, I have met a fair amount of people via BlogHer, local blogger meetups and Twitter-ish sort of things. Therefore, quite of few of the Imaginary Leprechauns in the Magic Computer Box Thingie have morphed into flesh n' blood folks who have become really good friends. The sort of friends I exchange addresses with, send presents to, add to my Christmas Card list and even invite to my house, deep in the soul-sucking suburbs. The brave new frontier of social media, of course, is Facebook. Last summer, I joined up with a few Facebook groups which I…

SOLO dot MOM
It’s already the middle of January?

Katherine

14 Jan 2012 | 9:46 pm

I have pictures to post on my blog from our Christmas celebration, I really do. I look at recent posts and I realize – time is flying by…faster and faster. It seems that only Facebook has seen posts from me lately, so I have been thinking – I want to get back to my blog. I miss it. Most likely my readership will have to be rebuilt and my page ranking, but that’s not what my blog was ever about anyway. Not really. I love blogging, remember? At least when I had time to blog, I did. Looking back at my posts, I see many favorites and it gives me the itch to…
Waiting

Katherine

17 Nov 2011 | 5:48 pm

As Jas and I sit at the urgent care clinic to get his ear checked out, we both sit with our tech devices in full swing. I decided to look for the blogger app so I could possibly post for my readers and I found it! Being a single mom is full of challenges and those challenges change as the children age. Tonight would have required bringing both children, one well, into an environment with germs and other niceties when they were younger. Now that i'm dealing with teens (Kass is just two weeks from it being official) I can leave one to tend to herself while escorting the other to be…
One boyfriend, one curfew, one text message at a time

Katherine

18 Oct 2011 | 7:55 pm

While the debate is on in the background, I wanted to sit down and finally f.i.n.a.l.l.y. write another blog. I have so much to share with my readers, but I will spare you the boring and only share the highlights. The kiddos Jas and Kass, the kiddos… I now refer to them in public as “the bigguns.” They are growing up so fast I can’t keep up; and I am with them every day. (Well almost every day. But I digress <= already!) Kass has a boyfriend. Seriously you don’t want me to get started on that point. Trust me when I say, I am just going to leave it at that. And…

Fabulous Miss S.
Snow, Finally

FabulousMissS

23 Jan 2012 | 10:17 pm

I love a good snow storm. I like being snowed in, shoveling the front steps and cleaning off the cars, cooking some tasty chili or soup, baking bread, watching TV and cuddling all warm inside. But this year Mother Nature...
2011 Recap

FabulousMissS

22 Jan 2012 | 11:20 pm

So I'm only 23 days late! I thought last year was bad when I posted this one week into the new year. By now everyone has given up on their resolutions and I'm just now declaring mine. Maybe I'll motivate...
Please excuse the mess ....

FabulousMissS

21 Jan 2012 | 3:52 pm

Mommy Confessions
Kenmore Blogger Summit Day 2

22 Jan 2012 | 8:37 pm

Confession: I had an even better time than I thought I would. I know my day 1 recap was a little on the jokey-jokey side, but I'm all about short and sweet when it comes to these things, so I'm not going to deviate too much from what I did after Day 1. For me, Day 2 went pretty much like this: I met a bunch of people. Okay, I met a bunch of awesome people. A bunch of stuff happened. And then I won THIS: And really, I could just end this post right there. But in all seriousness (yes, I do that every once in a blue moon)... Day 2 of Kenmore Blogger Summit took us down to the Kenmore Live Studio…
Kenmore Blogger Summit Day 1

21 Jan 2012 | 1:41 am

Confession: This whole being alone in Chicago thing isn't too bad. I'm here. No kids. No spouse. Just me. I flew alone. Except not really alone. Made it to Chicago in the snow for Day 1 of the Kenmore Blogger Summit 2012. Here's a swell recap: Morning. Stress. Coffee. Bye kids. Airport. Hey it's Rob! WTF was that noise underneath us? Snow. Oooh pretty hotel. Popcorn. Dressed. Popcorn. Cocktails. Food? Food. Cocktails. Oh hey it's Kenmore. Oh hey it's Google +. Wait, how many +1 hits does Google get every day? Cocktails. A blogger's 9 year old daughter almost makes me cry. Room. Popcorn.
Realizing the Dream (and the full text of Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' Speech)

16 Jan 2012 | 12:32 pm

Confession: I can't read this without crying. Can you?What makes the full text of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech fodder for a mom blog? I have children. Chances are if your are reading this blog, you may too. It is my hope that my children will always keep the message of Dr. King close to their hearts. I hope that they will understand it- embrace it- help to realize it. Because even today, we are still not there. Not all the way. I hope that when they are my age, they will still get tears in their eyes and pains in their hearts the way I do whenever I see it. But, my hope for…

martinis for milk
Bedtime for Bozos

scarbie doll

18 Jan 2012 | 8:47 pm

"COME ON GUYS! Get. Dressed!" I'm increasingly agitated. I can feel the clock heading past 8pm and they are fucking around. I know what J would think if he could see this nonsense. You're riling them up Nad, calm it down. They need to get to bed. But Loogoo is in only a pull-up and shaking her booty and saying Gord-knows-what over and over. She recently cut her own hair into a mullet, which I've slowly cropped into a po-mo Dorothy Hamill in an attempt to even it out. N-dog is rolling on the floor in his holiday pajamas that should have been packed away after Armenian Christmas. He's holding…
Guest editor at Dealuxe.ca

scarbie doll

16 Jan 2012 | 8:09 pm

I miss my old job at the sweet place. I miss what it was like when we were new and full of ideas and possibility. Not that I don't love my new job. Not at all. I'm over the moon at the experience I'm gaining, where my career is heading, how much I get along with my boss and my editorial team. Love doesn't even cut it. Most days the new job doesn't even feel like work. It's certainly different, less writing and editing at the moment, but I'm growing and it feels grand.But I miss the sweets. I miss the giggles we had which only people who bathe in pop culture and fashion and the humour in…
Daddy Dearest

scarbie doll

12 Jan 2012 | 10:53 pm

So many times I've started to write about him. I can never bring myself to do it. There must be 14 drafts on here started and never realized. Because I'm scared. Because I don't want to give him the satisfaction.If you've grown up in a house with someone who's not "normal," you've probably longed for just that. For just a bit of boring. For just a bit of a 1980s TV sitcom life. For just something constant that isn't pain or abuse or loathing.He made me mad today. Actually he made me sad. He hurt my baby sister like when we were little, but this time with words not kicks. I had to step in, be…

A Day in the Life ...
A Day at the Museum

Karen MEG

22 Jan 2012 | 6:16 pm

I'm on a roll here, aren't I? At this rate I'll post more times in one month than I did all of last year. Not a bad thing, given that last year seems mostly a blur at this point!On the Tuesday morning, we left the hotel a bit later than I had anticipated. Against my better judgement, I had given my family a bit more credit than was due. I'm a bit of a slow study that way ... or maybe an optimist. You can tell me.I did a lot of surfing to plan for this trip and tried to book as many tickets ahead of time as possible. (A major tip: I visited this website, "broadwaybox", where you can find…
Friday Fragments "I'm Back" edition

Karen MEG

20 Jan 2012 | 6:25 am

Don't forget to check out the home of glorious Fragments( Mrs. 4444)***I've got a few more posts coming regarding my NYC trip, but in the mean time here we are with some fragments.I haven't done this in a loooong time, so glad to be back. I didn't realize how much I had missed blogging - looking back at previous posts over the holidays I realized that this space is where I've described so many amazing things about my life, my family, everything around me - things that made me laugh, cry, and think. Blogging doesn't seem to be the "it" thing to do anymore [(not sure that it ever was ;), but…
A walk in the park

Karen MEG

14 Jan 2012 | 10:59 am

With Monday still being a stat holiday, we decided to skip the major attractions and take advantage of the lovely not-too-cold weather. Day Two would be spent exploring Central Park.Exploring would require some good energy, so we started with a very hearty breakfast at the restaurant adjacent to our hotel - the Viand Cafe. We felt a real sense of neighbourhood in this cafe: young couples with their trendy strollers for their designer-dressed toddlers, lattes and eggwhite omelettes- and the food - well, there was an awful lot of it. Which I was pleased (or depending how you look at it,…

OMSH
Furniture? You’ve got to be kidding me.

OMSH

14 Jan 2012 | 8:51 pm

So remember how I said it was mine and Jeff’s 17th wedding anniversary? In today’s “modern” marriage climate, I tend to think seventeen years is a pretty big, hairy deal. This naturally led me to consider what exactly it was that I should be awarded* for 17 years (or rather 20, if we count dating time) with this man. A quick Google search turns up Wikipedia’s advice for what to “gift” after 17 years of marriage. If the title of this post hasn’t completely given it away (which I imagine it has/did), the answer is FURNITURE. Seriously people? Who…
17 Years

OMSH

12 Jan 2012 | 1:59 pm

January 14, 2012 marks 17 years married to Jeff. The photo above is framed in our bathroom. It was taken at his Basic Training graduation in Ft. Benning, GA, at the start of 2001. I love it. I was so happy to see him after all the weeks we were apart. More time apart was coming, but we reveled in those few hours we had together before he was shipped off to Ft. Sam Houston for AIT. And when I say reveled, I mean we kicked his mom (who flew in with me to see the graduation) out of the hotel room and got busy. The note, “You are my everything” is one of many love notes I’ve…
An Event Apart ’11, San Francisco

OMSH

13 Dec 2011 | 12:54 pm

As a web designer I have long enjoyed the genius behind the crew at A List Apart. Their passion for standards-based web design is the foundation for An Event Apart (AEA), the two-day conferences that take place all over the United States. As they so clearly state, “If you care about code as well as content, usability as well as design, An Event Apart is the conference you’ve been waiting for.” It has taken a couple of years, and a dip into my savings, but I finally took the jump and purchased my conference ticket to the AEA San Francisco show, along with the extra third-day…

metalia
And We Didn't Even Have to Win the Super Bowl!

9 Jan 2012 | 10:10 pm

My friends, in less than two weeks, this is happening: I recorded the kids' immediate reaction, but it was very sad and hilarious (sadlarious?) because they have no in-depth concept of time. ("Oh! Cool. We're going WHEN WE GET BIGGER??" "No, but REALLY SOON, guys." "We're going TONIGHT?!" "Oh, forget it.") Once they understood a little bit more about when they were going, and what exists there, we were all very, very excited. J has been to Disney World once in his life, as a seven year old, so he basically remembers nothing. I, on the other hand, have been a number of times, all…
Y Winner!

9 Jan 2012 | 8:55 pm

And the winner of the Y Me! giveaway is... #4, Beverley! Congratulations, Beverley! Please email me (metaliablog [AT] gmail [DOT] com), and the print will be on its way.http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
2011: The Recap

31 Dec 2011 | 6:58 pm

Every year, Sundry does this great year-end wrap-up post, and invites everyone to play along. And so I shall! 1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Bought a house, got a job I'd been dying to get, and saw a nude man doing jumping jacks down Wall Street. 2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  I'm not really much for resolutions; I don't think I'm ABOVE them, or anything, it's just not my thing. My overall philosophy is "Be positive, work hard, be a good mom, wife and friend, and generally don't be an asshole." I'm sure…

Mamanista!
Robeez Coupon Code – 40% off

Mamanista

15 Jan 2012 | 11:27 am

From now through the end of the month, get 40% off of select Robeez styles. Robeez has a huge selection of baby shoes for all occasions and seasons. Shopping is easy and convenient for all types of kids. <a href=”http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2362244-10992327″>Up to 40% Off on Select Robeez Styles</a>
Sittercity Coupon Code – 25% off membership!

Mamanista

15 Jan 2012 | 11:03 am

From now through the end of January, get 25% off parent memberships at Sittercity.com! Sittercity is great for parents looking for sitters for children, pets or houses. Sitters are guaranteed by Sittercity and can be reviewed. <a href=”http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-2362244-10901554″>Sittercity.com New Years Savings – 25% off memberships w/code JAN25 expires 1/31</a>
Project Runway All Stars 2012 – Episode 1

Candace

12 Jan 2012 | 2:32 pm

Whew! That was a relief, wasn’t it? I was beginning to feel like a crazy old fogey. In MY day, Project Runway contestants had talent AND drama AND vision. Austin could cut a gorgeous dress and then walk the runway in it. Backwards. And in HEELS. Okay, maybe that was Ginger Rogers but still…I’m right, aren’t I? That last crop was a bit lacking, a few decent pieces not withstanding. Like a bunch of wacky old friends who show up to crash on your couch and drink up your best wine, the Project Runway All Stars are here! There was fashion! banter! zany behavior! and lots and…

An NC Mom Blog | Real Life
In Which I’m Embarrassed About My Weight

Sarah

21 Jan 2012 | 10:18 pm

The average American woman weighs about 162 pounds and wears a size 14. Average. According to that statistic, I am slightly below average (1-2 sizes to be exact). I am on the high side of normal BMI, but by no means am I significantly overweight. Of course, I would love to be in better shape, to shed a few pounds. Most days, I feel about average. But not that day. Last week, I found myself in a situation where a sub-group of people in a room was singled out, and valued in a certain way for being skinny. Now, to be sure, the women in this same sub-group are beautiful, talented, smart, and…
Easy Super Bowl Cake for ‘Real Life’ Bakers

Sarah

2 Jan 2012 | 9:56 pm

I got a call from a local newspaper reporter, who asked about ideas to save money on your Super Bowl Party this year. After blubbering for just a few seconds, I came up with a couple of suggestions for her. Our conversation got my mind going in a million different directions with ideas for parties! So, I was thinking about how to make an easy football cake. One that even I can bake and decorate. Cake Boss, I am not! I’m “Real Life,” ya know! The image of my husband’s Dump Cake immediately popped in my mind, along with these equations! (Yes, baking is very mathematical)…
Family: Wordless Wednesday

Sarah

30 Nov 2011 | 8:57 pm

Family: Wordless Wednesday is a post from: An NC Mom Blog | Real Life

Solar Feeds
Chapter 11 @ Ener1

tessant

27 Jan 2012 | 8:38 pm

On Thursday, lithium-battery developer Ener1, Inc. (NASDAQ: HEV) filed a voluntary petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The writing may have...
Buffet's MidAmerican Energy Creates Renewable Energy Division

tessant

27 Jan 2012 | 8:08 pm

MidAmerican Energy, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, has created a separate renewable energy division, MidAmerican Renewables. Among investor-owned utilities, MidAmerican has the most installed wind power in the US, totaling 2,284 megawatts when current projects are completed. The...
What Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney Have Planned for U.S Energy

tessant

27 Jan 2012 | 7:57 pm

Although the GOP presidential primary race remains fluid, the front-runners are now Newt Gingrich, fresh from a victory in South Carolina, and Mitt Romney, the second-place finisher in Iowa and South Carolina and...

MomLogic
Beyonce's First Interview Since Giving Birth: "I Am So Excited"

MomLogic Staff

17 Jan 2012 | 1:20 pm

Beyonce Knowles gave birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter just 10 days ago, and Star Magazine U.K. has the coveted first interview. Like many new mothers, the experience was one she couldn't prepare for or easily describe.
Kendall Jenner Unloads On Mom Over Extravagant Birthday

MomLogic Staff

20 Dec 2011 | 6:16 pm

Kendall Jenner stands up to mom Kris over her lavish plans for Kendall's Sweet 16 birthday party. Watch the fight inside!
See the Kardashian Family Christmas Card

MomLogic Staff

20 Dec 2011 | 5:53 pm

The Kardashian/Jenner clan just released their annual holiday card -- and this year, it's in 3D! Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, Kris, Bruce, Rob, Kylie, Kendall, Lamar, Scott and little Mason all went glam for this year's photo shoot -- with the entire family wearing black except for mama Kris, who sparkles in a green sequin dress.

5 Minutes For Mom
#Ashamed — Bloggers Fight Back Against Georgia’s Fat-Shaming Ad Campaign

Janice

27 Jan 2012 | 4:16 pm

Fighting childhood obesity is not easy. From child-advocates who petition to have school lunch menus changed and junk food vending machines removed from schools, to parents trying to convince their kids to choose carrot sticks over french fries, changing lifestyle habits in America is complicated and challenging.Yes, it is a difficult task — but I think most of us can agree that shaming overweight children and their parents with cruel billboards plastered all over the state of Georgia is not helping the situation.It is good that the government of Georgia is concerned about reducing…
Sons of Grace – An Inspiring Series of Stories… From Men

Guest Contributor

27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

Guest contributor, Michelle, shares her experience with a new book available in print and ebook form, Sons of Grace…I have always been a reader, which has benefited me in so many ways. I remember a series of books I read as a tween and early teen that told the stories of women who’d gone astray. It took the reader through their lives as they went from “standard” lives downward into spirals through drugs and alcohol and, often, prostitution. Fortunately, all the stories ended with the women healing themselves and finding God, which provided hope. At the time, I saw the stories as…
Pin It Friday – Pinterest You Complete Me

Susan

26 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pm

It’s no secret. I’ve fallen hard for Pinterest.This is our fourth week of Pin It Friday and I’ve looked at every pin and followed all the pinners from our first three weeks.Join us and add a couple of your favorite pins from the week and I will definitely follow you and browse through your boards.It’s a great idea to add a link to one of your Pins that is based on your own content AND add another link to one of your Pins that links to someone else’s website.If you’re not yet on Pinterest, use our Pinterest Resource Page to get started. You’ll also…

Chaos Theory
The hardest thing to get used to

Sherry

12 Jan 2012 | 9:58 pm

I enjoy my job. I do. I’ve mentioned it many times. This week I’ve been working on some development things and it’s made me enjoy it even more. That doesn’t mean that going from working as a freelance writer to a full time out-of-the-house employee has been all easy. There have been adjustments galore and one of my hardest moments came today. Breanna had a terrible stomach ache and after she cried that she couldn’t go to school, we decided to have her stay home since George was able to be home with her. Breanna loves school like nobody’s business and looks…
Well hello 2012!

Sherry

2 Jan 2012 | 7:35 pm

So the ball dropped, the fireworks blasted, and we bid adieu to 2011 and said a big hello to 2012. Here’s hoping the Mayans simply got bored and that the end of their calendar doesn’t mean the world ends in December! That cracks me up every time I see it. Anyway! To end the old year and ring in the new one we invited two good friends over to hang out with us for a few drinks and lots of appetizers. Meanwhile the kids had their cousin sleep over and they had their own party down in the basement (we won’t mention the post-apocalyptic disaster down there the next morning.
2011 – A Year in Review

Sherry

31 Dec 2011 | 5:17 pm

This was, obviously, a very big year for our family. I always enjoy looking back on what happened over the course of a year, but this one in particular. January: It got so incredibly cold that we made boiling water freeze instantly. February: George and I go out on a real date to celebrate twelve years together. March: I spill some really big news. April: Our van dies but we make the most of it and have a lovely evening with good friends. May: I get to enjoy a nice laid back Mother’s Day and then was relieved to not be a part of the Rapture that wasn’t. June: The joy of finding a…

An Island Life
Elmo’s World: Favorite Things!

Kailani

28 Jan 2012 | 4:32 am

La la la la. La la la la. Elmo’s World. I bet almost every child (and parent) knows how that song goes. All I have to do is see a picture of Elmo and that tune immediately starts playing in my head. Elmo’s World debuted in 1998 and regularly plays during the last 15 minutes of each Sesame Street episode. Each segment follows a familiar pattern in which Elmo introduces his pet fish Dorothy and the topic of day. It’s then followed by a skit by Mr. Noodle, real life children giving their take on the topic, video of a child in a real life setting, Dorothy imagining Elmo playing…
The Muppets on Blu-ray & DVD on March 20th

Kailani

27 Jan 2012 | 9:27 am

One of the year’s best-loved family comedies and among the best reviewed films of 2011, Disney’s “The Muppets,” starring Jason Segel, Academy Award®-nominee Amy Adams, and favorite celebrity couple Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy — debuts March 20 on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand formats. A must-own movie the entire family can enjoy, Disney’s “The Muppets” in-home release includes the DVD and music soundtrack packaged together and also offered as the ultimate Muppets experience, a ‘Wocka-Wocka Value Pack,’ which contains the movie on…
Monopoly Collection for Wii

Kailani

27 Jan 2012 | 9:23 am

I’m a big fan of board games, but I’m not a fan of all the set-up that most games require, and I’m definitely not fond of keeping track of all of the little pieces. So I was really excited when I found out that many of my favorite board games are now available as Wii games! The most recent addition to my game library is called Monopoly Collection. This Wii disc contains two Monopoly games, classic Monopoly and Monopoly Streets. Here’s just a bit about these games, from the EA website: Become a MONOPOLY mogul as you compete with friends and family to dominate the board in MONOPOLY, or…

Burgh Baby
Some Day It Will Take More Than A Lava Lamp To Make Her Birthday Perfect

burghbaby

27 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm
Happy 6th Birthday, Alexis!

burghbaby

26 Jan 2012 | 9:50 pm
I Still Want That Whatchamacallit

burghbaby

25 Jan 2012 | 10:11 pm

There is, without a doubt, a link between the number of items I'm buying and how long it takes me to get out of the grocery store. If I have one thing in my hands? I'll be stuck at that register FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. Which is to say, even though all I really needed to buy was butter, I still grabbed a bunch of bananas. I figured they would count as SEVEN. MORE. THINGS. That was one surefire way to speed things up at the register! Or not. As Alexis and I stood in line, I juggled my butter and bananas and tried to figure out why the itty bitty crappy little grocery store nearest our house is…

Happy Home
Roller shutters Elegantly Enhance your Security

admin

25 Jan 2012 | 2:23 am

Roller shutters are the ideal solution for property owners who wish to raise the security of their properties, while also boosting their curb appeal. Roller shutters add a uniformity and elegance to homes and buildings. They can come in bold and modern colors, or in classic and more subdued hues. The choice is entirely yours. They can be customized to fit any size window or door, protecting your home’s entrances and exits. Roller Shutters: Security, Elegance, Performance The design of roller shutters have been perfected over the years, and the technology improved, so what the consumer gets…
How to cover your pots with fabric

admin

23 Jan 2012 | 7:41 am

Surely you’ve ever encountered in pots that you have nothing planted and you have removed the decoration because they do not see them with a modern and you feel sorry for throwing are not broken. However, if you could make a facelift certainly be willing to reuse because they have an adequate size for seasonal flowers. Well, we propose an easy way to update your pots old: cover them with fabric. The technique is simple, it will take very little time and materials need not complicated to find. First choose a piece of fabric that you like. It may be to match the curtains or cushions or…
Rocking bed for adults

admin

19 Jan 2012 | 7:53 am

Inventions in decorative material are gaining momentum every day and the bedrooms and main rooms could not be left behind in this regard comes the new rocking bed included. Its revolutionary design is the blueprint for innovation within this type of furniture. Nothing better to rest the motion of the swing in your mattress. No doubt can be a great incentive for all those who have trouble sleeping at night. Your system is based on two main round in the center hold the main bed. A good idea but there is still doubt among designers about that if it is actually functional or just provides a…

Cowgirl Yoga
My January love list

24 Jan 2012 | 4:59 pm

My love list right now:Winter. As in the season, which has returned to Montana recently (although we could certainly use more), and as in thebook Winter: Five Windows on the Season that I just started reading and am loving by Adam Gopnik. 1st grade. I wish it would last forever. My daughter makes my heart ache with her love and life truths. Last night, she asked me where my heart was, and then identified where hers was. She then proceeded to hug me so that our hearts touched. Big. Lump. In. Throat. Stargazing. On clear winter nights, we have a stellar (haha) view of Jupiter and the…
Behind the scenes: my at-home yoga studio, part II

20 Jan 2012 | 4:05 pm

The floor installers are doing their finishing touches as I type this. Susie of Envi Design is Buddha shopping in NYC (more on that later). My new home yoga studio has reached a key turning point: I will be able to christen it with a practice this very weekend. (If you missed installment one, read it here.) I am daydreaming about what that practice will feel like. Yeah I know, you can do yoga anywhere - but I'll also be the first to tell you that sometimes where you do it makes all the difference. I've owned a yoga studio and rolled out my mat in some beautiful places, but there is something…
Cowgirls vs. Cancer 2012

19 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pm

I am sooooo excited to announce our eight - yes, EIGHT - Cowgirls vs. Cancer scholarship recipients for 2012. Our first year, we brought out two scholarship recipients; last year, four, and this year, we are dedicating an entire retreat to Cowgirls vs. Cancer. This has been made possible due to the generosity of everyone that we work with at Cowgirl Yoga. We've all witnessed firsthand the wonderful effects of healing with horses and yoga, and everyone involved is committed to making it bigger. Cowgirl sized! Yeehaw & Namaste to that. Read about our eight cancer kickin' cowgirls here (be…

Starryskye.org
WP Network of Blogs Option

Christine

4 Jan 2012 | 4:18 pm

So, I tried to use the built-in “network” (i.e. multiple) blogs option but failed. I’m not exactly sure what I did incorrectly either. Kinda bummed as this would have made it easier for me to run blogs with a single database instead of the many databases I currently have. Oh well … Maybe I will play with it another day.
Stuffed Griffin (Taxidermy)

Christine

1 Jan 2012 | 10:03 pm

Isn’t this amazing? I was watching “Oddities” earlier tonight and was thinking how odd taxidermy is … I don’t like when people just kill animals for sport so I never really dug this practice. But there was a girl on the show who used “road kill” for her taxidermy projects. Makes me feel a little better I don’t think I’d like to have a regular old animal sitting there on a shelf looking at me. But I could deal with having something like the above pictured Griffin! How neat!
A Few “Resolutions” of Course

Christine

1 Jan 2012 | 5:44 pm

I never keep resolutions for New Years’ … Who really does? So, these are just some of my GOALS for 2012 (aside from freaking out because the world is going to end in what – 355 days?). Anyway … Here are some of the goals I have for 2012. Lose Weight – Sure, this one is a given. But the odds are higher this year because myself and a couple of my friends and I have a bet going. 40lbs by spring break. There is even $100 on the line here. Eek! Get Organized – I’m well on my way on this one actually. I’ve felt pretty driven to get more organized lately; and with the…

Cool Zebras
New Cards!

Heather

24 Jan 2012 | 8:31 pm

I made some new cards for my etsy shop out of some of my photography prints. Kind of fun to combine two of my loves in one!********* If you have the time, please consider clicking through to my blog. Also, if you comment, I get warm fuzzies and I think you're cool...even if you're not. ;)(But you totally are you know.) Thanks!
I Vaguely Remember When I Was Funny

Heather

14 Jan 2012 | 7:14 am

So my plan of packing up the kids' toys was thwarted by a barfing preschooler. Darn Friday the 13th anyway...though I'm insanely grateful that vomiting is the worst that Friday the Thirteenth threw our way.If I'm totally honest, Friday the 13th hasn't ever really been that bad. At the very least, it hasn't been remarkably bad since I can't remember anything.Once the kids toys were packed up, my plan for yesterday included using our new Family Y membership. Swimming is my preferred activity so far (surprising, considering my size) but Mother Nature arrived to make swimming-at the very…
Very Superstitious and Tangential

Heather

13 Jan 2012 | 7:19 am

I can admit it, the number 13 freaks me out. It's stupid and silly and idontcarebecausethatsjusthowiam. If I remember during the day that it is Friday the 13th I get a little wigged out. Most of the time I forget. I think.Today I'm going to pretend it's just Friday. The last Friday of my Bigs' Winter break. We're going to spend at least part of the day packing up the majority of my kids' toys. They've shown lack of consideration of the value of most of their things. They have 4,379,579,895 toys between the three of them and it shows that they have too many because so many end up broken. The…

Hope Bomb
2012

jess

27 Jan 2012 | 12:29 pm

There is an elephant in this room. Somewhere between here and there, i lost my mojo. My thing. If you can’t write about anything what is there left to write about. If everything you say has the potential to hurt feelings, or talk about that thing that can’t be said, if everything is unspeakable – what do you become. Perhaps that is the very best part of running. Mile after lonely mile the solitude takes hold. There is just me and my heartbeat and nothing to say. I have lost my desire for most things. Is this the beginning of menopause, is this what it…
Fleet Foxes – He Doesn’t Know Why

jess

24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
vacation

jess

23 Jan 2012 | 11:22 am

We spent last week on Mt Washington. It was our first family vacation ever. We have done a few two day trips here and there, but never a real, week off school/work getaway. It was magical. It was exhausting. Five days of skiing is an endurance test. A fun, fantastical test of muscle and your bodies ability to stay warm. The best part is all the time spent on chairlifts. Half the day is spent sitting side by side, chatting, laughing and bonding. I spent more time talking with each of my kids than i have in ages and they, in turn, talked with each other. Being on a lift…

The Green Mom Review™
Glassen Insulated Reusable Travel Mug

Janet

3 Jan 2012 | 1:25 pm

What: Grosche Glassen insulated glass travel mug Features: This 12oz travel mug is handmade of double-walled glass which helps keep your beverages hot. It has no metal or plastic parts and is a better fit for car drink holders than a standard coffee mug. Green Factor: It’s made of glass so there is no leaching of chemicals into your beverages and the lid and grip are made of food-safe silicone. Since it’s reusable, you can also forgo the yucky styrofoam poison cups. Bonus: Right now they’re 40% off at Amazon.com. Editors Note: I got one of these for Christmas and I…
Great Gifts: Eco-Friendly Dump Truck Toy

Janet

14 Dec 2011 | 11:36 am

What: Green Toys Dump Truck Features: This award-winning, eco-designed toy truck has no metal axles and a workable dumper that encourages motor skill development. Green Factor: Made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk containers Bonus: Made in the USA Find It Here: Amazon.com The Green Mom Review™..
Great Gifts: 50% Off Sale at Pure and Little

Janet

2 Dec 2011 | 1:09 pm

Pure and Little, purveyors of organic baby and toddler gear are having a SITEWIDE 50% off sale. It runs through Sunday, December 4th. Score some awesome (and affordable) holiday gifts and if you have any baby showers coming up, this is a great time to pick up something fabulous for the mama-to-be! Find It Here: Pure and Little The Green Mom Review™..

SafeMama.com
Calendula Cream Choices Cheat Sheet

SafeMama Kathy

24 Jan 2012 | 4:09 pm

Since the onset of the California Baby reformulation situation, moms have been asking about other products to ease the discomfort of eczema and dry skin on themselves and their babies without irritation and extra synthetic ingredients. This is a hard job because no product is going to be the exact same thing. Based on the [...]
California Baby Reformulation Drama

SafeMama Kathy

21 Jan 2012 | 2:58 pm

There has been some drama going on around Facebook regarding a reformulation of the product line by California Baby. Before you panic I wanted to present the facts to you so that you may make an informed decision. Since I’m Mrs Bad News Bear around here I’ll just simply fill you all in and you [...]
Safer Cooking: All Sources Point To Cast Iron

SafeMama Kathy

20 Jan 2012 | 11:48 am

One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to green my kitchen. I go through the trouble and expense to buy organic food and use safer dishware, but that all goes out the window if I’m using a pan that could be leaching harmful toxins into the food I’m preparing. (I am no Eric [...]

Val's Views
Val’s Views Update

valerie

31 Dec 2011 | 6:06 pm

In thinking about where I want my blogging path to go in the upcoming year, one of the things I decided is that I’d like to spend my time as effectively as possible. I haven’t published regularly on this blog in a while. To that end, have decided to stop publishing on Val’s Views at the end of the year 2011. The domain will forward over to Mom Knows It All (http://valmg.com), my main blog, after January 1. I’ve already started publishing my DVD and Blu-Ray reviews there, and have a weekly post called Screen It Sunday where I share movie and television news. I hope…

Mom Knows It All. - New Jersey Mom blogger on family, product reviews, tech, games and more.
Miscellaneous Mentionables

valmg

28 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here. It’s More Than Just Music To Your Ears It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. It’s time to win backstage passes to a Broadway show tonight. That’s right, you can win a chance to peel back the curtain and see the magic unfold right before your eyes when you are backstage at one of the hottest Broadway shows. The songs, the stars, the glamour…this sweepstakes has it all. Each month Verizon…
This Week’s Winners On Mom Knows It All

valmg

28 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

To select the winner of these giveaways I used the “And The Winner Is” plugin. I did confirm each winner randomly selected by the plugin was eligible. Purex & Jockey winner – Danielle Royalegacy Thanks to all who entered the giveaways! Please consider subscribing to my feed so you don’t miss out on the latest posts, reviews and giveaways.
REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY – Chicken Soup For The Soul: Devotional Stories For Tough Times

valmg

27 Jan 2012 | 9:11 am

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times: 101 Daily Devotions to Inspire and Support You in Times of Need Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul; Original edition (October 4, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 1935096745 ISBN-13: 978-1935096740 ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: DEVOTIONAL STORIES FOR TOUGH TIMES 101 Daily Devotions to Inspire and Support You in Times of Need Struggles test us all, but readers will find counsel and reassurance in these devotional stories of faith, strength, and prayer. This collection is filled with stories that show…

FundraisingIP.com: Fundraising Ideas
Make Money With a Valentine’s Day Fundraiser

FundraisingIP.com

25 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

Valentine’s Day is one of the best times of year to hold a fundraiser! A Valentine’s Day fundraiser offers the advantages of • Decreased competition from other fundraisers – as opposed to the busy times of year for fundraising like Christmas and Fall, when many local and nationwide groups launch major campaigns • Demand for novelty products and candy • Opportunity for entertaining event-based fundraisers Every type of Valentine’s Day fundraiser offers a variety of ways to make money. Some, event-based fundraisers especially, can bring in profits in more ways than…
Volunteers: Unpaid but Priceless

FundraisingIP.com

19 Jan 2012 | 1:53 pm

There is no doubt that without a volunteer force, local, nationwide and worldwide charitable groups wouldn’t be able to do most of their good work. Volunteers are priceless and it would be hard to imagine a world without them! If you’re running a fundraiser, or leading a group of volunteers, what can you do to make sure your volunteers remain by your side through good and bad times? Why do your volunteers work for you? It helps to find out what motivates volunteers to work for your group in the first place. Do they strongly believe in your cause? Do they appreciate their work…
2011 Recap: Diversification Important for Fundraisers

FundraisingIP.com

29 Dec 2011 | 6:50 pm

As 2011 comes to an end, we’d like to thank you, our readers, for your continued support of FundraisingIP.com! Please keep sending your comments and suggestions so we can continue to post useful fundraising information and more new fundraising ideas in the coming year! 2011 donation statistics won’t be in for a while yet, but in the past it has been the small donations from individuals that have been keeping charities afloat: even though corporations are known to make large donations, donations from individuals are still making up the majority – up to about three quarters…

The Adventures of QTMama
Ya Know What?

QTMama

11 Jan 2012 | 2:40 pm

1) Emilee is turning NINE next month. NINE. This will be her last year in the single digits, EVER. That’s a big deal to me. SNIFF. 2) Heading to Manhattan at the end of January. Drinking it up New York style, my friends! 3) My favorite FB status this week: “Sorry about all the typos lately, gays.” <– [...]
You Know What That Is? It’s GasLighting

QTMama

6 Jan 2012 | 2:25 pm

Those are the words that My Cookie said to me when I was finished explaining the situation. “Dude! You know what that is, don’t you? It’s Gas Lighting,” Cookie said to me. “What the hell is Gas Lighting?” I ask. “The term comes from an old movie starring Ingrid Bergman …” and as My RE(tard) [...]
Happy New Beer!

QTMama

3 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am

I am not making any resolutions this year, my friends. Honestly I’m still working on the resolutions I made in 2007. *Laugh* I am however, hoping that that the New Year brings me the ridiculously unattainable things that 2011 didn’t! I think the last few blog postings have been so centered on family, death and grieving [...]

Veep Veep
CoolSculpting

Veep Veep

16 Jan 2012 | 6:21 pm

It’s January. The month most people have diet and exercise on their mind. And many people aren’t seeing the results they’d like. Have you heard about CoolSculpting? CoolSculpting is an FDA-cleared, patented process developed by Harvard scientists to freeze fat cells without damaging your skin. They don’t use a knife, needle or laser. And typically after one visit, there is a noticeable reduction of fat. And as long as you maintain your weight with normal diet and exercise, long-term results remain stable. Find out more on the CoolSculpting fan page on Facebook.
Beauty and the Beast 3D

Veep Veep

11 Jan 2012 | 5:33 pm

Disney has extended invitations to my family to their special events over the years. Last Saturday, they invited us to a special VIP screening of Beauty and the Beast 3D. When I was younger I didn’t see Beauty and the Beast. I knew what the story was about but never actually sat down and watched the movie. Not at the movie theater. And not when it was broadcast on television. So I went to the theater at the Director’s Guild and put on the 3D glasses and watched Beauty and the Beast for the first time with my family. It’s Rated G but there were times I was concerned my four…
Sneak Peek – International Delight Iced Coffee

Veep Veep

5 Jan 2012 | 10:01 am

I’m not a coffee drinker. Quiet down all of you reading this who just gasped. Yes, we have a coffee machine in our house – which I love almost as much as my MacBook – but its the other things it makes I enjoy. I can honestly count on one hand the number of times a year I walk into a coffee house and order a coffee drink. And when I do, it’s always the same thing .. a skinny vanilla latte. Either hot or iced depending on the time of year. When I was asked to sample International Delight Iced Coffee before it hits the shelves at Walmart on January 15th, I decided to give…

kirsty815.wordpress.com
Where is normal?

Gone Bananas

25 Jan 2012 | 10:09 pm

Sometimes I feel as though I’m being too overprotective of Meghan because she lives with epilepsy, but I guess sometimes I just don’t know where the line between normal and excessive is drawn? We do all the normal stuff a kid her age does, we go to birthday parties, we swim (as long as my husband or I are present), we play at the park, Meg takes piano and just recently she enrolled in after school Drama Club! However, she still sleeps with us and I’ve never let her stay at someone elses house! I mean we’ve had kids stay the night at our house, but the thought of her…
Wordless Wednesday – Florida

Gone Bananas

25 Jan 2012 | 11:01 am

Hubby gave me a new camera for Christmas and I’m really enjoying playing with and learning how to use it! I caught this picture while at a friends house on the water, it was such a beautiful day and the water was so calm it looked like glass! On days when the temperature is in the mid 70′s, warm and peaceful like this I love Florida!
Anxiety Sucks!

Gone Bananas

23 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am

It’s true! It plain old, no doubt about it, royally sucks! It’s embarrassing, confidence breaking, frustrating not to mention it sometimes makes easy feel damn near impossible! With that being said I am quite proud of myself today! I pushed through my anxiety and had a fabulous weekend! On friday we went with friends Rock and Bowling, which is when they turn on the black lights, turn up the loud music from the 50′s to the 80′s and bowl from 6 to midnight! I suck at bowling, but had fun doing it non-the-less! Then on Saturday we ventured into downtown Tampa…

If I Could Escape
Aaaaaargh … check out my booty

If I Could Escape . . .

26 Jan 2012 | 12:34 am

Not that booty … this pirate booty … Aaaargh, mateys … Last weekend, the boys and I headed to Tampa with the fam for the annual Gasparilla children’s parade to flash beg for beads and trinkets from the passing floats. I joke. Maybe. This was actually the family friendly version of the wilder and crazier adults only parade that’s happening this weekend. It’s all part of a Pirate Festival that celebrates a fictitious pirate known as Jose Gaspar and took place in one of my favourites parts of town — along Bayshore Boulevard, a gorgeous waterfront road in…
Putting it out there …

If I Could Escape . . .

24 Jan 2012 | 8:20 am

For the past couple of weeks I’ve been feeling a strange mix of emotions. Highs and lows. Ups and downs. But, then I hear filing for divorce does that to a person. The worst feeling I have, besides sadness for my children, is that of unbelievable failure. Because I hate to fail at anything. Which was probably part of the problem. My whole Virgo/perfectionist/ ”failure is not an option” attitude needs a bitch slapping, I think. I must really try to do better at recognising when something isn’t good for me and let it the fuck go rather than hanging on to it…
On the radio …

If I Could Escape . . .

23 Jan 2012 | 8:23 am

I’m ashamed to say I’ve been a bit absent here of late. I’ve lots to blog about, but have either been too busy or I just simply can’t. And, enough said about that the better. Anyway, I thought this a perfect tune to start my week off. Love, love, love J. Lo’s version of this Donna Summer classic … and I hope you do too, so pump it up, channel your inner disco diva and enjoy …

Just Spotted in Orange County
Bootcamp in Orange {Hit the Mark Fitness Beach Body Workout}

K & C

17 Jan 2012 | 1:45 pm

One year ago I started attending a bootcamp in Orange – Hit the Mark Fitness Beach Body Workout. I was lured in by his “One Week FREE Trial,” & his promise of guaranteed results. But, by the end of the week, I had become a Hit the Mark Fitness devotee. If you’re ready to start working out, I’d suggest you meet Mark. If you want to change up your fitness regime, & get out of the gym, I’d suggest you meet Mark. If you happen to live anywhere local to the city of Orange, you MUST meet Mark. (I drive 15 minutes each way because he’s that…
What to Do in Orange County {January 16 – 22}

K & C

16 Jan 2012 | 4:20 pm

If you’re tired of doing the same old things, & wondering what to do in Orange County, here’s a list of some of our favorite things to do in OC, CA happening this week… For ALL the details for each of the following events (& even more fabulous ideas of what to do) check out our Orange County calendar. What to do in Orange County Almost Daily: * Star Wars at the Discovery Science Museum * Orange County Museums * Bowling * Indoor Bounce Houses * Irvine Park Railroad * Orange County Playgrounds & Parks * Orange County Beaches * Farmers’ Markets * Orange…
Harlem Globetrotters at the Honda Center

K & C

12 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

Watch history-in-the-making… the Harlem Globetrotters at the Honda Center, & don’t worry – they’re bringing some amazing hoop-sters with them. Harlem Globetrotters at the Honda Center Check out the Harlem Globetrotters & all their “skills” at the Honda Center on Saturday, February 18th (at 1pm & 7pm). This year’s Harlem Globetrotters team features Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest pro basketball player at 7-8, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5-2, and Fatima “TNT” Maddox, the team’s first…

Socal Mom by Donna Schwartz Mills
Rebooting the Routine

Donna

9 Jan 2012 | 5:09 pm

The annual three-week winter break came to an end this morning, and one would think, after 10 years of this, that the transition back to school would go smoothly. One would think so, but one would be wrong. The morning...
BlogPress #FAIL

Donna

8 Jan 2012 | 12:54 pm

Ever since obtaining my iPad, I've been looking for an easy way to use it to post to my blogs. A couple of months ago, I discovered a paid app called BlogPress, which looked like it would do the trick....
2012 So Far: Setting the Groundwork

Donna

7 Jan 2012 | 11:33 am

This year is flying by. Yes, I know it's only January 7. But I managed to get a lot done this first week of the year - despite the fact that my work week didn't start until Tuesday, and I...

Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...
If you are what you drink…

Jenny On the Spot

27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Pin it Then I must be SEXAY. *rubs belly* Happy Friday and may a cup of sexy coffee pass your lips this weekend. Or tea. I know not everyone likes coffee. Or cake. Or ice cream Or asparagus? These crispy parmesan asparagus sticks sure look sexy. Just sayin’… xoxo, JOtS *Speaking of coffee… there is still some time to enter my Dunkin Donuts coffee giveaway! But you’ll have to click *here* to go to THERE! If you are what you drink… is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...
The WSU Kitsap Small Farms Expo, y’all!

Jenny On the Spot

26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Pin itANY FARMERS IN DA HOOOOOOOUSE??? OK, so… I’m pretty sure most of the folks who pop by my humble online home here are NOT farmers. I mean, they are busy. Farmers. Growing food and flowers. Tending animals and crops and such. But what about you? Maybe you have a few chickens… Do you grow flowers or veggies? Do you do any canning? Seriously. Have you heard of the Cottage Food Industry Bill? This bill allows folks in Washington state to sell food without utilizing a commercial kitchen – as long as the earnings stay under $15,000 annually. This opens up some…
Mom? Why do you say “Yes” so much?

Jenny On the Spot

25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Pin itNow, my daughter didn’t ask me that because I say YES to HER so much. We were eating dinner and I was, I guess, blathering about the long list of things and tasks and obligations. {YAWNERS} I totally just wrote, “yawners”. Heh. Aaaanywho. In response to my mid-level belly aching, my daughter asked, “Mom? Why do you say YES so much?” I told her it was because I’m amazing and need to be needed and surely the world as we know it would come to an end if Amazing Me…. yammer, yammer, chaw, chaw, yammer… My daughter laughed. LAUGHED. Because…

lifefrommylaptop.com
New Year – New Word

3 Jan 2012 | 9:48 pm

I was a really bad personal blogger in 2011. Caught up in life, business and just plain didn’t make the time to blog. I’m not sure that 2012 will be any different. I’ve seen recent growth in my business and plan to continue pushing forward. I really want to have this here though to post things family related and my thoughts as well, so I won’t be getting rid of it by any means. As with years past I’ve set new goals, isn’t that what everyone does in a new year? Mine are mostly business related though I have a couple of personal ones as well.
It’s Fall Ya’ll

3 Sep 2011 | 10:02 am

I’ve decided to use this blog simply as a family album of sorts. It is hard to keep up with this and my business, the kids, the house, and life in general. I hope to do a better of job of at least updating with pictures. That is my goal. Summer (the season) is coming to an end but here we’ve been in fall mode for almost a month since the kids have been back in school that long. All three of my kiddos are going at least a half day of school and I’m experiencing some much needed quiet time in the mornings to get work done. Here’s a few pictures from pre-back to…
From the Archives: Stay At Home Mom Schedule

28 Jun 2011 | 11:51 am

This is my most popular post in my archives when I participated in a blog series by Amy from Amy’s Finer Things. Amy over at The Finer Things in Life is doing a series on Mommy Come Home, about the choice to be a stay at home mom. How it can be a leap of faith, how it requires certain sacrifices, some getting used to and some real life changes. She was looking for someone to write a guest post on how to be a productive stay at home mom. I’m not always as productive as I want to be, but I pride myself on being organized and scheduled. Here’s my story: I became a stay at…

La Dolce Vita.....
Owl love you forever

Kristen Andrews

27 Jan 2012 | 4:09 pm

I don't what it is about Owls but I happen to really like them. And just in time for Valentine's Day the Owl love you forever necklace has the sweetest little owl and a very special message for that special Valentine. You can find it HERE.
Valentine's Ideas For Your Kiddos Classmates

Kristen Andrews

24 Jan 2012 | 12:02 pm

Source: littlebitfunky.com via Kristen on Pinterest Source: alisa-thesweetlife.blogspot.com via Kristen on Pinterest Source: familyfun.go.com via Kristen on Pinterest Source: zakkalife.blogspot.com via Kristen on Pinterest Just a few ideas for Valentine's Day, these are all so cute. We haven't decided what to make yet but I like the You Rock Valentine. I remember being a kid and passing out Valentine's cards so fun! Click on each image for more details.
Back in stock the I love you to pieces necklace

Kristen Andrews

22 Jan 2012 | 8:42 pm

Back in Stock! The I Love You To Pieces necklace is a perfect necklace to show the one you love how much you really love them. The I Love You To Pieces necklace is a 7/8th inch sterling silver disc that has been hand stamped in lowercase font and includes a pewter puzzle piece charm, both charms hang on a 18 inch sterling silver bead ball chain. You can find it HERE.

Mommy Musings
Photo Friday: Chapulines

admin

27 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pm

My daughter has been watching Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern nonstop for the last week on Netflix. An odd choice for a seven-year-old, but I think she is just now discovering the wonderful world of food and travel. It was only natural that she asked me what the most bizarre thing I’ve ever ate was. [...]
Carnival Magic: Fun for All Ages

admin

27 Jan 2012 | 12:38 pm

When given a choice between a cruise or a land vacation, my family would choose cruise every time. You just can’t beat the value of cruising –dollar for dollar– when you factor in transportation, accommodations, food, activities and childcare. Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the Carnival Magic, provides a boat-load of fun for families of [...]
Global Resort Homes $200 Cash Giveaway 12pm-12am EST #HOTFLASH

admin

26 Jan 2012 | 11:24 am

My favorite vacation home rental company in Orlando — Global Resort Homes — is hosting an awesome giveaway for $200 CASH! We stayed with Global Resort Homes a few years ago and I can’t recommend them enough to families who want extra amenities and space (and the convenience of a home), without the additional cost. [...]

The Adventures of Supermom ~ Mom, Wife and Awesome Mom Blogger
Just Ducky Home Show at Lark Books in Asheville, North Carolina

Supermom Michelle

27 Jan 2012 | 3:01 pm

Lark Books in Asheville, the best craft oriented publisher ever, is hosting a public Just Ducky Trunk Show at their space on 67 Broadway, Asheville, NC 28801 on Wednesday, February 8th from 5:30pm until 7:30pmCome browse the Just Ducky Spring '12 line for babies, girls, and boys! Pick your garment, your fabric, and your embroidery pattern... and let Just Ducky do the work! Refreshments provided. Please RSVP to amanda@sterlingpublishing.com.Here's the link to Lark's Facebook event.Just Ducky just sent my babies two beautiful dresses so, of course, I'm going to have to pencil them in for that…
Things you didn't think you'd be saying as a parent.

Supermom Michelle

26 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pm

If my 11 pm curfew was good enough for me (20 + years ago) it is good enough for you! Said to my teenage daughter who wants to go out tomorrow.ANDThis morning the teenage daughter had on some pants that I didn't think were okay for school so I told her she couldn't wear them.Her response, "REALLY?!?!?"Mine, "REALLY?!?!? I know, right???"I'm totally cool and hip cause that's how I roll!
2264

Supermom Michelle

25 Jan 2012 | 11:13 am

YAY!!! Just for fun I’m celebrating today because this is post number 2264!! Amazing! *taking a bow* Yeah, yeah, I could have waited until I reached 2300, 2500 or even 3000 but why? I want to find reason to celebrate every single day of my life. So, today we celebrate post 2264! I was thinking I could post 2264 things about me but I don’t think I could think of 2264 things to say about myself. Honestly, I’m rather boring. Hmmm, let’s see. We could sing 2264 Bottles of Beer on the Wall or better yet 2265 Cups of Coffee…

Tired Mama.com
TGIF

Tired Mama

27 Jan 2012 | 8:15 am

My teenagers think they have me all figured out. You know what I think? I think horrible teen attitudes have nothing to do with hormones. I think teens just figure that if they are rotten enough to us that we'll let them stay out late at night just so we can have some peace and quiet. What they've forgotten however is that they still need us to pick them up from where ever they are hanging out. And teens? I need my sleep more then I need peace. So, pester away, cause the curfew? It's still there.
Yeah, it's like that...

Tired Mama

24 Jan 2012 | 9:44 am

On Sunday afternoon, my husband came downstairs from his office where he'd been all morning working on income tax stuff. 'I need a break,' he told me while rubbing his neck. 'Okay,' I acknowledged from behind my laptop. Moments later he reappeared in front of me. 'I want to check the score on the football game,' he announced. I waited. 'Youngest daughter and her friends are watching a movie in the family room and our son and his friends are playing a video game downstairs,' he said. I looked up at him and tried to be helpful. 'Costco was…
Just killing time...

Tired Mama

21 Jan 2012 | 10:31 am

This morning I went to buy a cup of tea at a local coffee shop while my daughter was at her music lesson. Although I don't go to this particular coffee shop every Saturday morning, I do go there often enough that I recognize the people working behind the counter. This morning, in my standard polite Canadian way, I asked the gentleman who was serving me how he was. 'Just killing time until I die,' he replied. Ouch. He did grin at me after he said it, which led me to believe he was just looking for a reaction, but, really? I mean, REALLY? I guess in reality that's what…

OC Moms: The Mom Blog
Healthier school lunches hard to swallow for some

Jill Reed, photo editor

26 Jan 2012 | 10:19 am

On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and First lady Michelle Obama unveiled a plan to make school lunches a bit healthier. The plan includes more fruits and veggies, more whole grains, fat-free and low-fat milk choices and limiting fats and sodium. Sounds great, right? Most of us should probably aim for those things on a regular basis. Obama, who was joined by celeb chef Rachael Ray, hyped the plan at an elementary school in the D.C. suburb of Alexandria, Va. First lady Michelle Obama has lunch with students at Parklawn Elementary in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday. (Pablo Martinez…
Parenting: Are we raising over-confident kids?

Jo Ashline

25 Jan 2012 | 12:42 pm

It’s 4:30 p.m. A shiver runs up my spine. “Ian, it’s time to practice your violin!” I shout from across the house. I watch wearily as he enters the living room, his violin case in his hand and I manage to plaster a smile on my face as he gently applies rosin to the bow. He opens his music book and I feel my jaw clench. For the next 20 minutes I am subjected to sounds that no human should ever have to hear yet I know I must muster up the courage to stay conscious and not pass out from the pain. He is my son after all, and he’s doing his best. Even if his best…
Why do we care so much about celeb divorces?

Roxanne Hack, OC Moms editor

24 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm

This week we heard about the break up of Heidi Klum and Seal, who have three biological children together, plus one more from Heidi’s previous relationship. Photo by Christopher Polk / Getty Images For FOX Last week it was Katy Perry and Russell Brand (who don’t have children). Next week it will surely be another celeb couple gone wrong. They even made public the separation of mom blogger Heather Armstrong, who writes at Dooce.com. Sure, she has over 1.5 million followers on Twitter and writes about her struggles with anxiety and depression – but do we really need to read…

House of Prince
Talking Money With Suze Orman

Kim Tracy Prince

27 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

This was an original post for LA Moms Blog in March, 2010. I publish my archives on the occasional Friday, and since money is on my mind, I picked this one for today. “I knew I was dumb, everyone I knew thought I was dumb.” –Suze Orman, Women and Money When Suze Orman was a child, she had a speech impediment, which made people think she couldn’t read or score well on tests. She grew up not expecting much of herself, yet had a core of self esteem that blossomed and took over during her young adulthood. Working as a waitress, she was saving to start her own restaurant…
The Post About Our Budget

Kim Tracy Prince

25 Jan 2012 | 11:06 pm

At the end of 2011 it came to my attention that I was no longer paying close enough attention to our checking account. We do not have debt other than our mortgage and the occasional low balance on the American Express card I use to buy groceries in bulk from Costco because we drink our metric weight in Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi once a week and the kids have to be supplied with juice boxes and granola bars on a daily basis. However, somehow the padding in our checking account disappeared. It just went away, and one night I went to get cash from the ATM and the ATM told me there…
The Mamavation Rejuvenation

Kim Tracy Prince

23 Jan 2012 | 3:06 pm

My long and troubled relationship with my body and its fitness level is no secret. Last year I struggled through the summer and early fall to get my back problems straightened out. With the help of a wonderful physical therapist, a groovy new-agey massage therapist, and lots of money, I managed to loosen up the seven years of tension that were locked up in my muscles and take advantage of the strength I already had. Now I stretch (almost) every morning just to maintain a minimum level of mobility. When I am regularly exercising, such as during the school year when Kyle and I walk to…

Momathon Blog
On my desk today

Chris

27 Jan 2012 | 2:56 pm

Thinking about Valentine-y hearts, bouquets of pink blossoms, and all things pretty today. I have a stash of glitter pens from Martha Stewart that I adore to use for embellishments on my art or an envelope I pop in the mail. Here is what’s on my desk today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.
What we end up saying when we point fingers

Chris

26 Jan 2012 | 1:38 pm

Chances are if you caught the news this morning you saw the picture of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer pointing her finger at President Obama by Air Force One that landed in Phoenix Wednesday. They were both smiling in the photo,...
Just Add Glitter (Video)

Chris

26 Jan 2012 | 12:16 pm

I love glitter. More is better. Can you ever have too much of it? Glitter generally makes people happy. Some of my favorite blogs talk a great deal about glittery things--The Pretty Blog on Pinterest, Design is mine, Rue, Design...

Love That Max
Share your child's can-do creativity!

27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Before I had Max, I had a defined sense of what "coloring" meant for a kid. Like many things, it was based on my experiences as a child. Coloring was drawing in a coloring book or freehandedly making pictures of stuff—flowers, a house, a robot, whatever. Random scribbling was for toddlers.Then I had Max. And soon enough I realized that 1) The mere act of grasping a crayon could be considered a feat and 2) Random scribbling could be a means of expression for a child of any age. For years, Max wasn't into coloring. More specifically, he wasn't into using his hands to do anything that required…
Help A Mom Out: What's your best advice for a new mother?

26 Jan 2012 | 5:40 am

Every week, I get emails from new moms who read this blog. They often say they're heartened to see how well Max is doing, which is heartening to me. But they're anxious about their babies. They write about struggling to come to terms with what happened, how isolated they feel from friends and family (and even their husbands), how overwhelmed they are. They want information on what they can do to help their babies. They want comfort.Yesterday I heard from Jewel, a mom of three. Her youngest, Jemma, is 13 weeks old; she had a brain bleed in utero. Jemma has some weakness in her right arm and…
The chewed slice of cheese and other special needs scores

25 Jan 2012 | 5:55 am

The highlight of my day yesterday was a chewed piece of American cheese.Specifically: Max chewed a piece of American cheese. And it was awesome.At night, after I get Max into bed and turn out the light, he inevitably says "eeese!" ["cheese!"] I can't decide if he's extra hungry lately because he's going through a growth spurt or he just wants to delay bedtime, but either way, I go downstairs and get him the cheese. The unnaturally orange kind that comes in squares, just like I had as a kid. Max likes his cheese orange, and his women purple. Or something like that.I have a specific way of…

Motherhood in NYC
Ahem

Marinka

27 Jan 2012 | 10:10 am

You’ll be relived to know that yesterday’s clogged toilet dilemma was resolved when Husbandrinka came home and taught me how to flush the toilet. Apparently, I haven’t been holding the handle long enough. He said I have to hold it until I see “the whirlpool action” which makes toilet flushing sound almost exotic. I’m very worried that the fact that I had to be schooled in this subject means that when people ask “who is the idiot for whom self-flushing toilets are designed” the answer is Marinka. But anyway. To celebrate my new toilet wisdom, I…
Woe Is Me

Marinka

26 Jan 2012 | 4:14 pm

I am sick with a cold/flu situation and my toilet is clogged and try as I might to put my usual optimistic spin on this experience, I just can’t seem to get it together. Mostly because I’ve been trying to battle the toilet for the past hour and what I’m smelling is definitely not victory. There is just absolutely no good news about a clogged toilet. In case you’re trying to reignite the romantic flame with your partner, this, apparently, is not the way to do it. I know because last Friday, after being gone for a week, Husbandrinka texted me that he landed at Newark,…

chefdruck.com
Table for Six: the Foodie Family Makes a Triumphant Come Back

chefdruck

26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pm

Pin it When my first child was born, we were living in New York City and eating out almost as often as we stayed in. Although I loved to cook, there were just so many restaurants out there that were too appealing to ignore. Bella’s birth did not slow us down in the least. We had a lovely French meal on the way to the hospital for my induction, and were back out for a big Asian dinner at Ruby Foo’s a few days after coming home from the hospital. Everything was walking distance, and the loud restaurant noise just helped her sleep. As a first time mom, I was blissfully oblivious to…
Trout en Papillotte or the Real Reason French Women Don’t Get Fat

chefdruck

24 Jan 2012 | 3:42 pm

Pin it Do you remember Mireille Guiliano’s book French Women Don’t Get Fat? Long before it came out, my mother shared her version of French women diet secrets. I was a pimply teenager just beginning to suffer the effects of a slowing metabolism. We had just finished eating dinner at a family friend’s apartment, a simple but delicious dinner of roasted salmon, green beans and salad. My mother commented during the car ride home that our host’s love of seafood was the reason she’d always stayed so trim. Coming from my perennially thin mother, the comment was…
Sweet Success at the Weekly Weigh In

chefdruck

24 Jan 2012 | 12:31 am

Pin it Our scale is tucked away in the basement, in a frigid, dark little room. Even through the cotton rug, the tiles are painfully cold on my bare feet. It’s not an inviting room, not one where I have any desire to linger. Avoiding it between weekly weigh ins is easy. It’s actually walking in and stepping on the scale that’s hard. I dodged the moment of truth, procrastinated a few days. Having no drop in my weight after 10 days of dieting was disappointing. The thought of having it not drop again after three weeks without chocolate would have been devastating. Three weeks…

A Modern Mother
Kate and her 90 women challenge

Susanna

26 Jan 2012 | 12:01 pm

Kate on Thin Ice is absolutely shining in her new role at BritMums helping to connect bloggers with good causes. Her latest endeavour is to get 90 women to write 90 words about Breakthrough Breast Cancer. So, here goes... My first memory is my mother, kissing my forehead and tucking me in bed. She has always been there. Though I live 5,000 miles away we can pick up the phone and chat about our day. Mainly she does the chatting, while I stir the bolognaise, check the spelling homework and run the bath water. She doesn’t mind my multi-tasking, I don’t think. In fact I can feel her each…
On haggis and Burns Night

Susanna

22 Jan 2012 | 6:38 am

I love my Scottish husband. I would do anything for him. Give up my career, spend my days wiping dirty bottoms, make endless meals from morning 'till night. But I absolutely, resolutely refuse to eat haggis. Never will a forkful of that oatmeal/lamb innards mixture pass my lips. I don't care if it is a national dish. Or if my marriage depends on it. The thought of it makes my tummy turn. I know this is not fair. I know that many people relish haggis, enjoy it even. Especially on the 25th of January, Burns Night, the birth date of the beloved Scottish poet Robbie Burns.
What happened to Susanna's shattered iPhone 4? Hint: Och Aye, the noo

Susanna

15 Jan 2012 | 5:24 am

I know you are just DYING to know what has happened to my little shattered iPhone 4 on her O2 Recycle journey. Well, here's the scoop. My little girl has made it to the remarketing centre in Scotland. She was inspected there, and because of her slight blemishes (OK, her entire glass back was shattered), they offered me £157.50 (down from the web site estimate £210). I thought about it for about a second and agreed. Those Scots sure are fast. I already have the cheque! Here she is all package up. She was given a grade "C" (oh dear) because so much work had to be done on her.

Momversation
Mommy Admission: I Let My Babies Sleep On Their Bellies!

Momversation

27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

Your pediatrician and every article you read will tell you that stomach sleeping is very dangerous! Babies should ONLY sleep on their backs in order to decrease the risk of SIDS. But, what if that's the only way your baby will sleep? Is it irresponsible to defy your doctors recommendations or should you do whatever works best for your family? After all...many of US slept on our bellies as babies, right?
How Late Is Too Late To Start Something New?

Momversation

25 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

Are you one of those moms who thinks your child will never be good at anything unless they start at three years old? Or is it perfectly fine to take up piano, soccer or dance at ten or eleven? As long as your child is passionate about what they're doing, does it really matter what age they start?
Febreze Breathe Happy "Couch"

Momversation

24 Jan 2012 | 1:21 pm

Watch the Febreze Breathe Happy couch experiment and see what happens when we blindfolded real people and asked them to take a seat on our filthy couch. For more fun Breathe Happy experiments go to www.facebook.com/febreze

A Frog In My Soup
INNOVIA Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser

Nancy

27 Jan 2012 | 6:11 am

Happy Friday, all! I am so thrilled to write this post for you! The product that I am going to tell you about has been such a fabulous addition to my kitchen, and not only am I super excited to tell you about it, I’m even more excited because I get to give one away to a very lucky reader!! This little beauty arrived on my door step just a few weeks ago, and has made me so happy! The Innovia Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser is a motion activated disperser that is truly SMART! Not only does the dispenser know how long your paper towels are (yup, even if you buy the ones that come in…
Stages of Beauty Winner

Nancy

26 Jan 2012 | 5:14 pm

Congratulations to the winner of the Stages of Beauty cream and serum who said… You have until Sunday, January 29th @ 11:59 pm to email afroginmysoupinfo @ gmail dot com to claim your prize! Congratulations!! This winner was chosen using Random.org.
Frugal Fashion

Shera

24 Jan 2012 | 1:20 am

If I think about the top 10 things I’m asked in day to day life with 6 boys, definitely one of them would be “How on earth can you afford to keep them all clothed?” Then there’s always the temptations of this season’s cutest shoes ever for myself! Keeping my boys looking decent, preferably with no holes in their shoes (sadly I discovered one of them needs a new pair just this morning), and allowing myself the occasional “indulgence” of fun clothes or shoes requires a little patience and a lot of perseverance. Here’s some great tips for huge…

Member Blog Posts - Mom Bloggers Club: Connect With Over 17,000 Mom Bloggers
May lose the last 20 lbs. if I could get over bill stress!!!

Tawna Richard

27 Jan 2012 | 7:30 pm

Paying bills stress & weight gain…a viscous circle I truly hate payday. This may sound funny to some but I bet most of you understand why I say that! I always have knots in stomach, grinding teeth issues and really start to dislike my husband as it always ends up in a fight. He does not “do” the bills, I have to. If I let him then he spends first, and bills last, and then we end up with disconnect notices and extra fees to get things turned on. His favorite phrase is “what can be delay in paying so we can “X?” Really??? No way in hell I am delaying a bill so we can play. I…
Birthday Gifts at Relationship Builders

Ruth Migler

27 Jan 2012 | 5:29 pm

Here's my latest blog post about gift giving that encourages the parent child relationship. http://http://wp.me/p1f1q6-jM
Tame the Beast.

Tandra Downs

27 Jan 2012 | 4:46 pm

http://myteenagerandtoddler.blogspot.com/2012/01/tame-beast.html manipulate - vb: to negotiate, control or influence (something or someone) cleverly, skillfully, or deviously. My kids are masters at building manipulation tactics that work brilliantly when dealing with me. As many of you know, I have the man-boy, who is turning 18 in a few weeks, and the baby girl, who is a three-year-old toddler dictator. Each kid has their own distinct personality traits, and manipulation styles. Both of which have proven very successful - much to my dismay most of the time! My Son - The Charmer. Man-boy has…

My Mom's Blog by Thoroughly Modern Millie
READ THE FINE PRINT

19 Jan 2012 | 6:53 pm

YOU GOTTA HAVE A GIMMICKDo you remember the musical "Gypsy?" One of the showstoppers that stands out in my mind was the number, "You gotta have a gimmick."Gypsy (1962) directed by Mervyn LeRoy, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.Natalie Wood as Louise 'Gypsy Rose Lee' Hovick, Betty Bruce as Tessie Tura, Faith Dane as Mazeppa, Roxanne Arlen as Electra"If you wanna bump it, Bump it wid a trumpet."The three burlesque performers show the novice how to get attention, each one has something special that really fascinates the audience! And boy, did that work!!So it is too in the retail…
My Week at the Movies

11 Jan 2012 | 10:49 am

Since I have been down here in Florida I have seen four movies - the theaters are a stones throw from where I live, price of a ticket for a senior is $5.00. There is also a nearby Temple that shows movies every Wednesday afternoon at no cost and the ones I have seen so far are films about seniors. The capacity of the room is six hundred people and would you believe the room fills up quickly so for a movie that starts at 1:30 I plan on getting there no later than 1:00.I think there are a number of reasons so many people attend the movies at the Temple:The locationThe subject matterThe…
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SNOWBIRD

3 Jan 2012 | 9:04 pm

I could write about the movies, the shows, the places I have eaten, or the Mah Jongg games that I have been enjoying, but instead, I have decided to tell you about an ordinary day that I had today.HOT AND COLDSince I've been here in Florida, it's been an unusually warm December. January is different!! This morning it was cold and windy, had to put the heat on! That's why I pack turtle neck jerseys and long johns.I needed some groceries, but didn't feel like parading through my favorite big supermarket. Instead, I elected to go to a nearby small market that carries lots of ethnic…

debralegg.com
All the world’s a history book

Debra Legg

26 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

Maybe we're weird, but I swear this kind of stuff happens here all the time. We'll be out enjoying the day or running errands, something will catch one of the guys' attention and before I know it, someone's hitting Google. The latest instance: Big Guy's pestered me for months, every time we've gone to the medical clinic named in her honor, with the same question. "Who's Mary Walker?" "I think there's a plaque in the lobby," I told him. "Read it the next time we're there." I suspected it was going to be more of a case of "who was Mary Walker," since it's risky to name buildings after…
Women are failing! Aw, geez, here we go again

Debra Legg

25 Jan 2012 | 2:54 pm

I suppose there's something to be said for the provocative headline, even if it's inaccurate, if it gets your attention. A recent headline from a random publicist trying to get a byline on my site certainly got my attention: "Women Failing at Motherhood, Work, Relationships." Really? I'm going to skip the gratuitous rant about parenting being more than the mother's responsibility and about how it's impossible for one person to make a relationship work. I do wonder, though, if the daddy bloggers got the same email. The email's pitch was spun around actress Katherine Heigl's recent iVillage…
Being a pint-sized super star is not always super

Debra Legg

24 Jan 2012 | 3:39 pm

He looked like Michael Jordan's mini-me - or Kobe Bryant's, depending on your generation - but with a shade more hair. Possibly with a shade more precociousness, too, since Jordan did, after all, get cut from his high school basketball team. He raced from one end of the court to another, and a ball in his control was as good as a goal. Even his teammates recognized it, passing often and willingly to him. A parent from our team jokingly offered him candy to sit out a quarter, but it was a non-starter. "Maybe you should try a Wii the next time," I suggested. That likely wouldn't work either,…

Mom Spark
Easy Healthy Recipes: Strawberry Shake

Mom Spark

27 Jan 2012 | 11:37 am

Pin itThis week, I started on a new road to getting healthy again. With this new lifestyle comes new recipes, so I will be sharing all of the delicious ones I come across along this journey. Today, I am sharing the “Better Balancer Shake” recipe from the Nutrilite weight management plan. I was afraid that this shake would not be sweet enough for me, but I found myself liking it just as much as a regular one. Better Balancer Shake vanilla extract 1 cup skim milk 1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh berries (I used fresh strawberries) 1 tbsp flaxseed (grind before serving) Combine all…
Losing Connection With Your Blog Readers

Mom Spark

27 Jan 2012 | 8:51 am

Pin it As I sit here writing this blog post, many memories and thoughts are racing through my head. How did I get here? Where is “here” exactly? How do I have readers, a community, or followers? Do they trust me? Do they really know me? Do I really know them? I have been blogging for three years now. Not long in the grand scheme of life, but my blog has evolved somewhat over that short period of time. What was once an outlet and hobby is now a full-time career. A passion still, yes, but a business nonetheless. I feel grateful that it happened that way, but sometimes I…
Words To Live By: It’s A Virtue

Desiree Fawn

25 Jan 2012 | 2:58 pm

Pin it 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

Please Pass the Salt
I win.

Moriah

23 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am

3 feet tall. Share and Enjoy:
of a Thursday

Moriah

12 Jan 2012 | 11:06 pm

The other day the kids were all showing me how “good” they could hold Ethan. It was hilarious, them talking about how they can hold the baby for sooo long. *No babies were harmed in the making of this post. My bookend boys. Love. I think I’m going to like our new Thursday routine, which, incidentally I made up just today. I used to have it MADE with the carpool situation. Nicky pulled James out of school this semester and so now we have to drive more. Anyway, there’s a perfect amount of time between when I drop off the carpool kids and when I pick up Adelaide…
one way to waste money

Moriah

9 Jan 2012 | 1:39 pm

Leave the stool in a place where the 2 year old can reach the stamps. Share and Enjoy:

Moomettes Magnificents
Bodum French Press Coffee Maker Review | How to Use a French Press | Brazil French Press

Moomettes

22 Jan 2012 | 10:13 am

If you crave a cup of coffee brewing in order to hit the ground running in the morning, treat yourself to a latte style with foam made with a Bodum French Press coffee brewer. At home I used a single cup coffee brewer with pod cups. Recently I changed jobs. At my former office we had a lunch room and a coffee club. We could buy a cup of coffee from the single cup coffee brewer that uses pods or cups, and had a selection of cups with assorted coffee flavors. At my new job, if I wanted a cup of coffee I had to go out to the lunch truck on the street, as there wasn’t a shared coffee club.
Easy Beef Stroganoff Pinterest | Recipes With Egg Noodles | Pennsylvania Dutch Pasta Moments Photo Contest

Moomettes

19 Jan 2012 | 9:49 pm

As the American classic noodle, Pennsylvania Dutch wants to get a glimpse into your favorite noodle moments and wants to know what the idea of “home” means to you. For us, gathering around the dinner table with family and a steaming bowl beef stroganoff made with Pennsylvania Dutch Noodles translates into home comfort food during our cold and snowy New England winters. Pennsylvania Dutch Pasta Moments Photo Contest We all know that the comfort of home means something different to each one of us! Pennsylvania Dutch would love it if you’d participate in their Pasta Moments Photo…
Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic | Disney on Ice Shows Discount Tickets Hartford CT | Review

Moomettes

13 Jan 2012 | 7:30 am

Kid Friendly Events Disney On Ice 100 Years of Magic is performing at the XL Center In Hartford, CT now through January 16, 2012. New England and Connecticut moms and dads, grandmom and grandpa can receive a $5 promotional discount offer on tickets! This is one event you don’t want the kids or grandkids to miss! Connecticut was treated to Opening Night on Thursday of the Disney On Ice show at the XL Center in Hartford, CT and it truly was magical to watch the grandchildren enjoy the excitement of watching their favorite Disney characters come to life before their eyes! This…

Bizzie Living
Photo Editing Tool Picnik is Closing

Stephanie Elie

23 Jan 2012 | 12:14 am

Google+ Creative Kit – Another Online Photo Editing Tool. Looking for another option to edit photos online, check out the Creative Kit tool from Google+ For the past several years the easiest way to make changes to an image online was using Google’s Picnik. I loved being able to edit image straight from Flickr, Picassa and even Photobucket. It was and is a great solution for bloggers; however in a few short months they will be closing their doors. So if you have images that you want to keep you need to download them using Picnik takeout before April 19,2012. You will have the option…
Wordless Wednesday – Peacock and Feathers

Stephanie Elie

18 Jan 2012 | 8:54 am
It’s Not a Burrito, it’s a Photorito

Stephanie Elie

17 Jan 2012 | 4:11 pm

Protect all your photography lenses with the Photorito A fun, unique and stylish way to protect your lens in any bag. Okay how many of you have stuffed your lens on one of those big black socks to help protect it. Or even better spent money on a lens bag to protect it, only to sell the lens later and not having another one to fit said case? I can’t be the only one… Well now there is a photography lens wrap that is designed to fit almost any lens size from 24mm to 200mm which covers just about any lens size I think I’ll ever need. But be careful you don’t want to mistake this lens for…

Blessings Abound Mommy | Jacqueline Renner | Mom Blog | Influential Mom Blogger | Products I love, Reviews, Giveaways, Family Life in Alaska, and Everything in between!
Giveaway: Gerber Life College Plan Project Open Book Picture Mosaic + $25 Snapfish Gift Card

Jacqueline

26 Jan 2012 | 6:25 pm

Tweet Gerber Life College Plan Project Open Book Picture Mosaic One of the things we think about when we have children is how we’re going to save up for their college education. With the every day... Read More to get the latest scoop on reviews, giveaways, the daily life of Jacqueline, and more on Blessings Abound!
Giveaway: Bosch ICON Storm Chasers Prize Pack

Jacqueline

25 Jan 2012 | 10:27 pm

Tweet About Bosch ICON Wiper Blades: We know you want to keep your family safe on the road, so Bosch is proud to introduce the new ICON wiper blades which do just that. These bracketless wipers are... Read More to get the latest scoop on reviews, giveaways, the daily life of Jacqueline, and more on Blessings Abound!
Review: My BFF Doll From My Twinn Doll

Jacqueline

25 Jan 2012 | 6:39 pm

Tweet My BFF Doll From My Twinn Doll Mom Review: Dolls are a classic toy that little girls naturally gravitate to. There hasn’t been a doll that my girls haven’t loved, but one doll they especially... Read More to get the latest scoop on reviews, giveaways, the daily life of Jacqueline, and more on Blessings Abound!

ColorMePink!
Steelhead Trout with Lemon Butter Sauce with Capers and Garlic

Christine

26 Jan 2012 | 7:24 pm

In our effort to get more fish into our diets, we have obviously needed to broaden our horizons as far as types of fish that I cook. We’ll eat anything, but I don’t know how to cook it best… yet. So today when I went to our local fish market – I saw what I thought was salmon and decided to get some. I was quickly informed that the fish in question was not salmon at all, but steelhead trout, which I had never heard of. If you have a good fish monger (which I do), they’ll be happy to tell you about the fish, what to expect, how to cook it – and I rely on…
I Could Show You My Favorite Obsession

Christine

21 Jan 2012 | 7:24 pm

So back in the beginning of January, I talked a bit about the things I was looking to change, create, or get rid, of in my post about my resolutions. One of the first things I did was go see the doctor and I’m mostly on track with that – I may have had a bad day yesterday, but mostly on track and I’m happy with my progress on that front. The second thing I’ve been working on is creativity – I talked in the first post about figuring out what makes my heart sing and taking pictures does that. I don’t know that I’d want to be a pro, but I love…
Eggs with Cheese, Chorizo, Peppers, Onion and Spinach

Christine

16 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

This is the kind of thing that I imagine eating around a campfire, cooked in an iron skillet with a bunch of cowboys after a particularly grueling round up. You don’t? Just me then? Well, ok. I have mentioned before that we love a good Breakfast for Dinner every once in a while and this one was so good, and so stick to your ribs, with lots of great flavors and some serious nutrients in there. Vitamin C, Iron, Protein, Omega 3s, and Pork. Oh wait. Pork isn’t a nutrient… But it’s so good. Here’s how we got our pig on with breakfast for dinner: 3 onions sliced…

Blessed with Grace
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday…Baked Chicken Stuffed with Sundried Tomato Pesto, Basil, and Goat Cheese

Lisa

23 Jan 2012 | 7:30 pm

You may remember I was in Texas over Thanksgiving and into December while helping my sister recover from surgery. During this time a dear friend, Mona, brought a meal to the house. It is always nice to have meals provided during such times. I know I have spoken of this frequently as I shared my friends and I were doing something similar for our friend who has been ill. Anyway, back to the meal brought by Mona. Oh my goodness – this was one of the best meals I have ever had to eat! The menu: Baked Chicken stuffed with SunDried Tomato Pesto, Basil, and Goat Cheese, Au…
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday…Cheesy Shells and Chicken

Lisa

16 Jan 2012 | 7:30 pm

Well I am still on the quest for new and tasty casseroles. You may remember last week where I wrote about the family which my friends are taking meals to as the mother recovers from pneumonia. I found a recipe which I knew would be a winner and I was correct. I made this meal on Saturday and was told all the four children loved it. Any casserole that all children give a thumbs up is a winner in my book. I am sorry I did not get a picture. As soon as I made the meal, my hubby was out the door delivering it to the family in need. Cheesy Shells and Chicken 1 box uncooked…
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday..Baked Spaghetti

Lisa

9 Jan 2012 | 7:25 pm

I am on the hunt for quick and easy casseroles. Several of my friends, at church, are currently taking turns providing meals and childcare for a friend’s family. Our friend, Janelle, is currently hospitalized with severe pneumonia (she has been in the hospital for one week). We are all taking turns providing care for her five children during the day, and provide meals while her husband is as work. It is kind of hectic to say the least. Also, once she is allowed to return home, her recovery will be slow and we will need to continue to help with meals and childcare. (All her…

The Young and The Relentless
Proud Mommy Moments: You're Beautiful

Connie

26 Jan 2012 | 8:28 am

I'm linking up with Emmy Mom and Kmama today for Proud Mommy Moments. Has your kid done or said anything funny or embarrassing this week? Link up! I love getting together with my Kinder Mom friends because we are all very involved in the classroom and I get to hear great stories about Alex. My friend Jennifer worked with him on making a snowman the other day and she reported to me that he looked up at her with dreamy eyes and told her she was looking really beautiful. She told me that it was so sweet that I'm raising a very nice boy. I didn't have the heart to tell her that this is his new…
Honey Badger Does Care

Connie

25 Jan 2012 | 8:32 am

about his cuticles. A couple updates: *I escaped from my family on Saturday and discovered a great coffee shop with a cute owner. *I'm getting an upgrade to my cable package AND a DVR tomorrow. *The same day I found out that I couldn't have DirecTV I got a notice that my lease was up soon. I thought it was a sign that I was supposed to move but my budget has other ideas so I'm not moving. This news spun me into a depression that only time with my friend Denise could cure. *see first bullet point* *I missed this month's PTA meeting because iKeith didn't come home on…
Bachelor Ben: Winning in Park City

Connie

24 Jan 2012 | 3:13 pm

Week four of The Bachelor brings the ladies to Park City Utah! It's a beautiful place and appears to be fall. The first date card goes to Rachel and it says let's let nature take it's course. Ben arrives to retrieve Rachel and they fly off in a helicopter. This sends poor Kacie B into a tailspin of dispair. She just can't believe that her boyfriend is dating someone else. Ben is anxious to get to know Rachel because she is mellow and easy going. The helicopter lands near a lake and they get into a canoe. They don't seem to have much to say to each other besides how clean the air is and…

The Bee Chronicles
7 Years with a lovely boy...

Janna Bee

27 Jan 2012 | 3:54 pm

Today is my oldest son, Drew's Birthday. I can't believe he is seven! He is such a big kid. Last night he asked to cuddle with me, once again proving that just because he turned seven, he isn't going to be less sweet. Happy Seventh Birthday, my wonderful sweet boy. I love you more than words could ever say.
Wordless Wednesday- Jacob: International Man of Mystery

Janna Bee

11 Jan 2012 | 1:40 pm
The Garfield Show: Dinosaurs and Other Animal Adventures DVD Giveaway

Janna Bee

10 Jan 2012 | 10:30 am

The Garfield Show Dinosaurs and Other Animal Adventures DVD Vivendi Entertainment Synopsis: Everyone’s favorite cat is at it again! Join this larger than life feline and his animal friends as they embark on a series of adventures from digging up dinosaur bones, working with farm animals and discovering life under the sea. No stone is left unturned as Garfield takes us through the history of dogs, attends a pet show and even prepares to eat a pet goldfish! Being part of the animal kingdom has never been any more exciting! This DVD has 6 episodes: Down on the Farm The Pet Show Bone Diggers…

Moomettes Magnificents
Bodum French Press Coffee Maker Review | How to Use a French Press | Brazil French Press

Moomettes

22 Jan 2012 | 10:13 am

If you crave a cup of coffee brewing in order to hit the ground running in the morning, treat yourself to a latte style with foam made with a Bodum French Press coffee brewer. At home I used a single cup coffee brewer with pod cups. Recently I changed jobs. At my former office we had a lunch room and a coffee club. We could buy a cup of coffee from the single cup coffee brewer that uses pods or cups, and had a selection of cups with assorted coffee flavors. At my new job, if I wanted a cup of coffee I had to go out to the lunch truck on the street, as there wasn’t a shared coffee club.
Easy Beef Stroganoff Pinterest | Recipes With Egg Noodles | Pennsylvania Dutch Pasta Moments Photo Contest

Moomettes

19 Jan 2012 | 9:49 pm

As the American classic noodle, Pennsylvania Dutch wants to get a glimpse into your favorite noodle moments and wants to know what the idea of “home” means to you. For us, gathering around the dinner table with family and a steaming bowl beef stroganoff made with Pennsylvania Dutch Noodles translates into home comfort food during our cold and snowy New England winters. Pennsylvania Dutch Pasta Moments Photo Contest We all know that the comfort of home means something different to each one of us! Pennsylvania Dutch would love it if you’d participate in their Pasta Moments Photo…
Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic | Disney on Ice Shows Discount Tickets Hartford CT | Review

Moomettes

13 Jan 2012 | 7:30 am

Kid Friendly Events Disney On Ice 100 Years of Magic is performing at the XL Center In Hartford, CT now through January 16, 2012. New England and Connecticut moms and dads, grandmom and grandpa can receive a $5 promotional discount offer on tickets! This is one event you don’t want the kids or grandkids to miss! Connecticut was treated to Opening Night on Thursday of the Disney On Ice show at the XL Center in Hartford, CT and it truly was magical to watch the grandchildren enjoy the excitement of watching their favorite Disney characters come to life before their eyes! This…

Mommie911 Blog
The Importance of ABCs and Socialization in Preschool Learning

mommie9

26 Jan 2012 | 10:45 am

Many parents believe that their child gets a good start for kindergarten if they attend Preschool. While this is true, it is important to make sure that your child learns positive type behavior when trying to deal with his peers. Many preschools have started to take notice to this very important aspect since finding out [...]
Healthy Food Shopping for Your Family

mommie9

25 Jan 2012 | 5:43 pm

Today there are so many food choices it is sometimes difficult to navigate a trip to the grocery store, not to mention trying to find healthy food choices,especially if we have kids in tow. We hope to help you navigate through your local grocery store and give you some basic advice about shopping for healthier [...]
Best Kids App for iPhone

mommie9

13 Jan 2012 | 4:02 pm

Feed the Monster is our choice for the most fun app for kids and family. Our kids are wild about this app which is all about creativity and fun. Players get to make their own Monster from various Monster parts … body, eyes, arms, horns etc. Then they can save up to five of their [...]

Mommy Misadventures
Preschool Update

Michelle

20 Jan 2012 | 11:33 pm

I recently attended my first Parent-Teacher conference at TLE’s preschool. I’ve been to other Parent-Teacher conferences at TLE’s other school so this isn’t a new experience. Neither, it seems, is the report. Gross motor and fine motor skills are either age appropriate or above though she still only scribbles and doesn’t really draw anything recognizable yet. And her self-help skills and math skills seem to be age appropriate as well. Speech continues to be an issue. She talks a lot but her speech is hard for others to understand and she is prone to meltdowns if…
My Reminder

Michelle

17 Jan 2012 | 12:28 am

All smiles It’s alarming to realize how is easy it is to lose sight of what’s important. Try as I might to balance motherhood and building my writing business, I can’t help but feel that I am failing in both. More than once, I have entertained the idea of returning to the corporate world, trying to convince myself that this was for the better.With more money, we’ll be less stressed out. We can take her on vacations, buy her more toys. And then, TLE will do something. She’ll smile. Or laugh. Or tell me how much she loves the playdough I just made for her. Or…
A 3 year old’s Christmas

Michelle

9 Jan 2012 | 1:05 pm

Christmas 2012 Every year since we purchased our home, I promised myself that I would do our house up big for the holidays. Three years later, I dragged our tree and assorted decor out of garage storage sometime around mid-December but actually didn’t decorate it (or the house). In the end, it was our housemate who ended up putting up the decor the day before she left to spend the holidays with her family in the South Bay. While being sick certainly had something to do with it — down with bronchitis pretty much the entirety of December — it just didn’t feel like…

From Cribs To Car Keys
Not Quite Ready

Shannan

6 Jan 2012 | 11:13 am

The tradition we kept - Christmas Eve dinner and new jammies at Poppy's house Here it is, January 6th and the tree is still up. The kids’ new toys are still scattered around the living room. I know I should put the mess away, take down the tree and start thinking toward the next big event of the year – K’s birthday, coming up in a month. But for some reason, I can’t. I’m having a tough time letting go of the holidays, even though we’ve all been back to work and school since Tuesday. The routines are falling back into place, yet I can’t seem to accept that Christmas is over.
New Year, Clean Slate

Shannan

3 Jan 2012 | 10:50 am

Happy New Year! There’s something so refreshing about putting up a fresh, new calendar…a blank slate, wide open for new adventures, unending possibilities of what the New Year could become. Even though 2011 was an amazing year for me, with fabulous experiences that outweighed the drama, I was excited to see it come to an end so I could see what 2012 had in store. Over the past few years, I’ve mostly written here about my kids and things that I was asked to do. While there will still be a bit of that, most of my space on the web is about to become MINE. 2012 is going to be the year of…
Have A Safe and Happy Thanksgiving

Shannan

23 Nov 2011 | 11:22 pm

I’m going to do a dual purpose post here, being that it’s Thanksgiving Eve and my kitchen is already buzzing with activity. First, I want to wish all of my friends and family a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. I am truly thankful to be surrounded by so many loving and supportive people, both online and off. Each day I thank God that you are a part of my life. Second, while I have your attention, I wanted to remind you all that an important part of being safe this holiday season is making sure that you and your guests stay smart and sober while driving this weekend. In 2009, there…

ABDPBT
We Need To Talk About People On The Internet

anna

25 Jan 2012 | 10:20 pm

Last week for date night I suggested that we go see We Need To Talk About Kevin, the movie about the mother of a young sociopath which stars Tilda Swinton. It was a long shot because Mr. Right-Click struggles with watching movies that have negative themes and children — whether the children are the victims or the victimizers does not seem to matter — so I wasn’t surprised when he said he would rather not. We went to see A Dangerous Method instead, because I like Freud and everyone said it was good. (It was not, though I rather enjoyed the absurdity of Kiera Knightley’s…
Weanie

anna

13 Jan 2012 | 8:30 am

Sitting here with cabbage stuffed in my bra, it’s tough not to get philosophical . . . I’m kidding: I would never actually stuff cabbage in my bra (lie), but I wanted that to be the first sentence of my weaning post. Because I’m weaning, yes I am. I made it to roughly 16 weeks, which is actually better than I expected to do. And although you are supposed to encouraged to do it longer by the breastfeeding pundits, 3 to 4 months was my goal when starting this whole thing, and I’m ready now. Past ready. Weaning is not the correct term, really, for what I am doing. What I…
Words With Friends Moves You Should Totally Not Read Into, Why Do You Always Do That?

anna

9 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pm

TEAT GIGGLE QUIET FINE BABY NAP SNACK AGED METABOLISM CHEATER SNIDE DO NOT GET SNIPPY WITH ME MISTER SNIPPY WAS NOT BEING SNIPPY YES YOU WERE SURGEON MOTHERFUCKER [SORRY, 'MOTHERFUCKER' IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WORD'] VOWELS EPEE CONSONANTS XIS NEVER EQUALLY MIXED RESIGN CROOK TO PARDON

Jendi's Journal
Love Blooms In Winter By Lori Copeland | Book Review

Jendi

27 Jan 2012 | 2:24 pm

An easy, relaxing read, but a bit slow. It has good characters, and a good variety of them. Jeremy was one of my favorites; and Esau was just plain fun. A good plot that hasn’t been done a million and one times. An undercurrent of religious faith is felt more than read throughout the story. Reading over what I just read – it’s an all around good book. For this one I have to mention the cover. Doesn’t she just look so happy? Here is the backcover copy: A romantic new book from bestselling author Lori Copeland that portrays God’s miraculous provision even when none…
Snow Fun But Not For The Dog

Jendi

25 Jan 2012 | 11:11 am

My view from INSIDE my dining room window where I stay warm and dry. He’s not allowed out while they are sledding. He chases them and pulls off their boots! We didn’t totally stop him from playing in the snow. He got to go out when they were done sledding. I think he ran off with one of the snowman’s arms… For more pictures visit the Wordless Wednesday main site or 5 Minutes for Mom. ------------- Snow Fun But Not For The Dog is from: Jendi's Journal.com ©2012 Jendi's Journal. All Rights Reserved..Possibly related posts: It’s Snow-Raining and…
Chasing Mona Lisa By Goyer And Yorkey | Book Review

Jendi

25 Jan 2012 | 10:21 am

[Psst - book giveaway info at bottom of this post] Another good read from Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey! The story line is interesting and fresh with some great twists and turns along the way. Gabi and Eric seem almost too good to be true, but that’s how the best heroines and heroes are. The bad guys are the perfect guys to hate, the subplot with Colette and Bernard is intermingled very well and the supporting characters come in at just the right times. There is historical information mixed in with the fiction. The bad part is that now I would really like to see the Mona Lisa in real…

Spookiez Spot
S'mores Science!!

Beckie Tetrault

23 Jan 2012 | 8:46 pm

We made s'mores in the oven to show how the carbon in sugar turns brown when exposed to heat. Danielle made observations every minute and recorded how the marshmallows changed color and shape. Sadly there are no pictures of the completed s'mores, as they were eaten up so fast I didn't have a chance to grab my camera!! If you are reading this on a reader, stop by my post and leave me a comment!
More titillating bath and body products from EdenFantasys...

Beckie Tetrault

19 Jan 2012 | 2:12 am

EdenFantasys has been adding a bunch of tempting new products to their beauty and body products in addition to their fantastic selection of sex toys! I am completely drooling over the Terme Trio Hair Care Set, pictured above. I even love the hat box style packaging! Anyone who knows me knows I am a bit of a lipbalm/lip gloss addict. I am so excited about some of the new lipbalms available at EdenFantasys. Let me point a few of the more interesting ones out for you: Kissaholic aphrodisiac infused lip plumping gloss ~ This one does it all! Diamond Lip…
Half year homeschool check in..

Beckie Tetrault

19 Jan 2012 | 1:43 am

Well, we are half way though the year, and it's time to see how we are doing. Both kids did awesomely on their math benchmark tests, and both could use a little work on their Language Arts benchmarks. We are still using the curriculum mentioned in my beginning of the year post, and it's all still working really well! We have implemented a new reward system, Warm Fuzzies. I have a bank of little sparkly pom-poms, which I dole out at random times to reward good behaviors. Asking for a Fuzzie will get one taken away, leaving your Fuzzies out will get them returned to the…

Food Family Finds | Mommy Blogger
Friday Food Finds | Super Bowl Snacks and Sweets

Cat Davis

26 Jan 2012 | 11:32 pm

I’ll admit, I didn’t watch much football this season, except for the game where the Chiefs whooped up on the undeafeted Packers. Now THAT was a sweet game because 1) the Chiefs were kinda pathetic this year and 2) I got to laugh so hard when they beat my dad’s precious Packers. However, despite not [...]
the haircut.

Cat Davis

26 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pm

Two nights ago, I stood in front of my bathroom mirror in the wee hours of the night. In the 15 minutes I stood there, I looked at myself and picked apart every feature of my face that I hated. From the bags under my eyes, the shape of my lips, the little bump on [...]
GIVEAWAY | My Sweet Escape (to the Bath Tub) with Café Escapes

Cat Davis

26 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

Nearly every afternoon around 5:30-ish there’s a place I go to – my sweet escape. It’s not grand, tropical or even quiet but it’s peaceful and if I don’t forget to lock the door, it’s all mine. After a day of the girls bickering, an afternoon of my son’s incesent football statistics being drilled into [...]

Resourceful Mommy
Why Some Kids Hate Vegetables

Amy

27 Jan 2012 | 6:51 pm

Pin it When my husband and I began dating, he had just moved into his first apartment and was living on his own for the first time in his life. His diet consisted of three things: microwave pizzas, frozen chicken nuggets with fries, and chips with queso. My first experience living completely on my own involved almost daily trips to a salad truck in my west Philly neighborhood near my school. I loved the fresh vegetables and the cheap meal and suddenly I was thinner and healthier than I’d ever been in my life. Somehow when we moved in together two years later, the salads stayed…
Friday Featured Giveaway: P.F. Chang’s Celebrates Chinese New Year

Amy

27 Jan 2012 | 12:39 pm

Pin it It’s the Year of the Dragon and P.F. Chang’s is inviting everyone to celebrate this Chinese New Year by visiting P.F. Chang’s China Bistro or enjoying P.F. Chang’s Home Menu items. We’re celebrating with P.F. Chang’s by hosting a Red Envelope Giveaway. The color red symbolizes good luck, and Red Envelopes, filled with gifts, are presented to family and friends during the Chinese New Year. Thanks to P.F. Chang’s, fifteen Resourceful Mommy readers will each receive a Red Envelope giveaway prize. That is one for each day of the Chinese New…
#Ashamed Twitter Chat with Mom Blogging Communities

Amy

26 Jan 2012 | 12:33 pm

Pin it Prize Update: The following prizes have been generously donated for tonight’s chat. - FIVE (5) winners will each receive a $50 Visa Gift Card. - ONE (1) winner will receive a $50 AmEx Gift Card. - ONE (1) winner will receive a full pass to the Bloggy Moms Conference. - ONE (1) winner will receive a Full Conference Pass to the Type-A Parent Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina plus the book Mom Blog SEO THREE (3) winners will each receive My Trainer Fitness for At Work - ONE (1) winner will receive a 30 minute phone consultation with Rebecca Scritchfield, RD More to come!

Mom Fuse
Kaleidoscopes To You Giveaway

Jessica @ Mom Fuse

22 Jan 2012 | 8:51 am

The original post, which came from Mom Fuse, can be found here: Kaleidoscopes To You GiveawayIf you love kaleidoscopes and teleidoscopes or want to find a unique gift for someone, Kaleidoscopes To You is the place to shop. They have been in business over 20 years and make kaleidoscopes and teleidoscopes that can be passed down from generation to generation. This year for Christmas our twins received kaleidoscopes from some [...]Mom Fuse -
New Printable Coupons 1/22

Jessica @ Mom Fuse

22 Jan 2012 | 8:17 am

The original post, which came from Mom Fuse, can be found here: New Printable Coupons 1/22Coupons.com Grocery Coupons $1.50 off two PLANTERS Peanut Butter $1.00 off ON ANY ONE (1) GARNIER FRUCTIS SHAMPOO $1.00 off any TWO (2) UNCLE BEN’S Whole Grain $0.40 off SIX CUPS Yoplait Yogurt $1.00 off ON ANY ONE (1) GARNIER FRUCTIS STYLE $0.55 off 2 HORMEL Chili products $0.50 off 2 Betty Crocker Fruit snacks [...]Mom Fuse -
FTD Early Bird Valentines Day Special (ends 1/27/2012)

Jessica @ Mom Fuse

18 Jan 2012 | 9:47 am

The original post, which came from Mom Fuse, can be found here: FTD Early Bird Valentines Day Special (ends 1/27/2012)Order Early and Save 50% for Valentine’s Day! 1 dozen roses only $19.99 Mom Fuse -

Hip Mama's Place
Help Keep Your New Year's Exercise Resolutions with Mama Mio's Bootcamp Kits + Get Waisted Body Shaper Cream Giveaway!

25 Jan 2012 | 3:28 pm

Here are some fantastic products from Mama Mio that will help you keep up with your exercise resolutions this year: Mama Mio’s Bootcamp Kits. By setting aside just four minutes a day, these exercises work with Mama Mio’s best products to give you the perfect boobs, tummy and butt for the New Year. Bootcamp for Boobs ($85): Boost your chest, lift your boobs and define your cleavage while keeping your skin firm, youthful and fit. This support system is perfect for holding your boobs up so sagging will no longer be a concern! This kit includes a bust-perking work out along with two of Mama…
Cute V-Day Gift Idea: SONIC® Drive-In Inspired Shirts + SONIC Gift Card - Review and Giveaway!

25 Jan 2012 | 1:12 pm

Here's a cute Valentine's Day gift idea for the special mom (or lady, or man) in your life. How about giving her/him one of these quirky, stylish and uniquely-SONIC novelty t-shirts? Yes, SONIC Drive-In is now offering officially-licensed SONIC apparel - each is uniquely fun, colorful and vintage-inspired. These t-shirts are now available for purchase online at SonicDriveIn.com - affordably priced for only $12.99! Pair them with a SONIC Gift Card for a cute, inexpensive and delicious V-Day gift! I love the Tot Mama- Female shirt - so fresh and witty it makes me think of beautiful Spring…
Purex Crystals Coupon Giveaway!

25 Jan 2012 | 10:18 am

Purex is giving away 50,000 Purex coupons this week on Facebook – limited to 10,000 each day. This $1.50/2 Purex Crystals coupons are on a first-come, first-served basis and looks like today's coupons are already gone. But, you can still get them tomorrow, Thursday at 7 PM-EST or 4 PM-PST. Here are the rest of the week's scheduled Purex Crystals coupon giveaway so you can mark your calendar! About the Author: Jocelyn Cañasa-Brown is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own…

The Mogul Mom
Pull Back the Curtain On Your Home Business

Heather Allard

27 Jan 2012 | 8:52 am

“Where’s Mommy?” my son asked. “Where do you think she is, Brendan? She’s at the computer,” my husband replied in an annoyed tone. I overheard this exchange between my son and husband two years ago (when my son was three) and had a huge realization. While I was working on the computer—writing new posts, planning my editorial calendar, invoicing advertisers, responding to email and social media—my family had no idea what I was doing. To them, it looked like I was just farting around on Facebook, or worse; neglecting them. But I wasn’t. I was working. Hard, too.
A New Housekeeping Strategy: Cocktails + Cleaning

MogulMomTeam

25 Jan 2012 | 6:39 pm

Could you and your spouse use a little quality time together? Could your house be a bit more spic and span? Then we’ve got a winning housekeeping strategy for you. It’s called cocktails and cleaning. Here’s what you do. Put the kids to bed. Turn on some funky music (keep it low—don’t want to wake the kids) and get a duster, some Pledge and a cocktail. You get your housework done, connect with your partner and have a few giggles. The best part? You’ll have a freshly cleaned living room the next morning instead of a hangover! Here are some terrific cleaning tips to get…
Save Money with Not So Extreme Couponing

MogulMomTeam

24 Jan 2012 | 11:07 pm

If your kids eat four times their own body weight each day, you know how tight your weekly grocery budget can get. Why not save a little money with coupons? No need for extremes here, just some simple savings. You can find grocery and food product coupons in: Inserts in your local Sunday paper Online coupon sites like DailyGroceryCoupon.com that offer free, printable coupons for grocery items Coupon books from your favorite grocer, like Whole Foods. Other savings sites offer coupons and discount codes for general merchandise like clothing, electronics, toys and more: RetailMeNot.com –…

Influential Mom Blogger, Parenting, Community
Clear, Concise, and Creative with Blu-Ray

Trisha-admin

26 Jan 2012 | 10:11 pm

I was probably the last person on the planet to actually get a Blu-Ray Player. Too bad, so sad for me, because just like when I finally broke down to get an iPhone, an entire world of actual clarity showed up. My TV never looked so good. In fact, I liken my TV to a [...]
New Rides Coming to Universal!

Trisha-admin

25 Jan 2012 | 8:09 pm

Seeing as Charlotte and I just went to Universal a few months ago over thanksgiving and it was an AMAZING time, I wanted to let you in on the new changes. BIG CHANGES! New rides, new updates, and new shows! 2012 IS THE YEAR TO BE HERE! Universal Orlando Resort to Offer More New Entertainment [...]
Dyson would be proud

Trisha-admin

24 Jan 2012 | 8:10 pm

This weekend we took Charlotte to the indoor bounce place. And I spotted this Dyson. This poor, poor Dyson. Have you ever..I mean EVER, let your canistor get this full? This has got to be the definition of lazy employees. On the plus side, I am totally impressed that it has that much crap in it [...]

Big Piece of CakeBig Piece of Cake | Big Piece of Cake
For Susan

Kate

24 Jan 2012 | 1:42 pm

The DC Moms are hosting a ”@whymommy love fest” today and this is the image I sent in for her digital card. Want to contribute your own heart? Click HERE for full details (just remember that you only have until the end of the day). I don’t know Susan well, but I’ve been inspired by her courage, strength, beauty and grace since I found her blog a few years ago. She’s fought long and hard. She shines brightly. And she’s in my heart and my prayers.
And Then I Started Watching The Walking Dead

Kate

20 Jan 2012 | 6:01 pm

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here… I was busy with family in town over Christmas, and assumed that I’d be back to wish you a Happy New Year on January 1. Or at least by January 7. What’s that? February is right around the corner? I noticed that too. And for the life of me, I don’t know why I’ve been so resistant to the idea of just writing something already. Or actually – I do know why. I have been experiencing an unusually high level of anxiety lately. I say “unusually high” because while I…
Holiday Weekend

Kate

27 Dec 2011 | 4:14 pm

First – a PSA on behalf of all holiday novelty items that relatives may consider sending to our children: “Don’t. Please.” I like to call this picture “The Island of Misfit Christmas Decor Characters” Pictured: Hallmark Snowman (unmasked to reveal that he’s really a robot), Nutcracker ornament with a broken head, one-armed Dancing Santa and nose-less Frosty the Snowman Gone but not forgotten: singing Douglas Fir, Hallmark Moose with colorful string of lights and Coca Cola Polar Bear playing the bass (I’d like to buy the world a Coke…)…

Blog by Donna
Little Mr. Blue Eyes - WW

25 Jan 2012 | 7:52 am

Thank you to my cousin for allowing me to show off her handsome son. He is so precious! This is Samuel right after a bath.
Valentine's Day 2011: The Price of Love

24 Jan 2012 | 9:38 pm

How much money do we really spend on Valentine's Day? Check out this infographic and see what price we put on love: by Mint.com via
The Importance of Your Vision - Especially After 40

20 Jan 2012 | 7:33 pm

One of the worst things about getting older for me has been a gradual decline in my vision since turning forty (it's referred to as presbyopia). I am far-sighted. Which means I can't see up close. Near-sighted means just the opposite. And I hate to admit that I am someone who put off getting an eye exam... opting to just buy a pair of drug store reading glasses, I can not tell you how important it is to get regular eye exams. Zeiss has some great information and resources to help you in every aspect of your vision, as well as helping you every step of the way in making your…

STYLEMOM
The Heiress To The Throne Has Arrived! Beyonce Has Baby Girl Blue Ivy Carter!

Stylemom

8 Jan 2012 | 11:04 am

The little diva is here! During the evening n Saturday, January 7th, 2012 Beyonce and hubby Jay-Z welcomed their baby girl into the world via a scheduled c-section in New York City. The NY Daily News reports: “A very pregnant Beyoncé had checked into the upper East Side hospital on Friday night under the name “Ingrid Jackson,” a hospital staffer told the Daily News. Beyoncé and her hip-hop hubby, whose real name is Shawn Carter, rented out the hospital’s entire fourth floor...
Accessorize It! Refresh Your Style for 2012 With Theodora & Callum

Stylemom

7 Jan 2012 | 9:36 am

Now that the holidays are over, many people are in what we like to call, “Resolution Season”. This is the first several weeks of the year when so many of us try to make a change in our lives, from health, career, to family focused resolutions. For those of you looking for an easy personal “style resolution”, we have a few helpful to get you started! By far, the easiest and most time efficient way for busy women on the...
Hottest Faux Fur Accessories for the Winter Season

Kristin Marquet

8 Dec 2011 | 7:32 am

Faux fur details continue be a favorite this season. From hats and scarves to vests and boot accessories, faux fur is the hottest trend this winter. Be sure to pick up a few of these accessories – whether it is for yourself or as a gift this holiday. Faux fur boot accessory Covfurs Faux fur boot slipcovers by Covfurs are this season’s newest trend. Wear covering an entire knee-length boot, at the mid-calf, or low to the ground for an...

High Impact Mom
Content Strategy for the Web – What I’m Reading Wrap-Up

Amanda

26 Jan 2012 | 1:34 pm

With the start of February on the horizon and the promise of another book, I wrapped up Kristina Halvorson’s Content Strategy for the Web this week and wanted to share my thoughts on it with you. First let me say that I am notoriously picky about the books I read and am even more so when I’m not reading for pleasure, so for me to be able to tell you that I enjoyed this book so much it was difficult for me to read anything else until I had finished it is a very big deal. Written with wit and technical talent, Kristina Halvorson clearly leads the reader through crafting a content strategy…
Wordless Wednesday – Impromtu Stay At Home Day

Amanda

25 Jan 2012 | 10:39 am

For more inspiring photos be sure to check out: Better in Bulk, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Momblog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist, BrainFoggles, The Centsible Life, Rachel Ferrucci, Lil Kid Things, Resourceful Mommy and Zensible Mama and don’t forget to link your own photo stories. Like what you read? Try these!:Wordless Wednesday – Hanging with My Girl Wordless Wednesday – Disney Dino Fun Wordless Wednesday – Holidaze
WOMMA’s Community Management Training – Market Context and Program Management

Amanda

24 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pm

Today I attended my first Community Management Training course presented by WOMMA (Word of Mouth Marketing Association), Market Context and Program Management. Today’s speakers were Rachel Happe and Jam Delcambre (Community Manager of AT&T). Market Context Rachel started the session off with an excellent definition of community. Community is defined as a group of people with unique shared values, behaviors, and artifacts. Rachel also reminds those following along that social media management and community management are not the same. Social media management includes…

KID TRACKS
Kid Tracks: Give ice skating a try

16 Jan 2012 | 1:03 pm

Mother Nature hasn't felt like offering up much white stuff (until recently) for my family to enjoy our usual outdoor...
Kid Tracks: Hands-on approach to geoscience

11 Dec 2011 | 10:57 am

Children spend time in school learning about Earth science and geology, but the subject can be a bit, ahem, dry...
A sheep holiday greeting

4 Dec 2011 | 4:35 pm

When you're in 4-H you never know what kind of email forwards you'll get about animals. Livestock offer a lot...

Mommy Melee
OTT

Maria Melee

23 Jan 2012 | 6:37 pm

Halfway through kindergarten, Chipmunk is doing over the top super well. I’ve gone on a couple of fieldtrips with him. On the first, he didn’t interact with kids, but he pointed at what they were doing and told me they were his friends. A couple of weeks ago, we went on another, and when a few of his friends showed up, he ran up to them and did this arm-waving-tentacle thing and said their name all silly and… the kids did that back. So I guess they have some kind of awesome awkward playground routine. (These kids aren’t in his class.) He’s also in love, but.
Bad Dreams

Maria Melee

20 Jan 2012 | 8:46 pm

Lately, Chipmunk has been telling me about a lot of bad dreams he has. The one before this one involved going to a new school where no one knew him, running away through traffic and up a magical staircase, and onto a playground that ran out of ways to get down and became very high up, and then developed a trap door that he fell through. He doesn’t come across as an anxious kid super often, but these dreams make me wonder how much and how I should talk to him about the things that make him afraid and anxious. Or we could just talk about how awesome it is to drive cars away from…
Peanut Perspective

Maria Melee

2 Jan 2012 | 11:40 am

Now that Chipmunk is halfway through Kindergarten, I have a lot of conversations with him about stuff I only imagined asking him about two or three years ago. The other night, we hunkered down for a “cuddle nap” while his little brother napped. I curled up around him and asked, “How does it feel being allergic to peanuts?” He paused for a second, thinking, and said, “It’s fine! I sure am happy I’m not allergic to pepperoni pizza, because I love pepperoni pizza.” © Mommy Melee, 2012. | Permalink | 3 comments | If you are reading this…

La Mom - an American mom in Paris
Slang Word Time Warp

La Mom-an American Mom in Paris

17 Jan 2012 | 4:27 pm

photo: Self Service UKLa Mom's noticed lately that a lot of her expat friends seem to be in a slang word time warp. They use slang words or phrases that makes one take note, "WHAT did San Diego Mom just say?"This slang word time warp thing got La Mom thinking - do slang words learned before moving abroad stay through the years in one's expat life? Does slang stand still over time?Je pense que oui. It seems to be the case in La Mom's entourage. Here's what I've overheard:At the expat get-together:Kansas Mom: Dude, Montana Mom has a groovy poncho.La Mom: I love it. It looks…
Woteva, Woteverrr, Whatever

La Mom-an American Mom in Paris

9 Jan 2012 | 3:31 pm

W is for WotevaBig Cheese and the French Fries learned a new word while on holiday recently: woteva.<----- They also learned the hand gesture that accompanies this word."Woteva" was the word du jour and quite overused during our winter vacation in the sun.For example...Big Cheese: Chérie, did you know the French won the men's swimming championship last summer?La Mom: The French finally won a medal in a manly sport.Big Cheese: What do you mean? We win the handball championships every year.La Mom: Wot-ev-a. American girls fantasize about dating basketball stars and…
France's Presidential Candidates Wish You a Rockin' 2012!

La Mom-an American Mom in Paris

4 Jan 2012 | 7:05 am

If France's presidential election could be decided by who rocks the dance floor the best, who would win: Nicolas Sarkozy or François Hollande?Leave a comment with your vote.La Mom votes for Daddy Sarkozy - he knows how to bust a move.Bonne année !

Everything Fabulous
Valentino Spring 2012 Couture - Behind the Scenes

Sasha {Everything Fabulous}

27 Jan 2012 | 8:22 am

....a girl can only dream with these utterly beautiful lace and organza gowns covered in sprigged flower prints ! The inspiration behind the collection was Marie Antoinette when she was a young Austrian princess, and in the designer Pier Paolo Piccioli''s words:"Fashion needs culture or it becomes empty!"What and exquisite collection that transports you to an utterly magic time...!{Images via Studded Hearts}
Fashion Inspiration: J.Crew Collection Spring 2012

Sasha {Everything Fabulous}

26 Jan 2012 | 10:16 am

...ready for some splash of bright color? I'm loving the pencil sequin squirts in neon color...fa.bu.lous! And as we've seen yesterday on the street of Paris, it seems green is going to be the "it" color this spring season. Your fav? {Images via J.Crew}
Street Style from Paris Haute Couture {Green Accents & Fur Coats}

Sasha {Everything Fabulous}

25 Jan 2012 | 1:10 pm

Paris Haute Couture week has started...and it's all about green accents and fur coats! Lots of inspiration for cold winter days!!{Images via Grazia, Style; Jak & Jill}

A Lil' Welsh Rarebit
A Tale of Two Puppy Puppets

27 Jan 2012 | 2:53 pm

Original art courtesy of the foo and her fabulous babysitter.
From 0 to 23.5 in five days

27 Jan 2012 | 1:22 pm

Well, my week didn't go exactly as planned, but I'm still pretty pleased with my progress in the IronMan competition.Monday - Biked 9 miles in about 45 minutes. No tears, good workout.Tuesday - Ran 3 miles in 45 minutes. Stopped to walk and cry three times. But I did it! Man, was it ever hard!Wednesday - Didn't sleep much on Tuesday night, so instead of using my four free-ish hours to workout, I slept. For FOUR hours. Totally necessary to my survival, so I made the right decision.Thursday - My very first day without any babysitting help! And we survived without a tear or a tantrum - from ANY…
IronMan Triathlon Competition: Day 1

23 Jan 2012 | 12:46 pm

Today marks the start of the month-long IronMan Triathlon competition I've joined; I'll be completing the following distances between now and February 20:Swim 2.4 milesBike 112 milesRun 26.2 milesSounds crazy hard, right? I think it will be. The total distances are actually shorter than what I accomplished in the same time frame during my hard-core training back in 2010! But, I'm just getting back into the exercise groove, so I do think it'll be a challenge, physically. Especially the biking part. I just don't love to bike, no two ways around it. And I have to bike over a hundred miles in…

Cool Baby Kid
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner Recipe

cecelia

27 Jan 2012 | 1:13 pm

Pin it Print Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner Recipe Ingredientslb small potatoes (6 to 8), unpeeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (3 cups) 2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots 1 cup frozen small whole onions (from 1-lb bag), thawed 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 1/4 lb) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 jar (12 oz) chicken gravy 1 1/2 cups Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen sweet peas, thawed InstructionsSpray 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, place potatoes, carrots and thawed onions. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; place over vegetables…
Q&A: Disney Dining Plan Recommendations?

cecelia

27 Jan 2012 | 12:42 pm

Pin it Question We are going to Disney this year and have booked the Port Orleans French Quarter and are on the Plus dining plan (1 snack/1 quick meal/1 sit down meal) per day. Our travel agent said we can and probably should start booking reservations early, which can always be changed/cancelled later. Can you recommend some places that are a must to eat at? I would like to at least try to reserve some places now and figured we can always change down the road. Of course, we have looked online but there are so many and it seems so overwhelming that I really would like to know the…
Cool Pick: Classroom Valentine’s Day Cards

cecelia

26 Jan 2012 | 3:36 pm

Pin itWith two preschoolers now in the classroom, the search for Valentine’s day cards commenced a few weeks ago. As the editor of Cool Baby Kid, my mission is always the same when looking for cool picks…find the coolest, most unique product out there and share with my readers. I looked in all of the usual places and none really stood out. More unique cards could be found online, but the task becomes even complicated when figuring in the cost of shipping and the time they take to arrive. Having reviewed their Photo Christmas Cards, I knew Minted.com offered quality cards and was…

Meal Makeover Moms' Kitchen
Kitchen Appliance Innovations and Janice’s Trip to the Kenmore Live Studio PLUS A 30% Discount on Kenmore Small Appliances (Podcast #175)

Janice

27 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pm

Last Friday, I traveled to Chicago for the 2012 Kenmore Blogger Summit. Forty-plus food, mommy, humor, and even daddy bloggers descended on the Windy City (which happened to also be a snowy city that day) to learn about Kenmore’s innovative new kitchen and home appliances and to share input on the products and features consumers are looking for. You can hear all about my trip on this week’s Cooking with the Moms podcast, so be sure to tune in! Here’s the view from my room at the Sofitel Hotel. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow …. Look! There I am in the front row…
Recipes for Strawberry-Topped Peanut Butter Pancakes AND Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes, and a Giveaway for an Anolon Griddle!

The Meal Makeover Moms

20 Jan 2012 | 11:15 pm

Every month we participate in a blogger challenge called Recipe Redux, and this month, we were charged with a breakfast makeover. Since makeovers are what we’re all about, we took a quintessential morning fave — pancakes — and added a hefty helping of good health. We used nutrient-rich ingredients including peanut butter, whole wheat flour, ground flaxseed, lowfat milk, omega-3 eggs, bananas, and berries. What follows are two peanut butter-inspired recipes — Strawberry-Topped Peanut Butter Pancakes and Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes — perfect for busy weekdays or…
Immune-Boosting Foods, Recipes for Fruity Yogurt Parfaits and Immunity Booster Blast, and a Giveaway of the New Book, Healthy, Healing Foods (Podcast #174)

The Meal Makeover Moms

19 Jan 2012 | 7:17 am

Colds. Flu. Achoo!! As far as we’re concerned, getting the sniffles, or worse, a headache and fever, is one of the yuckiest parts about winter. We don’t mind the sleet or snow (well, maybe we mind just a tad), but a runny nose … no way. To keep our immune systems — and yours — in tip-top shape during winter (and all year long for that matter), we sat down via Skype with fellow registered dietitian, Victoria Shanta Retelny, RD to dish about her new book, The Essential Guide to Healthy, Healing Foods, and her best food secrets for keeping our immune systems armed…

Uppercase Woman
Scar(r)ed

Cecily Kellogg

26 Jan 2012 | 11:31 am

I feel surrounded by fear. One of the most annoying things people say about faith is that faith is a lack of fear. I’ve spent my life feeling afraid; it’s one of the chronic tenets of alcoholism, that we are swept up in the agonizing terror of things, and we drink because it dampens that [...]
Whip It Out: How Big Is YOUR Clit?

Cecily Kellogg

23 Jan 2012 | 4:29 pm

I know, I know. But dudes, I couldn’t resist. Cause it turns out? It’s a TON bigger than you thought. I first heard about it being bigger than just the little nub we all know and love thanks to the awesome Dr. Marci Bowers who has been performing a new surgery called either ”clitoralplasty” or “female [...]
Finding Peace

Cecily Kellogg

20 Jan 2012 | 3:01 pm

I’m reading a novel right now where the central character hears music when someone tells the truth. When I received this meditation (pictured) in my email today, it sang to me. Reaching for grace has been my primary goal since I got sober and realized that I was just one of the many stars in [...]

Go Graham Go: Parenting | Recipes | DIY | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews | NC Mom Blog
Friday Five: Valentines Crafts for Kids

Felicia

26 Jan 2012 | 11:04 pm

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought today would be the perfect day for a Friday Five that was all about Valentines Crafts! Here are some favorites from Go Graham Go as well as a few from across the web. Have fun! Baked Valentine Paper Craft Candy Airplane Valentine DIY Personalized Candy Holder Valentine {or pencil holder} Super Hero Valentine Suckers Source: zakkalife.blogspot.com via Felicia on Pinterest I "CEREALsly" Like You! Source: bestfriendsforfrosting.com via Felicia on Pinterest Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter,…
All in a Day's Work by Kelly Florio Kasouf

Felicia

26 Jan 2012 | 11:03 pm

My girls love to read stories. We go to the library every week and return home with loads of picture books filled with inspiring characters and gorgeous illustrations. They are so excited to pore over the pages and imagine themselves in the story. A new book just released by Kelly Florio Kasouf allows your child to do just that. All in a Day's Work follows Sophie on fun-filled adventures in her father's office. While her father is busy at work in the fashion industry, Sophie explores new worlds on every floor that the office building elevator takes her. Each time the door opens, Sophie…
NEW Medela Calma Feeding Bottle Review

Felicia

25 Jan 2012 | 11:04 pm

Bottle, breast, or both? Can you have both? We did and still do! My husband travels a lot so we decided that he should feed the current baby in the house a bottle on the nights he was home. I really do think this bottle feeding ritual helped (and is helping) my girls better bond with their daddy. Bonus: it also helped them establish a bedtime routine faster--they knew that when they received a bottle it was their last feeding of the day and almost time for bed! I've been a Medela mom since my first was born nearly three and a half years ago. I've only used their breast pumps and supplies…

thedirtytshirt.com
The Best Meals Happen At Home | $25 Publix Gift Card Giveaway

admin - Jennifer

27 Jan 2012 | 4:20 pm

Company: Publix Item Reviewed: $25 Publix Gift Card Item Given Away: $25 Publix Gift Card Start Date: January 27 End Date: February 11 When I have a busy weeknight I am usually searching for quick easy meals but that doesn’t have to mean fast food! Publix knows that the best meals happen at home, so they are excited to help you enjoy family mealtime without having to stress about what to prepare or spending hours in the kitchen. Stop by Publix during their “Best Meals Happen at Home” event to find great savings on some of your favorite products. Be sure to visit BestMealsatHome.com…
Tummy Tickler and Belly Washers Kids Juice | Review and Giveaway

admin - Jennifer

27 Jan 2012 | 3:12 pm

Company: In Zone Brands Item Reviewed: Kids Juice Drinks Item Given Away: Kids Juice Drinks Pack Start Date: January 27 End Date: February 11 Tummy Tickler Tots - Now your toddler can grab his or her favorite character topper and enjoy reduced sugar apple juice any time! Perfect for daycare, play dates and road trips alike, you’ll love the affordability, quality and convenience of our Value Packs. Not to mention the lasting memories you and your little one will share with each and every serving! Tummy Tickler – Now your preschooler can grab his or her favorite character topper and…
Hands Free Hipzbag | Review

admin - Jennifer

26 Jan 2012 | 12:10 pm

Company: Hipzbag Item Reviewed: Tan Hipzbag Hipzbag is a new fashionable, modern version of the old-school fanny pack- perfect for a mom on-the-go! This unique stylish bag can be worn on your hip by attaching the swivel hoops directly on to your belt loops, or by using the matching waist strap. It has enough space for personal essential items and even has a back pocked designed exclusively for a convenient cell phone holder. Hipzbag come in a variety of styles and fabrics, like faux leather, rhinestones, patent leather, metallic, studs, velveteen, and so much more. My Thoughts I was a user…

Peapod Squad Stuff
How Perfectionism Nearly Killed my Blog

Monica

20 Jan 2012 | 10:31 pm

Since going back to work outside of home, I’ve REALLY neglected my blog. It’s not that I haven’t written. I have. I’ve written in a good old-fashioned pen-and-paper journal. I’ve posted on facebook. I’ve even written several posts for here. But…my ridiculous need to get it just right has kept stuff in draft. I hesitate before clicking “publish” because I don’t feel like I’ve taken my time and gotten the words all right. Maybe I haven’t included the perfect photo, the witty quote, whatever. So I save the draft and get…
The Case of the Swallowed Tooth

Monica

4 Sep 2011 | 7:23 pm

Snap got really upset this morning while I was getting ready for church. I heard him crying and opened my door to ask what was wrong. Snap: Mom, I’m really scared because I think I swallowed my tooth. Me:Why do you think that? Snap: Well, I swallowed something hard and look (opens his mouth and yep…bloody spot where a tooth once was). Me: Yep, it does look like you swallowed your tooth. It will be fine. No need to panic. Snap: But Mom, what if it bites my stomach? Won’t that be awful? And what if it stays in there forever? Is this dangerous? Me: It won’t stay in your…
Catching My Breath

Monica

26 Aug 2011 | 8:39 pm

I don’t think I have EVER gone this long without blogging. EVER. Not since I started in 2004. But when I say I’ve been busy, I’m grossly understating the facts. I’ve been MAD busy. We drove to NY with the kids this summer. (Take a moment to read that one more time.) Drove. 1000 miles each way. In a smallish vehicle. With 3 six-year-olds. And my in-laws’ luggage. Then we braved NYC public transportation. With 3 six-year-olds. And we all survived. Without Xanax. I let the squad go on a 2-night trip with my parents WITHOUT me. That was a first. And those of you who…

MYLESTONES
To love them toward the horizon

26 Jan 2012 | 6:23 am

Every morning they measure taller, yet no amount of height minifies this urge to reach and clutch with both hands, to shout "careful" when they dart ahead even by an inch. It is impulse, reflex, the tick of a lovesick mother. But I have been careful my whole life, perhaps too careful, and do I want them to dwell in this chest-tight caution, or do I want them to move beyond me with open lungs and palms? Would I ask them to settle for a safe ceiling when infinite sky waits just outside these walls? I don't yet know how to let go, how to stop my mouth from saying "slow down, you might fall", how…
I will keep building castles

19 Jan 2012 | 8:52 am

My five year old sang the clean up song for the entirety of the drive to the gym. There are four lines in the clean up song and eight miles to the gym. If she sang the song on repeat, how many times did her mother have to listen to it? (Write a number model and show your work.) If only there was a positive correlation between the number of times Dani sang the clean up song and the number of minutes in a month that my house could pass as "clean." "Don't get me wrong. I'm not glorifying the days of working full time," I told my friend today. "I haven't forgotten how the stress impacted me…
More Than You Might Think

16 Jan 2012 | 8:10 am

I sat wedged between an oval window and a gray-haired, gray-suited man. No use opening our laptops during the hop from Frankfurt to Zurich. There was barely time for the beverage service. He folded his newspaper twice over and back. I reached for my book. Even three chapters deep into Gore Vidal's The Golden Age, I struggled to follow the myriad of characters parading across the pages of the 1940s. Jet-lagged and meeting-weary, I read words, sentences, paragraphs, and reaching the end of the page, I knew none of it. I started to drift. His voice startled me back to the open page. He ordered a…

Parenting Course | Parent Classes | My Mommy Manual
How to Begin Again

Practical Mommy

17 Jan 2012 | 11:16 am

I’ve been unapologetically absent here in 2011. Since November/December of 2010, when I was challenged to examine the way I work and live in the world, it’s been a process of letting go of old patterns of behavior. The way I was engaging here was clearly off — not in the outcome because I truly believe in the community we are creating and supporting — but my process. Let me tell you how it was… like many bloggers I know, I was burning the candle at both ends. We had way too many commitments for the number of hours in the day: TV appearances, guest columns/posts,…
How to Set Powerful Resolutions this New Year

Zen Mommy

8 Jan 2012 | 3:55 pm

“Where love is, so is transformation. …because love is transformation, moment to moment.” -J. Krishnamurti We are now well into the second week of 2012. How’s your New Year’s resolution going? If you’ve all but given up on resolutions, you are not alone. Zen Mommy talks about why most resolutions leave us feeling guilty and looks at the difference between “change” and “transformation” with Carol on Great Day St. Louis. Maybe you set a New Year’s resolution and are still rocking it; eating better, exercising more, clearing out…
How to Find Support for Postpartum Depression

Practical Mommy

19 Dec 2011 | 12:14 pm

My mom suffered from postpartum depression. And it altered the course of her life and mine forever. I’ve had dear friends whose relationships with their children and partners have similarly been affected in a deep and defining way by PPD. One of them is my friend, Katherine Stone. Babble included her blog, Postpartum Progress in the Top 10 Mom Blogs of 2011, naming it as a groundbreaking resource for moms and moms-to-be. I happen to agree. If you are a new mom and are struggling… please check it out. And if you or someone you love need some pre- postpartum support, I have another…

Rock And Drool
Getting Ready To Leave, Getting Ready To Let Go

admin

27 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm

It was just yesterday I met her. Five year old, wide eyed exuberance. Bursting with energy, bubbling over into laughter. Hair thrown into lumpy, lopsided pigtails. Gaping holes where baby teeth once were, waiting for their permanent arrival. Scabbed knees and runny nose. Oblivious and carefree, crawling affectionately into laps. Eleven years later, the five year old is gone but not forgotten. Hair neat and straight parted. Permanent teeth pulled straight by braces about to come off. Faded scars, the only thing left from scabs. The wide eyed exuberance is now focused on music, boys and…
Parenting But Stills and What Ifs: A Brief Thought of Selfishness

admin

25 Jan 2012 | 12:45 pm

Being a parent is NOTHING like I expected it to be. Although, I’m not EXACTLY sure what I was expecting to begin with. Yes, I love my children more than life itself. These people are the most important and precious humans on the planet to me. So why is it that sometimes I feel like running away and leaving them all behind? Sometimes, I just want THEM to just shut up and disappear and leave me alone to do my own thing. Looking at those words makes me shudder because really, the thought of them not being there is horrifying. But still. I find myself getting jealous, sometimes, of the…
Post Black-Out Thoughtful Thursday

admin

18 Jan 2012 | 10:19 pm

As usual, Thoughtful Thursday blog hop is brought to you every week by Jessica and Sweaty and of course, little old me.

Moms At Work - Orlando Sentinel
Eating out doesn’t have to break you

koshii eslinger

26 Jan 2012 | 10:23 am

Now that my daughter has outgrown the temper-tantrum stage and is actually showing a lot of maturity when it comes to manners and such, we’ve been eating out a bit more. Now, if you don’t plan ahead, do a little bit of research and order smartly, you’ll end up spending more than you planned. Here are a few tips to eating out on a budget: 1. When ordering for your child(ren), don’t limit yourself to the kids’ menu. There may be appetizers or soups or salads that the little ones will enjoy just fine. Also, what I usually do is order something that I know both she…
Model walks runway while pregnant

anika palm

25 Jan 2012 | 8:05 am

Alessandra Ambrosio looks great while pregnant (Getty Images/Yahoo) Did you look great during your pregnancy? I didn’t. I was not one of those women for whom pregnancy provided an almost supernatural glow that enhanced my looks. In fact, in the first couple of months of my pregnancy, before I revealed that I was expecting, several people — strangers and co-workers alike — told me I didn’t look well and asked whether I was ill. Photos taken throughout my pregnancy also reveal that I didn’t look good during that time. I am, as you can imagine, amazed by women who…
Naming sons for fathers a baby-name tradition that seems to be fading (so long, Junior)

lesliepostal

24 Jan 2012 | 5:58 am

My son shares a first name with his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Because they all have (or had) different middle names, there are no Jrs. or numbers at the end of my boy’s moniker. Which is, frankly, the way I like it. Because while I appreciate (and appreciated) my husband’s desire to keep a family naming tradition going — and to honor his own Dad — I was uncomfortable with Junior and anyone calling my son “little” so-and-so. So we call our son by a middle name. Yeah, that creates its own issues, at times, but at least day-to-day he…

Harassed Mom
Dear FNB – Is it something I did?

LauraKim

28 Jan 2012 | 12:20 am

When we started the shop we opened up a business cheque account and decided to do it all with FNB because David does all his banking with them and they did seem to offer the best deal around for businesses. We overlooked the fact that when we wanted our bond and we enquired with them they took about a month to get back to us – Nedbank had already given us approval by then. (This was with FNB’s twitter man RB Jacobs trying to help) The opening of the cheque account was not without hassle – I had to make many follow up visits and phone calls to get everything confirmed but…
Things I know about life

LauraKim

27 Jan 2012 | 2:48 am

Shae isn’t doing Things I know any more but I am going to keep doing it anyway :-p So things I know about life Parenting is hard. Even if you have a meal plan the brinjal your whole meal went around will be off despite you having checked it. You will stand in dog pee/poop as you are running out the door. Woolworths will always have corn cakes until the day you need to buy. A puppy will arrive on your doorstep at the exact moment you thought your plate was about to break from the weight of stuff on it. Children do not listen. Accept it and work around it. Mothers are the only people who…
That is all!

LauraKim

26 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm

daysgoby
things that go scritch in the night, or I get itchy just thinking about it

Jess

15 Jan 2012 | 8:43 pm

I didn't get a lot of co-operation when I suggested ripping the bedclothes off and letting the beds air a bit today, (actually, I got the rudimentary beginning snortings of a snit from one and the total involvement in a video game from the other) so.... so I pulled out the big guns and gave them a science lesson about dust mites. How they live on dead skin. How a protein in their feces (we
and then we'll find shelving for the garage

Jess

14 Jan 2012 | 10:10 pm

Or something. The list for next spring is growing. Ominously. Paint the house, including the trim around the windows. Finish the ceiling in the livingroom Choose a colour for the livingroom and paint it. Repaint the bathrooms, the kitchen, the kids' bedrooms and the upstairs hall Put MAJOR MONDO shelving into Cass's room Put some bookshelves up in R's room Hang R's chandelier Bathroom floor
most of the time, she looks like a cat

Jess

10 Jan 2012 | 9:57 pm

but then at night when she sucks her toe before she falls asleep, it's obvious she's still a baby. Sweet dreams, y'all.

Mommy Daddy Blog
Snowtographs

Sheena

27 Jan 2012 | 6:05 am

The snow that I so desperately wanted before the holidays came (albeit late) and went. Now, I am craving Spring. I need some green grass and morning dew in my life. Of course we can just pick up and move to the south. Having the flexibility to do so is so wonderful, but we’re just not ready. So I will continue to b-word about it until that time comes, lol. Anywho, I took some photos before the snow melted and I wanted to share them with you :). Sidenote: I look back at photos from previous Winter’s and realize that Jayden always seems to be growing out of his coat. I just picked…
She {hearts} Phix Drinks

Drea

26 Jan 2012 | 6:22 am

How many of you drink mostly water, but on occasion would love a treat to drink? Or maybe you drink a lot of soda, but would love to cut back with a sweet, yet healthy alternative. Phix is a company I came to learn about… that offers an energy herbal drink powder line, as well as a sleep line. Each blend packed full of green tea anti-oxidants and other added vitamins. I got the chance to try not only their energy line but also their sleep line. I will say that I preferred the energy to the sleep… only because I am not a huge fan of lemon. That being said their energy mix…
She {hearts} Strawesome

Aliesha

25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

I came across a neat company recently that sells reusable glass drinking straws. “Why choose glass straws?” you may ask. Well, there are many reasons (click here for the top ten reasons to choose reusable glass straws), but I personally prefer to use them because they are toxin-free (no BPAs or phthalates) and reduce waste. Plus, they look cute and are fun to use! Strawesome sent me a Barely Bent Going Green Straw to try out. I love it! I picked green because I think it looks like a Starbuck’s straw. I was worried that glass straws would be too… well,…

Halushki
Tiger Mom, Maybe; Ninja Mom, Definitely

Josette at Halushki

13 Jan 2012 | 8:03 am

Mother: Hey, did you hear anything about any new after school language classes coming up? Child: Whaddaya mean? Mother: You know, like the French class you took after school last year? Child: Huh? Mother: You know, like the French class that's taught by the high school students who come to your school one afternoon a week for a few months to teach you a foreign language? Child: Uh...I dunno. Mother: So, if I email your teacher or look through your backpack, I won't find out that there's another after school language class starting soon? Child: Oh, that. Mother: Yes, that. Child: I don't…
Pennsylvania Farm Show with The Tractor Expert

Josette at Halushki

9 Jan 2012 | 11:22 pm

This is The Tractor Expert. He knows a lot about tractors, farm equipment, and all sorts of machinery that make noise and move things around in a loud, destructive/constructive fashion. Today he is at the Pennsylvania Farm Show - a week-long extravaganza of farm equipment, farming supplies, pigs, goats, chickens, cows, milkshakes, butter sculptures and gewgaws galore. Right now, he is on his third ice cream. Farm Show is a lot like camping: Mom lets you eat a lot of junk. Eating ice cream is also important if you are a Tractor Expert. Here are some of the many fascinating…
Homeschooling Figure Skaters

Josette at Halushki

6 Jan 2012 | 9:11 am

A while back, someone asked me to write a post on my thoughts about homeschooling. They were especially wondering whether I'd ever consider homeschooling my daughter who is a competitive figure skater. At one point when I lived in center city Philadelphia in the catchment area for a seriously failing public school, I had looked into homeschooling. I bought the books, joined the co-ops, engaged in the debates. I was convinced it was for us. Then we moved to the suburbs of Harrisburg and into a seriously awesome public school district. It's not perfect. But the more general complaints about…

Alphamom
Two Kids, One Room

Amalah

27 Jan 2012 | 6:07 pm

Hi Amy, Thank you so much for all the great advice you’ve dispensed! You are awesome. I’m coming to terms with the fact that I’ll have 2 kids by the end of July, and I’m going to need to Make Some Changes. We’re moving into a bigger house with actual for real off street parking (YAHOO!!!) and it has a whole extra room. We can use this room to host the numerous guests I hope will come and watch my 2 children while I sleep, or we can have a room for each child. My daughter will be 2.5 when her sibling is born (don’t know what we’re having). What are…
DIY Valentine Hand-Warmers!

Brenda Ponnay

26 Jan 2012 | 11:37 am

It’s still quite cold outside in February so we decided we’d make some hand-warmer Valentines! What’s better to give than the gift of warm hands after all and of course there’s always the wonderful idea of walking around with a cozy warm heart in your pocket. The messages to go along with these funny little hearts are endless. Here’s how to make the hand-warmers: First you’ll need to gather your supplies: 1. 100% cotton or 100% wool fabric. This is very important because your hand-warmers will need to be able to be microwaved and anything with synthetic…
The Spoiling Boundary

Amalah

25 Jan 2012 | 11:47 am

Hi Amy, I have an in-law dilemma (who doesn’t, right??). On the surface it seems like such a petty little thing, but I think it’s turned into a power struggle. I’m not a confrontational person and I avoid conflict like the plague, and to top that off my in-laws are emotional and take things VERY personally. So I’m having a hard time deciding how to communicate the issue with them. We have a 2-year-old daughter, my in-laws’ only grandchild. They are extremely loving and generous with her. My problem is that they don’t seem to have the same kinds of boundaries I would expect…

Crunchy Green Lovin' Mom
Week 2 - Letter to .... 30-something Dating newbie

13 Jan 2012 | 2:17 pm

Dear 30-something Dating newbie, Do you remember when you were a teenand dating involved those silly little games, someone else telling you theywanted you to date their friend because he had a crush on you? How about thefact that they wanted to break up with you because your hair was toolong/short/dark/light? Forget about it…. You’re an adult now, you are in yourmid-30’s, you might have a family or finally see a break in your career. Youmight have just come out of a 10+ year marriage and you are looking toward theidea of finding someone you want to spend time…
K5 Learning - Because learning can also be taught at home

11 Jan 2012 | 7:36 pm

I believe that school is an integral part of our kids lives. For learning, socialization and problem solving, they get it all in one single day... add 4 more and they get a week of growth right before our eyes. I've got one child in college, another one graduating in 5 months and another graduating next year. I also have 4 others still in elementary school waiting to take on the world that is provided for them. Now, I don't believe that schools are the only teachers around, even with our kids in school we…
Mom... Phineas and Ferb are coming to Denver for a Live Show!!

10 Jan 2012 | 3:25 pm

I don’t watch a ton of kids shows: I know... shocker that Ihave 7 kids and not many shows go on in my house that annoy the tar out of me.BUT… I am going to make a confession. I DIG Phineas & Ferb, they are funny,have great music and aren’t annoying or mindless like so many kids shows thesedays. When I was told that Disney's Phineas & Ferb were coming to theWells Fargo Theatre in Downtown Denver, I was THRILLED! It’s a perfect time ofyear to snuggle up in the theatre, watch a great stage show and see my kidsgiggle at the antics.Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour…

Sticky Fingers
Making me want to be a better person

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Six months ago this week I flew out to Indonesia with UNICEF to see for myself the amazing immunisation campaign they carry out there with Pampers. I've blogged about it extensively here. We were in no man's land. Deep in the jungles of Papua where no one travels and I was seeing things and meeting people very very few others have ever had the privilege of doing. It quite literally felt like the edge of the world. Here was real poverty. Real hardship. Dirt and death. Me. Out there. Me. I'll never forget the reactions of the locals as we arrived at their villages by boat. A sea of huge,…
The Photo Gallery: Week 89

27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

Hello and welcome to week 89 of The Gallery. This week I was tagged in a great hashtag on the photographic site Instagram. The premise was really simple. Take a photograph of yourself at that moment and post it. (You can find me on there as TaraLara). So I'm paying homage to it. Or celebrating it. Ok, I'm pinching it. Whatever. So this week's theme is: Me Right Now. Literally take a photo of whatever you're doing when you read this prompt. I know, I know there will be some people reading this all wide-eyed and yelling BUT I DON'T POST PHOTOS OF MYSELF. What are you doing to me Tara? What,…
The Photo Gallery: My Photography Resolution

25 Jan 2012 | 1:30 am

I've made it my New Year resolution to make sure there are more photos of me in our family's pictorial history. I take all of them so am very very rarely in any. Of course like many, I hate hate hate being in photos but I think about my kids in years to come asking why mummy didn't come on holiday with us that year or why was mummy never around at Christmas and, well, I've determined to change all that. So I thought I'd start with the big change in our lives right now - certainly my life - the dog. The dog whom I walk every single morning after dropping the kids at school, come rain or shine.

Postcards From Yo Momma
We’re Gone For A Day, We Might Die

Postcards From Yo Momma

27 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

We’re leaving to go to South Carolina by plane tomorrow and back on Sunday. Will call when we get back…love you!!! Mom PS: If anything happens to us, coordinate with Aunt Sue and Matt. Matt and you will split everything 50/50.
Butt Dialing, Septic Tanks, Valentines.

Postcards From Yo Momma

25 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

Backstory: More irreverence from my mother who feels that all news must be put in to one email, less than 500 words, telegram style. I don’t even know how to respond to this. Where to begin? Yesterday we went to the barbershop (Dad’s hair covering collar). While I was sitting there waiting for Dad, the cell phone rang. It was your aunt. She was sitting at Reagan airport and didn’t mean to call me, she said. The barber said that’s called “butt dialing.” Septic Tank people called to say they had an emergency so didn’t come to us-coming this…
Happy Milk Day

Postcards From Yo Momma

23 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

Am in the taxi and watching the crazy tv in the back and I see that we along with mayor bloomberg and many more are celebrating milk day! I am thinking, what the hell, is the recession so bad that we have to say thanks to the cows?!? I now see that it was MLK day as in Martin Luther King!! I think I am really losing it! Your mom!

Ask Moxie
Watch this video, please

Moxie

25 Jan 2012 | 12:33 pm

A friend linked this video to me, and I clicked on it to be polite, but now I'm shaking. Because this could happen to any of us. We are all this mom in this video. What she says at 2:08, yeah, that would be me. "Sorry to bother you..." It would probably be you, too. Be careful out there. You are worth taking care of.
Thinking out loud, ok?

Moxie

19 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

I read a funny piece about parenting classes the other day, and among all the funny (and obvious) tips in the article was the idea that you should never end a request to your child with "OK." The logic was that you were asking for your child's permission or if what you were telling them to do was OK with them, and that made your request ignorable. That just made me laugh, because to me, ending a request with "OK?" (which I do often) means "Did you hear and understand what I just told you/asked you to do? Give me verbal confirmation that you received my…
Pretend this is blacked out

Moxie

18 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

I really want to participate in SOPA Strike Day, today, January 18, 2012. For those of you who don't know what SOPA is, our jackass Congress here in the US is trying to censor what we do on the internet, so we're going down today in protest. Unfortunately, I'm such a technological dunce that I can't figure out how to make my site go down without just deleting the whole thing. (And thank you to my friends who tried to talk me through it last night, but seriously, it's beyond me.) So can we please all just pretend there's nothing here? No posts, no archives, no…

GummyLump.com Blog
5 Fun Ways for Kids to Play with Stuffed Animals

27 Jan 2012 | 11:06 am

1. Throw a Party Have your child gather up all of the same kind of animal (teddy bears, for example) and create a pretend birthday or tea party! 2. Go on Safari Have a sibling or parent hide some jungle stuffed animals in one area of the house. Give the child a list (in pictures or words) of animals to find. The child then checks off each animal on the list as it's found. Dressing up like an explorer and wearing binoculars adds even more fun to this pretend play game. 3. Play School Get your stuffed animals seated and…
10 Fun Ways for Toddlers & Preschoolers to Play with Snow Inside!

21 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm

Bring the Joy of Snow Indoors for Toddlers & Preschoolers! Supplies Needed: Snow, Towel(s), Plastic Container (a cookie sheet will work in some cases). Everything else is optional (You may want to put gloves or mittens on their hands). 10 Fun Ways for Toddlers & Preschoolers to Play with Snow Inside!Ice cream shop Fill a large plastic container with snow. Add an ice cream scoop, some spoons, and plastic or paper bowls. Use paper cups as "cones". Sprinkles can be coffee or sensory rice Make "snow" cones Fill a few small plastic container with snow. Add a different color food…
Shop Our Biggest Holiday Sale Ever: Up to 50% off Site Wide!

6 Dec 2011 | 10:36 am

Shop Our Biggest Holiday Sale Ever: Up to 50% off Site Wide! Gift WizardUse our gift wizard to help you find the perfect holiday gift for any child on your list! Stocking StuffersToys Under $5 that will fit into a Christmas Stocking are waiting for you! Our stocking stuffer toys are the perfect something extra for that special child on your Christmas Gift List! Toys Under $10Our Toys Under $10 section offers you a super selection of hundreds of QUALITY toys for ten dollars or less! When you need a great toy at a great price, this is the stop where 10 bucks shops! Wooden Toys from…

Moms Inspire Learning
Can a strength and a weakness be the same thing?

Dawn Morris

25 Jan 2012 | 4:31 pm

In my case, yes. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you've probably spotted what "it" is. I love to read and seek out high quality resources! The online library catalog is my playground, while the internet is...
Do We Need to Redefine Self-Esteem?

Dawn Morris

17 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pm

"Self-esteem, as defined by our culture, is a myth." ~Terry Diebold, Marriage and Family Therapist, Presbyterian Minister, speaker, and author of The Myth of Self Esteem - 50 Ways to Stop Sabotaging Yourself That's a pretty bold statement in this...
Adding a Splash of Color to the Learning Process

Dawn Morris

10 Jan 2012 | 2:30 pm

I don't accept review requests very often; but when Barbara Esham asked me to review 4 picture books in The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series, I didn't have to think twice. They're right up my alley, and a much needed...

The Ohana Mama, parenting dispatches from paradise
Hawaiian Word of the Day: Kuleana {responsibility}

Sarah

26 Jan 2012 | 1:50 pm

I know that many of you share a love for Hawaii that runs deep. Many of you have either lived here before, dream of living here, you vacation here or maybe you just dream of vacationing here. Or, you may live on Maui or in the Aloha state. In any case, most of you share [...]
Get crafty for Chinese New Year…the year of the dragon!

Sarah

25 Jan 2012 | 3:53 am

I had an extra hand in today’s craft, he had sniffles and a sore throat but he enjoyed it nonetheless. Today my daughter and seven-year old, together, made a perfect craft for celebrating the Chinese New Year and the year of the dragon. Here’s how we transformed a couple of toilet paper roll and a [...]
Life lessons from a drive along the highway

Sarah

24 Jan 2012 | 5:55 pm

On my way to TEDxMaui this past weekend (which was amazing and you can catch the replay here), I got stuck in a bit of slow traffic due to a marathon that was taking place along our two-lane highway. As I watched the people running I took note of what I could learn from them. [...]

BrainFoggles
Tide Coldwater Review #tide #washcold

Connie

27 Jan 2012 | 8:59 pm

Tide Coldwater Laundry Detergent is made to be used with cold water. Wash all of your clothing, sheets, towels and other laundry in cold water and save money on electricity. In fact, according to Tide, “you can save up to 80% of energy with every load.” But does it clean? I tried Tide Coldwater for about two weeks and found my laundry to be super clean! We left the temperature setting on my washer on cold even for items that called for warm or hot water. Out came clean laundry with stains gone without pre-treating. Tide isn’t my normal choice of laundry detergent, but after…
Struggling {Guest Post}

Connie

25 Jan 2012 | 9:28 am

I’m struggling. Tonight, I’m sitting here, wondering what to write and I know that deep down, and I’m struggling. I don’t know if I’ve lost my mojo, but I don’t even feel like writing on my own blogs. What I do feel like doing is curling up and going to sleep and not doing a thing. However, I know there are people in worse shape than me, the person that’s lost their mojo. I think of my friends who’ve had multiple surgeries like Connie, friends going thru nasty separations and custody battles, or @WhyMommy and know that as far as life goes? Things…
Founding Member of Mom Bloggers For Social Good

Connie

23 Jan 2012 | 5:58 pm

As a founding member of Mom Bloggers for Social Good, begun by Jennifer James, I’ll be upholding one of the main goals for my blog – advocating for nonprofits. When I got the email about this opportunity, I was in the hospital. I didn’t know if I’d be home for Christmas and I was hurting, but this email made my day! Helping to raise awareness about charities, helping with fundraising and helping to raise money for trips for bloggers to take part in the these nonprofit partners’ projects is more than I can ask for. You can still join and take part in of Mom…
Mommyfail? [Guest Post]

expandsm

21 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Today I had a perfect example of “Mommyfail.” I received an email from the school psychologist, reminding me that I was late completing and returning a parent-assessment form for an evaluation for my son. Why? I yelled at myself. How could I forget to send it back? Inside my head a Jack Nicholson-like voice let me have it. How could you be so stupid?! How could you not put your child ahead of your other eighty-million things you have going on every day? This is his education for #&@)’s sake! You stayed up until midnight last night working on your…
How to advocate for your child [Guest Post]

expandsm

20 Jan 2012 | 6:35 pm

This post is a follow up to the Fight for Education posts written by Heather. Her blog can be found at Cool and Hip, I Am Not. ——- Acting as your child’s advocate is part of your role as a parent. When you send them off to school, you have to trust that all their needs are being met. And while it is important be involved regardless of your child(ren)’s learning abilities, there is a right way to properly advocate for your child. There is a seat for everyone One step at a time Children, contrary to popular belief, do not act the same way at school…

Strocel.com
Podcast: Talking Family Size with Three Moms

Amber

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

How do you know when you’re “done” having kids? It’s a question I’ve been grappling with since about 20 minutes after my son Jacob was born. He was my second, and my husband was quite convinced that with one girl and one boy, our family was complete. I wasn’t. The babylust is strong in me. I know moms who have a very strong feeling that their family is complete, but I’m just not there. There may be many rational reasons to shut down the baby factory, but biology doesn’t always respond to reason, and so the desire to procreate remains. StephanieI…
Letting Go of What Isn’t Working

Amber

26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

It’s Thursday, so I’m Crafting my Life! If you’d like to craft your life, too, and find a greater sense of purpose, sign up for the Crafting my Life Online Class, which starts SOON. Or, enter my giveaway and win a free registration. Get ready to do something for yourself, because you deserve it! Last week, I told you that I’d discovered my mission in life – or at least my mission in life right now. And here it is: My mission in life is to help other mothers live happier, more fulfilled lives. This really resonates with me because it takes a lot of things that I…
Me and My Skin

Amber

25 Jan 2012 | 12:22 pm

I have always had a tenuous relationship with my skin, at best. I am naturally blond and pale, which means that I sunburn easily. I can spend two weeks in Hawaii, and when I get back people ask me if I hid in my hotel room. To my constant chagrin as a teenager I just don’t tan – or at least not enough that someone who can’t see me naked would notice. (When I’m naked, my tan lines show, and there is some visible contrast.) On top of that, I’ve been prone to break-outs since I was about 10 years old. I remember getting my first pimple. I was in grade four. No one…
The Other Half of the Story

Amber

24 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

My son Jacob is nearing the halfway point of his fourth year, which is really just a fancy way of saying that he’s almost three and a half. At this age, he’s making big leaps in terms of expressing himself. His words are getting clearer, his sentences are getting longer and the ideas he’s sharing are more complex. Six months ago he rendered verdicts like, “No like it da fwoot!” Today he’s more likely to say, “Mama, mama-mama-mama-mama, I don’t like it, mama. Because, because, because this fruit is not good. Can I have an apple. Please, mama? I…
Joining Forces and Resolving to Fight Climate Change

Amber

23 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. In fact, it may be the most pressing issue. As the evidence mounts, and the scientific community reaches a strong consensus that our actions are affecting the average temperature of the planet we live on, we can no longer turn a blind eye to the reality of what’s happening. The time has come to act. This is why, for the month of January, the Green Moms Carnival has decided to join our voices together to speak out and share what we’re doing to fight climate change. When we’re faced with these big,…

THE MEANEST MOM
Rudolph the Semi-Decapitated Reindeer

Jana

3 Jan 2012 | 8:58 pm

Yesterday, my husband suggested that instead of driving to the nearest Redbox to return a movie that we had watched on New Year’s Eve (we are super big party animals) that we ride our bikes there instead. “That sounds like fun,” I agreed. “Fun” we learned very quickly, is a relative term.The event that followed was certainly more fun than getting impaled by a hot poker, but considerably less fun than just about anything else. The minute our caravan turned out of neighborhood, Cameron started pinching my back. “OUT!” he screamed while trying to propel himself out of his bike…

Bubbles n' Cups
Happy Year of the Dragon

bubblesncups

23 Jan 2012 | 10:46 am
Lighter Red Clam Sauce

bubblesncups

1 Jan 2012 | 6:33 pm

Great flavor with less calories. Yum! Recipe from SparkPeople.
Burnt Tongue

bubblesncups

1 Jan 2012 | 7:22 am

Happy New Year! It’s a leap year. One more day to keep a resolution. Off topic: I just spilled my entire cup of coffee on the kitchen floor. That’s annoying, but I refilled it with what was left in the pot…and burnt my tongue because I forgot the coffee maker, well, keeps the coffee HOT! Yup, I spat it out on the just-wiped floor. Happy 2012! I promise to write a post each day.
Homemade Pizza

bubblesncups

31 Dec 2011 | 6:19 pm

“This looks like Chuck E. Cheese’s pizza.” That’s a compliment, right? I can go national now. Recipe: whole wheat pita pasta sauce shredded Mexican cheese a few pieces of pepperoni Bake at 450 deg for about 8 minutes. Enjoy! Kids do.
When in Chinatown, Look For These

bubblesncups

29 Dec 2011 | 8:20 pm

The Crazy Suburban Mom
Organ!zed: Pyrex

Tracy Reinhardt

27 Jan 2012 | 7:17 am

Over the last few years some okay, a lot of Pyrex has come into my home. At first my family didn't mind, we didn't have enough serving bowls. But the bowls continued to show up. I loved my concentric stacks of colorful love. My family didn't understand the obsession and resented their circular glass rivals that now covered all horizontal surfaces. The second to the last straw were the fridgies. "Who wants little square bowls?" they asked. This tall, red tower was the last straw. They didn't get my…
Putting myself first on my own list

Tracy Reinhardt

26 Jan 2012 | 5:35 am

Found something interesting a few weeks ago when I was surfing about clutter; according to The Riley Group: "Did you know clutter actually impacts your health? In addition to stress, clutter leads to weight gain, fatigue, and depression." Weight gain really got my attention, not that stress, fatigue and depression don't interest me but when my jeans won't zip it's all downhill. They went on to say, "The reason clutter affects so much is simple. Clutter causes stress; stress causes increased cortisol production and excess cortisol impacts health. When your body makes extra…
It's National Handwriting Day so...

Tracy Reinhardt

23 Jan 2012 | 1:16 pm

Go write something! Every January 23rd the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association sponsors National Handwriting Day in conjunction with John Hancock’s birthday. "Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and is famous for his large, bold signature,"according to the WIMA. Go right out and celebrate the day by buying a pen (and, for reals.... a Filofax couldn't hurt either). You remember pens don't you? They are styluses with colorful, liquid centers. Here's my wish list Pilot Fountain Pen 18K Gold…
Wool Gathering....

Tracy Reinhardt

22 Jan 2012 | 9:44 am

If you have a wool sweater laying around gathering mothballs, cold hands, and the sewing skills of a five year old I've got a great project. They are called many things; wrist warmers, fingerless gloves and more recently texting gloves. I didn't have a wool sweater but the thrift shop had a truly unfortunate one in need of a home. For five bucks I couldn't resist. It was thick and cheap, and most important, wool. You can't do this project without a felt-able fiber and only animal fibers felt. When you're out and about thrifting look for wool, alpaca,…
Tickle me, Filo

Tracy Reinhardt

20 Jan 2012 | 11:05 am

The Year On One Page insert is a very important part of my Filofax though my main calendar is a WO2P (I talked about my main set up here). I started using the YO1P in 2011 and it followed me though several binders; I even taped it to my Midori Traveler's Notebook Terri at Filofax Fixation posted about nearly missing a deadline because of the way the page folds and I hear you, Terri; been there, did that, and had to pay the doctor even though I missed the appointment. I made this (Yo1P) insert efficient using color and tabs. The color-coding…

Genny Heikka
What children teach us

Genny

25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

Isn’t that the truth?! Hat tip to BabyDickey for the cute baby quote! I pinned a bunch of mom-quotes on Pinterest, where, by the way, I’ve been havinng too much fun. As the... Visit my blog at http://www.gennyheikka.com to read more!
Five Ways to Get Your Kids Exercising

Genny

23 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

Welcome to Mom-Monday. I’m glad you’re here! Today, we’re talking about exercise and how to get our kids in on the action. I’m sharing an article I wrote a while ago for a... Visit my blog at http://www.gennyheikka.com to read more!
If we treat them like a treasure…

Genny

21 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

they will become a treasure… Do I love you because you’re beautiful, Or are you beautiful because I love you? ~Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderella Thank you,... Visit my blog at http://www.gennyheikka.com to read more!
Those jeans are workin’ for ya!

Genny

20 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

I went to a Girlfriends’ Night Out with some friends a while ago where Kathy Lipp (author of The Marriage Project and The Husband Project) spoke. She talked about keeping your marriage strong... Visit my blog at http://www.gennyheikka.com to read more!
You can make your pie (and eat it too)

Genny

18 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

My mom came up with a great apple pie recipe that I wanted to share. We made it when she was here to celebrate her birthday and it was delicious. The recipe has a few twists in it that make it... Visit my blog at http://www.gennyheikka.com to read more!

Blueshelled
Book Review: The Underside of Joy by Sere Prince Halverson

Jillian

20 Jan 2012 | 9:14 pm

We want to believe that once we’ve found joy in our lives, all of the hardships have been worth it and nothing will spoil that wonder we have gained. As such, we take pains to keep our lives unblemished and pure and for some people, that means hiding the wrongs they have committed or the mistakes they have made in order to keep their lives as joyful and pain-free as possible. They never understand, after the fact, how it could have gone wrong or what they missed or how they have hurt their loved ones. It is in the midst of this joy that we find Ella. She has been through one bad…
Kindle for kids

Jillian

18 Jan 2012 | 5:15 pm

It used to be that technological gadgets were solely for the adults who could afford them. Kids were expected to enjoy kid things and appreciate what they were offered. However, as we’ve grown with technology, we’ve figured out that we can use that technology to help our kids grown and learn in ways that may be more effective than some of the ways that we have been trying to teach them. One of the nice things about the obsolete nature of technology is that it is not only for adults anymore. When something begins to drop in price and starts to lose it’s shiny value for…
Book Review: Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up by Harriet Lerner

Jillian

14 Jan 2012 | 11:02 pm

Time for full discloser on this one: #1/I got this book for free to review it and #2/I’m a huge Harriet Lerner fangirl so excuse me while I SQUEE that I got to review one of her books in advance. I know, it’s ridiculous, right? Some of us psychology girls geek out on Harriet Lerner because she’s a fantastic author, writes incredibly well, doles out down to earth psychology wisdom and does it in a way that is easy to read. It’s nice to glean wisdom outside of class and from the comfort of my electric heating blanket. I have most of Lerner’s books on my…
Happy birthday to my sweet bubby

Jillian

8 Jan 2012 | 1:12 am

11 years ago today my little AJ decided to grace us with his presence. I would get all sweet and sappy, but I’m avoiding the inevitable Mommy breakdown that comes when you realize your kid is growing up. Happy day, sweetie!
Book Review: Solomon’s Oak by Jo-Ann Mapson

Jillian

30 Dec 2011 | 8:47 pm

Usually, I don’t jump right into my reviews, but Solomon’s Oak by Jo-Ann Mapson was so compelling that I feel like I need to get right down to it today. I was lucky enough to snag a copy of this from an early review program, which is odd because this book actually came out in hardback in 2010 and is available on Amazon.com for a bargain price right now! Frankly, I’m shocked that the price was lowered because this was one of my favorite reads this year. Solomon’s Oak introduces us to Glory, a newly widowed woman who is still grieving for her husband and desperately…

Playground Confidential
I’m Expecting … Birth Centres, Aren’t You?

rebecca

28 Jan 2012 | 12:25 am

All three of my births were attended by midwives and I cannot say enough about the quality of care I received. So it’s too bad I’ve said very little.* Hey, a gal gets tired and lazy and can’t be blogging all the time when she’s pregnant, okay? Lay off. So let me just say this. Midwives provided me with knowledge and understanding throughout my pregnancies. They gave me information and sought out my explicit consent about every test and procedure. They helped me be in control. Midwives taught me about the stages of labour and about birth and breastfeeding. They were in…
X-Treme Board Game Disaster

rebecca

25 Jan 2012 | 12:59 pm

Confession: I can’t get my kids to pick up after themselves. It’s worse than that, in fact. They like to take entire toy bins and games with a zillion pieces and just dump them out all over the floor. Leave them alone for a few minutes and you will return to find a room that looks less like some children have been playing and more like a madman has been rifling through all the drawers and shelves, throwing and breaking things willy nilly. We had taken all of the board games they’ve been given as gifts and put them away in a cabinet in the office. They’re really too…
Which Would You Rather Eat, I Mean, Look Like?

rebecca

16 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

Pre-pregnancy jeans, take 3: Image courtesy flickr.com/photos/23126594@N00/135026216/ Image courtesty flickr.com/photos/veganfeast/3925029206/ Success! Well, my mid-section is still a little more muffiny than, say, a baguette with, er, hips and leaky breasts. (How do those French women stay so slim?) But this time — THIS TIME — I have been able to wear them for several hours and they don’t even hurt. So either my sweet-free New Year’s resolution is yielding results or my jeans finally caved. “Hot damn, woman, you’re not trying to fit that ass in here again,…

Mommas in the House - A blog that focuses on true momma experiences
Unlimited Talk, Text & Web for $45 with Walmart Family Mobile

Susan

18 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

How much is your mobile phone bill? For me, it pretty much rivals my car insurance premium, so at a money standpoint, it doesn’t look smart (I pay a high premium for living in the beautiful city of Los Angeles where most people can’t drive). For years, the one reason that kept my mom from getting a smartphone was the additional costs associated with it (you know, the data charges). She wouldn’t be using much of anything and still have to pay for everything. With money-savvy customers in mind, like my mom, T-Mobile introduced the $50 Monthly4G plan where you get unlimited…
Happy 2012!

Susan

1 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! Hope your 2012 is filled with love, happiness, health, abundance and everything in between. I look forward to this new year and can’t wait to see what’s in store for all of us.
New Year’s Resolution: Lose Inches Wearing HotPants

Susan

30 Dec 2011 | 6:00 am

HotPants is all the craze with women all over the world. Why? Because women are losing weight and seeing results. Just read what people are saying on their Facebook page. As women, we all know what cellulite is? Whether you have it or not (and most of us have it, small or large), it’s unappealing and unattractive. HotPants has Celu‐Lite™ technology imbedded in the pants so that while you are wearing it, you are working on smoothing out those dimpled thighs. Just recently, I received the HotPants to try out. The pants I received were a size small which were too big for me…

If Evolution Really Works....
Favorite Song to Belt Out When You’re Compeletly Alone?

Nancy

20 Jan 2012 | 11:26 pm

Mine: Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick Yours?
I Should Really Go Up to Bed,

Nancy

29 Nov 2011 | 10:41 pm

but I’d rather spew something before I forget it…… True story: I’m sitting in “My Spot” on the couch today. My dear husband is sitting in “His Spot”. We both have laptops on…shockingly, our laps. He can see my screen, I can see his. I’m sitting and intensely working on “Work”. He asks me if I could please google something for him. And me? I respond, “Sure honey, let me stop right in the middle of programming some software. I wouldn’t want you to be interrupted from Facebook!!!! Muah, Muah. What else can I…
It’s Official……..

Nancy

28 Nov 2011 | 9:29 pm

I am my grandmother’s granddaughter. I have vivid memories of three things regarding my grandmother. The first was the vision of her half hanging out the window, keeping watch on all the goings on in the neighborhood. (Read: Yenta) The second was her weekly Mah Jong game, to which I might add I have been playing…monthly for a year now. The third and final was her bingo addiction. And I am confessing now…to you…..that I have become a fan of OnlineBingo.com, because honestly, I draw the line at hitting bingo parlors (is there such a thing anymore, anyway?) and…

Make It Do
Mixed Berry Cobbler and Giveaway Winner

Calli

27 Jan 2012 | 11:17 am

First of all, for the random winner of Tanya Whelan’s beautiful book Sew What You Love: The Easiest, Prettiest Projects Ever Congratulations Enid! Send me an email with your mailing address so we can get your book sent out to you. – - – - – - – - – - – - – - [...]
Q-tip Tip: Cleaning Picture Frames

Calli

26 Jan 2012 | 2:06 pm

I’ve been trying to deep clean this month. Nothing feels better than making a room really shine. As I go through each room, I’ve been dusting thoroughly, including my picture frames. They say that half the battle of any cleaning job is using the right tool. And nothing works better at getting into the crevices [...]
Fabric Love and Other Things

Calli

25 Jan 2012 | 9:17 am

My New Year’s Resolution: Don’t buy fabric unless I KNOW what I’m using for and how much I’ll need. It hasn’t taken long, and I’ve kind of broken that resolution already. I stole a piece of this floral fabric (Karen Snyder from Timeless Treasures) from my mom last month for a few projects. I loved [...]

The Happy 'Ness' Plan | The Happy 'Ness' Plan
The Crazy Cleaning Guidebook is here!

andreaandtim

27 Jan 2012 | 2:59 pm

On this new cleaning and organization kick I am in, I realized one problem I was having in this department, is I just didn’t like doing it! ________ Really, the last thing I wanted to do when I got home from work is clean, so I found myself running around like a sweaty banshee hours before company would be coming over, or spend whole days catching up on laundry, with piles of clothes sprawled on our bed just waiting on me to finally fold them. ________ And with the ‘I just don’t like doing it’ mindset, I realized the reason why I don’t like it is because my…
give a little. watch the village grow.

andreaandtim

24 Jan 2012 | 1:16 pm

Have you seen/experienced a life-altering event that changed your life or made you see life completely differently? That is what happened to me a bit over a year ago when I seen first-hand the devastation and pain that Epidermolysis Bullosa, a genetic skin disorder, brings to families. When our best friends’ daughter, Aubrey Joy Oberlin, was born with Epidermolysis Bullosa one of the first things I did was search the internet to learn about this disorder. The first story that came across my Google search results was that of a four-year-old boy named Charlie Knuth. Charlie was making…
On the road to the empty jar – here, here to weight loss!

andreaandtim

19 Jan 2012 | 9:30 pm

The countdown begins!! Next week officially starts my 18-week training program for my HALF MARATHON at the Traverse City Bayshore Marathon! Here is the current fabulous schedule that I’m using. For my last couple 10K trainings, I used Hal Higdon’s training schedules. Which also means it will be my 16-week weight loss CRAZINESS with the celebration party being in Now Jade Riviera Cancun. Ok, well maybe it’s not MY party but a wedding for good friends, but I don’t have to tell my mind that. So to make it a bit more fun, these will reside next to my scale in the bathroom.

Ron Rosenhead
Leadership development + project management training = real difference

Ron Rosenhead

24 Jan 2012 | 3:52 am

The weather at Heathrow airport was awful and for the first time ever, I felt dizzy on an aeroplane; and it was on the ground. When I looked at the wings, I understood why I felt so ill. The wind was moving the body of the plane and you could see the wings going up and down. As soon as … Read More >
What are your project management New Year’s resolutions?

Ron Rosenhead

17 Jan 2012 | 4:33 am

She told me directly; “I made this New Year’s resolution and I was good, really good for a week and then, it simply slipped away…” I started to think about New Year’s resolutions that some project managers may have made: to focus on the risks that my projects may well face and how to manage them to ensure that changes … Read More >
Clients want practical project management training….

Ron Rosenhead

12 Jan 2012 | 4:40 am

I work with many professional staff whose exposure to projects has thus far been low or non-existent. They can be a marketer, a social worker, IT specialist, in HR to name but a small few. Many of these people are given ‘substantial tasks’ and find themselves needing help and support and training. This is where I come in. We normally … Read More >

Tropic of Mom: Life at Latitude 26
Weekend by numbers: Tag-team parenting, and trains

Holly

8 Jan 2012 | 10:29 pm

1: Afternoon spent hanging with my Junebug, while....1: Afternoon the Man-cub tried out the dadster's prototype bicycle-pedal-powered train.2: Arms and shoulders that got tired (much needed for still-developing fine motor skills).1: Birthday party I took the Junebug to while the Man-cub stayed home.1: Birthday party I took the Man-cub to while the Junebug stayed home.(1: Time I couldn't bite my tongue and told a party-goer it wasn't nice she stole my parking spot. She turned out to be the birthday boy's grandma. Go me.)
I say blah blah blah

Holly

14 Dec 2011 | 3:06 pm

The so-called blogging experts say you shouldn't write "why I haven't blogged" posts, but I figure you deserve an explanation.If you are coming here in your free time to read my silly drivel and even check in on me (which I didn't realize until 10 minutes ago ... thank you!), then you are true friends.I could wax poetic about writing and life, but I'll spare your eyes. (Save your good vision for wrapping presents, reading holiday cards that arrive in the mail and watching specials on TV.)Basically, I just can't keep up the blogging game anymore -- and trying to do so has ruined my health.I…
Weekend by numbers: Rain, rain and more rain

Holly

30 Oct 2011 | 10:51 pm

1: Flash flood warning.1: Closed street.1: Day without Internet access.1: Neighbor's birthday party that was postponed due to the weather.1: Friend's birthday party that carried on ... but was flooded.3: Days of rain. Hard rain.5: Inches of rain from the former Hurricane Rina on already-soaked land. (Um. Did you see that picture above? How does a 5-inch rainfall create a 7-inch-deep lake in a field?)6: Halloween cupcakes.(Yeah, those are Easter and Hanukkah decorations. I thought I had Halloween decorations but turns out I didn't. I don't know how I got a Hanukkah cupcake topper, but the…

Crazy Texas Mommy
Sometimes While NJ Talks With His Out Loud Voice, I Have Conversations With Him in My Head. By "Sometimes" I Mean Usually

23 Jan 2012 | 8:15 am

NJ has started preparing me for the things I need to make sure to do around the house when he goes back to work in a few weeks. A lot of times when he says those things, I give the appropriate response out loud, but in my head I'm having an entirely different conversation. It's generally mocking. For example, here's a re-enactment of a conversation we had yesterday: NJ: This spring when you're mowing the yard, you need to make sure to check for baby squirrels and bunnies before you mow so you don't accidentally hit them. Me (in my head): Mow the yard this spring? That's precious? Have…
The One Good Thing This Week

20 Jan 2012 | 10:49 am

This week my pride took quite a beating and I've been a little blue and a little angry (or a lot) which has impacted my dedication to getting skinny a bit. Not so much food wise-I wasn't really all that hungry due to stress and when I did eat it I couldn't eat much without wanting to puke. It was with the working out. I was busy and unmotivated and my workouts were sporadic at best. But I noticed two things before today's weigh in that brightened me a little and made me realize I was making progress: 1) My clothes fit differently. They're looser in my thighs and across my belly. Those…
The Generation Gap Rears its Ugly Head

14 Jan 2012 | 5:51 pm

The following is a re-enactment of the conversation that went down between Gracie and me just a few minutes ago while watching the Oikos greek yogurt commercial: Gracie: Here's that guy you like? Me (walking into the living room): He's a beautiful, beautiful man. (I happened to rub my stomach at this particular point.) Gracie: Uh, are you planning on eating him?What's his name? Johnny Santos? Me: You mean John Stamos? I swear to God, the older he gets, the more beautiful he gets. Beautiful enough I can almost forget that whole Uncle Jessie thing. This beautiful hunk of pic is…

Mom`s Education Sites
Latest Construction Jobs for Architects

admin

3 Jan 2012 | 9:17 am

Are you in the field of construction and civil engineering? Construction is a procedure that comprise of the structure or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being it a single activity large scale of construction jobs is a feat of human multitasking and it is derived from the word computer multitasking. Generally it is seen that a project manager handles the job and the whole work is handled by a construction manager, construction engineer, and project architect and design engineer. For a successful project a proper planning is required. A proper knowledge with good understanding is…
BACKGROUND OF PERSONAL LOANS

admin

2 Jan 2012 | 10:15 pm

Nowadays, financially secure life is not easy. Most of the people cannot generate sufficient money to afford their life fluently. Last year, I wanted to have a vacation with my loved ones but my spending budget at that time did not support me, and then I chose to have a personal loan to have the vacation according to our plan. Exactly, the same situation exists for many others, since it is tough to have savings and also the salaries that aren’t enough to satisfy one’s additional desires. Personal Loans are made to look after such monetary needs; you can just obtain a loan, get…
The advantages of using plastic card printers to make name badges

admin

31 Dec 2011 | 3:31 pm

Organizations can make sturdy name badges that are wrinkle resistant without laminating them by simply using plastic card printers that enable them to print on plastic instead of paper. However, the two types of plastic card printers that are available in the market namely the ones that print only once and the rewritable ones can only achieve the aforementioned objective when they have the capability to print directly on plastic. The rewritable plastic card printers, which have the ability to erase the print depending on the temperature, are the most popular with many organizations because…

And Twins make 5! - Chicago Area Mommy Blogger
Play Food by Learning Resources (Giveaway)

Stephanie Manner Wagner

26 Jan 2012 | 3:06 pm

I've in all odds mentioned numerous times how much my twin boys adore roleplaying games. They spend hours together playing "house, restaurant, kitchen, vacation, and jobs". Some of their very favorite toys are items that enhance their roleplaying fun. Learning Resources has proven to offer a huge selection of just such items. One of our latest favorites is a new set of play food known as the New Sprouts™ Munch It! My very own play food set. The Much It! set includes: 2 Slices of Bread, 3-piece Blueberry Muffin, Glass of Milk, 2 Slices of Cheese, Carrot,…
Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks (Giveaway)

Stephanie Manner Wagner

24 Jan 2012 | 10:11 am

We have a lot of fruit snack fans in our home. Most people would likely assume it's the twin 3 year olds that consume the most followed in order by the 10 year old and 13 year old, but they would be wrong. While all 4 of the youngest love fruit snacks, it's pur 17 year old that is considered the household aficionado of fruit snacks. In fact, his girlfriends family even tested his vast knowledge of the different brands and their flavors by blindfolding him and feeding him various brands. Let's just say, the kids knows his fruit snacks. Read More >>
One-Track Minds (Who won't my kids keep their rooms clean?)

Stephanie Manner Wagner

20 Jan 2012 | 10:08 am

If my 3 oldest kids formed a band it would be called "one-track minds" or something to that effect. They will spend countless hours of their lives working themselves beyond the point of total exhaustion for their sport. If anything, I find myself having to beg them to layoff a bit. In fact, they'd eat and drink almost anything I told would make them faster, stronger, better. They give up attending parties and gatherings with zero complaints to be well rested for their events. However, 5 minutes spent picking up their rooms is an IMPOSSIBLE feat. Read More >>

theplussizemommy.com
AboutOne 2.0 with AcornPoints, Getting and Staying Organized in 2012 and Get Rewarded to do it!

theplus

20 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

You have Facebook for friends and LinkedIn for business, but nothing in the middle to help you manage your home life more smoothly. That’s where AboutOne, the fast easy way to organize your busy life, has partnered with Microsoft and Suze Orman (IDSafe) to launch a brand new version of its online organizer. Along with other exciting new features, AboutOne will now include the AcornPoints rewards program that pays you to use AboutOne to get organized. Based on feedback from our current customers and designed to make getting organized virtually effortless for the user, AboutOne with…
P&G Give- “Thank You, Mom” For Special Olympics

theplus

12 Jan 2012 | 2:09 am

Special Olympics P&G Give Please help P&G help the Special Olympics by using An extremely easy way to donate; Social Media. Here is all you need to do: For every new “like,” P&G receives on its Thank You Mom Facebook page through February 28, 2012, the company will donate one dollar to the Special Olympics, up to $100,000. You can also leave your mark by clicking on the “A Word from Mom” application on Facebook and adding your favorite piece of mom wisdom. If you do this, P&G will donate another $1 to Special Olympics. Thank You In Advance for your Generosity in…
Better Homes and Gardens Wax Warmer

theplus

11 Jan 2012 | 12:06 am

Looking for a wonderful gift idea for someone special’s birthday? Starting to shop for Valentine’s Day early? I have the best gift idea for you and it will make your(and their) sense’s of sight and smell dance in happiness! It is also inexpensive, but they won’t realize that because these beautiful Warmers look like they would be high end. The stunning Better Homes and Garden’s Wax Warmer’s are found at Walmart and cost only $15 and the set of 4 wax cubes (available in many scents) cost only $8! So for less then $25 you have an everlasting gift that is just…

In The Know Mom
kids pajama pants {sew do it}

Sarah

28 Jan 2012 | 2:29 am

I know “sew do it” is a cheesy title, but I like it and it embodies my relationship with my sewing machine. I learned to sew at a very young age on a very old Singer. We had an affair, this lovely machine and I, one summer sewing what my mom called “hippie tops” and [...]
{Top 5} kid safe nail polishes

Sarah

27 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am

1. Hopscotch Kids by Scotch $11.99 2. SpaRitual $10 3. Priti Princess by Priti NYC $8 4. Suncoat Girl $8.99 5. Keeki $9.99 6. A Beautiful Life $12 Was that 6? whoops! Have Top 5 requests? Send them to us or tell us in our Cafemom Group!Tweet Pin It
Skin Products for Sensitive Skin {Exederm}

Haley

27 Jan 2012 | 4:03 am

I have spent my entire life with small patches of itchy irritating eczema on the back of my arms and I’ve never really been able to get rid of the completely. Unfortunately, I passed eczema along to my son, he too gets small patches of it on various parts of his body. Since he started to develop eczema, [...]

theprimamomma.com
It’s time to move my mass

Kristy

26 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am

Hi Internet. It’s Wednesday night, but I wont post this until Thursday morning. I just wanted you to be aware of when I was actually writing this. You know, full disclosure and all that. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to trick you or anything, like the way they tape Ellen a few days in advance and then try and make you think they’re live or at least filming the same day. Do you know what Wednesday is? If you guessed Weigh-In Wednesday you are right! I’m not a big girl by anyone’s definition, but I have really let myself go these past few months, so…
Adorable creativity

Kristy

23 Jan 2012 | 7:19 pm

Karis is very much a girly-girl fashionista. She has a jewelry box overflowing with bobbles and sparkly things. The one thing it doesn’t have? Earrings. I wont let Karis get her ears pierced until she’s old enough to take care of her ear holes and earrings. The fact that her ears aren’t pierced does not make her yearn for earrings any less. She has had the occasional clip-ons, but they only last a few days before one of them gets eaten by the dog, or lost. The other day she decided her outfit called for earrings – so she made herself a pair! Please note the fact…
A Pirated GIF – I’m doing it for the kittens!

Kristy

19 Jan 2012 | 10:35 pm

Hahaha – I have my Dad to thank for this GIF I pirated from Theoatmeal.com at their request. For to enjoy: Tweet This Post

About.com Working Moms
Achieve the Flexwork Dream

27 Jan 2012 | 10:55 am

During my second maternity leave, I kept saying to my husband, "If only I could work part-time, I'm sure I could balance work and family." He finally convinced me to propose a reduced-hour schedule to my supervisor, and to my surprise, she said yes! Read Full PostAchieve the Flexwork Dream originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 16:55:02.Permalink | Comment | Email this
Pros and Cons of a Compressed Work Week

24 Jan 2012 | 3:16 pm

Last Friday, I was dropping off my girls at before care, a bit on the late side, when I ran into a fellow working mom who normally hits the road early to beat the traffic to work. She was wearing jeans and a happy, relaxed expression. Not the typical uniform of someone about to dive into the morning commute to work. Read Full PostPros and Cons of a Compressed Work Week originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 21:16:16.Permalink | Comment | Email this
The Secret to Achieving Your Career Goals

19 Jan 2012 | 1:58 am

We're in the New Year, and I'm guessing at least one of your resolutions had to do with one of your career goals. For me, it's to finally write down the book proposal that has been rattling around my head for two years. I know that by committing it to paper, I've taken the first concrete step toward achieving it. Read Full PostThe Secret to Achieving Your Career Goals originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at 07:58:08.Permalink | Comment | Email this

CurrentMom
All In a Day's Work

Karen Paul-Stern

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Truth Thursday One of the things I like the most about parenting teens and tweens is that I remember being their age. As such, I feel like I have a better sense of the needs, desires and anguish of their...
Finding the Dragon Within on Chinese New Year

Katherine Lewis

24 Jan 2012 | 8:47 am

Truth Tuesday Growing up a mixed-race child in lily-white upstate New York, I wanted nothing more than to blend in with my peers. If people asked, "what are you?" I would claim, "I'm just like you!" This despite the Chinese...
Gadgets Galore -- Easy Panini

Emily

23 Jan 2012 | 11:30 am

Meal Monday I am what is known in business school case studies as a late adapter (see Luddite). I cannot be convinced (no matter how hard my husband tries) to give up my traditional date book that I mark in...

Fab Mums
Science experiments: surface tension

Maria

24 Jan 2012 | 8:27 am

To explain the surface tension to kids you can do a simple experiment. You need a glass, water, an eyedropper and a paper clip. Fill the glass with water to the rim, and then add more drops slowly using an eyedropper. You will see that the water won’t poor out of the glass thanks to a soft skin that forms over the water, which in science is referred to as surface tension. That’s how insects can walk on water. To demonstrate this you can slowly put a paper clip on the surface of the water and it will float. This part is very tricky and you might sink a few paper clips before getting it…
Giant Lego bricks: play and store in one

Maria

19 Jan 2012 | 8:59 am

I love all things Lego and these storage boxes not only look great but they are very functional too. Great for storing Legos or other toys these bricks are fantastic for playing too and making large constructions. In addition to that, they can be stacked, which is great for compact city living.
Upcyle crafts: how to make a bin with an old pair of jeans

Maria

9 Jan 2012 | 5:54 am

At the weekend we had a good clear out so you can just imagine the amount of potential crafts we are going to do with all those unwanted goods. We started our crafty upcycle with an old pair of jeans which we took apart for today’s project for which we needed only one leg so we kept the rest for future crafts. With our jeans leg we made a paper bin. For this project we used a jeans’ leg, a piece of cardboard, brown paper, glue, water, scissors and a brush. To start with we soaked the denim in a bowl of water mixed with vinyl glue; the water and glue mix must be very watery unlike the…

Sprittibee
An Early Driver's Ed Class

Sprittibee

27 Jan 2012 | 10:42 am

Raise your hand if you have ever violated a traffic law. Oh, come on. Be honest. You know you did a Texas pause at a stop sign in your neighborhood once or twice. How about a speeding ticket? I bet you have had at least one in your life, right? These things have been on my mind a lot because in just a few weeks my big kid is turning FIFTEEN - and sooner than later he'll be taking driver's ed and learning to navigate the Texas highways. He's paying attention to the roads these days. I'm pointing out landmarks and street names to make sure he can find his way home if he gets lost. We're going…
Lighting a Fire... at the Homeschool Post

Sprittibee

22 Jan 2012 | 5:27 pm

“Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” ~William Yeats~ "We snuck away from the big city this weekend and left suburbia behind. We took our kids to the country, exchanging our lazy at-home weekend routine with actual work (and the sore muscles to prove it). We even let the toddler have his fill of dirt and rocks. We left the laptops, the Xbox, and the toys at home." ... come read the rest of the story with me over at the Homeschool Post today... Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email
My Sweet Thirteen

Sprittibee

20 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am

One year ago today she was pretty in pink. Turning twelve. Sharing a bedroom with her little brother. Hanging on to her stuffed animals and putting headbands in her hair. Now she's too cool for all that. Two inches taller. Has had her first pedicure. Has plans to write a book about Norse history, and hides away in her own room downstairs drawing and using her laptop. The stuffed animals - well, half of them - were donated this past week to a friend giving a garage sale. Kitty cats and ponies. My little girl is a teenager today. I thought I would share with you her fancy cupcake project she…

Zensible Mama
Disneyfied, Electrified and lovin' it!

Maricris

27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

My Disneyfied Meal at Disney Social Media Moms Conference in 2011 This week I coined (I believe it's my original) a rather cute word out of having too many Disney encounters in my life this week. No, I'm not complaining. I'm actually lovin' it! I would tell you now that I surely don't mind getting Disneyfied as many times as fate would possibly allow it. Seriously, if you ask me? I'd say the more, the merrier! Who would say no to Disney? Here's what got me... Disneyfied : Disney Social Media Moms Conference 2012 This year, I was lucky to yet again be invited by Disney to attend the…
The TWIN and I - aka Toyota Women

Maricris

26 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

aka TWIN Toyota recently launched an exclusive network consisting of women influencers. And just like the smart and classy Anna Leonowens (of The King and I), whose intelligence and creativity influenced the success of the kingdom of Siam by helping her favorite pupil rule the kingdom, I would like to think that I'm the new Anna in this network. Or one of them anyway. And helping shape the kingdom of Toyota to be the best car in the country, if not the world, for us - the consumers! My Toyota story. Back in my former life, when I was still a corporate chick in a corporate company…
Queen Charlotte and I at Uptown Charlotte

Maricris

25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

Her Majesty the Queen! One of uptown Charlotte's prominent statue of Queen Charlotte within Center City Queen Charlotte and I The short Queen and the short Filipina For more inspiring photos, check these wonderful blogs: The Bonafide LifeBetter in Bulk Shanamama From Dates to Diapers Not Your Momblog The Divine Miss MommyColorado MomsRajean Blomquist Rachel Ferruci, Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories. Don't forget to check our Mobile Shots collections for more interesting pictures like the ones you see above! Mobile Shots Collections.

The PranaMama
Lessons in Friendship

thepranamama

13 Jan 2012 | 11:39 pm

It’s 3 o’clock on a Friday afternoon and I’m standing in front of the elementary school, waiting for my first-grader. Any moment, the brick building’s front doors will swing open and my girl will appear, smiling as she catches my eye from the top of the concrete steps, then bounding towards me, taking two steps [...] No related posts.
No Place Like Home

thepranamama

3 Jan 2012 | 7:57 pm

Ahhhhh, January. It’s finally here. After months of what feels like non-stop activity, there’s something so nurturing about the cold, dark days of January. We retreat inward, taking time and space to reflect on the previous year and look ahead to all that can be. We take comfort in the warmth of our homes and [...] No related posts.
Move Over Ferris Bueller

thepranamama

29 Dec 2011 | 8:51 pm

I have a love/hate relationship with most parenting magazines. I love them for their dead-on interpretations and resolutions to baffling behaviors and childhood challenges. I hate them for their perfectly perky parents and crazy cute kiddos in the glossy photographs, not to mention their obsession while celebrity families. But this week, a headline on Parenting’s [...] No related posts.

Diary of a New Mom
The Best of Diary of a New Mom: Now in an Ebook!

3 Jan 2012 | 10:19 am

Hi, and welcome! You might have found me by Googling “new mom” or “new mom blog.” If so, I’m afraid I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that this blog is no longer active. In May 2011, after 5 years of writing here at Diary of a New Mom, I launched a new blog, Abby Off The Record. But WAIT! The good news is that I have just published an ebook based on this blog. It’s called Mama Insider: Laughing (And Sometimes Crying) All the Way Through Pregnancy, Birth, and the First 3 Months. It’s a collection of 20+ of my best posts, plus some new material, all in one pretty…
The End of an Era

9 May 2011 | 7:00 am

I’ve been living a lie, people. It’s been bugging me for a while now, especially whenever I meet a mom-to-be, or when a new person finds my blog.Because the fact is, I’m not a new mom anymore. Not by a longshot. My “baby” – the one depicted in the cartoon lady’s belly up there in my header – is starting KINDERGARTEN next fall, if you can believe that. And I’ve got another baby now, too. Heck, that one’s not even a baby anymore – he’s a full-on toddler!Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have this motherhood stuff all figured out now. I don’t pretend to be any kind of…
Raising 'Em Right

4 May 2011 | 12:47 pm

Pre-kids, I was the type of person who wouldn’t do anything if somebody cut in front of me in line. It would certainly irk me, but I’d tell myself that person must have somewhere really important to be and wasn’t just a big jerk. What good could come from confrontation, anyway?But now it’s not so simple. That’s because I often have 2 little sponges with me who are observing and learning from every moment. (And also, commenting. “That lady has a mean face, Mommy.” *Blush!*)It feels wrong to work so hard at teaching my kids to share and take turns and say please and thank you and…

Pure Natural Diva
New Years Resolutions: Progress Report

Tania

27 Jan 2012 | 2:22 am

Progress Report: How are You Doing with Your New Years Resolutions? I have become a part of #VlogMoms. Every week one of our members will select a topic. Coincidentally, the... Whole living for the diva in all of us. What fabulous change can you make today? Visit Pure Natural Diva for a few ideas.
New Years Resolutions

Tania

16 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am

Do You Make New Years Resolutions? The beginning of the year is the perfect time to evaluate where you are and focus on changes you might want to make. I’d love to hear about your New Years... Whole living for the diva in all of us. What fabulous change can you make today? Visit Pure Natural Diva for a few ideas.
#diva4d A Few Ebay Auctions to Benefit LA Homeless Missions

Tania

13 Dec 2011 | 4:48 am

Still have a little holiday shopping – check out the #diva4d Ebay Auctions? We have listed 29 items for sale Tegu Magnetic Blocks Derma E Skin Care Ki Boiron Homeopathic Medicine... Whole living for the diva in all of us. What fabulous change can you make today? Visit Pure Natural Diva for a few ideas.

Momma's Choice
A Morning Inspiration

Rachael

27 Jan 2012 | 2:46 am

Also, just wanted to share something I read this morning in my devotional.... It was so cool that I had just talked about this with one of my best friends. God has given me such a peace and joy this morning and a trust that almost makes me feel guilty. Not like I deserve something but that I trust God will take care of all our needs. The devotional is a little long but please bear with me :)
Great Coupon Site

Debbie

26 Jan 2012 | 1:43 am

Here’s another good coupon site to add to your list on a cold day: http://www.campbellskitchen.com/coupon.aspx Worth checking out. Couponing 101 If you are new to couponing, be sure to read our post on how to get started saving with coupons. You’ll find enough info to save up to 90% on your grocery bill-honest! http://mommaschoice.com/2010/06/15/how-coupons-can-save-you-over-90/ [...]
Save Money With the Red Box Trivia Game

Debbie

26 Jan 2012 | 1:07 am

Redbox is doing a movie trivia game that gives you 60 seconds to answer 5 movie trivia game questions. Each question answered correctly gets you 10 cents off your next rental. I got 3 correct so I have a code for .30 cents off my next rental. You can play as many times as you like but you can only use it towards a rental once per day. If nothing else you can have a few minutes of fun with your kids that will pay you to have fun!

Pancakes and French Fries
Unstyled Life

Jules

27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

I’m going to try and return the Unstyled Life posts to the format I originally intended: unstyled images of beauty around the house and home with little accompanying text. It started as a way for me to not fret so much about the “work in progress” status of our home. Over time, the posts morphed into essays on life, both serious and frivolous. I will continue to write, I couldn’t possibly stop if I tried, but I won’t do it on Fridays. Right now, my heart says I am pushing myself too hard. Not the way professional working mothers must push themselves, since I…
Too Much Storage

Jules

26 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

A welcome effect of living by the William Morris quote and creating an intentional home is that eventually you reach a point where you have too much storage. I know, crazy-talk, but unless you live in a home without closets, it is possible. Possible with sweat equity and capital, but possible nonetheless. Take the Leksvik, for example. We kept this in our dining room to store many things. Last week we finally bought a dining room table (hurray!) and that meant there was no longer room for what officially became the clutter-catcher. No matter, since I already had it placed on Craigslist. I…
It was Tuesday

Jules

25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

I woke up early but had breakfast late. Later, I ran a quick errand.We read Rikki Tikki Tavi, Too Many Toys, and a two year old Spider-Man book from dollar spot at Target. We ate lunch. I had kale and chicken, leftovers. He nibbled at his sandwich and fruit, congested and uninterested. I anticipated this and only gave him half portions. I’m glad; I hate wasting food. On the way home from school, Mikey asked if I knew the proper way to kill a vampire. That’s the game they were playing at recess and he wanted to make sure he had all his weaponry straight. I told him there is nothing…

minor catastrophes
second chances

Megan Ault Regnerus

26 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
permission to dine: meg's groovy smoothie

Megan Ault Regnerus

23 Jan 2012 | 5:01 am
free ride

Megan Ault Regnerus

19 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Baby Bump Fitness
Post Surgery Fitness

Jacqueline

12 Jan 2012 | 3:37 pm

Post surgery fitness for moms. I recently had surgery and was off fitness or lifting anything for that matter for a few months. I noticed my breathing was laboured and went to see my team at the Urban Athlete. My diaphragm was not working correctly from general lack of activity and laying in a fetal position for many days post surgery. Just climbing the steps I was out of breath. I am sure many new moms with c sections or vaginal births experience this type of dysfunction during recovery. Although I did not give birth again, my surgery was in the same segment of the body. So…
25% off Prograde Powders

Jacqueline

6 Dec 2011 | 11:34 am

POSTED DECEMBER 6 It all comes to an end tonight. That’s right, our history-making 25% off all Prograde Powders sale ends tonight (Tuesday) at 11:59pm EST. It’s your last chance to save just by using the coupon code powder25 for any powder (Protein, Lean, Fusion and Workout). Stock up NOW by clicking here before you miss it. POWDER SALE Who’s lookin’ out for ya? Jayson Hunter, RD, CSCS Prograde Nutrition P.S. In case you missed yesterday’s article, it was a good one about slimming down. Read it here. P.P.S. We have been working on something BIG here at…
Are YOU Taking This During Pregnancy?

Jacqueline

17 Nov 2011 | 9:32 am

Today we have a great guest post from my friends at Prograde Nutrition. As you know, I would only post what I feel is the best information and highest quality products on the market on my blog. These are supplements me and all of my family use. Are YOU Taking This During Pregnancy? By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES Your obstetrician has probably told you to eat right and exercise during your pregnancy. And they might have also told you how important Omega-3 fatty acids are for you when you are pregnant. Especially your developing child’s BRAIN. But the information you MIGHT not…

Motherhood, Parenting, Baby & Kids | mamaGLOSS
Gloss How-To: Get Ready for Tub Time with Baby

Ali Wing

3 Jan 2012 | 2:52 pm

A lot of parents find bathtime to be one of their favorite rituals. It’s quality time at its best, complete with lots of fun and giggles. You don’t need much to make it a success — but these essentials make [...]
Giveaway: Sweet Home Alabama

Aly Walansky

25 Nov 2011 | 2:13 am

Are you watching ‘Sweet Home Alabama Season 2?. The teaser alone has me worked up: Ten city girls and ten country gals are vying for the affections of Tribble Reese, a handsome southern guy from Alabama. In order to win [...]
Gloss How-To: Create A Neutral Nursery

Ali Wing

13 Nov 2011 | 8:02 pm

There are lots of great ways to build a dream nursery without relying on the old standbys, pink and blue. As an added bonus, it can give your nursery a more contemporary feel and opens up a whole world of [...]

icefairy's Treasure Chest
American Idol Season 9 Jimmy Charles Prize Pack Giveaway (5 Winners)!

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 pm

Artist BioCOUNTRY a lil ROCK'N ROLL and a WHOLE LOTTA SOUL! A Soulful, Genuine and Passion filled Country Singer and Writer that brings amazing energy to all his performances! Jimmy has received Radio play for 4 of his songsincluding “Whatever It Takes” that played Nationally on Clear Channel Country radio. Season 9 “AMERICAN IDOL” Hollywood contestant, 2007 Top 50 “Nashville Star”, Guest
Join the #fanjam12 Twitter Party Tonight! Win Amazon Gift Cards & More!

27 Jan 2012 | 6:23 pm

Jimmy Charles and #fanjam12 Twitter PartyTonight at 9pm ESTWe are so excited for our #fanjam12 Twitter Party!Join us on January 27th @ 9pm EST to learn more about Jimmy Charles and WIN some great prizes!For those not familiar with Jimmy Charles, let me tell you a few things you should know!He's COUNTRY a lil ROCK'N ROLL and a WHOLE LOTTA SOUL!A Soulful, Genuine and Passion filled Country Singer
The Sneezy Wheezy Day Blog Tour: Review, Giveaway & Free Offer!

24 Jan 2012 | 3:25 am

As we are having an unusually warm winter here in Texas, the cold and flu season is already in full swing. We are not quite ready to stand up to its challenges, one of which is to comfort a sick child. Just in time for this special new season comes The Sneezy Wheezy Day, the third in the award-winning children’s series--Cougar Cub Tales, which follows the adventures of a brother and sister cougar

SortaCrunchy
so long six. so now seven.

Megan@SortaCrunchy

27 Jan 2012 | 10:28 am

"The seven year old, with his toothless smile, is a physical marvel. He stumbles while running across the playground, because his legs probably grew while he slept last night. He looks slightly different every day, because he is growing teeth and losing them at a rapid rate. Suddenly, he is able to think outside the concrete experience of his in-the-moment life, and plan ahead, envisioning what is not yet there." -- Pam Allyn It is the tradition I engage in every year on January 27th, a sacred liturgy all my own, remembering the last 24 hour hours before Dacey was born, the last full day…
Now Accepting February Sponsors!

Megan@SortaCrunchy

26 Jan 2012 | 7:05 pm

It's almost February and I want to invite you to partner with me at SortaCrunchy! February holds lots of good stuff for SortaCrunchy, including my monthly post at Deeper Story as well as guest posts at several other blogs. Finally, at the end of the month, I'll be traveling to Nashville for Blissdom 2012 where I'll serve as a community leader and have the chance to connect with many MANY bloggers who I'm sure will be stopping by SortaCrunchy. SortaCrunchy continues to receive 150,000 page views a month and the subscriber number is quickly approaching 3,000. (eeek! what?!) If this is the month…
Your Green Resource - Week Eighteen

Megan@SortaCrunchy

26 Jan 2012 | 9:45 am

Good Thursday morning! It's time for another link-up of Your Green Resource! What is Your Green Resource? It's your chance to share all your green ideas, resources and solutions with ALL of our readers! So when you link up on any of our blogs, your idea will be shared with all of the readers here and at: Andrea at The Greenbacks Gal Stacy at A Delightful Home Emily at Live Renewed We know that many of you have posts of your own about your green journey that our readers will love. Some examples of Green Resources you can link up: * Real Food Recipes * Repurposed Projects * Upcycled Projects *…

Love Or Hate Debate
Krill Oil by Everest Nutrition

LoveOrHateDebate

16 Jan 2012 | 10:20 pm

Stress. Something every person experiences whether it be related to health, your career, family, or life as a whole. It lingers through our body and takes a huge toll on our lives. Stress is inevitable, however to relieve the body of this toxic harmful feeling is relatively simple: Krill oil. Krill oil has the power to help reduce the negative affects that stress can cause on your body. It plays a positive role on the cardiovascular system, the brain, and in premenstrual symptoms. In addition it is proven to relieve pain, enhance your memory, give skin that extra glow and maintain a steady…
Electrolysis At Home

LoveOrHateDebate

3 Nov 2011 | 10:32 am

Shaving and or waxing are two of the most annoying parts of hygiene and personal appearance upkeep for women (and men) across the country. It seems the cosmetic industry regularly puts out a new product that promises to make the hair removal process easier, and will make it so you won’t have to go through the process as often. The latest item on the market is the eGlide Hair Removal Roller: a state-of-the-art home electrolysis tool produced by Verseo. The eGlide uses electrolysis technology to safely remove hair in the privacy of your own home, conveniently and on your schedule. The…
Stages of Beauty

LoveOrHateDebate

28 Jul 2011 | 10:32 am

Ever wonder how it is possible for an anti-aging cream to work for people of all ages? Time for a wake-up call! No such thing exists. Jasmina Aganovic, a MIT-trained chemical and biological engineer, came up with a product that focuses on age specificity. Stages of Beauty is a new skincare product that caters to the needs of women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. As the years go by, free radicals, stress, and UV rays continually victimize our skin; however, using your ordinary anti-aging cream won’t do the trick. Ms. Aganovic delved deeper into researching the mystery behind achieving…

MyBrownBaby
French Elle Thinks Michelle Obama Taught Black Women How To Dress—And Other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links

Denene@MyBrownBaby

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

If French Elle fashion writer Nathalie Dolivo is to be believed—and she is not—African-Americans weren’t stylish until the Obama family came into office. ”For the first time, the chic has... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
If Terrell Owens Thinks He’s “In Hell,” Imagine How His Kids Feel

Denene@MyBrownBaby

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

I’m no Terrell Owens fan and I have no interest in kicking a brother when he’s down, but the former NFL wide receiver known as T.O. isn’t winning any points after revealing in this month’s GQ cover... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Police Officers in School? A Recipe for Student Failure

Denene@MyBrownBaby

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

By NICK CHILES Educators have known for a long time what kind of environment children need to learn: They need to feel safe and supported. Without these two elements, they will never perform at their... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Happy Hour Mom
put a hat on it with preston and olivia

Toni

25 Jan 2012 | 1:19 pm

Humans have been covering their heads since the beginning of time. Hats offer protection, used to be a symbol status of authority, are parts of a uniform or can be a form of art. However you choose to wear yours it is a very noticeable accessory since anyone who walks by you is first drawn to your face. The old saying goes,” if you want to get ahead and get noticed, then get a hat.” Whether you are attended a formal event, such as New York Fashion Week or High Tea, or use a hat for a small child, a hat can be your best friend. Look no further than your favorite vendor on Etsy.
a hotel room in a tree? travel to the treehotel in sweden

Shannon

24 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

Feel free in a tree. Hotel stay has never been cooler! There is something intriguing and absolutely fantastic about staying in a tree house. I don’t care if you are 5 years old or 55 years old, the thought of a sleep over in a tree gets your heart racing. Especially if it’s a glammed out tree house with a design that will blow your mind. Starting with a 4 room selection of tree houses, the Tree Hotel in Sweden plans on offering up to 24 rooms within the next 5 years. The pictures are pretty self explanatory (and AWESOME). I would love to spend a night in the Mirrorcube. Designed by…
usa-inspired products

Shannon

24 Jan 2012 | 12:59 am

These items are perfect for the world traveler. If you are living abroad, or moving, these items will be a pleasant reminder of home. Whether you want a modern print to add to your new walls, or a clever cutting board in the shape of your hometown, it will be just enough to make you smile. I love the small detail on the cutting boards, be it a star on Texas or a heart on Tennessee. When you are ready to hang up your traveling boots and settle down, you should check out the Type Maps on Bold & Noble–how perfect would it be to collect a map from each country you have lived in? Such a…

ModernMami™.com
The Power of Storytelling

Melanie Edwards

27 Jan 2012 | 7:37 am

Whenever my family gets together, inevitably stories of the past come up. My parents, their siblings, and friends love to reminisce about their younger years. It’s common to hear childhood tales of my mother and her sisters walking home from school through the narrow streets in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and the people they’d run into. Or perhaps it’s my father sharing with us yet again how his father would take him along to work at Ramey Air Force Base and they’d listen to music together as my abuelo pressed the clothes. According to my dad, this is why he came to love…
The Perfectly Balanced Day

Melanie Edwards

25 Jan 2012 | 12:29 pm

Yesterday was one of those days I wish I could repeat – everything flowed, things got done, balance was had. It’s amazing how one day going smoothly can lift your spirits and motivate you to make it happen again. Because I had such a great day, I feel like I need to record it. Sometimes you have to sit back and remind yourself of all that went good – little or big. Though this is simple in the grand scheme of things, having a day where work, family, and personal time were in-line is definitely something to celebrate. We are often striving to create work-life balance, and I…
Talking Race with My 6 Year Old

Melanie Edwards

24 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Every day when I pick up baby girl from school I ask her the same questions: How was your day? Did you have fun? and What did you guys do? The majority of the time her answer to the last question is a simple, “I don’t really remember.” She can tell me all about what games her and her friends made up during recess and who she talked to while waiting at the car loop, but it takes a lot of digging to find out what they did or talked about in her Kindergarten class. However, fast forward a few days, or even a week, and little snippets of what they’ve done come out in…

Mommy On Fire
A Small Book Packed With Big Wisdom…

mommyonfire

24 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pm

Next week, we’ll be starting a new journey here at Mommy on Fire and Heart and Soul Reflections. We’ll be walking through Beth Moore’s new study “James: Mercy Triumphs” and I am so excited to see where God will take us. I’m trusting that He’ll bring just the right people to study along with us [...]
10 Things I Love About Having A Girl

mommyonfire

23 Jan 2012 | 8:54 pm

OK. I admit it. Walking in to my first ultrasound appointment ever, I secretly prayed for a girl. Nothing against boys. I eventually would have been happy about having a boy – which is, of course, a great thing since I went on to birth two of them shortly thereafter. But a girl… Pink and [...]
For When You Feel Trapped

mommyonfire

22 Jan 2012 | 3:55 pm

Every now and then, I’m faced with serpents that creep in and try to derail what I’m committed to doing. Like being in a healthy marriage and raising children to love God. Those two things are the top two the serpents hate the most. So when I have an argument with my husband or it [...]

ivy league insecurities
Name My Sister’s Baby Girl!

Aidan Donnelley Rowley

27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

You know just how much I love baby name posts. (Here’s the post where I asked you to help me name Little Girl. It’s the all-time most popular post on this blog!) And I know just how much you love baby name posts. So let’s get down to business… As many of you know, Sister C is expecting her second child (yes, a girl!) in early March. She’s actually due on Little Girl’s birthday which is pretty cool, I think. Anyway, she’s getting close. A mere six weeks away. And she and her husband are still without a name for this little chickadee. That’s where…
How Do We Prevent Our Children From Becoming Spoiled Brats?

Aidan Donnelley Rowley

26 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

My girls are really good kids. At least I think so. They watch a fair bit of television and their nutritional proclivities need some work, but they are kind, thoughtful little creatures. I’m proud of this. I hope it continues. The winter months are a challenge for us because they are chock-full of celebrations and gifting opportunities. Christmas obviously brings with it lists for Santa, expectations for certain loot, and endless goodies, edible and other. The season seems to spread itself wide, stretching for the whole month of December and beyond. It doesn’t help that we…
My Kids Are Amazing. (And I Am Tired.)

Aidan Donnelley Rowley

25 Jan 2012 | 6:52 am

{If you are not so into drawn-out family vomit sagas, stop now.} Maybe I was feeling extra vulnerable yesterday because I knew deep down that my entire family was about to be ravaged by the stomach flu that sidelined me on Monday? Honestly, I thought we were in the clear. I got sick on Sunday night and was in recovery mode Monday and Tuesday. Husband and the girls were fine. How lucky, huh? Not so fast. While Big Girl and I were walking home from school (it was an unusually balmy January afternoon), Nanny sent the following text: Middle Girl is crying. Says her tummy hurts. My (utterly…

MOMeo Magazine for Work-at-Home Moms: Business Tools | Parenting Advice | Mom Lifestyle Tips | Mom Blog | Mom Forum
Sustainable Weight Loss – Why You Should Drop that New Year’s Resolution to Lose Weight

Theresa Albert

27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

For the love of life, drop that New Year’s Resolution to lose weight! Come on, you made the same commitment last year too and look where it got you. By all means, clean it up a bit and shave off those holiday pounds right away. The sooner you do, the easier it will be. My phone rings off the wall (if phones had walls anymore) each January. No one wants to even talk to a nutritionist at a party in December and suddenly, come January, we are all the rage. But I am telling you, don’t do it. The reason why is simple: Losing weight takes a herculean, single minded commitment to everything you…
Sales Drying Up? What To Do When You Get Stuck in a Sales Sahara Desert

Kim Duke

26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Every now and then when you least expect it, your sales will dry so fast your mouth puckers. I call it “The Sahara Desert Dry Spell”. When it happens, it will suck every ounce of energy out of you if you don’t know what to do! When the Sales Well Goes Dry The reason Sahara Desert Dry Spells are so tough to deal with is because they happen so unexpectedly. It starts when you lose business that you were counting on, usually due to changes outside your control. If you get caught unprepared, what follows is a Sahara Desert Dry Spell. It happened to me when I lost FOUR of my largest…
Mission Possible – Using a Family Mission Statement to Connect your Family

Julie Watson Smith

25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Does your family have a mission? Cue the Mission: Impossible theme song. I am an action flick gal. I have seen every James Bond movie at least three times, I was first in line to see Transformers, and I never miss a superhero adventure. So, when the topic of missions comes up, it is no surprise that the first thing that pops in my mind is the theme song from Mission: Impossible. The mission I have in mind isn’t an impossible one, but like the M:I character, Ethan Hunt, it does require a focus and teamwork to achieve it. Whether it’s a top-secret mission, one from God or one from within, a…

My Odd Family
January 27: Chocolate Cake Day, Sir Thomas Crapper Day

Katybeth Jensen

27 Jan 2012 | 5:44 am

~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 27 ★~ Today’s Quote: No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise. Lewis Carroll ★~ Chocolate Cake Day: Cakes have a rich culinary history. In Greece, cakes (or “plakous”) were heavy and flat, and people served them with nuts and honey. The Romans made cakes that were more like [...]
January 26: Australian Day, Peanut Brittle Day, Pistachio Day

Katybeth Jensen

26 Jan 2012 | 5:43 am

~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 26 ★~ Today’s Quote: Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. Carl Sagan ★~ Australian Day: Our El Morno Saucy Aussie has left for Philip Island, Australia, an island with no Internet, so we are going to have to do our best to celebrate with her in spirit. [...]
January 25: Opposite Day, Irish Coffee Day!

Katybeth Jensen

25 Jan 2012 | 5:52 am

~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 25 ★~ Today’s Quote: Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings. Robert Burns ★~ Opposite Day: Today isn’t National Opposite Day, so don’t celebrate by doing the opposite of what you mean to do and saying the opposite of what [...]

Eccentric Eclectic Woman
Free Valentine's Cards from Tiny Prints (Expires 1/25)

Finamoon

20 Jan 2012 | 12:08 pm

I just got a FREE Valentine card from Tiny Prints for my sweetheart and my children and you can too! Send them to yourself and you get them FREE! DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post because I thought you might be interested in taking part of this deal. I am a fan of Tiny Prints and thought I would share the savings. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post.
Bamboobies Review and Giveaway

Finamoon

19 Jan 2012 | 2:49 pm

I received a pair of the washable and reusable Bamboobies regular nursing pads and a pair of their overnights. These are amazing! I was astonished at how incredibly soft they feel. They remind me of the softest cashmere sweater or soft pussy willows! In addition to how comfortable these are to wear they are also very absorbent and wick away from the skin leaving no leaks behind. Since they are made of organic, sustainable fabrics, Bamboobies are a great eco-friendly and economical alternative to disposable pads.The Bamboobies regular nursing pads are a unique heart shape which hugs the…
Smart Mom Red Heart Teething Bling Review and Giveaway

Finamoon

18 Jan 2012 | 3:47 pm

It is coming up on Valentine's Day and I think the perfect gift for a mom with a little one that is teething is a Red Heart Teething Bling pendant necklace from Smart Mom Jewelry. This is why I have included it in my Amore Valentine's Gift Guide.These necklaces are perfect for wearing around little ones because they are safe to chew on and won't harm wearer or teether. The pendants have a clasp that when tugged on will pop open so it won't choke the wearer and it also doesn't break the clasp. Teething Bling is made from plastic that is food-safe, non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, latex, lead, and…

Mom Generations - Mom Fashion and Beauty » Audrey
Daily Diary: Taking a Deep Breath

Audrey

27 Jan 2012 | 4:26 pm

I’m one of those people who wanted to be a mom since I was able to fully understand what a mom was. I’m also one of those people who graduated from college and couldn’t wait to get out into the world and work. I mean, really work. There’s just something in my blood. The last few months have been crazy, crazy, crazy in balancing the mom and the work balance. I mean, freaking crazy. I’ve been traveling (at the very least) one day a week to NYC. And I’ve been working on new projects which have really taken up a lot of additional time. I’m OK with all of…
A Day in My Life… Blogging Style

Audrey

26 Jan 2012 | 8:42 am

Believe me, it’s tough to explain to people what I do. Not everyone understands the life of a digital mom, and I get it… I really do. Even my own mother-in-law has scratched her head and asked me to explain it to her a few times. But you know what, I get it. I really do. It doesn’t always make sense when I’m talking Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and WordPress lingo… ! But it was a photo that someone shot of me and my blogging girlfriends last night that really made me laugh… and know that there are just some people in my life who not only get it,…
Hosting my own Snapfish Party

Audrey

26 Jan 2012 | 8:32 am

I’m so excited! Tomorrow afternoon I have some girlfriends coming over for a Snapfish at-home party! I love a good reason to have people over for a get together and I’m excited to share with my friends the awesomeness and benefits of Snapfish. One of the reason’s I really wanted to host this party with Snapfish was because (I’m embarrassed to admit this) I have over 5000 photos just sitting on my computer that I have never, ever printed out. All my life I grew up surrounded by photo albums… my parents were BIG photo people (they still are) and every month my…

The Survival Mom™
INSTANT SURVIVAL TIP: 3 Gifts from the Pine Tree

John A. Heatherly

27 Jan 2012 | 5:37 am

by John A. Heatherly, Author of The Survival Template Photo by Naomi Ibuki Pine trees are beautiful and abundant, while they offer the following three valuable gifts: Pine Needle Tea – green pine needles can make a tasty tea that will warm your family’s spirits on a cold day while providing much more Vitamin C than most citrus fruits. To make the tea: simply clean a few handfuls of green pine needles; break them into pieces; simmer for 10 minutes or so; and let the tea steep for another few minutes. Simple, nutritious, and flavorsome! Edible Cambium – the light colored inner bark of…
The Paranoid Dad’s Secret Food Stash

thesurvivalmom

26 Jan 2012 | 12:59 pm

Guest post by The Paranoid Dad image by busyPrinting In this crazy world of ours, I can’t help but wonder, what if our home was ever raided for food and the pantry emptied? What would we do? How long could we live without food? This thought led me to a pretty creative idea. What if I squirreled away ingredients to make umpteen batches of soup and hid them in a secret compartment? I’m not thinking of doing this with tons of food, just enough to keep me and my family going for a few weeks. First, what would I need? My preference is #10 cans and we have the extra room to…
The MedCallAssist Kit: Medical supplies and advice, all in one

thesurvivalmom

24 Jan 2012 | 12:50 pm

Update: I’m posting this again because the Survival Mom discount expires on January 31. If you want the $100 discount on the kit, be sure to enter survivalmom as the coupon code! Disclaimer: I am not associated with MedCallAssist in any way, nor do I receive commissions on purchases or ad revenues. They provided me with a kit for this review. It’s no coincidence that people in third world countries have shorter life spans, higher infant mortality rates, and poorer health in general. Top-notch, timely health care is a luxury for the wealthy and for most of us living in…

teach mama
@whymommy love fest, part two

amy

26 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Here’s our happy, full-o’-love, cyber-hug for our friend Susan, part two. It’s only a fraction of what we’ve received, which amazes all of us. Set to the amazing music of Bill Leslie, chosen especially for Susan by her bff and the amazing musician and blogger, Marty, it’s a teeny, tiny expression of our love and admiration for our incredible warrior friend. Please continue to send in YOUR cyber hugs to dcmomlove@gmail.com or post them yourself on our fancy, schmancy Facebook page: @whymommy love fest. Susan is reading every single post, every single…
@whymommy love fest

amy

24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

We have had an overwhelming response to the call for @whymommy love over the last 24 hours, and the love keeps on flowin’ in! With love, Susan, here is part one of our @whymommy love fest: Originally created to an amazing soundtrack chosen by the amazing ladies of The DC Moms, complete with a little Indigo Girls, ‘IZ’, and Three Dog Night, it totally rocked. But thanks to You Tube’s copyright laws keepin’ us on the straight and narrow, we mixed it up to a little up-beat Cha-Cha. Enjoy, Susan! Part two–and all consecutive parts–of our…
show your love for @whymommy — join us!

amy

23 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

We are rallying to show support for our sweet friend Susan, @whymommy, and we’re calling out the big guns. Because Susan’s complete and utter awesomeness has reached sooo far across cyberspace and beyond, Susan’s buddies from The DC Moms would like to extend an invitation to anyone and everyone who has been touched by our pal to contribute to a ‘@whymommy love fest’. Here’s the skinny: @whymommy love fest: We’re making THE most incredible digital card that has ever been made to show Susan just HOW much she is loved. We want her to know that she rocks…

Shh! Momma's Writing!
Is there really gender discrimination in business? (Guest blogger Lynette Chandler)

Lea

27 Jan 2012 | 12:02 pm

In a private Facebook group, I noticed a lot of people were looking for a tech person to work with. So, I introduced myself. Upon returning to check on the status, I saw a post at the very top of the wall from a guy who also introduced himself as a coder. Now, I'm not that naive to think I am the only geek in a group. There are probably many people better at tech than me in any group. What gave me pause was, why this guy's introduction got so many responses when mine hardly went noticed. A horrifying thought flashed through my mind. It couldn't be true. Did he get more attention because…
The Downpayment...

Lea

18 Jan 2011 | 8:37 pm

Lately I have been dealing with backtalk and arguments with my three oldest children. It's really getting bad folks. Today I had it. So I gathered the three and told them, "Look, from now on every time one of you backtalk or argue with me, I get a quarter. If you would like to hang onto your money, cut it out!" Jake immediately walks back to his room and comes back with a dollar. "Here Mom." "What is this for?" "I'm making a downpayment." This post was originally published by Shh! Momma's Writing
Talking Vs. Texting

Lea

12 Jan 2011 | 2:00 am

Future Texting I hate texting, I really do. However, everyone I know insists on doing just that. What is so confusing to me is why they would rather text me when they are sitting at home. Obviously they aren't knee deep in something at the moment if they have time to type that whole paragraph. Sometimes it would take less time to just say it. But, I find myself communicating in this fashion more and more. Of course some of my texts are longer than my blog posts. Which do you prefer? This post was originally published by Shh! Momma's Writing

Unmotherly Insights
“Doing the right thing” or “How to get burned”

gettrich

27 Jan 2012 | 5:45 pm

I'm telling you, I was here first! I didn’t kill anyone. This is what I’m choosing to focus on at the moment. I’ve come to realize that life is all about perspective. So I’m committed to having a positive one on my most recent mishap. I had my bi-annual melanoma check-up this week. (Btw, in case you’re a grammarian, I am consciously choosing to keep the “m” word in lower case in order to illustrate it’s powerlessness and insignificance.) Good news though. I’m eight years free of the despicable disease that claimed my father’s life 11 years ago. Feeling relieved…
That was a cold swish!

gettrich

21 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pm

My son Eli is going to be 8 in February. He’s a fanatical sports fan and passionate practical joker. If ever there was a kid more destined to adore the Harlem Globetrotters, it would be him. So for his birthday party this year, we proposed taking him and a few friends to see the Globetrotters at U.S. Airways Center. They’re coming the weekend of his birthday which magically fits into our busy birthday schedule. But, since he’s never heard of them, he prefers to play a scrimmage football game with a few pals in a park near our house and have lunch at Wolflies, a local sports bar in our…
Vote for…mom?

gettrich

13 Jan 2012 | 11:37 am

I ran for Vice President of the Student Council at my son’s middle school this week. I lost. But that’s not the point of my story. Well, technically, it wasn’t me that ran. I just felt like it when at 4:00 on Tuesday I picked up my 11 year old son, Levi, and he informed me that he was running and that the election was in two days and the forms and posters were due before school the following morning. My plan for the afternoon had not included a mad dash to Walgreens for poster supplies and a creative campaign brainstorming session. I had mapped things out a bit differently since I had…

Stage Mom
We Need to Talk About Kevin

poisedpen

28 Jan 2012 | 12:58 am

Tilda Swinton (Eva) and Jasper Newell (Kevin, as a child) in "We Need to Talk About Kevin" directed by Lynne Ramsey and distributed by BBC Films It’s hard to understand what might motivate someone to see a movie like “We Need to Talk About Kevin” — which feels both grotesque and gratuitous as it explores a mother’s life before and after her teenage son commits horrific acts of violence. Perhaps parents believe the film holds important clues about what makes certain children troubled, and hope it’ll reveal ways to assure their own children never…
Gong Xi Fa Cai!

poisedpen

27 Jan 2012 | 6:10 pm

Scene from a 2012 independent film titled "A Boy in China" (Image: Empty Mind Films) I decided to indulge in a little Mandarin to celebrate the Chinese New Year — and news from proud mom Margot Magnum that her son, a young Kung Fu phenomenon named Andre, performed during Chinese New Year celebrations in NYC today. Seems there’s little down time for the energetic redhead profiled in a newly-released film. “A Boy in China” follows the martial arts adventures of Andre Magnum, seen largely through the eyes of parents Kenn and Margot Magnum — whose…
Just around the corner

poisedpen

26 Jan 2012 | 8:25 pm

In a Jewish ghetto in Vilna, Poland, actors in an amateur theater group are struggling with their material. It’s 1931, and the play they’re rehearsing is based on an historical event called the “Dreyfus Affair.” Dreyfus was a French-Jewish army captain, husband and father of two, falsely accused of treason in 1894 — who wasn’t completely exonerated until 1906. Seems the actors, especially the one playing Dreyfus, can’t quite grasp the relevance. Members of the troupe focus instead on the nuisances of everyday life and their petty differences,…

ChildWild
What Marriage Means To Me

Sierra

25 Jan 2012 | 5:22 pm

One of my commenters on the last post asked me what marriage means to me. She had a long interesting story around her question; I recommend reading hers and all the comments on that post. It’s tempting to be glib and say marriage doesn’t mean much to me: I got married as an expedient way to ensure legal and financial protections for my family. We eloped together; there was no wedding, no vows, no photos. I’d cheerfully vote for the abolition of legal marriage; would love to see the state sever the link between state-sanctioned domestic partnerships and the personal decision…
Talking About Open Marriage

Sierra

22 Jan 2012 | 11:06 pm

Hello Salon readers! If you came here from there, you already know I’m on Salon talking about my open marriage. If you’re a regular reader of this blog (hi, Mom!), you can go there for the juicy details about my romantic life, and then come back here for some regularly scheduled programming. Or you can choose to skip this chapter entirely – it’s not that relevant to the main theme of this blog. Mom, fair warning, there are details about sex in that Salon piece. You might prefer to keep reading here. Now, since I’ve broached this topic, I’ll do something…
The Boots

Sierra

21 Jan 2012 | 1:36 pm

Rio’s school has these Parent Teacher Learning Groups. They’re like little conciousness raising groups on various topics, and are one of the big things I love about her school. You can form a group about anything: knitting, diversity, stress management. This year I’m in a group focused on activism. Our big activity for the year: a clothing swap. Any long time reader of this blog knows I love me some clothing swaps. So. We had our clothing swap last week and it was a TRIUMPH. People brought mountains of clothes. They took clothes away. They nodded appreciatively when I…

Honey Hazel
Sprinklers Make Me Wanna Play {Like a Kid Again}

28 Jan 2012 | 5:33 am

Every time our community sets off the sprinkler system, my heart wants to jump out of the car and do Russians in the air through the cool water!
Enjoying the Night Air

27 Jan 2012 | 6:03 pm
Coco ♥ Holly

26 Jan 2012 | 8:12 am

MIL has some CUTE frickin' doggies! Just makes my morning looking at their faces!

Where there's a Willer
Winter indoor activity ideas – Fisher-Price

ewiller

24 Jan 2012 | 7:56 am

(I was pleased to find out, just before Christmas, that I’ve been selected as one of the Fisher-Price Canadian mom bloggers for 2012. What follows is my first post as part of this program. Over the course of the year, there’ll be Fisher-Price giveaways and further content. Stay tuned.) Since the kids went back to school this month, it’s just been me and them during the day. No more lovely nanny to entertain and shuttle the older kids around while I coo over the baby. No time to coo! Hurry up! Get your snowpants on! Get your boots off! Where are your mitts? Let’s go, we…
The shoe just dropped about a foot, I figure

ewiller

20 Jan 2012 | 9:07 am

In internet lore, if you blog about how your baby is doing something wonderful like (a) sleeping through the night; (b) breastfeeding without any difficulty whatsoever; (c) using the toilet by the age of one — or whatever excellent thing your baby is so much better at than everyone else’s baby, it is known that your baby will forthwith cease this behaviour and do the exact opposite just to screw with your mind. So forgive me when I realize that I have barely posted about Charlie the wonder baby, who is now 2.5-gosh-almost-3 months old. Don’t ask me how many weeks. I’m…
Oliver at 6

ewiller

13 Jan 2012 | 9:29 pm

Almost two weeks ago, there were half a dozen pirates running around my house, jumping and leaping and ‘arrrgh’-ing. And there was Oliver, giving them orders as to what was happening next. “Ok guys, guys, it’s time for cake now!” “Ok, everyone be quiet! I’m going to open my gifts!” His confidence in social situations boggles my mind. He walks into the school yard and has no problem talking up older kids he doesn’t really know. That is not me. By a long shot. I hide in my phone or coo at the baby so I don’t have to talk to their…

O My Family - This new mom's blog
OBoy the Contrarian

AllisonO

26 Jan 2012 | 10:38 am

He had whined and demanded oatmeal the whole time we were getting dressed. I mostly ignored, reworded, and redirected. By the time we got downstairs I finally got a straight “May hab O-meal for brekist peeze?” out of him. (We’re working on manners and asking polite questions. I must say ” ‘I want’ is not a question.” 382,937 times a day.) He asked so nicely, so I started up a pot. For a while he was at my feet, waiting impatiently as the oats cooked. By the time the timer went off, he had gone into the playroom and I could hear him driving his…
something we don’t really talk about

AllisonO

25 Jan 2012 | 7:26 am

I don’t remember what day it was, or even what month, but I do know it was sometime during the dark, cold winter of 2009. The snow and the ice heaped their weight on top of my already unbearable load of new motherhood. It got dark early, both outside and in my heart. The date may escape me, but the details of that evening are emblazoned on my memory. We had just hit an impossibly large bump in our already rough road of infant sleep and it took everything I had not to fall into a crying heap on the floor.It took everything I had.It seemed like every night, without fail, our son would…
a lazy day, on purpose

AllisonO

24 Jan 2012 | 7:57 am

I have a really hard time turning on the TV. I don’t know, it’s not that I expect everyday to be educational and homespun and full of finger painting, but it seems like once the TV has been turned on it’s near impossible to turn it back off. It sets a course for the day that I don’t want.Except yesterday. Yesterday I wanted a lazy course, a course filled with blankets and lounging and pajamas at noon. We ate french toast in our PJs, watched Super Why!, and generally just wandered around without a plan. It was lovely. I even light a yankee candle and put it on the…

grumbles and grunts
I like you, and I think that if you thought about it you'd know you like me too. (chapter five)

27 Jan 2012 | 10:47 am

{continued from chapter four} My first face-to-face introduction to the boy of my dreams was not a roaring success with trumpet fanfare and ticker tape, in fact I slunk away from the incident with my tail between my legs feeling black as black as black. He was busy, he had friends who were girls, and the last thing he probably wanted to do was talk to me. I stewed and brooded and grimaced dramatically through the rest of my weekend, you know, standard teenage girl things. It probably looked like I ate some bad meat off the floor, which totally sounds like something I would do anyway. Come the…
that's just nature, Gunter.

26 Jan 2012 | 8:28 am

There is one huge advantage to going to the zoo in blustery 20° weather: no one else is there. When I say no one I mean it– there was one other car in the parking lot and they weren't even taking tickets at the gate, it was just standing open with the wind rushing on through. FREE ZOO, bring your parka. Even though it required much bundling up it was worth it because oh my god, winter with a little boy has been painful. He needs more exercise than a greyhound and I'm running out of indoor activities. Be free, little zoo explorer, and you can actually run around by yourself because no one…
wordless wednesday: dreamboat edition

25 Jan 2012 | 10:23 am

{drop by and leave some comment love or see more at grumbleandgrunts.com}Grumbles and Grunts © 2011 · Copywright protected, may not be reproduced or reprinted without permission.

The Shopping Mama
The Shopping Mama Winners

Kate

27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

As always, all giveaway winners are notified via email. This ongoing list of giveaways ending January through March 2012 will be updated as giveaways end. Boppy Travel Pillow: Adina M Seraphine Maternity Clothing: Clarissa N Aquaphor Baby Care: Amanda A
Fun & Personalized Classroom Valentines from Minted

Kate

27 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

If you spend any amount of time on Pinterest then you know that Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching. I’ve seen more than my fair share of adorable, custom homemade Valentines. But, let’s be honest, we don’t all have the time, skill or energy to make those paper marvels for an entire classroom. Never fear, craft-challenged mamas! Minted is here with a fabulous selection of classroom Valentine’s Day cards so you can get the unique, custom card you’re looking for without the drama. Personalized Classroom Valentines The collection of Minted classroom…
Aura Weavers Swaddle Blankets {Discount & Giveaway}

Kate

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Over the next month (or two?) I’ll be sharing information about some of the products we’ll be using in our home with the baby when it arrives. After baby is here I’ll follow up with a post about our real life experience using the product. The first goodie in the “Getting Ready for Baby” series is a new company who makes muslin swaddling blanket. About Aura Weavers Aura Weavers was created by Shilpi Desai after her first child was born two years ago. She says, “I wanted all newbie and seasoned moms to find the same happiness I found with muslin – and…

Is It Monday Already?
I am on day 8

Lisa P@www.isitmondayalready.com

22 Jan 2012 | 8:37 am

Of not smoking! As you know if you have read my blog for some time that I had quit for about 18-mos and stupidly picked it back up again in a moment of severe stress. I had been smoking again for about a year a knew I had to quit again, but the medication I used before had new cardiovascular warnings and with a heart condition I knew it would not be wise to even suggest to my Dr. that I take it again. I had an electronic cigarette that I had bought when I was not smoking that I planned on using to keep the urge at bay with non-nicotine cartridges, but even the cartridges that contained…
Not much going on here in the way of the walk

Lisa P@www.isitmondayalready.com

22 Jan 2012 | 8:30 am

Not too much to report. I got my first call from the mortgage company way earlier than I was expecting though. The payment was not even considered late until the 15th of the month so imagine my surprise to receive a call on the evening of January 5th! It was quick, yet it seemed to go on forever. I was asked if I had forgotten to make my payment and my reply was no I hadn't forgotten, but had hired an attorney in this matter. There was a long pause at which time I offered the caller the contact information and stated all communication needed to go through the attorney. The caller took the…
Happy New Year lets all make 2012 a great one

Lisa P@www.isitmondayalready.com

1 Jan 2012 | 4:19 pm

This coming year will be one of many changes. Some good some bad as with all years, but I vow to make the most of all the blessings I am given, and to learn the most from all my mistakes. I will not let anyone define my worth with useless numbers nor with my material possessions or lack there of. I vow to make this a great year and to live the best I possibly can and to be grateful for all I have and don't have. The next couple of week will be filled with stress as the date of our first missed house payment becomes a reality. I know that in the long run this is the best possible choice I can…

The View from My Fishbowl
Wordless Wednesday - Epcot

25 Jan 2012 | 9:18 am

29 days....and counting.
[insert loud sigh here]

24 Jan 2012 | 7:26 pm

Yeah. This blog post has no title. Apparently I wasn't feeling very creative tonight.(insert laugh track here)Ever have one of "those" days that just seems to keep on going and going, just like that annoying pink bunny? Yeah, that's my week so far. And it's ONLY Tuesday. At this point I'd like to just eat an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's "Chubby Hubby" and watch trashy reality TV for hours. While wrapped up in a Snuggie. Surrounded by past issues of US Weekly. Then, just maybe, my week would seem better. There isn't just one thing that has made the week craptastic so far.It's a lot of…
Happy Birthday Emma

24 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

My sweet Emma,It seems impossible to me that you are five years old today. My baby, my sweet peanut Emma-nem is FIVE. I swear it was just yesterday when you were this small: You were our sweet surprise - your daddy and I knew we wanted to add to our family but when I found out you were on the way it was quite the surprise. To this day, it's the best shock I have ever had. You are one of a kind, my sweet princess. You are funny. Funnier than any other five year old I know. We call you our family comedian. Every day you make me laugh with something you do or say. You're our 'tiny dancer' too.

Sist3rs
Lunch for the Ladies

25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

I had a fun day today with two of my closest gal pals. We enjoyed a little girl-time getting pedicures and then I hosted a luncheon for them, followed up by an iPad tutorial. Speaking of iPads...I gave a lot of them as gifts this year. At least 10 of them. The first app I tell everyone about is Paprika Recipe Manager. It's definitely my most-used software program. It's also available for Mac computers and offers a handy Bookmarklet. No software or app is easier to save (or share) recipes. And because I love it so much, I will now be making my…
A Little Old, A Little New

2 Jan 2012 | 5:32 pm

Well, it's been quite a while since I've posted - the world seems to move too quickly at times, and by the end of the day there doesn't seem to be a lot of creative juices left in the tank....I'm hoping to change that this year, to squeeze just a little more time out of the crazy clock~What better way to get back on the blogging horse than to give our readers a little insight into 'how we rolled' this Christmas - Texas style....Christmas is a very hectic time of year at the best of times, especially for us as we (Bear and I) split our time due to our family dynamics. This year, it was…
Caption for Kramer: I (Heart) Sist3rs

1 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Yes, I'm the type of dog-owner that runs for the camera before disciplining my dog over a stolen shoe. He's just so stink in' cute--even when he's naughty... (Your Caption Here)

The MamaZone
How Watching Arthur Can Make You a Better Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

Source: socialmoms.com via Anitra on Pinterest Hey blogging friends, I'm being a little lazy today and sending you off to read a blog boost that I posted on Social Moms this week. It's got some helpful tips on being a great blogger, and surprisingly, it was inspired by the Arthur episode, "Muffy and the Big Bad Blog." Hop on over and let me know what you think. More next Saturday... Saturdays are all about Blog Boosts around here. Have a blogging question? Leave a comment! Monetize Your Blog
Earn Kitchen Appliances at NoMoreRack

27 Jan 2012 | 8:02 pm

I am still very excited about NoMoreRack.com!! I’ve posted about it a number of times, but if you missed my original post, check it out and find out why it’s become one of my favorite deal sites. For the next few days, you can pick up some noteworthy kitchen prizes just for having friends join you on NoMoreRack. Remember, they don’t even need to make a purchase—you get rewarded for simply having friends. While I can only dream about earning that refrigerator, there’s a Cuisinart Hand Blender available when you have 35 friends. There are other great rewards from brands like All-Clad,…
No Cost Federal Tax Filing with TurboTax

26 Jan 2012 | 8:07 pm

It’s tax time, mamas! And, if you’re not interested in paying an accountant to do the work for you, you’re probably looking for an affordable way for you to do it yourself. TurboTax Federal Free Edition is a handy way for you to accomplish that goal and the great news is that you can use it to file your Federal Tax return for FREE. Here’s why I’m recommending it: TurboTax guarantees you'll get your biggest tax refund, with 100% accurate calculations. Enjoy free help and step by step guidance so you are confident your taxes are done right. TurboTax Federal Free Edition is the…

Dear Crissy
Ball Park FTW!

Crissy

27 Jan 2012 | 12:43 pm

Until very recently, I was outnumbered by guys in my home. Moms of boys know, there are several areas where the preferences of men and boys intersect — loud cars, power tools, and certain delicious foods — to name a few. One of those foods that gets a huge thumbs-up from the big man, and the little man in our home? Ball Park Franks! We actually go for Ball Park Beef Franks in our home. Made with 100% beef, they make a delicious choice for a quick lunch or fun summer grilling option (is it summer yet?) You know, this commercial for Ball Park Franks really cracks me up. I think my…
How StumbleUpon Is Ruining Mom Blogs

Crissy

26 Jan 2012 | 12:07 pm

If you were online in the late 90′s and early 2000′s, you probably received about 30 emails filled with jokes and animated gifs, every day. Your great aunt Cathy might even still forward you and 234 of her closest friends an occasional 3-mile-long email featuring pictures of beautiful vistas, overlaid with motivational quotes. I can’t help but be reminded of those awful email forwards that most of us would sooner delete than read, when I see the new posting trend in mom blogging. Did we all wake up one day with a deep passion for funny pictures of cats, tacky motivational…
Take Care Of All Your Memories

Crissy

24 Jan 2012 | 12:40 pm

This is a photo that I took of Zach, before we had kids, at Marblehead, OH.

Child Mode
RECALL: Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat

Nadia

27 Jan 2012 | 3:13 pm

Pin it This afternoon Britax issued a voluntary recall for the Chaperone Infant Car Seat in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada. No injuries have been reported so far however Britax has announced that the rivet used to attach the harness adjuster to the shell may have been improperly installed. “The harness adjuster on the Britax Chaperone ensures that the harness straps can be properly tightened and secured over the infant’s shoulders and is attached to the infant car seat shell. As a result, the harness adjuster may detach from…
Kim, Khloe & Kourtney Launch The Kardashian Denim Kollection For Sears

Nadia

27 Jan 2012 | 12:07 pm

Pin it They have launched everything from swimwear to nail polish and now Kourtney, Kim and Khloé Kardashian have teamed up once again to design a new line of denim, exclusive to Sears.Kim took to Twitter to announce the launch of the new line saying: ”Our Kardashian Kollection for Sears denim line is officially here!! There are three styles, each named after my sisters and me.”I’m wearing The Kim, which is a sexy, low cut, straight leg jean. Then Kourtney is wearing The Kourtney, a gorgeous skinny leg jean, and Khloe is wearing The Khloe, a tall curvy, high rise,…
Stunning! The New CMYK Zen & Monochrome Zen Strollers Are Revealed!

Nadia

27 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am

Pin it If you are looking for unique cantfindanywhereelse exclusives, giggle is proving to be your best bet. Not only do they sell many product exclusives from well known brands, they just introduced their two new exclusive stroller styles from Bugaboo. Yesterday, they announced the addition of the bloom ZEN CMYK Stroller ($799) which could very well be the most eye-popping of the season! In a colorway that looks incredibly similar to giggle’s trademark colors, the new CMYK Zen from bloom is as stylish and fresh as it is practical. This all-terrain stroller boasts a cutting edge fold…

One Bored Mommy Blogspot
3 Day Only #GIVEAWAY - PIRATE'S BOOTY Is A Must Have At Your SUPERBOWL Party!

The Hutson Family

27 Jan 2012 | 11:06 am

Have you ever tried "PIRATE'S BOOTY"? This delicious, melt in your mouth snack is not only a favorite of my kids (they can't get enough of it)...but the adults in this house love it too! In fact, having a bowl of Pirate's Booty at your SUPERBOWL party on the 5th, might make you the "FAN FAVORITE" house because of your snack selections! Score points with the home team this Big Game day by serving a family favorite – Pirate’s Booty! This year, intercept regular chips with a healthier alternative like Pirate’s Booty, which has half the fat and less calories (130 calories for a…
I'll Be "SHAVING" Far Less This Year...Thanks To Remington's New iLight Pro Technology!

The Hutson Family

27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

SHAVING...it's my enemy! I remember when I got to shave for the first time (much to my humiliation), I took a huge chunk of skin off the shin of my leg...and thought to myself, "OUCH...was it really worth all the anticipation and excitement after all?" Little did I know that shaving was something that would become a daily thing...and one that I really don't enjoy doing all that much! I know I'm not alone! How do I know that? Because companies are making products to eliminate the need for daily shaving. Without the demand...these products wouldn't be HUGE on…
Want To See Me On TV?? My Better Connecticut TV Segment...CHECK IT OUT!

The Hutson Family

26 Jan 2012 | 3:08 pm

This morning, as you know, I headed to Rocky Hill, CT to tape a segment for the Better Connecticut Show! I got my table/display all set up, to talk about all the products I brought with me... and then I settled into a seat in the audience to wait for my segment taping time! HERE's my segment: Of course, I had to take a picture with Olessa Stepanova, before I headed out! I had a great time and look forward to other opportunities in 2012 to talk about awesome products and get exposure on local and national television shows!

HomeToHeather
I Need a Genie in a Bottle – Baby

Heather

24 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pm

tick tock I often lie in bed at night, waiting to fall asleep with my husband snoring in my ear and think about things that didn’t get done during the day. ‘I wanted to clear the clutter from the dining room, I wanted to cook that dish just a 1/2 hour longer, I wanted to write that blog post and have a shower. And the floor didn’t get washed again.’ I wish I had the ability to control time, to slow down the day and give me more hours to complete the things I want to do. I want to be the best mom. I want to be the best spouse. I want to be the best ME. So many…
Blogging Inspiration

Heather

19 Jan 2012 | 10:16 pm

anyone recognize this?!?! This week’s Monday Mojo kind of stumped me. Well, stumped is the wrong word. It actually overwhelmed me. The prompt was this: Who inspires you to be a better blogger? Has there been someone who’s mentored you and helped you become the blogger you are today? Is there a website out there that you strive to be like one day? Share your inspirations! And SO MANY blogs came to mind that I just didn’t know where to start. Rhea wrote an awesome post (complete with awesome picture) that encompases much of what I wanted to say. Then I think about a few people…
Wordless Wednesday

Heather

18 Jan 2012 | 3:14 pm

hollywood housewife
have faith, part VII and epilogue

hollywood housewife

27 Jan 2012 | 4:22 pm

...continued from Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, and Part VI. It wasn’t true, you know. I did care what the Bible said. But I had believed for so long - and verbally espoused - certain views about homosexuality and now they were being challenged. Because when my dear friend told me he was gay, I knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that it wasn’t his choice.And if I didn’t believe that one thing about my faith, what else didn’t I believe? The girl from another denomination who told me I was going to hell, the boyfriend who tried to pray my…
friday links - mommy shorts edition

hollywood housewife

27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

It has been quite a week. Thank you to everyone who has been following along with my Have Faith story. It has been the hardest and most emotional thing I've ever written for public eyes. Maybe you can't tell by the words, but rehashing all the emotions and then presenting something so personal has been exhausting. I'm really glad I've done it, though. Check back this afternoon for the final installment, and the epilogue. (And if you're new here, I hope you know that things aren't usually quite so serious.) I first started following…
have faith, part VI

hollywood housewife

26 Jan 2012 | 3:30 pm

...continued from Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V. Towards the end of college, I fell in love with someone who did not share my adoration of Jesus. This was the first time that had happened. Subconsciously I was probably looking for someone who would give my heart a rest, but at the time he seemed to come out of nowhere. I loved him, and I think he loved me back, and we talked too much about our differences while heralding the ways in which we were the same. He felt like a fit for where I was going, literally.After my Europe experience, I was itching…

All About Avacakes
Random Tuesday Stuff

Avasmommy

17 Jan 2012 | 5:52 pm

I’m actually kind of glad to have a break from three day weekends for a bit. They really throw off the rest of my week. I spend all day Monday thinking it’s Sunday and well, it just goes down hill from there. I whipped up a batch of veggie fritters this weekend. The recipe is up over at Foodie Parent. I’d love it if you took a moment to go over and read and comment. Some big stuff happening over there, none of which I can talk about, but your support there would be truly appreciated. After spending three years saying “I have absolutely zero interest in…
22

Avasmommy

11 Jan 2012 | 12:58 pm

It is January and the sky is a vibrant blue today. Not something we often see here in Oregon in the dead of winter. There is a cold wind blowing the clouds and rain away, rain that would remind me of that day 22 years ago when I said goodbye. I don’t want to always feel sad on this day, and yet I do. I feel sad that as I watch my girl play he’s not there to chase her around the house or terrify her with stories of bugs and wild animals, as he used to do with my cousin and me when we were small. I call my mother and wish that he was there to join in the yelling of I love…
One Year Later

Avasmommy

6 Jan 2012 | 12:14 pm

I moved my last post back to the draft folder. I was hesitant to publish it at all, even privately, and bare myself so completely as to the struggle of emotions. Those of you who read and as usual, supported me, thank you. Your words mean so much and I feel each one of them as a warm embrace. The sheer act of writing has brought about some form of catharsis. The emotions have shifted to something different, less intense and not quite as crushing. Life and the act of living it never ceases to ebb and flow. The waters rush in and bring forth a wave of the unexpected and just as suddenly…

Following In My Shoes | Houston Mom Blog
Can’t Spell? Apply Within.

Rachel

24 Jan 2012 | 11:36 pm

TweetHouston is a big city with big and small businesses alike. And, so it seems, there is also equal-opportunity for those who can’t spell. Or punctuate. Or both. In one week – ONE WEEK — I snatched the following photos while driving to and from the groomers … the Little Lady’s school … and Target. Such a small radius with big, big errors. (my former English-teacher’s heart can’t help but … sigh) Sighting #1: Those darn homonymns! Shake your fist and eyebrowse at the sky!!!!! Sighting #2: The Letter “I.” So…
Shaved Asparagus and Portobello Three Cheese Pizza

Rachel

22 Jan 2012 | 11:43 pm

Tweet For well over a year, since hearing a friend “Ooo and Ahhh” over shaved asparagus as a pizza topping, this pizza has been a regular part of our menu plans — especially in the summertime when Hubby cranks up his grill. That’s right, we typically grill this pizza…. or, Hubby does. (I’m not the pyromaniac he is so I leave all things “grilled” to him.) But now, it’s winter, which for most folks means snow, blustery winds and chilly temps that aren’t conducive for a night of grilling on the patio. So, for this version of my Shaved…
Down 7 Pounds in 2012

Rachel

20 Jan 2012 | 1:18 am

TweetIt’s official. I’m under the 200 mark — 196, to be precise. Seven pounds lost since my last weigh-in (December 30th) of 203 pounds. Happy, happy, joy, joy! 7 pounds lost in a few weeks? I’ll take that — it is a good beginning to a new journey of being healthier. I’ve been down the weight-loss road before. I *know* how to do it: hard work and perseverance. But, this time, after having Barney Kneeknuckles, I was afraid of starting all over. I worried about not succeeding given how busy I am with three kids. That time spent worrying was a…

Momma Findings | Houston Mom Blog
4 Easy Ways to Switch to Whole Grain Foods {Giveaway}

27 Jan 2012 | 1:23 pm

Some of you guys might roll your eyes at this post, but I have seriously been changing my eating habits. I've found that by giving up soda and controlling my portion sizes has made a HUGE impact on my waistline. I also feel SO much better throughout the day. These eating habits have also made an impact on my children. Instead of reaching for sugary soda and greasy potato chips (which I always kept around), they want yogurt with granola, or fruit kabobs, and even a nice bowl of whole grain cereal. As a Mom, I've found it hard to distinguish which cereal is healthy and which is not, but…
Pin of the Week: Easy Cheesy Zucchini Bake Recipe

27 Jan 2012 | 11:22 am

Source: KalynsKitchen.com I've, seriously, enjoyed my "Pin of the Week" segment. It's been such a change in my lifestyle since I became a Pinterest user. That sounds silly, but I've found REALLY easy recipes that have little ingredients and are low-cost. I've EVEN been making healthy snacks and lunches thanks to all the recipes I've found. It's like we're a whole new family. No joke. So, what's on tap for this week? Well, I love me some squash and zucchini. My children, however, do not. At all. I started searching for recipes that include these…
6 Things You Should Know Before You Shop at Joe V's

26 Jan 2012 | 5:36 pm

If you guys follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you may or may not have seen how geeky-nerdy-excited I was about the new Joe V's Smart Shop opening, here, in Baytown. The Grand Opening was yesterday and I was there, in the rain and everything. I've totally missed my H-E-B the last few weeks and have been forced to shop at other grocery stores, in which I will not name. A friend of mine picked me up and we headed out to our new grocery store. I've never been in a Joe V's Smart Shop before, so I really had no idea what to expect. I knew it would look like a Costco and would have…

Cora's Story
Ms.Cora Goes to Washington. My Testimony to the SACHDNC

26 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pm

Over the past two years--largely because of parental groups like 1in100 and a whole lot of work and meetings by probably hundreds of people--screening for the condition that stole Cora's young life was recommended federally. The Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Diseases in Newborn and Children (often shortened to SACHDNC) went through an extensive process to add pulse oximetry to their recommended newborn panel. This recommendation was huge, but now it's up to the state's to follow through. Not every state screens for every condition, as you can check at Save Babies Through…
Learning When It's Okay to Neither Agree or Disagree

20 Jan 2012 | 12:58 pm

Grandma Cora (Ben’s grandma who I’m staying with for the month) and I have almost polar opposite views on most things. We have different religions. We are strong supporters of different political parties. I suspect on almost everything we’d disagree—except I don’t disagree with Grandma. I don’t agree with her either. I just nod and say non-committal things like, “Is that right?” or “Okay.” I’ve learned a lot from my time here. We have extremely different views, but I can still love her. Since she’s my 100-year-old grandma by marriage, I’m not about to disagree…
The Place Where Cora Lives

18 Jan 2012 | 9:07 am

When my husband came in and told me that the family wanted someone to spend a month with his grandma in Florida, I knew I was the one for the job, not just because my work is portable, but also because I needed the change. I needed the sun. I needed easy afternoons on the front porch. I needed three meals a day—all light—at routine times. I needed a world where babies didn’t die and people lived to be 100—like Ben’s Grandma, Cora’s namesake. Even a year ago, I couldn’t have done it. A month in a place where my Cora’s name is seldom brought up, and my work for her is a mystery.

MomFinds
Now Available at Barneys New York: Danzo Diaper Bags!

Mom Jeanine

27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

Back in 2010, it was love at first site when I came up close and personal with a Danzo diaper bag. Not only was it great looking, but it was functional, too! The inside is loaded with clear pockets you can label so you know where everything is with just a quick glance. For a long time, the bags were only available directly through company. But today is Friday and there is good news: Danzo diaper bags are now at barneys.com! Before you bust out your credit card, though, you should be warned. The bags are pricey. The two styles currently available are both over $300. But for organizational…
Hmm, We Wonder How Anna Wintour Feels About Her Main Squeeze Roger Federer Putting His Daughters in Birkenstocks?

Mom Jeanine

27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

See those adorable little girls in the pic above? They’re Roger Federer’s twin daughters, Myla and Charlene. They’ve definitely got their dad’s good looks, but what about his fashion sense? It’s no secret that Roger is the apple of Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s eye, so we wonder what she’d think of his daughter’s wearing Birki’s Kids sandals? Not exactly something you’d find in an issue of Vogue, but you have to admit those girls look pretty chic in all white. If you’re already thinking a season ahead, here’s where you can…
Psst! Can We Talk About All The Adorable Shoes On Sale at Piperlime Right Now?!

Mom Jeanine

27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

If you’ve banned yourself from buying another thing, don’t read any further. Just, go do something else. Now for all you mamas looking for some trouble, check out these amazing designer kids’ shoes I found–on sale!–at Piperlime: Cole Haan Air Kenzi Ox http://www.momfinds.com/files/2012/01/cn4285213.jpg $58, down from $78; piperlime.com la Primigi Groungy http://www.momfinds.com/files/2012/01/pl880919-00vliv01.jpg $48, down from $70; piperlime.com la pediped Kat http://www.momfinds.com/files/2012/01/pl878439-01vliv01.jpg $44, down from $64; piperlime.com la…

The Mom Maven
Cartoon Characters that Aren’t Allowed in My House

cindy

27 Jan 2012 | 5:22 am

I have always kept a tight reign on media in my house. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
I Can’t Believe My Kids Like…

cindy

26 Jan 2012 | 8:16 am

To me, Dr Pepper is the one of the nastiest things I've ever tasted. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Family Game Night 4 the Game Show for Wii

cindy

24 Jan 2012 | 6:08 pm

The 4th game in the series is based to the Family Game Night television show on The Hub. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

BuenoBaby
Cwah-zaaahnt

Meredith

23 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am

As we were pulling out of the Costco parking lot this weekend, Heidi asked if she could have a croissant. Sure, why not? Nothing wrong with a buttery, flaky croissant except I don't make a habit of keeping a croissant on my person. So I told her, "Sorry babe, but I don't have a croissant," and then a blistering rage rolled out of her thirty-five pound body. The ride home looked something like this: The whole way home she screamed, and cried, and convulsed, "I WANT A CROISSANT! I WANT A CROISSANT!" Stuff was shooting out of her mouth and her nose. It wasn't until we got home that…
So I Didn't Win the Lottery, Again

Meredith

23 Jan 2012 | 8:55 am

So I didn’t win the lottery, again. It happens all the time and it’s probably because I never play the lottery and also...because...well....it’s the lottery. No one wins, ever. Except the winner. And how happy for those lottery winners, are we?One of the grocery store chains here in our town occasionally runs store sponsored scratch-off games. Buy a specific brand of cottage cheese or a minimum amount of groceries and the check-out person presses a thin stack of ‘tickets’ into your hand, along with the grocery receipt.There’s usually a small pile of those unscratched tickets…
If we ever meet, it will probably go something like this:

Meredith

14 Jan 2012 | 7:07 pm

If you had to rate my cocktail party skill-set between one and ten it would probably be a negative seven. I don’t mean the drinking part, I can do that. I will drink circles around you and then excuse myself go to the ladies room where I’ll re-apply my eyeliner with the steadiest of hands.No, I’m talking about the small talk part. Small talk is like ping-pong and I’m no good at ping-pong. Sure I can hit that hollow ball over the net a couple times, but inevitably it comes bouncing back to me wanting to talk about cupcake recipes. At which point I panic and smash the ball until it’s…

Mommys Hangout- Atlanta Georgia Mommy Blogger (Jen Williams)
Sweeping Saturday 1/28/2012

Jen Williams

27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

Do you Have Giveaways? Please Share them here! Every Saturday there is new post with a Mr. Linky for you to list your giveaways. So Please Check weekly To Add yours!
Music Monday Etta James – At Last

Jen Williams

23 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm

Etta James Dies at 73; Voice Behind ‘At Last’. She will be missed!
Sweeping Saturday 1/21/2012

Jen Williams

20 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

Do you Have Giveaways? Please Share them here! Every Saturday there is new post with a Mr. Linky for you to list your giveaways. So Please Check weekly To Add yours!

Naptime Radio
Episode 040: Bullying

Heather and Kate

16 Jan 2012 | 4:30 am

We chat about more boy craziness and being awfully married, get a special twist on biz buzz with Alli P., power nap on bullying and wrap with the increasingly clueless Nodelman and his news quiz. Enjoy and thanks for listening.
Episode 039a: Self Esteem (with better sound)

Heather and Kate

6 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

(This is the same as Episode 039 but with better sound..if you can't download this version, try Episode 039). We discuss Christmas, New Years and poop (of course), Alli P. gets us biz buzzed, we power nap on boosting kids' self esteem and wrap with Nodelman's news quiz. Enjoy and thanks for listening!
Episode 039: Self Esteem

Heather and Kate

6 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

We discuss Christmas, New Years and poop (of course), Alli P. gets us biz buzzed, we power nap on boosting kids' self esteem and wrap with Nodelman's news quiz. Enjoy and thanks for listening!

just another mommy blog...
There are worse ways to go, I suppose.

26 Jan 2012 | 9:10 am

So, I'm yawning and driving home from Disney on Ice last night, listening to Corinne and her friend giggle their blond heads off about, oh, everything. I couldn't help laughing at their discussions about gas and bodily functions (girls really can be just as gross as boys). And then it became a competition about everything from who had the most fun to who could yell the loudest (a tie) to who was the most tired."I'm sooooo tired!""No, I'm sooooo tired!""I'm more tired!"Giggle. Giggle. Tee-hee."I'm so tired, I think I'll take a nap right now," I interjected at the steering wheel."Ok!" said the…
Kenmore Knows

23 Jan 2012 | 7:06 pm

Kenmore knows what we want and how we want it. I always walk away from the Kenmore Live Studio thinking that their products are absolutely awesome. This weekend at the Kenmore Blogger Summit in Chicago was no different.Why yes. That is me with a Google YouAreHere dot on my bum. You aren't really surprised by that, are you? Forget the fact that we got to meet people from Google (YES. Google) and listen to a fabulous speaker from Wired.com. Forget about the fact that Kenmore and Sears provided each attendee with an awesome small appliance of their choice after feeding and housing us all for the…
What I'm Doing Right Now, Not That You Asked Or Even Care

20 Jan 2012 | 10:11 pm

Ok. So I crawled under the drapes and screen of the swanky hotel room I'm staying in to see what kind of view I have from my room. And, shockingly enough, it's a Nice View. Imagine that! A nice view in a fancy hotel room.I digress.I pulled out my camera and began to take some shots because, DUH. I'm in a hotel room by myself; what else would I do with my time?? Naturally, I had the flash on because I'm not a camera whiz. And naturally this made my eyes bug out from the reflective glare. So I'm sitting beside the window, having just flashed the entire cross-section of State and Chestnut when I…

Mommy Niri
Picture Perfect!

Mommy Niri

26 Jan 2012 | 1:11 pm

When I was young, I used to chat with my mom that the guy I married had to be this, and this and that. My mom thought they were high demands and wished me luck finding the impossible. I disagreed. I felt that I was a pretty awesome catch myself and any guy who would be with me had better be that awesome too. My logic was clear, if I can be those things to him, how is it expecting those things in return to be anything less? I promised I would not settle. Of course most girls my age had had a head start with dating. Me, I was nose plucked in books, ready to make sure I was earning enough to get…
IKEA Family Card!

Mommy Niri

24 Jan 2012 | 9:30 pm

On a family jaunt to DC – to speak at the Blogalicious conference we made our regular rest stop at IKEA. If you see me tweet or chat with me on Facebook you would know that I love all things IKEA. Anyway, I just wanted to share with you my lovely find: the IKEA Family card. There are several reasons I love it, except for the fact that it is free and obtained so easily (right in the store you can make one at a kiosk) You actually get discounts on several items in the store and you can save on IKEA FAMILY products. Free coffee or tea every time you visit the restaurant (I could sit there…
Catch A Free Advanced Screening Of The Secret World Of Arrietty 28th January 2012! #Boston

Mommy Niri

24 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm

© 2010 GNDHDDTW © 2012 GNDHDDTW You know already how much I love watching movies with my family, which reminds me I have some discount tickets I better use before they expire, but there are some movies we wait more anxiously than others. The Secret World of Arriety comes from the same people who brought you amazing movies like Ponyo and Spirited Away. I was a huge fan of Spirited Away even before I had kids, the imagery is breathtaking and the stories are so thought-provoking and mind-bending that they keep you on the edge of your seat. Stretching the imagination of both parent and kid…

i, mami.
Never a Dull Moment for the Jones Fam.

theresa

27 Jan 2012 | 12:34 pm

Yep, I’m still pregnant. Woke up at 2 this morning when Hugga hollered that she had barfed in her bed. We were up for another hour to get cleaned up — Huz took her room, I took her into the shower. Took ages for me to get the barf out of her hair, get the knots combed, and send her back to bed. Asked her a million times if she felt yucky, if she felt like barfing again, and she said she was fine. We had a doctor’s appointment at 8AM. I got out of bed at 6 to pack Hugga’s lunch and dial into a meeting. She got out of bed on her own at 6:30 but complained that she was…
Week 3 Projects.

theresa

24 Jan 2012 | 12:27 pm

In case there was any question, I’m still pregnant. I know I’m just over 37 weeks, but I’m surprised this baby is still in my body. In general, I’m getting cranky and I easily lose my patience — not at Baby, but possibly because I’m exhausted from carrying her around and it takes like insurmountable effort to put pants on or clip my toenails or whatever. I should also mention that at our last doctor’s appointment on Friday, the ultrasound tech said she was measuring at about 8 pounds and she was “getting ready.” I’m not dilated yet,…
Very Special Conversations.

theresa

24 Jan 2012 | 11:26 am

I had a really weird conversation with a friend from back in CT the other day. I have a hunch that every person of color who grew up in the suburbs has at least one white acquaintance (possibly several) who is so clueless about race that literally everything that comes out of their mouth turns into a possible teaching moment, where during every conversation, you have to think to yourself, “How am I supposed to steer this?” This person is that particular acquaintance for me. I am generally a non-confrontational person who hates to fight, but I get especially squeamish whenever…

Big Binder
LEGO Friends Weekend and Giveaway!

Big Binder

27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

In our house, A.P. is the resident Lego expert. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, more Star Wars… he loves them all! Maybelle was quite surprised to learn that Lego has something for everyone; including six year old girls! And this weekend {January 27-29} at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago -one of our favorite day trips -is a LEGO Friends Weekend! Friday, January 27 through Sunday January 29 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m hit the town with LEGO Friends Olivia, Emma, Andrea, Stephanie and Mia and explore Heartlake City, the hippest hangout for these five mini-doll pals. You can also: Help design and…
Tide Coldwater – Can I Do It?

Big Binder

26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Big on Pinterest Laundry. OH, I love it. I do. And like all long-lived loves, our relationship has changed over time. I line dried for two years, but developed an irrational fear of bed bugs and have gone back to the dryer. I know it’s terrible for the environment. Or maybe it’s just a minor infraction, I’m not actually sure. I was asked to try Tide Coldwater. I hesitated at first, because in my house, whites are bleached, washed in hot water, and then dried on hot. After thinking it through, I realized that this…
What To Do This Weekend

Big Binder

25 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

Thursday January 26 and Friday 27 Circle Theatre presents SkippyJon Jones! Performances are at 10:00 and 12:30 so you’d have to had a kid not yet in school or who just has a half day, but the good news is that tickets are only $5.00! Saturday 28 10:00 – 3:00 Winterfest at Izaak Walton League Center, 5641 Myers Lake Ave, Belmont. It’s free, but donations are welcome. For more information call 616-773-2850 Archery Snow-shoeing Ice-fishing Cross-country skiing Snow Castles Bird Crafts Nature Trails Sledding Snow games FREE lunch! Saturday, January 27 10:00 AM Lowes Build and…

Simplified Saving
Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day or Redbook $5 Per Year

Lisa @ Simplified Saving

27 Jan 2012 | 11:55 am

Today Eversave is offering a 1 year subscription to your choice of Woman’s Day, Redbook, or Good Housekeeping for only $5. Eversave is one of my favorite deal sites and features 50% – 90% off on restaurants, spas, local activities and online deals. It’s free to join and first time buyers get a FREE $2 credit to use towards their first purchase. Share This
High Value Printable Dog Food Coupons

Lisa @ Simplified Saving

27 Jan 2012 | 11:48 am

Treat Fido to some fancy dinners with these printable dog food coupons! Share This
Tickled Pink NOLA Sale: Personalied Bedding & More

Lisa @ Simplified Saving

27 Jan 2012 | 11:43 am

I have to be honest with you all. I nearly swooned when I saw all the cute personalized bedding at Tickled Pink NOLA. This stuff is seriously so cute. They also have personalized shower curtains and cutting boards. Be still my beating heart! They have personalized stuff for boys too, but since we have girls, I tend to gravitate toward all the fun girly stuff. Click here to check it out! Share This

Unofficial Mom
Not Even a Choice

26 Jan 2012 | 10:48 am

I'm picking the prompt, " Return to work after baby was born or stay home? How did you make your decision?"******************************After Pie was born, Husband and I spent a glorious, amazing, unbelievable two weeks in a little family cocoon. It was the greatest two weeks ever. It was also the most exhausting, confusing, nerve-wracking two weeks ever. And then it was done.When my darling girl made her big entrance, I was working full-time and Husband was working/going to school. I was the bread winner while he was pursuing his degree. So it was decided that he would stay home…
PYHO {It Still Hurts}

25 Jan 2012 | 9:01 am

Don't miss the chance to Pour Your Heart Out with Shell at Things I Can't SayInfertility. It sucks. It's a dull ache that never goes away. It feels almost like a physical part of my body. Like, there's my left arm, left shoulder, infertility, right shoulder, right arm. Some days I don't really notice it. Some days (when it rains, heh) it acts up a little and I feel a twinge. Other days, and thankfully they aren't very often, a pain will rip through me with such surprising force that it takes my breath away.There's an adoption reading challenge that I was thinking about participating in.
That kid cracks me up

23 Jan 2012 | 9:25 am

Recently we've been teaching Pie about shaking hands and introducing yourself. Because why wouldn't you with a 2 year old? It always cracks me up because it seems so out of place to be shaking with a kid, but this weekend she pushed it over the edge into straight up hilarious.{Pie comes over to me and sticks out her hand}Me: {shaking} Hi, my name is Mama. What's your name?Pie: MeMe: Me who?Pie: {pauses thinking} meee-mo!I could not stop laughing. And it almost brings me to tears every time I think of it. Her first knock knock joke! And of course it would be about Nemo, her all time favorite…

Motherhood in NYC
Ahem

Marinka

27 Jan 2012 | 10:10 am

You’ll be relived to know that yesterday’s clogged toilet dilemma was resolved when Husbandrinka came home and taught me how to flush the toilet. Apparently, I haven’t been holding the handle long enough. He said I have to hold it until I see “the whirlpool action” which makes toilet flushing sound almost exotic. I’m very worried that the fact that I had to be schooled in this subject means that when people ask “who is the idiot for whom self-flushing toilets are designed” the answer is Marinka. But anyway. To celebrate my new toilet wisdom, I…
Woe Is Me

Marinka

26 Jan 2012 | 4:14 pm

I am sick with a cold/flu situation and my toilet is clogged and try as I might to put my usual optimistic spin on this experience, I just can’t seem to get it together. Mostly because I’ve been trying to battle the toilet for the past hour and what I’m smelling is definitely not victory. There is just absolutely no good news about a clogged toilet. In case you’re trying to reignite the romantic flame with your partner, this, apparently, is not the way to do it. I know because last Friday, after being gone for a week, Husbandrinka texted me that he landed at Newark,…

Family Travel Blog
Jan 28, Aquariums to Visit with Kids? 10 Amazing Ones Around the World

28 Jan 2012 | 5:10 am

Top 10 aquariums to visit around the world. Bring your kids to these marine lands full of exotic fish and sea creatures!
Jan 27, Expat Kids

27 Jan 2012 | 6:10 am

Expat Kids
Jan 27, Survive your Visit to the In Laws

27 Jan 2012 | 6:03 am

Are you secretly dreading a visit to the inlaws? Tips to make the trip more pleasant here!

Cool Mom Tech
Paris + affordable + gadget cases. Now that's a combination I like.

Cool Mom Picks

27 Jan 2012 | 10:40 am

I love all the flashy, brightly colored gadget cases we're seeing lately, but there's something really elegant about the soothing colors of this line from Cote & Ciel, that just went on sale at Fab.com
Geeky Valentine cards? LIKE.

Delilah

27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

My fellow geeks, we are a truly persnickety bunch, especially when it comes to social media. It takes a lot to earn our Likes, even more to earn our Shares, and a truly hilarious and Tina Fey-esque miracle to merit a DM.
Web Coolness -- Working for Zuck, DIY nightlight, and geeky Super Bowl commercials

Cool Mom Picks

27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Here are a few links we've enjoyed reading this week. We hope you like them too!

bethany actually
an interview with Annnalie

bethany actually

25 Jan 2012 | 11:21 pm

What is your name? Annalie. How old are you? Seven and a half years old. Where do you live? Washington, D.C. Do you have any pets? Yes. They are two cats. One’s Katy, and one’s Lily. Who do you like to play with? My little sister. What’s your favorite cereal? Uh…Lucky Charms. I also like Reese’s Puffs. What’s your favorite vegetable? I don’t really know. No, wait—it’s corn. That’s my favorite vegetable. You know corn is actually a grain. Oh. Heh. Whoops. Do you have a favorite vegetable? I especially like broccoli cheese soup. I know what…
possibly the slowest contest results ever

bethany actually

16 Jan 2012 | 2:17 am

Elliora was so teeny nine months ago. Wow. Anyway…does anyone remember this photo, and how I asked y’all to help me think of a funny caption, and then I did a poll to see who should win? I’d say we have a clear winner: Which caption do you like best?online surveys Congratulations, kc! Your caption is especially appropriate because I just read all seven Harry Potter novels for the first time the week after New Year’s. I’d like to paint you a mug or bowl or something as a prize. Email me and we’ll talk details!
Annalie seems to have lost something

bethany actually

15 Jan 2012 | 8:33 am

Another tooth! Last night she bit into a piece of pizza and came running to me, demanding that I pull the tooth out. So I did. Ta-daa!

Motherly Law
Celebrity Watch: Our Emotional Connections {Inspired by Klum v. Seal}

Motherly Law

27 Jan 2012 | 11:27 am

Hollywood Divorce So, Heidi Klum filed for divorce from Seal this week. Why is this headline news? This is certainly neither the first, nor the last celebrity divorce in the news. We watch them all with interest. Why are we concerned with the affairs of people we don't know; people we have never even met and more than likely will never meet? The breakup of a marriage and a family is always sad, regardless of who the people are or the reasons why. People are people no matter their profession or social status, and all people feel anger, loss and sadness. But what makes the general public…
Focus, Focus: A Head Full of Words and Ideas

Motherly Law

25 Jan 2012 | 5:54 pm

Thoughts Tumbling Out Sometimes my 3 year-old has trouble getting his words out. It's not that he doesn't know what he wants to say; he does. It's that he has so much to say that the words all tumble together and get stuck trying to get out. It's frustrating to him, but with patience {on our part} and focus {on his part} he can communicate his usually complex, thoughtful, interesting words. My 5 year-old went through this same thing. When you have a lot of observations, creative ideas and long-pondered questions about the world running around in your head it's hard not to…
When We Kick the Bucket: Finding the File

Motherly Law

24 Jan 2012 | 12:06 pm

Life is beautiful and terribly tragic all in one breath. We can't see what the future holds, but must carry on with faith from one day to the next. While dwelling on death and destruction is morbid and depressing, preparing and easing the strain on our loved ones should something happen is one of the best gifts imaginable. I have written about the documents you need, the discussions you should have and the key decisions to be made should anything happen to you and/or your spouse/partner, but I haven't mentioned that you should also know how and where to find all the key information in…

Not Your Typical Mommy
Special Events at Busch Gardens, Tampa!

27 Jan 2012 | 10:23 am

When you combine animals and Sesame Street, you have a happy family on your hands. My girls are crazy for both and I adore that Busch Gardens makes magic for them when we visit. And visit, we will because we are armed with the (FREE) Preschool Pass. From a recent press release: "Saturday, Feb. 11Elmo’s Warm and Fuzzy Valentine’s Day PartyCelebrate Valentine’s Day with your family’s favorite Sesame Street friends on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun. Swap Valentines with the characters and enjoy delicious food served buffet-style. Sunday, April…
Top Five Lists.

25 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pm

I’m on a roll with this whole making list things lately. Today I am sharing the top five things I am doing instead of homework. #5 Searching for birthday party themesI swore I wouldn’t do it this year, I said NO PARTIES. Then Roo went and started school and all her friends were having huge birthday parties and I made the mistake of asking Roo if she wanted one of her own. Of course she said yes (Duh Mom!) and now it’s exploded into a big party and I have a list of things to do a mile long. It’s going to be a pony party and finding cute horse theme birthday stuff is hard! But someone…
My Top Five Disney Movies

24 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pm

It's no secret, Disney movies rule this household. It's safe to say that 8 out of 10 movies played here are of the Disney brand. And I'm cool with it. Disney movies are always adorable, have catchy songs and happy ever after. I decided, for your reading entertainment, to name my top five Disney movies. #5 Toy Story I was fifteen when this movie came out, and I went and saw it in the theaters with my family. It was hilarious. It was the first Disney movie I can recall that added a lot of humor into it, even humor that parents can laugh at. When Roo was two, this movie was on loop everyday at…

Absolution Mediation - Jason Dykstra
Is Your Brand Reacting or being Proactive?

Jason Dykstra

23 Jan 2012 | 3:03 pm

I typically deal with conflict after it’s happened. A family breaks up, someone else got your promotion, you just gave a performance review and it didn’t go well. This is when people come to me…it’s a reaction. It’s after-the-fact, it happens after you have went through an event that caused you some pain, hurt, discomfort….it [...]Is Your Brand Reacting or being Proactive? is a post from: Absolution Mediation - Jason Dykstra
3 Things I learned in 2011

Jason Dykstra

2 Jan 2012 | 12:41 pm

There are a lot of resolutions going around at this time of year, there is also a lot of reflection and learning happening as well. This year has been an awesome (and I don’t use that word lightly!) and many, many things have happened. Some extremely joyful, others extremely sad…either way they have stretched me, [...]3 Things I learned in 2011 is a post from: Absolution Mediation - Jason Dykstra
5 Ways to Survive Gatherings This Season

Jason Dykstra

15 Dec 2011 | 2:02 pm

Ah yes….the season is here. Maybe it’s even already started for you; Work parties, family gatherings, functions with friends, and on and on. It’s a festive season, lots of food, drinks, and maybe even some presents here and there. Sing songs, drink spiked hot chocolate, eggnog, the act of giving, family traditions, Christmas trees and [...]5 Ways to Survive Gatherings This Season is a post from: Absolution Mediation - Jason Dykstra

My Home Sweet Home
Camera Phone Friday: Did I Actually Instagram 28 Pictures this Week? Edition

Dawn

26 Jan 2012 | 11:11 pm

1. “She’s a fatty with juicy bits” (@inspiredbryant made me say that) #campcreativpreneur #imabouttoeatthebiggestcinnamonrollever #canyoudeciferthis?, 2. Tea for 2 with @inspiredbryant & my huge cinnamon roll, 3. Squee!!! #campcreativpreneur with @inspiredbryant @holleygerth @nester @redletterwords @lainieb @erinulrich, 4. Loving being a guinea pig at the 1st #campcreativpreneur from @squeeinc! 1. Do you want your crayons back?, 2. Creative goodness from #campcreativpreneur #lovemyjournal, 3. My own pot of Blackberry Sage tea, tarts, & a homemade marshmallow! {le…
The 30 Day Shred Facebook Support Group

Dawn

25 Jan 2012 | 11:46 pm

I was in a state of blissful ignorance when I ordered the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred on a late September day. I’d heard it was effective, but not much else. I lost my innocence in a hurry when I ran out and threw up in the middle of Day 1. Yes, I did. Obviously, that first day scared me a bit and I only did the workout 3 more times until a couple of weeks ago when a doctor’s appointment made me realize that I’m actually having health issues—primarily excessively swollen ankles, which can lead to blood clots—from lack of exercise. My doctor recommended walking 2 miles…
Psalm 46:1-3

Dawn

24 Jan 2012 | 11:36 pm

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. ~Psalm 46:1-3 If you’re feeling troubled and low, I hope these verses bring you comfort and remind you of the One who cares. How can I pray for you today? Psalm 46:1-3 is a post from: My Home Sweet Home © 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Los Angeles Mamma Blog
Sometimes My Fridge is Musty

Alexia

25 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm

I hate to admit it, but I don’t clean out my fridge as often as I should. And that’s not a good thing. Sometimes things stay in there for a month! Eeeek. I can’t believe I just admited that. The Oransi fridge air purifier was made with me in mind. Seriously. No more musty. Occassionally there is a smell, and whatever is causing that gets thrown out, but with all the JUNK that lives in my fridge, Oransi has allowed it to remain decent smelling and feeling. Things seem fresher, or more crisp even. Vegetables look better, I think. I love Oransi, and I’m so glad I got…
FreeScore

Alexia

28 Dec 2011 | 6:19 pm

Get your credit score for free at FreeScore. You get to view three scores from the 3 credit bureaus. At a time when identity theft and credit security are of definite importance, it’s good to know where you stand; as well as make sure you are safe and no one has gotten a hold of your personal information. Keep informed. It’s pretty easy to do with the click of a button. The Freescore commercial recently released is somewhat entertaining, so for some entertainment value take a look at it. It’s a short, 60 second commercial. I’d love to know what you…
A Drink That Promotes Wellness

Alexia

28 Dec 2011 | 1:52 am

Nopalea (No-pah lay’uh) is a tasty wellness drink sourced from the fruit of the Nopal cactus (Opuntia Ficus Indica). The healing properties of the Nopal cactus have been relied on for centuries by native peoples, and they’re now available in Nopalea. Each 32–ounce bottle of Nopalea brims with the health benefits of the Nopal fruit. Nopalea helps your body neutralize its inner toxins and reduce its inflammation. It contains rare and potent antioxidants that are SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to help the body REDUCE INFLAMMATION If you or someone you know suffer from inflammation and its…

Just Thinking Diaries
Triangles

26 Jan 2012 | 12:56 pm

I hate triangles. I don't mean the hypotenuse-geometry-gay-pride-symbol ones. I don't mean the cute ones that swim under the sea...
Fiji Magic

22 Jan 2012 | 10:58 pm

Don't tell anyone at Fiji water that I wrote this, or else they'll start sending me free water and...
I Hear You, Sister

18 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm

I was at my new favorite discount store, Nordstrom's Rack--or as I call it, the Crack, since I find the...

Christian Homemaking & Family Resources, Encouragement & Help at Embracing Home
Amazon trade in program ~ text book, movies and electronics

Eren Mckay

15 Jan 2012 | 4:41 am

The following is a guest post by Linda Stacy who is a wonderful person and a smart cookie. You can follow her on Twitter @lindastacy. The Trade-in Stores Can be a Good Way to Make Money Online Everyday thousands, probably hundreds of thousands of people search the Internet for ways to make money online from home. It’s a common question on message forums, countless people create blogs about it, and unfortunately, far too many people fall victim to the ever increasing number of scams and bad money-making ideas being advertised. The other day I came upon a new way to make money online by…
You Never Lose ~ A Great Way to Save Money and Have Fun

Eren Mckay

1 Jan 2012 | 2:09 pm

As a mom to 3 boys, I’m always looking for ways to find deals and spend less. So when I found this new penny auction site, I thought it would be a great idea to blog about it. The concept of this site is simple: you never lose. There are several penny auction sites already online but this one is different. This is how it works: Whatever quantity you decide to purchase, you’ll receive a gift card for that same amount so there’s no chance of losing your money. The gift card is then shipped to you free of charge. It usually gets to your home in 2 to 3 business days. Winning Points When you…
Choose love not fear in 2012

Eren Mckay

26 Dec 2011 | 9:48 am

Fear can stop you from feeling joy. Are you experiencing joy in your daily life? When you wake up do you say to yourself: Oh yay – what a great day I have ahead of me! Or do get up you dragging your feet and wondering why each day seems to be a boring repetition of the previous day? I’ve been studying ways to elevate joy in my life… Some people call this raising your happiness level. I always tell everyone that happiness is a decision. I decided a while ago that I wanted to be happy every single day of my life. I want to wake up and feel joy not just when I achieve the goals that I…

Rage Against the Minivan
putting myself to bed (the night owl’s lament)

27 Jan 2012 | 11:20 am

I have always been a late-night kind of person. My mother was, too. I remember growing up, watching my mom get a burst of energy right around the time we were all going to bed. It seemed like this was the time when she always got absorbed in a project. It wasn’t unusual for us to hear the sewing machine start to hum at 1am. It’s still not unusual to get a phone call from her at midnight. And she’s three hours ahead living in Florida. It’s hard to say if it’s nature or nurture, but I’ve always been the same way. As a child, I loved laying…
the slacker mom’s guide to homemade photo cards for valentine’s day

25 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pm

I’m not really a “handmade card” kind of mom. I think it’s lovely that other moms are, but at this stage in our family there is usually just not enough time in the day for me to indulge in my creative side . . . beyond staring at the things other people are doing on Pinterest. With Valentine’s Day approaching, though, I did decide to make some homemade cards, inspired in part by cards like this one. But, if I’m to be totally honest, it was also inspired by my desire to not have to supervise four kids signing their name to 20+ cards. We are barely recovered…
goodbye to the double stroller

24 Jan 2012 | 12:27 am

I sold my double stroller on Craig’s List over the weekend. It’s hard to explain the freedom I feel about this particular milestone. It’s been a long time coming – I’ve kept it around for the occasion big outing but finally I decided it was time for us to part ways. I’ve been schlepping a double stroller around for six years now –six years of pulling that monster in and out of my trunk. Six years of not fitting through doorways . . . of strategizing stairwells . . . of retrieving objects thrown or dropped from the children, of forcing the two walking children…

Last Shreds Of Sanity | California Mom Blog
Stop SOPA, PIPA And Repeal SB 1867: Save Our Personal Freedoms And Constitutional Rights

Shan

18 Jan 2012 | 7:28 am

I’m sure you have all heard about SOPA, PIPA and SB 1867 by now. And I hope all of you are outraged about them. Some of the biggest names on the internet are so incensed over these proposed laws that they are either shutting down for 24hours or protesting in some major way. The sites shutting down and/or protesting include Google, Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, Mozilla and Wikipedia. Although GoDaddy has since softened their stance, they initially supported SOPA wholeheartedly — that was until people started taking their business elsewhere. They lost over 37,000 domains during Move…
Has Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Message Been Subverted?

Shan

16 Jan 2012 | 4:32 am

Yes, I asked the question. Has Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message been subverted? Before you blurt out an answer, stop and think about it first. In a time where the Democrats have taken a great man’s legacy, who was a registered Republican, by the way, and made him their defacto mascot for all things liberal (guess they forgot Dr. King was a preacher), where black men are always complaining about how the white man is keeping him down and they are forced to resort to violence and criminality to survive, then the short answer is yes. Dr. Martin Luther King’s message has been…
Conversations About My Phone

Shan

12 Jan 2012 | 12:43 am

Anyone Who Tries To Call Me At Home: Why don’t you ever answer your phone? Me: The Diva gave it a bath a while back and it doesn’t ring anymore. AWTTCMAH: Why don’t you just buy a new one? Me: It works fine except for the not ringing part. Oh and I dropped one of the handsets, so the caller ID screen doesn’t work on that one anymore. Plus the one I would want to replace it with is over $200 and I can’t justify the expense right now. I also kind of like not being disturbed by a ringing phone every 10 minutes. AWTTCMAH: But what if there’s an emergency?

Mommy Nani Booboo
Learning a new thing is scary.

Jenni Chiu

24 Jan 2012 | 10:01 pm

Learning a new thing is scary. I sympathize… I cry at milestones too.
Shopping Cart Roller Derby

Jenni Chiu

23 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

I white knuckled the handle. He could tell I was slowing down. I knew he could sense it. The anxiety was making me sweat. I wanted desperately to speed up. My internal speedometer told me I was going about 4 … Continue reading →
I was going to tell you a story…

Jenni Chiu

16 Jan 2012 | 7:30 am

I was going to tell you a story… But I showered instead. The four day old crust was begging to be sloughed off. Then I was going to tell you a story again… But I ate something. I’ve learned to … Continue reading →

Miscellaneous Mom
On Making Lunch Fun Again (Pepperidge Farm Bread Review)

FairyTaleMom

19 Jan 2012 | 11:06 am

Lunch with Pepperidge Farm Goldfish BreadIt hadn’t occurred to me that before I even wrote this post that someone would be influenced by what I had to say about a new product. Let alone be excited enough to call me just to tell me about buying it the night before – AND tell me about how her kids reacted. I’ve written about cars and cleaning products and all kinds of new things that I’ve tried. I’m shocked that the one thing that generated excitement, out loud, was….. a sandwich. Yep, it was bread that my friend called me about in the middle of the day. She…
Top 10 Reasons NOT to Get a Dog

justheather

22 Nov 2011 | 7:49 am

When Indy began deteriorating, I said I was never getting another dog. It was just so hard. I still miss him. I still think I hear his click clack on the hardwood floors. I still check the back door to see if he’s ready to come back in. And, I still tear up when I realize he’s not going to be there ever again. But, I saw this pin. And, the next thing you know, we’re calling the pet rescue. Yet, I still couldn’t quite convince myself it was happening. I had a list, you see. A list of reasons why I didn’t want another dog. EVER. They get in you, and it’s so…
The One Where I Found My Wicked Stepmother Wart

FairyTaleMom

18 Nov 2011 | 5:03 pm

I find myself sympathizing with Cinderella’s wicked stepmother these days. Not in the “prevent the child from going to the ball” kind of way. But in the “how much more can I give with no thanks or appreciation” kind of way. The princess and I are now living with NBF. Things are going well. She has adjusted to her new school, made friends and even the honor roll. We have a busy, yet predictable, routine. And every other weekend the other 3 children come to visit, making our family whole for only a few days a month. I do believe that having them here, home, is the…

Chasing Supermom
20 Minute Pizza Crust

Bekki

25 Jan 2012 | 7:05 pm

My husband grew up on homemade pizza. His family made pizza just about every week, and it is one of the foods from his childhood that he still loves today. Ever since we’ve been married, I’ve struggled to find pizza crust recipes. I’ve bought the pre-made crusts (which can be spendy), the dough balls from the pizza parlor, and have tried countless from scratch recipes. I love working from scratch, but often don’t have the time to sit and wait for my dough to rise….Let’s face it, most busy moms are cooking dinner on the fly, and don’t have three hours…
TLC Woodcrafters Custom Puzzle Review

Bekki

24 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

I don’t know about you, but I love high quality toys. When a toy is extremely durable, made to last, AND educational….you have a sure-fire winner. TLC Woodcrafters has become an amazing sponsor of Chasing Supermom, and I feel so blessed to be able to share their custom work with you. TLC Woodcrafters creates the most beautiful customized wooden products on the market. From their signature puzzle stools, to customized theme puzzles, to adorable coat racks and bookshelves, TLC Woodcrafters always has the customer in mind and always turns out the highest quality, hand-made product.
The Confessional – Volume 36

Bekki

22 Jan 2012 | 2:40 pm

Welcome back to The Confessional ladies! This is my absolute favorite post, and since I have missed it so much, I decided to yet again step into our virtual confessional and let the ugly truth of motherhood hang out….Let’s face it. We’re not perfect. (Repeat this to yourself several times a day if necessary.) We get so caught up in trying to be this mythical creature called Supermom, that we constantly are setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment. Supermom….not real. There is no need to feel like you need to skip about your home as you do laundry feeling…

ifthisismotherhood.com
Proving Karma Is A Bitch….The Evidence

Bella @ If This Is Motherhood

27 Jan 2012 | 4:29 pm

So, I’ve been participating in the Sits Girls 31 Days To Build A Better Blog course for the past two weeks. It’s free and I figure there is always room for my blog to improve. Besides, when I moved to self-hosting, everything got messed up. None of my permalinks worked, pages were missing, all my GFC followers were left behind (sorry about that) and my blog template was lost along with my header. Anyway, one of this weeks assignments was to interlink posts. I do it all the time, but over the last two weeks, I have gotten so many new visitors and I didn’t know at the…
The Shaping Of Clay – The Shape Of A Child

Bella @ If This Is Motherhood

23 Jan 2012 | 5:49 pm

It’s been cloudy and dreary here all day. It’s put me in a rather pensive mood. So I’ve been distracted by the thoughts in my head today, reflecting on some of the issues I’ve been having with The Professor and the way it has affected our relationship. My children are just like clay. Every single touch, movement, ingredient — even my attitude, can affect the way an object would come out if I were molding clay. It’s the same as molding my children. Every time I pick and prod and poke at The Professor trying to get inside his head so I can either…
Sibling Rivalry (At It’s Finest)

Bella @ If This Is Motherhood

22 Jan 2012 | 12:53 pm

The boys have a love/hate relationship with each other. “No Angry Touch (or throwing things at each other, spitting, kicking pushing, poking, biting or pulling hair)” is a rule broken several time a day in my house. A few weeks ago I made 4 simple house rules with very clear consequences attached to them in the hopes that I would stop yelling. I posted them on the refrigerator after talking to the boys about them and got ready to have an easier day with the boys. The plan? Pretty simple really, I’d just calmly walk them to the refrigerator when a rule was broken. …

The Mom Writes
How I Learnt to Save 50% on My Monthly Fuel Bill {and You Can Too!}

Mayank

26 Jan 2012 | 11:14 pm

In times of economic uncertainty, there are essentially two great ways to save money. You can either earn much more each year to beat the rising living costs or learn to spend more effectively. I like the latter to make everyday living easier and affordable. One of the ways I learnt to spend more effectively and in the process spend much less was by cutting my monthly fuel bill by half. No, I didn’t start walking instead of driving. Though that isn’t a bad idea! Neither did I drive a great deal less. All I did was learn some great driving habits and some smart spending habits to…
Hiring Help to Manage Your Home: Should YOU Do it?

The Mom Writes

23 Jan 2012 | 3:20 am

Before my daughter was born and I joined the work-at-home league, I used to work full-time in a corporate organization. I also, used to do my cleaning, mopping, dish washing and everything else ALL on my own. That’s right. It was okay. I enjoyed sweeping and mopping, and dish washing is still, my favorite chore. However, once my work-at-home “career” started taking off and work started coming in way more than I’d anticipated and my daughter needed me around more, it was time for me to step back and take a close look at what I really wanted. I’d opted to stay at home and be with…
Savor Spicy Sri Lankan Fare at Blooms {Review}

The Mom Writes

21 Jan 2012 | 7:47 am

If you’re in New Delhi this weekend, this one is for you! Blooms, at the Eros Hotel Managed by Hilton, is hosting a special Sri Lankan Food Festival and its on till the 22nd. Naturally, yours truly was excited to sample the spicy fare from the land of spices and I came away with my palate tingling and my culinary knowledge enhanced. Sri Lankan Cuisine by Sri Lankan Chefs This wasn’t a food festival where the dishes are dished out by local chefs and Indianized suitably. The chefs, Ajith and Ravindran were flown in specially for this promotion from the Hilton Residency in Colombo.

A Frog In My Soup
INNOVIA Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser

Nancy

27 Jan 2012 | 6:11 am

Happy Friday, all! I am so thrilled to write this post for you! The product that I am going to tell you about has been such a fabulous addition to my kitchen, and not only am I super excited to tell you about it, I’m even more excited because I get to give one away to a very lucky reader!! This little beauty arrived on my door step just a few weeks ago, and has made me so happy! The Innovia Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser is a motion activated disperser that is truly SMART! Not only does the dispenser know how long your paper towels are (yup, even if you buy the ones that come in…
Stages of Beauty Winner

Nancy

26 Jan 2012 | 5:14 pm

Congratulations to the winner of the Stages of Beauty cream and serum who said… You have until Sunday, January 29th @ 11:59 pm to email afroginmysoupinfo @ gmail dot com to claim your prize! Congratulations!! This winner was chosen using Random.org.
Frugal Fashion

Shera

24 Jan 2012 | 1:20 am

If I think about the top 10 things I’m asked in day to day life with 6 boys, definitely one of them would be “How on earth can you afford to keep them all clothed?” Then there’s always the temptations of this season’s cutest shoes ever for myself! Keeping my boys looking decent, preferably with no holes in their shoes (sadly I discovered one of them needs a new pair just this morning), and allowing myself the occasional “indulgence” of fun clothes or shoes requires a little patience and a lot of perseverance. Here’s some great tips for huge…

4tunate
This Competes With The Zip Line At Super Bowl Village

QuatroMama

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

We are so excited to be the host city of the 2012 Super Bowl! Indianapolis has transformed into a masterpiece and we can’t wait to go downtown and take it all in! There’s lots of family-friendly entertainment, and one of the biggest hypes has been the zip line takes off from a 95-foot launch tower, and whizzes 800 feet across the Super Bowl Village on Georgia Street. Sign me up. Except the pre-sales are sold out and lines will no doubt be long as it’s likely to be the biggest attraction of the Super Bowl. So my boys have an “indoor alternative thriller” with their…
A Simple Yet Genius Way to Keep Track of Giving Kids Medicine

QuatroMama

25 Jan 2012 | 9:14 am

You know how some of the most simple ideas are the most genius? THIS is one of those. I repinned this idea a little while back, and low and behold when Clark came down with a sinus infection this past week and needed antibiotics, we tried it out. Life changing! Source: Uploaded by user via Jen (QuatroMama) on Pinterest Just mark the days and time right on the bottle and check off after the medicine is given. Instead of trying to solve the mystery over whether it was yesterday or this morning that you gave meds last, you can just check the bottle. {Wait am I the only…
All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Candy Land

QuatroMama

23 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am

~ Going backwards is hard. Really hard. Often times it involves weeping. ~ You can’t predict your future. ~ Taking turns isn’t just polite, it makes things work. ~ Even a cupcake can be disappointing. ~ Sometimes your path is winding, long, and unpredictable, and sometimes it’s filled with shortcuts and sugar-coating. ~ A life filled with color is much better than black and white. ~ Competition is reality; learn to play the game early. ~ Your integrity is constantly being watched. ~ No matter what adults may tell you, everybody doesn’t win. ~ Taking defeat well takes practice.

Mommy In Suburbia
Snow Play

27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 pm
Our Little Girl's Nursery Reveal

24 Jan 2012 | 11:53 am

Katelyn's nursery is done! Well, for the most part. I still need to find a fluffy white rug, a K initial for her wall, and maybe another little thing or two. I'm constantly changing up rooms as I go, but I have to say that her nursery is my favorite room in our house. It's light, bright, and very pink. It's also come a long way from the mess we started with. This is what her room looked like to begin with, after we moved Logan out and were rearranging various parts of the house. Note that the walls are covered in a hideous vinyl wallpaper that is impossible to remove without damaging…
Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo Review

20 Jan 2012 | 2:31 pm

I was recently given the chance to try out the Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo, a rechargable cordless sweeper for quick pick ups. This sweeper picks up hot dog bits, stickers, cheerios, legos, and basically any debris that two hyper toddlers can create. The electric rotating brush just flicks whatever you're cleaning up into the debris tray. My absolute favorite thing it can do is sweep up fresh play dough that your kids have picked into tiny bits and strategically flung en masse onto your kitchen floor. Without smushing it into the floor or the bristles. Because of this…

As Mom Sees It
How will you relieve your stress? How about a giveaway?

Dusty

26 Jan 2012 | 6:32 pm

How are your stress levels lately? Even with the major holidays past us as parents, there is always a good amount of stress to be shared in this household. Whether from family drama, issues at work, problems with money or keeping a relationship going, anyone can be subject to stress. Stress can have an impact on your health, your friendships, your career and your overall wellbeing. So what can we do to help reduce stress? Exercise, organization, a healthy diet and making "me time" can all help, but for a stressful gal on the go, how about a simple drink mix to help keep you calm, cool and…
The Great Gadget Giveaway Blog Hop: So many prizes!

Dusty

23 Jan 2012 | 5:32 am

It is a perfect time to showcase your favorite Tech Gadgets. Kobiso and Madame Deals are proud to present the Great Gadget Giveaway where the grand prize is a Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N Router ($179.99) AND AfterShokz bone conduction headphones. Our Great GadgetDuring our Holiday Gift Ideas series, we worked with Kingston Technologies on a review for an amazing gadget that seemed almost like a necessity for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad users alike. The Kingston Wi-Drive is a portable, wireless storage solution for your gadgets that lets you store and share your content with…
Chase Away The Sun with the great mom-preneur product

Dusty

22 Jan 2012 | 8:48 pm

As Mom Sees It has always been, and will always be, a big supporter of mom-invented products and their inventors, those amazing mom-preneurs. Especially when the product that they bring to us makes our life a little easier, a little more green, a little less stressful or a little more fun. We love this new product from mom-preneur, Kelli. While driving on a road trip with her husband, the sun was setting, shining through the front windshield, waking their son in the backseat. The visors at the front of the car only work for the driver and passenger. And, much like many of our…

The Thrifty Mommy
Free Printable Calendar: How to Pray for Your Children

The Thrifty Mommy

16 Jan 2012 | 10:01 am

Many years before I had my children there was one thing I prayed — that they would know Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him. Now that they have been with me for a few years there are other things I pray for them. I pray that they will find a Godly spouse, that they will be a good wife/husband, a good father/mother, that they will always follow God, etc. Source: inspiredtoaction.com via Diana on Pinterest Today while I was searching around on Pinterest I found this free calendar. Each day has a topic, prayer, and verse so that you can pray something specific for your…
BBF Kid-Friendly Webisode 2: Tasty Tomato Basil English Muffin Pizza

The Thrifty Mommy

27 Nov 2011 | 2:10 pm

Chef Scott Liebfried has created another kid-friendly recipe using Bumble Bee tuna. This recipe uses simple ingredients such as English muffins, cheese, basil, and tomato sauce. It also uses the Bumble Bee Foods sun dried tomato and basil tuna. You might to try this healthier version when making pizza. I’m thinking this would make a nice lunch or easy weeknight dinner idea. Enjoy! Disclaimer: I am a member of the Bumble Bee Foods Bee Squad. FacebookTwitterDiggItTechnoratiDel.icio.usreddit
10 Reasons I Am Thankful (Plus an Update)

The Thrifty Mommy

25 Nov 2011 | 3:47 pm

What a year it has been! During this year I experienced a reduction in workforce in the public schools. Both of my parents had major surgery. My family moved across the state and thankfully we are closer to my parents. I am employed again, working 9-10 hour days, and commuting two hours each day. If you’re wondering why you haven’t seen me around here, it’s because of these things. Sometimes in life it’s just best to step back from a few things so that you can survive and/or put first the things that are most important to you. Through all of these things I can…

Everyday Eve
I need a Maid!

Eve

26 Jan 2012 | 8:36 pm

College has been keeping me so busy! I barely have time to do homework- let alone house work! I was looking online and got to wondering how much a cleaner would cost- lol, there are some companies in dallas that look good, but that is for dallas commercial cleaning - no where near here! For some reason I am having trouble finding any companies here in town, and the last time I hired someone on craigs list they did a worse job than my husband would do- maybe I just need to look into finding a way to move to Dallas! Here is a moving service dallas I could use! Hopefully I will get the…
$649 for Books…

Eve

4 Jan 2012 | 1:01 am

Wow, went and bought my books for college, $649 for four classes and I still need to go get a lab coat, back pack, and some other misc things… Can’t believe books cost that much! The anatomy class books alone were $249!!
New Year, New Blog, New Me…

Eve

2 Jan 2012 | 11:05 pm

I have let a lot of things slip this year, not everything but a bunch of things I shouldn’t have. My blog has been one of them, I have been so focused on school and my scrapbook hobby that I forgot how to include the blog into all of that. I think this new theme will help with that; the old theme required a full post every time, otherwise it just looked funny. With this new format I can post a quick update, a gallery of images (scrapbook pages maybe), or any sort of post and not mess up the design. One thing I really want to focus on in 2012 is not stressing so much, the quote…

Louisa Claire
Welcome To Paradise

LouisaClaire

14 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pm

We arrived here, in Paradise, on Thursday evening. It was a long and wearying journey that saw me bursting into tears as we boarded the plane in KL and cry for the first part of the flight. When we arrived at the villa in Ubud after a 90minute drive from Denpassar airport we looked at a lovely white Villa thinking it was our home for the week. It wasn’t. It was the staff quarters. Our new home was to be reached by and outside lift that carried us down into the voluptuous rainforest before depositing us on a quaint pebble path leading to something out of a movie set. No words can do…
Taking Your Blog On Holidays

LouisaClaire

8 Jan 2012 | 2:20 am

There’s a mantra in blogging circles that you should write for your readers, not yourself; Darren Rowse calls it, loving your readers. It’s sage advice and normally I’d take it. Not today. I’m writing this post from a rainforest cafe, by an idyllic beach at a 5 start resort in Langkawi Malaysia. I’ve spent the entire day in my swimmers, hanging out with my kids, watching them splashing in the water and generally relaxing. Am I telling you this because I think you’re going to be interested? Not today – listening to someone else waft on about the…
Is A Break Simply Well Deserved?

LouisaClaire

3 Jan 2012 | 10:59 pm

I was emailing a friend today and started to say “Enjoy your break, you deserve it” when I stopped myself. Does she deserve a break? Yes, of course – but probably no more than anyone else, by which I mean – most of us work hard, parent thoughtfully and could all do with a bit of down time. Does that mean we take it when we can? No. What struck me about this particular friend is that she’s wise. Having a break with her family isn’t something she’s doing because she feels she deserves it, it’s something she’s doing because in her wisdom she…

Tree, Root, and Twig
Celtic Woman “Believe” {CD & DVD #Giveaway}

Stacey Nerdin

27 Jan 2012 | 7:15 am

New for 2012, the amazing ladies from Celtic Woman are coming stateside for a brand new tour called “Believe.” If you are not familiar with Celtic Woman, let me introduce you: Named Celtic Woman in order to represent the essence of a Celtic female performer, the group is comprised of vivacious, sublimely gifted young Irish women. The lineup of performers has rotated since the group began, but the signature sound of Celtic Woman has never changed. They perform classic Irish songs (“Green Grow the Rushes”), timeless pop anthems (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”),…
Many Branches, One Tree (#mbotree): Jennifer from MommyB Knows Best

Stacey Nerdin

25 Jan 2012 | 4:11 pm

Welcome to the first official post of the Many Branches, One Tree project at Tree, Root, and Twig! I’m excited to be kicking it off with a special feature on Jennifer from MommyB Knows Best. Jennifer and I have known each other online for a little while now, and I was SO lucky to room with her recently at Bloggy Boot Camp in Atlanta. {we're actually both wearing our "tree of life" pendants in this picture!} She has a sweet, energetic spirit about her, is incredibly warm, and is very knowledgeable about blogging and social media. I have a huge respect for the work she…
BIG MIRACLE & Fandango Gift Card #Giveaway

Stacey Nerdin

25 Jan 2012 | 7:29 am

Opening Friday, February 3, BIG MIRACLE is a star-studded family film that looks funny, heart-warming, and like a must-see for our family. A synopsis of BIG MIRACLE: Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. Local newsman Adam Carlson (Krasinski) can’t wait to escape…

Get Your Kludgy On!
I’m Not A Helicopter Parent, I’m A….

kludgymom

27 Jan 2012 | 4:30 am

As some of you know, we moved back to Southern California about 6 months ago. The last time we lived here, we didn’t have children. Upon coming back, I realized that there were some things that hadn’t changed about this place. But now, we have a different lens through which we see things here. A bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived lens that is the hallmark of a parent. And it is through this lens that I ask, WHERE IS THE PARENTAL SUPERVISION UP IN HERE???? One thing I stand pretty firm on is not letting my kids play outside in the front of the house without a parent being there.
History Lessons for the Digital Kid

kludgymom

26 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

Thank you to who?Comics for sponsoring this post and encouraging my child to read biographies in comic book form! Please click here to learn more about the app. And follow who? Comics on Twitter for updates! It always makes me sound {and feel} old, but I’m just shocked at how interactive learning has become since I was a kid. Sure, my 3rd grader still has to memorize his multiplication tables and write out spelling words – there’s still a place for rote learning in the educational system – but it’s awesome how a lot of what he learns is based on a game format,…
3 Ways To Use Windows and OneNote for Inspiration and Organization

kludgymom

25 Jan 2012 | 4:34 am

It’s the start of a New Year and I’m trying to stay balanced and inspired in 2012. Of course, Pinterest is always great for creating inspiration boards. But there are other ways that you can organize your goals, plans, even household to-dos - just by using Windows 7. So here are some of my Windows 7 tips (and a OneNote trick, too!) Change Your Wallpaper To Something Inspiring! I am bound and determined to get to Italy before I die. I am already pretty upset that I’m 43 and still haven’t reached this life goal. I decided that this year, maybe if I visualize it more,…

The Mom Around Town
Baked Apples

Paige Dunn

26 Jan 2012 | 7:54 pm

This easy treat is so perfect for cold days. Depending on your timing, either throw it in the Crock Pot in the morning to have ready for dessert or at bedtime to eat in the morning. For a dessert it is best over vanilla ice cream. If you want to get really decadent, drizzle a caramel sauce over it. Is there anything better than caramel and apples? Mmmm. If I’m preparing it for breakfast, I serve it over oatmeal with maple syrup drizzled over the oatmeal. 1. Take your apples and wash and core them. I tried to core them with a knife and just about lost my fingers. So instead I jammed an apple…
Homemade Goat Cheese Goodness

Paige Dunn

14 Jan 2012 | 8:37 pm

This is so easy to make you won’t believe it. This is coming from me who could ruin the easiest of recipes. Here’s what you need: One gallon of goat milk Juice of one large lemon Salt and favorite fresh herbs Candy thermometer Cheesecloth Colander Large bowl Pot Ladle How to make your goodness: Pour the entire carton of milk into your pot and put on medium heat. If you have a handy dandy tool that attaches the thermometer to the pot, use it. While it’s warming, fold your cheesecloth over several times and line the colander. Place the colander in the large bowl. Keep a close…
I Believe in Miracles

Paige Dunn

22 Dec 2011 | 12:01 am

Sometimes life can throw you a curveball. So what do you do when a situation comes about that leaves you feeling like you are going to vomit 24/7, you can’t sleep, and you can’t concentrate on anything else? For me—now I know this is going to sound crazy to some, but I swear it works—I take the problem and pretend to put it in a box, mentally wrap it, seal it with a bow, and hand it over to God. It can be hard to do. It is tough to give up control of your problem. The way I see it, though, God created the universe and me so He surely can handle this problem much better than I can.

Kid Things
While You Were Sleeping

C. (Kid Things)

26 Jan 2012 | 7:35 am

His number was 85. Before bed, when I checked Jedi’s blood sugar last. His number was 85. I wasn’t too concerned at the time, because I know by now how it goes. I adjusted his insulin dose a notch lower, then dispensed a cup of apple juice and a cheesestick for a snack. Afterward, he headed to bed where we said our goodnight. If you need me, I reminded, you know where I am. Passing by his door a short while later, I stopped to listen. His snores said he was asleep. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t sleep. That 85 that was of little concern at first continued to fester with…
Breakfast for Dragons

C. (Kid Things)

25 Jan 2012 | 7:42 am

Upon walking in, I took notice of all the elderly couples eating their breakfast at the tiny tables. Their white hair and shaking fingers attempting to open the package of plastic silverware. No other children aside from Abby were to be found. After that, my attention then turned to the cinnamon rolls featured on the menu. This morning was a treat, and my dad prodded me to order whatever I wanted. Pancakes and milk for Abby. Orange juice, sausage biscuit, and two of the cinnamon rolls. Abby and I went to find a place to sit, but not until I made sure my 78 year old father didn’t need…
Fight for Your Right to Awesome

C. (Kid Things)

24 Jan 2012 | 7:43 am

Jedi had just finished showing off his newest feat of awesomeness when he looked at me for recognition. Not offering it fast enough or with the required amount of enthusiasm, he took the matter into his own hands. “Why didn’t you say anything about what I just did? Did you even pay attention?”, he interrogated, already perfecting his irritation and angst. “Oh, sorry. It was awesome”, I praised half-heartedly, snapping out of whatever daydream I was finding myself in. Clearly noticing my indolent disregard, a problem that he will most likely delve into during…

mommyposh.com
Baby Milestones – Infographic

Mommy

27 Jan 2012 | 10:25 am
How To Look Posh…At The Airport

Mommy

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Holidays are long gone and I’m in need of a getaway…pronto! So with a few clicks of the key stroke I was able to book my first ever family vacation (a little more on that later!) so what better way to fantasize about what to wear than to look to my favorite celebrity mommyistas… From casual Isla Fisher to POSH Victoria Beckham, these fashionistas sure know how to keep it trendy and chic while getting ready to jet off to their favorite destinations. So no matter what, remember to keep it casual but smart and ensure that you have just the right accessories in tow (besides…
Blume Girl Adds POSH With Labels

Mommy

25 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

My blogger friend Kimberlee over at I Have a Degree In This organized a FAB blogger project for Blume Girl - personalized collection for men, women, kids, dogs, etc…- I was sent over personalized “Mommy Posh” patches and was asked to show how I would showcase them…so here’s how….what do you think? Diaper Bag Branded Laptop Branded! Love my patches? Then head on over to Blume Girl to get branded!

Momscape Blog | Family Fun, Parenting Tips, Cool Finds, and Coupon Codes
Deals of the Day – 3 freebies, 6 coupons, and 5 fun finds

admin

27 Jan 2012 | 2:56 pm

Here are the freebies, coupons and fun finds that caught our eye today. If you like this post, make sure to subscribe to Susie’s daily deals alert or get our free coupon toolbar for even more great online coupon codes and deals. New Freebies * We love these free printable Valentine Cards from Family Fun. * Request your free sample of Hero Nutritionals Yummi Bears Sugar-Free Multi-Vitamin Gummies. Click here and use promo code KK Free Sample on the freebie request form. * Get the top 100 free Kindle books here. (The Top 100 paid Kindle books are in the left column. The freebies are on…
All New Printable Grocery Coupons

admin

24 Jan 2012 | 1:59 pm

Momscape brings you free Printable Grocery Coupons! We have partnered with Coupons.com to bring you all new printable grocery coupons. With these coupons, you’ll save time and money because you’ll only print the coupons you’ll need. You’ll also find coupons specific to your zip code. Registration is fast, easy, and free! Click this link to get started and print all the coupons available for this week.
Things We Love – Unique Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids

admin

20 Jan 2012 | 7:45 am

Snapily.com offers a unique twist on Valentine’s Day Cards for your kids to hand out at school. These cards feature a 3D twist (no 3D glasses required) or a flip animated effect (allowing them to view two images as they flip the product back and forth) to ordinary digital images. For a limited time, create a Snapily account and receive $3 in free credit for these unique photo cards and gifts. In addition, both of our favorite websites for photo cards (Minted.com and TinyPrints.com) are featuring a fun and unique spin on the classroom valentines for your kids to hand out at school.

Memphis mom, parenting & life blogger | a belle, a bean & a chicago dog
How you name a dog

Liz

27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

While I haven’t previously formally announced it, we adopted a rescue pup the Saturday after Thanksgiving. You might be wondering why we chose to do that. Yes, Jack is fine and still kickin’ it at 10.5 yrs old. But when you ask your husband a question like this: “Are you SURE we are done having kids?” You get an answer like this: “Hell yes we’re done! If you want another baby, go get a dog instead.” So then when you start searching local rescue groups and meet a few pups, you end up bringing one home. And then you have to name said pup. And you want…
Our Mini Kitchen Remodel

Liz

25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

We somewhat-remodeled our kitchen recently. Nothing major in the sense that the layout remains unchanged, the appliances are still the same and the cabinets stayed put. But the changes were big enough to “pack a punch”. Because we actually live in this house, I wasn’t going to pretend like our counters are always cleaned off and never have piles of coloring pages, markers or other kid paraphernalia strewn across them. So you’ll get the full effect with these pictures. Our main goal was to take down the 2nd tier of our counters, which were bar stool height. It closed…
SOS, RSS, GFC and other Bloggy Acronyms

Liz

24 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

Question: What do all these acronyms have in common? Answer: A bunch of WordPress bloggers who are sending out an SOS because we want nothing more than to have our #ALLCAPSAWESOME GFC subscribers to instead follow our post feeds via RSS. As part of Google’s continuing attempts to take over the world, it is discontinuing “service” of its Google FriendConnect widget to non-Blogger blogs as of March 1, 2012. A bunch of us WP bloggers are trying to rally the troops in a joint effort to encourage our bloggy friends to resubscribe to their favorite reads – like us! –…

Our Mommyhood
5 Ways to Make Chores More Fun

WriterHolly

25 Jan 2012 | 6:04 am

As an adult, you probably dislike doing chores as much as your kids do. The trick to convincing your kids to do household chores is to think of ways to turn them into a game or contest. You can also personalize the chores so that your children take a special joy in getting them done. With a bit of creativity, chore-time can turn into fun-time for your entire family (including you!).
A Surprise is Coming Your Way in the Mail… But it’s a New Tax Form

Editors - in - Chief

23 Jan 2012 | 10:17 pm

1099-K go back a few years. The United States has always suffered from what’s known as the “tax gap.”
5 Ways Preventative Health Strategies Can Keep Your Family Healthy

Cherrell

18 Jan 2012 | 8:34 am

No mom wants to see their kids get sick. Maybe more importantly, no mom wants to experience the downtime of being sick themselves. This is where preventative health strategies come into play. By working towards keeping your children and yourself healthy, you can save costs on medical care, save the stress that comes with worry [...]

The Epic Adventures of a Modern Mom
Weekend Blog Hop Till You Drop

nepicm5

26 Jan 2012 | 8:26 am

http://1epicmom.com Hey party people of the blogosphere, welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop till you Drop! If you pop by the hop before the 27th, enter here to win a free Fit Moms for Life book and DVD!!! Blog Hop Rules: This is a low key hop to find other blogs we can follow! 1. Follow the hostess, Epic Mom a.k.a Char from The Epic Adventures of a Modern Mom, and be sure to leave a comment so that I can follow you back. 2. Link up your blog so we can all check it out. 3. Please feel free to add your Google +, Twitter and Facebook pages for everyone to follow, just specify which one it is! 4.
Fashion and Fun in St. Croix

nepicm5

24 Jan 2012 | 11:32 pm

Dear Epic Readers, I hope this post finds you well. As promised, here is the second issue in my Travel Tuesdays series. So grab a pirate’s punch and let’s hoist off on an epic adventure to St. Croix USVI. Between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south-east of Puerto Rico is sunny St. Croix. It is the largest of the three inhabited U.S Virgins Islands, St. Thomas and St. John being the other two. Originally it was named Santa Cruz which means Holy Cross and since then it has been given other monikers such as…
Fit Moms For Life Giveaway

nepicm5

19 Jan 2012 | 9:43 pm

Welcome to the Blogorama Bonanza Remix 2012 Now let’s get ready to stay fit for life! Are you a mom? Are you still trying to get rid of that unwanted post baby bump? Are you too exhausted to endlessly chase after your kids? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this giveaway is for you! For one week only, Epic Mom will be giving away this awesome book, ‘Fit Moms for Life: How to Have Endless Energy to Outplay your Kids’ and the first dvd in the series!!! It’s that time of year, the time of resolutions to get our weight under…

Sweet Potato Chronicles
Guest Bloggers Andrea and Zoie show us around a wet market in singapore

Guest Blogger

27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

We’re so thrilled about having today’s post! It’s another worlds collide moments for us over here. Andrea Claire is an amazing hair and makeup artists that I met through work (was it the first season of Canadian Idol?! eek.) about a million years ago. She works on photo shoots that appear in magazines, on commercials and tv shows. We just recently crossed paths again on another set and I learned she’s been living in Singapore with her husband and three girls. I was lucky enough to be having Andrea do my hair and makeup that day for a portrait and while I had her…
Vitamin Week: Garlic and Kale Dip

Laura Keogh

26 Jan 2012 | 8:13 am

I had only one hope for this post: the dip would live in a bread bowl. I think life would be so much more satisfying if more foods were housed in a hollowed out, honking loaf of fresh bread. However, I just couldn’t do it. Despite being a carbohydrate lover, I knew the best way to serve this snack was with some crackers and cut veggies. It’s just a simple twist on a spinach dip, but it’s a twist that yields some serious vitamins. Not that spinach is like eating a stick of beef jerky (Dear Beef Jerky, Sorry. No disrespect.), but kale has a more dense load of nutrients. I can…
Food Find: Kashi Toasted Cinnamon Crisp Cereal

Ceri Marsh

26 Jan 2012 | 6:01 am

Meet my son’s new obsession. But please don’t touch it. Because it’s Julian’s cereal and no one else is allowed to look at it, let alone have a bowl. I’ve always loved Kashi’s cereal and as a single girl a bowl of Kashi Go Lean would often be my dinner after a long day at the office or a work event. Now we’re back to eating cereal as it was intended: for breakfast. I would normally worry that a bowl of cereal was too much carbs, not enough protein to make a balance start to the day but the new Toasted Cinnamon Crisp has 10 grams of protein per serving…

Tripping Mom
Travel with children in Costa Rica – is it safe?

Marilia Di Cesare

17 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pm

Just promise me you won´t leave your camera on the beach for a swim, explore deserted places and walk randomly at night, will you? Is backpacking as a woman alone dangerous? Is traveling alone with a small child risky? My family and friends back in São Paulo, a city in Brazil with about 20 million people, think that I am courageous and that I could be safer back home. I think that any city with a traffic light is too big and has too many problems and dangers to be livable. I lived in a few paradises already which were all very touristy. Now, in Costa Rica, another country, I live in exactly…
How to surf while traveling alone with a 4-year old

Marilia Di Cesare

11 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm

That´s me coming out of a perfect wave. I love Santa Teresa! This is the place for me to be: Santa Teresa – Costa Rica. The waves are amazing, the climate is hot and dry, the camping site is only 5 dollars a night and Luísa and I are having a blast. It´s been a week since we arrived and I surfed 4 times. In my firsts days here I met a 12 year old from New York who could babysit Luísa. But, unfortunately, our fist meeting didn´t work out and while we still don´t have another one, I had to come up with a plan B. Plan B for surfing this time consisted in offering the owner of the camping…
I confess: I get scared shitless of traveling alone with my kid every single time

Marilia Di Cesare

5 Jan 2012 | 2:54 pm

Catching a water taxi from Montesuma to Jacó one year ago, while we were traveling the Pacific of Costa Rica. Traveling alone with a 4-year old is not all flowers, as you might guess or know. For some, safety can be an issue, for others being on long buses rides can be the thing. For me, the scariest part is always the behavior. I´m talking about that meltdown that happens, and also about her lack of discipline around me. It´s really amazing how well behaved she is when I´m not around. How unfair: the person who loves her the most, gets the worse treatment. And it scares me shitless…

The Ultimate Juggle
Unexpected Crisis

Wayne

24 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Are you so busy that you don’t have time to handle the things that pop up unexpectedly? What do you do when the worst happens and you have no time to deal with it? I’d like to share some tips … Read more »
Being Responsible with Your Finances

Wayne

22 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

Have you ever been strapped for cash and looked for a quick way to make ends meet? I know that I personally hate this feeling. Like anything else that Jester and I talk about on the Ultimate Juggle, we think … Read more »
A Side Income

Wayne

16 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

If you are trying to make more money this year, you might consider finding a side income to earn a few extra bucks here and there. It doesn’t have to be anything significant at first. I think once you start … Read more »

Raising Rockstar
Language lessons, heritage questions

Aileen

27 Jan 2012 | 5:36 am

My father in law often bemoans Rockstar’s lack of grasp of Hakka, and speaking not a stitch of the dialect myself, I recently came up with what I thought was a best effort at trying to facilitate some learning of it. (You might guess I was rather pleased with myself, given my own knowledge of all things Chinese-language related is quite bad. Not from lack of trying, I tried to pick up Putonghua on maybe 3 separate occasions through the years but chinese literacy is one of the (very) few things that continually eludes me <hangs head>) Ta-daa I located some of Rockstar’s old…
ESF Kindergarten Trip To Watch We’re Going On A Bear Hunt At The HK Academy Of Performing Arts Drama Theater

Aileen

25 Jan 2012 | 7:45 pm

Rockstar also happened to bring this home from the school library months ago On Rockstar’s last day of school before the CNY hols, I brought my parents along on his school trip to watch the theater production of the best-selling children’s book We’re Going On A Bear Hunt. Live theater adaptations of best-selling children’s picture books are totally starting to grow on us, thanks to Rockstar’s school’s practice of reading the book and then having an outing for the children to watch the production, usually before a break. Rockstar queueing to go in So my parents…
Rockstarism #186 – Various Rockstarisms With The Grandparents

Aileen

25 Jan 2012 | 5:50 am

#186 Grandparents: Hello, Mr Lai. Are you Mr Lai? Rockstar: No, that’s my dad. He has a bad memory. He always asks me the difference between turtles and tortoises. I told him many, many times! —————— Rockstar: Grandpop. Your name is too old. You need to change your name. How about “Narbles”? Grandpop: What’s “Narbles”? Rockstar: Don’t know. But it’s funny Hee Hee. Grandpop: How about I change my name to Rockstar? Rockstar: No. It’s taken, <pause> Narbles. ——————…

The Divine Miss Mommy | Atlanta Georgia Mom Blogger | Travel Blogger
Lipton Green Tea Superfruit Sweet Iced Tea Recipes {Giveaway} #liptongreentea

Stacie

25 Jan 2012 | 10:25 am

I am an avid tea drinker. I like it cold. I like it hot. I like all kinds of flavors. No, I LOVE tea. LIPTON green tea superfruit is the perfect addition to your healthy lifestyle. LIPTON infuses fresh picked green tea leaves with a blend of exotic flavors for a special combination that is [...]
I’m a Community Leader for BlissDom’12 Ya’ll!

Stacie

24 Jan 2012 | 1:49 am

Are you attending the sold out Blissdom Conference next month in Nashville, Tennessee at the fabulous Gaylord Opryland Hotel? Well I am and I hope to see you there. This will be my fourth Blissdom and I am thrilled to share the news that I will be a Community Leader during the conference. WHAT ARE [...]
No More Hot Water Washing with Tide Coldwater (review) #tide #washcold

Stacie

22 Jan 2012 | 10:27 pm

We were recently sent a bottle of Tide Coldwater to try it out in our home. Now I have to admit, I am already a Tide user. I alternate between Tide and Gain. I also need to admit that until now, I firmly held on to the belief that only hot water can truly get [...]

Dagmar*s momsense
Our Healthier Lifestyle And Why We Became Vegetarians

Dagmar

26 Jan 2012 | 11:09 pm

I’ll come right out with it — I would like your vote for Top 25 Vegetarian Moms When you click on the button or this link, you can vote for Dagmar’s momsense once a day from every computer or phone you have for the next 19 days. I also added the button to my sidebar [...]
Wordless Wednesday — Snowboy

Dagmar

24 Jan 2012 | 5:23 pm

We haven’t seen snow here in Westchester since Landon’s birthday in October, but we finally got some two days ago. L took advantage of it and played outside for hours. He helped Don shovel around the house, and we went sledding down the driveway. It’s already almost gone again. Too bad it wasn’t sticky snow [...]
Live Chat About Things You Love, Friday 01/27, Noon EST

Dagmar

23 Jan 2012 | 8:51 pm

Join Sara from Saving For Someday and me for a fun daytime chat this Friday in the Horizon Organic community! Have you come across something new you love? Share it with us! I always learn something new during these chats. Join us on Friday 9AM PT/Noon EST! And check out all the other fun conversations [...]

JoliviMag
Handy Household Tips using Lemon

Reeta

27 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm

Handy Household Tips using Lemon An easily available citrus fruit, Lemon is a versatile fruit, rich in Vitamin C. As the old saying goes, when life gives you Lemons, make lemonades…and a whole lot of other things around the house. Here are some of the household tips using lemons. Shoe/Furniture Polish To make your shoes shine, apply a few drops of lemon juice to olive oil and rub with a piece of clean cloth. The same can be done for unvarnished wooden furniture Tough Grease Stains Blend lemon peels with water and use the mash to remove tough grease stains Get Rid of Odours Get rid…
5 Reasons Why Children Misbehave

Anusuya

26 Jan 2012 | 1:56 am

5 Reasons Why Children Misbehave You have some guests at home and are busy running around getting things in place for dinner when your 5-year old begins to whine about some insignificant thing. The stress gets to you and you snap at him to be quiet; instead of the quiet you demanded, what you get is a full-blown tantrum. If you are wondering why your child changes colors so suddenly, consider these five common reasons why children misbehave. They are hungry or sick Low sugar levels have been known to negatively affect children’s behavior. Children who are normally easy to manage become tiny…
Getting Older Children to Sleep Alone

Anusuya

26 Jan 2012 | 12:54 am

Getting Older Children to Sleep Alone Traditionally, in Indian homes, children have always slept with their parents in the same bed for much longer than is the norm in western countries. This helps to provide children with a sense of security that is so crucial to their overall emotional development. However, as the children grow older, parents ought to encourage them to sleep alone. This is important because it helps the child grow independent besides allowing the parents their privacy. There is no single fixed age at which you should tell your child, “Now you sleep in your own room and…

Traveling with Baby
Bento of the Day

Dolly Garnecki

19 Jan 2012 | 8:09 pm

Octopus made from a hot dog. Super simple to cut the legs. Talk about putting some fun and wow into a lunch. Dill pickles and cloud/bird shapes from swiss cheese using Kotobuki Vegetable Cutters. Face made from nori cut with a paring knife, although I’d love to get a Seaweed Nori Punch Decorating Tool. Pass it on:
Adoption Process – My Other Part-Time Job

Dolly Garnecki

12 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

I’ve resigned from other extra-curricular and volunteer positions so that I have time to breathe and balance my most important commitments. Regardless, I don’t feel like I have any extra time because the adoption process is like a part-time job. The difference compared to my part-time practice is that my chiropractic job is really a [...]
Bento of the Day

Dolly Garnecki

11 Jan 2012 | 2:54 am

Mixed greens with Tillamook cheese and red bell peppers and dried cherries drizzled with a lemony italian dressing are garnished with a fish-molded hard-boiled egg with sesame and nori seasoning. My son took one look and declared “Yum! I like stars!”. I think this bento will return home empty. Pass it on:

Discussion Divas
Strait Talk: Strait of Hormuz

Discussion Divas

7 Jan 2012 | 10:16 am

Happy New Year. If you haven’t eaten any black-eyed peas yet this year, please try some. Seems the whole country could use an extra helping of good luck in 2012, and legend has it that these little beans can do the trick. We certainly could use some good luck when it comes to the unemployment rate (clocking in at 8.5% on Friday, the lowest level in three years), both our economy and Europe’s economy, stability on the Iraq hand-off, the changing of the guard in North Korea, Egypt’s elections, and so on (pass the peas, please!). I am surely hoping for the best, calm outcome when it…
Living it up with Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's

Discussion Divas

6 Jan 2012 | 10:32 am

Growing up my mother made everyone in our house eat Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's Day, even the cats and dogs. She took it very seriously. Tradition has it that they bring prosperity. More on this here. I love the sentiment that food can bring good luck so we do this in our house, too, washed back with Champagne. This year we paired it with Schramsburg Mirabelle, a rose sparkler that sells for about $20. My mom cooks hers with a ham bone -- we take a chicken approach in our house. Here's the recipe: 1 Bag Dried Beans (soak overnight and remove the bad beans)2 Boxes of chicken broth…
Andrea Jung and The List

Discussion Divas

20 Dec 2011 | 9:36 am

Holiday prep and festivities are making me really late with this post--so apologies and Happy Wednesday!Speaking of the holidays, thank goodness for online shopping and shipping. They’re saving me this year. And apparently I’m not alone: Shoppers spent almost $31 billion online between Nov. 1 and Dec. 16, 15% more than last year. That’s a lot of stuff bought... And WSJ reports retailers are extending the deadline for purchases that can still arrive by Dec. 25.I’ve been ordering through Amazon Prime like a fiend, and love the new Slice app that alerts you when packages have…

Frugal Front Porch - Useful & Practical Tips
My Kitchen Helper – WW

Jenn at Frugal Front Porch

25 Jan 2012 | 10:05 am

My Kitchen Helper – WW, is brought to you by Frugal Front Porch.My cute tuxedo kitten decided I needed help with the dishes last night!Posted from WordPress for Android
PR FAIL: The $3 Skecher’s Boot Fiasco

Jenn at Frugal Front Porch

24 Jan 2012 | 2:16 pm

PR FAIL: The $3 Skecher’s Boot Fiasco, is brought to you by Frugal Front Porch.I’m not sure if you heard about the who Skecher.com $3 boot debacle over the weekend or not but it’s gotten A LOT of folks riled up.I’ll admit, I placed an order, hoping for a killer deal on shoes. I’ve never ordered from their site but have owned Skechers in the past so I was confident the winter boots would be of good quality.HOLY MOLY. It got out of hand pretty quickly after I placed my order. In a nutshell a pair of boots were priced at $3, the deal went viral online which caused…
Steals and Deals – Beauty Bundle, Bath Set, Mountain Vacation & More

Jenn at Frugal Front Porch

24 Jan 2012 | 8:58 am

Steals and Deals – Beauty Bundle, Bath Set, Mountain Vacation & More, is brought to you by Frugal Front Porch.Jill Martin revealed her latest round of Today Show Steals and Deals.This week showcases amazing deals on yoga equipment, beautiful pendant necklace, luxurious bath towel set, a beauty bundle to help fight dry skin and cellulite (?), and a Colorado mountain resort vacation getaway! All for up to 80% off!This week’s favorite deal: the Nashelle Pendant Necklace. It’s comes to a total of $55 including the estimated $10 shipping charge and would be ideal to snag now…

Globetrotting in Heels
OOTW: who said beige is boring, anyway?

Elisa

26 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

Yeah… that would be me. Whoops. Mind you, beige can be boring. It is entirely possible to make neutrals boring – beige by no means has the exclusive on that, you can also do it with black, navy and grey. I used to think people who wear beige are no fun. What I have realized however is that beige actually enables you to have more fun! Quirky accessories, loud patterns, bright colors? Pair them with beige, and you are toning them down just enough to make them oh, so wearable! For instance, I tend not to wear gold jewelry much. Next to my olive skin it feels too… kitsch.
Pinspiration: places I’ve never been

Elisa

19 Jan 2012 | 5:37 am

If you know me personally or if you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you no doubt know how much I love traveling. Source: etsy.com via Elisa on Pinterest Do you remember what it felt like to meet a cute boy or develop a new crush as a teenager? The excitement, the nervousness, feeling giddy, like you have so many emotions building up and fighting to get out that you are not sure if you are going to explode in a fit of giggles or start crying from the sheer emotion overload? Thinking that he was absolute perfection, often simply because he was so uniquely him? Wanting to…
Mood board: shades of yellow

Elisa

18 Jan 2012 | 7:21 am

After a fairly mild Holiday Season, the temperatures have dropped here, and you know how I feel about that. To be fair, we did have a few days of sun, but it was so cold that it prompted Stella’s teacher to joke about the possibility that there was actually something wrong with the sun, since its rays seemed to bring only light but no warmth at all. (… ok, maybe you had to be there.) After whining about the grey, dark days, it feels like someone is playing a cruel joke: Here, have some sun, you spoiled brat. But make no mistake, it is still friggin’ winter, you silly cow.

Twelve Makes a Dozen
My Jazzy Birthday

Mom of 12

26 Jan 2012 | 1:24 pm

I know you are all just dying to know how I spent my birthday, but since I didn't get to sleep in much yesterday, I took advantage today and didn't drag myself out until about 10:00. Yeah, my sweetie is amazing! He ran the carpool for me this morning and got the elementary kids out the door so I could just turn off the alarm. So a few weeks ago after one of our Jr. Jazz games, I was handed an
47 Years

Mom of 12

25 Jan 2012 | 11:51 am

It's my birthday today. I'm 47 years old. Where did the time go? Make a wish! We've always had chemistry Some days I remember 17 so clearly. I was a senior at Manti high school with an amazing GPA and a small part of myself in half a dozen projects. I was in the chamber choir, a member of the Close Up team, on the youth city council, a writer for the local newspaper, yearbook staff,
Nine o'clock Church

Mom of 12

24 Jan 2012 | 7:35 am

You all know I don't love mornings. Our church is set up on a rotating schedule so all of last year we started at 1:00 in the afternoon. In January we changed to the 9:00 schedule. It makes my Sundays a little miserable, but I usually make it work...mostly... A reenactment... I set my alarm to go off at 8:10. I know, that's cutting it close, but we are fortunate enough to live about 3 minutes

Create-Celebrate-Explore
Rusty and Rosy: Learning with Maps

Tonya Staab

27 Jan 2012 | 11:40 am

I'm over at Rusty and Rosy today showing you some fun activities you can do with your kids to teach them about understanding maps.
Multiples and More: Valentine's Day Craft

Tonya Staab

26 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

Are you already crafting for Valentine's Day? We are. Today I'm sharing how to make this simple Valentine's Day necklace over at Multiples and More.
Zui: Valentine's Day Tic-Tac-Toe

Tonya Staab

24 Jan 2012 | 6:59 pm

Looking for a fun Valentine's Day game to play with your loved one? I'm over at Zui.com showing you how to make this fun chalkboard tic-tac-toe game.

Princess Prose
Mr. Bean Makes Everything Better

PrincessJenn

24 Jan 2012 | 10:16 am

Some mornings are just made for Mr. Bean
Jenna

PrincessJenn

20 Jan 2012 | 5:19 pm

Three and a half years ago we began our foray into the special needs world. Our steps were slow and tentative, not knowing where this path would take us. One of the first families I met was Tasha and her daughter Jenna. I still remember walking into the physio room at the Children’s hospital in the city and seeing the halo of blond curls that is Jenna’s trademark. We had no idea, then, that our girls would become fast friends. A few months later I walked into the building where the local physio/support group for special needs kids was being held in our small town. I was surprised…
Paging Dr. Freud

PrincessJenn

15 Jan 2012 | 12:53 pm

Vista, at the ripe old age of 4, is a master manipulator. She’s smart. Waaaay too smart. And she knows exactly how to play people. I watch her do it with her therapists when she’s not in the mood to work with them. She’ll play dumb, bat her eyelashes, cock her head to the side, smile, and give a ‘I don’t know’ shrug. At which point we’ve now trained her therapists to glance over at me, where I can give a slight nod to indicate ‘yes, she knows this. She’s just fucking with you right now.’ The other day she was throwing a…

The Parenting Pundit
Why Joe Pa Should Be No Different From the Average Joe: A Parenting Pundit's Thoughts On Paterno

22 Jan 2012 | 2:22 pm

I awoke this morning to confirmed reports that Joe Paterno, famed and disgraced Penn State coach, had passed away from complications of cancer. He was the coach who won more games than anyone in major college football, but was fired amid a child sex abuse scandal that scarred his reputation for winning with integrity. The man known as "Joe Pa" won 409 games and took the Nittany Lions to 37 bowl games and two national championships. More than 250 of the players he coached went on to the NFL. Hmmm...All of these accolades would have sounded far more impressive to me prior to November 2011. (I…
Lo Siento...I'm A Pedophile

17 Jan 2012 | 6:41 pm

Have you spoken to your kids about predators and the tricks and tactics they use? If not, today is the day for you to do so because these pedophiles are banking on the fact that you won't. The best way to guide your discussion is to know how these sickos operate. Today's sicko is Ryan Brunn...the murderer and rapist of 7-yr-old Jorelys Rivera.Here is how the mind of a pedophile works:Published in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution 1/17/12Brunn said he came across a roller skate while cleaning and knew it was Jorelys’ because he had seen her skating. He took a picture of the skate and…
The "Unintriguing" Missing of 2011

9 Jan 2012 | 5:30 pm

Recently, ABC news published an article online that upset me so much that I needed to walk away from the computer for several hours in order to collect my thoughts. During my 6-hour hiatus I was able to regain my calm, and even began to feel more positive about the post. Don’t get me wrong, I am very much disappointed by the journalists’ article, but it helped to fuel my inner passion. Let me explain…..The article was titled “Eleven Most Intriguing Missing Persons Cases of 2011.” In it, the writers listed various missing people, and provided a short blurb on each of them. Here is…

metaMOMphorsis
1 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

metaMOMphorsis

1 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

Digitalart http://bit.ly/vWnnPb I would like to wish my faithful readers a happy, prosperous, and fulfilling New Year filled with wonderful blessings. It has been a great pleasure sharing my thoughts with you in 2011, and I look forward to continuing the journey with you in 2012! metaMOMphorsis
In The Trenches: Part 2. Preparing to Stay Home – A Working Mom’s Story

metaMOMphorsis

29 Dec 2011 | 5:30 am

Graur Razvan Ionut http://bit.ly/tNe7Ev This is part 2 of an interview that I conducted with a professional mother who has been struggling to balance her home and work life. She and her husband have developed a master plan for her to be able to stay home. Since she is still working, I have changed her name to protect her job and identity. PART 2 MetaMOMphorsis: Do you feel that you would want to find some type of work in your current field so as not to “waste” your degree? Kim: Maybe initially, but I would get it out of my system. I got the degrees and the certifications, I know I…
In The Trenches: Part 1. Preparing to Stay Home – A Working Mom’s Story

metaMOMphorsis

15 Dec 2011 | 9:56 am

Graur Razvan Ionut http://bit.ly/tNe7Ev In the Trenches is a new series in which I will explore the thoughts of a mother who is in the throes of a particular life event. This first installment of the series is a 2-part interview that I conducted with a professional mother who has been struggling to balance her home and work life. She and her husband have developed a master plan for her to be able to stay home. Since she is still working, I have changed her name to protect her job and identity. PART 1. MetaMOMphorsis: Tell me about your home and work life. Kim: I usually work Monday –…

StyleBakeryMom - stylish finds for moms & little ones
Never settle for less (sponsored)

StyleBakery

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
Hot nail colors for 2012

Christine Fox

27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

Get ready to get those toes and nails manicured and polished up for the spring season with a big splash of color. The year's hottest nail colors are anything but traditional as we're seeing mint, tangerine, fuchsia, nude and metallic nails on the streets. Another new trend is to skip the polish altogether and put a fun print on your nails via "nail skin" -- try it if you dare! Beauty Without Cruelty Attitude Nail Color, Tangerine $16 - drugstore.com Butter London Nail Skins $10 - Ulta Butter LONDON 3 Free Nail Lacquer Yummy Mummy $14 - Dillard's Revlon Nail Enamel - Suede $3 - Target Deborah…
Perfect your skin with 'maternity-conscious' skincare by Amalou Skin

Courtney Strimel

27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

The same hormones that create that coveted "pregnancy glow" can actually backfire for some of us (myself included). Instead of a fresh, clear face, we wind up with blemishes, cystic acne and/or melasma. Worst of all, the usual skincare treatments are often considered iffy, if not completely unsafe, to use for these skin problems when you're expecting. Developed by mothers with the guidance of dermatologists, OBGYNs and industry experts, Amalou Skin is one of the first and only "maternity-conscious" skincare lines. Without salicylic acid, retinoids, hydroquonine, benzoyl peroxide and other…

Kelly Tirman
Linden Estelle is Seven Months Old

kellytirman

7 Jan 2012 | 12:15 am

Linden Estelle turned six months old today. I can’t believe how fast time is flying. To ensure I remember all these special moments I will be taking a “birthday” picture every month for her first 24 months as well as charting her developments. Summary of Linden’s development this past month: Sings, jabbers and will combines syllables especially when she is watching her daddy play guitar Will experience stranger anxiety, and lights up when she sees the faces of her mom, dad, and nanny Will pinch things with thumb-finger pincer grasp Will bang two items together while holding one item…
The Perfect Organic Facial Oil for Mature Dry Skin

kellytirman

23 Dec 2011 | 1:46 pm

Inspired by the book Do It Gorgeously, by Sophie Uliano; I have been making and using my own night time facial oil for over a year. Since this this organic facial oil is packed full of antioxidants and active ingredients it works wonders on my skin. How to use: After you have cleansed and toned; shake and apply to your face. Store in a in a cool place out of direct sunlight. This product has a shelf life of one year. Ingredients: Organic Avocado Oil, Organic Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Rosehip Seed Oil, Rose Absolute Essential Oil, Organic Benzoin Resin Essential Oil, Frankincense Essential…
Here is to a World with Less Cancer & More Birthdays

kellytirman

15 Dec 2011 | 10:28 pm

I feel lucky to have a large extended family. Thanks to second marriages and long lives I have had the amazing opportunity to embrace well over a dozen grandparents and great grandparents. No matter how large or small of a part they played in my childhood, ALL of them have impacted and shaped my life in some way or another. That being said, I have always longed for my Grandma Maudell’s embrace. In 1962 they didn’t know much about Cancer. My grandma turned 30 that year and after spending several months in the hospital she passed away on March 28th. My mother’s eleventh…

Lille Punkin' Reviews
Thirty One Gifts Thermal Tote Sale and $100 GC #Giveaway!

27 Jan 2012 | 11:09 pm

I just found out about a really neat company -- called Thirty One Gifts. What's with the name "Thirty One Gifts"? Here is the explanation, straight from the company: The name Thirty-One comes from the verses of Proverbs 31 in the Bible that celebrates the busy, hardworking wife, mother, friend, daughter and sister in all of us. Thirty-One recognizes women for who they are and all they do for their families and their communities!In addition to having a wonderful selection of gifts for women on the go, they might be a good fit for a potential small business opportunity.
PopChips Sale (ONE DAY ONLY)

27 Jan 2012 | 9:43 am

Raise your hand if you are a PopChips fan! I love these little things, especially the BBQ. If you're a fan, as well, you'll love the daily deal going on over at Amazon! They are currently up to 58% off -- more when you use the Subscribe and Save feature. Choose from: 6-Flavor Variety Pack, 0.8-Ounce Single Serve Bags (Pack of 24) for $11.33 Popchips Barbeque Potato Chips, 0.8-Ounce Single Serve Bags (Pack of 24) for $11.33 Popchips Barbeque Potato Chips, 3-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12) for $14.08 Popchips Original Potato Chips, 0.8-Ounce Single Serve Bags (Pack of 24) for…
Review of Kraft Fresh Take

26 Jan 2012 | 7:43 pm

While on a trip to the Kraft Blogger Event last year, I had the chance to preview a neat product before it hit store shelves. I now finally have the OK to share it with you, and I'm pretty excited! Kraft Fresh Take does what I've been doing for years as far as breading and baking (or frying) my meats -- but with much more ease and flavor. The premise of Fresh Take is simple: Open the package, mix the fresh cheese and bread crumb ingredients together in the bag, then dip in your favorite meats to create a breaded masterpiece. You can toss what you don't use (bag and all) and…

A Hen's Nest
Hens Clutch of #Giveaways 1/27 – 2/2 {linky}

Henrietta - admin

26 Jan 2012 | 9:35 pm

Happy Friday! Hope your week is going well. Pie came home sick from school on Wednesday with a fever and upset stomach. She was feeling a bit better Thursday but still not well enough for school. I am hoping she makes it through today, we have such a busy weekend! Her first mini league basketball game for the season is Saturday and she is supposed to be performing in the talent show with two of her friends the same day! Of course, the first time she is sick all winter, is this weekend! Have fun entering all these giveaways and don’t forget to stop by my Ocean Spray giveaway, four…
Great big list of Printable #Coupons 3.00 off Hormel party trays 5.00 off Real Steel and more!

Henrietta - admin

26 Jan 2012 | 6:08 pm

Coupons.com always has the best printable coupons. This week there are several coupons that let you save dollars off of board and card games for a great family game night. Check out the $8.00 off SCRABBLE, SIMON, or YAHTZEE FLASH and $5.00 off CATCH PHRASE OR TABOO coupons. Or, how about saving a few dollars on an at home family movie night with $5.00 off one REAL STEEL 3-Disc Combo Pack or $3.00 off The Last of the Mohicans on Blu-ray™. Add in a coupon or two for snacks like $3.00 off HORMEL Party Tray product or $1.00 off two (2) packages of ARMOUR Pepperoni and you’re…
Affordable medications when you join Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

Henrietta Via SocialSpark

25 Jan 2012 | 3:01 am

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine. With the rising cost of everything from gas to food to utilities, many families are trying to save money in any way that they can. One big expense that most families with children of any age have, is insurance and prescription medications. If you are underinsured, or uninsured, worrying about how will afford medications when your child is ill can be stressful. If you are shopping around for affordable drug coverage, and happen to have local Walgreens, you may want to check into the Walgreens…

Simply Stacie
Saturday Featured Blog | I’m a full-time mummy

Stacie

28 Jan 2012 | 4:27 am

Welcome to Simply Stacie’s Saturday Featured Blog! If you would like your blog featured, please fill out this form. Today I would like to welcome I’m a full-time mummy! I had a chance to learn more about herblog and here’s what she had to say… Please tell me about yourself. I’m a Chinese SAHM from Malaysia with a toddler and currently expecting... read more »This content was posted exclusively for Simply Stacie. If you have seen this content on a site other than Simply Stacie please let me know in the comments here: Saturday Featured Blog | I’m a full-time…
The Little Blue Box Giveaway | Win $200 Tiffany’s GC (US & Can)

Stacie

27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

Every girl dreams of receiving that ultra special Little Blue Box from the person she loves. You can blame Audrey Hepburn I suppose. To help you with your Valentine’s Day this year, some friends and I got together and we are giving away… $200 Tiffany’s Gift Card!! Enter on the form below, Open to US... read more »This content was posted exclusively for Simply Stacie. If you have seen this content on a site other than Simply Stacie please let me know in the comments here: The Little Blue Box Giveaway | Win $200 Tiffany’s GC (US & Can). Thank you for helping to…
Cheesy Barbecue Beef Casserole Recipe

Stacie

27 Jan 2012 | 5:19 pm

Cheesy Barbecue Beef Casserole is what I would call “comfort food”. It’s hearty, satisfying and delicious. It’s also very easy to make. All you need is ground beef, cheese, barbecue sauce, onions and pasta. The first step is to cook the pasta like you normally would and cook the ground beef and onions in a... read more »This content was posted exclusively for Simply Stacie. If you have seen this content on a site other than Simply Stacie please let me know in the comments here: Cheesy Barbecue Beef Casserole Recipe. Thank you for helping to stop content theft!!

MommyPR.com - The Original Mommy PR™
Act Of Valor Movie Tickets Giveaway from LifeLock

Angela

28 Jan 2012 | 12:41 am

LifeLock is proud to partner with Relativity Media in the upcoming theatrical release of “Act of Valor,” one of most authentic action movies ever made. That’s because “Act of Valor” was filmed using actual Navy SEALs, weapons and tactics – giving you a glimpse into the fast-paced, adrenaline fueled world of America’s elite military. Just like there is no better protector of our country than the Navy SEALs, there is no better protector of your identity than LifeLock – which offers the most comprehensive identity theft protection service available. Armed with advanced…
PTPA: TruMoo Chocolate Milk Review & Giveaway

Angela

27 Jan 2012 | 8:32 pm

TruMoo Chocolate Milk: Good nutrition, great taste, no debate. It’s a nutritious snack that satisfies moms and kids alike. Because TruMoo is made with real, fresh white milk, it has essential nutrients your kids need: calcium, protein, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin and vitamins A, D and B12. TruMoo is made with table sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. And our chocolate milk is produced with pure cocoa, so you know your kids will love the taste of this nutritious treat that you can feel good giving your kids every day. To find TruMoo at a retailer near you, visit www.TruMoo.com. Also…
Winners for January

Angela

27 Jan 2012 | 3:53 pm

Click the photos to enlarge Sorry for being behind posting them. All winners have been notified.

The Dixon Dialogue
Ever Feel This Way?

Amber

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

If I’m being completely honest with myself I abandoned my family a couple of Saturday’s ago. I “escaped” the house to run a couple of errands I “had” to run and then I texted Bill to see if I could go and see a movie. He, being the great dad and husband he is, said yes. Now, going to see a movie is not how I abandoned my family. Why I went to see the movie was. I had run my errands and the thought of going back home was overwhelming. I had too much to do {the house was filthy}, I didn’t want to play cars, Mickey Mouse, or Elmo one more time, I…
Loco

Amber

24 Jan 2012 | 9:36 am

Last week I had the great idea that we should go to the grand opening of the Amigo’s restaurant near our house. Then I convinced Dana and Jonathan that they should go with us! The boys and I got there about 6:30 and it was packed but we put our name in anyways. Dana & Jonathan got there about 7 and we waited until 7:30 for a table. Not too big of a deal since it was packed – I was just ready for some good Mexican food! As soon as we sat down the waiter took our order. We should have known to leave right that minute when he didn’t know how to say or spell anything that we…
Initiated

Amber

20 Jan 2012 | 2:45 pm

Will and I are in a club. It’s an “I Love Taco Bell” club because it’s our favorite place to eat. (Well, Will has recently taken an affection towards McDonald’s but I’m sure it’s just a phase.) In Nashville we ate at Taco Bell about once a week but we haven’t been eating there as much lately. So, this week we thought it was about time to initiate Thomas into our “I Love Taco Bell” club. I ordered Thomas a cheese roll up and at first he wasn’t sure what he was suppose to do with it. Will gave him a little coaching and…

Mom's Journal
When Santa Came to Town

Erica

3 Jan 2012 | 2:42 am

The Target toy sales magazine came in the mail in either late October or early November. Whenever it was, that day Sophia was being particularly annoying vying for my undivided attention. I gave her the sales magazine, “Here circle all the things you want Santa to bring you and then we’ll cut them out and paste them on paper.” “Santa?” “Yes, at Christmas Santa delivers toys to all the kids, so make a list so he knows what you want.” “Oh, ok!” She of course circled damn near everything in the magazine. Some of the toys she picked out were a little young for her. Once we cut…
Sensitive Duplo Hoarder

Erica

1 Jan 2012 | 2:08 am

We (Kurt) bought our Christmas tree on the 6th or 7th and then we decorated it on the 9th, so it had been ignored by Lukas for ten days before I finally started putting presents under it and then it still took a couple days before he went for it. He began to touch a present that just happened to be his. I very gently told him, “no no Lukas”. There was no way I could have said it any more gently. I’d have to whisper it outside to be more gentle. He stopped. He looked at me. His whole tiny face turned upside-down and he started crying. I told him he couldn’t touch the presents.
Wordless Wednesday: Pick Your Morning

Erica

20 Dec 2011 | 4:15 pm

Related posts:Baby Squeezins: Diaper of the MonthWe Know Where the Cookies areSensitive Duplo Hoarder

The Mogul Mom
Pull Back the Curtain On Your Home Business

Heather Allard

27 Jan 2012 | 8:52 am

“Where’s Mommy?” my son asked. “Where do you think she is, Brendan? She’s at the computer,” my husband replied in an annoyed tone. I overheard this exchange between my son and husband two years ago (when my son was three) and had a huge realization. While I was working on the computer—writing new posts, planning my editorial calendar, invoicing advertisers, responding to email and social media—my family had no idea what I was doing. To them, it looked like I was just farting around on Facebook, or worse; neglecting them. But I wasn’t. I was working. Hard, too.
A New Housekeeping Strategy: Cocktails + Cleaning

MogulMomTeam

25 Jan 2012 | 6:39 pm

Could you and your spouse use a little quality time together? Could your house be a bit more spic and span? Then we’ve got a winning housekeeping strategy for you. It’s called cocktails and cleaning. Here’s what you do. Put the kids to bed. Turn on some funky music (keep it low—don’t want to wake the kids) and get a duster, some Pledge and a cocktail. You get your housework done, connect with your partner and have a few giggles. The best part? You’ll have a freshly cleaned living room the next morning instead of a hangover! Here are some terrific cleaning tips to get…
Save Money with Not So Extreme Couponing

MogulMomTeam

24 Jan 2012 | 11:07 pm

If your kids eat four times their own body weight each day, you know how tight your weekly grocery budget can get. Why not save a little money with coupons? No need for extremes here, just some simple savings. You can find grocery and food product coupons in: Inserts in your local Sunday paper Online coupon sites like DailyGroceryCoupon.com that offer free, printable coupons for grocery items Coupon books from your favorite grocer, like Whole Foods. Other savings sites offer coupons and discount codes for general merchandise like clothing, electronics, toys and more: RetailMeNot.com –…

A Familiar Path
What’s in my camera bag

Melissa

26 Jan 2012 | 10:12 pm

It’s been a long time since I talked about what’s in my camera bag and there have been some updates this year as my business and shooting needs changed. I now shoot with the 5D Mark II Canon camera. I upgraded from my beloved 40D when I needed to enlarge a picture bigger than the 40D megapixels would allow. I would not have made the upgrade quite so soon without that push. I loved my 40D. It was a great camera (still is), it just had some limitations for professional use. I also upgraded to the 50 mm 1.2 lens this year, even before the camera upgrade. I had the 50 1.8 and it got…
A Wednesday ramble

Melissa

25 Jan 2012 | 11:55 pm

Ya’ll we are having a really great mild winter here in Arkansas and I am loving it. We have a couple of cold days, some rain, and then it’s right back up in the 60s and that is just fine with me. No matter that our persimmon tree seeds predicted snow, I am pretty much always happy when predictions fail to come true. It seems like we’ve turned a curve here at age three. We still have surprise moments where she’s covered herself in sunscreen (today at 5:45 pm) or when we find her under the table painting herself and everything else with purple fingernail polish…
White

Melissa

23 Jan 2012 | 4:45 pm

I made the decision to repaint all the areas of my home that had not been repainted since we moved in 8 years ago before Christmas. I dreaded tackling the job. My dining room, kitchen, breakfast area, back entry and living room are a continuous wall. There’s no stopping point so I knew I’d be doing all those rooms. I also wanted to do the entry and my office, possibly even the hallway. I decided on white pretty early even though several people tried to talk me out of it and everyone I told said, “White?” in a horrified tone. You wouldn’t believe how difficult it…

Rich Single Momma
Welcome FatWallet.com Readers!

Rich Single Momma

26 Jan 2012 | 10:20 am

Thank you for stopping by after reading my article on FatWallet.com. To learn a little more about me as a personal finance blogger, personal success champion, and mom blogger is to know that I am passionate about becoming my best self. This includes discovering new ways to earn, manage, and save money. FatWallet.com was one of the first places I landed when I began my search for ways to save money and find ideas for making money online. It has been a valuable resource. Don’t let my blog name fool you. I am not super rich (yet), but I am living the life I want with my kids. I am living…
5 Money-Saving Tips for Family Travel

Rich Single Momma

26 Jan 2012 | 6:09 am

I’m getting the travel bug like never before. I am itching to pack my bags (and the kids) and hit the road. In fact I am planning to travel extensively this summer across the U.S. It is time for me and the kids to see what’s beyond the southern regions of this country. The slow economy hasn’t hindered travel plans for most families. Family travelers take an average of 4.5 trips each year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Savvy families are able to travel and build lasting memories by making trips more affordable with the help of simple money-saving solutions. Here…
How to Fix Your Credit

Rich Single Momma

24 Jan 2012 | 6:03 am

Credit is what runs the world these days so if you have less than perfect credit don’t despair. You can fix your credit with a a few steps and lots of persistence. I did it before I bought my first house. It took 3-6 months to get it to the point where I could qualify for a loan. It takes time so don’t expect overnight results. Your credit didn’t go bad overnight so it won’t be fixed overnight either. If you find yourself with less-than-good credit, you are not alone. Business Insider, an online business news website, reports that one in 50 households owes more than…

Extraordinary Mommy
A Little Beauty Basic – My Style

Danielle

27 Jan 2012 | 3:47 pm

I will be honest, I don’t wear a lot of makeup….. but at the same time, I rarely leave the house without ANYTHING on anymore either. A *little* seems to go a long way for me….or at least it goes a long way towards making me feel good, and that’s what really matters, yes? So, just for fun…. and because my lovely friends at Babble told me they were wondering if I had any make-up musts, any hair styles I trend towards…any products I love… Here’s the scoop: If you know me… you know that I almost always wear my hear down. It has been…
The Note

Danielle

24 Jan 2012 | 12:12 pm

It was moments after we finished saying bedtime prayers. She made solid eye contact with me. She held my gaze without looking away. As she did, her eyes slowly filled. Tears. First filling and then covering the deep brown that I know to be the itty bitty windows to her soul. The tears were wiping those windows clear for me to see. She was sad. So sad. Her little lip trembeled as she found the words she just HAD to say, “Mommy…. I just LOVE YOU. SO much.” In no time, my eyes filled to mirror hers. We had just spent the most amazing day together, but this…
So, They Are Canadian, Eh? And now… How To Become A U.S. Citizen

Danielle

19 Jan 2012 | 2:21 am

Now, you may or may not know this, but I’m Canadian. As in, I was born there. I haven’t lived there since I was itty-bitty – I was raised in California – which, if you know me, makes MUCH more sense, but still, Canadian, I am. And in that weird way that famly history and culture and your own personal inter-weavings actually MATTER to just you… I have maintained my citizenship all these years. It used to be that in order to become a U.S. citizen, you had to denounce your country of origin. And I just wasn’t comfortable with that. Now, that is no…

Mommy Said What?
Really? We’re panicking about purple Lego?

Mommy Said What?

27 Jan 2012 | 10:13 am

My son, like many other 5-going-on-6 year old boys I imagine, is obsessed with Lego. I don’t remember having these model-like sets when I was a kid. There were trees and wheels and stuff, but no licensed shit like there is now. We just got a bucket and started building. From our imaginations. Gasp! I know, I know. And get off my lawn. But my son? He loves the Harry Potter sets, Star Wars, Alien Conquest – he’s all over it. And he builds them on his own, at a fairly quick pace. I see the merit in it – he’s essentially building models, just out of Lego. It’s…
We’re all in the same boat

Mommy Said What?

23 Jan 2012 | 8:02 am

I was at a birthday party the other day for one of my daughter’s friends. The kids were all playing upstairs and the moms were in the living room, sitting around and chatting the way moms do when their husbands aren’t around. I knew the hostess fairly well, and the other two women had children in my daughter’s class, so I knew them, too, just not as well. We started swapping stories about the expectations placed on mothers, the double-duty of working both inside and outside the home… the general lack of understanding from our partners about what it is to be a mother.
Surviving Disney… on a budget.

Mommy Said What?

18 Jan 2012 | 8:27 am

It’s possible. I promise. We took our kids to Disney for the first time this year. We normally spend 2 weeks in Palm Beach over Christmas, and this year, for a variety of reasons, one major one being that the whole princess thing would be just magical for the girl at this age, we decided to take a 4-day excursion to the House of Mouse. My husband has been out of work for a while. When we planned the trip, back in August(!), we didn’t take this into account. I’m sure it would have been a much different vacation if money weren’t an issue, but thankfully we’d…

iDreamofClean
The Great Paper Purge: Organizing Tax Documents

iDreamOfClean

26 Jan 2012 | 12:52 pm

{This post is part of the Great Paper Challenge: From Piles to *almost* Paperless series.} Taxes. You either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Actually I’m not sure I have ever met anyone who loves taxes…but surely there’s someone out there! Nevertheless, taxes must be filed and paid so the best way to make it as painless as possible is to keep tax documents organized. 3 Ways to Organize Tax Documents Organizing tax documents can be a big hurdle when trying to keep paperwork under control. I know quite a few people who just throw documents (often unopened) into their paper…
The Lazy Way to Clean a Toddler Potty

iDreamOfClean

25 Jan 2012 | 6:01 am

Cleaning toilets gross. me. out. Even when it’s one the toddler uses. Maybe I should say, especially when it’s the one the toddler uses! Even when you empty and rinse the bowl after each use, it can get pretty disgusting. Not to mention they sometimes miss (often miss?). So I’m all about finding shortcuts for cleaning the toddler potty! The secret? Cleaning it in the dishwasher! Just throw the toddler potty in the dishwasher run a cycle. Yes, it’s a bit unorthodox and I know it may not be the “green” thing to do. It might even cost a little extra on the…
Simple Way to Save Money on Contact Lens Solution

iDreamOfClean

24 Jan 2012 | 10:47 am

Women usually gain weight after they get married…at least that’s what I’ve been told…and *ahem* personally experienced. Is it because we’re finished looking for a man? Get comfortable? Complacent? Become moms? Or do married women gain weight because they try to keep up with their man at the dinner table? My experience is the latter. A very wise woman once told me that once married, women tend to eat the same amount as their husband at dinner because we instinctively fill both plates equally. Although we most likely know we shouldn’t eat the same amount as…

misspriss.org
Looking back on 2011

becky

16 Jan 2012 | 4:08 pm

Here I am again — I finally remembered to do my review post for 2011. Once again I’m just copying my questions from last year. This retrospective was originally inspired by Linda at Sundry Mourning. 1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? I got paid to be a community manager. I’ve done online community management for, oh, well over 10 years. All that experience got me a job doing it for a paycheck. W00t! And I went to NYC for business (and had to leave the baby for more than 24 hours for the first time). And we took the family along on a biz trip to San…
Those dog days are over

becky

16 Jan 2012 | 11:49 am

I danced around in the kitchen to Florence & the Machine this morning as I fixed breakfast for me and the boys. For some reason, her music reminds me of my younger, carefree days. The boys just kindof looked at me for a bit, but grinned as I grabbed each of them in turn & danced around. Those are the types of memories I want them to have. Dancing in the kitchen with mom on a random Monday.
What she’s doing now

becky

15 Dec 2011 | 12:59 pm

Shop Amazon Toys – Amazing Deals – Up to 70 Off Top Brands This morning, both boys slept in (hallelujah, I needed that). They both woke up in good moods and we’ve had a perfectly pleasant morning. I sat down with my scone and favorite Christmas coffee and watched them eat their breakfast. It was a nice respite from all the goings on around here. My older son also ran his trains all over me and gave me a running commentary about them. Not all of it was decipherable, but it was fun nonetheless. Speaking of the older son, he is slowly starting to talk. He has quite a few words now…

THE MEANEST MOM
Rudolph the Semi-Decapitated Reindeer

Jana

3 Jan 2012 | 8:58 pm

Yesterday, my husband suggested that instead of driving to the nearest Redbox to return a movie that we had watched on New Year’s Eve (we are super big party animals) that we ride our bikes there instead. “That sounds like fun,” I agreed. “Fun” we learned very quickly, is a relative term.The event that followed was certainly more fun than getting impaled by a hot poker, but considerably less fun than just about anything else. The minute our caravan turned out of neighborhood, Cameron started pinching my back. “OUT!” he screamed while trying to propel himself out of his bike…

MamaBlogga
The end of a short era

Jordan

23 Jan 2012 | 10:12 am

When I was called as Primary (children’s Sunday school) president in October 2010, I met with the outgoing president. She was very sad to be leaving Primary. I vowed (silently) that that wouldn’t be me. I didn’t want a big calling right then, with my husband in the bishopric and my kids being 4, 2, and 5 months and already having to struggle through Sunday meetings with little to no help because of Ryan’s responsibilities—and I was pretty stunned to be working in Primary. For perspective, my mom has had a lot of “big” callings on the ward (local) and…
Law & Order: Puke-ageddon

Jordan

18 Jan 2012 | 10:38 am

In the month of October, my children threw up 17 times in 17 days. This is one of their stories. DUNK-DUNK! Once upon a time, I decided to take my kids out on a fun trip all by myself. Usually, I try to avoid leaving the house . . . ever, but every once in a while, I’m overtaken by this idea that I should, you know, try to expose my children to fun learning experiences. I want to be a Supermom—you know the kind, those ladies who take their kids out, dressed adorably and coordinated-ly, for the requisite hour of active play every! day! with water bottles and Craisins and carrot…
Every! Single! Minute!

Jordan

13 Jan 2012 | 4:56 pm

I think every mom has had a “veteran” mom—usually an empty nester, with grandkids—pat her on the hand and command her to cherish these times, lament how much they miss the dirty handprints on the windows they just washed, and/or wax nostalgic on how wonderful it was to wake up every two hours with an infant. (Only slightly exaggerating on the last one.) To which moms in the throes of motherhood pretty much think, “REALLY?!?!” I like to think that memory has glossed over how difficult raising children is—I’m just shy of six years in with my…

United States of Motherhood
Baby Born on Highway: While Driving [Graphic Video]

Scout's Honor

24 Jan 2012 | 11:04 am

Holy crap! Sorry, I am just shocked and amazed at this birth. The parents are just so calm:Welcome to the world, Willow Mealea. I am so glad you are healthy
Inspiration

Scout's Honor

24 Jan 2012 | 1:08 am

Source: modernemotive.com via Heather on PinterestSource: i.imgur.com via Heather on PinterestSource: Uploaded by user via Heather on PinterestSource: Uploaded by user via Heather on PinterestSource: Uploaded by user via Heather on PinterestSource: funstoo.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest
Seattle Ice Storm: No Wussies Here

Scout's Honor

19 Jan 2012 | 11:27 am

This stuff is what is taking down huge evergreens and covering highways causing major accidents. If you are in the Seattle area, be safe and stay inside!!Need a closer look??Yes very beautiful and even more dangerous. So far we have power , but trees keep snapping which are taking out power lines.One hundred eighteen thousand homes out of power in Seattle area. Parking complexes are collapsing from the weight according to the news. Our Seattle snow was already super wet and heavy and now add an inch layer of ice and now more freezing rain!Formerly of Fairbanks, I am often a label-er of…

Feathering the Empty Nest » Feathering the Empty Nest
Oh Please, Let It Be So! We want Ferris Bueller!

cjblythe

27 Jan 2012 | 10:57 pm

This short but sweet video clip appeared on youtube.com yesterday - as I was informed by my husband. As soon as I heard this, my old heart started a-thumpin'... In one of my favorite movies of all time, Ferris Bueller gave us a taste of being the all-out rebel, thumbing his nose at the establishment [...]
Letter to the Prime Minister

cjblythe

27 Jan 2012 | 4:26 pm

I received this in one of those mass e-mails we all love to receive - at least I honestly do - because periodically there's a real gem contained within and this is one of them. I have no idea who the original author is or where this originated, but if I'm infringing on copyright, please [...]
The Canine Choir (or Orchestra?) of Volkswagon and Star Wars - Who'da Thunk it?

cjblythe

26 Jan 2012 | 4:30 pm

Mark works in the coolest place because he's always bringing gems like this home to show me. I can't say too much or I'll give it away. Just watch this video and you'll see...

Mommy Living the Life of Riley!
See Who My Valentine Is This Year and How They Can Make Your Valentine Smile from Ear to Ear!

Melissa @ Mommy Living the Life of Riley

28 Jan 2012 | 1:30 am

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, you may be wondering how you're going to make your loved one feel extra special this year. Some people shower their valentine with the works: dinner, candy, flowers and a night out on the town, while others might take the time to write a poem or craft a more personal gift. This year, my Valentine's Day gift came early and I couldn't be happier! It seems that H-E-B, my favorite neighborhood grocery store, has a crush on me too and chose to shower me with one of their fabulous gift baskets ~ the Shop-a-holic Valentine's [...]This is just the…
GIVEAWAY ~ SlickSugar Keep the Music Alive Tee Supports Music Education and Little Kids Rock!

Melissa @ Mommy Living the Life of Riley

27 Jan 2012 | 11:31 pm

As a former teacher, I wholeheartedly support education and our country's public school system. Unfortunately, due to an increased emphasis on standardized tests and a constantly decreasing amount of funding, many school districts nationwide are cutting music and art programs from the curriculum. This state of affairs saddens me greatly for I've always found a terrific sense of enjoyment and accomplishment from playing music. Some of my fondest school memories come from the eight years I played saxophone in our school's band. I can't imagine that I would be the same person I am today if…
Latest Super Bowl Survey Results Show Just How Important the Big Game Really Is to Us Americans!

Melissa @ Mommy Living the Life of Riley

27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

What would you give up to go to the Super Bowl? With the year's most highly anticipated sporting event just days away, a new CouponCabin.com survey reveals what major life events U.S. adults would miss to attend a Super Bowl game featuring their favorite NFL team. Of those who have a favorite NFL team, the top response was a vacation at 23 percent, followed by: An important work responsibility – 21 percent Wedding of a close friend or family member – 20 percent Funeral of a loved one – 19 percent Birth of their child – 15 percent This survey [...]This is just the beginning of Latest…

The Zen Mom
5 Super Cold Busters For The Entire Family!

zenmom

26 Jan 2012 | 4:20 pm

When one of my kids seems like they have a cold coming on I try to pump up their diet with some super cold busters! It’s that time of year where when one person gets “it” whatever... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.
Happy Chinese New Year 2012-Tradition, Food and Family

zenmom

23 Jan 2012 | 12:17 am

It isn’t necessary that you dress your kids like this for Chinese New Year, but I thought it looked cute, so if not now then when, right? I just finished a big Chinese dinner with my family (my... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.
2012 Horoscopes: What’s Your Sign?

zenmom

20 Jan 2012 | 12:14 am

I’m a total Libra! What does that mean? That I love beauty, balance and I’m totally indecisive! I haven’t read my horoscope in ages, but I’ve always been intrigued by... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

worksmartmompreneurs.com
Your Simple 3 Point Decision-Making Checklist

Britt Michaelian

26 Jan 2012 | 8:11 pm

Your client calls. She wants you to participate as a panelist at an event that she is putting together. You want to accommodate your client, but you aren’t sure that the target audience is a match that will make it worth your time. What do you do? Scenarios like this are common in the entrepreneurial world. Being prepared to give answers quickly is essential. However, making decisions can be challenging when you are busy living your daily life, especially if you are under pressure to give an answer within a short period of time. One of the best things you can do as an entrepreneur…
5 Tips to Curate Social Media Content That Gets Shared

Britt Michaelian

10 Jan 2012 | 5:03 pm

{EAV:d0966106bb5cc7d1} Over the past few years when I have discussed social media on radio shows or on panels at conferences, the topic of content curating has come up. Many people have no idea what it means and others are fascinated by the idea of designing their social media marketing strategy. Basically, it all boils down to one thing… We live in a time where we are all involved in media. If you have a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn… profile, you are regularly engaging social media. If you are social media, the name of the game is SHARING. You share your own thoughts, you…
Guest Post by @JohnSerpa: What Do You Choose?

Britt Michaelian

3 Jan 2012 | 7:57 pm

John Serpa is a talented writer who I enjoy connecting with on social media. When he offered to write a guest post for the Work Smart Lifestyle blog, I was delighted to be able to share his work with you. In the post below, he asks you to think about what you choose in this new year, as we embark on so much change in the world. I am a big believer in asking questions and pondering the possibilities, so with John’s lead, this post will help you to ask yourself some big questions. Please leave your thoughts in the comments at the end of the post so that we may continue the…

SavvyMom Today
Toronto: Perfect Party Plan

SavvyMom.ca

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Sometimes winter birthday parties are tough to plan. We found three local companies that will take the party planning off your hands (and clean up the mess too)!
Ottawa: A Royal Party

SavvyMom.ca

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Want to indulge your daughter in a princess party? Here’s what you need to know to get the magical birthday party started.
Vancouver: Prepared and Protected

SavvyMom.ca

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

Whether your family sets resolutions or not, a New Year is the chance for a fresh start. And if earthquake preparedness or safe-sleeping protection for your family was on the list, we’ve got you covered (pun intended).

CookiesKids.com Blog
Beat the Winter Blues!

25 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am

The sun will come out tomorrow…or will it? The short, grey days of winter can seriously dampen moods. As you and your family spend more time indoors, it can seem like boredom and irritability are more prevalent than fun and togetherness. Some people are more affected than others by winter weather, but studies show that children are more prone than adults to the sort of tearfulness and despondence that seems to creep up around mid January. All of us could use a little boost to get back on the sunny side, so take some of these tips to ensure your kids (and you) overcome the winter blues.
Elect to Be Thoughtful

11 Jan 2012 | 10:19 am

These days, it seems like all roads lead to the campaign trail. The 2012 presidential election is going to be a big one, and people are going to be talking about it all year long. In a democracy such as ours, ongoing political discussion is essential, and even children should participate. But the election cycle can also bring out some less than exemplary behavior from those involved: scandal mongering, mudslinging, and even name calling unfortunately seem like par for the course. As your children become aware of the political process, try these tips to keep kids well-informed and keep…
Get Your Kids To Read More Often

5 Jan 2012 | 2:38 pm

by Jimmey Jackson Jr. These days, it seems like one of the more prevalent concerns among parents and educators is that children just aren’t reading anymore. Then again, in an age of pulse-quickening video games, endless cable channels, attention-sucking mobile phone apps, and unlimited internet access, the idea of picking up a book can seem downright quaint. Thankfully, due to a handful of popular authors and their captivating characters, reading hasn’t totally fallen out of favor. However, getting kids to read books that don’t feature boy wizards and sparkling vampires may still prove…

Philadelphia Media Mom, Joey Fortman
SugarHouse Casino Great Night Out

Joey Fortman

26 Jan 2012 | 4:40 pm

Sugarhouse Casino Great Night Out Last week I was host for a super fun event at Sugarhouse Casino in Philly. It was a great time with my mom blog friends! I love spending time with them. Yeah...blogging can be very isolating. Especially when you have your face in your computer all the time. So to get together in real life with the people that you know from your online life is always a treat! Fab Philly Mom Bloggers! (Nice Tebow in front row! lol)Ben FM & SugarHouse Casino also had some great guests! I know they surely didn't come out just to see me.
Chipmunk Cheeks

Joey Fortman

26 Jan 2012 | 12:57 pm

I love my kid. He does some of the funniest stuff. And I get the honor of being able to capture it for life! Wahoo! Here he is....cooling off his mac-n-cheese.
The Vow

Joey Fortman

26 Jan 2012 | 1:59 am

I know. It's 3am and I'm up late AGAIN?!?!?! I don't know what's going on with my body. Maybe it's because I have this little person in my bed. Ugh. The kid starts out in his bed-then ends up in ours. I mean, it's all good intentions. Really. I even fall asleep next to him thinking he would STAY there. Nope. Not happening. I mean we even have a game out of it. Me: "Boston, if you sleep in your bed the ENTIRE night-you get a prize!" Boston: "But Mama, I did for most of the night?" Me: "But no buddy...you have to the ENTIRE night." Boston walks away…

The Megalomaniac Mommy
Guest Post: Outdoor Playsets

Annie

25 Jan 2012 | 1:16 pm

There are numerous reasons why you should consider an outdoor playset. There are several studies that show the physical and emotional benefits for children playing outside. An outdoor playset creates an outdoor fun place for your kids to stretch their imagination and build social skills playing with other family members & childhood friends. Fresh air and physical activity are just what the doctor ordered in a generation bombarded of video games and electronic media. An outdoor playset also serves as emotional get away and secure little hideout in those tough moments learning the walk of…
Pinteresting Wednesday: Crafts I Want to Craft!

Annie

25 Jan 2012 | 1:15 pm

In the past week, my Pinterest addiction has really developed. Not only has mine, but I managed to suck my sister into the black hole that is Pinterest as well! Since I am now an official addict I thought I would join in The Vintage Apple’s Pinteresting Wednesday Meme. So for my first Pinteresting Wednesday I have decided to share with you 10 of the awesome crafts I have found thanks to Pinterest and I want to craft them! So, here we go…………………………… Source: delicateconstruction.com via Annie on Pinterest Source:…
Guest Post: Patio Awnings

Annie

25 Jan 2012 | 12:38 pm

A Patio is the perfect way to improve the quality of your home for many reasons; you could host a party, or you could have a barbecue, host a get together, or anything else that you might want to do on your back porch. But what happens if you do all the planning for big events only for it to rain on your party or your big get together? This could truly ruin the entire event that you spend so much time getting ready for, and a patio awning can truly save tragedies such as this from happening, and are perfect for protecting your patio and prolonging the life of your belongings. There are…

Really? I'm a Mom?
for you

27 Jan 2012 | 8:55 am

Although I dont approve of the wording...this is so true Source: i152.photobucket.com via Imperfect on Pinterest Source: Uploaded by user via Imperfect on Pinterest There are many offensive things I have heard. The one that hurt the most was: You are going through this because you are weak. No. We are not weak. We are strong. Why? Cause of water: Source: 25.media.tumblr.com via Imperfect on Pinterest Just remember this: And here is some hystericalness for ya Source: Uploaded by user via Imperfect on Pinterest Source: zazzle.com via Imperfect on Pinterest Source: Uploaded by user via Imperfect…
what God allows

26 Jan 2012 | 9:25 am

Kim from Mommy go something something wrote a post about God on Saturday. Very thoughtful. Made me start thinking. Why does God allow bad stuff to happen to good people??? Well, as a Christian, I understand God gave us free will. So we make our own choices. But what about those that we dont? I know that Kim didn't choose to have Postpartum Depression or Bipolar 2. I know that I definitely didn't choose to have postpartum depression. I know that one of the best Christians I know and love, did not choose to develop AIDS. It was an accident. So why did God allow that to happen? I tell ya,…
and stretch

25 Jan 2012 | 8:17 am

So one day, while Diva was in her swing...I heard my husband laughing hysterically. I walked in from the kitchen to find my daughter doing this. Raising her leg randomly. Makes sense though right? Cause sometimes, a girl just needs to stretch. P.S. and just to let you know, she is 3-4 months old in this picture...but she still does it now. And we still dont know why

OC Mom's Activity Guide
Rainy Day Rainbows

OCMomActivities - Katie

23 Jan 2012 | 1:19 pm

Loving this rainbow I'm looking at out my back door today! [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Rainy Day French Toast

OCMomActivities - Katie

21 Jan 2012 | 6:29 pm

On a cold rainy day there is nothing I love more than a fancy homemade breakfast. Today we had french toast. Easy, quick and super delicious (extra hint: make plenty and simply toast them to reheat during the week as a delicious weekday breakfast! I do this with Belgian waffles and pancakes.). These were super easy - I used the equivalent to 4 eggs (I used egg substitute to reduce calories, fat and cholesterol), 1 cup milk, a healthy two teaspoons of cinnamon and about 8... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
You will want to forward this to your husband (trust me)

OCMomActivities - Katie

19 Jan 2012 | 10:12 pm

After over a decade of marriage I have to admit my husband still needs subtle (okay maybe not always so subtle) hints as to what he needs to do for Valentine's Day. (So I will be forwarding this post to mine and I highly recommend you forward to your husband also! Highlight, copy, send. ;) I can't think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day then being pampered at Burke Williams! Starting tomorrow (and up until Valentine's Day) you can purchase these fabulous... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Maverick Mom
10 Things I Found While Surfing the Net This AM…

maverickmom

22 Jan 2012 | 10:59 am

I just ran across a few interesting sites this morning. Here they are: 1. Here is a fantastic gallery of SOPA Blackout Protest screens from Techdirt.com: Gallery of SOPA Blackout Protest Screens 2. Eight million people looked up their elected officials contact information last week during the Wikipedia blackout. Yowsers! Eight million pissed off people 3. I knew it was you the whole time, gluten. Damn Stacy for making those pita chips. The mystery of belly fat solved! 5. Every time I notice Paula Deen bathing in butter cooking one of her fat laden recipes, I want to go for a 25…
The Key to Your Health and Happiness

maverickmom

20 Jan 2012 | 8:14 pm

Here is a repost of one of my all time favorite articles on a topic that I continue to think is the most important thing anyone can do on a daily basis to improve health…..exercise. Exercise is the single most important thing I do on a daily basis to live well. It’s worth reposting and revisiting this topic every now and then, so here you go! If I could give you a magic pill that would make you smart, thin, happier, focused, motivated, energetic, and optimistic, would you accept my gift? If it were free, would you say yes quickly? If it worked day by day, would you turn me…
Ten Health Statistics All Mamas Should Know

maverickmom

19 Jan 2012 | 4:03 pm

Let’s face it. Moms usually wear many hats, including the one that reads “nurse.” The more you know about health, the better off your family will be. I’ll bet you don’t know the following health statistics, and if you do, hats off to you! You’re literally one in a million. 1. 80% of high blood pressure is known as Essential Hypertension. Essential hypertension is elevated blood pressure that has no known medical cause. This likely means that the cause of your hypertension is chronic stress. 2. 75-85% of all medical visits and hospital stays are…

QuirkyFusion
Dreaded Doctor Visits

Christy

27 Jan 2012 | 10:13 pm

I made a vow to myself on my 40th birthday to make an even stronger effort to focus on a healthier lifestyle. I’m making progress, albeit slow. At least I know that the changes I have made will be with me for life. They aren’t simply a... [[This is an excerpt. Please visit the site for full content. Thanks!]]
Weight Loss on a Budget–Chat with Dr. James Anderson

Christy

19 Jan 2012 | 9:21 am

I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions about losing weight. It’s too easy and too depressing to fall off the wagon and revert to your old habits. I do believe in making small changes every day that have a positive impact on your... [[This is an excerpt. Please visit the site for full content. Thanks!]]
Nominate Your Favorite Charity for a Boost from ableBanking

Christy

17 Jan 2012 | 2:04 pm

*Please don’t leave nominations on this blog. You can nominate at the ableGiving site. Having worked for some (very) small non-profits, I can attest first-hand to the kind of impact a smaller donation can make on their ability to further their... [[This is an excerpt. Please visit the site for full content. Thanks!]]

Rich Single Momma
Welcome FatWallet.com Readers!

Rich Single Momma

26 Jan 2012 | 10:20 am

Thank you for stopping by after reading my article on FatWallet.com. To learn a little more about me as a personal finance blogger, personal success champion, and mom blogger is to know that I am passionate about becoming my best self. This includes discovering new ways to earn, manage, and save money. FatWallet.com was one of the first places I landed when I began my search for ways to save money and find ideas for making money online. It has been a valuable resource. Don’t let my blog name fool you. I am not super rich (yet), but I am living the life I want with my kids. I am living…
5 Money-Saving Tips for Family Travel

Rich Single Momma

26 Jan 2012 | 6:09 am

I’m getting the travel bug like never before. I am itching to pack my bags (and the kids) and hit the road. In fact I am planning to travel extensively this summer across the U.S. It is time for me and the kids to see what’s beyond the southern regions of this country. The slow economy hasn’t hindered travel plans for most families. Family travelers take an average of 4.5 trips each year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Savvy families are able to travel and build lasting memories by making trips more affordable with the help of simple money-saving solutions. Here…
How to Fix Your Credit

Rich Single Momma

24 Jan 2012 | 6:03 am

Credit is what runs the world these days so if you have less than perfect credit don’t despair. You can fix your credit with a a few steps and lots of persistence. I did it before I bought my first house. It took 3-6 months to get it to the point where I could qualify for a loan. It takes time so don’t expect overnight results. Your credit didn’t go bad overnight so it won’t be fixed overnight either. If you find yourself with less-than-good credit, you are not alone. Business Insider, an online business news website, reports that one in 50 households owes more than…

Blasian Baby Notes
Toddler Story Teller - Wordless Wednesday

Nikki @ Mommy Factor

4 Jan 2012 | 7:20 am

At the library my son reads a story to his stuff animal friend.Like this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed or for email updates! [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
School Breakfast - Wordless Wednesday

Nikki @ Mommy Factor

28 Dec 2011 | 10:00 am

Today school breakfast included an English muffin.And a nice box milk.Like this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed or for email updates! [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Make Your Own Traditions - Dear Daniel Saturday

Nikki @ Mommy Factor

24 Dec 2011 | 12:07 pm

It's Saturday! Time for a Dear Daniel letterDear DanielDuring this holiday time it seems like everyone assumes you celebrate the custom of Christmas and all the comes with it, that Santa dude, the presents and the belief system. At school they tell you Christmas stories and teach you Christmas songs. On television they expect you to watch the Christmas movies and make a tradition out of it.But [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Wifely Steps
Strawberry taho from Baguio

Toni

27 Jan 2012 | 3:14 pm

Strawberry taho? It’s more fun in Baguio! Well, I’m guessing it’s only fun in Baguio too as you can only get strawberry taho from that region. It has the same soy base as regular taho, and the expected sago (pearls). What makes it different is the strawberry syrup and some strawberry chunks. A small glass is Php15.00. Not a bad price especially if you’re in need of a little refreshment after a day of shopping. While I prefer regular taho hot, this one I prefer cold. It must be the strawberries, as it tastes like a soy strawberry smoothie to me. I got a taste of this…
20 things I’ve learned from my toddler

Toni

20 Jan 2012 | 6:24 am

Eat when you’re hungry. When you’re cranky, take a nap. Things will be better upon waking up. Don’t hold back excitement! Throw your hands up in the air and stomp your feet! See the world from a different perspective by lying on the floor, or spinning around in many circles and then lying on the floor. It’s more fun to eat with your hands. Stop and smell the flowers, and pick up rocks, pull out grass, stomp in the mud… Listen closely. You’ll hear the birds from a neighbor’s house singing and the silent humming of a plane from way up high. Play pretend…
Blanxard Chocolates: Dark Chocolate with Ginger and White Chocolate with Strawberries

Toni

15 Jan 2012 | 8:50 am

What do you do when waiting for friends at a restaurant sitting on top of a gourmet shop? Why go shopping of course, then go snacking on your shopping finds. I was waiting for two friends at Terry’s, ready for our lunch date (Read “Holiday lunch at Terry’s”). Since I was half an hour early, a trip to the gourmet shop was a worthwhile distraction. While there, I stumbled upon two chocolate bars that had HOLYFRIGGINGOODNESS emblazoned on them. Okay they didn’t. But dude, that could have been true. I mean, white chocolate with strawberries and dark chocolate with…

Dawn Cullo's Blog
Bounce U

Dawn Cullo

4 Jan 2012 | 3:52 pm

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Panic

Dawn Cullo

22 Dec 2011 | 12:28 pm

For some reason I left the house and decided to walk to the store and I left both girls at home alone. As I walked back home I heard crying coming from the house and dropped my groceries and started to run to the house, but I couldn’t get there. I kept running and running but the house never got closer it just was still far away but the crying gets louder and louder. Then all of a sudden I wake up and sit up straight in bed like I’ve just been poked in the ribs and I unclench my teeth and gasp for air. Once I realized that I was dreaming I lay back down. This is a…
Hello? Is anyone there?

Dawn Cullo

20 Dec 2011 | 12:33 pm

I’ve been working from home for six years now and I seriously can’t believe it has been that long! That is the longest I’ve been at any job. I guess that means then I am doing well. But as a business owner I’ve had to deal with the usual stuff such as getting new clients, employee issues and cash flow ups and downs. Of course working from home has been great because I can come and go when ever I want, but then if I am not working I don’t get paid. Normally, when you work in an office, if you go to the bathroom, attend a company meeting or stand in…

Katie the Scrapbook Lady
trying to rest

Katie the Scrapbook Lady

27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

I did go to the doctor yesterday and the diagnosis is pleurisy, which seems to be French for your-lungs-hurt-really-bad-and-you-cough-all-the-time-and-we-can’t-do-anything-about-it. I’m supposed to use an inhaler (our poor air quality here isn’t helping matters), take ibuprofen, and rest. I’m not very good at the resting part. But I’m going to try to be a good girl and follow the doctor’s orders. Hope to be back in blogging form soon!
December Daily 2011 Album still in progress + a podcast on the way

Katie the Scrapbook Lady

26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

I’m still working on my December Daily/Project Life album. I had originally hoped to have all of it done and ready to share today because I talk about it a lot in episode 26 of The Digi Show that will be released later today. *Hint* – you’re going to want to listen! However, real life has gotten in the way and I’ve been pretty sick the past few days. I’m a little worried I have pneumonia so I’m heading to the doctor today. It came on super fast and strong almost directly after I finished recording a podcast on Tuesday. Really strange. So the rest of the album will have to wait…
4th annual photography highlights review

Katie the Scrapbook Lady

25 Jan 2012 | 11:55 am

I started this little tradition back in 2008 where I pick my favorite photos of the previous year and share them here in a roundup type format. This little exercise has really helped me see how my photography has evolved and it’s a fun way to recap some highlights from the past year. Here’s a list of my previous posts: 2010 favorite photos 2009 favorite photos 2008 the year in photographs Doing an annual review of my own photography has been an incredibly useful tool! Of course, it’s always difficult to judge your own work, but taking the time to try and evaluate which pictures…

Making Time For Mom
{Giveaway} Prize Packs From American Idol (Season 9) Jimmy Charles- 5 Winners!

Alicia

27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 pm

Artist Bio COUNTRY a lil ROCK’N ROLL and a WHOLE LOTTA SOUL! A Soulful, Genuine and Passion filled Country Singer and Writer that brings amazing energy to all his performances! Jimmy has received Radio play for 4 of his songs including “Whatever It Takes” that played Nationally on Clear Channel Country radio. Season 9 “AMERICAN IDOL” Hollywood contestant, 2007 Top 50 “Nashville Star”, Guest judge for “Nashville’s Next Big Star” 2011 performed and interviewed live on Countless Radio Stations, Newspapers and Televised programing. Opened a side stage for Montgomery Gentry…
Autographed Copy Of ‘The Attitude Girl’ {Young Adult Book Giveaway Hop}

Alicia

26 Jan 2012 | 10:01 pm

This giveaway hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Down The Rabbit Hole. Almost 250 bloggers are offering giveaways for young adult books. MY GIVEAWAY: A signed copy of the award winning book, The Attitude Girl, by Mila Bernadkin. *** Jam packed with emotional conflict, trials and tribulations, romance, and humor, The Attitude Girl follows outspoken, materialistic 17-year-old Vicky on her rocky road to becoming an adult as she struggles with bullying, financial setbacks, idealism, loss and forgiveness along the way. Her attitude is her rock! Author Ludmila “Mila”…
Vinyl Banner *Flash* Giveaway

Alicia

26 Jan 2012 | 8:23 pm

Vinyl banners are great for wishing someone a happy birthday, announcing the birth of a new baby, or congratulating someone. I’m excited to be able to offer a vinyl banner from UPrinting to one of my readers! GIVEAWAY: One reader will win a 2′ x 3′ banner with or without grommets. MANDATORY ENTRY: Tweet: I want a chance to win a vinyl banner from @aliciamarie112 and @UPrinting. Check http://www.uprinting.com/vinyl-banner.html #amarievinyl Please note: make sure to use the full url. Do not shorten it. After you tweet please leave a comment below to let me know that you have…

Musing Mommies Mom Podcast and Mommy Blog - Interviews, Giveaways, Mothering advice
Musing Mommies Podcast Episode 140 {How Old Do You Feel}

Admin

24 Jan 2012 | 4:53 pm

Musing Mommies Podcast Episode 140 Monday January 23rd 2012 On any given day we all feel a certain age. Lose sleep or have a rough night with the kids, and you probably get up the next morning feeling ready for the retirement home. Get lots of rest or soak up some sun on vacation and you may feel younger than before. But while our bodies make us feel a certain physical age, how “old” (or young) do we feel mentally? When you are at work or socializing with a group of your peers, do you feel like the big sister in charge of the group or are you the “baby” of the family…
Musing Mommies Podcast Episode 139 {Laziness}

Admin

18 Jan 2012 | 8:24 pm

Musing Mommies Podcast Episode 139 Monday January16th 2012 It comes in all forms, it effects us all, we all do it and we all, at one time or another, either admit to it or deny it. What is it? Well, if you read the title, you already know – but I will tell you anyway. This week on the Musing Mommies Podcast, Kim and Dawn “take on” LAZINESS. Until next time, ~Dawn and Kim Please share us with your friends and family! We can be found here: Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Miro, Stitcher and on iPods and mp3 players around the world! We want to hear from you too, so contact us…
Musing Mommies Podcast Episode 138 {Insecurites}

Admin

10 Jan 2012 | 10:33 pm

Musing Mommies Podcast Episode 138 Monday January 9th 2012 We all have those friends – the ones that fill our Facebook news feed with the latest big purchase they’ve made, this month’s vacation photos or yet another achievement by their perfect kids. And while we love to see their beautiful photos and cheer on their little darlings, sometimes it becomes overwhelming and we start to feel…inadequate. Sometimes, a blog post about a gourmet style home cooked meal makes our mac-and-cheese with hot dogs seem less than decent. And when we look out over the top of the…

CoffeeJitters
Snow falls softly

Judy Schwartz Haley

24 Jan 2012 | 12:06 pm
First world problems: snow edition

Judy Schwartz Haley

20 Jan 2012 | 1:09 pm

I didn’t mind the snowstorm much at all. It was a minor inconvenience, combined with a bevy of benefits. My husband at home for a few extra days. Family play time in the snow. A little girl’s first snowman. Soup with grilled sandwiches. Hot chocolate (Gem would be sure to verify that her’s was “warm”). Days packed with guilt-free snuggle time and togetherness. Until my internet went out. Then it got personal. Oddly, up until I noticed the outtage, I’d spent little time online. But in the hours, minutes, and seconds that have creeped by since that…
Snow Angel

Judy Schwartz Haley

17 Jan 2012 | 10:51 pm

It’s not her first snow, but perhaps the first she remembers. She offers up snowballs as precious gifts, then tosses them up in the air like so much confetti, squealing and laughing as the snow tickles her face. And when she catches a snowflake on her glove, she blows it away, and says “make a wish.” I have no idea where she got that from. She made her first snowman And she set about playing as though it was her most important work It is. Even when seasoned with whimsy. Sunday, she asked if Santa was going to come back, now that it snowed, so that he could have…

Feistymomma
Working On Book #2 For 2012

Feistymomma

27 Jan 2012 | 4:59 pm

I was so proud of myself because I actually finished my first book of the year early this January. It was Debbie Macomber’s Thursday’s At Eight. My mother-in-law gave me a few books to take home when we were in New York last December to spend holidays with them. Once we got back home I [...]
We Need More Craft Time

Feistymomma

24 Jan 2012 | 1:52 pm

One of the things my daughter and I enjoy doing besides cooking together is doing crafts. I wish I remember to take pictures of our craft times but sometimes I find myself being so in the task that I completely forget about the camera. That’s a bummer for making memories especially for a scrapbooker [...]
3rd Week Of January

Feistymomma

17 Jan 2012 | 5:03 pm

I can’t believe it’s the 3rd week of January. So what have you guys accomplished this first month of 2012? Have you given up on your New Year’s resolution? Did you know that the 2nd week of January is supposedly the time when most people give up on their resolutions? I was a little miffed [...]

Kidsumers
Smooth your skin with Shea Butter Body Lotion by L’Occitane

Sam

27 Jan 2012 | 7:25 pm

There is nothing worse than having dry, cracked winter skin. Scratch that (no pun intended), there is nothing worse than having dry, cracked winter skin and then applying a moisturizer that either doesn’t have enough moisture to heal your skin or has too much and leaves you feeling greasy. This... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Looking for the ideal appliances for my dream kitchen

Sam

26 Jan 2012 | 1:38 pm

I love watching design shows and looking at room designs online. I have entire Pinterest boards dedicated to beautifully decorated rooms. The kitchen is the hub of the home, and it’s important for it to be a pleasant place to be, and also be functional. I have written about my dream kitchen... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Join us for an awesome Twitter Party with #MuskokaWoods

Sam

26 Jan 2012 | 12:47 pm

What? A one hour twitter party to talk about summer camp with Muskoka Woods. With over 1,000 acres of property, 2,000 feet of shoreline on beautiful Lake Rosseau, world-class buildings and sports complexes, Muskoka Woods is one of the most respected premier residential camps in North America today.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

parenting BY dummies
TGIPinterest. Valentine’s Day Inspired Pins to Swoon Over.

Dumb Mom

26 Jan 2012 | 5:46 pm

Pin It I spent a bunch of time checking out Pinterest and trying to come up with something super fun and cool to do for the Dudes’ Valentine’s Day cards. Then a couple of things dawned on me: one, me making a bunch of Valentine’s Day cards by hand (45 to be exact) is not [...]
Dumb Mom’s Guide to Family Car Shopping. My Dream Family Car.

Dumb Mom

25 Jan 2012 | 4:44 pm

We are shopping for a car. Not shopping like going around to car dealerships to be haggled by combed over men in bad suits letting them run our credit, but shopping like I spend every morning building my car on random car maker websites. And blatantly ignoring all of the emails Dumb Dad sends me [...]
Eating Healthy for Kids. Horizon Dairy Live Chat!

Dumb Mom

25 Jan 2012 | 6:58 am

You guys know I’ve been doing the whole eat-healthy-and-stop-being-lazy cooking from home thing this month, right?! Well, I’ve also been proudly leading the Horizon Dairy Healthy Families Community with a bunch of other seasoned healthy eaters. Yep, trying the whole learning by doing approach to healthy living. I used to be really good about blaming [...]

La Jolla Mom
Why We Love Come On In! Cafe La Jolla

La Jolla Mom

26 Jan 2012 | 12:17 am

Come On In! Cafe is one of my family’s favorite La Jolla restaurants. We like the casual cafe atmosphere and the option to dine outside with the dog. The food is reliably good and the servers always steer us in the right direction when it comes to ordering. We enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant and to go. Our parties are even usually catered by Come On In! Cafe. For a limited time, you can try Come On In! Cafe at a discount through Deal Me In Today, La Jolla’s hyper-local deal site. Our Come On In Cafe Order We typically go for an early dinner on half-price bottle…
Try Before You Buy At Tastingroom.com (Valentine’s Day Wine Deal)

La Jolla Mom

25 Jan 2012 | 8:49 am

My Plum District email arrived this morning with a deal from a website I hadn’t heard of yet, but think is an interesting concept. Tasting Room allows customers to sample wines in 50ml bottles before buying a full bottle or even a case. They have packaged these bottles into themes such as “Six Sensational Zinfandels From The Golden State” or single winery packs such as “A Taste of Laetetia.” There’s even celebrity packs such as “Gary Vaynerchuk California Reds.” The Plum District deal is just $23 for the “Wines For Lovers” wine pack,…
Filming At The Grand Del Mar

La Jolla Mom

24 Jan 2012 | 3:55 pm

I am not surprised that The Grand Del Mar is a Forbes 5 star hotel, three times over. I had the privilege of filming an episode of Mommy To Mommy TV there and I was blown away by so many aspects of the hotel. Gorgeous Suites In typical Go To Mom (Kimberly Blaine, pictured above with me, is also the founder of Mommy To Mommy TV) style, I met everyone in a huge suite that was gorgeously decorated with a huge spread of food waiting for me to partake in. Soon it was time to head out to the horses via the pool and other gorgeous scenery. Equestrian Center For Guests (And Local Residents) The Grand…

MamarazziKnowsBest.com
Teenagers Say “I Love You” With Two Little Words: Username and Password.

Suzette Valle

20 Jan 2012 | 3:22 pm

Apparently teenagers have tossed wearing the traditional high school ring as a sign of love and commitment in exchange for getting the keys to their private, online lives: Passwords. (Photo credit aimgram.com) The New York Times reported that teens are now swapping passwords to Facebook and other social networking sites as a sign of [...]
Restrained Ricky Gervais Made for Forgettable Golden Globes

Suzette Valle

16 Jan 2012 | 12:01 pm

The Golden Globes kicked off the 2012 Awards Season for the already accolade-ridden Hollywood crowd. But what most of us look forward to in watching the industry pat itself on the back each year are the fashions and the unpredictability of the live broadcasts; fumbling of lines or some wardrobe or teleprompter malfunctions add a little [...]
Review of “CATS” in San Diego — Play Near End of Its Nine Lives.

Suzette Valle

15 Jan 2012 | 2:54 pm

Watching “CATS”, the play by Andrew Lloyd Webber, was reminiscent of sitting in front of the television set and watching an old black and white movie like in the good old days; simple plots, no gimmicks, and compelling human talent. However, if you keep in mind that “CATS” is celebrating 30 years as one of [...]

mummymcauliffe
My First Phonics Sound Puzzle

Wendy McAuliffe

26 Jan 2012 | 6:22 am

This week I visited the Toy Fair 2012 within the Grand Hall at Olympia, which is the only dedicated toy, game and hobby exhibition in the UK. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun! I have come away with a wealth of product news and toy trends to share with you over coming [...]
Making her Mark

Wendy McAuliffe

25 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm

I write this blog for a variety of reasons, and I find they are evolving all of the time…but my main motivation initially was so that I would have a creative outlet for jotting down my thoughts and observations as a first-time parent. I don’t profess to know anything of significance regarding child development, other [...]
Is Peppa Pig a bad influence?

Wendy McAuliffe

14 Jan 2012 | 9:07 am

“Mummy, I’ve been waiting for ages and ages. It’s SO BORING!” In our household, the cheeky Peppa Pig has recently had a lot to answer for. Without any exaggeration, I’d attribute 75 per cent of Little I’s post-Christmas cheekiness and general answering back to our friend Peppa Pig. Don’t get me wrong, I think Peppa [...]

sunny side up
Friday Features | Mixed bag

27 Jan 2012 | 7:21 am

+What do you think about this idea of a blogging roadmap? I am all about being organized and thoughtful with blogging. But I also like room for ebbing and flowing. +Love this idea for melted crayon art. +Check out EmilyNoel83's series on her top picks for 2011's best make up products. I love that Emily, and I hardly ever purchase anything outside of her recommendations. +Sometimes Pinterest freaks me out. But I love this take on how to use Pinterest as a vision board for your novel or other creative project. +This essay totally spoke to my soul. +Great tips on how to…
Hurricane force winds

26 Jan 2012 | 9:48 am

One of my major Pigeons of Discontent is how long it takes me to blowdry my hair. Seriously. I hate blowdrying my hair. It takes forever and I have to stop and start while I chase Kate around, prying the TV remote from her hands, answer her 3,975 demands for water/snack/diaper change. I've gone through numerous drug store blowdryers than last a couple months before they died slow deaths. They're loud, take over 20 minutes to get my hair dry, fall apart, and frizz out my ends. Tired of hearing me swear up a storm each morning, Dan suggested maybe I need to…

Chocolate Cake Moments
Yummy Groundhog Day Pancakes

Sue Kirchner

23 Jan 2012 | 11:17 am

Groundhog’s Day is next week and I was racking my brain for something fun to do to celebrate with the kids. Since all of the fun occurs in the morning – Punxatawney Phil gets up pretty early to see his shadow – I thought a breakfast treat would be ideal. So, I came up with these Groundhog’s Day Pancakes and I think they came out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. You can make them and surprise the kids when they come down for breakfast or have fun cooking together. Here’s how to make the the Groundhog and his Shadow. You can use any Pancake recipe you like.
Today is the Day the Squirrels Get their Due

Sue Kirchner

20 Jan 2012 | 4:45 pm

Well, this just takes all. I woke up this morning to read that today, January 21st is National Squirrel Appreciation Day. Who knew?!? Who knew it was their day, let alone that they feel under-appreciated. Knowing that any rodent can have its own day now, I can’t wait for Elephant Shrew Day. What is an elephant shrew, you ask? It’s my daughter’s favoritest new animal and she feels that they deserve a day too. But I digress. Back to the squirrels. I want to know what prompted someone to call for a National Squirrel Appreciation Day. Were they not getting enough attention? They…
Chinese New Year Crafts for the Kids

Sue Kirchner

19 Jan 2012 | 8:40 am

Yesterday, we shared some information on how you can have fun this weekend with the kids by learning all about a new culture and celebrating Chinese New Years. To add even more fun, here are some fun craft ideas to do with the kids. Egg Carton Dragon Craft With an empty egg carton and some paint, you can make a very cool-looking dragon. Dragon Parade Make some paper dragons and start a parade around the house. Paper latern During the Festival of Lanterns, children carry candle-lit lanterns in the street. Here’s an easy way to make a paper lantern. Firecrackers Using some household…

The Counselor Mom
Closet ‘Holder’

thecounselormom

25 Jan 2012 | 8:27 pm

credit: La Leche Where has the time gone? How did my child get to be 20 months old already? I know, I’ve heard from veteran moms out there that the time will fly by super fast, and that one... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Techy

thecounselormom

21 Jan 2012 | 9:19 pm

If your home is anything like mine, you’ve got smartphones, laptops, iPads, iPods, video games, or reading tablets laying around, as well as the gigantic big screen TV’s in most rooms of... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Attention Span

thecounselormom

15 Jan 2012 | 9:07 pm

Sorry for the long delay in posting! My Macbook took a turn for the worst and trying to get into the Apple store Genius Bar after the holidays was no fun. Anyway, I am thankfully up and running... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The Wink
Pining to Pin

amandamagee

27 Jan 2012 | 12:12 pm

So Pinterest… I like it, always have. Every once in a while I see people complaining that they don’t get it. There is a lot to get confused by online, but Pinterest shouldn’t be one of them. You just get an account (if you need an invite let me know). You’ll set up “Boards”: Install and drag the Pin It” button to your bookmark bar: And then when you are on a site; anything from a blog to a store to a business, click Pin It. This will bring up all the pinnable images from that page. Some sites don’t work, but many do: After you select your image,…
Shot of light

amandamagee

20 Jan 2012 | 11:31 am

I’ve always loved light. It’s kept me company in the hours when sleep hides. It’s hidden so that I can listen in the dark. It’s blinded me with beauty on the lake. It’s shone down on us as we’ve colored together. It’s danced outside my window and made me smile. Light It’s the feeling in my heart when I let my joy cast stronger shadows than my sorrow.
Drop Off

amandamagee

17 Jan 2012 | 1:59 pm

It started seven years ago with an infant and a sitter, then there was a carpeted corridor in a church preschool, and onto a sunny walk ending at the front steps of the elementary school. The second time doing the each of those for the first time hurt all over again. Now, with Finley, we’re at the tail end of preschool and I am recognizing drop off for what it is: a complete leap of faith. This morning I dropped Finley off at the door. Her bag was packed to stay for lunch and her hair was pulled back to her exacting specifications. “First the pink one mom, and then goes the green,…

Clea Shannon - Live Inspired Today
Protect Our Right to Choose

Clea

27 Jan 2012 | 11:40 am

That’s right! Please take a moment to protect our rights to choose… Licensing bills in New York, California, Indiana, New Jersey, Colorado, and West Virginia are being pushed through by the ADA (American Dietetic Association) that would create a monopoly on licensing procedures for nutrition services. Why does this matter to YOU? These bills are very restrictive, and ensure that only ADA-registered dietitians can practice key nutrition services. These bills interfere with your consumer choices. Proposed bills would discriminate against many highly qualified nutritionists many…
The End.

Clea

27 Jan 2012 | 10:08 am

Write your new beginning, starting now! It is a good day to cut cords and end attachments to those people and things that no longer resonate with the YOU that you are becoming today. Just open your heart and let go. No judgments. No story. No explanation. Just release and be done. Then get ready for the new energy and the new people who match your energy TODAY! We’re all writing our very own story…this is where your story begins. In Health, Join our community on Facebook and find me here. Share your stories, comment or…
Playing the Odds

Clea

26 Jan 2012 | 5:30 pm

Take the risk to blossom Not, Can’t, Won’t, Don’t, Shouldn’t… We can spend our time worrying or we can allocate that time to doing, creating or sometimes simply being. Wayne Gretzky is quoted as saying “We miss 100% of the shots we don’t take.” Imagine yourself as a player on a Gretzky’s team. Not so hard as many of us, at one time or another during the course of our lives, have played a sport or a simple pick-up game (even if it was NEVER ice hockey!). Gretzky is the lead scorer. Any time the puck…

A day in the life of a "Mom"treprenuer
Is the toilet seat really that dirty?

23 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

I was shopping in Target the other day and Grace and I stopped for a bathroom break. On our way in, I saw a women in one of the "handicapped" electronic carts with her 2 kids needing to use the restroom. She looked like she had broken her foot or leg or twisted her ankle b/c she had a big black cast up to her knee. My first instinct was to offer help, but I thought if someone did that to me, would I take it? Probably not. So I declined..then I saw that she did have her mother with her. As Grace and I proceeded into the restroom, locked the door to the stall behind us, I heard the mother and…
My little secret...

12 Jan 2012 | 3:32 pm

As I shopped at whole foods today with 2 little ones in tow just to pick up a few things (I'm there like every other day!), I was greeted with smiles, excuse me's, and "oh, i remember those days" comments. When we go to the store we have those carts with the seats in front where the kids can drive and feel like they are having some fun while shopping. I actually love that my youngest at 16 months has finally gotten to the point that her and Grace, my oldest at 4, can interact pretty well now. And I"m pretty amazed with how well they behave throughout the whole store until we get to about the…
How to keep your workout routine well after the resolution has passed.

22 Dec 2011 | 4:37 pm

With the new year coming up, I'm sure you can guess what the #1 resolution is for most people. yes! you got it...weight loss. I recently started doing yoga and have found a certain crazy thing happening that keeps more more motivated than other days. And that's when I wear the right fitting clothes for my body type. I personally don't wear the super tight, super short sports tops. (I mean really...does anyone look good in those that doesn't dedicate their entire life to running a marathon every year?) I have found that if I find workout clothes that flatter my body type, I actually feel…

Full of it...
Blue October on Kid Tune Tuesday Thursday...

GJT

26 Jan 2012 | 7:36 am

Okay, so I've let this slip a little lately, but it's back! This week's song seems so fitting right now for me. It comes from yet another adult band as well. Why am I a sucker for the Big Kid songs that work well with the Little Ones? Blue October hails from Texas (and let me just take a moment to tip my "I lived a nice portion of my life in Texas" cowboy hat to them) and I seriously doubt that, when they recorded this song, they had visions of it playing on children's music stations years later. But man, am I glad it is. I get a little happier when I hear this…
I'm still standin'...

GJT

25 Jan 2012 | 3:09 pm

Good news! My internal organs are all intact and perfectly normal. I went in yesterday morning to get the CT scan, and heard back from my doctor yesterday afternoon. Can you imagine the relief? My stomach certainly can, as I believe I even heard it un-knot a little after hearing the news. AND, I got my laptop back yesterday. The convergence of closure to several stressful things occurred yesterday, and now I feel a little mentally hung-over. In the midst of all of this, Jon heard that his colleague's husband unexpectedly passed away. In an…
Gut feeling...

GJT

23 Jan 2012 | 9:09 am

A few weeks ago, my track pad starting acting all funny and unresponsive, but I thought I'd just tough it out with a wireless mouse. However, after a while, it went completely kaput, and it now resides in the geeky hands of the Apple repair folks until further notice. I'm painstakingly tapping this out on our iPad, so pardon the lack of spell check. I didn't set out to have any resolutions this year, but I DID have some goals for myself, first and foremost being to Take Better Care of Myself. In all aspects of that concept, from making sure I slather my hands with lotion whenever I can, to…

Fox In Flats
Win My Shoes: $500 ECCO shoe giveaway!

FoxInFlats

26 Jan 2012 | 2:02 am

Whether it's shoes for the beach, the playground, the market or even the pet store, you'll be able to take your pick when you win this awesome competition!
25 ways to be a flying fox

FoxInFlats

23 Jan 2012 | 9:01 pm

The style low-down for when you’re flying high.
7 days of Hairstyle How-to’s with Kate

FoxInFlats

22 Jan 2012 | 4:04 am

A week's worth of hair-spiration with step-by-step instructions from one of our Foxy readers, Kate.

Romantic Frugal Mom
Stay Active Even in Cold Weather

Grace

27 Jan 2012 | 7:54 am

Did you know that it is normal to gain a few pounds in the winter? This seems to be a relic of distant times when a little extra subcutaneous fat was necessary to keep warm during the cold months. It also provided an emergency source of energy if food stores ran low during the long, [...]
Plan B For When The Going Gets Tough

Grace

24 Jan 2012 | 10:28 am

Like so many moms out there, I’m also a stay at home mom, with three kids to tend to, a freelancing job to work on and a home and family to take care of. Luckily for me I am not alone and so often take comfort in reading the wonderful Daintymom.com who seems to have [...]
Surfers Rally To Save Friends Leg

Grace

23 Jan 2012 | 2:52 pm

I got told about the following story by a friend and I’ve got say I think it’s beautiful. A lady surfer in LA broke her leg badly last week and without medical insurance she faced any number of bad options from selling her car and worldly possessions to just having to go without surgery – [...]

Beauty Filled Life
In A Funk - AF

27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

According to An Island Life: "In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response." I’ve been in a funk lately. I’ve been stressed over all the things I want to do, worried about the things I should do and unmotivated to do the things I need to do. How’s that for overload? With that kind of activity going on in the gray matter, I just play Bejeweled on my phone to cope. Capital…
The Kitchen Sink v6 – Hair: Loss And Style

26 Jan 2012 | 1:17 am

My hair’s falling out. Like, in chunks. It’s nothing to worry about, just some postpartum hair loss beginning its attack on what little vanity I have left. Every time I get out of the shower, I leave what looks like a small child’s wig in the drain. Yes, that's my hair. No, that's not all that came out. Ah, to be able to part my hair to the side without a big bald spot staring people in the face. I love my hair, you know. And it’s times like this (bald) that I appreciate it the most. My hair was my claim to fame in high school (I rocked a Crystal Gayle like the business!). Barring a…
Payphone - WW

24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

I’m always pleased (and amazed) when I see one of these around. For more Wordless Wednesday or Mostly Wordless Wednesday, visit Wordless Wednesday HQ, Seven Clown Circus, Live and Love Out Loud, and 5 Minutes For Mom

Mummy's Busy World
Trendy Toddler Tuesday: Week 5

23 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

If you didn't know, it snowed here in the Washington DC area and I got to wear my snow suit and boots.Now I would show you those because they are super cool, but then I realized that what I wore the most over the past week was something you wear in the kitchen. It goes over your head and then you tie it around your waist. Know what it is?It's an APRON!Yep, I have my very own Cath Kidston dinosaur apron that I wear when I help papi cook, or when mami let me turn on the blender when we made our own moisturizer. Mami bought it before we left London and I'm so happy that she did!I've…
Make your own lotion & special container!

23 Jan 2012 | 11:29 am

Mami is at it again.Now that she has her own blog she's been getting all sorts of new ideas.Her latest one is making her own moisturizer. Papi and I didn't think it was possible, but it turned out pretty good. I know because she made some for me and made a special container to put it in. At night we put some all over my legs and tummy (that's where my skin is the most dry).Here's what it looks like:Want to make this? Visit Very Busy Mamá to get the full recipe and more pictures.
Snow much fun!

22 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

It snowed! Mami and papi said it wasn't much but every where I looked it was covered. It looked like a whole lot to me and I couldn't wait to go out in it!Just before I turned one, there was a big snow fall here in the DC area but I didn't go out and play in it (I didn't even walk yet!). In London it doesn't snow very much and when it did it was so much fun but my hands got cold very fast and it hurt.Now I am bigger and I know how to prepare for snow fun. Today I put on my trousers, snowsuit, jacket, gloves, hat, warm socks and snow boots. BOOM! I was ready to go.Mami had bought me…

The Bold Blend
Raspberry Chia Muffins

Barbara Davis

26 Jan 2012 | 12:07 pm

Are you looking for a gluten free, lower carb, high fiber breakfast option? Look no further! Last weekend, I discovered chia seeds and couldn’t wait to bake with them. Chia is a superfood with high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, loads of fiber, and it’s also a great source of magnesium. These muffins taste great! Each one contains 5 grams of fiber. Raspberry Chia Muffins 6 eggs 4 tablespoons butter, melted 1/4 cup of whole milk 1/3 cup of honey 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ cup Bob’s Red…
Help! I’m Talking And I Can’t Shut Up!

Barbara Davis

25 Jan 2012 | 1:34 pm

Lately, I’m finding out about more and more people I know “in real life” that are bloggers too. It doesn’t surprise me, these are all happy, outgoing, friendly types who are artistic by nature. Bloggers love to create, to vent, to inform, and to share. Sometimes we’re serious, sometimes we’re silly, sometimes we inspire. Sometimes we over-share. That’s ok…it’s a blog. I know I write mine with a willingness to do the sharing and you read it for the sharing. But God bless the poor people that run into a blogger in real life. Yesterday, while…
Course Corrections

Barbara Davis

24 Jan 2012 | 11:04 am

This morning started off a wee bit rocky. We overslept, the toddler wet the bed, and the washing machine got off track sounding like an elephant was loose in the laundry room. Then there was the normal hustle bustle of dressing small children, packing lunches, and getting everyone fed and out the door. All of that was plenty but a certain monthly visitor decided to show up a full week early as well. I felt like getting the kids to school and going back to bed with a book and the coffee I still hadn’t had time to finish. Thankfully, I remembered that I planned to walk today for some…

Marketing Mama
How I accidentally injected myself with an EpiPen

Missy

22 Jan 2012 | 10:23 pm

I am now a part of the club of people who have had an EpiPen injection. I am also a part of the “didn’t need it but accidentally used one on themselves” club. I can’t say I ever thought I’d be in either one of these clubs — and yet, now that I accidentally injected myself with an EpiPen, I can say I’m glad it happened. I learned a lot. This post is rather long, but many folks have asked me to share how it happened, how it felt and what I learned from the experience. How it happened: First, a little EpiPen 101. There are two devices…
My top 10 apps for 2012 (iPhone edition)

Missy

17 Jan 2012 | 11:19 pm

Last year I wrote a couple of posts about my favorite apps – here and here. I was having a blast with my Droid and getting a lot of use out of it. It was fun to share what apps I was enjoying and hear about yours, too. However, as much as I liked my Droid, I hated how it crashed all the time. I went through three or four different models in a short period of time before crying uncle and moving over to the iPhone. And I haven’t looked back, once. I heart my iPhone! Droid v. iPhone - Yes, there are a few differences between the apps (and apps available) between the Droid and…
Four things that freak me out about food

Missy

7 Jan 2012 | 10:49 am

We all grew up on “regular food” and we turned out fine. Righhhht. Except for the fact that we are incredibly obese as a nation. Life-threatening food allergies are on the rise. Our children’s hormones are out of whack. And many people connect mental health issues (ADHD and more) to diet. Then there are other health related problems influenced by diet – diabetes, heart disease, cancer, to name a few. Listen, I was raised on Hamburger Helper and Lucky Charms. So those things seemed really normal for me feed my kids – no judgment here if those things seem normal…

A Daily Dose of Toni
Food Talk: Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Toni

27 Jan 2012 | 4:07 pm

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti, rich, yummy and best of all it's so simple! This is just a bit of what I had to say, to read all my thoughts come on over....
Things My Daughter Says….

Toni

26 Jan 2012 | 8:11 am

Things My Daughter Says... This is just a bit of what I had to say, to read all my thoughts come on over....
Weekly Dose of Giveaways! Link ‘Em Up!

Toni

26 Jan 2012 | 7:44 am

Head on over and link up those giveaways! Or come enter some listed... This is just a bit of what I had to say, to read all my thoughts come on over....

Moms

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