Hope Emerging

It feels like Spring outside.  It was 49 degrees today in my little town.  The sun was shining and the birds were actually singing when I woke up.  It sure starts your day off right when that happens!

The kids so have cabin fever and I know that I do too!  I want to get out to go to the parks, go on bike rides and just sit in the backyard and watch the kids play for the afternoon.  This going out for a half hour “just to get fresh air” is getting old.

I did see some hope today…daffodils and tulips poking out of the ground!  Oh that is such a wonderful sight to see.  I was out walking while the kids had a nap and before Brian left for work and I saw these little guys poking out of the ground around every corner.  Yes, there is still mounds of snow on the ground,  but they don’t seem to care!    The sun was so warm and the breeze was cool.  It was energizing! The only problem was that I kept thinking about getting home and having a piece of Texas Sheet Cake.  I’m not sure that’s such a good thing after a nice long walk.  Oh well!  It was good and totally worth it!

The weekend weather looks great!  I can’t wait!  Spring is coming!!

What signs of Spring do you see around your house?

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It’s National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day!

Peanut Butter lovers unite – It’s National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day!  Wooohooo!  In my household, we LOVE Peanut Butter and it’s consumed most days!

Did you know….

* Peanuts are not actually nuts at all! They are legumes, like beans, peas and lentils.

* Americans eat 3 pounds of peanut butter per person every year. That’s about 700 million pounds, or enough to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon!

* Peanuts may be a favorite food, but we’ve found many uses for their shells too! You might find peanut shells in kitty litter, wallboard, fireplace logs, paper, animal feed and sometimes as fuel for power plants!

* Two peanut farmers have been elected President of the United States: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.

* One acre of peanuts will make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.

Are you a Peanut Butter Lover?  What are some of your favorite ways to eat Peanut Butter?

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FEATURE FRIDAY – Women Entrepreneurs To Watch

Meet some great women entrepreneurs on this edition of Feature Friday!

ABBY Z. First is Abby Z. a soon-to-be-first-time mom who launched a successful plus-size clothing line Abby Z in 2004 and has branched out to design for women sizes 2-24 to show that a woman is sexy at every size. She is now partnered with HSN, her past showcase sold out and on February 9th she hopes to do it again! Through trials and tribulations, Abby Z. has been through it all and won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

POSEPRINTS.COM is a truly unique stationary company created and run by a mother daughter team Denise Foster and Jen Harland. Users are able to create like-caricature’s of themselves in minutes from the comfort of their own home in order to customize invitations, save-the-dates, thank you cards and more! These fun and fabulous cards are perfect for wedding and baby shower’s and birth announcements too!

FOUNDER OF CROSS CONDITIONING CROSS FIT COMPANY! Finally, LA-based celebrity trainer and fitness expert Joy DiPalma founded Core Conditioning CrossFit, the first program of it’s kind combining every aspect of training to focus on workouts as well as teaching healthy eating habits and setting nutritional goals. It’s the perfect program to get back in bikini shape or work off that baby weight! Her company has been doing amazing since she opened up her “doors” last year!

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Swagbucks – Are You Swagging?

Do you swag???

If you don’t…it’s time you do.

Search the web using the Swagbucks toolbar which uses Google and Ask as it’s search engine.  The more you search the more Swagbucks you earn.  Earn awesome prizes such as Amazon and Starbucks gift cards, electronics, health and beauty, toys and more!   It’s that easy!   Refer your friends and earn even more.

I just won a swagbuck minutes ago!

What are you waiting for??  Sign up today!!

Sign up here!

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I’m A The View Brand Ambassador!

I’m so excited to let you all know, that I am  a The View Brand Ambassador!

Mom Central was on the lookout for a few special gals to be a part of this great campaign and I was lucky enough to be chosen!

I’ve been watching the show since the beginning and have gone through all the changes with them over the years!  How amazing is it that 5 women of all different backgrounds and beliefs can come together and discuss current topics daily for us all to enjoy?!

Be on the lookout for special “insider” secrets and upcoming show info, right here at All Things Mamma!

Here’s the first “secret”…..

Right now you can head over to Mom Central’s Website and enter to win a trip to New York!  One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to New York City to watch a taping of The View! The sweepstakes is open until February 28th.

Are you a fan The View ?  What do you love about the show?  Share with me!  I’d love to know!!

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review

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FEATURE FRIDAY – WANT A POLISHED PRE-SCHOOLER? It starts with you!

Lately I have been wondering what’s happened to the days when people always held doors for others and saying thank you in any form was routine, not something for special occasions.

Teaching our two-year-old son Eric manners has been important to me and my husband Ric since Eric learned to talk and say “I want thaaaaat!” It doesn’t take long for a toddler to soak up social graces like saying “please“ and “excuse me,“ and Eric is pretty good at remembering them unless there’s a major crisis, like someone grabbing away one of his 100 dinosaurs while he’s playing with it.

Recently Eric and I were walking into one of our favorite places, our local library. Eric was making his way toward the return slot, when two adults walking toward us nearly trampled him because they were talking and not watching where they were going. Eric said, “excuse me” (loudly) as they were walking toward him, and they didn’t even look at him. Once they realized he was underfoot, they just looked away and kept walking. I was amazed by the fact that a two-year old child could have better manners than two adults. I know he’s only two, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be treated with respect.

My kids, both grown and not yet grown, will tell you I am a stickler for sending “thank you” notes, something I inherited from my mother. And I think when one is invited to a party or gathering, she should R.S.V.P. Of course, I know a toddler is not capable of these acts of etiquette, but isn’t it our job as mothers and fathers to lay the groundwork by teaching them the simplest manners now, and building on them?

Any mom will tell you pre-schoolers are like parrots. They mimic most everything we do, good and, unfortunately, bad. So make sure please, thank you, and excuse me are a big part of your own vocabulary.

I find the age appropriate emails I receive from www.babycenter.com to be helpful at times, and I am sharing some of the site’s tips for bringing up polite children. Yes, our kids will need a little reminding, but won’t it make you proud when you hear them say “thank you” on their own or, as they get older, open a door for another person?

From WWW.BABYCENTER.COM‘s Preschool Bulletin:

Your child is definitely old enough to learn — and practice — some of the social graces. Some tips on how to help:

· Start with “please” and “thank you.” If she hasn’t picked up these words naturally, make sure she hears you using them: “Will you please come here?” Don’t be afraid to prompt: “Can you say thank you?” Repetition will make these words a habit.

· Be kind yourself. Modeling consideration of others will show her the ropes. Let her hear you say, “How are you?” and “Excuse me.”

· Connect actions to consequences. Help your child see that a gift of flowers can cheer someone up, or that hitting or making mean comments makes the other person sad.

· Cut your child some slack when she’s ill. Or tired.

- Sheila

Sheila Gray Robinson has it all as a TV morning news anchor and mother of four.  Sheila is a native of Sidney, Ohio and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ohio University in three years.  She enjoys serving on the board of the Make A Wish Foundation.  Sheila can be seen on TV in Cincinnati or trying to be Supermom in Northern Kentucky.  She and her husband Ric have four children, Kasey, Kari, Katie and Eric.

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A Princess Tea Party Is Coming

It was good while it lasted.  The sun that is.  It’s back to a gray sky and SNOW today.  Oh well.   I’m sure it will be back soon.

I’ve had enough to keep me busy to not worry about the dreary weather outside.  Watching 5 kids and getting ready for Ella’s 4th Birthday party this weekend, has been enough on my plate.

Ella is so excited!  I must say that this is the first year she’s really looked forward to it for a long time!  I bet it was June when she first started “planning” her little party in her mind.  She told me who she wanted to invite, what kind of decorations she wanted and what kind of cake.  She really hasn’t wavered much on the details since then.  This morning she asked me if I had started planning her party yet.  “Ummm…yes, honey.  It’s only 3 days away.”  I may not be the most organized mom around, but I have started planning her party.  I may or may not have purchased all the items needed for the party, but I promise it will get done!

I was able to pick up the cutest little serving dishes at TJ Maxx with cupcakes on them.  They’ll be perfect for the little heart shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (that Ella picked out!) to be served on!  I’m also making little pinwheels made with white bread and Nutella.  (our new fav!!)

I was going to buy some tea cups and saucers while at TJ Maxx…but I remembered that I had a whole box of my Grandmother’s China in a pretty blue floral pattern called “English Garden” that will be perfect on the table with pastel Princess Decorations.  Yes, it is real China….but what is it good for if you can’t use it at a 4 year old’s Princess Tea Party??  The little cups are small and will be just right  for little hands to hold as they drink their “tea” out of.

I still have a lot to do to get ready..but it’s not as much as in year’s past.  We were going to have Ella’s little school friends over on Saturday for the Tea Party and then on Sunday, the family over.  Being as my family all lives 6-8 hours from here, so obviously they won’t be making it this year…and Brian’s family has other plans and other issues and won’t be attending….SOOOOO…I canceled the Sunday party.  I’m just going to have the Saturday party be her big day and then on Sunday (her actual birthday) we’re going to do something special with her.

I haven’t the heart to tell her that nobody is coming to her family party on Sunday.  I just can’t.  She’s so excited and would be DEVASTATED to know that her family isn’t coming for reasons that have nothing to do with her.  I’m just going to try and blow it off and tell her all the fun things we’ll do that day.  She won’t understand.  It’s not fair for her and it upsets me.

It’s OK.  It’s always been the 2 of us…then the 3 of us… and now the 4 of us.  We are family and we here for each other no matter what (or who) is in our lives (or NOT).

I’m looking forward to the weekend and my baby girl’s big day!  She is so excited and I will do everything I can to make it just as special as she is!    I can’t wait to show you all the fun that I AM SURE will be had by all!

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Let The Sun Shine!

Hello sunshine! Goodbye dreary sky!

Thank goodness the sun decided to show itself today!  I was really starting to wonder if it would ever come out again.  I don’t know about you, but I feel depleted and down when I don’t have sunshine for extended periods of time.  I feel more anxious, irritable and just…blah.

I had just read that in the winter when it’s gray and dreary, it’s hard for our bodies to make enough serotonin, thus affecting our moods and our sleep habits.  That makes complete sense with my sleep habits and moods lately.  I’m telling you, my sleep schedule is so off, I’m lucky if  I get 3-4 hours of sleep a night – broken up!  I’m exhausted!

So, what are we supposed to do if we aren’t blessed enough to live in a tropical climate where the sun seems to shine year-round?  Well, you could try one of those light boxes that provides enough bright sunlight wavelengths and even a full-spectrum light bulb is supposed to help.  You just keep it beside you so that you can see it out of the corner of your eye while you’re reading.  1,000 units of Vitamin D supplements are another good option.  Most Multiple Vitamins have Vitamin D in them, so check to see how much you need to supplement with if you’re taking one.

All of these are great simple and easy ways to trick your body into thinking it’s getting real sunshine to help it relax and get back on schedule.  I’m really going to try each of the tips above to see if they help.  I’ve drank all the chamomile tea I can handle!

Are you finding yourself down and having bouts of insomnia this time of year?  What do you do to combat it?

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Plain Jane Mom

I wrote the following post a couple months ago and never published it. I should have, it is good stuff! I don’t feel these words as strongly today. I definitely feel more confident in my current wardrobe and life than I did when I wrote this, but I feel like this can help others – like maybe there are other people that feel this same way. So without further ado, I give you my introspective post of the week.

Sometimes I feel plain. Yesterday I was walking through the big city mall – me in my t-shirt and jeans, baby on my back as I pushed a happy yet slightly dirty two year old in a stroller – and I was catching glances from happy store clerks and young beautiful shoppers. I saw their highlights, manicures and brand new clothes. I glanced down at my half eaten nails, comfy shoes and straight hair in a very practical ponytail.

I feel plain because I am plain. I do my best to avoid sloppiness. I iron my clothes for church, brush my hair before putting it in said ponytail and try to match my clothes. If it is a special occasion (like church) I apply lipstick, eye shadow and mascara.

I miss my manicured nails, curled hair and new clothes. I miss them most when I am in the big city mall with fancy store clerks staring me down, as if saying to themselves “when I have kids I will never let myself let go like that!”

So I asked my husband if he is disappointed that I am plain and not fancy. I was hoping he would say “you are fancy. You will always be fancy in my eyes baby doll!” First, whenever a girl hopes for words from her husband’s mouth they never come out (just like a watched pot never boils – so don’t do it!). Second, who calls their wife baby doll? So of course he didn’t say that. He said – “I didn’t fall in love with a fancy girl. I fell in love with a cute bouncy blonde girl that worked at a radio station.” Tears welling up, heart melting I just smiled.

Plain is wonderful, but plain I am not. Like he said, I am bouncy! I have way too much fun playing in life to worry about being impractically fancy. I am in jeans and a t-shirt with worn in tennis shoes because anything else would be seriously uncomfortable wearing a baby. The hair is in a ponytail so I can see my toddler as I chase her around the house and push her on the tree swing. My nails are not manicured because I need my hands to be able to get dirty as I play with playdough, clean out a garbage disposal, wash poopy butts and do countless loads of laundry.

Then I asked my wonderful husband what he would do if I suddenly turned higher maintenance – curling my highlighted hair, wearing fashionable clothes and polishing my fingers. He said, “that would be weird cause that isn’t you. And it would be so annoying! You’d always be asking my opinion on how you look and I would never say the right thing.” I’ll just make it easier on him and look great everyday as plain, bouncy, happy, Annie.

- Annie

Annie is a SAHM to a toddler girl and baby boy on 20 acres in Kansas.  She loves cloth diapers, baby wearing, easy to make dinners and hates washing dishes.  You can read about all her joys and sorrows of living with her husband, 3 goats, large dog and cat at www.mamadweeb.com

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Need to unwind? Try A Warm Bath!

Well, I’m still on my path to Quality NOT Quantity in the New Year and  I must say that I’m doing pretty well.

One of the things that I haven’t done enough of since I became a mom of two children, is to relax in a bath.  I used to enjoy a bath at least on Sunday nights with some candles lit and some yummy smelling bubbles.  But, now the only ones enjoying a bath are the kids and the dog!  So, I’m taking back my “me” time at least once a week!

The bathroom is most possibly the most relaxing room in your home.  Try to make it a place  where you can escape from the kids, the housework, and the phone – a retreat.  Light some candles, play some relaxing music, enjoy a cup of herbal tea and escape from the world for a few minutes in the evening after the kids are in bed.

Make sure to get the temperature just right.  Too cold and you’re uncomfortable 5 minutes into it and too hot and your body temperature rises and it’s too over stimulating.

Have you ever tried a tea bath?  Add a couple of chamomile and green tea bags to a large teapot on the stove. Stew the tea bags into just boiled water and let steep before adding to your already full bathtub.  Squeeze the water from the green tea bags and put over your eyes while you relax for 15 minutes or so.

Enjoying a little time to yourself in the evening can help relax and ease stress and tension from the day.  You’ll sleep better and feel more rested for the next day.

How do you relax at the end of the day?  Share your tips for your “me” time with me!

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