Tasty Veggies - Add one or more bouillon cubes instead of salt when cooking your vegetables. This will improve the flavor. Also you can add a few cloves of garlic when boiling vegetables to add extra tasty flavoring.
Showing posts with label MOM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MOM. Show all posts
MOM Tip - Tasty Veggies
Tasty Veggies - Add one or more bouillon cubes instead of salt when cooking your vegetables. This will improve the flavor. Also you can add a few cloves of garlic when boiling vegetables to add extra tasty flavoring.
DIY Spa Weekend Fun
Spa Weekend with Aunt June
by Susan Fox
24/7 MOMS Family Editor
I spent Memorial Day weekend visiting my Aunt June in Sun City Arizona. I have a 
I have learned a lot from her about health, nutrition and the environment. We are also both gluten-free girls. Hanging out with Aunt June is a kick in the pants, she is a go-getter. We had a great time spending a day at a beautiful Spa in Scottsdale. But, we made our whole weekend a spa experience of our own. I’ll share with you some “Aunt June special spa weekend” recipes and beauty tips. Disclaimer: We are not registered dieticians! This is not meant to be a diet, it is just an example of our personal “spa weekend” menu. Please discuss any long term diet changes with your doctor.
Menu Day 1
Breakfast
Easy Oven-Baked Frittata
Ingredients
1 cup of diced vegetables (onions, green peppers, etc.)
6 eggs
dash of pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar, mozzarella or other cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1. Sauté the vegetables until soft. Alternately, you can steam the vegetables in the microwave until they are tender.
2. Beat the eggs, pepper, salt, and parmesan cheese together. Put a tablespoon of oil in a heavy, oven-proof skillet. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and scatter the vegetables on top.
3. Bake for 15 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Immediately sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top and let it melt.
4. Slide your frittata onto a plate and serve.
Plain yogurt topped with honey and diced fresh papaya* Save Papaya shell, see below
Papaya facial mask. This tropical fruit contains Vitamin C and Vitamin E plus an enzyme that helps exfoliate and smooth the complexion. Leave on 15 min. then rinse with warm water.
Lunch
Turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese and sprouts (we used gluten free bread)
Food Should Taste Good brand multi-grain chips www.foodshouldtastegood.com
1 cup fresh blueberries
Dinner
Grilled Salmon with lemon and crushed garlic
Oven Baked sweet potato fries (we used Alexa’s brand)
Spring salad mix with sliced strawberries, feta cheese and pecans
*Snack
Gluten free granola
We used Bakery on Main Brand www.bakeryonmain.com
Day 2
Breakfast
Buckwheat pancakes (we used Pamela’s gluten free mix) www.pamelasproducts.com
Top pancakes with orange marmalade or pure maple syrup
Plain yogurt with honey and halved Bing cherries
Lunch
Spring Mix salad with left over salmon, diced avocado*save avocado shell-see below, cherry tomato and feta cheese
Salad dressing: Wisk together, 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil, 2 Tbsp. Red wine vinegar, 2 cloves Crushed garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
Glutino multigrain crackers www.glutino.com
Sliced strawberries and blueberries
Avocado facial mask. Avocado is a naturally rich moisturizer. Smash the leftover meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Massage into the face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes then gently rinse off.
Dinner
Baked Coriander-Ginger Chicken
Recipe:
Dip 2 chicken breasts in egg wash
Coat with
1 cup quick cooking oats
2 tsp. corinander
Sprinkle with:
1 Tbsp. crushed garlic
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
Drizzle with olive oil
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 min. depending on thickness
Brown Rice (we used Uncle Bens, microwaveable)
Grilled or steamed Asparagus
*Snack
Green tea
Pamela’s gluten free lemon biscotti www.pamelasproducts.com
Graduation- Crossing the stage to a new journey
Yearbooks, prom dresses, graduation party hoping, cap and gown try on's and lots of hugs have all been part of the activities in our home over the past 10 days.
Today, our #1 daughter will cross the stage and receive her High School diploma. Has it hit me yet? have I had 5 minutes to shed a tear yet ? Honestly No. But, now as I sit and imagine what today will be like to hear my #1 Daughters name announced as a 2010 Gig Harbor High School graduate I know the tears will turn on and the memories of my little girl will fill my mind once again.
19 years ago she arrived into our world a beautiful pink bundle of joy and joy is what she has brought to our family.
I remember the day she decided to stand up and walk across the room as if she had been secretly practicing taking her first steps when we weren't looking.
I remember the Halloween she wanted to be Batman and as she entered her pre-school classroom and took her seat, I laughed as she sat their quietly not giving any hint as to who was really underneath that mask. My shy little girl trying to not draw attention to herself only made everyone more curious.
I remember the day daddy surprised her with a trip to the toy store to pick out her new 2 wheel bike. She arrived back into the neighborhood hanging out the window announcing with incredible excitement (screaming) to everyone that she got a new bike.
I remember the day in 3rd grade she sat on the stage reading the Book "I'll love you forever" to her entire school and their parents as I sat their crying knowing this was a huge accomplishment being that 6 months earlier I had wondered if she was ever going to read.
I remember the summer I went to Young Life camp with her as she meet the students for the first time who she would be attending middle school with that coming fall at her new school. I'm not sure who was more nervous.
I remember the day she walked into her high school a new journey ahead, new friends to make, new teachers to meet the 4 year adventure she would never forget was about to begin. But me the mom knew it was a 4 year process of learning to let go of my #1 daughter .
So, today as my #1 daughter crosses the stage and I hear "Shelbi Laine Novotny" announced I can promise you the tears will flow the memories will fill my head and the smile will cross my face as this proud mom realizes a new journey is about to begin both for Shelbi and myself.
I will have to let go even more, I will have to allow her the freedom to choose her path ahead, I will have to allow her to make mistakes and learn from them, I will have to remind myself over and over again that it is her time to fly, her time to discover, her time to become independent and I will have to learn the balance of giving advice and encouraging her on this new journey. I will have to daily give her over and over again to God as she follows the dreams and passions he has given her.
Today, I am thankful I have had the opportunity to be Shelbi Laine Novotny's mom and that 19 years ago God gave us this tiny little baby to raise and watch grow into the beautiful young lady she is today.
Congratulations Shebi Laine Novotny Class of 2010 YOU DID IT!
Mom Mission Statement
by: Susan Fox
24/7 MOMS Family Editor
You know how companies and corporations have mission statements? Well, as a mom, do you have a mission statement? Wikipedia defines a mission statement as: “a formal short written statement of the purpose of a company or organization.” The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a sense of direction, and guide decision-making. It provides "the framework or context within which the company´s strategies are formulated."
Take a look at some of these famous mission statements used by these companies at one time or another. I think we as moms can relate.
"Our purpose is to ignite a passion for winning, to do the extraordinary, and to capture the customer’s heart and mind." Reebok
"To make people happy.” Walt Disney
"Bringing the best to everyone we touch." The Estee Lauder Company
.
“Our purpose is to enrich the lives of people we touch.” Guardian Life Insurance
“At Microsoft, we work to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential. This is our mission. Everything we do reflects this mission and the values that make it possible.”
What is my “Mom Mission?” This is the question I have been pondering. Sometimes I feel like I am aimlessly wandering this mom-life doing laundry, searching for the perfect recipe, trying to remember if my kids are all up to date on their shots and so on and so on. Besides making sure that they grow, are fed, bathed, loved and healthy, what else should I be doing? Am I really doing what counts?
I remember that when I was in college as music major, I had very distinct goals for my life and for each day. I prioritized everything and I knew and conscientiously thought about how every day I needed to do assignments, read, and practice the piano and as a side note to my college life, exercise. I didn’t always do these things daily, but I knew that these were the top priorities. I knew that if I didn’t stay mindful of these things each and every day that it was too easy to get off track, way off track.
So, as a mom, what is important to you? What goals do you have with your children? Is it that they learn to swim? Or that they achieve high standards of academics? There are zillions of ways to spend our mom days. What needs to get done? What has to get done? What do we want to do? Besides just the daily duties that are involved with raising children, I’m asking myself, “What am I trying to accomplish here?” I don’t want to leave this parenting thing to chance and just hope that it turns out well. A major corporation does not run that way. And our family is just like a corporation and we are the CEO’s.
I want my children to succeed in school, to learn to read and study. I want them to learn and understand math so they can handle their finances when they are older. I want to pass on my faith to them. I want them to learn to consider others before themselves. I want to teach them to have a sense of gratitude. I want them to know how to swim and how to make friends. I want them to learn to eat healthy and I want to them to learn to play sports. I want them to know how to play and fight fairly. I want them to learn that saying “sorry” leads to lasting relationships. I want them to learn how to cook for themselves. I want them to know how to do laundry and clean a bathroom. Which makes me ask, should my goals for my son be the same as my daughters? Are there different things that are important to teach boys and girls? I’m getting worried just thinking about all the things that I have to teach them, and I feel like I am running out of time. I think it is time to get a “Mom Mission Statement.”
Maybe it would help me to break my goals down into categories. For me it might look like this.
1. Academic goals
2. Spiritual goals
3. Life skills goals
4. Friendship goals
5. Family fun goals.
What do your mom goals look like? What is your “Mom Mission?” I hope you take a moment to think about it. We as moms have the most important job on earth in teaching, training and loving a human being, but you already knew that!
Mom Books Are Boring - Really?
On New Years eve my husband and I took our two youngest boys out on a date night, which included a visit to Borders and Books to spend the gift cards they had received for Christmas.
We wondered the aisles and carefully made our choices. I choose The Christmas Book -How to have the best Christmas ever. This book is filled with fun Christmas celebration ideas from all over the world. I realize Christmas is over but I love traditions and thought I just might discover a few new ones in this book for the future.
A few days later back on the home front, Nate walked into the kitchen while I was cooking dinner and announces that my books are boring. I inquired why?
His responses was:
"You know that everything Christmas book you bought? well, it tells you stuff like how to buy a Christmas tree and I don't have any idea why you would want to read books like that. It's boring
Why was my 8 year old reading my book? This could be a potential problem. He might discover that my tricks of the trade are all from books that I'm really not the creative mom he thinks I am. He might also discover that I often get my rules (advice) for parenting him straight out of one of these so called boring books. Time to hide all of my Dr. Dobson parenting books.
However, I think I'm safe because in Nates opinion my MOM books are boring.
What is your MUST read boring MOM book?
24/7 MOMS is creating the 2010 MOM Must read books - submit your favorite mom book to us at trisha@247moms.com
10 Activities You Can Do With Your Teen Daughter for the Holidays
by Janine ShermanAs a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and mother, I understand how difficult it can be to get quality time with your teen daughter. With all of the demands that the holiday season brings, it can often be overwhelming. Between the parties, shopping, cooking and planning, sometimes the really important things, like spending time with your teen, get pushed aside. Participating together in activities that connect you to your daughter not only help keep the spirit of the holidays real, they can be the best gift you give to each other. Spend time together making memories!
10 Activity Ideas
1. Have a baking day. Together, pick out special recipes and spend the day baking. There is nothing like rolling out dough together to give you a chance for some meaningful conversations.
2. Invite your daughter's friends and their mothers over for a Holiday Tea. You've already made the cookies. It allows you to get to know her friends and their moms while doing something fun.
3. Volunteer. Together, pick a charity and spend time volunteering. Not only do you get the opportunity to be together, but you get into the spirit of the holidays by giving to others. This is a great message.
4. Search for a craft project that would make great gifts for friends or neighbors and make them together. For example, one year we made cookie mix in a jar, decorated the jars, and took them to our neighbors.
5. Have an afternoon of culture. Go to a Christmas play, concert, or ballet. You don't have to spend a lot of money doing this since there are many local productions.
6. Have a Christmas movie marathon. This is one of my favorites. Each year we get out our favorite Christmas movies, put on our PJs, pop popcorn and lay on the floor and watch movies continuously.
7. Have a spa day at home. Get some festive nail polish and do mani-pedis. Who needs to go to the spa when you can do it in the comfort of your own home? When it is just the two of you and you are relaxed, the conversation just flows.
8. Christmas shop together, but start early with breakfast out. My favorite is to get up really early when all of the stores have the early bird specials. Take the advertisements, head off to your favorite breakfast place and come up with your game plan.
9. Go for a walk one evening, and look at holiday decorations in the neighborhood. Then decide on the most beautiful as well as the house with the "most over the top" decorations.
10. Start a holiday memory book. Get a journal and each of you write about the holiday season from your point of view. Don't forget to put in photos. This is something you can do every year, and when your daughter has her own family, it can be passed to her.
Remember, the shoes you give her will go out of style or wear out, the designer jeans will do the same, but the memories and time you give her will always be in her heart.
Janine Sherman is an OB/GYN nurse practitioner in Houston, TX, who specializes in caring for teens and their moms. She is also the co-author of the book Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You & Your Mom. This easy-to read, lively, down-to-earth book is definitely teen-friendly and is ideal to help both mothers and daughters have engaging conversations about tough topics
Real MOMS - Real Questions - Real Answers
24/7 MOMS is beginning a NEW weekly Real Moms- Real Questions - Real Answers column.
Do you have a Real Mom question? Send it to us at trisha@247moms.com we will keep it anonymous.
We want Real Mom answers so Please after reading our weekly questions feel free to share your own comments/answers to this weeks question.
This weeks Real Mom Question:
Real MOM Question: Should my 16-year old daughter be allowed to stay the night at her boyfriends house?
I a REAL MOM was approached by a co-worker today with this question. Here is the rest of the story. My friend has met the boyfriend and his parents and says he is a nice boy. She trusts her daughter and has had no reason to believe she is sexually active or sneaking out, etc. She and her daughter talk often about sex and being responsible. The girl lives about an hour from the boyfriend and they will be hanging out all day on a week night and instead of coming home his parents have agreed to let her stay the night. Separate sleeping quarters.
Here is MY Real MOM take, no expert of course, I have a daughter myself and know that I could face the same question one day. I do however have a very close cousin who calls me her aunt, that is 17. Let's first start by saying my mom's generation, my generation and that of 16-17 year olds are VERY different. What was once unacceptable or unthinkable is now becoming very common. In my mom's generation this situation would not have even existed. In my generation it may have occasionally but would have been more like sneaking out of the house. In this generation staying the night at your boyfriend or girlfriends house is becoming increasingly acceptable, however it may or may not be RIGHT.
I am in hopes that for my daughters choice and self respect she will wait until marriage to have sex. (and for my sanity). But let's be real here and look at today's society. I can instill upon her values until I turn blue in the face. Ultimately she will make the decision she wants to make. I am hoping I will have an open honest relationship with her and that when she decides to make life decisions she can trust me and feel comfortable talking to me about those decisions. I cannot say I waited until marriage and therefore can only hope she will.
I tell my aunt (who is more like my sister since we are only 8 years apart) that she needs to let her daughter make her own decisions and not step in too much in life. The choices we make and the mistakes we make, mold us as women. We cannot shelter our children from hurt and pain although we want to everyday.
Thanks,
REAL MOM
Real MOM Answers - 24/7 MOMS what would you do?
If you have daughters of this age we would love to read your comments on this topic. Please leave a comment!
5 Tips for Creating a Cybersafe Home™
This generation of parents is the first to face the challenge of helping our children make the most of their virtual space while keeping them safe in it. If you’re still getting your footing in virtual parenting, don’t worry. InternetSafety.com has the following tips to help ensure that your child’s online experience remains positive. 1. Become a net-savvy parent
The best safeguard against online dangers is being informed. Jump in and learn the basics of the Internet—read articles, take a class, and talk to other parents. A good place to start is www.LearnTheNet.com. You don’t have to be an expert to have a handle on your child’s online world.
2. "Chat" with your kids
Develop an open dialogue so that you can talk with your kids about the benefits and dangers of the Internet. Cultivate an interest in their online activities—their favorite Web sites, online 
3. Agree on a game plan
Use the InternetSafety.com Gameplan™ to formally agree on your family’s guidelines for using the Internet. Post them near the family computer as a reminder. Ensure that your kids know to never share personal information on the Internet and that they should tell you about any online activity or contact that makes them uncomfortable.
4. Protect your computer
Take advantage of the software that exists to help parents manage their children’s computer experience. In only a few minutes, parental control software like Safe Eyes can block inappropriate websites, restrict the amount of time that your kids use the Internet and monitor their Instant Messenger chats to protect against predators.
5. Explore the Internet as a family
With a game plan and a protected computer, you can now encourage your family to take 
Tips From: http://www.internetsafety.com/internet-safety-tips-for-parents.php stop by for additional internet saftey information.
Dr. Seuss School Tradition
Last year I purchased two copies of the Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go to use as a new tradition with my two youngest boys (Caleb and Nate-no). My plan is at the end of each school year to have their school teacher write a little note inside the book to them. When they graduate from High School I will present the filled book to them and allow others to sign it at their graduation party.
I came up with this idea as I was looking at the copy of this book given to my #1 Son (Stephen Jr) when he graduated from Kindergarten. The giver had signed the book with a little note to him. It’s too late to now to have all of Stephen Jr's teachers sign his copy - he graduated from High School last year. But, there is still time for a new tradition for the 2 youngest boys. Now to just remember to have their teachers sign it each year.
Our Top 30 Web Sites For Kids List
In my house I have these little people walking around known also as Generation Z - the generation that has never known a life without computers let alone the Internet and many don’t know a world without mobile phones at least mine don't.Generation Z is the current label given to those born from 1995 onwards.
So, with techno savvy kids who surf the net for both education and entertainment what web sites can we as moms share with our children to inspire them over the Summer months to keep those brains learning?
The best place to find the Best of the Best websites is to ask other moms so not only did we
created our list for you below but we also asked our Twitter MOM Followers and they suggested the following sites:@Januaryeme my 4 year old loves http://www.starfall.com/ It's a great learn to read site
( This site is also one my Son Caleb uses at school and we will use over the summer)
@mrsdman www.mynoggin.com
@momexperience I love the Webkinz site and www.funbrain.com
@ColoScienceMom Favorite kid websites: www.starfall.com (great for beginner readers) and www.SteveSpanglerScience.com of course!
@heidibutterfly my 4.5 yo loves www.starfall.com he can literally read books there for as long as I permit. Also likes www.pbskids.org and www.mynoggin.com
@Teamstclair http://www.sesamestreet.org/
@thatrobguy www.Starfall.com www.BellaSara.com,
@organizedhomeI'd say www.webkinz.com, www.barbiegirls.com and http://www.clubpenguin.com/
24/7 MOMS List of 30 TOP web sites for kids :
Just For Fun
Lego www.lego.com
CBC Kids www.cbc.ca/kids
Funology www.funology.com
Thomas and Friends http://www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/index.asp?origref=
Suessville http://origin-www.seussville.com/games/
American Girl http://www.americangirl.com/fun/
The United States Mint http://www.usmint.gov/kids/
Craft Town http://www.craftown.com/kids.htm
Imbee www.imbee.com
The Idea Box http://www.theideabox.com/
Crayola http://www.crayola.com/
Sports Illustrated Kids http://www.sikids.com/cache/index.html
Search Engines for Kids
Fact Monster www.factmonster.com
Kids Click! www.kidsclick.org
Whyville www.whyville.net
Ask Jeeves Kids www.ajkids.com
Yahooligans! www.yahooligans.com
How Stuff Works www.howstuffworks.com
Ask For Kids http://www.askforkids.com/
Learning on the Web
Discovery Kids http://kids.discovery.com/
National Geographic For Kids http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
Funbrain www.funbrain.com
Net Smartz http://www.netsmartz.org/index.aspx
Cool Math 4 Kids http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
Learning Planet www.learningplanet.com
Kaboose Fun School www. funschool.kaboose.com
e-Learning For Kids www.e-learningforkids.org
The Kidz Page http://thekidzpage.com/learninggames/
Science Made Simple www.sciencemadesimple.com
The Story Place http://www.storyplace.org/
Kajeet Mobile phone for kids
My two youngest boys have been on cloud 9 since their Kajeet phone arrived in the mail. Living in a home with 3 older siblings who in their minds have always had mobile phones, which keeps them constantly asking me when do they get one. I personally saw no need for them to have them at this young age until I was introduced to the Kajeet phone.First let me say I still don't think they NEED a mobile phone. However, I am finding out some great benefits to them having one ( they share it). I can now find them as they roam the neighborhood on their bikes or move from yard to yard playing the latest game of capture the flag by calling their Kajeet mobile phone. Caleb is enjoying learning the use of a phone and working on his memorization of mom and dads phone numbers. Yes, we could do this with any phone but there is a motivation factor here for Caleb to work a little harder when its his own Kajeet mobile phone. It has allowed me to give my boys a little more independence at the same time I feel they are just a call away. Did I tell you if they loose there phone there is a GPS phone locate option available on it? which means I can find out where they and their phone are at all times , whether its on them or lost. I think it will be a great MOM techno tool this summer maybe even simplify my life of keeping track of my children.
So, what is a Kajeet phone?
Kajeet is the cell phone service made for kids. They keep parents and kids talking with online parental controls and kid-friendly features, and with no pesky contracts and no surprise bills. Parents can find Kajeet phones on-line at www.kajeet.com and the 24/7 MOMS Store.
10 GREAT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT KAJEET
- We're a pay-as-you-go service with no strings and no worries.
- Our full suite of intuitive online controls help parents set limits.
- We offer budget-friendly rates for talk and text. Easily customized to fit your family's needs.
- Our feel-good security features let you decide who can and can't call their phone.
- Now you can get help finding your kid's phone anytime with GPS Phone Locator.
- Talk, text, pix and play. Everything your kid wants in a cell phone.
- We offer full-blown phones for any budget. Look for slim styling and big features.
- Nationwide coverage on Sprint PCS Network.
- Refilling your account is simple. kajeet offers three simple ways to add money to your wallet.
- kajeet is the only cell phone service that puts kids first. Kids love that.
The Invitation Never Arrived
His eyes welled up, he bit his lip, I could see the disappointment on his face. For the last 3 weeks my son Caleb has arrived home daily from school telling us about an upcoming Birthday party he was going to attend. This Birthday was not just any ones birthday party it was a classmate that Caleb values and Calls his Best Friend.Let me back up and tell you a bit about Caleb. He would be the child that other moms and even children might consider awkward, odd, disconnected or even uncool. To us he is PERFECT. No, I'm not in denial he is our puzzle child and we have spent many hours and dollars trying to figure out the pieces to our 9 year old puzzle. I have had to learn the definitions of words and acronyms such as Encephalopathy, IEP, NOS, dyssymbolia, bihemispheric dysfunction, EEG, and a slew of other words that I never desired to learn. I have days I think it would be easier to have had a child with a physical handicap so people could SEE why he is who he is.
Not only have I received the unwanted education of medical and other terms, I have also come to the realization that not everyone will accept, love and be as compassionate towards my puzzle as I am. Then there are those Mom emotions that I used to be able to control; until my puzzle arrived into my world and I had to witness my little boys eyes welling up and the biting of his lip. Today was one of those days.
Today we were on a school field trip when Caleb received the news that he was not invited to the PARTY he had been anticipating for the past 3 weeks. You might be thinking yep and life is not fair. But to Caleb this party was HUGE.
So, how do you explain to a 9 year old little boy that life is not always fair even if your friend told you all about his upcoming party and that you would be invited only to discover the reality is that the Invitation will never arrive? How do you handle standing by watching your child experience rejection? Experience the feeling of being left out?
Now, before you start sending me your comments about how he needs to buck up and move on, it was just a birthday party. Let me remind you that this is a little boy who usually doesn't even realize life is not always fair because he just basically does not get IT. He never noticed that the Boy Scout Master forgot to race his pine wood derby car, it does not phase him one bit to sit alone eating his lunch or walking the playground alone but TODAY that is not the case... Today he got IT. He felt the pain of rejection, the pain of disappointment and being left out. And I realized today this is just the FIRST of many more days ahead of the invitation not arriving and Caleb getting IT.
So, what has this mom learned through her little puzzle?
- To be an advocate for Children who just don’t fit the mold. The puzzle children as I like to call them.
-To not judge a mom by her child's melt down moments. Maybe he too is a puzzle and the mom is doing the best job she can.
-To remember to show compassion to EVERY child. God made every piece of their puzzle.
-That every journey in motherhood is different. So, be accepting of others and their journey.
-And as my friend Nancy says - There are plenty of tears ahead with raising kids
especially our puzzle children.
Perfect Mothers Day Gift You Wish You Got - MOM JeansThe
TAKE 7 -7 Things for Moms to do
7 Things For MOMS To Do In 7 MinutesFrom: 24/7 MOMS Live Web Cast 5/13/2009
1. Spend 7 minutes calling your Dr. and Dentist and make annual appointment.
2. Read a magazine for 7 minutes.
3. Spend 7 minutes cleaning out a junk drawer.
4. Read your Bible for 7 minutes.
5. Spend 7 minutes painting your nails.
6. Take 7 minutes to tell your husband one of his qualities you admire in him.
7. Read 24/7 MOMS blog for 7 minutes.
Join us NEXT week on 24/7 MOMS Live for another TAKE 7
Top MOM Twitters To Follow
Are you a TWEETIN Mom? Twitter is the place MOMS are sharing their stories, ideas ,money saving tips and so much more 140 characters at a time.
Join the TWEETIN conversation and follow this weeks TOP 7 MOM Tweeters and Top 7 Money Saving Tweeters.
Top 7 MOM Tweeters
@247moms ( Trisha)
@momwithheart ( Nancy)
@momadvice
@millionmoms
@5minutesformom
@momblog
@asimplewalk
Top 7 Money Saving
@toysrus
@couponmom
@5dollardinners
@sdbargainmama
@cheeptweet
@pennypinchingp
@WalmartSpecials
Click here to follow @millionmoms
Frigidaire SIMPLIFIES The MOM World
Is your Hubby still wondering what to get you for Mothers Day? Do you find yourself spending hours upon hours doing household chores, dreaming of how to simplify those chores so you can spend your hours on the things your LOVE to do - play with your kids, date your hubby, spend time with your girlfriends? If you answered YES to any of these questions I think I just might have the answer for you.This month Frigidaire rolls out a brilliant new collection with more than 250 kitchen and laundry appliances, just in time for Mother’s Day! They designed these high-performance products with easy-to-use, time-saving features to give Moms more free time away from the kitchen and laundry room.
Frigidaire recently conducted a survey to get a window into moms’ lives. The Frigidaire Motherload Index revealed that Moms log more overtime than most Americans. The index found that moms spend most of their waking lives – 200 hours each month, in fact – doing the activities we least enjoy rather than the things we love. And yet the majority of us say we “rarely” or “never” feel caught up on our household tasks. Frigidaire kept all of this in mind when designing their new appliances. With new features such as a six-minute PowerPlus™ preheat time on their ovens, a Quick Clean dishwashing cycle that cuts the time it takes in half to clean our dishes, the Fits-More™ Dryer that allows us to dry the whole family’s clothes at once, and TimeWise™ technology to make the dryer and washing cycle equal, we can have enough time to watch our favorite shows—or even better—get a manicure!
Frigidaire has so much confidence in the efficiency of these products that they are offering a “More Me-Time” Guarantee: Moms will reduce the amount of time they typically spend on housework by at least 8 hours a month using a combination of three or more select Frigidaire appliances or they can return the appliances to their place of purchase within 30 days and get their money back!
ENTER TO WIN: Frigidaire also wants to know what you would do if you had an extra hour of blissful “me-time”. Starting today, moms can go to Frigidaire.com to report the five things they would do with an extra hour each day. All participants will be entered for a chance to win an entire suite of NEW Frigidaire appliances. Plus, check out other prizes you can win – like a gorgeous new Frigidaire Affinity washer/dryer.
READ THIS: Over the Next few months I will be sharing with YOU the 24/7 MOMS
about my own personal experiences with Frigidaire's Brand NEW line of appliances designed to simplify our MOM world. I have been selected to be on the Frigidaire Team and later this month I will be testing out this new line of appliances right in my own home. Yes, they will be delivering to my home the Frigidaire Affinity Washer and Dryer, Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher, Side-by- Side Refrigerator, Over-the-Range Microwave and the Free Standing Range. So stay tuned for my personal review of how Frigidaire is simplifying my own mom world of chores and Ill even Vlog ( video) about it for you so you can watch first hand my experiences.Be sure to stop in and check out all these GREAT new appliances and click here to join me over at the new “My Motherload” Facebook Page as we share the MOTHERLOAD together one day at a time.
National MOMS Nite out with 24/7 MOMS
Thursday Night LIVE WEB Show
Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM PST
Location: www.247moms.com,
Join us for the 24/7 MOMS Live Virtual Party - Put on your comfy sweats or PJ’s and let’s celebrate Motherhood with 2 hours of Giveaways , Live MOMversation , Great MOM tips, and Tons of MOM fun. Invite your MOM friends to meet you online at the 24/7 MOMS Virtual party.
When: Thursday May 7th, 2009Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM PST
Location: www.247moms.com,
Frugal Living - Wiser Consumer Wednesday
![[money+piggy+bank+om+top+of+money]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4xL1diLZhRntVsFNFt-gTxVRM5m08ekBTax2ASnH7tc4tLlzGI65Evyd4AGd3VRNeGXmwaSSro5h5am58347z8YGdIbE0XJGGt5Uv_TkNLsFT4xHWb9vMPrZaL0dh-plhMvwFDbjlK4/s1600/money+piggy+bank+om+top+of+money)
Welcome to Day 4 of the 24/7 MOMS Frugal Living event, our focus today is being a wise consumer. We also have a frugal invite for you to join in tonight and hear a blog talk radio show called Money 4 moms (details below). Be sure to Grab today's FREEbie it's a YUMMY one.
MONEY 4 MOMS Tonight : I want to invite you to join Common Sense with Money tonight at their new time 9pm CST/10PM EST for their Radio Show Money4Moms. I am very excited about the show this evening. They are having Erin from $800 a year budget as a guest http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/j4ghead1-300x175.jpg.
Erin sets every year only $800 dollars to feed her family of four. She has done it for a few years now. Because she relies on her stockpile heavily to get this accomplished she will be sharing her best stockpiling tips with us. We hope she will also share how she gets it done. If you have ever read her blog you will know how resourceful Erin is and I hope she can share some of her best money saving tips with us.
So please Join Tara, Erin and Mercedes tonight at 9PM CST/10PM EST, at their new time. You can listen online via their show page or right on their blog Common Sense with Money by using the blue BlogtalkRadio player on the right side bar or through your phone by calling the number (646) 716-8312.
Wiser Consumer Wednesday
by: Amy Hannold, of SavingCentsEveryday.com
Frugal living takes more than making the smarter, healthier choices. It
means that we must be smarter than the average slogan or sales promise. We must have the tools (and use them) so that we can be an effective and efficient consumer. Instead of impulse buying and buying in “blind faith”, it is important to have a working knowledge of our options and rights. Taking the time to seek out the best product, and then find it at the best price is one way to use our resources wisely. Consumers have tools at the ready, available to help them in nearly every situation – it just takes knowing where to look. Being aware of these tools before you need them (before disaster strikes) is arming yourself (and those close to you) with priceless information.Connect yourself to what I consider to be, the “Go-To Yellow Pages” of buying, selling and being a wiser consumer. The Consumer Action Handbook (http://www.consumeraction.gov/) is available on line or you can order a print version. If you have a consumer question, a need in your life for signing contracts, filing a complaint or recovering from identity theft (and more subjects), you must have a copy of this near your yellow pages. Just for fun even, it is enlightening reading. I find that in listening to others, I am the one who is able to point them in the right direction – and often times save them a whole lot of time and money, because I know about the Consumer Action Handbook.
What sort of information can be found in the Consumer Action Handbook?
*A step-by-step process for filing a consumer complaint
*Identity theft prevention and recovery
*Contact information to major corporations, including retail and manufacturer
*Buying a car, home or looking to invest? You can find tips and references here
*Your local consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau
*Military Specific Better Business Bureaus (for military-related consumer news) and Military Support Agencies
*Teaching outlines for Teachers and other Consumer Mentors
*Subject information for Internet, Travel, Television, Health Care, Insurance and More
*Tips for shopping from home, junk mail and telemarketers – how to be aware of your rights
How Can Consumeraction.gov be of help to me?
*It acts as a guide when you encounter a consumer crisis. It begins with “be calm”, and continues as it provides a sample letter for you to use as you resolve your circumstances.
*If you want to learn about the importance of your credit score and how to improve it, or you want to know how to correct negative information on your credit report. (Links to all major credit-related organization and governing agencies are listed.)
*When you need to report a fraud, product defect or safety hazard, or you want to be informed of current product recalls and safety guidelines.
Tools You Can Use in These Financial Times:
*“How to Make Ends Meet" tools and links to forms which can help you calculate your circumstances and forms to apply for assistance: http://www.aarp.org/money/personal/real_relief_aarp/
*Ten Things You Must Keep in a Fireproof Safe:
http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-articles/10-Things-You-Must-Keep
.html?WT.mc_id=EM_NEWS_JAN09BEST_NPFINAL&WT.mc_ev=EmailOpen&spMailingID=2332991&spUserID=NDE3MjE0MjY4OAS2&spJobID=64470653&spReportId=NjQ0NzA2NTMS1*Ten Ways to Protect Yourself against Scams and Fraud:
http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/ten_ways_to_protect.pdf
Check out the “Go-To-Guide”. Once you have become familiar with it, use their text link to pass the good word onto others. You never know when you’re going to need this information (better to know it ahead of time!), or when you can save someone else their angst.
FREEbie of the day:
Get a FREEbie sample of Betty Crocker Warm Delights mini by signing up to receive the Betty Crocker® email newsletter.
http://freewarmdelights.bettycrocker.com/WarmDelights/Default.aspx?source=900
Frugal Quote for Thought:
“Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child.”
-Author Unknown
Frugal Reading Review:
“Debt Proof Your Marriage”, by Mary Hunt (Author of “Debt Proof Your Kids”, “Financially Confident Woman”, and “Live Life for Half-Price”) Debtproofliving.comWhen I speak to groups, a question I often get is how to bridge the financial philosophy gap between spouses. Money, according to statistics, is among the top issue that causes marital breakdown (or worse yet, divorce). Evaluating the expectations, challenges, and feelings about money of each man and wife, Mary Hunt guides you through conflict, and turns it into a workable plan. You can achieve financial harmony through addressing common obstacles and forming a strategy that will see you through the coming days as a team. This book is financial wisdom and insight, with a bonus measure of personal reflection (for you and your spouse), to improve communication and the likelihood that you’ll be able to navigate (as a team), the troubled seas life may throw you.
Upcoming Thursday: “Thrifty Meals & More"
"Organize It" - Let' s Manage It - Time Savers vs. Time Wasters
Today at the “Organize It” Party we are going to focus on “Manage It” time savers verse time wasters.When we think of managing our time we have to first determine how we are using our time and what might be our time wasters. Paula Constable shares with us three mistakes that could be stealing your time.
Busyness - Three Mistakes That Might Be Stealing Your Time
Paula Constable Stuff 2b Organized™
Do you feel like you are super-busy, but nothing seems to get done? Does it feel like your "to do" list is a life
sentence? Is it just me or does it seem like sometimes we don't feel productive unless we are super-busy? But busyness is not the same as being productive! Consider these three common time-stealing busyness mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.Failure to Plan
If you go through your day without a general sense of what you would like to accomplish and how you are going to do it, you will spend a lot time asking yourself, "Now, what do I have to do today?" or "What should I do now?" or my favorite, "It's time to pick up the kids already?" A plan gives you a map to your day. Taking time to plan (in the morning or the night before) allows you to group like tasks together, identify priority tasks and the time needed to complete them; it gives you direction for your day.
What time of day are your mental and physical energies high? If possible, use that time for completing your most important projects and tasks. If you have errands or calls to make, group them together and complete them in single blocks of time. Remember, the goal is not to fit in as much as you can. Be sure to schedule some "you time" as well.
Routines are my favorite way to make the most of my time. You might already have some routines in place that you just do because it's habit. For example, Monday used to be my cleaning day because there was no way I was going out of the house on a Monday unless I absolutely had to. As your life changes, so will your routines. Now that my children are a little older, my schedule has adjusted.
Multi-tasking
"What?!" you ask. "Doesn't multi-tasking give me more time and make me more productive?" Not necessarily. Besides adding more stress to your day, multi-tasking can actually make you less productive. Doing two things at once divides your attention and so each task is done with less focus and accuracy; it could take you more time to complete the tasks than if you did them separately.
I'm not saying to stop folding laundry while chatting on the phone. Tasks that are routine and require little thought are great to do while you are say, waiting in the car pool lane, sitting in the waiting room or, on hold with the cable company.
Interruptions
Throughout the day you are exposed to interruptions; it's called life. Phone calls, children needing help, email and unexpected visitors are just a few examples of requests of your time. These requests draw your attention away from the task at hand. Of course some of these interruptions are beyond your control, but there are ways to defend off distractions during a specific period of time which you want to focus.
• Don't answer the phone. If you need to answer, keep the time to a minimum. Just kindly ask the caller if it would be OK if you give them a call later because you are right in the middle of something that needs your attention.
• Let family members know that you will be unavailable during a specified time. OK, I know this is can be a tough one, but give it a try.
• Only check your e-mail during specific times of the day. (Oh this is hard one for me!) This is one interruption that you do have control over.
So, for your homework for the next two weeks: keep a detailed journal of all of your activities. Write down what you do and how long it takes you. That includes errands, phone calls, housework, dinner preparation, etc. By doing this, you will be able to see how you are spending your time. Maybe there are activities that are using up more of your time than you realize. You might discover that with a little rearranging and planning, you will be able to carve out more time for the things you value and enjoy.
Paula Constable
Stuff 2b Organized™, LLC 920.728.1928
“I help families make their daily lives easier and less stressful through organization.”
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Paper Organizing for Busy Moms ~ A Virtual Workshop ~
Time to open another GIFT ( giveaway)Making Time for What’s Important Home Study Program: http://www.stuff2borganized.com/events/MakingTime/ ($29 value)
Are you feeling like your days are filled with busyness rather than purpose? Do you feel like you are super-busy, but nothing seems to get done? Does it feel like your “to do” list is a life sentence?
During this home study program, Paula Constable, Organizing Expert for Busy Moms, shares the tools and methods that she teaches her private clients and put into action in her own life and business.
You’ll learn:
• How to zero in on your true priorities
• The 3 most valuable tools to use when you feel overwhelmed and out of control
• What you must do before you set goals
• The top 3 secrets to help manage your time
• My 5 steps to get your time "organized"
Paul Constable and 24/7 MOMS are giving away one Making Time for What’s Important Home Study Program. To enter for your chance to win, enter your name and email address in the box below you will be signed up for today's Making Time for What’s Important Home Study Program giveaway as well as be added to the 24/7 MOMS E-list(if you are not already a 24/7 MOMS subscriber). Drawing to be held on February 1, 2009.
Time Wasters - Time Savers
By: Trisha Novotny trisha@247moms.com
My 24/7 MOM days can be crazy. I am sure they are similar to yours – laundry to fold, lunches to pack, beds to make, errands to run, floors to be mopped, meetings to attend, dinner to cook, children to be taxied, and the list goes on and on… never a dull moment. I realized early on in my mom journey that if I was going to survive I better find some Time Saving solutions to avoid my Time Wasters. Today I want to share 3 of them with you.
Time Saver #1 Save Those Receipts
Time Waster: Are you tired of digging and scrambling for that lost receipt to return the unwanted item? Possibly never finding your receipt and now being left with an item you don't want or need?Only to become a Time Waster as we search and look for our lost receipt.
Today most of our local stores such as Target and Toys-r-Us make it difficult to return an item without the receipt.
Time Saver: So I have a GREAT way that I keep my zillions of receipts each year organized...with 5 kids it seems receipts can pile up quickly.My Time Saver solution has been that each year I purchase a Cancelled check file from my local office store. I then file each receipt in alphabetical order.
Now when I have a return to make I can quickly retrieve my receipt and have a No Hassle return.
Time Saver #2 Family Files
Time Waster: Do you find yourself searching for your child's birth certificate, ID cards, passport, Social Security number, savings account register or other important info? How about those gift cards or tickets to an upcoming event or other important items that seem to disappear? 
Time Saver: Create a file for each member of your family... Use these files to hold all those items you are constantly searching for. You can even keep up-to-date health records, emergency information, etc. in them. I then place them in a desktop file system so they are quickly accessible. Now with teenagers they, too, can find what they are in need of by going to their own family file. Time Saver #3 On The Go
Time Waster: Do you find yourself sitting at Dr. Appointments, dance lessons, swim lessons or other waiting situations with nothing to do but watch the clock tick away and your to do list growing?
Time Saver: Use a tote/book bag to take a long those projects, books to read , bills to pay, notes to write or other items on your to do list that you can accomplish while waiting. I also have a tote bag that I place items in that I’d like to read or projects to work on that are NOT time sensitive so that it is always ready to go for those times I have not gotten my to do while waiting bag packed.
Another Party Favor for You:
COZI is a free web service that helps families manage crazy schedules, track shopping and to-do lists, organize household chores, stay in communication and share memories—all in one place.
I have now become addicted to COZI. why"? because I can organize my entire family on one web site with these great features
- Family Calendar : All my appointments can now be inone place, color-coded by family member. Plus, i can add the family calendar gadget right to my desktop computer
- Custmizable lists: COZI remembers my grocery list, shopping list, chores and more—so I don't have to. PLUS I can send then right to my cell phone via a text message or to my Husband who might be stopping at the store for me..Oh, Ya this is GREAT
- Reminders and Messages: I can now Send a reminder or quick message right from my Cozi family home page to anyone of my online family members . With teenagers this s a great feature.
- Mobile Phone Access: I can even get my day's schedule, my grocery list, or to-dos sent to any mobile phone.
And so much more....as one 24/7 MOM to another 24/7 MOM I think COZI is going to be my best TIME SAVER in 2009 and it is FREE.
One thing that might interest you IPHONE and windows mobile phone users is Cozi now has a mobile version especially for you. Families can now sign-in and access their Cozi account using their mobile web browsers. They can add and edit shopping lists and view and edit their family calendar using the mobile version of Cozi right from their iPhone. This is a new feature! You can learn more about it here: http://www.cozi.com/Promo-Cozi-Mobile.htm
One last cool thing, Sign up and try Cozi before February 4, 2009 and you could win an in-home organization makeover by Laura Leist of Eliminate Chaos. Bye-bye clutter, hello organized!
Do you have a Time Waster - Time Saver idea to share with the 24/7 MOMS email us at trisha@247moms.com and share your ideas.
See you TOMORROW for more of the "Organize It" Party
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