When you hear the word cancer

Today's guest post is from a very special friend. We met through an online "expecting club" about four years ago. We were both expecting our first child in April 2008. She was having a girl, I was having a girl also. And at the time, we both lived in the same suburban area of Atlanta.

Life threw my friend a few curve balls along the way, but she refused to strike out. She has since moved away to pursue cancer treatment at MD Anderson, and she recently launched a very special project to bring smiles to others in need. Throughout all her trials, she has never ceased to amaze me with her poise and integrity.

I am honored to feature her guest post here today:

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When you hear the word cancer I believe part of your brain goes into a place where all of life’s what if’s, why’s and everything else all come crashing down at once. I imagine this is the feeling that anyone in a dark place feels. My brain worked like that for a moment when I was pregnant and hearing the words cancer, chemotherapy, radiation, and all sorts of other terms I did not comprehend. As my diagnosis and illness rocked along, I felt like those words or that far place would eventually be replaced by something grand. I had a healthy and beautiful little girl and I was oh so thankful for that. I continue to battle with my illness but how blessed am I to say that I am BATTLING. I never gave up and never will; I have far too much to live for and one little person who is ready to see her mama take on new battles each day.

In my journey I discovered that although the people closest to you want to be your support system, at times it can hit too close to home, be too difficult, or they are just not equipped to think along those lines. Sadly the person who is battling begins to feel isolated and on this island of uncertainty. After trying to recreate the wheel in my own support system, a light bulb went off. I can be someone’s rock, or I can tell him or her THANK YOU for fighting. I realize I am only one person, but I am a person who is fighting too!

I thought of ways to get my praise out there and really reminisced over the lost art of letter writing, sending and/or receiving mail other than a bill or junk! How awesome would it be opening a letter from someone who you do not even know thanking you for your courage, the heart that a higher power gave you to take on so much and still try? The Soaring Swallow Project was born.

The idea is simple. I ask people who know of someone who is battling or fighting one of life’s uphill battles to kindly give me that person’s address, and I will happily send out a letter to lift that person’s spirits. I absorb the costs, I do not expect replies (they are welcomed) all I hope is that the person who is opening that letter smiles, or knows they matter.

Everyone matters - sometimes we just need to hear it from someone else!

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"We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love."
-Mother Teresa
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Follow the Soaring Swallow Project on Facebook

Visit her blog, Cupcake Earthquake

The "S" on your chest

When the “S” on Your Chest Stands for STRESS

(How it effects your children and ways to handle it!)

By Camille McDaniel, LPC, NCC, CPCS

http://www.healingpsychotherapyga.com

Wife, Sister, Friend, Aunt, Employee, Employer, Bottle Warmer, Diaper Changer, House Cook, Tear Wiper, Taxi Driver, Comforter...

There are so many titles that moms have today, it’s no wonder a little stress (or A LOT) may fall your way. I frequently meet moms who set rather high standards and goals for juggling all the titles they posses, in order to make sure everyone else is happy. After all, that’s what moms do right? Hmmm. When they are not able to meet these monumental goals, they are disappointed and stressed.

Stress can come from many sources, in addition to constant high expectations of yourself. If by chance you are a mom that doesn’t have a strong support system to lean on then you may experience increased amounts of stress.

The University of Rochester completed a study. They followed 169 diverse children for 3 years. The findings of their study were published in a journal called Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. The researchers discovered that continuous parent and family stress can increase strep infections and other illnesses in children. It also appears that children effected by chronic parent and family stress experience and increase in their natural killer (NK) cell function. NK cell function is the part of the body’s immune system that prepares to kill germs that don’t belong, unlike adults, whose function is decreased with chronic stress.

So maybe chronic stress is good for my child since the immune system increases those natural killer cells right? Well let’s put it this way, using the heart as an example. When you get into a situation that frightens you, your heart may start racing, pumping blood to all the organs needed to help you flee danger. However, if that heart doesn’t stop racing, over time it starts to exhaust it’s strength and wears down. That is true for the immune system functions too.

So how can you turn the S on your chest from STRESS to SERENITY? Well let’s try these 5 steps for starters:

Step 1 Secure a Support System - Some of you may have great supports but others may not be able to identify their supports as easily. Friends, Family, Siblings, Online Friends, Social Groups, Religious Groups. Identify YOUR supports.

Step 2 Say No - It’s wonderful to be the person others can count on. It’s nice to volunteer when you see there is a need. However, it’s not really helping YOU if you are not being truthful with yourself about whether you really have the time and strength to do the task. Saying no should not be seen as a negative. If you are continuously stressing yourself out because you say yes, even when you really don’t have the time and/or resources, then it’s time to try a little “no”.

Step 3 Take Time Out During the Day- Daily, you should have “Mommy Time” to allow your mind and body to rejuvenate. Whether it’s 15 minutes or an hour, the world will not stop if you take time for yourself but you and others can suffer if you don’t.

Step 4 Encourage Yourself - Positive self talk can have a great effect in regards to emotional well being. “I am doing a great job with the skills I have” “I didn’t get it right today but every second presents a new chance, let’s see what I can do differently tomorrow” “It’s ok if I don’t get things done like ____________, my pace works good for me and that’s ok” “Being a mom is no simple task and I’m doing it! I am some kind of awesome”.

Step 4 Face, Hair, and Dress - Whether you are a stay at home mom or a working mom, taking care of your appearance can actually help you feel better about yourself. Tailor it to your style. Try a little lip gloss or lip stick. A different hair cut or style can help. Do your clothes make you feel good about you? Whether it’s the playground or the workplace take pride in your appearance and boost yourself up a few points.

Step 5 Laugh - It’s a simple little exercise but laughter has great healing and relaxing power. Essentially because it releases endorphins, a hormone that acts as a natural pain and stress reliever. Laugh at yourself, get a good comedy dvd and watch it, call one of your supports and act silly, get creative and laugh.

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Camille McDaniel, LPC, NCC, CPCS is a Licenesed Professional Counselor and founder of Healing Psychotherapy Practices of Georgia, LLC in Kennesaw, GA

Visit her blog:
Journey Building My Practice

Become a fan on Facebook:
Healing Psychotherapy Practices of Georgia, LLC

I'm OK, you're OK

Once again, the blogosphere has connected me to a fantastic person. I am so happy to have recently connected with Onesie Mommy. She left a touching comment on a recent post - so touching, in fact, that I had to post it myself! Check it out HERE.

Tonight, I am honored to have a guest post published on the Onesie Mommy blog!

I have only one child.
She is over age three.
Am I an anxious mess because I do not have a second child yet?
Nope. This is how I like it.

Please visit my guest post HERE.
Tell me... what do you love about your unique family?

Dont' forget to follow @OnesieMommy on Twitter!

The P-Word

Have you ever wondered why I refer to one-third of my mommy persona in quotation marks?

"Perfect" Mommy?

It is simple, really. I do not believe that perfect exists. Perfect is what you are "supposed" to be if you religiously follow all the baby books and doctor advice. Perfect is something that know-it-all mamas would like you to believe is attainable (These mamas are simply not sharing all the times they themselves faltered. Don't be fooled!).

If I do something "perfect" for a total of 1 hour out of my day, even if it's four separate 15-minute events, then I call it a success.

When I met (virtually, thanks to Twitter) the mama behind
Holly's House (Not a perfect mom's blog), I knew she would make a "perfect" guest poster. Thank you, Holly! Non-perfect moms are always welcome here.

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A guest post by Holly

from Holly's House (Not a perfect mom's blog)

The Perfect Mother. Do you know her? Do you think you are her? Do you strive to be her?

Or are you like me? Have you pretty much given up on the notion of the Perfect Mother? Yup, that's right, I have given up my quest to be the Perfect Mother.

I tried to be perfect. I really did. I made my own baby food, but I didn't take the peas out the pods after I steamed them and the baby choked on the stringy puree. I bought the most expensive baby wipes that would ensure my little angel's bum smelled fresh as a daisy and he broke out in a rash from the fragrance. I tried to cut those little itty bitty fingernails with the special nail clippers the hospital sent me home with and I cut too low, causing my precious bundle of joy's finger to bleed.

I tried to be perfect.
I tried and I failed.
So now I am me.

I'm not a perfect mother. But that doesn't mean I'm not a good mother. Sure, I may accidentally have given Hope Fiber One cereal, causing her to have explosive diarrhea when she was desperate to be in big girl underwear. And then there was the time I lost her at Sea World. Um, and I also accidentally dropped Brooke in front of her physical therapist once. Oh, and I recently reduced my oldest son to tears when I was teasing him about a girl in his class he has a crush on...

But all of that doesn't make me a bad mother. Those points definitely don't highlight my stellar mothering, but we all make mistakes. I don't think that there really is that Perfect Mother anywhere. A mother that never makes mistakes, that always does the right thing.

Mothering is a process. We all learn as we go. I don't think we'll ever stop learning, especially since every child is different. Just when I think I have this whole mothering lark figured out, one of my kids changes the game on me. But I'm okay with that. I'm enjoying this journey of motherhood, the lows that make me want to try harder and be a better mother, and the highs that I'm rewarded with in hugs and kisses.

I'm most definitely not a Perfect Mother...but my own kids think I'm pretty fantastic.

And that's good enough for me.

More fun-in-the-heat hoopla

Welcome to part 2 of my Summer Fun series!

On Friday, I introduced a new book, 100+ Free and Cheap Things To Do In Atlanta With Kids (you can buy a copy HERE).

Today, I'm excited to present a guest post from Amanda, the writer behind Confessions of a Wannabe Supermom. She shares some exciting summer ideas for bigger kids. I look forward to trying these soon!

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Summer is just around the corner, and for a lot of moms, that means one thing – panic! If you’re wondering how to entertain your kids without breaking the bank, here are a few fun and inexpensive ideas:

1. Geocaching
This is a great hobby for the entire family, and one that is very addicting! Geocaching is a world-wide treasure hunt game played with nothing more than a GPS. Geocachers hide a “cache,” which is usually a small container with trinkets and a logbook inside, then register the cache on the official website. Using the GPS coordinates and the clues provided on the website, you find the cache and leave your name in the logbook. You can also take a prize from the cache, and leave one for someone else to take. Caches range from easy to very difficult and can hidden anywhere from a business to a hiking trail. To get started, just set up a free account at Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/), find a cache near you, and grab your GPS and your adventure-seeking family.

2. Summer movie specials
Many movie theaters have free or cheap summer movie matinees. Our local movie theater offers several weeks of movies each summer for $2.50 per person, or season tickets to all eight movies for $13. They are not new releases, but there are several my kids haven’t seen yet, including Megamind, How to Train Your Dragon, and Despicable Me.

3. Lapbooks
Lapbooking is familiar to many homeschoolers, but it can be a fun activity for all kids. A lapbook is an interactive book made with a file folder and several “mini-books.” Lapbooks can be made on many different topics, from art to a favorite book to dinosaurs. This summer, my boys and I are going to make one about detectives. A great place to start is Homeschool Share (http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Lapbooks_at_HSS.php) which has a huge list of free lapbook plans. Pick your favorite, print it off, and get started!

4. Nature journal
Most kids do not spend enough time outside – mine included. A nature journal is a great way to get them more interested in being outdoors. Find a notebook or a sketch pad, a pencil, and a camera and head outside. Take pictures and write notes about what you see. If your child is artistic, let them draw of what they see. Later, you can research the bugs, birds, flowers and other things you find in your backyard or local park.

5. Summer Reading Club
My kids love the Summer Reading Club at our local library! We’ve seen magic shows, animals from local conservation parks, and (gross but true) dissected owl poop to see what they had eaten. At the end of summer, the library hosts a pizza party and gives free books to all the kids.


---From the author:---
My name is Amanda. I'm a pastor’s wife, working mom to two boys, and a college student in the dental hygiene program. My life is crazy busy, but I love it! When I’m not busy playing Supermom, I love cooking, crime shows, coffee, blogging, working out, and a rainy day with a good book. I blog at Confessions of a Wannabe Supermom about my crazy life. Along the way, I love sharing recipes I love, great finds, and the everyday craziness of life. You can also find me on Twitter @amandablogs.

Thank you, Amanda!
Everyone, give her some comment love so she'll visit here again one day!

Banish Boredom!

I had a chance to peruse a brand new e-book this week, 100+ Free and Cheap Things to do in Atlanta with Kids. I have been a mom in Atlanta since my girl was born in early 2008, but had no idea some of these activities and attractions existed! I can't wait to try a few of them - especially the indoor activities when the temperatures soar this summer.

Never been to Atlanta? Come on over and say hi! We have a lot of fun (and often free!) activities to offer. This book will help you find them.

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Below is a guest post
By Sue Rodman from Field Trips With Sue

100+ Free and Cheap Things to do
in Atlanta with Kids

One of the best things you can do for your children is take them new places and let them experience the world around them. Summer vacation is the perfect time to explore, but heading out each day can get expensive. Here are some free and inexpensive things you can do with kids this summer. The ideas are taken from a new book called 100+ Free and Cheap Things to do in Atlanta with Kids which includes the who, what, where and when, with costs up front for easy viewing. Web links guide readers to specific information on the attraction; addresses make it easy to plug into the GPS on the go.

The book is available HERE in e-book format for the iPad, iPhone, Kindle and Nook for $4.99 and $9.99 for the printed version. You’ll pay for it with your first outing! So pack a picnic lunch and head out for a frugal afternoon of fun. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find:

Visit a Museum or Attraction – Several Atlanta area attractions including the Georgia Aquarium, Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta and The Atlanta Braves offer opportunities to visit for free. For instance, all Georgia Public Libraries have a Family Pass to Zoo Atlanta that can be checked out with a library card.


See a Movie – Southern Outdoor Cinemas host free movies at parks, and shopping centers all summer long. For indoor movies, Regal Cinemas hosts the Regal Summer Movie Express. The theater shows G and PG rated films at 10 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and admission is only $1. Plus a portion of the proceeds benefits the Will Rogers Institute.

Get Back to Nature – For low cost and big fun, check out Georgia State Parks or any of the National Parks. There are also several nature preserves around Atlanta that offer free admission including Dauset Trail. Dauset Trail is a 1200 acre preserve with trails, creeks, wildlife and an extensive calendar of events throughout the year.

Play Sports – From watching professional sports teams to playing them on your own, the book gives you ideas on active fun including bowling. Several national bowling centers offer free bowling to students during the summer. Check out www.kidsbowlfree.com or sign up for Brunswick Zone’s Bonus Zone for emailed coupons. AMF also has a free bowling program.

Build a Craft – Learn what stores offer kids activities for a bit of indoor (and cooler) fun. For example, Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement offer monthly kid’s workshops where children make and take a wooden craft. Both programs also include a kid sized apron.

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Want specifics? More ideas? Consider ordering the e-book or print version. What a fantastic reference to have on hand!

 Maybe I will see you out and about sometime soon.

[Not near Atlanta this year? Stay tuned for Sunday's guest post from Confessions of a Wannabe Supermom. She shares some really unique and fun summer ideas for family fun - and kids of all ages!]

The One Thing

Blogging has already brought so many new things and fantastic people into my life. The simple act of putting words out there made this small, connected planet even smaller. Today I am thrilled to introduce my very first guest post from the other side of the world - Australia!
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Jane successfully raised two children on her own, through years of serious illness. Because of this she developed great resourcefulness and creativity in her parenting.

Jane's Blog is Life @ Number 8, where she blogs holistically. She has been blogging for many years and is interested in social media, photograpy, and has recently become a Speaker on behalf of her local Heart Foundation.

Jane is also a writer, with one book at the beta-reader stage and 110,000 words written for a trilogy, She is awaiting the birth of her eighth grandchild.

The One Thing:
A Grandmother's Point Of View

There are a few things that all children need. To be loved, a place to live, warmth, care, a sense of belonging.
Beyond all this I feel there is one thing that I believe can make the world of difference in the life of a child.

And that is the ability to read.

My children began to read quite young. For us there were no struggles, it seemed one day they could not read and the next day they could. I know this is not the case for all families. I urge you to put in the effort.

Once they can read the world opens up to them.

A little bit of child-power comes into their lives.

And a little bit of freedom into yours.

We lived in a cooler climate when the children were small. Checking the weather for clothes requirements added to the early morning pressures. I solved this problem by making big wall charts.

The Clothes chart had temperatures and required clothing listed along side.

Morning. (all temperatures are in Celsius)

•  0-7 Degrees: singlet, skivvy, fleecy shirt, jumper and jacket. Thick sox, corduroy pants and boots.
•  8-14: Leave off the shirt
•  15-20: Leave off the skivvy but put on the shirt. Jacket and normal sox.
•  20 plus. Singlet, normal shirt, jumper if outside. Jacket if it’s raining.
•  23 plus: Choose for yourself.
•  25 plus: Summer clothes. Water bottle every day. Hat or cap
•  27 and up. Use 15 plus every morning.

There were charts right across the kitchen walls.
Charts for the after school schedule.
A chart for Before Bed routines. E.g. No shoes to be left in the public areas of the house.
A Chart for computer time.

As we reached the teenage years, I put a sign by the phone ‘If it can’t be said in public, should it be said at all?”

One child who was often late home from school was able to read a new rule.
For every 5 minutes you are late home you will lose access to the phone for 24 hours.

The ability to read brings choices. It’s worth investing time to teach them.

It’s the one thing that will make a significant difference.

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Please show Jane some comment love and visit her blog, 
Life @ Number 8

I am going to work on my household labels right now! Even at age three, I know Amelia will benefit from consistent exposure to words and association.


   

I'm a Tuesday Traveler

Pretty please... send some love over to Carrie With Children today! My recent post about Atlanta family activities is featured as today's Tuesday Traveler.
(click the button below to visit)

Revisiting my happy list

If you just can't get enough of yours truly, click on over to Typical Suburban Family and check out my guest post!

I wrote my happy list at the start of last summer. I've made a few tweaks, but for the most part these things still make me smile. A happy list never expires!

What are your favorite things to brighten your day?

F2F Friday: Mommy Talk Show

 Welcome to another Friends to Follow Friday!

Today I'm happy to spread the word about Mommy Talk Show. A new and unique blog, created by a former TV news anchor and a fellow Georgia mommy.

Blog name? Mommy Talk Show

When was your blog born - and why? 
I started posting in December 2010. So it's a very new blog. Mommy Talk Show was born out of my need to feel useful professionally. I'm a former TV news anchor so I'm used to going out and meeting new people everyday. Staying at home with my son along with being a newlywed in a new city made me feel very isolated and lonely, so I created something to combine my professional skills (TV news) and my passion (Motherhood).

The show features Atlanta moms who own their own businesses as guests. We tape the show family-friendly locations. Thanks to the video content on my blog if I ever return to my TV career I'll have plenty of material to show a potential employer.


I actually tried to start a very different blog in 2009 and failed miserably. So I had to push a lot of self-doubt out of my mind to start Mommy Talk Show. I believe this is such a better fit for me. When we wrapped up taping the last segment of the premiere webisode of Mommy Talk Show I was in tears. I felt useful again and productive. Plus I'd just spent an hour with a wonderful group of moms talking openly and honestly about our challenges.

My husband, a TV promotions producer, videotaped the show and I could tell the moms were making TV magic because he was behind the camera nodding, smiling and looking very engaged.

If you could interview anyone for your blog, who would it be? 
Hmmmm...someone alive or dead? Just kidding! I'd love to interview Elisabeth Hasselbeck from The View. I actually met her a few years ago when I was in the audience of the show and got to appear on camera and tape a "teaser" of what segment was coming up next. I don't agree with her politically. But I have a ton of respect for her as a mom of three with a TV career. Maybe I can learn some work-life balance tips from her.

The writer behind the words - five adjectives that describe you?
Hungry, Sleepy, Dedicated, Loving, Lonely

Something that recently made you laugh?
My son A.J.'s giggles when I tickle him made me laugh and make my day. I usually hit an brick wall in terms of energy around 7 p.m. after being home with him all day. So if I get in a good ticklefest the sound of his delighted delirium lifts my spirits and gets me through his bath time, then I eat dinner and pass out.

A favorite photo? Tell us about it.

This is a photo of my son, A.J. and my husband, Antoine. It was taken at the first birthday party A.J. attended. It shows my husband's adoration for my son. They have such a loving relationship that's quite different from my relationship with our son. My husband like to play rough with A.J. to toughen him up. I'm always being gentle with him. So I guess we offer him the Yin/Yang of life.


Like Mommy Talk Show on FACEBOOK

Follow Mommy Talk Show on TWITTER

And don't forget to go visit MommyTalkShow.com!

F2F Friday: Monkey Bunns

Featuring another crafty mommy friend with a knack for creativity!

Are you a cloth diaper mama? Have you tried cloth pads? Love hand-knit adorable baby and children's items?

Check out Monkey Bunns.


Ashley, describe your store/products:
I make cloth diapers (pocket diapers, newborn fitteds coming soon, and hand knit diaper covers), mama cloth (nursing pads, postpartum/overnight pads, and regular mama cloth), baby and children items (especially fun hand knit items). I don't have a lot of overhead being a WAHM so I'm able to keep my items at a low price. I also know the frustration of things falling apart on the first wash so I make sure everything is well made and most items (very few exceptions) are washed up for you before I ship them. I do a lot of custom orders and love to make fun gifts and sets.

One of your favorite products?
I like and use all of my products. I have to say my two current favorites are my newborn fitted diapers that I've been testing on my newborn who was born this January and my postpartum mama cloth. I plan to introduce the newborn fitted diapers shortly. The newborn fitted diapers fit similar to Kissaluvs 0 but are a little slimmer in the crotch so they don't come down so far on tiny legs. The postpartum/overnight pads are long enough that they contain everything. They also have two layers of microfiber so they're plenty absorbent to last even on the heavy nights.

How did you get started with your home business?
I started using cloth diapers to save money and to do less laundry. My first son was blowing out of all disposables at least five times per day and I was doing his laundry 2-3 times per day. When we switched to cloth diapers I started doing his laundry 1-2 times per week and his diapers every three days to once a week. After trying several of the "big brand" cloth diapers I figured out what I liked and didn't like about each. None of them gave me warm fuzzies so I decided to start making my own. I searched for quality materials and a pattern that I was able to use and develop for the best possible fit. My son developed a weird urine condition after a while though and I decided to learn to knit so that I could make wool diaper covers. I now make baby clothes, sweaters, etc along with diaper covers (longies, shorties, soakers, and skirties).

F2F Friday: Liddy B & Me

When I got the letter that I'd be living with the RA my first year of college, I was bummed. Who wants the rules-enforcer a few feet away during that first college year?

But ya know what? It turned out wonderfully. Cheryl was a blast to live with and continues to be a good friend. She also has more artistic talent than anyone I've ever known! Move over, Martha Stewart! Cheryl is HOT.

Cheryl also has a daughter only 2 months younger than mine. And our other two roommates from that year? Also have kids the SAME age! We are all experiencing this roller coaster called Mommyhood together. Pretty cool.

I am thrilled that Cheryl was willing to be featured this week. Check out her precious little girl and her inspiring projects on 
Liddy B. and Me

Blog Name?
Started out as just Liddy B. back when the blog was just a way to share pictures of the new baby with relatives. It has morphed into a mix of family life and things I am making or doing for or with my family, and some things I am just making or doing or thinking about, so I now title it "Liddy B. and Me"

When was your blog born and why?
My sister suggested it as a way to show off my baby (the first and still only grandchild on both sides of our family) to relative who couldn't see her frequently. I have really enjoyed having a reason to write and share ideas, that it is now equally about her and about me (hence the adjusted title).

List 5 adjectives that describe you.
Creative
Thrifty
Enthusiastic
Over committed (my own fault!)
Sleep deprived
Patient (I deal with high school students at work and a toddler and husband at home!)

Your blog features some fabulous artistic creations. Describe one of your favorite projects.
I LOVE the whole process of planning my daughter's birthday party because it uses so many of my talents. I get to brainstorm about it in the winter months when everything puts me in a bad mood (slightly seasonally affected!). It is a great excuse to make stuff. I don't force myself to have creative "me time" and am often too task oriented, so things that "need" to get done get my attention, leaving my artistic interests in the dust. BUT if I am making things for someone else, especially if it is something that we "need", and even better if it is something that saves us money (thrifty, remember?) then I allow myself all the time to create that I need.

We did an Alice in Wonderland themed "Tea for 2" birthday party last summer and I made a lot of the decorations, the food, and even found time to sculpt a ceramic tea pot and two tea cups. I got to shop thrift stores for decorative items (hats, teacups, etc.). I was in HEAVEN! I have now begun planning a "Lydia is turning 3 under the sea" party for next summer. I have the basic ideas (octopuses, goldfish crackers, mermaids... note NOT the Little Mermaid!) and can't wait to get started making stuff!

If you had 2 hours of pure "me" time, what would you do?
Whatever craft project is my newest obsession/ whatever is at the top of my creative to-do list (probably while running a load of laundry... Ugh!) This weekend, that includes making beauty pageant outfits for my husband to wear in our church's drag queen fundraiser (yes, you heard that right!) I need to get better about doing things for me. What mom doesn't? But I really LOVE making things for all the crazy events my family is involved in. I enjoy both the process of making the items and the memories of the crazy events. (Just search my blog for our Halloween costumes, birthday parties, witches brew parties, renovations, re-decorations, etc., etc., etc.,)

 
Some photos from Liddy B. and Me... really, you must check this one out! Liddy is going to have the coolest room and the most fabulous birthday parties for her entire childhood! Lucky girl.
 
 

Give 'Em An Inch

I adore well-written, identifiable, and knowledgeable parenting blogs.

One of my favorites is Avant Garde Parenting.
      

Who better to dispense advice for handling a preschooler than a smarty-pants PhD in Develepmental Psychology? One who spends time researching and learning at The University of Texas at Dallas? No one I can think of! I asked Jamie over here to share some of her wisdom. Something to apply both to my own life and, hopefully, to help some of you as well.

-----------------------------------------

Give 'Em An Inch...

...and they’ll take a mile, right?


When Julie asked me to guest post, I was 1.Thrilled and 2.Speechless. No, really, I had no idea what I was going to write about. I write a parenting blog. I should have plenty to say! And I do, but I kept thinking, ‘What do people want to read?’ Luckily, Julie gave me an idea- strong-willed kiddos. Sound familiar?!

It made me think of the old saying ‘Give ‘em an inch and they’ll take a mile’ and it got me to thinking – is it true? If you do give kids leeway, control, independence, will they go crazy, taking advantage and acting out of control? My answer: Nope.

I come from the school of sensitive parenting- the idea of responding to kid’s needs in a warm, supportive way. And a big part of that is actually giving them control of their world and letting them make real and important choices in their environment, then supporting them and providing the necessary boundaries for them to be successful. Here’s the thing- it often challenges traditional ideas about parenting and forces you to be flexible and creative. Bad thing? I say no. Difficult? At times, absolutely.

Let me give you an example. Let’s say your very strong-willed kiddo absolutely will not, under any circumstances wear socks with her shoes (I’ve had personal experience with this one). You’ve begged, pleaded, rewarded, punished, nothing works. Here’s an instance where I say get creative. No socks=no problem. So it’s too cold to go without socks? Go to the store together and find some boots with fur lining that will function the same with or without socks. Find some slippers with tough enough soles for use outside. Doing so will show your child that you can be flexible. You can even say it: “I can be flexible on this!”

My point is that giving your child freedom in as many areas as possible will only help him feel more in control of his world. When it comes time for an important issue (tooth brushing, bathing, etc.) where you can’t be flexible, it won’t be as traumatic because your child will have a grasp on what he can control.

So how do you handle the issues you absolutely cannot flex on? Here’s my 1, 2, 3 that will guide you to a (hopefully) tear free bath, doctor’s appointment, or what have you:

1. Hear the feelings- Try something like: “Sweetie, I hear that you are very upset about going to the doctor’s office.”

2. Calmly state what needs to happen next- “Our appointment is soon so we need to leave in five minutes.”

3. Give control wherever you can- “Would you like ride piggy back to the car, race, or walk to the car? Your choice.” OR “Which toy would you like to take along with us?”

Thank you Julie for letting me guest post. Thank you for sharing your own parenting stories and for letting us watch your precious Amelia grow up!

--Jamie Hurst DeLuna, PhD
Avant Garde Parenting

F2F Friday: Heaven Sent Bears

 Modern moms amaze me. Informed, hard-working, loving, and always striving for that elusive balance. These days more than ever, we also find entrepreneurial moms. I'm sharing my Friends 2 Follow Friday feature with some of these moms - and real-life friends from my online mommy group.

Today's featured mama business is Heaven Sent Bears.

What is a Heaven Sent Bear?

A Heaven Sent Bear is a great way to keep alive the memory of a loved one or the memory of a special occasion. Turn grandma’s apron, grandpa’s favorite work shirt, baby clothes, or a communion outfit into a handmade bear to treasure for years to come.

What makes a Heaven Sent Bear so special?

The bears are made from fabric that is special to YOU. It could be clothing of a loved one who has passed away or clothing from a special occasion. The bears are made entirely from the clothing except for the stuffing, thread and sometimes the bow. They are hand and machine sewn.

How was Heaven Sent Bears born?
I started this venture back in November 2006 when my dad passed away suddenly. The first bears I made
were for my family in honor of my dad. After that, every now and then a friend would ask me to make a bear. A little over a year ago I was getting so many orders from friends of friends and people I didn’t know. That is when Heaven Sent Bears was officially born. Since then, I have made many bears to honor the memory of loved ones. I recently added special occasion bears. I've made bears out of NFL material, baby blankets, uniforms, etc.

Do you have some favorite bears?

I know all too well how precious a bear can be to a loved one. To this day I regularly hug my PopPop Bear (as my children call their bears). Making a bear is very therapeutic for my own healing. I love hearing about how a bear has helped in the grieving process or made someone smile because they remembered a special occasion from their past. Every bear is made with the same love and attention to detail. Of course, my favorite bears are the first 12 I made in memory of my Dad. However, the bears that hold a special place in my heart are 3 bears that I made for a friend and her children when they lost their husband/daddy way too soon.

For a truly heartfelt, special gift, be sure to visit Heaven Sent Bears on Facebook.  

F2F: Carrie With Children

Happy Friday!

Today, meet Carrie. A former PR professional, now a full-time stay-a-home mommy to a toddler and a sweet infant.

Blog? Carrie with Children

When was your blog born - and why?
I still consider myself a newbie to the blogosphere. I started my site at the end of September 2010 to share the story of my daughter Molly, who was born with Down syndrome. After about a week of blogging, I realized I was hooked and my site has now evolved into so much more than just a special needs blog - I'm enjoying sharing/learning parenting tips, meeting other parents and sharing my opinions on products and hosting giveaways too!

Carrie With Children can also be found on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

The writer behind the words - list 5 adjectives that describe you.
Friendly, Stubborn (or so my husband says), Positive, Procrastinator and Gullible

Something that recently made you laugh?
Santa brought my oldest daughter, Maggie a play kitchen and a chef costume for Christmas. I laugh at (and with) her daily while we "eat" the food she's cooked. I love that she gets really excited about wearing the chef outfit, complete with the chef hat too! I always get the giggles playing kitchen with her because I'm constantly trying to cleanup all the "food" that she's thrown on the ground and just as fast as I can pick it up, she's making a mess again. Ah, the life of a two-year old!

A favorite photo? I love this picture of my girls.

I'm biased, but they are just so happy and cute together! Maggie is so interested in her little sister and very anxious to play with her. Maggie is a little chatterbox and is always "talking" to her sister. I hope they grow to be the best of friends.

If you had 2 hours of pure "me" time, what would you do?
As the mom of two-year old Maggie and seven month old Molly, I'd be selfish and probably sleep all two hours. There are so many other productive things I should probably do with that time...but a mom never gets enough sleep and I could definitely use some time to catch up!

Friends 2 Follow Friday: Ballerina Babies

Welcome back to another Friends 2 Follow Friday! Can you believe it is already the last Friday in January? The year 2011 is already one month down.

I'm mixing it up a little bit today. I'm not featuring a semi-famous mommy/parenting blogger. I'm featuring an entrepreneurial crafty mom and her adorable Ballerina Babies Boutique.

Please LIKE the Ballerina Babies Boutique Facebook page to support a crafty mom. 

Describe your store/products.

Ballerina Babies Boutique sells handmade tutus and hair bows. My tutus are made of yards and yards of soft, fluffy tulle that is hand tied onto your choice of elastic or ribbon. They can be made in any size and color combination of your choice. My hair bows are boutique style, and are hand sewn together to ensure stability. They also come in your choice of color and style.


How did you get started making or selling these products?

I decided to sell tutus because when I was little I had a tutu that I wore ALL the time. It made me happy and I wanted to pass that happiness onto my daughter. The look of joy on a little girl's face when she's twirling around without a care in the world is priceless, and knowing that I was able to help create that joy makes it even better. I decided to sell hair bows because I just love them! They are a great addition to any outfit and they also look great with tutus!

(Photos from Christopher Scott Photography)


And by the way...  Eden is one of my online mommy friends, sharing in the joys and drama of raising an almost-three-year-old girl. Learn more about my online mommy group from a past post: Did I Just Say That?

F2F Friday: Kludgy Mom

Many thanks to Gigi for stepping in for today's Friends 2 Follow Friday! And thanks to Gigi for introducing me to a fantastic new word:

A kludgy mom (clue-gee mom) is a mom who uses clumsy or inelegant, yet effective, solutions to problems, typically using items that are cobbled together. In other words, a mom who makes things up as they go.

Blog Name? KludgyMom

Find Kludgy Mom on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

Five adjectives that describe you?
Snarky, Honest, Silly, Hungry and sometimes Sappy!
Something that recently made you laugh?
My son, Boy Wonder, told me that I had a "badonkadonk."

A favorite photo?

This is a picture of my kids at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas from Thanksgiving 2010. I just think it's gorgeous and reminds me of California...which is home, and I miss it.


If you could spend a weekend by yourself anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
If I could spend a weekend anywhere by myself, I'd probably jet off to Florence, Italy. it's a place I've always wanted to visit, and I'd get to just slow down a little bit, eat delicious food and surround myself with historical beauty.

Friends 2 Follow Friday: Creative Liar

New year, same F2F Friday feature - but with a couple new questions. And today, with some really funny answers.

Welcome, Ericka! Thanks for making me laugh.

Blog name? Creative Liar

When was your blog born - and why?
Creative Liar was born on December 6, 2010 strictly to save my sanity. Previously, I had a blog called Alabaster Cow where I frequently talked about my backside and my chihuahuas' tendency to leave little gifts all over my tile floor. For some reason, my little stories went over big and I had quite a few followers but I got swept up into the whole advertising/writing posts to sell people's products scene and I realized it wasn't for me. I just wanted to write your run of the mill snarky humor/writing/vegan blog. Isn't that everyone's dream in life??

Twitter/Facebook:
Find Erika on TWITTER
Creative Liar on FACEBOOK
The writer behind the words - list 5 adjectives that describe you.
*Gelastic
*Fatuous
*Balmy
*Iconoclastic
*Facile

I totally just went on Thesaurus.com to look those up. But in all seriousness I'd say I'm funny (at least I try to be), open-minded, irreverent, kind, and stubborn.

Something that recently made you laugh?
My daughter pooped on my husband today. He did not find this to be as amusing as I did but I have to applaud his patience. I would have started a small fire in a waste basket, burned my clothing and commenced a crying session while standing naked in the kitchen. He did none of these things.

A favorite photo?

This photo was my blog button for my old blog, Alabaster Cow. It's a photo of my daughter pleasantly trapped underneath our red couch. Someone asked me once if I put her under there for the photo. That person didn't have children so I allowed it.
And no, she sought the comfort of our dust bunnies all on her own.

If you could spend a weekend by yourself anywhere in the world, where would you go & why?
Hmmm...somewhere to write. Maybe a bed and breakfast with a nice view somewhere in Ireland. Or a shack in the middle of the woods. Doesn't matter. It's the "by myself" part that's incredibly intriguing...

It's baaaaack! F2FF: Momma Kiss

It is the first Friday of 2011. The first Friday of the year my daughter turns three. The first Friday of my blog's second year. Hopefully the first of many happy, healty, family Fridays.

Also, the return of Friends 2 Follow Friday on 3MomsIn1.com!

Welcome Momma Kiss! Check out her mini invterview below. And her blog. She's freaking hilarious. (Just make sure to bring your sense of humor)

Blog name? MommaKiss

When was your blog born - and why?
I started blogging in 2008? On Blogspot, anyway. Before that I had a multiply blog – where certain posts were private and many public. But yes, I jumped to the blogspot and never looked back. I figured I had stories to tell that my husband was sick of hearing and seriously? I make myself laugh. Often. So I thought I’d share it. I’ve been anon from the start, though – which has been a Godsend to me! Allows me to talk about people any ole way I want.

Follow MommaKiss on TWITTER

The writer behind the words - list 5 adjectives that describe you.
Quirky, Loyal, Scarastic, Loving and Bold


Something that recently made you laugh?
My child, doing “warm ups” for a game he was playing with his little brother. His warm ups were ballerina twirls. I have no idea.

Favorite holiday memory?
If we’re speaking Christmas, it would have to be the year that my husband’s gift was a trip to Disney World. Now I’ve had really fun family holidays and they’ve been super fun since having kids, but that year, we were still just dating, I was 27 and had never seen Disney World. I’m not like some mega fan of the characters or anything, but just the fact that he knew I wanted to see it and knew I believed in that kid/magical world crap really made me realize he “got” me.

Have you ever kept a new year's resolution?
Nope, because I don’t make them.

If you had 2 hours of pure "me" time, what would you do?
These days, just sleep. Seriously. I really miss reading without interruption. And watching t.v. shows at my leisure instead of rushing through them after the kids are in bed. Maybe I’d bake? Man, the list could go on and on and on…

Ho Ho Holiday

Once again, I am in awe of the lovely and talented people I have met in my short blogging life span. I managed to squeeze myself into a fine group for a Ho Ho Holiday Swap. Today, I will be a guest poster on Wonder, Friend. Check it out HERE. 

My fabulous guest post comes from Ashley at Just Another Mom of 2.
Enjoy!

Our Magic Tree

There's nothing quite like getting settled in a new state only days before Christmas. While moving at any time of the year is stressful, the holidays take it to a whole new level. We typically drive and bring along our Christmas decorations. However,this year, because we were moving so far- from the East Coast to Alaska- we decided to take a new approach. We would simply put Christmas together- in 5 days or less. Piece of cake.

Ahem.

Of course, the main component to our celebration is the Christmas tree. We did not think twice about it- I mean, really, how hard could it be to find a tree in Alaska?

Ahem again.

Sure enough, there was some sort of Christmas tree shortage in all of Anchorage. Yes, seriously. We drove all around, visited multiple nurseries, called high and low- all as we drove past no fewer than three hundred perfect Christmas trees on the side of the highway.

Finally, after hours of searching and tears and frustration, we call the last number on the google search list. Our toddler had now been screaming for forty-five minutes, our five year old had been repeating "where's our tree" for hours, and we were now pulling into a parking lot called Bob's for our outdoorsy tree adventure.
We cautiously got the kids out of the car, glancing suspiciously at the -very- tiny selection- none taller than my 22 month old. Snow had started to fall, the sun was setting and it was about 5 degrees outside.
I'm not sure if the man saw my daughter's tear-stained cheeks or the ones threatening to spill out of my eyes, but he led us around to the side. He told us he had this one bundled up for someone, but they had changed their mind and wanted a smaller one instead. He was closing up and had all but forgotten about it- but said it was ours if we wanted it.

Bob became our new hero. And a few hours later, as we settled in front of the tree, with the fire blazing and the snow falling outside, the day became our new favorite memory.

Want more holiday memories? Here's a linky to our Ho Ho Holiday Swap participants!