My next door neighbor, Kathy, just had her first baby a few months ago and has been thrown into the wonderful world of motherhood. She loves caring for her son, Jeremy and is relishing her new role. However, she is trying the balancing act every mother must quickly establish whether she is staying home with a newborn, working outside the home with young children in school or have preteens turning her world upside down! [Read more]
My daughter, Anna Maria, is a lover of the earth and has encouraged me to take better care of my corner of the planet. A few years ago she was talking about hanging a clothes line and drying her clothes outside. I decided to surprise her and order one from the internet and send it to her. While I was pricing the different styles, I saw one that was perfect! The best way to describe it’s structure to someone is to tell them to picture an umbrella turned inside out from a severe wind storm. It was big enough to hold a few loads and best of all, it was portable.
Now, I grew up with a gas dryer. I remember a neighbor having a clothes line and when it rained, my mom let her use our dryer. The closest I ever came to line drying clothes was in a hotel room. (And does a pair of panty hose and underwear count?) [Read more]
I was room mom for my daughter’s class for 3 years and had a wonderful time celebrating all the usual holidays and took advantage of some overlooked holidays. When my daughter went on to 6th grade, I was ready to put on my room mom apron and kick off the school year. I was shocked and yes, I must admit, little hurt, when she asked that I take a back seat this year. I think she wanted to spread her wings at her new school and having a mom everyone knew would certainly cramp her style!
I learned so much about budgeting, party planning and crafting while I was a room mom and wanted to share some of those tips! Here are ten tips for room moms and will also come in handy for any party planner on a budget.
I used my position as room mom to teach the children bout the world outside of theirs. We not only had parties, we learned about other cultures, life styles and even did charity work. [Read more]
My husband and I are fans of talk show host and money guru, Dave Ramsey. In fact, he is the at the source of most of my blogs about budgeting and finances. One tool Dave employs in the use of “money envelopes”. My husband and I have incorporated these tools into our budget and have achieved success and have come to rely on our envelopes daily.
The envelope system is based on the fact that most people are more aware of what they are spending if they are using cold hard cash. The feeling of handing over two $100 dollar bills for a purchase at the mall stings more than running a debit card and punching in your PIN. I know as a mother, I actually see “cash” laying on the floor of my daughter’s room in the form of brand new jeans and t shirt!
As a mother of three children, I am so disheartened about the trend in Hollywood and in reality shows featuring moms raising children with cameras capturing every move. Specifically, I am referring to Kris Jenner, Kate Gosslin, Deana Lohan, and all of the Real Housewives of Orange County.
Kris Jenner, a self proclaimed “momager” and matriarch of the Kardashian children exploits her more than willing daughters to display themselves as tawdry sex objects, including going behind her husband’s back to book her daughters for a nude Playboy Magazine shoot. I am not a prude, all I am saying is; is this the job of a mom? Do you not realize what most men use these photos for Kris? You are a big grown up girl, so I am assuming you do know, it just doesn’t matter to you. I think the one photo that bothered me so much was the one of a very pregnant daughter in g-string and thigh highs posing in a sexual position…again, I say, I can see how some smarmy agent would arrange that photo shoot…not a mother and future grandmother.
RECIPE FOR HOMEMADE DOG FOOD
Why make this for your dogs? Read on…
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