Archive for the ‘Home And Family’ Category

I Can’t Find My Homework, Mom! "Ask My Dear, and It Shall be Given to You!"

Friday, March 25, 2011


Do you believe in asking God, or whatever higher power you choose to believe in, for the answers you need, when you need them? Read below for an enlightening story about my 11 year old daughter’s missing homework papers.

The problem started when my daughter took a break from her homework to eat dinner. She asked me if she could take it in her room and work on it while watching TV.

(Not a good idea, BTW).
Even the best of us moms have our weak moments. :o )

Anyhow, by the time dinner was over, there was no homework to be found.

As with all lost items, I suggested the usual mom replies.
“Retrace your steps.”
“Think, where was the last place you wrote an answer down on it.”

She spent 15 minutes of looking, another 10 minutes of tears for fear of getting detention, during her first week of middle school, (for not turning in homework.) All the tears and whining in frustration were followed with another 10 minutes of both of us looking, and still no homework.

Can you relate?

I bet as a mom, you have probably, been there, done that, if not with homework, with a child’s shoes, your car keys. etc…..

I had recently been reading and studying up on manifesting your life, and creating the life you want by projecting a positive attitude, following your intuition. I had been real motivated and psyched with what I was learning.

“Okay mom, I thought to myself,”
“now you can put all this philosophy to the test.”

I said,

“Let’s kneel down on the floor right now, and ask God to help us find your homework.”
She started to giggle as if to say, but she knew not to dare say it out loud,
“Yeah right, Mom!”

We knelt down and I lead her in a short but to the point prayer. Although small in time, it was still filled with gratitude but we did request immediate help to find her homework.

I can see some of you laughing at me, as this story unfolds.

As soon as we were done, I stood up. I told her to take a deep breath and relax. I did the same. Then I went to the kitchen. I thought to myself,
“maybe she was still hungry and brought the homework out here while looking for something else to eat.”

I started to walk to the refrigerator. :o ) Well who knows, it could have been in there. But before I even got that far, I glanced over to the counter, and there sat her homework packet, on top of the toaster.

I picked it up and took it back to the living room. Now remember, I told her to take a deep breath and relax. She wasn’t even through relaxing and I had already found her homework.

Needless to say, my daughter had a hard time believing that I hadn’t known it was there all along.

She did know that though, because she had heard my anguish and frustration just minutes earlier with her misplacing it.

Was it just coincidence?
Did I just get lucky?

I believe we create our own luck. I have been studying hard lately to eliminate negative thoughts and replace them with power affirming thoughts instead.

I believe God did just what I asked him too. It was my intuition that led me to the kitchen with the thought about her maybe being hungry. The fact that she might have been looking for food when she set down her homework led me straight to the toaster.

In my humble opinion, it was God who planted those thoughts into my mind, because we asked him for some help. When He answers us so quickly, it is really almost impossible not to believe and have faith.

If it was only that easy to have the same type of faith if we were to ask to win the lottery, (which I don’t feel is really an appropriate prayer,however). To believe that he could remove all thought, or doubt in our minds that we wouldn’t, it might just happen too.

How many of you can honestly say, when you buy a lottery ticket, it is an absolute winner, that you have not one flickering of a doubt that you will have the winning numbers? You would have to have miraculous faith to do this.

You can’t really, because it is next to impossible for the human mind, knowing the odds of actually winning, to eliminate all traces of doubt in that particular scenerio. Some of those thoughts are buried so deep in your subconscious that you are not even aware of them.

In contrast though, it was fairly easy for me to have faith that God could help me find my daughter’s homework, because I knew it hadn’t grown feet and walked out the door. :o )

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Children, Household Chores and the Value of Contracts

Friday, December 31, 2010


An important part of implementing a household chore system is creating a formal agreement, commonly called a contract, for every member of the household. A contract defines the parent’s expectations and provides direction and parameters for the children. A contract can be a general form explaining household rules or a complex detailing of chore responsibilities for a specific person. For households with teenagers or even adults who shirk their responsibilities around the home, contracts can help pave the way to a new, orderly household in where everyone formally agrees to carry their own weight.

One main advantage of using contracts as part of a household chore system is that it reduces confusion about what needs to get done how, when, where and by whom. Contracts allow both the chore assigner and the chore assignee to agree on specifics. If chore processes are outlined in black and white, expectations are more likely to be understood and chores are more likely to be completed. For a household newly introduced to a formal routine of chores, contracts can be an invaluable tool for negotiating the maintenance of and organization the home.

Contract types aren’t limited in content. It should reflect the family’s personality and values. When devising your own, consider important areas that you’d like it to cover. Some common topics touched upon in contracts are listed below.

• Behavior. Outline acceptable and unacceptable behavior and attitudes towards chores. Provide guidelines for interaction with other household members also participating in the chore routine.

• Description of chores. Detail what specific chores are expected to be completed by each family member. Step-by-step descriptions reduce confusion and make the successful completion of each chore non-negotiable.

• Timeline and dates. Define the timeline that chores are to be complete. Also take the opportunity to insert clauses about periodic contract review times in which a signer can look forward to having their contract modified.

• Consequences and Rewards. Make signers accountable to their contract by reminding them what the consequences and rewards are for abiding by the contract or by breaking it. Define specific consequences and rewards, including punishments. Put figures into contracts if you’re working with allowances.

• Miscellaneous. Add anything else that you feel is important to include in the contract. Many parents think to add stipulations to the contract here. For example, they may say that rewards for completed chores are forfeited if homework is not completed, household rules aren’t respected or if the chore performer is disrespectful about completing the chore.

It’s inevitable that as a household evolves, its needs will change as well. Making an allowance for future contract modifications, on top of the agreed to review period, can keep all family members satisfied with its contents.

By developing contracts that parallel the needs of your family, its members perceive their agreements to keep a household functional to be binding. Don’t be surprised if you find a new, more committed attitude toward the upkeep of your home, from the entire family, when a formal agreement is in place.

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Beware of Rice Milk and Soy Milk for Infants and Toddlers

Monday, November 1, 2010


Rice milk and soy milk sound healthy and good for you but are you aware that these beverages are not really good for the health of babies and toddlers? Rice milk and soy milk should never be confused with or used as a replacement for weaning to whole cow milk nor should they be used as a replacement for breast milk or fortified infant formulas. This article will explore why parents should not use these alternative beverages for weaning.

Whole cow milk contains a variety of nutrients that are among those crucial to building good health in babies and toddlers. Many of these nutrients are not naturally occurring in “alternative beverages” and while those beverages may be fortified, naturally occurring nutrients are best. It is most important to distinguish the difference between a soy formula and soy milk; soy formula is formulated with the nutrients an infant requires whereas soy milk is not. You should never switch your infant from a soy based formula to plain soy milk!

Whole cow milk contains natural calcium that is more easily absorbed and bio-available than calcium from other sources. It contains the “good” fats that are crucial to both infant and toddler development; a reason why pediatricians recommend whole milk for a minimum of the first 2-3 years of age. Whole cow milk is also a great source of protein, another nutrient that is crucial in healthy development. Vitamin A and B12, along with some other B Vitamins, are also found in whole milk and these Vitamins are essential in proper growth.

Rice Milk in particular is low in fat which is not recommended for those under 2 years of age and it is also low in (if not completely devoid of) protein. Soy milk also contains a lower level of fats.

“Low-fat soy milk and rice milk contain low levels of fat and protein. If these products are used parents must be sure children are getting adequate fat and protein from other dietary sources. Infants get adequate fat and protein from breastmilk or infant formula. Full-fat soy milk is generally recommended for young children. Breastfeeding a child during the second year of life helps assure adequate fat and protein intake as well.”?

Soy milk does not contain a good level natural calcium nor does it contain the level of fat and protein that whole cow milk does. Soy milk may also hinder the absorption of calcium even though it may be calcium fortified due to the phylates that it contains! If you find that your older infant or toddler may have an allergy to dairy – either a milk protein allergy or a sensitivity to lactose, or that you simply wish to exclude dairy products from your diet, using these “alternative” beverages as substitutes are good options. While these beverages may be good options, you should discuss a nutritional plan with your baby or toddler’s pediatrician. You must ensure that your growing child receives calcium, fats, proteins and vitamins and minerals from other natural sources!

Offering your toddler these “milks” as an occasional drink should not pose any adverse health risks as long as you realise that these drinks are not enough to provide optimal nutrition. You should consult your pediatrician and/or a pediatric dietician to discuss ways to ensure that your infant or toddler receives the nutrients crucial to his or her healthy development.

Resources and Learning More:

Milk and Milk Alternatives for Toddlers Severe Nutritional Deficiencies in Toddlers Resulting From Health Food Milk Alternatives Vegan Children? Vegetarian Nutrition Soy Milk (not soy formula!) & Infant Death

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How to Grow Strawberries in New England

Saturday, September 18, 2010




Sweet, juicy, ripe strawberries! What could be better than picking one right from your own garden and eating it out of hand. Or you might want to gather a bowlful, slice them and serve them over homemade shortcake biscuits or cake. If you grow enough, you can even make jam and preserve it or freeze it. Someone said once that strawberry preserves are like “summer in a jar.”

But here in New England, whether you live in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massacusetts, Rhode Island or Connecticut, growing strawberries can be a challenge. Spring warmth often turns to snow squalls or long damp, cold days. Winter is snowy and cold and frost travels deep into the ground, heaving it up in the spring. Summers can be hot and dry or cool and rainy, depending on the year, or a combination of both for long periods.

It’s essential that you choose a type of strawberry that grows well in the Northeast. Some types that do well here are Earliglow, Redchief and Allstar, but my favorite is Cavendish, which does very well in Maine where I live. It produces large sweet fruit and is tolerant of uneven growing conditions and weather. I’ve had very good luck with it for several years and would recommend it if your garden soil is heavy and/or clay-like.

Your local Extension Office can advise you on what types grow best in your area and also give you growing tips for your particular situation. They’re also able to help with pest problems, soil analysis and diseases of strawberries. You’d be well advised to use their services which are usually free.

Except for the day neutral types, which we won’t get into here, strawberries do best in hills in a bed that is wide enough so that their runners can be covered with soil, thereby producing new plants. For the first year, it’s wise to pinch off the flowerbuds, so that they’ll produce more and bigger berries the second year. When runners appear, bury them and they’ll produce new plants.

Weeding your strawberry bed is very important, because weeds will choke the plants and reduce the yield. Mulching is a good idea also, to keep down weeds and reduce damage from moisture and dirt. Clean straw can be used and is, in fact, how strawberries got their name. Growers used straw to mulch them.

In the fall, you should always mulch the beds to protect the plants from winter damage. Remove all the leaves and cover the crowns with a thin layer of mulch. You can add fertilizer, organic is best, at this time. In the spring, remove the mulch from the top of the crowns and water regularly. Soon, you’ll have another crop of sweet, juicy strawberries from your own garden.

Strawberry beds will usually produce a decent crop for up to 5 years. After that, replanting is necessary. You might want to grow two varieties and experiment with a third, to see which does best where you live. That way, you could also plant one variety that produces a spring crop, one that produces in June and one that bears sporadically all season.

Once you’ve grown your own strawberries, you’ll never want to be without some in the freezer or fridge or in jam on a shelf in your pantry. Full of antioxidants, vitamins and flavor, strawberries are one of the best things to grow in your New England garden.
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Make a Personalized Baby Pillow With Embroidery

Wednesday, July 14, 2010


A personalized baby pillow is a fantastic gift for a new parent. It is personal and one of a kind. It will be a keepsake that will be cherished for years to come and probably passed down to the child when they are old enough to appreciate it.

There are a number of ways to personalize a baby pillow, but using embroidery may give you so many options. No matter if the baby is a boy or girl, or what kind of design you want you will be able to find an appropriate pattern.

There are couple ways you can tackle making your embroidered baby pillow. You can start from scratch, and just make the pillow itself after you’ve done the embroidery. This is probably the easiest approach.

You can also buy a small baby pillow at the story. To get your embroidery on the pillow you can buy a small piece of fabric, cut it into a circle or a square, whichever will match your pillow, then sew on a ruffle around the edges. Once you have this decorative piece of embroidered fabric you can sew it on to the front of your pillow.

The last option is you can buy a embroidered baby pillow kit. You can find these any number of places online, and they will contain everything you need to finish your project, including the fabric, embroidery floss, and pillow form or stuffing. If you have never attempted this type of project, this might be your best option, as the instructions will be very clear, and you will be able to follow along quite well.

If you are not going with a kit, you need to find an embroidery pattern. Before you can find a pattern you need to figure out what kind of design you want on your pillow. If you don’t have any ideas, you can search online. If you just do a search for embroidery baby patterns. You will find you have many to choose from. You can get most patterns online for free. If you do not know how, or don’t want to search online you can always get a book of embroidery patterns. This option will give you a whole book of ideas, and you will have them all in one place and easy to find for your next project.

If you are at a loss for a gift idea for a new baby coming into your life, why not create an embroidered baby pillow. It will be much appreciated, and even it’s your first try at a sewing project it will be all that much more special.

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Stroller Buying Guide

Saturday, June 19, 2010


Stroller Handle Bars – The stroller handle bar is an important feature of any stroller. You want the handles to meet your particular height comfortably. Stroller handles are usually most comfortable if they meet level to your hips. It doesn’t have to line up exactly, but you should not feel as though you are stooping down low to push the stroller. The stroller handle bar also shouldn’t be so tall that it becomes awkward to push the stroller with full control. If there will be people of different heights pushing the stroller, you may elect for an adjustable height stroller.

Stroller Wheels – Smaller swiveling wheels are easier to maneuver. They handle turns and quick changes in direction well. Smaller wheel strollers are good for walking and smooth surfaces.

Larger wheels are easier to push over rugged terrain and are better for jogging. Large stroller wheels give you a smoother glide and easier curb and bump handling.

Pneumatic Stroller Wheels – Pneumatic stroller wheels are air filled tires. They provide a cushioned comfortable ride and they run smooth over uneven surfaces. They are usually found on full size and jogger strollers.

When considering strollers keep in mind your cargo/trunk capacity of your vehicle. The larger tire strollers take up a lot of cargo space and may not fold as flat as strollers with smaller tires.

Stroller Width – It is important to consider stroller width when making your decision. Most doorways are 32 inches wide. So some double/twin and jogger strollers wider than 30 inches may have problems fitting through doorways. And you don’t want to discover your stroller is too wide on your first trip out with your new baby and no preparation.

Stroller Seats- When considering stroller seats you should keep in mind that it is recommended that babies up to six months old lie in the fully reclined position. If you will be transferring your infant car seat to the stroller (so you don’t disturb your baby) you must make sure the stroller you choose is compatible with your infant car seat.

Stroller Seat Pad – One thing that is unavoidable with babies are spills, spit-ups, and the occasional diaper malfunction or accident. You may want to choose a stroller with easy-to-remove, machine washable stroller seat pads.

Stroller Color – Your stroller color reflects your artistic side as well as your babies, it is your personal choice. Light colors and bright colors are easier to see if you will be walking or jogging in dimly lit areas. Light colors will help your baby stay cooler in the sun and summer just as yourself. Darker stroller colors are more traditional and more resistant to staining.

You can save countless hours and hundreds of dollars by having a stroller buying guide before you buy.
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The Antique White Baby Crib

Saturday, April 17, 2010




The Antique White Baby Crib is a classic that doesn’t change with the times. It enhances and brightens any baby nursery by giving it a warm, safe, and loving feel. White baby furniture has always been a desired favorite amongst parents, grandparents and caregivers. The blessed event of a new baby along with all of the joy and hope they bring seems to materialize when you walk into a room filled with antique white baby furniture.

The baby crib has been around for hundreds of years in some form or another. In today’s society we want everything quick and easy, modern and sleek, stylish and trendy, and that mindset has transferred over to sweet, precious little babies. For the discerning parent or caregiver that doesn’t want there baby caught up in the hustle and bustle mindset of current day America, the antique white baby crib is a must. Have your baby sleep in an exquisitely designed, or hand crafted crib if possible, like those made by Simplicity Ellis. Your baby’s crib is their metaphoric roots and foundation, since that is where they will spend most of their first year of life. Start steering your baby where you want them to go right from the start with your crib d?cor.

The antique white baby crib may be a little more difficult to find than many of your basic cribs or portable units. But this is the age of the Internet, where you have almost everything at your fingertips with a point and a click. Stanley-Young America makes an entire nursery room of antique white baby furniture. You can get the Isabella Crib that comes in an antique white finish. The Isabella Built to Grow Crib can also grow with your baby from infancy to adulthood. Crib conversion kits are sold separately. You also have a variety of baby furniture to choose from to complete your nursery, including a crib drawer, changing station, and baby dresser. So finding your antique white baby crib, along with other classic baby bedding can be simple as a point and click.
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Making a Pillow-Form Pillow Like the One You Saw in the Store

Sunday, March 7, 2010


Did you recently see a pillow in the store that you liked? Do you want to make it at home but don’t know much about using a pillow form? Let’s figure it out together. Let’s say the pillow was black and had a white stripe in the middle, it was a striped pillow with the two black stripes on either end and a white one in the middle.

You decided you want your pillow to be 16×16 and have purchased the corresponding size of pillow form. You could use a pattern, but why not play a little until you get exactly what you want. What you will end up with is a uniquely designed one of a kind pillow created by you.

This project is basically all straight lines. Let’s choose some fabric and get a tape measure and have some fun. If you don’t want the black/white pattern on the back, just choose a corresponding color of fabric for the back. Then cut out a piece of the fabric you have chosen for the back in a 17.5″ x 17.5″ square.

Next, cut one white panel and two black panels, each panel will be 17.5″ x 6″. Sew them together, making sure to put the”right” sides together when you sew them together, along the long sides. Next you are going to take the piece for the back and the pieces you’ve sewn together for the front and sew them together. Make sure you leav a space of about 9″ open in the middle of one of the sides, this is how you will turn it right side out and get your pillow form inside the pillow. . Reach your hand in through the opening and turn the thing right side out. Squish the pillow form and gently shove it in though the opening; Make sure the pillow form is sitting evenly and reaches into all the corners. Carefully hand stitch the opening shut.

If you want the panels on the back, too, just cut another set of panels instead of the 17.5″ square back piece. I think it would be fun if the front was black-white-black and the back was white-black-white, but that’s just me.

If you want different sized panels on your pillow you can just experiment, cutting different size pieces to piece together for your front piece. Just make sure the numbers all add up to 18. For example, you could have 2 black panels 7″ wide and a 4″ white one, for example, or you could have a 9″ black, a 6″ white, and a 3″ black one, the point is all your panels have to add up to 18 inches. If you feel more comfortable you can always draw this out on paper and color it in so you can see what it’ll look like before you cut your fabric.

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4 Great Ways to Create Invitations With a Baby Footprint Stamp

Saturday, February 13, 2010


When it comes to making baby footprint invitations there are a lot of options to choose from. You are limited only by your creativity. Here are 4 great ideas for ways you can make a baby footprint invitation.

There are some really easy ways to make these invitations, and some are more complicated, let’s take the easiest first.

The first suggestion is the easiest. You can get a baby footprint invitation kit to make the invitations. Everything will be included in the kit, the baby footprint stamp, the envelopes, the paper, everything you need. You just have to do the stamping, and some have a spot for pictures, so you’ll add the picture and then fill them out. It’s a quick, easy and cute option for those who don’t have a lot of time for crafting or just don’t have the inclination.

The second option is to find printable invitations online. Once you find an invitation you like you simply print them out on whatever paper you have selected. ?You can find tons of different invitations with baby footprints on them online. Many of these sites are made so you can simply print them out on your own paper. You can jazz these up by using fun and interesting paper you get at the craft store. After you print them all you need to do is fill in the information.

The third option if for the craftier among you. You can get a baby footprint rubber stamp, and other baby related stamps, you can find these at your local scrapbooking store. While you’re at the scrapbooking store check out their wide array of papers and find some cute paper. When choosing paper for invitations I would choose either light colored paper or paper with a muted pattern. Once you’ve chosen your paper and your stamps you can just start adding your own personal design. This will almost ensure you give each person a unique invitation.

When you are making this type of invitation you may want to have one baby footprint or you could even have a few of them so it looks like the footprints are walking, it’s really up to you. You could even do a dance pattern in baby footprints. ?Just get creative and have fun.

The fourth option is to make the entire invitation in the shape of a baby footprint. You can find a template in a magazine ~ just cut out a baby foot from an advertisement. If you have a toddler you could even trace their foot. Once you have the foot you want to use, simply draw around it on a piece of heavy duty poster board. This will serve as your template. Then choose the paper you want to use for your invitations and cut around your template footprint. You can embellish these invitations with stickers, or even just sparkly pens. Just remember, a little goes a long way.

If you are creating invitations for a celebration where a baby is involved baby footprint invitations are a fun and creative way to go. I hope you have gotten some interesting ideas. Now get out there, and have some fun!

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Ten Activities To Entertain Your Toddler

Wednesday, January 6, 2010


Having an 18 month old myself, I know how hard it can be to entertain your toddler. I seem to revert to the same old activities which not only bores her, but it bores me as well. There’s not much worse than a bored toddler. This article provides 10 activities to help you entertain your toddler.

Get Artistic:

My little one loves to color. I cover our coffee table in a large piece of craft paper and get out the crayons, pens and pencils and finger paints. She loves to draw and my table is protected. Just keep an eye out for eating the crayons.

Play-doh:

Fairly self explanatory. Make sure to cover your floor to keep your carpet clean. Again keep an eye out for eating the play-doh.

Slide:

Either go to the playground or you can buy a small tiny tikes slide and put it right in the living room. I bought one at a garage sale for 5 bucks. The best money I think I’ve spent.

Tent or TeePee:

We got a cloth teepee at the county fair this year. I thought she was a little young for it, but she loves it. She takes pillows and blankets in there and runs in and out. We recently acquired a “play hut.” It’s made out of tent material, has a couple larger rooms and tunnels connect them. She loves it. We don’t leave it up all the time, so when it does come out it’s exciting.

I-Spy:

Whether you spy ears, bellybuttons, or sheep or dogs. I-Spy gets toddlers involved in learning new words and begin to learn to individuate items. For example, my little one is learning that sheep are not dogs.

Kitchen Play:

Fill a bottom cabinet, away from the stove, with different sized plastic containers. They can bang them together and start stacking them inside one another. Helps keep them entertained while you are doing dishes, or making dinner.

Dance:

Dancing is such fun. Just turn on the radio or a CD and get silly with your little one. Mine dances to just about anything. I love to see how she dances differently to different kinds of music. Be silly, Have fun, dance like no one’s watching.

Go to the park:

Get some fresh air, swing, play with other kids.

Play dress up:

Get some old t-shirts, dresses and even older siblings hand me downs, and dress up. Get them to use their imagination, pretend to be a princess or a farmer.

Make a “favorites” book:

Look through old magazines together and let them find things they like. Cut the pictures out of the magazine and paste them onto construction paper. Wrtite what they are on each page then tie the pages together. Now she has a little book of her “favorites”.

Hopefully this gets you started and will help get your imagination going as well as your toddlers. With a jumpstart of ideas it’s much easier to start thinking of more and more ways to entertain your toddler.

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