Thursday, May 27, 2010

Find a Place to Take a Nap



An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard one afternoon.  I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.  He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let
him out.
The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.
Curious I pinned a note to his collar: ‘I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.’
The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: ‘He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3?” He’s has found a place  to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?’ 
Posted at http://creatorscreatures.blogspot.com on April 18,2010

I just received this email and I found it to relating to my present situation. Last weekend I was starting a new book and I wanted to hide and outline my thoughts. After the fourteenth interruption I got on the internet and found a nice hotel. I booked me a room, packed an overnight bag and left. This was one of the nicest weekends I have had in a while. Sometimes we just need to do whatever it is to takes to take care of ourselves. I came home rested, destressed and with an out line.
Tip: Find a place to take a nap if that is what you need or escape to a hotel. Take care of yourself you take care of everyone else don’t you? find some “ME” Time.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

New articles at Mom-Stuff.com


TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY-gift for your kids teachers http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/290.cfm

If You Won’t Stop Type 2 diabetes NOW, Probably will Hate Yourself Later http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/289.cfm
Activities to build Self-Esteem in Children http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/287.cfm
Fathers Day ideas still posted to help you celebrate your day. www.mom-stuff.com.
Promote your mom-stuff affiliate. Make a post about any link from mom-stuff. Always use public links (these are free links) when promoting your mom-stuff affiliate. If you have not signed up for your free affiliate with mom-stuff do it now. We can all use an extra income stream in todays economy.  It is really easy, just pick your mom-stuff banner linked to your mom-stuff ID, post it on your site. Our system does all of the tracking and you make 50% commissions on all of your friends who join. Then they join and make money from their friends. It is a win/win system. We are keeping the membership fees low so everyone can afford this opportunity. It is less then .30 a day. Mom-Stuff is all about moms helping supporting and educating each other. Please email any article you want to share on Mom-Stuff.com. If you feel that we do not have a category that your information will fit, no worries, we will create one

The Perfect Grocery Shopping List



Jane Alais is the creator of DeclutterBeFree.com and the author of “Get Organized-Get Happy, A Step-By-Step Guide to Organize Success in Your Home and Your Life,”  and continues to learn and teach the skills to become clutter free and organized.  Visit her web site at http://www.declutterbefree.com/
Discover how to organize the perfect grocery shopping list so you can reduce your grocery bill by 20% and save hours of time every week. A good grocery shopping list prevents impulse and over buying, keeps you on track with your food budget, gets you organizing your meals and makes you a better comparison shopper plus eliminates the need for expensive take away. It can save you hours a week by making your shopping quicker and prevent those time consuming expensive one off runs to the supermarket because there is nothing for lunch tomorrow or you are missing one ingredient for dinner tonight.
Take an A4 paper and make ten small columns or make a permanent copy on your computer that you can print out. Once you have made your columns follow these five organizing tips for the best grocery shopping list ever.
Create food categories and organize your food into groups to make sure you include everything you need. Some common categories are: Fruit, Vegetables, Dairy and Eggs, Meat, Bread and Cereal, Pasta and sauces, Deli and Condiments which are any thing that add flavor to food such as spices, ketchup and mustards.
Mentally walk through your supermarket and write down your categories in the same order you find them in the store. This alone can reduce your shopping trip by half an hour and eliminate back tracking, running around and looking for things as well as forgetting items.
Add categories for those special items you buy in specialty shops. If you like to buy bread at a special bakery or fish at another shop make a category with the shop’s name and add the items you want to buy there to your list.
Fill in your regular purchases ASAP. Most families require the same things in the same amounts every week, such as milk, bread and cereal so as soon as you make your list add in your regular purchases as soon as your new list is made.
Set limits and amounts as you fill in your grocery list. Start to think in how many bags, boxes, pieces and amounts you need. Left over items you buy less of the next week, items that were eaten and enjoyed you can buy more of. Don’t over buy perishable food but larger amounts of dry goods may be cheaper in the long run. Just looking at amounts can reduce wasted food, lets you tailor your grocery list to your family’s needs and makes your money go further.
Put your grocery shopping list on your fridge so anyone can add a food item that has just run out. Add to your list when you think of something you will need to buy so when it comes to your grocery shopping day your list is almost done and completing the list takes minutes. Make a perfect grocery list for you, so life can be a little easier and shopping for food is a pleasure and not a chore.
Need help with organizing? See http://www.declutterbefree.comand get a free report.
Jane Alais is a professional organizer, the creator of Declutter Befree and the author of Get Organized-Get Happy A Step by Step Guide to Organize Success in Your Home and Your Life. She writes about strategies and solutions that make life easier by deluttering, organizing and energizing your home and your life.

Monday, May 24, 2010

My Favorite Teacher



May 24th, 2010
Over at Terra Del Sole they are doing a shared post called Mia Monday. What is Mia Monday? This is all about you. This is a Meme about us…we often take the time for everyone else, so this is a time for our us to take the time to write all about ourselves. Every week I will have three themes for you to choose from…post your link below, take the button and please follow. Visit some other people and leave a comment to the others joining “Mia Monday”. Try to visit at least three others from “Mia Monday” this gives you a chance to meet new people, and really get to know them. Here are the three themes this week.  There are three topics to choose from.
I decided to join in because I have been thinking about teachers gifts since it is the end of the school year, here. One of the topics was Most Memorable Teacher
What grade did they teach?
Did they make a impact on your life?
Why were they so special?
Would you want this teacher to teach your child?
The most noted teacher in my memory was a beautiful Second Grade Teacher. I do not remember her name but I will never forget what I learned from her.  She was my daughters teacher at a very hard time in my daughters life. She made my daughter feel like she was her favorite child in the class. She made her feel important by showing a genuine interest in her. I really appreciated having her as my daughters teacher but it was not until this teacher came to a social event for another student that I realized how incredible she was. She made a this child feel important just by making the effort to be there. She waited by the door and cheerfully greeted each and every one of her student who came through the door.  The students did not see this because after their hellos and hugs they found a seat with their parents. I stood back and watched as she made everyone feel special. What a great teacher.What a wonderful talent. I have tried to emulate this talent in my life.

Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Twitter Hop

Twitter Hop Thursday 20May10

Twitter Hop Thursday 20May10

Welcome to Twitter Hop Thursday, hosted by Simply Stacie, The King’s Court IV, Little Yaya’s, Review Retreat and Moms Wear Your Tees! Would you like more Twitter followers and be introduced to more neat blogs and businesses out there? Come and join us!! Add your Twitter to the MckLinky (you only have to add it to once and it will appear on all). Click on the Twitter hostesses and follow each of them on Twitter. We will follow y...

Very Funny, Great job


OH WOW! Our next car is DEFINITELY goin' 2b a SWAGGER WAGON! | Ten Talents...

OH WOW! Our next car is DEFINITELY goin' 2b a SWAGGER WAGON! | Ten Talents...

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The Better You consume, the Better You Feel



May 18th, 2010
Mom-Stuff has added a new resource for you .
Patricia writes on  diabeticmenus.org ,  giving
you the  information you need to raise awareness
on healthy eating habits and its associated
benefits to support those living with
diabetes on a daily basis.
Here are some basic guidelines that can help you and your family make healthier food decisions.
* Eat lots of vegetables’ and fruits.
* Choose whole fiber foods over processed grain products.
Try brown rice instead of white. Substitute brown bread for white.
* Eat fish two or three times a week.
* Select leaner cuts of meat like those that end in “loin.”
* Remove the skin from chicken and turkey.
* Eat low fat dairy
* Drink water and low calories non-carbonated liquids.
* Use liquid oils for cooking as an alternative to solid fats.
* Minimize too-high calorie junk food like chips, cookies, cakes, and regular frozen goodies.
Find baked chips and reduced calorie snacks. Or have a bit of fruit instead.
* Watch your portion sizes. Even an excessive amount of “healthy” food can cause an increase in weight.
Tips:
* Compare labels of similar foods, then pick the one with smaller amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium.
* Adults should consume below 2400 mg. of sodium per day. If you have high blood pressure, you need to target even less.
* Try adding spices and herbs in your cooking to substitute for salt for enhancing flavor.
A bit of Exercise Goes a long way. Something that gets you up and moving is good for you.
Some benefits you can receive from adding exercise to your routine:
* Decrease your risk of developing diabetes type 2 symptoms
* Decrease your risk of heart problems and stroke Lower blood pressure and cholesterol
* Reduce blood glucose (sugar) levels if you have diabetes, that may lessen your risk of developing diabetes-related complications
* Relieve tension * Make it easier to slim down
* Provide you with more energy
* Make it easier to sleep better
* Build stronger bones and muscle mass
You do not need to go to a gym, play sports or use fancy equipment.
For the rest of the article go to Mom-Stuff Featured Articles.
For more great tips from Patricia on how to live with diabetes …. Articles such as
Your Guide to Diabetic Cooking

Monday, May 17, 2010

Father’s Day Ideas




We have been busy adding content on Mom-Stuff site for Father’s Day ideas and summer fun this week.

New pages that have just been added;
5 ways to Celebrate Father’s Dayhttp://www.mom-stuff.com/public/121.cfm
Father’s Day Kids Crafts http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/120.cfm
Father’s Day Dessert Recipes http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/122.cfm
A Father’s Love Knows No Boundaries http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/123.cfm
Hanging Out With Dad http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/162.cfm
Mom-Stuff wants to invite you to hook up with us on your favorite
social site. We are on these sites to make it easier to stay
connected to our moms. This also makes it easier for you to promote
your mom-stuff affiliate.  If you have not signed up for your free
affiliate with mom-stuff do it now. We can all use an extra income
stream in today’s economy.  It is really easy, just pick your
mom-stuff banner linked to your mom-stuff ID, post it on your site.
Our system does all of the tracking and you make  50% commissions on
all of your friends who join. Then they join and make money from
their friends. It is a win/win system. Our system is set up so you
become a partner in our community. We are keeping the membership
fees low so everyone can afford this opportunity. It is less then
.30 a day.  It makes sense to connect where you already have followers or friends.
Links are listed below.
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/dianne_momstuff I love
tweets and re-tweets
Follow us at http://www.mom-stuffcommunity.blogspot.com We love our
friends and comments
LIKE IT on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mom-Stuff/115019558517056?ref=sgm
come and join the action
Blog Frog Mom-Stuff Community.
http://theblogfrog.com/users/home.aspx come and join in or start a
new discussions.
Mom-Stuff Blog http://www.mom-stuffcommunity.com or
http://mom-stuffcommunity.blogspot.com add comments

The Tao of Dora


The other day my 6-year-old daughter said very pensively to me, “Mom, you 
know what’s cool about Dora? She never rushes – she just takes her time and always gets there!” After my heart about burst with love and admiration for her 6-year-old wisdom, I thought – You know, that Dora’s a pretty savvy lady!
How many of us moms rush around all day from multi-task to multi-task, and at the end of the day feel like all we’ve done is spin our wheels with almost no “progress” to show for it? Or, in reference to longer-term goals – How often have we set a goal for ourselves, only to give up in frustration when we didn’t arrive at our “destination” with the unrealistic warp-speed we desire?
Not Dora! No Ma’am! She takes time to smell the roses and enjoys the celebration of overcoming no less than three potentially journey-stopping obstacles along the way. She seeks out the opportunity – whether it involves climbing over it, working around it, or asking for help. And, as she keeps her “eye on the prize”, even Swiper’s interruptions and distractions don’t derail her. Not only that, she remains polite and happy, without a single profanity-ridden tirade or “Wh’always Me” along the way!
She revisits her goal (“Where are we going…..?) and boosts her own and her co-travelers’ confidence (“We know that we can do it!”) throughout the entire journey, and before you know it, she’s reached her destination with a smile and a song.
Does she put a lot of undue and unrealistic pressure on herself? Does she beat herself up if she makes a wrong turn? Does she let it devalue her self-worth when Swiper, giants, and trolls aren’t always the kindest in their reception of her efforts? Nope!
She just keeps on moving forward at a pace and style that best serve her in getting there. Most importantly, she takes time to enjoy the journey!
Dora is a great example of how we can’t always foresee all of the opportunities and/or challenges we may face as we set out to complete a task or move toward a goal – so why put that expectation, concern, and pressure on ourselves? We don’t necessarily have to have everything planned out perfectly, from A to Z and every step in between, before we can begin moving forward. Rather, we can choose to just get started, to focus on and act in the moment at hand (since really, that’s all we can effectively respond to anyway), and to embrace the purpose of that moment in our journey, even if we may not quite understand completely how it fits into the bigger plan just yet.
And when we do make a “wrong turn” or “encounter a mountain”, does that mean our journey has to end or that we shouldn’t have embarked on it in the first place? What if we look at those challenges as opportunities, and choose to believe that we are exactly where we are meant to be at that moment – because there are no mistakes, only opportunities to learn, grow, and decide how to move forward from there.
We can choose to have fun and trust that we will get there at a time that is perfectly right for us, and who knows – maybe there’ll even be a cute little insect mariachi band tooting their horns for us in celebration when we arrive!
Lynn Ely, Owner of MomEvolve
At MomEvolve, we know first-hand that being a mom is one of the most rewarding, and at the same time, one of the most challenging, jobs in the world. We also recognize and understand the necessity of moms taking time to focus on our own desires and goals, and the freedom and motivation that result from giving ourselves permission to do so without guilt. MomEvolve is a place in your life where you are not only allowed, but encouraged to feel good about saying its“I’m Making Time for ME”.
Mom-Stuff suggests you visit Lynn at  momevolve.com for some “me” time.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Wrong E-mail address-This is too funny



THE WRONG E-MAIL ADDRESS
This one is priceless…A lesson to be learned from typing the wrong email address!!!!
A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier.
Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day…
The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an email to his wife.  However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the email.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband’s funeral. He was a minister who was called home to glory following a heart attack.
The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted.
The widow’s son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:
To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I’ve Arrived
Date: October 16, 2005
I know you’re surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I’ve just arrived and have been checked in.
I’ve seen that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow.
Looking forward to seeing you then!!!! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
P. S. Sure is freaking hot down here!!!!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Kids Crafts for Father’s Day

Working With “Dad” Picture Frame













Want to help your kids make a craft that will light up daddy’s eyes on Father’s Day?



Make this awesome frame and put your kids favorite picture in it for



Dad. Get your materials list and instructions at www.mom-stuff.com



Father’s Day Kids Crafts

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Ode to Moms

From the Mom B Shelter

Take Cover the Kids are Coming.
Original posting http://themombshelter.blogspot.com/2010/05/it-just-got-whole-lot-dirtier-around.html

Years ago, I ran into a girl I used to go to high school with in the grocery store. We hadn’t seen each other in ten years. Ten years! So much had happened to each of us in that time it was hard to decide where to begin. So I asked her what she had been up to. I was expecting an abbreviated synopsis of her life. Instead, her first sentence was “I’m a mom to two boys”.

What?! Excuse me? In ten years, all you have managed to do is reproduce? Seriously, I didn’t know where to go from there. Obviously she had been living a very sheltered life.

This occurred in 2001 BC, or ‘Before Children’ as I have come to name those fondly remembered years. I was out in the world, making my mark, living it up, getting educated, getting drunk, and getting jobs. The world was my oyster (with a slice of lemon and a dash of Tabasco).

In all of my BC years, I could not have ever envisioned (even with narcotics) what AC years were all about. Keep up, I’m talking about ‘After Children’. But here I am, in my AC years. And now I get it.

When I ran into that old high school friend, she wasn’t telling me about her boys because that is all she had done with those past ten years. She was telling me about her boys because her entire universe had shifted when they entered her life. They were her abbreviated synopsis.

So, for all of you in the AC club, this is my ode to you…
Here’s to cracked nipples and saggy boobs,
Celebrating flabby bellies and fallopian tubes,
Nine months of weight gain and nine years to lose it,
Cesarean, epidural or natural – you can’t choose it,
Incontinence, mucus plugs and the bloody show,
Waddling and chaffing wherever you go,
All this for the chance to never sleep again,
To ask of your teenager ‘Where have you been?’
To first lose your hair and then it turns grey,
To covering those bags under your eyes each day,
For the battle against hormones and cravings and such,
It can really all appear to be just too much,
And just as you’re about to yell ‘I’m through!’
Come the hugs, the love and the kisses too,
All of this rejuvenates you heart and your soul,
And simply getting through the day is no longer the goal,
So bring on the puke, the tantrums and shit,
Because this lady’s got a job that she won’t quit,
I’m someone’s Mom, and I’m proud to say
That you Moms all rock! Happy Mother’s Day.

Do you Want a Bridge to Hawaii?



Do you want a bridge to Hawaii or to know how to make a woman happy?


The Bridge

A man on his Harley was riding along a  California beach when suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, God said, ‘because you have tried to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish.’
The biker pulled over and said, ‘Build a bridge to   Hawaii  so I can ride over anytime I want.’
God replied, ‘Your request is materialistic; think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking; the supports required reaching the bottom of the Pacific and the concrete and steel it would take!  I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things.  Take a little more time and think of something that could possibly help man kind.’
The biker thought about it for a long time. Finally, he said, ‘God, I
wish that I , and all men,  could understand women; I want to know how she feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing’s wrong, why she snaps and complains when I try to help, and how I can make a woman truly happy.
God replied: “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?”

Just wanted to make you laugh today.
Have a great day. 
Dianne

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Craft Bonanza at My Four Monkeys Next Week!!

Next week Mom-Stuff will a guest blogger at My Four Monkeys Craft Bonanza. Stop by and enjoy all of the amazing craft projects.


Craft Bonanza – Here at My Four Monkeys Next Week!!






Next week I will be out of town with my family, preparing for my little sister’s wedding on the 15th! Yay! I will be gone the entire week, and have a big surprise for you while I am gone….



My Four Monkeys will be hosting a HUGE Craft Bonanza! Every day next week, there will be at least two craft tutorials posted by some amazing guest bloggers. Be sure and check them all out, because there are some really cute and easy projects. There will also be a couple giveaways next week from some talented crafters who sell their handmade goods like Orglamix and Gaddy Nipper Crayons, and a new shop called Bubbly Meadows that you moms of young children will want to check out!

So stay tuned next week for some crafting fun while I am away! Angie


See you there!!!
Tags: Blogging Bloggers Mom-Blogs, Kids crafts, My-Four-Monkeys, www.mom-stuff.com

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Mother’s Day Recipes



Recipes Handed down from Wonderful Mothers
In the spirit of our Mother’s Day Tribute all of our recipes this month have a story of love and tradition. Each one reminds us of a person who made this special food for us.
As we prepare these dishes for the people in our life we are passing on the love of a special person. Food is a special part of our human emotions. When we share a meal (or a recipe) with each other we open a pathway for friendship. This is what we hope to do with you.
We hope to make new friends by sharing our favorite recipes with a short story about the person that passed it down to us. If you have not written your Mother’s Day Tribute, yet, get started and email it to us. This is a perfect way to give from your heart this Mother’s Day. contact@mom-stuff.com
Ninety Minute Bread-for beginners
Ingredients:
1 cup warm water
3 envelopes dry yeast
½ cup sugar
4 teaspoons melted shortening
4 teaspoon salt
2 cups warm water
About 9 cups of flour
Instructions:
Mix ingredients in order listed. Let rise 15 minutes. Divide dough into 3 pieces. Makes 3 loaves. Knead 1 minute. Place into greased pans and let raise 30 minutes. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes.
This recipe was shared with me when I was a new young bride in Cosmetology College by my favorite Instructor. She promised me it was easy and fail proof. She was right and I have shared it with lots of friends through the years. If you have not tried to bake bread try this one it is 100% guaranteed by my College Instructor
Egg, Gravy, Toast
Ingredients:
6 hard boiled eggs-cooled
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil or bacon fat.
4 tablespoon flour
Milk
Salt and pepper
Bread-toasted
Instructions:
Boil eggs for 15 minutes and cool Peel the eggs Cut off the egg whites and dice them
Mash the yokes Make a white sauce. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Mix in the flour and stir until flour is slightly cooked.
Slowly add about 2 cups milk stirring until white sauce is smooth. Salt and pepper to taste. Add in the egg whites Let family break up the toast onto their plate. Pour the gravy over the toast. Sprinkle the yokes on top.
Egg, Gravy, Toast is a meal my mother’s mother made for her family. My mother made this for on special occasions for breakfast.
Porcupine Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 can of tomato bisque soup
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1 lb hamburger
1 onion finely chopped
1 ½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions:
Mix one can of soup with one can of water In a separate bowl mix rice, hamburger, onion, salt, pepper and 4 tablespoons soup; mix well. Form into balls. Place into a casserole dish; cover with remaining soup. Back at 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 15 minutes covered. Uncover and back for 15 minutes. Serves five. This is one of my favorite meals as a child. It takes a long time to cook so it is not very popular now, but it is worth the time for my Mother. Thank you, Mom. I have tried to modify the recipe for minute rice but you lose the favor and the texture. You can cook this in a pressure cooker for 25 minutes.
Banana Snack
Ingredients:
Bananas
Sunflower Seeds
Instructions:
Take bananas and eat as a whole banana and dip into a bowl of sunflower seeds. Or cut the bananas up in slices and put in a bowl with sunflower seeds.
I know this sounds really weird but growing up my mom would always make this snake for us. Not only is it healthy for you but we really enjoy it. I thought of sharing this with you came to me when I had my nephew over the other night. I pulled the bananas and sunflower seeds out he asked me what I was doing. I had not realized that this might look odd. However it was really fun to get to share this with him and pass down a treat that reminded me of my mom and his grandma.