My Finds Monday - UPrinting Giveaway!

So . . . we are in the process of looking for a new house.  We've found a few that we like but have to sell our house before we can really commit to a new one.  The new house is going to be significantly bigger (at least that's the plan) than the house that we are in right now.  Which means I will have a lot more house to fill and decorate!


Thanks to Bloggy Moms, I stumbled across UPrinting and their canvas prints.  Since photography is kind of a fun hobby of mine, I thought it would be awesome to get one of my pictures put onto a big canvas print to hang in my new home!  

What about you?  Do you have a picture that you would love to see on canvas and hanging in your home?  If so, then you are in luck because UPrinting has offered me this awesome prize to give away!


Winner will receive:


16" x 20" Rolled Canvas Print for one winner

With 2" border or No border

1 Business day print turnaround time

Free US shipping only

I have about 3 different pictures I can think of off the top of my head that would make beautiful canvas prints.  I also think that this would be a great gift and Mother's Day is right around the corner!!!  I know I'd love one of my kids for Mother's Day - what an awesome gift!

So, what are you waiting for!  Enter the RaffleCopter Raffle below for a chance to win your own Rolled Canvas Print from UPrinting!

Restrictions:

1. This giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years old and above.

2. No prize substitutions allowed.

3. Winners are allowed to win once over a six-month period.

4. Only email addresses used for the giveaway will be eligible to claim the prize

"You should assume that I will receive free print products in exchange for the post. Any and all reviews posted are based solely on my own experience and may be atypical. Please practice due diligence in making any related purchase decisions.”

The Sunday Sip: Fill Your Cup with Jenny at Life on the Mamarific Merry-Go-Round

Welcome to another edition of The Sunday Sip!  This is our 6th Edition and so far we are having a blast with it!  We hope that we have introduced you to some blogs that you can relate to (I know we can relate to them!) and enjoy reading!  If you missed any of the blogs featured on The Sunday Sip, you can check them out here!

If you are interested in being featured in one of our Sunday posts, drop us a quick email and let us know! We would love to be introduced to your blog and introduce you to our readers!  We hope to hear from you!

This week we are featuring Jenny at Life on the Mamarific Merry-Go-Round!





I promise you are going to LOVE Jenny!  She is awesome!

Good morning, Jenny - whatcha' drinking this morning?

 Community Club coffee...I'm a Southern girl, you know!

Ahhh . . . coffee!  I swear no morning is complete without it!  Our readers would love to hear a little bit about you . . . how about you give us a quick introduction?

Hi, I'm Jennifer, or Jenny, or Mamarific, as I've become known lately, from my blog, "Life on the Mamarific Merry-Go-Round.".  I work part-time as an Advertising Consultant and am fortunate enough to be able to work from home and still take care of my kids, who are 7 and 1 1/2.  

Life on the Mamarific Merry-Go-Round, where did you get such a fun name for your blog?

I came up with my blog title as a metaphor for what all moms go through....the ups and downs of motherhood, the neverending days and nights of activity, and how our Mama-ness infiltrates every part of our lives.  I think most moms can relate to the fact that the Merry-Go-Round is usually a blast, but somedays you just want to scream, "stop this ride, I wanna get off!"  And that's OK.  We are all human.  It's very important to me to show the challenging side of motherhood, as well as the glorious.

 
We want to make sure that our readers read the one post you are most proud of . . . what is one post you would want them all to read?  

This question is like Sophie's Choice!  All my posts are so different.  Some are humorous/sarcastic and others are serious.  I would have to go with "Separation Anxiety Attack"  because I think it touches on that feeling all mothers have deep down in our guts when we worry about an issue with our child.  That feeling of, "am I doing this right?  is this all going to turn out OK? what can I do to fix this for my kid?"  And I loved being able to put that out there and get so many comments from moms going through the same thing.  That's what this is all about for me.

Being a mother, I have been able to relate to a lot of the things your write about . . .  I literally almost spit my coffee out reading about kids stripping and trying to "join the party" when you are attempting to take a nice bubble bath! Happens to me all the time! I find your blog one that I can really relate to! Is that that approach you had in mind at the start and where do you see your blog going and growing to in the future? 

I want my blog to be like a bunch of friends sitting around sharing stories about hilarious, crazy or serious things that are weighing on our minds.  All topics covered: motherhood and everything else we encounter in the other roles we play as wife, daughter, friend, etc.  No matter how much my blog grows, I always want it to be a place where I can be honest, and if even one other mama out there reads what I've written and feels better knowing she's not alone in this craziness, then my work here is done!

You are an amazing Mommy - I can tell just by reading your posts!  What would you say makes you more than a mommy, though?

I am a complete live music freak.  I love to see concerts and local bands play at smaller venues, too.  I love the 80s, so I am particularly fond of 80s concerts (see my Duran Duran and Go Go's posts!).  I love to watch the Food Network, Cooking Channel and HGTV, although my cooking nor homemaking resemble any of these.  I also love to read, especially when I can do it in a bubble bath, uninterrupted!

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me, Jenny!  I really loved getting to know you and your blog and I know that our readers will love it, too!

Now . . . go check out Jenny at Life on the Mamarific Merry-Go-Round and tell her that More than Mommies sent you!  You will love what you read!

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If you are new to More than Mommies welcome. Please make sure that you are following our RSS Feed, Facebook page or Twitter profile  so that you don't miss meeting any of the great bloggers that we feature on our Sunday Sip!  

And all you have to do to be featured yourself is send us an e-mail with "The Sunday Sip" in the subject line. We are always looking for new bloggers to introduce to our readers and we would love to meet you--whether you are just getting started or you are a seasoned blogger! Let us--and our readers--get to know you!


Have an amazing Sunday!

Preschool Garden

If you have a preschooler then you know how important it is for them to have the opportunity to play, right?  I could write an entire post about that subject.  The preschool that I teach at is very play oriented.  A lot of preschools have drifted away from play as a learning activity because they feel pressure for the kids to be at a certain place by the time they get to Kindergarten.  I've been teaching 3 and 4 year olds for 3 years now and I can tell you that paperwork and seat work will never benefit a child more than an hour of play with their peers.

With that in mind, our school has started adding a themed area to our playroom each month.  We have 4 teachers that use the playroom and we have divided up different themes for each teacher to put together.  Here are the themes we've done so far:

Beach
Camping
Office
Travel Agency
Vet Office
Post Office
Christmas Wrapping Center
Restaurant
Grocery Store

This month it was my turn to do a Garden.  The Garden was also my idea and I had a very clear picture of what I wanted to do.  However, when it came to finding the things I needed to do it and the time to make it work . . . I was pretty frustrated.  So, I developed a new plan of attack and here is the final outcome.

FYI - this WHOLE project cost me about $56 at the Dollar Store...well worth it in my opinion!

This took a lot of trail and error to get right but once I got the first one done I was able to just trace and cut the rest of them.  I did 4 boxes all together.

Originally I was going to cut slits into the boxes and try doing the "Insert Tab A into Slot A" thing . . . but this way seemed to work just as well and was a lot easier.

I couldn't tell you what that tool is really called but Jerry called it the "Puncture Thing".  Worked like a charm!

At school, I've been asking the kids to plant all the yellow ones in one box and all the red in another.  We have also been "buying" the flowers at a flower store, planting them in the boxes and then picking them to sell to people.  I wish I would have picked up some plastic vases for them to arrange them in!

They really are having fun with it.  In all honesty, it isn't holding up as well as I had hoped but A LOT of kids are playing with them.  I think my twins would enjoy this at home, too!!!  I may just have to create another box for them and do a small scale of this for them to play with at home!

 I really do think that this is something that you could do with your kids in your own home, too!  Of course, REAL gardens are awesome experiences for children - we grow one and the kids have a blast helping Jerry dig, pick, weed and plant.  They look so proud when they bring me their harvested goodies!  I do think, though, that this is a good activity for small kids to use their fine motor skills (putting those flowers into those tiny holes takes a little effort) and to play, share and even do some learning like categorizing and identifying (mainly colors).

Anyone have any other play centerish things that you do with your kids?  Summer is coming and I could use some ideas!!!  I'm sure that I will be able to find a ton on Pinterest - but I'd also love some personal recommendations . . . things that REALLY work!

Have a great weekend!

Best Day EVER (this week) #9

Welcome to another addition of the Best Day EVER (this week)!

If you are looking for a spot to link up your best post of the week:You found the place!  Welcome to The BEST day EVER (this week): A carnival brought to you by the gals behind More Than Mommies.  So anything is fair game for the link up--as long as it's your best of the week! 

Link up with us and Tell a Friend to do the same. We can't wait see what everyone has been up to this week.  Please remember to grab our button for your post or sidebar so blog hoppers will know where you've been and where to go next. This is a low key hop, but the more links, the more fun! We will follow everyone who links up and we ask that you leave some comment love for the blog in front of you and behind. If you have time to visit more--by all means do it!  Please link to a specific post!  


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After last week's craziness, I have to say that the ordinary days that I enjoyed this week have been extreme blessings.  


I would be hard pressed to pick a BEST day this week because they were all kind of just . . . . well, ordinary.  I've shared this video before on Facebook and my first blog but I feel like I have to share it again here.  This week has been full of ordinary days with ordinary moments . . . and ever since I have seen this video I have appreciated the ordinary so much more.


I hope you enjoy it as much as I do:





Right now I can totally relate to impassioned versions of "The Wheels on the Bus" - Dean LOVES to sing and his favorites these days are "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Old McDonald had a Farm".

I hope you have an amazing, perfectly ordinary weekend!

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This week for me has been about Family.  My grandparents turn(ed) 90 this year. My grandfather in January and my grandmother in July. My parents and uncles and aunts decided to throw a joint, surprise party for them this past weekend and the whole family (minus one) was able to attend--even our relatives out of state. 

It was so wonderful seeing the pictures of my grandparents in their youth and days of young marriage and parenthood. 

Each great grandchild (all 26 of them) presented my grandparents with a flower and serenaded them with two birthday songs written by my Aunt to the tunes of some Christmas carols:

We had wonderful meal together and posed for the largest family picture I've been a part of! My Aunt was able to get one of all of us. I was able to capture a few--but I can't wait to see the entire group picture.

My Grandparents, Parents, Siblings and In-laws, Husband, Nephews, Niece, and Children

My Grandparents and their 26 great grandchildren (there's one on the way too!)

My Grandparents and their Grandchildren

My Grandparents and their children

It was a beautiful day (despite the chilly temps) to celebrate the two people that "started it all." Their lives, their marriage, their parenting and grandparenting are an inspiration to their family. I love them with all my heart and I am so happy to have them in my life!

Happy Birthday, Pap and Gram!

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Link up below to tell us about your BEST this week!  We can't wait to visit your blog and read all about it!!!

Give Away and Review: Farm Rich Appetizers and Snacks

Every day at approximately 3:41 pm my kids are plopping their book bags and jackets on the kitchen table. After  I remind them to hang up their coats they are immediately wondering "What's for snack?" and they swarm like little ants into the pantry and refrigerator pillaging whatever they can find. 

They need fuel for quiet homework time which is about to commence.  I want to give them something fast, wholesome, and something that won't spoil their appetite for dinner. Usually it's a grab and go item like a yogurt tube, a piece of fruit, a handful of pretzels, or they snag a leftover piece of chocolate from whatever holiday has just passed. They are pretty self sufficient when it comes to snack time. They know what they can have and they can get it themselves.  I like to think of snack time as controlled chaos. I'm rummaging through folders and they are chattering about events of the day--it's routine. But with four girls things can get a bit frenzied.

Imagine their surprise when I decided to offer up some Farm Rich snacks as an after school option?  They were literally hopping up and down with excitement! We tried the Stuffed Pretzel Bites:

Don't they look delicious?  Cheesy, pretzel-ly yumminess. This was indeed, a special treat for the girls. Little did they know they were so easy to prepare that they are every day worthy! I was a little skeptical that after less than a minute in the microwave we would come away with the correct pillowy texture of soft pretzel and melty creamy cheese--but I was pleasantly surprised! The pretzels bites came out perfectly.

The whole time the girls were munching on them I couldn't help but giggle to myself. They sounded like a commercial--no lie. It was a chorus of "Mmmmms" and "Yums" and they took turns telling me whether or not they gave this snack choice a thumbs up--they all did! (Difficult to manage thumbs up the whole way around the table here! Trust me, every day at dinner I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will get two of them to give me a thumbs up, let alone a unanimous vote from the four of them.)

As I re-sealed the package (Super easy because of the re-sealable zipper) and tucked the package back into the freezer I had that feeling that busy moms sometimes find fleeting: the I'm a Super Mom feeling. The girls have been asking for them every day after school.

 I am thrilled that the package serves 12! That means the girls can enjoy the snacks again and again. I was so pleased that I was able to microwave them--and they still tasted delicious. It made them quick and easy to prepare which is exactly the type of snack that we need in order for it to be served again around here.

Farm Rich is always there for moms, with wholesome, easy-to-prepare snacks sure to please the entire family.

Check out some of their fan favorites (there are plenty to choose from):

• Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
• Mozzarella Bites
• Philly Cheese Steak
• Pizza Slices

Thanks to Farm Rich, I was able to try the Stuffed Pretzel bites and achieve Super Mom status for the day! And now you can try one of their delicious snacks or appetizers for free as well. We are giving away two coupons good for a free Farm Rich product--perfect for parties, snack time, or whenever--I have to admit I was tempted to make them for dinner one night...


Enter below and tell a friend!





{Disclosure: It can be assumed that More than Mommies received product for free to try in order to provide this review. I have given my honest opinion of the above mentioned product and any opinions, observations, and words used are my own. This giveaway is made possible by Farm Rich.}

It Could Have Been a Sitcom

Have you ever had one of those days where you are seriously looking everywhere to find the hidden cameras?  You just KNOW this has to be some kind of Punked for Moms TV show that is turning your day inside out like this.  There is no way that this day is really happening.

I had one of those days last Friday.  I am at a loss for what to blog about tonight . . . so I'm just going to tell you about that day so that you can see why my answer to, "How are you?" is always "Tired" and to "What's going on?" is always "Where should I begin?"

I recently started to "work" for my sister.  Those of you who don't know me personally probably don't know much about my sister because I haven't talked about her on More than Mommies, yet.  My sister is 18 months younger than me and has been in a wheelchair for the last 5 years.  It took a while for doctors to figure out what was wrong with her but she has now been given the diagnosis of MS.  Through TRCIL, she is allowed to have an aid come and help her get things done.  She has had a lot other aids in the past - obviously, none of them really worked out.  So . . . here I am giving it a shot.  Part time, that is - and so far it's been keeping me busy but in a good way.

There is one more piece of background information you need to know before you understand what a day Friday was for me.  We are trying to sell our house.  We have been trying for a while now and I'm getting VERY anxious about it.  We had an Open House on Sunday that I had to clean for on Friday because I knew I wasn't going to have the time (or energy) to do it on Saturday.  Also - I hadn't been home for 3 days and 2 evenings.  We had the Art Show at the nursery school I teach at and it involved a little (or a lot) of overtime.  My house was a disaster because of me not being home to keep up with it - and the fact that I had to clean was stressing me out beyond belief.  

So, here's how this sitcomic (is that a word?) day went:

7:45 am - Out of bed . . . cup of coffee in hand . . . ready to tackle the day

8:00 am - Usual morning craziness. . . getting kids changed, dressed finding matching socks and breakfasts unwrapped and served.

8:30 am - Danika leaves for school with Mrs. McGinnis and I pile all the boys into the car to wait for the bus.

8:44 am - Nate gets on the bus and the twins and I head to Nicole's (that's my sister)

9:00 am - Take my niece to preschool and head to Physical Therapy with Nicole...this was when I realized that I lost the key chain with her house key (and another important key) on it.  Losing things make me crazy so this was NOT a good thing.

10:00 am - Drop Nicole off at PT and head home to look in the 2 places I think the keys might be in...they aren't in either but I do notice that my house is a disaster...ugh

10:45 am - Get out of the car with the twins and walk around the Physical Therapy building until Nicole is done.

11:00 am - Back in the car to pick Danika up from school

11:10 am - Get phone call from Husband that Nick (our real estate agent) is currently in our house with potential buyers - "Aren't you excited!?!"

11:11 am - Scream at Husband and curse real estate agent!  My exact words were, "I don't even know for sure if Nate flushed the toilet after he went potty this morning!"

11:45 am - Pick Danika up from school while still cursing real estate agent and silently feeling like crying.

12:00 pm - Get the all clear to go home.

12:01 pm - Pull up in front of the house, open the van doors using the automatic feature and have a stray dog jump into the car.  (a very cute, lovable, sweet puppy)

12:04 pm - Speak with next door neighbor about the possibility that the dog is hers . . . it isn't?

12:06 pm - Put dog in the back yard (it's fenced in) and make phone calls to the police and Animal Protectors to see if anyone has reported a missing dog.

12:10 pm - Start lunch

12:30 pm - Pull lunch out of the oven and start to get plates out

12:31 pm - Get phone call from real estate agent asking if you could take everyone for a ride while he comes back through your disgustingly filthy house with those perspective buyers again.

12:45 pm - Get everyone back in the van . . . with the newly found dog . . . and head to Animal Protectors to see if it has a microchip.  (Leave lunch on the counter to get cold)

1:00 pm - Discover that the dog does not have a microchip and make the decision that you can't leave this precious, cute puppy in the scariest place in the world.  Take the dog back to the car and go home.

1:15 pm - Pick up Nicole's house key from my parents.

1:30 pm - Get everyone back inside, eat lunch, put twins down for a nap and make a list of what needs cleaned.

2:00 pm - Find dog's owner roaming the streets and return him to him.

2:15 pm - Head over to get niece from school and let her and her father into the house with the key I got from my dad.

2:35 pm - Realize that the key doesn't work.  Put everyone back in the car and head back up to my dad's to get the right key.

2:45 pm - Put my parents' neighbors' 4 daughters in my car to come down to my house to "help" me with the kids and clean . . . they really did help!  They cleaned both kids rooms and kept the boys busy while I cleaned.

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm CLEAN and then feed 8 kids and 3 adults Lasagna that had been cooking for the past 3 hours.

5:00 pm - Take Nicole home, take her soon-to-be-ex-husband to the bus stop - Take the 4 helper girls back to their Mama 

5:05 pm - Declare that I am taking a well needed Mommy break and lock myself in my room for 20 minutes.

Most of the time between 5 - 7 I can't remember.  I know I didn't fall asleep but I can't remember what I did!  I do know that, after taking a short nap from 8-9 I got up and cleaned my kitchen like I've never cleaned it before and Jerry cleaned the carpets.  I fell into bed from total exhaustion at 1:30 am.

I'm still not sure that I have recovered from this day and things haven't calmed down much.  Why is it that life goes in spurts like this?  For months I had a lot of time on my hands and wasn't really busy . . . now, I can't get anything done and dream about going to sleep as soon as I wake up.  Must just be that Ebb and Flow of the universe.  I'm hoping for a little bit of a break in the crazy soon . . . but I don't really see that happening.  

Here's praying that I make it through the next 2 months!

Got a post about your craziest day that you want to share?  Send me the link!  I would love to feel more "normal" (whatever that is!!!)

One Mom's Journey Through Insanity

It's been 30 days of Insanity.  Eight days after I posted this truth telling post, I decided to bump up my game. I talked briefly about how I try to fit a little fitness into my life on the blog before. The truth is I always feel better--physically and mentally on a day that I sweat.  Prior to beginning the INSANITY: 60-Day Total Body Conditioning Workout DVD Program I had been pounding the treadmill 5 days a week. I was running a little more than three and a half miles a day in about 40 minutes. I had dropped a few pounds and felt pretty good about how I was able to carve out some time in my day for exercise.

I wasn't really seeing body changing results though.  I mean, I was loosing weight and feeling good about my commitment but I still felt weak and that is what I want to change. I don't expect to rip a six pack but I want to feel strong and see muscles where muscles aren't. Insanity started popping up everywhere. I noticed that my cousin and husband started the program. A friend's husband went through it with awesome results. I could hear the universe whispering in my ear that this could be something for me.

Thirty days ago--I got my copy and made a commitment. It's a 63 day program and I thought to myself: It's two months out of my life. I could do anything for two months!

The first day was a real eye opener. The program starts with a fit test. There are eight exercises you perform at maximum speed and you count the number of reps that you can accomplish. Here are my first day results:

SWITCH KICKS: 45
POWER JACKS: 36
POWER KNEES: 60
POWER JUMPS: 34
GLOBE JUMPS: 7
SUICIDE JUMPS: 12
PUSH-UP JACKS: 12
LOW PLANK OBLIQUE: 41

I was beat after just the fit test, nervous about the next day's workout, and wondering if I would be able to walk the following morning.

The first real workout was the hardest physical exercise I have ever done. I was dripping sweat after only the warm up. At the end of 40 minutes I was on my hands and knees crying.  Not because the workout broke me--it almost did!--but because I was so happy that I actually got through it! I felt tired the rest of the day and slept like a log that night.

The next day my muscles were sore, but instead of quitting I decided to push through. It is amazing how when I was working out the pain in my muscles subsided and each day I felt a little stronger. After about  three days I felt better. I still could barely make it through the workouts but the muscle pain had subsided!

By the end of week two it was time to take another fit test. Here are my results after just TWO weeks:

SWITCH KICKS: 53 (+8)
POWER JACKS: 62 (+26)
POWER KNEES: 100 (+40)
POWER JUMPS: 40 (+6)
GLOBE JUMPS: 12 (+5)
SUICIDE JUMPS: 16 (+4)
PUSH-UP JACKS: 29 (+17)
LOW PLANK OBLIQUE: 62 (+21)

I was amazed and happy!

I am on day 30 today and I have begun my recovery week. Truth be told, I am really scared to start the second month but I know I will be thrilled with the results so I am going to push through.

I have not seen the scale budge over this first month--the reason for that? I can't say for certain but I'm sure it has been because I have been a little relaxed with my diet. I haven't been tracking what I eat as meticulously and when I am busy and running through my day I tend to eat more than I should if I'm not portioning out my food or checking labels for calories.  Also, I KNOW there are muscles growing under there. I can feel them. And I've heard time and again that muscle weighs more than fat so maybe that has played a part as well.

This morning I am going to show you my before pics and my thirty day pics. I'm nervous because I haven't taken my second set yet to compare, and I wonder if I will be able to tell the difference?

Here they are:

I think there's a little difference!  It was worth the thirty day effort. I think I will focus on my diet a little better in this second month and of course the workouts are going to get a little longer and tougher after this recovery week. I'll update you all when I finish!

Click on the link below if you'd like to check out INSANITY for yourself*:

So is anyone feeling inspired to take a little time for themselves for exercise? Have you set any fitness goals? Share your progress, or tell us how you keep yourself accountable!

*This post contains affiliate links, FYI

This post is linked here:

Helicopter Mama - Are You? Am I?

Are you a Helicopter Mama?

I didn't really know what a Helicopter Parent was until I read about them on the Urban Dictionary.

If you have ever read the book Night Road by Kristen Hannah you would know EXACTLY what a Helicopter Parent is - we read the book for our book club and I recommend it and if you like book clubs you should come check ours out!!!

So . . . I was thinking about ways that I may be able to make sure that I don't turn into one of these Helicopter (Hovering) Mamas.  Here are 5 Ways to Not Be a Helicopter Mama:

1. Make sure that you LET your kids make their own mistakes.  It is SO hard to see them hurt.  It is also important to let them know that it's okay to make mistakes and that you love them anyway.  It is important that they know that mistakes aren't the end of the world and that there are ways to fix them . . . which leads me to #2.

2.  Let them find solutions to their own problems and fix their own mistakes.  They need to learn that they will have to do things for themselves and they will have to learn HOW to do them without running to mama.  That isn't to say that you shouldn't give them a little guidance once in a while but allow them to do most of the work.

3.  Let OTHER people be in charge of your children once in a while.  It took me quite some time (probably having that 4th child) to convince myself that I didn't have to raise my children all by myself.  It took me that long to not feel an ounce of guilt when I let my parents, in-laws or *GASP* my HUSBAND be in complete charge for a while.  I always felt bad when I left a crying child, didn't pick out jammies or have everything for dinner ready before I had to go to a meeting or book club.  I always thought that I had to do it all.  Taking a break from always being the one in charge is like landing that helicopter and letting someone else pilot for a while.

4. Ask them what they want to do and take their thoughts and suggestions into consideration.  I want to my kids to succeed.  I want them to do things that will enrich them.  I want them to be involved in things that will help them grown and learn.  HOWEVER, as Christine pointed out in her post: Your Mama Don't Dance, it is important to take into consideration what your children want to do, too!  You have to make sure that they are having FUN as well as learning and growing.  Not only will it be easier for you to get them to do things but you will also find that they will be HAPPIER!!!  If my kids want to try something other than what I would want them to try . . . I feel I owe it to them to allow them to do that.

5. Grow a support team and don't hate them if they are being honest with you.  My friends are pretty honest with me.  I have a great group of women (my Mommy Group) who I feel would tell me if I were "hovering" or being a helicopter mama.  Part of the problem is that I often don't want to be honest and admit when I'm doing things wrong. I like to appear to have it all together.  It doesn't surprise me, though, when my friends see right through that.  The women I work with are also WONDERFUL for helping me to relax and see that "this too shall pass" and pointing out when I am worrying too much or try too hard to control things.  I could never hate any of these women for being honest with me and I truly do appreciate their input because I know that they are only saying it because they have my best interests at heart.  You need that support system that will tell you, "Let them go . . . they will be fine" (so that you can blame them when something goes wrong! hehehehe)

There you have it - 5 ways to avoid being a Helicopter Mama!  I think they are pretty doable.  While I'm not ready to give up complete and total control over my children, I do think that I am willing to give them a little space and allow them to grow . . . under a little supervision now and then.

The Sunday Sip: Fill Up Your Cup with Brynne at Femme Frugality

It is that time of the week again. One of my favorite posts of the week: Welcome back to The Sunday Sip where we introduce you to a fabulous blogger and fellow "more than" mommy. Kick back, grab your favorite beverage, and take a break from the ordinary for minute or two with us! We are happy to have you and happy to introduce you to Brynne from Femme Frugality.  Click over to here to check out our other awesome featured bloggers (and find out more about how YOU can be featured) when you are through and let's make a morning (or afternoon, or evening) of it together!

I stumbled across Brynne at Femme Frugality shortly after we started More Than Mommies. She caught my eye with a post about a college giving away free tuition to its students and I was hooked on her eye for a good deal and her frugal tips and tricks. I feel like Brynne is a gal after my own money saving heart! So let's say Hello!




Thanks for Joining us, Brynne...tell us a little bit about yourself:

Hi! I'm the voice behind Femme Frugality. I wear many hats, but I guess either full-time student or mother would be the most fitting for my job title. My days are filled with dirty diapers and English papers, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

What have you got in your cup this morning?

Water.  I'm always drinking water.  When I was pregnant the nurses would always ask me how much I drank a day.  I'd tell them and their jaws would hit the floor.  That was one food/drink I didn't have to adjust for nine months!

Why did you choose "Femme Frugality" for your blog? You know we love to hear the story behind blog names:

I knew I wanted something with "Frugal" in the title.  I wanted something about femininity in there, too.  "Girl" sounded too young.  "Woman" sounded too matronly.  So I decided on the French "femme."  Originally I was blogging with WordPress, and the URL for Frugal Femme was already taken.  So I shifted things around and came up with Femme Frugality.  A blog was born.  Sometimes I regret the decision.  While some of my content's utility is geared explicitly towards women, most of my information can be used by anyone, regardless of gender.  I find the "Femme" is chasing men away! 


You provide a lot of information that would be beneficial to men, women, families, singletons--anyone who wants to save a little dough, I agree. What is one post that you want everyone who comes to your blog to read and what was your inspiration for the post?

It's actually an older one:  one of my first posts.  It's a short one, too!  There are no pictures, so at first glance it's pretty boring.  But my post about unclaimed money is one of my favorites.  I found out that state treasuries hold onto money owed to people from a slew of sources:  old bank accounts, insurance settlements, employers who never got their paychecks to their employees, and so many more.  I looked up my name.  Nothing.  Then I looked up every family member's name until, sure enough, I found an ancient paycheck for a relative!  That led me to writing this post about how everyone and anyone can find out if there's money owed to them.

I really enjoy your blog, Brynne. I am quite frugal (some would say cheap--ahem, a lot of people would say cheap) I see your blog as a nice place to feed my frugal side. I love that you post great deals, good ideas, and all things frugal--and I also love that you are a proud Pittsburgher! We live outside of Pittsburgh too! What was the approach you had in mind at the start and where do you see your blog going and growing to in the future?

Aw, thanks!  I found you guys on BloggyMoms in one of the Pittsburgh forums, I believe!  I border on cheap, too.  But when I'm cheap in one area it's usually so I can splurge in another.  (Like travel.  Oh, travel.  How I love you.)  I started blogging because I found myself at a stage in my life where frugality was a necessity.  I wanted to do all these things, like be young, buy my kid cute clothes, and enjoy my city, but I had to figure out a way to do it on a tight budget.  So I figured quite a few things out.  I found myself telling everyone I knew about all these frugal tricks I was learning.  Eventually I decided a blog was a much better outlet to share and be helpful.  I was really surprised by all my friends and readers who excitedly shared their ideas with me to post on the blog.  It's been amazing because it's helped me learn and save in ways that never would have occurred to me.  I'll probably continue on the same route.  I hope to continue to learn as others share with me, and hope I am able to help those out there who want to learn more and do more on less.  It would be kind of cool to have sister blogs.  Femme Frugality Honolulu, anyone?  Or how about Femme Frugality Myrtle Beach?  (I'm so ready for a vacation...)


Final question, what makes you "More than a Mommy"?

I love your blog name and focus.  Absolutely.  Because being a mother is so important.  But it is not the end all and be all of what any of us are.  Like I said before, I'm a student.  I'm in my twenties and like doing things that people in their twenties like to do.  I love sports.  Watching and playing.  I'm a ski enthusiast.  I love reading and learning.  I like to think I'm a pretty good girlfriend, daughter and sister.  I try my best to be a good friend and helpful, friendly acquaintance. Above all, just like the rest of humanity, I am a soul on my own unique spiritual journey.  We're all on a journey.  Some of us are more actively involved while others are more passively involved, but I hope to discover every enriching lesson I can while I'm  here.  Some of those will be learned through motherhood.  And still others will be learned through other venues.

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Believe me when I say that Brynne has lots to show you over at her blog--so head over to Femme Frugality, introduce yourself, and tell her that More Than Mommies sent you!

If you'd like to keep up with all of her frugal finds, follow her blog, and you can "like" her on Facebook!

...........

If you are new to More than Mommies welcome. Please make sure that you are following our RSS Feed, Facebook page or Twitter profile  so that you don't miss meeting any of the great bloggers that we feature on our Sunday Sip! 

And all you have to do to be featured yourself is send us an e-mail with "The Sunday Sip" in the subject line. We are always looking for new bloggers to introduce to our readers and we would love to meet you--whether you are just getting started or you are a seasoned blogger! Let us--and our readers--get to know you!


Have an amazing Sunday!

Your Mama Don't Dance: Encouraging Kid's Passions

Just like the title says: Mama don't dance. Unless you count cutting it up on the dance floor in my twenties and getting up to do the Cha Cha Slide at weddings. I enjoy dancing around the kitchen--mostly in a goofy way to get the kids laughing--but I never really had a passion for dance. Nor was I an athlete growing up.  Backyard races, bicycle rides, and a pick up game of kickball is the extent of my experience in an athletic arena.

My passion has always involved music--singing, specifically--and thinking--writing down my thoughts, specifically.

I was never very pink growing up either.  I didn't enjoy wearing dresses and I preferred to be outside getting dirty to inside playing dress up and tea party.

Each of my girls is very different from each other and from me.  I have struggled a little bit to encourage passions in them that are opposite of where my own talents lie.  But I cannot deny their spark.

For example, J-bug, loves to dance. For as long as I can remember, she has talked about dancing. Her vision at four years old was to be able to flit around like a fairy in flight. She loves everything about the glitz and ruffles of the costumes and when she turned five she begged and begged and begged us to let her take dance classes. I didn't let my lack of dance experience and my displeasure at being labeled a "stage mom" stop her.

For some reason, I thought she would hate it after her first year (because I kind of did) but she didn't hate it...she loved it more. So again, I bit my lip, and we enrolled her for the next year. She still loves it as much as she did on her very first day and it's three years later.

When I became a parent I assumed that I would pass on my passions and talents to my kids. I thought I would know exactly how to encourage their talents to grow because they would have the same ones that I do. I assumed that they would beg for piano lessons like I did--they have no desire (at least not yet) to learn a musical instrument.  I've mentioned it, and my suggestion falls flat--to my dismay.

Potato is going to play T-ball this year and this non-athlete will be encouraging her from the sidelines--I passed off the duties of getting her to her team practices and learning the finer points of  batting and catching and pitching to her dad. I don't think I would be very helpful to her any way but I won't throw water on her spark. She's our tough little girl who can out-race a rabbit and has energy for days.

It's more difficult than I thought to pinpoint their gifts and encourage their greatness. I want them to find their passion and recognize their talents and encourage them in that way--because I know that following a passion is a HUGE component to happiness.

My kids aren't cookie cutters of me. They might not have my talents and passions.  Have you had trouble recognizing your kids talents, and coming to terms with the fact that they may be different from your own? How have you encouraged them?

Best Day EVER (this week) #8

Welcome to another addition of the Best Day EVER (this week)!

If you are looking for a spot to link up your best post of the week:You found the place!  Welcome to The BEST day EVER (this week): A carnival brought to you by the gals behind More Than Mommies.  So anything is fair game for the link up--as long as it's your best of the week! 

Link up with us and Tell a Friend to do the same. We can't wait see what everyone has been up to this week.  Please remember to grab our button for your post or sidebar so blog hoppers will know where you've been and where to go next. This is a low key hop, but the more links, the more fun! We will follow everyone who links up and we ask that you leave some comment love for the blog in front of you and behind. If you have time to visit more--by all means do it!  Please link to a specific post! 


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This week has been an insanely busy week for me.  I don't know if I would have made it through this week if it weren't for the BEST day this week . . . Monday.


What made Monday such a great day?  I can officially tell you now - because Jerry has told everyone that needed to know before I put it on the internet - JERRY GOT A NEW JOB!!!!  

He has been looking for a new job for a while.  Not so much because he didn't like his current job but because he wanted to be home more.  This new job is significantly closer (like 40 minutes closer!) and he will work a normal 8 hour day.  He will also have his weekends off. . . which is HUGE for us!  The health plan benefits are 1000 times better, too!  He also won't be selling anything - which is a big weight off of his shoulders.  Retail was never really what he wanted to do and he is very excited about the change.  Very excited = very happy = better mood already!!!

So - there you have it.  My BEST day EVER (this week) was Monday . . . now all we have to do is get our house sold and find that perfect 4 bedroom house with a little land around it to move into!  

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I am struggling a bit this week to think of my best day ever.  It has been a week like most weeks--full of ups and downs--happiness and frustration and perhaps a few tears.

I just want to take a few minutes to tell you something that you already know and have heard many, many, many times: It is that your world can change in the blink of an eye.

On Wednesday evening while I was watching Tivi dance in class, we heard fire whistles start to blare. I whispered a prayer as I usually do when I hear sirens. Micey (my youngest) got scared at the sound and turned so I could pick her up and hold her close. I told her "it's okay" but I thought "some one's life is changing right now." On our way home from dance the road that we usually travel was blocked by a large fire truck. I could see emergency lights pulsating. I lifted up another prayer--it seemed like an accident had blocked the road: I prayed for the victims.  In my small hometown, where my mom and dad still live and where many of my relatives and friends live, on a road that I travel and my husband travels nearly every day, I was nervous that someone I know could be affected.

Knowing that Jim would be traveling that way, I told him about the accident and we talked about it again when he got home. But then it was business as usual as we cheered for the Pens and went to bed.

Early the next morning I read an e-mail from my Dad...life had changed for our family. A man and woman were severely injured in a head on collision on that road yesterday: a man and woman who are family. My dad's first cousin and his wife--a man and woman that I have thought of as Uncle and Aunt while growing up. My "uncle" passed and my "aunt" has a long road of recovery ahead of her. Their daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons are left to try to make sense of something so heartbreakingly tragic...and unnecessary.

The earliest reports in the paper say that the driver of the pickup truck that hit them had been reaching for his CELL PHONE when his vehicle drifted into oncoming traffic on a busy road where cars go faster than they should.

We hear all of this coverage about the dangers of texting while driving and laws are put into place.  There is nothing against the law about reaching for your cell phone, changing the radio station, turning back to check on the kids in car seats. On a road that we travel every day it seems like our car will go the way that it usually goes automatically. Maybe some days when we get home we can't remember the details of how we got there because our mind has been somewhere else and our body has been driving on autopilot.

I need to be reminded again and again to live mindfully, in the present, focusing on the present moment and the task at hand. This tragic accident could have been avoided. Every time we get on the road, we are narrowly avoiding tragedy. Distracted drivers are on the road with you. You are driving while distracted--and you don't even realize it: your phone is ringing, you hate the song playing on you radio, the kids are fighting in the backseat, you are mentally reviewing your work day, you are reaching for your starbuck's. Please live mindfully--your life and the lives of others are depending on it every second.

My sympathy and prayers go out to my cousins, our family. Godspeed my 'aunt's' recovery. And may my 'uncle' rest in peace.

Link up below to tell us about your BEST this week!  We can't wait to visit your blog and read all about it!!!

Why Won't My Kids Clean Up After Themselves?

Why won't my kids clean up after themselves? I'll tell you why. I think it is because I am making a horrible mommy mistake.  One that I am going to admit to you now. One that you might be making. Maybe it isn't too late for you to turn things around.  I'm still holding on to hope that I can change my ways.  The fact that my children are downright slobs probably has a lot more to do with me than it does with them...and here's why:

I don't like noise, I don't enjoy fighting. And my kids know this. So when they don't want to do something--like clean up--they put up quite a fuss and fight me every step of the way.  And I give up. To stop the noise, to stop the fighting--I just do it myself.  Oh, they have got my number and I don't like it!

I have tried to make it fun. I have tried to bribe them. I have promised the moon. I have threatened. I have taken away their prized possessions. I have given in to their whims as reward. I have bundled up everything on the floor and thrown it in the trash--prized possessions included.  Nothing works consistently. I still end up doing most, if not all of the work.  It is beyond frustrating. I can either live in a pig sty, fight tooth and nail to get them to clean up, or do it myself.

I'm tired of fighting and I prefer not to live in a pig sty-- HELP!

Please leave your comments and suggestions below before I suffocate under a pile of stuffed animals and other debris of childhood. Have you found the answer? I am obligating you to spill it--and thanking you in advance!

Growing Up

I'm not talking about my children . . . I'm talking about myself.

I celebrated a birthday this month.  I have no intention of telling you how old I am . . . let's just say I've been 29 for a few years now.  I've been growing up for a while now and I finally feel like an adult.

I am not really sure what pushed me out of my carefree youth and into this state of responsible adulthood.  It might be the 4 children that I now have to feed and clothe (among countless other tasks) every day.  It may be the bills, the grocery shopping, the menu planning, the laundry, the dishes or maybe even just the fact that I no longer feel like going out on a Friday night at 9:00 pm and staying out until 2:00 am.  I'm usually in my pajamas by 9:00 pm and drifting off to sleep by 11:00 pm.

It might have been losing so many people that I love recently.  Both of Jerry's grandmothers and my grandfather passed away in the last 2 years.  Having those people who always see you as a little kid around helps to keep you feeling like a little kid.  My grandfather never really treated me like an adult - even though I had 4 kids and was married - I was always his little granddaughter.

There are a lot of things I miss about my early/mid 20s.  I remember my bar/club days vividly and not so vividly.  I wasn't a heavy drinker but I did overdo it on occasion. There are a lot of things I would love to do again - like late night talks that last until early morning with good friends and good music WITHOUT having to worry about how early a baby/kid will be waking me up the next day.  There are a lot of people that I miss on a daily basis because they just don't seem to fit into my life anymore.  I'd love to throw darts, play a jukebox and do a couple shots without having to worry about how my body was going to feel when the time came to rise and shine.  I often think that I would love to have some FUN again . . .  Then I remember what my brother-in-law, Len, said about parenthood, "This is just a different kind of fun."

Instead of waking up with a headache, I wake up to hugs and kisses and little voices saying, "Mama!" when I walk in the room and turn on the light.  Instead of my hair smelling like stale smoke from some bar or club I was in, I get to inhale the fresh smell of recently showered baby's hair - our scent these days is watermelon.  :)  Instead of trying to remember what I said or did the night before, I am trying to remember to send in permission slips and lunch money.

It is a different kind of fun and I'm sure that one day I will be thinking about this post and saying, "There are a lot of things about the 5th, 6th and 7th time I turned 29 that I really miss"

10 (Almost) Effortless Waiting Games For Your Kids

"That will be a 45 minute wait," The hostess says through her smile as she hands me the light up disc vibrator thingy that keeps us tethered to the front lobby while we wait for our table along with 15 other party of sixes. I sigh and think, "Patience."

"The doctor will be with you in a few minutes more like a half an hour" The nurse says through her smile as she backs out of the room and clicks the door shut behind her. Beige room. A few brightly colored posters on the wall. A board book. An old, torn Highlights magazine and a miscellaneous collection of instruments labeled "do not allow children to touch." I sigh and think, "Patience."

"Only 15 more minutes on the road kids!"  I say through my smile as I flip the radio station after hearing the opening verse of Ke$ha's "Blow" for the 40 bazillionth time. "Patience" I sigh as I click off the radio.

The grocery store check out line. The drive-thru at the local "not so fast food" place. On a long walk through the neighborhood. During dinner. When the girls say they are bored. These are just a few of the moments when I wrack my brain for a way to entertain my not-so-patient children and make time pass pleasantly. 

Oh darn, I forgot my Pinterest inspired crayon pouches and busy books. The truth is, I've only pinned those things...I haven't actually made them. And even if I did, I probably did forget them at home. I'm lucky to get out of the house without forgetting one of the kids! (I have never forgotten one of my kids. Although I have imagined following through on the threat while they are scrambling to find shoes whining that they don't want to put on their shoes.)

It's during these times that I think through my collection of games that require nothing more than people and brains to play. Some of them are better for older kids, but some can be adapted for littler ones who are no longer pacified with pacifiers, car keys, or the string from your hoodie.  So here they are for you to file in your memory bank to use the next time you need to keep your kids from grabbing and, consequently, breaking things that say "do not let children touch" during the 20 minutes that you will be waiting for your doctor to appear.

10 + 1 for Good Measure Games to Play While You are Waiting

 

Higgy Piggy

Higgy Piggy is one of my favorites but it is best played with kids who are old enough to get the concept. My younger ones do make hilarious efforts bur it is more difficult for them to play because their vocabulary is limited and they don't get rhyming words just yet. The idea of Higgy Piggy is to create a riddle who's answer is two rhyming words.It's a great way to teach synonyms and rhyming.  One person comes up with the question and the rest guess. For example:  Q. What is a noisy thunderhead? A. A loud cloud. Q. What is hair for a hog? A. A pig wig. Get it?  Got it? Good!

I Spy

We have been playing I spy since my kids started talking.  Of course when you are in a beige waiting room you become a little limited but there are always enough ideas for a few rounds of I spy. We start off the game by picking an object in the  room and saying "I Spy with my little eye something...blue" and then everyone takes turns guessing what is spied.  The winner of the round chooses the next object.

I'm Thinking of An Animal, Person, Place or Thing

This is also a fun game for kids of all ages. And the girls often request I'm Thinking of an Animal whenever I suggest a waiting game. It's another easy one! Just choose an Animal (if the kids are older you can choose to play using famous people, places or favorite things) and then everyone asks yes or no questions about your animal and tries to guess what it is. For example: I chose COW. The kids ask: Does it live on a farm? Yes. Does it swim? No Does it eat Grass? Yes Does it give milk? Yes Is it is COW? Yes!  It's fun to try to stump them.

How's Yours

How's Yours is best played in a group of at least four people. One person leaves the group and those left agree on an item...let's say "toothbrush"--The guesser returns and takes turns asking each person "how's yours?" the players give a word or short phrase to answer the question. I say "Bristly." Child one says "soggy." Child two says "green." Child three says "chewed." The guesser shouts out the answer as soon as she thinks of it and if she guesses on your word than you become the next guesser.

Thumb Wrestling

Lock your right hand with your opponent's hand with thumbs up. Move your thumbs side to side and you both chant "One! Two! Three! Four! I declare a thumb war!" and then try to pin your opponent's thumb with your thumb without letting go of their fingers.  Once pinned, your opponent has 10 seconds to wiggle free before you win! (I let my kids win on occasion) ;)

Rock, Paper, Scissors

The rock is a balled fist. The paper is a flat palm. The Scissors are the pointer and middle fingers sticking sideways. Rock beats Scissors. Paper covers Rock. Scissors cut Paper. Simply say "Rock, Paper, Scissors...Shoot" and everyone throws their choice into the center of the circle. It's also a good way to make a decision--like who will be first to hop up on the doctor's table when she finally arrives!

Pits and Cherries

We play this every day at dinner. It isn't really a game so much as a conversation starter. Each person takes turns telling the best (The Cherry) thing about their day and the worst (The Pit) thing about their day. We all cheer or commiserate depending on whether the person is giving their Cherry or Pit. It is useful when you aren't sure what to talk about (There's never a shortage of topics around our table, but the girls still like to play).

I'm going on a Picnic

This is an alphabet/memory game. Start the game by saying "I'm going on a picnic and I am bringing an Ax" (or Apple, Anaconda, Aardvark--any "A" word) The next person says "I'm going on a picnic and I am bringing and ax and Bananas" The next person tries to remember everything the person before brought and adds their word to the end in alphabetical order. When the person can't remember all the items in order they are out. The winner is the person who can remember the entire list when no one else can!

The Telephone Game

The telephone game is best played with a larger group. Choose a long-ish phrase to whisper quickly into the ear of the person next to you. They then whisper what they heard into the next person's ear. You all giggle and laugh when the last person says the phrase aloud at the end and you see how much it has changed!

Name That Tune

One person chooses a well known song and hums the tune. The other players try to guess the song. The person that guesses gets to hum the next song. We play this game quite often. It makes time fly!Thankfully my girls can carry a tune pretty well so we aren't often stumped!

Don't Break The Cookie Jar

If you are keeping track...you will note that "Don't Break the Cookie Jar" is game number 11 on this list of 10. I added this one because it is Mommy's favorite--especially on a long car ride. But the girls are not very good at it at all. It's always good for about 10 seconds of peace--longer if you can get your kids to actually take it seriously. Simply say "Don't break the cookie jar!" the first person to talk or make a noise is out of the game!

Enjoy playing these silly, no fuss games with your kids the next time you are stuck waiting for something or someone!

Can you think of any others? Leave 'em in the comments! I'm always looking for fun, new ideas to keep the kids' entertained!

If you are visiting from Pinterest, or a first time reader, feel free to check out our follow-up post with 10 MORE games to keep you entertained while waiting! 

This post is linked at: Top Ten Tuesday with Many Little Blessings