Multi-Tasking Moms

FYI - blogs not opening

2008-08-02T09:16:00.000-04:00

If you, or someone you know, uses sitemeter on their blogs, their blog will not open with Internet Explorer. You can remedy this problem by going to your dashboard and deleting the sitemeter page element. Just open the box where you have the sitemeter code and click 'remove.'

I don't know if sitemeter is working to fix this problem, but if you desire a new application to track your blog traffic and stats, I'd recommend statcounter.com.

At this point, we still have no plans to re-open this blog, but I wanted to post the information here as I know people still stop by to access older posts. Thank you!!

Welcome 2008

2008-01-01T09:45:00.000-05:00

Being a mom takes balance.

It takes time and planning for each of us to find that balance.

We here at Multi-tasking Moms are thankful that we've been able to share for the past 5 months the ways in which we've created that balance - make ahead meals, cleaning tips, how to fit in time for a workout - while centering ourselves with the goal of striving to put Christ first.

We have found, as 2008 has come upon us, that one way for each of us to continue to maintain that balance, is to allow our time used at MTM to take a hiatus. We plan to keep the blog here, so that the articles, ideas and links will remain for the moms who read. We're thankful you for your valuable contributions to MTM.

May you each have a wonderful 2008 and may we constantly strive to follow Christ in all our endeavors. Blessings, The MTM team

Its beginning to look....

2007-12-13T20:51:00.000-05:00

...a lot like Christmas!!

We apologize for the lateness in getting this out to you.

It is our desire for our own families, as well as yours, that we be devoting as much time to them and this joyous season as we can. Therefore, we here at MTM are taking a short break. We will post a new message when we have decided on a start up date.

Praising God this Christmas

For all that He has done

And for sending us the greatest Gift

His one and only Son!

May He bless you and your family

all season long!

From all the moms at MTM -

Merry Christmas!

Making Your Work Out Work

2007-12-07T23:39:00.000-05:00

Are you like me? Does the thought of exercising make you tired? I’m one of those people who was never good at sports, was not very coordinated and could trip over my own feet if I wasn’t careful. But now, lazing around is not longer an option. My metabolism has gotten slower than my eating. So I try to get a little exercise in now and then.

When it comes to exercise, I’ve found there are two important things for me to keep it going: I have to like it and I need to be motivated.

I like walking. On a nice day I don’t mind going out and walking my trail. I find that I enjoy it and even look forward to my walking time. Sometimes I take along my ipod loaded with an audio book to keep me company. On a not so nice day, I use the Walk at Home DVD.

I’ve tried a few different things to keep me motivated. Sometimes I meet up with a friend and that is a great source of accountability and encouragement if you can work it out. Another thing I’ve done is track my progress on a calendar. Just knowing that I walked 2 miles, three days this week is enough motivation for me to keep going or try to beat it.

But the easiest thing for me is the pedometer. You can clip one on when you get up in the morning and write down your steps at the end of each day. It can quickly become a great motivator for you to try to beat your steps. 10,000 steps a day is recommended. If you’re not sure how many steps a day you’re walking, strap on a pedometer and see. Then try to do more.

You can keep up with your progress on your own just by writing down your steps each day. But I also found this site which will keep up with your progress for you and send you reports to keep you going.

Pedometers range in prices and bells and whistles. Some just count your steps, others track your progress over months and years, calculate calories burned. Here’s a site that compares some of the top sellers. I've seen them at Walmart for as little as $5.00.

Some days are busier than others. I may be running all over the house putting away laundry or picking up the house and then do a work-out walk on top of that. Then there are other days when I find myself sitting around more. Having my pedometer on will remind me when I need to step it up.

If your work-out needs a change of pace, try adding a pedometer. Find out how much you're really moving each day.

Advent Devotions

2007-12-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

This Advent Season I am enjoying reading this advent calendar with my children.

This calendar is filled with things that you can do everyday.

Right now we are working on a Jesse Tree.

We are reading each days devotional which includes reading a bible passage.

Then either coloring or decorating an ornament.

Then haging that ornament on a tree.

This is making Advent memorable for the kids and us.

The second calendar I am working on daily myself.

The calendar is filled with lots of great things to do like:

Let your Bible fall open and

contemplate the reading the Holy Spirit has put before you,

Include in your Christmas cards blessings you have received,

Pick one habit that is keeping you from holiness and resolve and conquer it.

(you can click on he calendars to enlarge)

I am also reading a couple other daily Advent Devotional books.

I'd like to share today's devotion with you.

Thursday - First Week of Advent

Jesus said, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The reain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse. It had been set soldidly on rock.

(Matthew 7:21, 24-27)

Jesus says that if we take to heart his words and make them the basis of our actions, our lives are built on a rock-solid foundation.

This raises some questions. First ,have I built a set of convictions that I try to live by? (These would be comparable to the house in the parable above. ) Or, do I more or less operate on a vague deisre to do right?

If I do have convictions, then another question is this: What are they based on? The rock of God's word? Or the shifting sands of what seems generally acceptable in our society?

When the rain and floods and winds come into my life- and they do- I need solid footings. As a disciple of the Lord, I commit myself to more than following the Gospel whenever possible and or convenient.

Just for starters....Do I forgive when I feel like it, or do I have conviction based on the "solid rock" of what Jesus taught about forgiveness? Or prayer. Do I pray "when I get a chance," or do I have a rock-solid pattern of prayer ?

I need to spend some time taking stock of the foundations on which I have built my life.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Does anyone else have any other suggestions

or devotional readings that your do throughout December?

Please feel free to share what you do.

December Featured Multi-Tasking Mom

2007-12-05T21:50:00.000-05:00

The Featured MTM column has been put on hold for this month - please stay tuned for further announcements regarding the prize featured on November 7's post.

Holiday Stress

2007-12-04T10:26:00.000-05:00

I was going to write an entire post about dealing with stress during the holiday season, but then I saw exactly what I was going to say printed in my church bulletin.

Dealing With Holiday Stress

Levels of stress increase during the holiday season, as people tend to overextend themselves and commit to doing more than they possibly can in the limited time they have. This season is stressful even if what people commit themselves to are events that should be enjoyable, such as attending parties and visiting family.

The causes of stress are plentiful -- but with a little planning and some tips from the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, the holidays can be much less stressful.

-- Don't commit to more than you can handle. If there is not enough time in which to do a project, decide not to do it. Make sure to balance your obligations with things that you want to do. Plan your time and stick to your plan.

-- Maintain your health. Monitor what you eat and drink, make sure you are getting enough sleep and stick to your exercise program.

-- When shopping, stay within your budget so that gift giving does not become another source of stress. Plan in advance when and how you will do your shopping. This way, you are less likely to be overwhelmed.

-- Acknowledge feelings of grief and loss if they exist. If you are separated from family or friends or have suffered a loss in your family, realize that the feeling of loss in normal. Allow yourself to express this grief and emotions.

-- Avoid unrealistic expectations. Don't be so critical of yourself or others if things fail to go as planned. Remember, too, the magic of the holidays will probably not solve your personal or family problems.

One more note from me. Remember to keep your focus on the real meaning of the season and you're bound to have a happier holiday.

Recipe Roundup: Dips

2007-12-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

With the holiday season in full swing, we'll all be spending more time with friends and family. Dips are a great way to entertain a small group, or a large crowd without having to stretch the budget too far, or spending too much time in the kitchen.

Here is a great dip recipe that my family really enjoys. And, every time I serve this one to guests, I get asked for the recipe.

Artichoke and Spinach Dip
recipe slightly adapted from allrecipes.com...

4 cloves garlic
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (16 ounce) container Alfredo-style pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Place garlic in a small baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 20 to 30 minutes, until soft. Remove from heat. When cool enough to touch, squeeze softened garlic from skins.

In a medium bowl, combine the roasted garlic, spinach, artichoke hearts, Alfredo-style pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and cream cheese. Spoon into 8 x 8 inch (or similar sized) baking dish.

Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes, or until bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips or cubed Italian bread.

Now it's your turn. Share a favorite dip recipe with us by linking below, or leave one in the comments section!

Keeping Your Fashion in Mind

2007-11-30T08:57:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time I was a twenty something who cared about what was in and out of fashion. I am sure I wasn't the perfect model of what to wear but I had a clue. Then I was a wife and I still had a fashion sense, and the freedom to shop for me. (The good ole days.) Then came the day I was given the title of Mommy. My focus was on baby clothes, baby gadgets, diaper bags, baby toys, and this dynamic continued through every stage my daughter faced. Every growth spurt demanded more clothes. Sure, I was in need of an updated outfit or two, but who has time for an outfit or two when your newborn child is outgrowing her clothes. Plus, it is so fun to shop for your baby!! I mean really - the clothes are SOOO cute.

Thanks to a second pregnancy, the demands of life and the passage of time I now wonder... "What happened to my wardrobe?!!" How did my shoes become so out?? I know there are some moms who sport stilettos while running in the park with their kids, but I am NOT that mom. I find myself in over sized t-shirts and jeans or elastic waisted pants. Last year I finally bought a few pair of the jeans with flared legs to only read in the latest fashion magazine that straight legged jeans are back! This can be exhausting.

I have tried to buy a few key staples, with every season, so that at least a few of my outfits are not "from the 90's". Unfortunately I cannot keep up with trends like I used to. What to do??? How can we keep our kids clothed (since they seem to outgrow everything every 6 months) while maintaining a little style of our own??

My solution is to buy a few key pieces every season. I tend to be at the park or on play dates more than I am around professionally dressed people, so I look for bargains on the latest casual wear. I make a run, and I do mean a run, for a bargain store. I grab 3 or 4 tops and then head to the register. I still wear my flare legged jeans and my sweat pants with these tops and I feel great! I buy a pair of shoes, when I find something practical, and when I am really up for a splurge I buy an entire outfit.

But I must warn you, since we have limited time for us - beware of the juniors section. Nothing is more infuriating than to buy a Medium top KNOWING it will fit, to only find that you are now dressed like a hussy. They should put a Jr-M or something in the tag. I do NOT have time to find a shirt I like AND try it on in the store. Most of the time I have my kids with me and I am lucky to find something I like. :) The same goes for pants. I have found a Jr. size pant thinking it was a normal size I wear and brought it home devastated that I couldn't get it past my thighs. :) They (the junior sizes) need to have a neon green tag in the clothes so we will KNOW when we are in the wrong area.

I think remaining in touch with fashion is vital to my emotional health. I don't mean that in an obsessed way but in an effort to avoid the "I am a zombie person wearing only t-shirts because the kids will either spit up on me or get me dirty so why bother" mindset. We need to be comfortable and we need to feel good too. I have found one key to me feeling I am not lost in the title of Mom is to buy a few shirts each season and to keep a fresh hair cut. It isn't perfect but at least I am still in the picture.

It is so easy to sit back and care for everyone but me. Having a balanced plan gives me permission to take care of me without feeling like "Oh, I should have bought something for the kids." I feel good about me and I feel good about my 'Mom-ness'. (And can I get an Amen or a Yippee for longer shirts being IN!!! Didn't you hate the belly shirt phase???? Especially while trying to wear maternity pants - the shirts showed the blue bands on the pants. Ick! Ick!! Ick! Loved the belly bump, just hated the blue maternity bands showing.)

Tis the Advent Season

2007-11-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Season of Advent is upon us! In fact, it begins this Sunday, December 2nd.

Advent season is the period of anticipation and preparation as Christians await the celebration of Jesus' birth on Christmas.

Although I was raised in a Christian home, our church and my family never really celebrated Advent until I was in college. It was at that time that my mom stumbled upon the meaning of Advent and began a simple tradition of Advent dinners. (though the preparation is not necessarily simple for her...)

Each Sunday during the Advent Season my side of the family gathers for dinner together. We have a brief devotion and prayer and then we light the candle on the advent wreath. It is a time to come together as a family and focus on the true meaning of this holiday season - Christ - which can be easily lost in the flurry of Christmas "activity".

This year Eric and I are planning to celebrate Advent daily with the children using the devotions and symbols of the Jesse Tree. It is too late in the season for me to fill my life with hurry and force myself to find the tree and make the ornaments (or purchase them). Instead, we will sit around the dinner table each night and read the scripture and devotion. The girls will then color in the symbol on paper and we will paste it on a paper with the scripture, which I will type and print. I hope to fit about 4 per page so that at the end of the season, they will have a book celebrating Advent Season. I hope it will become a keepsake book we can bring out each year!

Of course, there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate this season and look ahead with anticipation to Christmas! Does your family have special traditions for Advent season? Please take a moment and share them with us!

Recipe Roundup-Warming Me Up

2007-11-25T23:54:00.000-05:00

I LOOOOVE soups, chowders, and chili's during the cold weather. In my area we are having some cold weather in deed. There is something so comforting and warming to have a pot of simmering soups, chowders, and chili's to wrap up the end of the day. Throw some rolls and salad and you have a good meal. Yes, MAM!

This is a family favorite and it is so good.

Cheesy Ham and Cheddar Chowder

10 Bacon Strips
1 large onion
1 cup diced carrots
3 T. flour
3 Cups milk
1 1/2 cup water
2 1/2 cups of cut up peeled potatoes
1 can corn (drained)
2 chicken bouillon cubes
pepper to taste
2 cups of shred cheddar
2 cups fully cooked ham

In a large soup pot cook the bacon until crisp. Drain bacon, saute onion and carrot in bacon drippings. Stir in flour until well blended. Gradually add milk and water. Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add potatoes, corn, bouillon, and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Add cheese and ham. Heat until cheese is melted. Stir in bacon.This recipe was in Quick Cooking (Oct 2000).

Share your favorite!

Tiz the Season to Travel

2007-11-21T06:19:00.000-05:00

Do you have any tips for traveling with kids?

'Tiz the season! For good food! Decorations! Family time! Traveling!

With kids.

I travel about twice a year without my husband, usually with a connecting flight and with two children - and, with a little preparation and a lot of prayer, it is not too bad.

When flying, my number one tip is that your positive attitude and refusal to be flapped by what others think is THE most important thing. I have to constantly repeat to myself "my kids have a right to go visit their grandparents!" Obviously, I do the very best I can to see that we are not a bother to anyone, but children are children and perfect behavior is probably not going to happen.

My best suggestion is to fly Frontier, pray for one of the newer planes with Direct TV, pay the $5, put it on Nickel*odean, and read a book. (I actually got to do this once! Read an entire book for the first time in at least 6 months.) The DVD player is also a great idea, but we have always seem to have battery issues.

Here are some other ideas that have worked for us:

--snacks, snacks & more snacks. If your kids are too young for gum, include lollipops to "suck" on going up and down so their ears won't hurt. I use little ziplocks and pack goldfish, teddy grahams, fruit snacks, raisins, cashews, pretzels, Ritz Bitz w/ peanut butter, M&M, etc.. I dole them out one baggie at time just about anytime the wiggles set in. They don't eat the rest of the day, and that is ok with me. I pack one big bag for each "leg" of the flight, and I pack extras in my checked luggage for the way home.
--notebook and pencil. Since you are sitting with them, this lasts longer than other situations. You keep it going by "draw me a square", "draw me a doggie" etc...
--matchbox cars- only one for each hand or they get dropped easily on the floor.
--sticker books. My favorite are the Dis*ney ones and we get them at Sams or Costco. Star stickers and blank paper works too.
--A couple of favorite story books that you have put away for a couple of weeks before the trip so they are "new" again.

Tips:

--Take a carry-on bag that you can put under the seat in front of you rather than in an overhead compartment. That means that you can easily get to your bag even if the "fasten seatbelt" sign is on, and you are not trying to get to an overhead compartment with a kid in your lap.
--Crayons or markers are hard because they roll and then you get to try and fetch them before they are in the back of the plane. I still take them, but I hold the box and only allow one out at a time.
--If your husband is flying with you - one of you go onto the plane when you can with your luggage and get everything situated. The other one stay out in the gate with the kids and board at the last possible minute so that they have to be in the seat, quiet and still, as little as possible.
--Play airplane at home and practice not kicking the seat in front of you, not screeching, and being amazed at the view out the window.
--Go to the bathroom BEFORE you get on the plane. Always. They invariably have to go to the bathroom as the plane is taking off and you are not allowed out of your seat.
--The airline will sometimes try to put you in the very front seat of the cabin, which seems like such a good idea - there is a little bit more room, and there are no seats to kick in front of you. I liked them when I had a nursing baby with me, but now I don't because you cannot have any bags in front of you.
--Don't put the kids next to each other if you can help it. Sit in the middle.
--Wear slip-on or velcro shoes and have the kids do the same. Some airports require that shoes go through security, and this makes it a lot less time-consuming in the security lines.

Here's a site with some more ideas:
http://www.flyingwithkids.com/

Share your best tips on flying (or driving) with kids!

Food Safety Tips

2007-11-20T08:19:00.000-05:00

I know it's not a pleasant topic, but foodborne illnesses can quickly change a happy holiday gathering in to something memorable for less-than-pleasant reasons. But following safe food handling practices will lessen our chances of getting sick during the holidays.

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, typical symptoms of foodborne illness include stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which often start a few days after consuming contaminated food or drink. The symptoms usually aren't long-lasting in healthy people — a few hours or a few days — and go away without treatment. But foodborne illness can be severe and even life-threatening to those most at risk, FDA officials say. Those most at risk include older adults, infants and young children; pregnant women; people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or any condition that weakens their immune systems.

The following is some food safety tips from the FDA. Most of us already follow proper food handling procedures, but it can't hurt to get a reminder:

1. Clean: The first rule of safe food preparation in the home is to keep everything clean.

* Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food. (Just Mom has Just Son sing "Happy Birthday" slowly while washing his hands.)
* Wash food-contact surfaces (cutting boards, dishes, utensils, countertops) after preparing each food item and before going on to the next item.

* Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water and use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.

* Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking. Washing these foods makes it more likely for bacteria to spread to areas around the sink and countertops.

2. Separate: Don't give bacteria the opportunity to spread from one food to another (cross-contaminate).

* Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood and their juices away from foods that won't be cooked while shopping in the store, and while preparing and storing at home.

* Consider using one cutting board only for foods that will be cooked (raw meat, poultry, and seafood) and another one only for ready-to-eat foods (such as raw fruits and vegetables).

*Do not put cooked meat on an unwashed plate that has held raw meat.

3. Cook: Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria.

* Use a food thermometer to make sure meat, poultry, and fish are cooked to a safe internal temperature. To check a turkey for doneness, insert a food thermometer into the inner thigh area near the breast of the turkey but not touching bone. The turkey is done when the temperature reaches 180ºF. If the turkey is stuffed, the temperature of the stuffing should be 165ºF. Make sure oysters in oyster dressing are thoroughly cooked.

* Bring sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating.

* Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. When making your own eggnog or other recipe calling for raw eggs, use pasteurized shell eggs, liquid or frozen pasteurized egg products, or powdered egg whites.

* Don't eat uncooked cookie dough, which may contain raw eggs.

4. Chill: Refrigerate foods quickly because harmful bacteria grow rapidly at room temperature.

* Refrigerate leftovers and takeout foods within two hours.

* Set your refrigerator no higher than 40ºF and the freezer at 0ºF. Check both periodically with an appliance thermometer.

* Never defrost food at room temperature. Food can be defrosted safely in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately.

* Allow the correct amount of time to properly thaw food. For example, a 20-pound turkey needs two to three days to thaw completely when thawed in the refrigerator. If a turkey is not properly thawed, the outside of the turkey will be done before the inside, and the inside will not be hot enough to destroy disease-causing bacteria.

For More Information, visit http://www.foodsafety.gov/ or http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/.

Other numbers to know:

* FDA Food Information Line: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366)

* USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)
TTY 1-800-256-7072

Recipe Roundup - Favorite Side Dishes

2007-11-18T16:55:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving about at the door, I thought it would be fun to Round Up some favorite side dishes.

If you have one you'd like to share, you may add it in the comments, or post it to your blog with a link to this post and then come back to sign up with Mr. Linky!

This dish was brought to us when a friend from church made a baby meal after the birth of our second child. We absolutely love this cranberry salad - It will be hard to try a new recipe because I don't think any beat this! If you try it, let me know what you think!

Jill's Cranberry Salad
6 oz cherry Jell-O
2 c hot water
2 1/2 - 3 c sugar
20 oz crushed pineapple, drained
1 lb fresh or frozen cranberries
6 large apples
1/2 c chopped walnuts

Dissolve Jell-O in hot water. Add sugar and pineapple. Put the cranberries and apples in a food chopper and then stir them in to the Jell-O mixture. Add walnuts just before serving, to keep them from getting soggy. Serve with whipped topping.

Excuse this interuption...

2007-11-16T07:41:00.001-05:00

Please make sure you look below for today's current post...

I'm happy to announce that "Mom to 5...Daughter of the King" is our winner for the Leslie Sansone Family Walk DVD.

Please send us a note (there is a link on the side for our email) with your name and address so we can get this dvd out to you!

Thanks to all who entered!

Go Figure! Get To Thinking Healthy!

2007-11-16T06:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Go Figure Friday!

I want to tell you all that you are BEAUTIFUL!!! No matter where you are in your weight loss journey or getting healthy lifestyle. Every year women start diet plans and within 6 months 42% will have gained back or more of their weight loss. WHY??? We are our worst critic. We tell ourselves it is okay to blow the rest of the day when we overeat a little. We lose our amount and have a hard time maintaining it once we have achieved the weight loss.

My Dear Sweet Ladies,

We have to not only strengthen our bodies, and change our eating habits. We have to change our mind sets. Why are we losing weight? Do you feel like you loved less because of the extra pounds? Do you think you are only beautiful if you are a certain shape or size? Are you disgusted with yourself when you overeat and feel like you are out of control? Do you let your body image dictate your worth? Do you let it hold you back from doing certain things?

We need to exercise our MINDS. Store up scriptures, quotes, and testimonies to keep us encourage when negative thought patterns enter I mind. They say you are what you think. Hmmmm! That is very interesting. If we constantly talk about the rolls, cellulite, thunder thighs, and every other negative image we will not take care of our bodies the way they deserve. God made us to be healthy so let us look at that way. We might not be a size 6 but if we have healthy lifestyles we should keep striving to be the best that WE can be in OUR bodies. We are all different.

I am going to making some cute little signs to post around my home to keep my negative thought patterns in line. I do think this will be a key help in helping me stay faithful to a healthy life.

Do you struggle with self-esteem? Share ways that you could help build your confidence!

Thanksgiving Tradition

2007-11-15T08:42:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is in the air. I find myself online searching for color pages and ideas for creating our own traditions. I have such a passion to create a fun and memorable holiday with my family. We teach our kids to be thankful every day but I especially want this message to sink in now.

I am so in love with the fall leaves. All of the warm colors. The cooler temperatures. I feel so alive. Wherever we go throughout the day, I am constantly saying "HC. JB. Look at the trees over there!!" The kids tell me of all the colors they see as we drive. We have driven through tunnels of trees raining leaves down upon us. I just love the fall!

How does your family celebrate Thanksgiving?? Do you have a special tradition? I do not want to overlook this time of reflecting on our blessings and jump right into Christmas mode. I want to preserve this time too! We are beginning our journey of creating traditions and I wondered if you had any you felt like sharing!

By the way, I found this great website with a Thankful e-book you can print for free (The e-book is geared more towards preschool and Kindergarten ages).

Barefoot Books

2007-11-13T20:13:00.000-05:00

The Princess and the White Bear King by Tanya Robyn Batt and illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli is a happily ever after story adapted from three European fairy tales. In this beautifully illustrated story, a young princess has a dream. Her father, the King, tries his best to re-create it, but it seems that only the great White Bear holds the key to her dreams.

The story immediately puts you in the wintry setting,

"In the North, where the thickly-needled pine forests are deep and dark and the snow falls bride-white, there once lived three Princesses, daughters of a King and Queen. All three were beautiful, but with her long, fair hair and her dreamy eyes, the youngest was the fairest by far. And her father loved her best."

The princess finds herself in an adventure with the White Bear, and the mystery surrounding him and his castle. In a moment of doubt, the princess’s true love seems to be snatched away. She must now complete a journey that takes her to a land that lies east of the sun and west of the moon where she must prove herself worthy of the White Bear King.

I received this book and the accompanying CD from Barefoot Books. My children listened to it and loved the story even without the book. Once they saw the book, they fell in love with the colorful, whimsical illustrations.

Browsing through the Barefoot Books website, it appears that all their books are richly illustrated with bright colors and appealing drawings. If you’re looking for just the right book for a child this Christmas, why not check out Barefoot Books. You will find a unique selection that focuses on quality literature.

As the author, Tanya Robyn Batt, says,

“The story begins with a dream, as do many of our adventures in life, and ends as all fairy tales should, with laughter, love and happiness ever after.”

After taking a look at the Barefoot Books website, you may be interested in selling these books yourself. If so, check out their stallholder program.

Thinking about buying books for Christmas this year instead of toys from China? Me too. My kids love audio books, and I do too, since they don't require as much reading from me. Many of the books from Barefoot Books include a CD.

Here's a special offer from Barefoot Books for free shipping so you can get stared with that Christmas shopping right away. Running from November 1^st through the end of the month, start shopping and then use this Special Offer Code at checkout to activate the free shipping on their orders - SCSHSH - it's that easy!

Scripture Cake

2007-11-12T00:23:00.001-05:00

Baking a cake while reading the Bible! I guess this is one of those times when you can have your cake and eat it too-LOL!

This is a wonderful recipe to do with your children! I cannot take credit for it. A friend of mine had her mother’s cookbook that was put together by the women of her church. But this recipe dates back to 1906.

Recipe

4-1/2 cup 1 King 4:22

1 cup Judges 5:25 (last clause)

2 cups Jeremiah 6:20

2 cups 1 Samuel 30:12

2 cups Nahum 3:12

2 cups Numbers 17:8

2 Tbsp. 1 Samuel 14:25

A pinch Leviticus 2:13

6 cups Jeremiah 17:11

½ cup Judges 4:19 (last clause)

2 tsp. Amos 4:5

Season to taste 2 Chronicles 9:9

********************************************

4-1/2 cup flour

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 cups raisins

2 cups figs

2 cups almonds

2 Tbsp. honey

A pinch salt

6 cups eggs

½ cup milk

2 tsp. leaven (baking powder)

Season to taste spices (I used cinnamon)

Cream butter and sugar; add honey and eggs, well beaten. Sift dry ingredients and alternately with milk. Then add fruits, almonds, and spices. Bake 50-60 minutes at 325-350◦ in a bundt pan (or any type of tube pan).

What yummy cake recipe do you have to share with us?

Go Figure Friday & Giveaway

2007-11-09T06:45:00.000-05:00

Two of our biggest 'eating holidays' are soon upon us. Oh yes, let's dig into that wonderful food with such sweet aromas. Turkey, mashed potatoes, fresh baked rolls and don't forget the homemade cranberry sauce.

Makes us gain weight just thinking about it, doesn't it?

But, rather than get ourselves feeling bad about these upcoming weeks, let's use this time before the holidays to try to add a little more exercise into our daily schedules.

If you are looking for a place to start, here are some great articles:

Excuse-Proof Your Exercise Plan

What is Your Exercise Personality?

12 Week Treadmill Workout

And, here at Multi-Tasking Moms, we'll get one lucky reader started with the Leslie Sansone Family Walk DVD. Leave us a comment telling us your favorite way to exercise and also how you would fit this video into your family's daily schedule! A winner will be chosen randomly next Friday, Nov 16.

I want to encourage each of you, to develop an exercise routine now, before the holidays arrive. I've been walking 3-5 times a week for almost 10 weeks and seeing the pounds drop has been a wonderful motivation to keep going. There are 6 weeks until Christmas - get started today and see where you can be by the end of the year!

A new life in Christ

2007-11-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Michael Fran*zese was a financially powerful member of a New York Crime family. He was sworn into the Colo*mbo Crime Fam*ily at the age of 24, against the initial wishes of his father. He has been referred to as the Mo*b's, "Long Island Don" and "The Prince of the Ma*fia."

He was once the primary target of a massive, fourteen agency government task force that "had one assignment----to bring down the Ma*fia's youngest and most financially powerful new superstar, Michael Fran*zese." At the height of his m*ob activity, Michael was "one of the biggest money earners the m*ob had seen since Al Ca*pone, and the youngest individual on Fortune magazine's survey of "The Fifty Biggest Ma*fia Bosses." (Vanity Fair Magazine).

This guy was living the "high life" in a life of cri*me, until God choose Him. That's right. God called this man into service for the Kingdom of God despite the life of sin he was pursuing.

On the set of a film he was producing he met and fell in love with one of the dancers. She would ultimately be the woman God would use to bring him to himself. She would introduce Michael to Christ. Eventually, they would marry.

Eventually, he would walk away from his life in the mo*b and he would refuse government protection. In fact, he is the only high ranking official in the mo*b to leave, refuse protection, and live to tell about it.

And he isn't hiding folks!!!

I was fortunate enough to visit my brother's church on the week that Michae*l Franz*ese came to speak. It was amazing. This man has not only left the m*ob and lived, but he is preaching the glory of God across the nation!!

You can read all about his incredible story in his book, "Blo*od Covenant". You can order it and learn more at this website. (It is also available at amaz*on)

I wanted to share with you a few of the things that he said that touched my heart:

1. The ground at the foot of the cross is LEVEL! (can I get an AMEN on that one?) So many people struggle with their past, but we need to remember that when we come to Christ we have a new life! We are given a fresh start and those sins are forgotten, no matter what they were.

II Corinthians 5:17 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2. Where are you in giving your life to God versus studying Him as a subject? You see, Michael was an alter boy growing up. He knew all about God, but didn't know God. There is a difference. God taught him that religion was more than a subject. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

3. God will prove himself without a doubt if you seek Him and surrender. It won't be "beyond a reasonable doubt" the way our court system handles things. It will be beyond ANY doubt! He shared how this has been true in his life. The gospel is TRUE and will hold itself up to any scrutiny.

He has an amazing story to share and I am so glad I was able to hear him speak. I encourage you to check him out and read about God's amazing power in this man's life.

~Mary

Do You Want To Be Our Next Featured Multi-Tasking Mom?

2007-11-07T21:31:00.000-05:00

Do you want to be next month's Featured Multi-Tasking Mom? We're going to focus on Holiday Traditions here at MTM and we're giving you a chance to share some of your special holiday traditions with us!

And, if you're chosen as our Featured MTM, you win this adorable nativity set!

Now to enter, all you need to do is:

1. Leave us a comment on this post.

2. Send us an email by clicking on our little envelop to the right (subject line: Featured MTM) sharing with us some of your family's holiday traditions. Please add your name/username and name of blog with URL. (For those of you who entered last month, you are welcome to reenter again.)

We can't wait to hear from you! :)

What's In Your Medicine Cabinet?

2007-11-06T07:29:00.000-05:00

Many of us check the expiration dates of grocery items before serving it, but do you also check the expiration dates on the over-the-counter medicine you've purchased for your family?

I make it a habit of thoroughly organizing our medicine cabinet -- actually a shelf in one of our hall closets because humid conditions could speed up how quickly medicines lose their effectiveness -- each time we have to reset our clocks. That's when I check expiration dates and make a list of what items we'll need. I also quick-check our medicine shelf each time someone in this family gets ill, which seems to be at least once a month.

I don't remember when I started checking expiration dates on medicines. I just remember I started doing that after I took some expired pain reliever for a fever. I didn't have a violent reaction to it, thank goodness (probably because it had only been three months since it expired), but the ibuprofen I took didn't help relieve my pain at all. Since then I've become more vigilant in checking our health supplies.

In addition to checking expiration dates for oral medication, I also periodically check expiration dates of ointments I keep in the house, such as Co*rtaid and Neo*sporin.

So what should you keep in a medicine closet? The following is a list of recommended items from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. I keep my medicines and my first-aid supplies in separate plastic bins. I also keep my child's medicines in a separate basket.

--Analgesic (relieves pain)
--Antibiotic ointment (reduces risk of infection)
--Antacid (relieves upset stomach)
--Antihistamine (relieves allergy symptoms)
--Syrup of ipecac (induces vomiting) PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST BEFORE USING THIS.
--Decongestant (relieves stuffy nose and other cold symptoms)
--Fever reducer (adult and child)
--Hydrocortisone (relieves itching and inflammation)
--Antiseptic (helps stop infection)

--Adhesive bandages
--Adhesive tape
--Gauze pads
--Tweezers
--Thermometer
--Calibrated measuring spoon
--Alcohol wipes
--Disinfectant

Always remember to read label instructions before taking or giving any medication. If in doubt, call your pharmacist or your physician. Just Mom is not a doctor. I just play one at home.

Recipe Roundup: Salads

2007-11-05T19:40:00.000-05:00

Who isn't looking for good salad recipes? I know I'm always scoping out websites and cookbooks looking for fun new ones to try. Whether you're watching the calories, or looking for side salads to compliment your favorite meals, it's great to have some good salad recipes on hand!

We love to eat salads as main dishes at our house, and this Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad recipe is one of our favorites. This recipe is entirely from scratch, but you can substitute any part of it with premade ingredients if you don't want to do the entire salad from scratch. Sometimes, I don't have the energy to make the dressing, so I'll use my favorite brand of store bought Caesar dressing. But, I'll take the time that evening to make the croutons!

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Grilled Chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tablespoons lemon pepper
2 tablespoons garlic salt
1 tablespoon onion powder

Sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with lemon pepper, garlic salt, and onion powder. Grill until juices run clear. Set aside and allow to come to room temperature.

Caesar Salad Dressing

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
6-8 drops Tabasco sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
juice of one lemon
1/2 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Combine first 6 ingredients. Whisk in lemon juice, then olive oil. Add parmesan cheese and thoroughly combine.

Croutons

6 slices Italian bread, cut into large cubes
olive oil
garlic powder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Add bread cubes, and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Toss to evenly coat. Bake until golden, approximately 10 minutes.

To assemble salad: Chop one head of romaine lettuce and add to large bowl. When ready to serve, toss with dressing. Add croutons, and additional shredded parmesan cheese. Top with freshly ground pepper and toss until combined.

We'd love to have you share one of your favorite salad recipes with us! Use Mr. Linky below to link to your blog, and then leave a comment. If you don't have a blog, simply share your recipe in the comment box.

And the winners are.....

2007-11-03T09:40:00.000-04:00

Coffee Break Contest

#17 Lisa H

Fall Y'all Bloggy Giveaway

#64 Jodi and #71 Marie

Congrats Ladies!!! Just send over an email with your addresses by clicking on the little envelop to the right.

Thank you everyone who participated in the contests and we hope to see you again:)

MTM Coffee Break

2007-11-02T12:47:00.000-04:00

Sponsored by... Mugs of Truth

Hello, Ladies!!!
MTMs has decided to take a week from blogging to relax with a cup of coffee & enjoy Fall! We will return on Monday, November 5th- refreshed and ready to share more MTM moments with you!

In the mean time, we encourage you to take part in Fall Yall Bloggy Giveaway. Just click on over there and HAVE FUN!!! (scroll down to enter our giveaway!)

Furthermore... Are there questions you have, topics you'd like to explore, subjects you're needing help in, areas you're struggling with, ideas you'd like to share, etc? Please leave a comment and tell us what you like about this blog and what you'd like to see more of!!! Oh, I almost forgot... Anyone who leaves a comment, regarding this blog, will be entered into a drawing to receive a cool mug from http://mugsoftruth.com/!!!

We'll see you, Monday!
In Him,

It's Fall Y'all!

2007-10-30T12:46:00.000-04:00

Even though we're taking a Coffee Break, us Multi-Tasking Moms are always up for a contest!

So, how would you like to be drinkin' your coffee or tea in a Mug of Truth?

These mugs are amazing! Not only do they have a powerful scripture on each one, but they transform when hot liquid is poured into them!

Now here's the exciting part, we are giving away 2 of these lovely Mugs of Truth!!!

Here is an "after" picture of the Rainbow mug

and

the Limited Edition 2007 Christmas mug (sorry, no photo of the mug itself)

Just leave us a comment and 2 of you will be randomly chosen to win a Mug of Truth Friday, November 2nd!

Sand & Stone

2007-10-27T06:13:00.000-04:00

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument; and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: Today my best friend slapped me on the face.

They kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: Today my best friend saved my life.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The friend replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your benefits in stone.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
An hour to appreciate them,
A day to love them
But then an entire life to forget them.

Do not value the things you have in your life, but value who you have in your life.

Originally posted at Living to Learn & Learning to Live on August 11, 2007.

Images made at http://www.imagechef.com/

Go Figure: Leslie Sansone's Family Walk

2007-10-25T23:38:00.000-04:00

How is everyone's workout / fitness time going?

I am doing pretty good.

I had been going up to the workout gym 3 times a week and then either walking outside or working out at home the other day/days.

Here's one of the things that I have been doing at home to get a work out in:
Leslie Sansone's Family Walk DVD Megan and I did this workout this afternoon.

It is pretty simple and a great way to get a workout in and spend time together.

We walked 2 miles in 30 minutes.

The first segment on this DVD is

Family Walk Workout

It starts out with a warm-up.

You do lots of walking in place and then add

in some basic steps like stepping to the side, kicking

your legs out in front of you, lifting your knees up, kick backs.

You also add in arm workouts with and without weights.

She ends with cool down time.

Some of Leslie's quotes:

These days we are all looking for ways to spend

good quality family time and walking is one of them.

Walking works to keep families healthy.

Kids should burn calories and stay nice and active..... not just parents.

It's important to schedule fitness time into your day.

The second segment on this DVD is:

Smart Talk How to Motivate Your Kids to Live a Healthy Life

Talk to your kids and motivate them to be healthy on the inside and outside.

Don't call your children fat or overweight or lazy

Don't make them feel like something is wrong.

Instead: Focus on the positive, and how good it feels to eat right,

and how good it feels to exercise how much fun it is.

Motivate them to feel better about themselves.

Be a good role model for your children.

It is nice to do exercise as a family: weekly walk.

Exercise, talk, and bond with your family.

Exercise regularly and consistently.

The third segment on this DVD is:

Food Talk Healthy Grab and Go Snacks and Meals

Here are some ideas that they share for

breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks:

Mini Wheat Bagels with a tablespoon of peanut butter or cream cheese

Tropicana fruit juice

Whole grain bread

Tuna in water

Low fat ham sandwich drizzled with Italian dressing

Fresh fruit: grapes

Applesauce

Pizza

Graham Crackers with peanut or cream cheese

Carrot sticks

Cheerios

Lowfat Chips

Pretzels

Water

They stressed eating quality foods in small portions.

This is a great family workout DVD.

Consider purchasing this or other Leslie Sansone workout DVD's.

2007-10-24T21:27:00.001-04:00

Books to the ceiling,

Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
~Arnold Lobel

I have a slight obsession with books. I buy them full price, I buy them at garage sales, we check dozens out each week at the library. I love a good book, and I'm sure many of you feel the same. So, when I read about Barefoot Books and got my hands on their catalogue, I was pretty excited. I love buying books for gifts, particularly for the littlest people I know. And I am already on the hunt for one-of-a-kind, beautiful books to give out this December!

Today I read a compilation of pirate stories in "The Barefoot Book of Pirates" written by Richard Walker. Geared for ages 5-10, this book is full of colorful illustrations by Olwyn Whelan, and each story is a retelling of an old legend. This book includes retellings of Scandanavian, German, English, Irish, Scottish, Japanese, and Morroccan legends. It was really interesting and fun to read. Also included is a CD which narrates all the stories, which most kids love (my kids love to listen to them in the car).

Other than the content, which I found really interesting, I also enjoyed this book because it presented a good balance of both text and illustrations. There were illustrations on every page (to encourage newer readers who still love pictures) but enough text that the book is also interesting and appropriate for more fluent readers. It would also be a nice book to read aloud, because of the natural stopping points between the short stories and the unique illustrations.

"The Barefoot Book of Pirates" would be an excellent gift for any child who likes pirates, or for any child who enjoys compilations of short stories.

And... Rebecca at Barefoot Books has a special right now. Check it out!

Receive a FREE copy of Storytime with any purchase of $30 or more until October 31st!** Following the success of The Story Tree and in response to our customers' demand for a comprehensive preschool collection, this anthology brings together a cast of characters that kids and adults will love - from the Gingerbread Man to The Ugly Duckling and The Three Little Pigs. While it is tailored for two- and three-year-olds, this collection will entertain everyone with its dynamic storytelling and vivid illustrations.

**It will be automatically added to your order when it is shipped from the warehouse. It will not appear in your basket when you check out.

I always love a good deal, particularly when it comes to books. Happy Reading!

Wednesdays with WeaverMom

2007-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Congrats Marsha at Our Homeschool and Other Such Happenings! You won the drawing for the beautiful jewelry from BeadAttitude, so send us an email with your address and we'll send that to you. A sincere thanks to all of you that entered. I really enjoyed reading all of your romance stories.

(You really should check out the beautiful post Marsha wrote about everyday romance. )

How do you get ready for Christmas? Do you do anything special to keep the focus on the birth of Jesus?

Christmas - already!! But Halloween isn't even here yet. And... hel-LO!... Let's don't overlook Thanksgiving.

I agree 110%, but I also know that every year about December 20th, I'm wishing that I had been organized enough to not have to go to the mall. So many people, the kids are exhausted, no parking spots. Oh. my.

This is my year to not go crazy in December. Come on, do it with me.

I have used the ideas from this website for a couple of years and I really like it. (My goal this year is to actually DO it on the timetable she suggests!) I can't say it any better - great tips, realistic, review your values so you have YOUR desired Christmas - it's wonderful. Organized Christmas, here we come. She has notebook pages already made out for you - all you have to do is print them out and fill them in. The planning is designed to be done by December 1 so you have the whole month to party and enjoy - so it starts this week!

I think being organized and reducing the stress helps me keep Jesus at the center. If I'm not worried about presents, Christmas cards, and shipping then I can take the time to read the Christmas story to the kids, and be available to serve others during the hectic season.

Here are some more links I love:
Teaching Moms Advent Calendar - She hasn't updated for 2007, but 2006 is still there. It has devotional ideas, movies, crafts, books and more suggestions for every day. Not everything is Christian perspective, but much of it is. It is an amazing, albeit slightly overwhelming at times, resource.

I love the idea of a Jesse Tree - it has ornaments representing different people and stories in the bible that point to Jesus. This site has ideas on how to make your own, and patterns for each of the ornaments suggested.

You'll have to scroll down toward the bottom, but Danielle's Place has an Advent Countdown with a little trinket and a devotion for each day in December. We need something super simple this year, so I'm planning to combine this with a variation of this idea from Family Fun. (psst.. Michael's has little stockings for 69 cents each.)

And, lastly, here is an Advent Coloring Book that I think is wonderful to keep little hands busy during Christmas Eve services.

Share, share - how do you make Christmas special at your house?

Book Review - The Jesus Storybook Bible

2007-10-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

The Jesus Storybook Bible is a children's bible that we bought a few months ago based on a few recommendations. We have read it straight through twice now and love it! Not only did I love it, but my daughters did as well.

The book declares on the cover that, "every story whispers his (Jesus') name" and as you read through the stories, He is continually revealed.

One of my favorite lines in the opening story is, "But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done." I have to tell you have it has taken me 30 years to finally understand this more deeply. I am so happy to have a bible that is already filling my children with this knowledge.

The focus of this story bible is that the Bible, while compromised of many smaller stories, is really telling ONE Big Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

Every single story in this book is concluded with a connection to God's ultimate plan to save His people...

Isaac carries wood up a hill with Abraham to prepare a sacrifice for God. Isaac is put on the wood until God provides a ram. Years later, another Son will climb a hill with wood on his back. He would trust His Father too and would not run away.

David defeats Goliath to save God's people. Years later God will send another hero (Jesus) to save them.

Daniel obeys God regardless of the cost. God will send another Hero who will do whatever God commands, even it if means he would die.

This bible provides the "big picture" of God's plan while relating the smaller stories of individuals and families in the bible. Our family has loved it and I wanted to share it with you.

(We previously read, "The Big Picture Storybook Bible," and loved it! The Jesus Storybook Bible has the same focus on God's plan, but includes many of the smaller stories that The Big Picture Storybook Bible left out, such as Jonah.)

Last chance reminder - Jewelry Contest!

2007-10-22T21:48:00.001-04:00

Last chance to win this beautiful necklace set! Contest ends on Tuesday, Oct 23rd at 5:00pm Eastern time.

You could be wearing this lovely, handmade jewelry set from Bead-Attitudes!!!

Go here to enter.

Recipe Roundup: Five Ingredients Or Less

2007-10-22T07:38:00.000-04:00

When I know I'll be in a rush to get to a night-time meeting, I turn to recipes that call for only five ingredients or less. The following is actually one that is based on a recipe I found long ago in a magazine ad. I no longer have that recipe, but it was so easy I have it memorized.

Beef w/Bell Peppers

1 lb. beef, cut thinly for stir-fry
2 jars of bottled beef gravy (I use Heinz)
1-2 cloves garlic
1 med.-sized bell pepper, cut in strips

1) Brown the meat in a large non-stick skillet, and then the garlic.

2) Add the beef gravy. I actually use 1 1/2 jars of gravy. You can use more, or less, depending on how much gravy you like.

3) Add the bell peppers. Simmer until peppers are crisp-tender. Serve over rice.

To see the finished product, as well as other recipes, visit Just Mom Cooking.

Now it's your turn to share a recipe that requires only five ingredients or less. Use Mr. Linky below to link to your blog, and then leave a comment. If you don't have a blog, simply share your recipe in the comment box. Come back next week when our theme will be Chicken Dishes.

String of Pearls

2007-10-20T02:37:00.000-04:00

There was a young girl who had very little and yet she was happy.

One day her father came home with a string of pearls and gave them to her. The girl was SO happy and she wore the pearls proudly and took such good care of them.

A few days later her father came home late at night and asked his daughter where her pearls were. "In my box Father." He told her to go and get the pearls, so the girl obeyed.

When she came back, her father told her to throw the pearls in the fire. Without asking "why" she once again obeyed him.

Then he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out another set of pearls. "I'm now giving you the REAL String of Pearls!"

Can we give up our fake string of pearls (earthly possessions) to our Heavenly Father as willingly as the little girl did so that we may receive our REAL String of Pearls (Heaven)?

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ~Matthew 18:3

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ~Matthew 19:24

Go Figure: The Holiday Trap

2007-10-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again! The crunchy leaves, the pumpkins, the cool air. The anticipation of the holiday season is building...and my tastebuds are already anticipating all that awaits them. Let's just say that what I'm really excited about is the crunchy caramel corn, the pumpkin pie, and the Cool Whip!

Well, if your family and friends are anything like mine, there will be a plethora of fattening, thigh-growing, belly-bulging foods, and oh-so-delicious foods at every home I enter...including my own. I especially love to cook and bake during the holidays, and most delectable holiday dishes aren't of the lowfat variety. So, how can one enjoy all of these wonderful things, and still maintain some semblance of a waistline? For me, I cut out the extras and adjust the portions.

I want to enjoy the holiday foods that I have grown up loving, and that still bring such joy to my tastebuds! I have found that I can eat a little of just about everything and maintain my figure. What I can't do is eat a lot of everything...everyday...all day....especially during the holidays when food is often readily available for much of the day!

Here are a few popular holiday foods that are typically loaded with fat and calories. I've found that I can enjoy them, virtually guilt free, if I make minor changes to the portions and skip the extras!

Mashed Potatoes: The hill vs. the mountain! Instead of creating a mountain with a ginormous gravy filled crater, think about making a small hill and just drizzle it with gravy. You'll still enjoy the taste and flavor, but not the fat and calories.

Pumpkin Pie: Would a Thanksgiving table be complete without one? Try a small sliver and skip the whipped cream.

Stuffing: Did you know that there are approximately 358 calories and 18 grams of fat in one cup of stuffing? Stuffing...what an appropriate name! Think about how much you want, and take half of that. The bowl will still be there if you want more...but chances are, you won't!

Egg Nog: I'll be honest, I don't like it, but I think I'm in the minority. It is loaded with sugar, fat, and calories, but I've seen the faces of those enjoying it. So, when indulging in this special treat, think shot glass, not Big Gulp!

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: It would greatly pain me to have to give up my beloved Starbucks, but fortunately, I don't have to. A grande Pumpkin Spice Latte is 380 calories and 13 grams of fat. Ouch! Order a tall instead of a grande, substitute fat-free milk and skip the whipped cream and your drink is now 200 calories and 0 grams of fat. Yes, Z.E.R.O. grams of fat!

Let's be honest, most of us are going to indulge in our favorite, fatty, calorie-laden foods this holiday season. So, attack them with a plan that allows you to really enjoy them and not "wear" the results! For me, skipping the extras and taking smaller portions has been the key.

If you want to share any tips you have on how you avoid "The Holiday Trap", please do so in the comments section. We'd love to hear from you!

Tricks of the trade when Daddy's away.

2007-10-18T07:21:00.000-04:00

Business trip for Dad = full week for Mom. Not only because Dad is gone, but because I fill our schedule with more activities than normal too. On a normal day, when Dad is home, my kids begin asking 'When is Daddy coming home?' from about 4 pm on. So when Dad is out of town, I must keep them SOO busy that I do NOT hear 'When's Daddy coming home Mom?'

We have a few regular commitments during the week but I always eliminate the nap and add another activity for each day, when Dad's away. My hubby left on Sunday, so I did try to make Sunday a little more fun than usual, and I think I went a bit too far with my plans and locked us out of the house. That was a GREAT adventure! :) On Monday, we added a lunch date with friends that led to a play date at the park. Double fun! The rest of the week was more of the same. 'No, you do not need a nap today because.... we. are. going. to. the. park.' I am the hero for the week and the kids literally melt into bed. Talk about a win win!

Another thing I do when Daddy is away is make sure we have cooked our meals in bulk the weeks prior to his trip. That leaves me with only re-heating meals. Such a life saver!!! We've had leftover Roast, Chili, Vegetable Beef Soup, Chicken/Sausage Jambalaya, Sloppy Joe's, Chicken 'n Dumplins y'all, and Spaghetti. Not an exciting variety, but I didn't have to cook. :)

The kids love to make a special craft or color page for Dad (often they make him several). We work on their creation and put it on Daddy's desk so he can find it upon walking in the door. Unless it is super late, I let the kids stay up late to wait for Dad and we have an ice cream party or popcorn. Something special. My kids LOVE to hide from Daddy and let him seek them, so they get the thrill of him walking in the door.

This last time HC has known the day Daddy is coming home. So we have used our school calendar to remind her how far/near his return is. We put a special sticker on the date and she can see if we are closer to his arrival. The hardest part for me is getting good rest. I find it hard to fall asleep when hubby is away. By mid-week I am worn out (my kids are EARLY risers). But since I have prepared ahead of time, my week isn't nearly as tiring as it could have been.

What tricks work for you?

A willing heart = A changed heart.

2007-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

I am a hoarder, a saver, a collector, a stasher, a poker, a stuffer, a pig.

Not in every area of my life. Not even in most areas of my life. But in those few dark closets, those few hidden shelves, those few forgotten about hide-aways...I tend to let the 'crap', for lack of a better word, pile up.

My bedroom seems to be the main focus of this disorder. It quickly becomes the catch all for empty shopping bags that I leave the receipt of my purchases in just in case I have a change of heart, the one missing sock that I am hopeful will turn up...and more than likely it's mate has already been thrown, the pants that need a button sown on or need ironing but HA! we all know that will never happen. And so the piles build.

They build and build and for so long I do not even notice. I come into my room at the end of the day, flop myself down onto the bed in utter exhaustion and I don't even SEE the chaos around me. Or maybe, I do not want to see it. Maybe if all other corners of the house appear organized than this one 'little' indulgence will not be so bad. Maybe if I contain the clutter, excess, GARBAGE to one room...my room, no one will know that this part of me exists.

But I know. And it bothers me. And He knows. And it bothers Him. He knows that my spiritual closets are full of junk as well. And even though I can go on for days, weeks, and sometimes months over-looking it and ignoring it, one day He opens my eyes.

It happens this way every time. In one moment I am content to poke around the bottom of my closet for a missing shoe...pushing aside shopping bags, fallen sweaters, and discarded pants, and in the next moment I am not. I drag on daily with a tank that is full of worldly garbage...and spiritually on empty.

I am horrified at what lies before me, within me. The dust collected on my reading lamp. The three weeks worth of newspapers under my nightstand, the cut off tags from clothing strewn across my dresser, the pairs of shoes haphazardly flung around the room, the glasses of half-full water lining the window sill, the pants that were tried on and dropped where I stood... on and on my eyes are opened to the pig-sty both around me and within me. And I feel the shame of what I am seeing and of what it implies about the resident of this room.

But like always, God restores what is damaged. He mends what is broken. And He loves despite it all. As I pick up the pieces again and again, I am reminded that I am a work in progress. And even if the rest of the world does not see my brokenness, He does. And He cares. And He heals. But only when I am ready and when my hands are active in the process as well. He longs to take out the garbage, if I will just hand it over. A willing heart...a changed heart.

The Bronze Bow book review

2007-10-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

I started reading The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare to my daughters, ages 7 and 10, a few weeks ago. We have been intrigued by the life of Jews during the time Jesus was on earth. The book has sparked many discussions about God's word and our faith. I highly recommend that you read this book with your family.

In Jerusalem, in the time when Christ began his ministry on earth, a boy named Daniel is trying to find his own way in the world. Have you ever wondered if you had been a Jew at the time when Jesus was teaching would you have listened? Would you have believed? I think about that often, especially when I struggle with doubts. When I question God.

Daniel has joined a renegade group who want to rise up against the Romans. He carries memories of the damage the Romans did to his family and to his sister, who cannot leave her house. The terror that entered their lives when they were young, has left his sister tormented by demons and turned Daniel’s fear into anger.

When he hears of a man named Jesus and the things he talks about, the coming Kingdom, Daniel wonders if Jesus is like him. Could Jesus be the savior that could free them from the Roman rule?

But the more Daniel hears Jesus speak and as he witnesses Jesus’s healing power, he can’t help but turn these strange things over in his mind. Jesus teaches they should love their enemies, but surely he doesn’t mean they should love the Romans? Jesus teaches the story of the good Samaritan and Daniel scoffs, “If Jesus means that the Jews and Samaritans should treat each other like neighbors, that is foolish. It could never happen.”

Daniel and his friends make a pact to stand together for God’s victory. They linger over the words of David, “He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” And they hope for freedom. Will it come as they expect it?

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live at the time of Jesus, this book will take you there. On the streets of Capernaum and Galilee you will find out what it was like to live in this tumultuous time. And you will see Jesus through the eyes of a Jewish boy.

If you would like to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post. I will draw a winner one week from today.

Update: Congratulations to AshleyR! Your copy of The Bronze Bow is on its way!

Recipe Roundup: Make-Ahead Meals

2007-10-15T07:37:00.000-04:00

You've read about how much of a time-saver make-ahead meals are. Now it's time to swap recipes.

The one below is a recipe I found in Tase of Home's October 2007 issue of "Simple & Delicious" magazine. It makes enough for two 8x8-inch pans of spaghetti casserole: one to eat now, and the other to freeze and eat later. Enjoy.

Spaghetti Casserole

1 pkg. (16 oz.) angel hair pasta
1-1/2 lbs. ground beef (I used extra lean)
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
2 cans (8 oz. each) tomato sauce
1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 C. (8 oz.) sour cream (I used fat free)
2 C. (8 oz.) shredded Colby-Monterey Jack Cheese

1) Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Remove from heat.

2) Drain pasta. Combine soup and sour cream. In two 8-in.-square baking dishes, layer half of the meat sauce, pasta, soup mixture and cheese. Repeat layers.

3) Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350-degrees for 55-65 minutes, or until the cheese is melted (it won't take long if you're eating it right away).

4) To reheat frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake as directed in step 3).

Each casserole makes about 6 servings.

To see a photo of the finished product, visit Just Mom Cooking.

Now it's your turn to share a favorite make-ahead recipe. Use the Mr. Linky below to link to your recipe, and leave a comment. If you don't have a blog, simply include your recipe in your comment. Don't don't forget to join us next week when the theme will be: Recipes Using Five Ingredients or Less.

Truth

2007-10-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

I was told that when bank tellers are trained to recognize conterfeit money, they aren't shown examples of counterfeit as much as they are taught the details of genuine money. The theory is that if they are so familiar with the genuine bills, then the counterfeit bills won't fool them.

We live in a world in which we are surrounded by conterfeit beliefs. In the day and age of tolerance and moral relativism, there are times we can find ourselves confused.

How do we protect ourselves and our families from deception?

I think we need to learn a little from the bank tellers. If we focus our attention on learning what is genuine, then we won't be fooled by conterfeit statements. The only way to acheive this is to keep ourselves in the truth, the truth of His Word.

The more we study the truth of the Bible, the less likely our hearts will be swayed by falsehood. I am being convicted more and more of my need to be in His Word daily. Not only to read it, but to meditate on it and memorize it. This is the knowledge and wisdom that will protect myself and my family from lies.

"Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Psalm 119:165

Knowing God's word and His laws will keep us from stumbling! I am reminded that when Jesus was tempted by Satan, He countered each of Satan's lies with the truth of God's word.

In Matthew 4:3-11 -

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus only used the truth of God's word to defend himself.

How are you equipping your family with the truth of His Word?

~Mary

Go Figure: Motivation

2007-10-12T06:40:00.000-04:00

GooooooooOOOOOOOO Figure! Sometimes I want to say that like a cheerleader...

Go Figure! Sometimes I want to say it sarcastically as I talk about my weight...

GO FIGURE! Today, I want to say it as motivation for us to GET UP & GET MOVING!

Here's what is motivating me to exercise.

For about 5 or 6 weeks now, I've been setting my alarm for 5:30am (and actually getting up) and walking. Just this week, I've noticed several pounds have slipped away. Before I get too excited, because I think they are just hiding behind the closet door in the bathroom, this does motivate me to keep moving. Even though 5:30 is reeeeeaaaaaaly early (and I'm not a morning person) it has been a great start to my day.

While the lost 'baggage' is a wonderful outcome, I've found a hidden blessing in all this. And I believe this is the biggest blessing God's been wanting to give to me. I've been trying to have my devotions before walking - and I've found this allows me to spend time thinking over what I just read. That time of Bible reading and study is followed with a nice long talk with God. Just me and Him - and the hum of the treadmill.

I have uninterrupted time to focus on what I just read. With the craziness that begins when everyone gets out of bed, this made a huge difference in our days. I feel more prepared to start the day!

Psalms 118:24 kjv says, "This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."

I'm rejoicing and glad that I've been able to start my day in the Word and on my feet!

So, today, I want to ask: Do you have something that motivates you to exercise?

Controlling the Chaos

2007-10-11T08:41:00.000-04:00

Make Ahead Meals

One way to control the chaos around our home is to prepare meals ahead.
When I am going to brown hamburger instead of just browning one skillet worth
I brown 2 or 3 or 4 skillets of burger.
My thought is why mess the oven up twice
Or why have a big pile of dishes 2 or 3 extra times.
Plus I am already standing there spending my time browning up one skillet
why not brown up more and then have more meals prepared ahead.

Meals that I make with my browned hamburger are :

BBQ's, tacos, spaghetti meat, chili, meat for pizza, and hot dishes.
If it isn't something that we are going to eat right away that week I just freeze it.

I sure do have a mess in the kitchen but it is so worth it.
It saves me lots of time later.
On busy days all I have to do is pull out my frozen BBQ meat
and then add a veggie to it and make some french fries.
OR
Pull out my spaghetti meat and then all that I have to do
is boil up some noodles and add a veggie.
OR
Grab chili out of the freezer and add a few extras to the meal.
OR
the frozen hamburger can also be used for lazagna or hotdishes.

This is one of the ways that I control the chaos around our home.

This works for me.
Now I don't do this all the time...maybe once a month or so.
It sure helps when you in a pinch.

What type of meals do you make when you are busy and on the go?

Getting Things Done

2007-10-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

I have a book recommendation for you this week!

This is one of my favorite books, and it has been invaluable in teaching me the fine art of multi-tasking.

A friend recommended this book to me, and, boy, was she right! It has been life-changing for me. It's called Getting Things Done and it is written by David Allen. Mr. Allen is a coach and management consultant for CEO types who are trying to juggle multiple priorities and who need a way to stay on top of all of those priorities simultaneously.

Now, seriously, ladies - who does that sound like? Can you relate to juggling multiple priorities?

I read this book and started following his "system" at the beginning of May. And I am now beginning to see the true results of it. My stress has been reduced since Week 1, (I'm not kidding!) but now that my to-do list is getting shorter because THINGS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING DONE -- I have to tell you about it.

You really have to read the entire book, but let me share with you the main things that have made such a difference to me.

1. I have a place to put things. He suggests getting a file cabinet and making files for all those things that you need to keep but have no idea what to do with. I have folders for notes from school, letters from my Grandma, bible study schedules, inspirational articles from magazines that I want to remember, etc... They now have a place! And I know where to find them!

2. If it takes less than 2 minutes - do it now. As a natural procrastinator, this simple little "rule" has helped me so much.

3. Limit your "to-do" list to actionable items. If you can't decide about something, then think about what you need to know or who you need to ask in order to decide. For example, I think we might need to have our house painted this year. I don't add "Decide about house painting" - that is not really an "action" item. Action items might be: Ask my husband about it. Ask my husband if we can afford it. Ask my friend for a recommendation for a painter. Find out what my home owner's association approval process is. Those are "action" items.

There is SO much more. It's worth the time to read and see if you think it will work for you.

I'm off to relax now - I finished my list for today. Did you read that?? - I FINISHED my list! Ah, the giddiness. *wink*

...all their toys are educational...all their snacks are multi-grain

2007-10-09T09:52:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I posted on my blog about competitions between moms:

"I have been more aware lately that there are lots of moms who feel like they have to keep a perfect house and their kids have to have perfect outfits, and they have to participate in an organized activity every day, etc. It seems like a competition, and I don't really understand how it got started.

"Stone Soup" got me thinking about this topic. Joan is lamenting about a fellow mom and says, "How do other women do it so effortlessly?" and "Her kids are totally Baby Einstein...all their toys are educational...all their snacks are multi-grain..."Does everyone's house stay immaculate all the time? Do we all cook healthy, organic homemade meals every night of the year?

Our house is not always clean, crumbs fall on the floor, laundry piles up. Sometimes I don't comb my son's hair. My kids do own cute outfits, but most of the time they dress themselves. Sometimes I wish I would be more assertive, like when my youngest son wears his orange t-shirt with the brown monkey on it which is WAY too small for the 1,000th time, but then again, who really cares? It's just a shirt. Isn't it?

The thing is, if anyone seems like they've got it all together and they never struggle, then they're just better at hiding it than most of us are."

I'm revisiting this topic today and wondering how many of us have put on the performance of being a perfect mom. Is it easier to join the competition than to step back from it? Do we have to compare ourselves to others or compare our kids to other kids?

I struggle with two things in particular (I had to narrow it down for this post- none of you would want to read my extensive list):

1. My house. I like to live in a clean house, particularly one with a clean floor. I admit that I spend too much time cleaning, and I clean extra before we have guests. I admit to the cleaning (I don't pretend it's always that clean, no one would believe me) but why do I do it? Just for appearances?

2. My temper. I would like others to think I never lose it. I would love to never get angry. Think how easy parenting would be if we never, ever became frustrated or irritated! That is my fantasy!! The fact is, my friends and family know I have a short fuse. They know I work hard at it, but I fail.

We all have unique gifts. We're all multi-tasking moms (not supermoms). We all love our kids! Why do moms compare/compete? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Recipe Roundup: What's For Breakfast?

2007-10-08T00:47:00.000-04:00

I admit it. During the past week my family has been having nothing but cereal, quick-cook oatmeal or granola bars for breakfast. By the time the weekend rolled around, I was ready for something a little more filling -- and homemade. Enter one of my favorite cookbooks, "What's For Breakfast," by Donna S. Roy and Kathleen Flores.

I bought this cookbook after spotting a recipe for a low-fat version of "Dutch Baby" pancakes. I'm a big fan of the original, fat-is-no-object, version offered at many pancake houses. This low-cal version just makes for good, guilt-free eating. Enjoy.

Oven Puffed Pancake With Apple Filling

1/4 C. egg substitute, thawed
1 whole egg, beaten
1/3 C. skim milk
1/4 tsp. real vanilla extract
1/3 C. flour
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. light stick margarine
1 tsp. powdered sugar
1/2 C. unsweetened applesauce

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Mix first 7 ingredients together with wire whisk until smooth. Let stand for five minutes. Place margarine in 8-inch cast iron skillet and melt in oven until bubbly. Pour pancake batter into skillet. Place back in oven and bake 15-20 minutes until pancake is puffy and golden brown. Remove from oven and top with powdered sugar and applesauce.

***

For a photo of the pancake, and to see a recipe for Banana Crumb Muffins, visit Just Mom Cooking.

Now it's your turn to share one of your favorite breakfast recipes. Use the Mr. Linky below to add your recipe(s). If you don't have a blog, please leave your recipe in the comments section. Come back next week when the Recipe Roundup theme will be: Favorite Make-Ahead Meals.

Jewelry & Romance Contest Reminder

2007-10-07T21:22:00.000-04:00

Ladies,

Don't forget about WeaverMom's contest. You could be wearing this lovely, handmade jewelry set from Bead-Attitudes!!!

All you have to do is:

1. Post about your most romantic time with your husband since your kids came into your life. Please mention that you would like to win the necklace from Bead-attitude with a link to her site, and include a link back to WeaverMom's post which can be found HERE so others can find more romantic moments.

2. Come back and add your link to your "romantic" post to Mr. Linky.

3. Leave a comment with a question for "Wednesdays with WeaverMom"

HURRY! Contest ends soon!

You are what you think you are

2007-10-06T05:49:00.000-04:00

The story is told of a man who found an eagle's egg and put it into the nest of a barnyard chicken. The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All his life, the eagle did what the chickens did. It scratched the dirt for seeds and insects to eat. It clucked and cackled. And it flew no more than a few feet off the ground, in a chicken-like thrashing of wings and flurry of feathers.

One day the eagle saw a magnificent bird far above him in the cloudless sky. He watched as the bird soared gracefully on the wind, gliding through the air with scarcely a beat of its powerful wings.

"What a beautiful bird," the young eagle said. "What is it called?"

The chicken next to him said, "Why, that's an eagle - the king of all birds. But don't give him any mind. You could never be like him."

So the young eagle returned to pecking the dirt for seeds, and it died thinking it was a chicken.

What you think of your own potential not only defines who you are today, but what you will be tomorrow. Find your confidence and strength in God and soar like the eagle!

God's Little Lessons for Mothers

I Challenge You...Go Figure

2007-10-05T00:22:00.000-04:00

Three weeks ago I blogged about my apple cider concoction, I started taking it the following Thursday (I had to order it online.) I've been taking it 1-3 times a day, almost everyday since it arrived. Plus, I'm walking 15-20 minutes three times a week. I haven't been eating as healthy as I'd like to, but I have been downsizing and trying to avoid the BAD fat.

After my semi-healthier life I decided to see how fit...or unfit I really was. I have to admit I was a little over confident in myself, so I challenged my children and nephews (ages 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 4) to a race. My goal wasn't to win the race, it was to see if I could keep up with the youngsters. WHAT was I THINKING??? I ate their DUST! They whooped me....Go Figure;)

So, now I'm challenging YOU! I would like you to challenge your child/children to a race...not to win, but to:

A) Have FUN with your child/children and B) See if you can honestly keep up, and that includes all you mommies with 1 and 2 year olds. I didn't race my 2yo, but he's hard to keep up with.

**A little tip: STRETCH OUT BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS!!!

I believe from this challenge you will benefit from 2 things, a little exercise and most importantly, time with your child/children! The memories will last a LIFETIME :)

Attitude adjustments. They're not just for kids.

2007-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

One day a person in my house woke up with a bad attitude. She walked around with a frown on her face. She was frustrated at the other family members. She yelled, she had temper tantrums. She admitted that she was wrong for her behavior, but she didn’t change. In fact, I think she enjoyed the way yelling made her feel. It released some of her irritability. But, later, she would feel bad about it and wish she hadn’t done it.

I noticed her attitude was affecting the other family members. They began to fuss
with each other, walk around with sullen, frowny faces and make rude comments to each other. There was more fighting. This went on for several days. I’m ashamed to admit, I let it go on for almost two weeks.

What would you have done? How would you discipline this individual? How long might this behavior gone on in your house?

What if the person with the bad attitude was you?

I was preoccupied with the upcoming yard sale, trying to paint my bedroom along with the usual daily activities like doing lessons and preparing meals. I wasn’t handling it very well, but I kept pushing along, determined to do everything no matter how bad things got. I was making a kid cry almost every day. I felt irritable, imposed upon, my fuse was very short and my attitude was very bad.

First, I blamed my kids. They were so needy. They wanted food, clean clothes, and even attention from me! I couldn’t do everything, why couldn't they understand? They were fussing with each other more, talking back to me and not completing chores. I was yelling, threatening and punishing, but nothing was working. Instead of improving relationships, I was tearing them apart.

When I hurt my daughter’s feelings in church one Sunday and she hid in her room most of the afternoon sobbing on her bed, I realized I was the problem and I needed to change my attitude.

Have you ever noticed that when you have a bad attitude everyone around you has one too? That’s what was happening in my house. I was too busy to set limits, so bedtime slipped into anytime. Chore time disappeared, and being respectful to one another was rare. I was too busy to enforce discipline, so I began to yell, make unreasonable demands and expect them to do what I wanted them to do without taking the time to explain anything.

I was very close to a nomination for worst mother of the year.

What changed? When I finally realized I was the problem, I prayed for help. I started opening my eyes to the harsh words I was using and the negative comments I was making. I re-read Say Goodbye to Wh ining, Complaining and Bad Attitudes in You and Your Kids! By Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller. (And boy did I need that refresher course.) I apologized to my kids, and I struggled. It’s not easy to be calm, rational and giving.

Things are still not perfect; they never will be. It’s hard being the parent. I get discouraged. I get irritable. Some days I want to call a time-out and just stop being the mom for a few hours. It’s so much easier to let the sassy talk go rather than apply discipline. It’s easier to zone out than pay attention. But I’m trying. And it’s amazing what changing my attitude has done for the rest of the family. If I am on top of things, they don’t push the rules quite so much. If I am free with the affection and love, they aren’t whiny and needy all the time. And if I’m communicating with my kids instead of yelling demands, they are able to come to me, to open their hearts to me, and that’s the kind of relationship I want to grow within my family.

It’s amazing what a little adjustment can do.

Featured Multi-Tasking Mom

2007-10-03T20:50:00.000-04:00

Summer from Summer's Nook is the featured Multi-Tasking Mom this month. Summer had some great multi-tasking ideas starting with this great recipe.

Summer says, "In our house, it's hard finding a delicious meal for mom and dad that the kids will eat too. But this is one even our picky 4 year old loves. Plus it's very easy to make. We serve the crescents with gravy on top and mashed potatoes and green beans on the side."

Chicken Crescents

2 to 3 large chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
3 oz. Cream cheese with chives
1 package garlic or herb croutons, crushed
4 ounces walnuts, very finely chopped
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 packages Pilsbury Crescent Rolls

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Combine the croûtons and walnuts; set aside

3. Combine the cooked chicken and cream cheese; set aside

4. On a cookie sheet separate the crescent rolls from each other. Spoon about 3 teaspoons of the chicken mixture into each crescent and roll up. Seal the edges.

5. Coat each crescent with the melted butter, and roll in the crouton mixture, coating well.

6. Space at least 1 inch apart on cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes or till golden brown.

That sounds delicious! And so easy. Next, Summer had a favorite clean-up product that I also find myself using with all too much frequency - Goo Gone. Summer calls it, "an all organic miracle cleaner. From sticker and tape residue, to sap on the car windows, to grease splatter in the kitchen, this stuff takes care of the tough stuff!" She's right. I've used it on enough sticker incidents to know. More recently I've used it for a silly putty on sheets incident and it worked!

Finally, Summer wowed me with her personal multi-tasking tip:

"Though I could list many great multi-tasking ideas, I think the one crucial to becoming a good multi-tasker is self-discipline. Before we can put great multi-tasking ideas to use, we have to have the will power to follow through. To just buckle down and do it, even when it seems overwhelming. It gets easier as you practice consistency, follow through, goal setting and establishing priorities. I love multi-tasking. I feel that it is almost a form of art for me. How much can I juggle at once, how gracefully can I do it and how quickly? I love the feeling I get when I am successful at it."

Congratulations Summer! Email us your address and we will send you your Orderly Mom Notebook. The prize for next month's winner will be a $25 gift certificate and a pair of earrings from Shana Logic. To find out more about being a featured multi-tasking mom, see this post.

I think you should know:

2007-10-02T08:10:00.000-04:00

When I brought my son home from the hospital I was thrilled, but tired. Sure, I was tired when I brought my daughter home too, but I wasn't THIS tired. My fatigue was not short lived and my son was soon showing signs of colic. His colic would show it's ugly head from 10 pm - 2 am or so. This was not helpful to creating a peaceful home. Meanwhile, my 18 month old daughter began to have an ear infection.

Three antibiotics later, for my daughter, and she was as stopped up and as green as the first day of her ear infection. My fatigue was growing and felt unending. On my 6 week visit, I mentioned the fatigue to my OB-GYN and his response was, "Welcome to Motherhood." Needless to say I was less than thrilled with his willingness to help me in my time of need.

Our pediatrician had no remedy for JB's colic and HC's ears were headed toward tubes. I was falling apart. I began to cry out to God. I knew there had to be a remedy. I knew I could not remain as tired as I was and make it. I was overwhelmed. I 'found' a healthy TV program and it was full of ideas for better health, but I didn't know what we should do. We went to the health food store and I bought a few calming herbal teas to drink, with hopes that the affects would soothe my son. He was nursing.

The health food store clerk began to list off all the things I should take and give my kids. In the moment of exhaustion, and having no answers, I bought everything she suggested. I then went home and cried in fear. I was about to give my kids supplements with a label that basically suggested 'I was treating us at my own risk'. Frightening, to say the least.

My husband went to work and felt as overwhelmed as I was. He knew I was at my limit. A couple called his restaurant to order food to-go and waited in the lobby as their meals were prepared. (Enter our God moment.) Hubby began chatting with them and the female was pregnant. Hubby began telling of my recent fatigue, HC's poor health and JB's inconsolable crying from 10 pm - 2 am.

The man, who happened to order to-go with his pregnant wife, was a PhD doctor of nutrition. He began asking my husband loads of questions and began diagnosing me. His assumptions were spot on. After he saw us, and diagnosed us officially, he prescribed supplements and a specific diet. Everything he said lined up with the TV program I found and the sales clerk at the health food store. We were relieved and felt at peace following his instructions. We had an official plan, with supervision.

I began taking the supplements, changed my diet and within 3 days I felt 100% better (not to mention JB suddenly stopped his colic). Hallelujah!! We gave HC and JB probiotics (LifeStart by Natren) and HC's ear infection, that would not go away, was gone. She has not been sick since and she used to catch everything that was floating in the air. Here we are 2.5 years later and my kids are healthy and well. Our pediatrician is amazed that JB hasn't had but one ear infection ever. (This ear infection came about when we stopped the probiotics for a few months. We haven't let that happen since.)

So, I think every mom should know about Probiotics at the very least! It has proved a good decision for us. As for me, my supplements were temporary. The PhD doctor said I had an adrenal depletion because of 2 pregnancies in such a short period of time. After following his diet and supplements, I was back to me.

If you are feeling down or you know your kids have been constantly ill - you can find other methods for treating them. I suggest you cover it with prayer and let God show you the way you should go. My story is tailor made for our family BUT - God will do the same for you!! I do not suggest you do what we did, which is why I left out the specifics. I think you should know: there are other choices out there. You know your family best, follow your instincts and seek wisdom.

Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom.

Proverbs 3:18 She(wisdom) is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Recipe Roundup: You're A Peach!

2007-10-01T10:53:00.000-04:00

Mmmm...peaches! They're deliciously sweet and juicy, and readily available this time of year. At our house, we fill our fruit bowl with them and eat them as a healthy snack all week long. Because my family enjoys them so much, I'm always looking for new ways to use them in sweet and savory recipes.

One of my favorites is Clara's Peach Cake. This easy-to-prepare recipe uses ingredients that are already in your pantry; all you need to add are some fresh, ripe peaches! This cake is great as a breakfast or brunch dish, or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as the perfect ending to a savory meal. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Clara's Peach Cake

Crust:

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients in medium mixing bowl. Cut in butter. Add milk and pat into ungreased 9" x 13" pan.

Peel, pit, and slice 7 peaches. Layer peaches on top of crust, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar.

Topping:

1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
dash salt
1/2 cup butter

Crumble mixture together with hands. Place on top of fruit.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for approximately 50 minutes, or until top just begins to turn golden brown. Enjoy!

Now it's your turn! Do you have a favorite peach recipe you'd like to share? Use the Mr. Linky below to add your recipe! If you don't have a blog, please leave your recipe in the comments section. And, don't forget to come back for next week's Recipe Roundup: Breakfast Items.

Well, How 'Bout That? I Like Gardening.

2007-09-29T03:48:00.000-04:00

For years the mere mention of the words "garden" or "gardening" conjured up memories of worms and other creepy crawlers slithering in the lawn as I tried to pull a seemingly endless crop of weeds from my parents' back yard.

Because of those memories, I truly didn't mind the decade I spent after college as an apartment dweller. I was happy knowing that the only earth I would touch was the potting soil and herb seeds I placed in a couple of terra cotta herb pots my hubby and I received as a wedding gift.

Even when we moved in to our first home eight years ago I managed to avoid touching soil by hiring high school and college students to do the dirty work. I also hired someone to do most of the gardening and yard work last year after moving in to our current home.

After such good care given to the landscape by previous homeowners, I took it for granted that the tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and other plants, flowers and shrubs would always return. Little did I know that the early April snow storms would take their toll on the landscape. I could no longer ignore the dried leaves and dead branches that had accumulated in the flower bed.

I really didn't intend to clear the flower bed myself. I only meant to pick up a plastic grocery bag that had freed itself from a garbage can somewhere and landed on what I thought was a dead shrub. But I couldn't, for some reason, just stop with the plastic bag. I grabbed a rake and started clearing up all the dead branches and leaves. I was pleasantly surprised when I uncovered some new shoots that were hidden beneath the garbage.

For the two hours I was out there raking, digging, pulling weeds (and, yes, chasing after my adventurous son), I thought about my own life and whether there was any emotional garbage that needed to be cleared. I thought about the fears I have that are preventing me from showing my true self, and how good it will feel once those fears are gone. I thought about the very things I usually reserve for late night reflections.

When I stepped outside that afternoon, I certainly didn't expect to have a spiritual encounter. Now that I know how therapeutic gardening can be, I look forward to heading out there every day -- despite the fact that I saw a couple of really large creepy crawlers.

(Originally posted May 3, 2007, on Just Mom's Musings.)

Go Figure: Avoid the bad fat!

2007-09-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

These days, trans fat is getting a whole lot of press and it isn't good! Trans fat is BAD NEWS. You can read all about it here if you aren't familiar with this type of fat and its dangers. One source of trans fat is partially hydrogenated oil, which can be found in all sorts of food. I encourage you to go read about it because these oils present a serious risk to your health and the health of your family.

When I first heard the term, partially hydrogenated oil, I had no clue what it was. After doing some research, I very quickly learned that I HAD to get this stuff out of my house! Of course, one look in my pantry made me feel completely overwhelmed! Afterall, I am not a health nut. I am just your average grocery store mom who wants to be a little healthier.

I determined I was going to do this a bit at a time. After all, it was going to take time to look at the ingredients on all of the options at the grocery store. Now, if you shop completely organic then hydrogenated oils are not an issue. I am NOT 100% organic, so I knew that I was going to have my work cut out for me to eliminate hydrogenated oils in my grocery store products.

The hardest part was finding the brand that did not contain hydrogenated oils, so I am going to make it easier on you and list out the products that I have found. Many times it is just knowing the brand you need for the food you like. Sometimes though, it is more than that.

1. Peanut Butter Crackers: The LANCE Toasty brand does not have the bad oil in it. Also, the Target Market Pantry Brand (a dollar cheaper) does not have it either. (I can find these at Target)

2. Cereal: Raisin Bran, Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios are all safe. Now, my favorite cereals are the Archer Farms (organic) brand at Target. The Strawberry and Yogurt Granola Flakes is always gone when there is a sale! The Archer Farm Cereal Brands also eliminate High Fructose Corn Syrup...next on my list. (Raisin Bran has that...ugh) Look at your labels! You will be shocked at what "healthy" cereals have this oil in them!

3. Bread: Oh yes, check your BREAD! My wheat bread had it in there!!!! I had to find a new brand - it varies, so find what you like.

4. Crackers: You have to GET RID OF your Ritz and Club crackers! The good news is that you can use Pepperidge Farm varieties and we just love their wheat crackers. Wheat Thins don't have the oil in there either.

5. Peanut Butter: Now, you have to know that my girls used to eat Peanut Butter by the bowlful and this stuff is the WORST culprit of hydrogenated oils! I had to go to the Organic Peanut Butter and boy was it an adjustment. Yes, you have to stir it and keep it in the fridge. My girls stopped eating it by the bowlful, but they would tolerate it on their sandwiches. Now, the BEST NEWS EVER for us was the new Skippy Natural Peanut Butter. It eliminates the bad oil, but keeps the sugar! My girls love it. This is peanut butter has the taste and texture you are probably used to, but the bad oil is GONE!

6. Kids Snacks: Oh, this was the hardest. Gone were my favorite animal crackers. I could still cry...but I digress. The stuff without the oil: Goldfish. Wheat Thins. Welchs Fruit Snacks. Some pretzels (see next category). Sun Chips. Tortilla Chips. (Snack options: Craisins. Raisins. Walnuts. Pistacios. ANY nut or dried fruit. Fruit. Veggies and Dip. Cheese.)

7. Pretzels: Snyder's of Hanover SNAPS pretzels are fine. Rold Gold brand don't have the bad oil. We love the braided honey twists. A lot of brands do have the bad oil, so read that label and choose the right brand.

8. Chips: The new Good Earth brand chips are fine. Sun Chips eliminate the bad oil. Tortilla Chips don't have the bad oil. Pita chips - we love the cinnamon ones!

9. Granola Bars: Nature Valley Oats and Honey is a great crunchy bar! Kashi Chewy Bars are quite yummy too. I haven't found any other chewy bars without it, but I prefer crunchy, so I didn't check a lot.

10. No more powdered drinks, like hot chocolate. Most of the powdered drinks have it in there. Now, look on the back of the Hershey's Cocoa Can and you can make your own hot chocolate mix...a staple in my house!

I hope this helps you get started and makes it a little easier. I don't have any hydrogenated oil in the pantry anymore, but I got there one food product at a time.

Next on the list, high fructose corn syrup. This stuff is bad news, but once again I feel overwhelmed and need to take it one at a time.

*After writing this, I read that partially hydrogenated oil is being listed in the ingredients as mono-diglycerides. I will have to go check my brands now, so please be aware of this!

Controlling the Chaos: A little inspiration

2007-09-27T06:08:00.000-04:00

The best way to start to be able to control the chaos - is to get control of our attitude.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today!"So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"Hmmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today!" So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary,

For everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply

Love generously

Care deeply

Speak kindly...

....Leave the rest to God

Jewelry & Romance!

2007-09-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Do you have any creative ideas for making time for quality time with your husband?

My husband tends to be a loner, so time can fly before we notice that it's been awhile since we've had a conversation that did not include logistics of some sort - what time for dinner, which painter to hire, discipline issues and the like. I'm sure (well, hopefully!) you can relate.

Here are my 2 tips:

1. Pay attention to what actually matters to your husband and focus on those things. I had to ask. My husband likes to have home-cooked meals and to always have a clean shirt for work. He can handle the chaos a lot better if those 2 things happen. Those 2 things make him feel cared for, so I try my best to make those things a priority. It makes such a difference.

2. Work on the kids' bedtime not being a struggle, and get them in bed on the early side of what works with your evening routine. It's worth the discipline it takes to not have a huge struggle at bedtime - it makes the evening more pleasant for everyone and gives you time with your hubby after the kids go to bed.

So, obviously, this is an area I could use a little advice myself. I also need some interesting and fun questions to answer. And, maybe, just maybe - you would like something fun for YOURSELF! Maybe for your next night out with your husband?

So, here is my proposition - are you ready? 'Cause you could win this! Isn't it BEAUTIFUL? It's from Susan at Bead-attitude. Be sure to check out her other beautiful jewelry here.

Here's how to to enter to win this necklace and earrings:
1. Post about your most romantic time with your husband since your kids came into your life. Please mention that you would like to win the necklace from Bead-attitude with a link to her site, and include a link back to this post so others can find more romantic moments.
2. Come back and add your link to your "romantic" post to Mr. Linky.
3. Leave a comment with a question for "Wednesdays with WeaverMom"

It's easy! And fun! And you could win jewelry!

I'll get the ball rolling with my romantic moment:

We don't have family nearby - in fact, our closest family is a solid 20 hour drive away. True date nights are a little rare. Recently, a good friend of mine had a hard drive crash with the only copy of her pictures of her baby son on it. My computer wizard husband recovered all but 2 of the pictures. Isn't he great? :) She wanted to repay him with an evening of babysitting, but because of her baby, she asked if we could bring the kids to her house.

So, we said no. NOT! We actually said, "Which night works for you?" :) We contemplated going to dinner. Going to a movie! Going to the bookstore -without kids!

But, we ended up coming back home. And it was wonderful. Home. Alone. Together. For the first time in six years. It was odd. Different. QUIET!

Here is a picture of our nice dinner: (The plastic cup makes it super fancy - don't ya think?)

We both thought it was the best date we've had - possibly ever. Definitely since the kids were born.

Is it wrong to pray for friend's hard drives to crash? (*wink* LOL!)

Your turn!

OxiCute It!

2007-09-25T02:09:00.000-04:00

I have been an OxiClean fan for years! I remember when I first used it.

One day, my son had a large green crayon in his pocket. At the time, I never really had to check their pockets, so I just threw in the laundry carefree.

So, the crayon was washed, thrown into the dyer and then MELTED!!! Traces of GREEN CRAYON were all over the clothes!

I have to admit, I was in quite a panic. I just happen to buy some Oxiclean and I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical if it would really even work....So now, for the true test, was this product really all that it's said to be, "The Stain Fighter"?

I threw in the crayon stained clothes with a large scoop of Oxiclean, half of the crayon came out!!! I figured I give it another go and by the second wash, 98% of the crayon was out of the clothes! Fortunately the other 2% was a pair of jeans (which was hardly noticeable) and a few of my raggedy T-shirts.

Ever since then my children know if they get a stain on their good clothes, "Mommy 's not gonna worry because she'll just OXICUTE IT with OXICLEAN!" (They don't actually say that-LOL!)

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. OxiClean has come out with a new product, Oxiclean Spray-A-Way. All the children were begging me to get this...and no, I'm NOT joking!

I finally bit the bait and bought it. The funny thing is, is my children were more anxious to use it than I was. Shortly after I purchased this, my daughter spilled some orange juice on her shirt. She then asked if she could use the spray on her it. I was reluctant to let her use it, but then she said something that knocked my socks off!

"Come on Mommy, you know that orange juice stains, and the only way to get it off is with Oxiclean!"

(Mary, does this count as a Tiny Talk Tuesday?)

I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Plus I think Oxiclean Spray-A-Way just found their new spokes person...my daughter;)

PS~ The orange juice stain did come out!

Recipe Roundup Casseroles & One Dish Meals

2007-09-24T00:58:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again when my family loves to eat casseroles. Actually Al and I do more than the kids, but they are starting to like to eat casseroles more and more. Some of our favorites range from goulash to meat and potato hot dishes to rice and chicken casseroles.

Here's one of our favorite casseroles.

Vegetable Beef Casserole

1 lb. ground beef - browned
1 onion diced
6-8 raw med potatoes - sliced
6-8 raw med carrots - sliced
1 can green beans (or peas)
1 can cream of chicken soup (we sometimes substitute with tomato soup)
1 soup can of milk
Salt and Pepper to taste

Place of these ingredients in a 9 by 13 baking dish in layers. Layer of hamburger, layer of onions, layer of potatoes, layer of carrots, layer of canned beans. Salt and pepper each layer.

Mix can of soup with can of milk and pour over the top.

Bake at 350 for 2 hours.

You could also make this casserole in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Now it's your turn. Use the Mr. Linky below to link to your family's favorite casserole or one dish meal. If you don't have a blog, please leave your recipe in the comments section. Oh! Start thinking about next week's Recipe Roundup: Recipes Using Peaches!

The Big Picture...

2007-09-22T17:10:00.000-04:00

As we are once again busy (as you all are) with activities and responsibilities and school, I was reminded this week of how much I like being a mom. I have tough days, tiring days like everyone, but the big picture is one of thankfulness. I think my own kids are fascinating (of course!) and sometimes marvel that I get to be their mom.

That said, I don't want to waste any time stressing about little things that don't really matter, like who forgot to do this, and why are they arguing about that sticker/toy, and where is your other shoe, and no, you can't have another snack... little things sometimes get in my way of remembering the big picture.

But, if I seek God's direction and keep the big picture in mind, the little things sometimes fade a bit as I remember what great children I have, and what a blessing they are. And suddenly the missing shoe or hundredth snack doesn't seem to bother me as all. I'm sure you all feel the same. Below are some quotes that hopefully will inspire/encourage you this weekend.

Thanks for visiting!

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness."
-Honore' de Balzac

"All mothers are working mothers."
-unknown

"There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it."
-Chinese Proverb

"A mother understands what a child does not say."
-unknown

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
- George Washington

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."
-Abraham Lincoln

"By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class."
-Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom."
-Henry Ward Beecher

"A mother is someone who dreams great dreams for you, but then she lets you chase the dreams you have for yourself and loves you just the same."
-unknown

Pink and Blue Tool Set Winners

2007-09-21T23:18:00.000-04:00

The Winners for the PINK and BLUE tool set is......Alexia and Deb! Please send us your adress ladies.

Thanks for participating ladies!

Don't forget to enter our Featured Multi-Tasking Mom Contest to win an Orderly Mom Notebook! For more details click ----> HERE!

Also, don't forget to check in, we've got another fabulous contest coming your way!

If you haven't read this week's Go Figure post, please scroll down.

Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Go Figure ~ Downsize Me

2007-09-21T01:23:00.000-04:00

Since moving to Okinawa, Japan I have learned some valuable insights into portion control. It all began when we arrived in Osaka, Japan after a long international flight from Hawaii. On the flight we were served these interesting looking Japanese bento boxes filled with seaweed, fish, a cracker and some rice. Needless to say, my American family was h.u.n.g.ry. when we arrived in Osaka for our layover. We searched for something familiar, something comforting among the restaurants in the airport. We rounded a corner and there before us stood the Golden arches! My children cheered and we eagerly sat ourselves down at a table. I went up to the counter to order the usual fries and cheeseburgers yet I noticed something keenly different. When the server handed us our food it was micro-sized! The drinks were what we in America know as the small child's cup, the fries were the size of Happy Meal fries and the cheeseburger was about the size of a deck of cards! Hmmm.....my hungry boys were not impressed.

Portion control. It seems that the Okinawans have something here. Their food is served in very small portions and they eat only until they feel "hara hachi bu" which means they eat until 80% full. This is a wonderful concept! If you are like me, I often overeat and then feel sluggish and tired as my body digests all the goodies. I love to eat and sweets are a major problem for me.

Most recently, I decided to overhaul my eating habits. Though we are in Japan, we use the American commissary (grocery store) and have access to most American foods. So, I decided I was going to try some portion control techniques as one way to reduce my calories and aid my weight loss efforts. I am not a fan of diets and find that if I try a diet, I end up craving the very foods I am not supposed to eat!

Some of the portion control ideas I am using include using a salad plate as my main dish for all meals. I rarely notice a difference and my portions are automatically downsized! I also fill my plate 1/2 full of vegetables and then the remaining with protein and a whole grain carb. Another trick I have found is that eating one cup of clear soup (often made earlier in the week or from a can) about fifteen minutes before my meal, reduces my hunger. I use my hands as guides to the amount of food I am eating so that I am not relying on measuring cups or any other complicated gadget. And, the big one....learning to stop eating when I am not full anymore. I am reteaching myself to stop eating when I am no longer hungry, not to eat until I am "full." I have learned that I feel healthier and have more energy if I stop eating before my brain tells my stomach that I am full. This was a HUGE point for me as I often ate until either my plate was empty or until I was just plain stuffed!

I do believe this is the key to weight loss. When combined with daily exercise, we will see weight loss that lasts! So, ladies, continue drinking your water, exercising and making choices that fuel your mind and body. Not only will the scale budge a few pounds, you will feel healthier, have more energy and motivation for you and for your family ~ which is so important as a Multi-Tasking mother!

Controlling the Chaos: TOYS

2007-09-20T22:26:00.000-04:00

I am an ~~obsessive crazy woman~~ organizer. I love to have a "place for everything" and I definitely love when "everything is in its place".

I have been battling the TOYS in my house for a few years now! I admit, like most American households, we have too many. We try to keep up with giving some away and getting rid of unused ones, but even when we do our home is filled with them. Now that I have three little ones, the toy chaos grows because there are toys for more varied ages!

I finally decided that I had to do some major organizing. I wasn't happy just putting various things in baskets all around. I ~~can be sent over the edge~~ don't like finding doll house parts in the toy chest for stuffed animals, ya know?

I began realizing that most toys could be grouped. There were dress ups, little people, cars, Mr. Potato Heads, and on down the line. We had been "trying" to keep the groups together, but with no really good system. Things were always getting lost or misplaced.

I decided that the toys were going to be put away in bins by groups, so I headed to the store and bought a TON of bins. Slowly, I put groups of toys that made sense in the bin and labelled it. Now that toy HAD to be put away in THAT bin.

I bought big bins for toys such as Geo Trax and small bins for the Disney Toy Story figurines. I was ~~giddy with delight~~ quite pleased with my new system as I watched it fall into place.

Now I needed a place to put all of the bins. I did not have a closet with the proper space or shelving. I pondered the idea of bookcases. That would have worked, but instead my handy husband built me some adjustable shelving in the basement and here is the final result:

One of the hardest parts of this was determining the toy groups and how to divide it up, so I am going to list my labels for you, so you can begin to look at your toys in terms of "groups". Perhaps some of these will be useful:

Balls: this includes all of the small balls around, including the ones for the baby's Fischer price toys.

Musical Instruments

Barbies: this includes the dolls and all clothing. I was going to try to put all of the clothing in its own container, but even I know when I am going overboard.

Geo Trax: has one large bin right now and one small bin for overflow track. We need a second large bin. You can see in the picture that the new Rainbow Bridge isn't fitting.

Doll Clothes

Dress Ups: began as one large bin, but we really have a ton. (love yard sales) I made a smaller bin for shoes, one for purses, and one for scarves (a favorite of my girls). This is nice because some days we just bring up the purses and shoes.

Legos

Little People: this includes all of the little people animals and people for the garage, dollhouse, zoo, and Noah's Ark. I resisted combining them. I had this ~~crazy obsession~~ nice idea that they should all be kept with the original groupings. I let go...and it has been GREAT having ONE container to bring out with all of the characters. They enjoy having the animals when playing with the dollhouse and vice versa.

Mr. Potato Head

Books

Peek-a-blocks

Small Vehicles: includes Match Box cars, Thomas the Trains, and other small cars. (If you have a lot of Thomas trains they will need their own container)

Larger Vehicles: This is for the dump trucks, bulldozers, race cars, etc...(yes, my girls LOVE cars)

Stuffed Animals and Baby Dolls

Baby Toys: safe ones for D!

Misc: Yes, this is the dumping ground. It is a large bin with etch a sketch, shape sorter, and other stuff that needed a grouping. It is nice to save this bin for a rainy day.

Other large toys are just placed on the shelf: The Little People sets, the HUGE cement mixer, Barbie cars, etc.

NOW, for upstairs, I don't like the plastic bins and I use baskets. Same idea, no labels, and A LOT less toys. These baskets contain books, diapers, board games, puzzles, and there is one bin of toys. (This shelf is from IKEA)

The obvious benefit of this is the clean up! Clean up has been so much easier and we take all of the bins back downstairs before bedtime. Our house is clutter free before we go to sleep at night!

During the day, we just bring up a few bins at a time. I have noticed that my children's play is much more focused now! They don't jump from toy to toy! The bin system helps them focus on the toys because they know that they have to put those bins away in order to get a new one. (depending...)

This has been the best system I have found for our house, but I am always looking for new ideas or ways to improve! Feel free to leave a suggestion.

BEING A WIFE & MOTHER and building a strong MARRIAGE

2007-09-19T06:30:00.000-04:00

Hi ! My name is Susan and I blog as Penless Writer.

I am honored to have been asked to be a Guest Commentator for Multi-Tasking Mom's. I begin by quoting a past Pastor of ours who use to say "Commentators are nothing but Common Taters"!!!! I think I easily fall into that category.

When first asked to participate my reaction was, "It's been so long since I've been an active, hands on Mom I'm not sure I qualify". On further reflection, I believe living so many years (69), active mothering for over 35 of those years, being a grandmother for 21 years, and being just Mickey & I as Empty Nester's for the past 18 years I do have something to say.

Any of you who read my blog know that I am the mother of 4 adult children and that there is a 15 year age span between my first born and my fourth born. This explains why I held the active mothering position for those 35 years. It also explains why I have granddaughters 21 and 12 years old and a grandson 8 years old. You also know that we are a very close-knit family.

All this mothering experience aside I am going to comment on
BEING A WIFE & MOTHER and building a strong MARRIAGE.

I believe strongly in the family. The family is the first institution God set up. It all began when God created Eve to be a help mate for Adam. God created her to complete him. That's an awesome thought isn't it? Adam was not complete by himself alone. I believe our first, and most important role and love, after God and Jesus, is to be our husband.

We are first husband and wife and we will be husband and wife long after the children are gone from the home.
I have seen too many woman take their role of mother and motherhood to such a degree that it becomes the center of their world. Consequently the husband is pushed off to the side and into second place. They begin to live separate lives to a certain extent. The woman is concentrating all her time and effort on the children, with the husband on the side lines. The man is concentrating all his time and effort on his job. They begin to grow in separate and different ways. The wonderful husband-wife connection, which started it all, starts to fade.

My strong feelings in this regard came even before I was married or had children. I had two very loving parents and grew up in a good Christian home where I was taught good moral values, responsibility, truthfulness, hard work, etc. The one thing my family lacked was my parents lived two separate lives to a great extent. I determined, at a very early age, I wanted a marriage where my husband and I had a lot in common and were a strong family unit.

Over the years I've seen far to many mothers that have centered their lives on the children front and center. Then when the children are grown you find two adults looking at each other and saying, "Who are you? I don't know you any more. What happened to the love, fun, excitement we use to have?" The children leave and you have two strangers living together who do not share common interests or goals any longer.

So be sure to keep that guy you fell in love with front and center throughout your child rearing years. When you do this you will share a wonderful, full, exciting, "empty nest" life together.

Now, having said all this......I also have to add that.....ONCE A MOTHER ALWAYS A MOTHER. I tell my kids this ALL the time and they know it well. They are as important to me now, as adults, as they were when they were small children growing and finding out who they were and who they were becoming.

It truly is a balancing act....It's important not to fall in the ditch on either side of the road. Just remember to keep things balanced and not push either your children or your husband off to the side. Always remembering that JESUS CHRIST is the most important person to keep front and CENTER.
********************
Just one more comment, from this "common tator".
If you are a single-mom, as I once was, I have this advice.

When another man comes waltzing into your life your first concern has to be making sure he will be the kind of father you want to help raise your children. When Mickey & I were "dating" most of those "dates" revolved around doing things with and for my two little girls. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, Mickey would be a wonderful father. Almost 49 years later I am here to tell you he lived up to all my expectations.

As a single-mom your first priority has to be to those children whether that means raising them by yourself or finding that right husband and FATHER.
BUT once you decide to entrust yourself and your children into the love and care of another man you must NEVER, and I mean NEVER EVER say anything like "Leave MY kids alone" or "Don't treat MY kids like that". This is of course UNLESS there is being physical harm done to them.....that's a whole different thing. But I'm talking about just establishing and making a good, caring, loving family.

When he marries you and takes on the responsibility for the love and care of you and your kids you become a "family" and the word "ME or MINE" has to be set aside forever. If there are disputes about the discipline of the children you must never discuss that in front of the children. Rather, later, in a private setting between the two of you discuss with him then, "I don't think you should have......." or "I think you were being to hard on......" This is good advise for all marriages. Put up one standard to the children at all times.

Tell me a story

2007-09-18T22:37:00.000-04:00

Every night my youngest daughter asks to hear a story from "when i was a little kid." The pet stories have been the biggest hits, and tonight's story brought gales of laughter. It was one of my Petie the parakeet stories about the time he was flying around the house and landed in a pot of cooking spaghetti. Fearing that the bird might be boiled alive, I quickly scooped him out and rinsed his blue feathers, now tinged with an orange glow. He survived, and so did we. (We ate the spaghetti)!

I remember hearing stories about my own parents' childhood adventures with their siblings and how we begged for more. Remember when Uncle J. put raisins in my aunt's baby doll's diaper and when she went to change it, what a surprise! I even have memories of hearing my grandparents' childhood stories and how precious those are to me now.

Reading stories to your kids creates a wonderful connection between you and the story. You are all caught up in the same imaginative world at the same time. But don't forget to tell the old stories of you every now and then too. Stories of our past build a heritage that they will pass on to their children. And the stories mean so much more because they are your stories, and someday your stories will become their stories.

Recipe Roundup: Comfort Foods

2007-09-17T02:06:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again, a time during which we turn to certain foods when we want something that satisfies our soul as well as our hunger. It's the time of year when we turn to comfort foods.

For my family, our "comfort food" is a supper of meat loaf, garlic mashed potatoes and a salad. What makes the following recipe even better is that it's a lower calorie version of the usual meat loaf recipes. To see a photo of the finished product, visit Just Mom Cooking.

Oh! I found the following recipe in the August 2000 edition of Cooking Light magazine. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.

Italian Meat Loaf with Fresh Basil and Provolone

1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil
1/2 cup ketchup
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp provolone cheese
2 large egg whites
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound ground round
Cooking spray
1/3 cup ketchup

Combine boiling water and tomatoes in a bowl; let stand 30 minutes or until soft. Drain tomatoes; finely chop.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine 1/2 cup ketchup, breadcrumbs, and the next 6 ingredients (breadcrumbs through beef) in a large bowl. Add tomatoes to meat mixture. Shape meat mixture into a 9 x 5-inch loaf on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Spread 1/3 cup ketchup over meat loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a thermometer registers 160 degrees. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Cut into 12 slices.

6 servings (serving size: 2 slices)

Now it's your turn. Use the Mr. Linky below to link to your family's favorite comfort food. If you don't have a blog, please leave your recipe in the comments section. Oh! Start thinking about next week's Recipe Roundup: Casseroles and other one-dish recipes.

What target are you aiming for?

2007-09-15T08:16:00.000-04:00

I recently came across a book I ordered earlier this year. It is called 'What Every Child Should Know Along the Way' by Gail Martin. I began reading it once again. It was just what I was looking for, regarding raising my kids. I have been wanting a Bible teaching to add to our Home School day. This book is full of ideas on sharing Christ with our kids. I came across this list and it really made me wonder how I am doing:
Twelve Rules for Raising Delinquent Children

Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.
When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute. It will also encourage him to pick up "cuter" phrases that will blow off the top of your head later.
Never give him any spiritual training. Wait till he is 21 and then let him decide for himself.
Avoid use of the word "wrong". It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe that society is against him and he is being persecuted.
Pick up everything he leaves lying around (books, shoes, and clothing). Do everything for him so he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on to others.
Let him read any printed material he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.
Quarrel frequently in the presence of your child. In this way he will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later.
Give the child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. Why should he have things as tough as you had them?
Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial of his desires may lead to harmful frustration.
Take his part against neighbors, teachers, and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.
When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, "I never could do anything with him."
Prepare for a life of grief.

It isn't always the BIG mistake that gets us off track. It can be little foxes. The bad thing about a little fox is that they are so easy to overlook. For instance, at first I did not see what was wrong with #9. What is so wrong with giving them what THEY want to eat or drink?? Well, we had a time, (very recently) when we were cooking our meal and 2 mini-meals. My kids would not eat what we made for dinner and we were more concerned with them eating, so we had 3 meals at dinner time. That was not beneficial to any of us. It only made them more demanding and defiant in other areas. We finally have all of us on the same meal, but we still struggle with my son eating willingly. I now see the benefit of not letting them choose all of their meals. If we go to McD's, they DO choose whether they eat nuggets or burgers, but they do not control our meals anymore.

One of the main points, being made in the book, is that we are called to 'Aim our children straight as arrows'. They do not know the way they should go. We are the ones aiming them. It is wise for us to know where we are aiming our child. Shooting aimlessly will create a dismal result - delinquent children. With focus and a steady aim, we can lead them to have a relationship with Christ. She uses the Scripture 'Like arrows in the hands of a warrior...' Psalm 127:4.

This book has impressed me, thus far. It speaks to creating Dynamic Devotions, creating Family Unity, using Gifts and Talents, great Biblical Character Traits, having Manners, Practical living skills, and Personal Safety. I can tell you that I am challenged to raise my focus and to aim my arrows (kids) more carefully at the target (Christ). I am seeking Him in how that looks for my family. What will draw my kids closer to their Savior? I do not know. I can aim them towards the mark, then God can draw them to Himself. If I do not take the time to aim them, I may miss the target completely. What a huge responsibility. It is possible to accomplish this goal, but only if I remain in close relationship with Christ. My job, and hubby's job, is to keep on track with seeking our Savior and the rest is God's job. We must be willing to take the first step and He will show us how to draw our children to Him.

Repairing Your Body Inside and Out

2007-09-14T22:44:00.000-04:00

Exercise is a key point to losing weight and living a healthy life, but it is just as important to keep a close watch what goes inside our body too. Of course eating healthy, drinking water and making the extra effort to take vitamins helps. But, sometimes you need that little extra something, a little boost so to say.

Don't worry, it's not a diet pill or anything like that. What I'm about to share with you is good for your overall heath....a good old fashion remedy with medicinal purposes.

It's Apple Cider Vinegar! It is wonderful for so many ailments; allergies, asthma, sinus infections, high cholesterol, blood pressure, acne AND weight loss!!! Yep, it helps breaks down the fat in our body!

I know some of you are thinking YUCK! NO WAY!!!! But I personally don't think it's that bad. And the with overall benefits of it, isn't it worth it?!

There are several different concoctions for apple cider vinegar, some put it in their tea, others drink it with juice, but my personal favorite it is:

2 Tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Raw Honey
8 oz of cold water....no ice for me thank you

Once you start taking this you will feel GREAT! Honestly, I haven't done this since I moved so, to practice what I preach I better start repairing and Getting MY Body in Motion! I will join Melodye and all of you other out there and post my results as well.

.....Oh speaking of repairing, Ladies Tools Online is giving aways TWO stylish set of tools!!!

It's a Girl! 46pc Tool Set

and

It's a Boy! 46pc Tool Set

Let's face it ladies, the men can't always do the handy stuff around the house, so if we have to do it, let's do it in STYLE!!!!

Each set contains a comfort grip: hammer, slotted screwdriver, Phillip's screwdriver, adjustable crescent, needle-nose pliers and snap off knife. Plus, there's an accessories box with screws (8), wall plugs (8), nails (25), and picture hangers (5). All of these fabulous items comes in a durable plastic matching case!

To enter:

1. leave us a comment letting us know if you want the PINK or BLUE

2. spread the word and please add a link to this post and Ladies Tools Online
(this contest is open to those of you who don't have a blog too, but please spread the word)

3. come back after you've posted and sign Mr. Linky

And CONGRATULATIONS Karen, you are the winner of last week's Go Figure contest!!! Please send us your addy:)

Joys of freezing

2007-09-13T08:01:00.000-04:00

On some nights do you ever wish you could just go to your freezer & pull out a home cooked meal?

Do you have a recipe that you absolutely love but it takes forever to make?

Are you almost due for having a baby & find that your nesting like crazy, the nursery is ready & you want something else to do? Or maybe a friend just had a baby?

What about freezing some meals!!!

Over the past couple years I have been taught a ton about freezing food from a wonderful friend and wanted to share some ideas with all of you. Freezing foods is so much fun to do & so easy! Some meals that we love to eat here in our house hold are
Chicken Parmesan
BBQ Meatloaf
Chicken Turnovers
Lasagna
Baked Ziti
Marinated Chicken Breasts
Banana Bread
Cookies & brownies (lots & lots of these :)

And it is so rewarding to go to your freezer & pull these favorites out so that you can have a relaxing evening. Below are some ideas for you and I hope you find them helpful.

That very involved Favorite recipe

You may have a dish or a sauce that you & your family absolutely love but it takes a long time to prepare and involves many different ingredients. Do you want to make the best of your time? Why don't you double, triple, quadruple your recipe. Have a great meal that night and then 1 or more over the next few months.
* Make sure you multiply each ingredient the same
* If it is a pasta dish or a casserole - buy some tin pans & prepare you meal as you normally would. Place it in the tin pan, cover it with saran wrap, then again with tin foil (make sure it is well covered & sealed). Create a label with the name of the dish & the cooking instructions then tape it to the dish before freezing. If it is a dish that you should top with cheese or other ingredients, you may want to measure out the amount needed and freeze that in a separate bag & place with the dish (remember - you can freeze cheese too).
* If it is a sauce - Place the desired serving of sauce in separate Freezer Zip Lock bags. Label the bag with what it is, the amount of the sauce, and the date it was made.

A favorite meat marinade

If your like me, I purchase my meat in large quantities when it's on sale. I come home and separate them into smaller portions to freeze. Why not throw some of the meat in your favorite marinade before throwing it in the freezer. This way you can just pull it out and it's marinading while it's defrosting. Just be sure to label the bag so you know what's inside, we all know what our mommy brains are like :).

A favorite bread

Do you make banana, pumpkin, or zucchini bread? Why not make a few extra loafs? It adds very little time to your preparation and you have yummy bread a few weeks later w/ no effort.
* Make sure you bread cools completely. Then I wrap it very well in Saran wrap & place it in a labeled freezer bag. The bread tastes as fresh as the day you made it.

Your favorite Cookies & Brownies

Make a HUGE batch! Cook them and try not to eat them all. Cool the cookies/brownies completely, leave some out for eating and put all the rest in a Freezer bag. When you feel like having fresh cookies/brownies just pull a few out, let them thaw (this only takes a few minutes), you can throw them in the microwave for a few seconds if you want them warm, and yum!

If you make your husbands lunch to take to work, why not throw a few frozen cookies in there, by the time he gets to his lunch he will have fresh cookies.

But Beware! I have learned that 1/2 frozen cookies and brownies are even better than the fresh ones :)

Meatloaf

This also freezes very well! Make an extra loaf and when it is cooled completely you can cut it into slices, wrap it in saran wrap then tin foil (or place in a freezer bag), and when you want meat loaf again pull the whole thing out or if you want a meatloaf sandwich for lunch just pull out one slice.

Extra fruit

If you go berry picking or if you have some fruit in the house that may go bad. Chop it up, put it on a cookie sheet, freeze them over night and the next day put the pieces in a freezer bag. This is great for having smoothies later

Someone in Need

When you make a meal for someone in need, have you ever thought of making them 2 meals. Just double whatever recipe your using, It only takes you 5-15 minutes extra but it allows them to freeze a meal for later. And what a blessing that would be! Just make sure to label everything and write down the cooking directions.

A friend and I have been talking about getting together for a day to make a ton of meals to freeze and we have yet to do it. I'm really hoping we do soon, it is such a fun way to hand out with a friend and have many rewards afterwards. Happy Cooking!

Reminder! If you would enjoy being our next months Featured Multi-Tasking Mom and win an Orderly Mom Notebook, go here for the details!

SuperMom or SlackerMom? Just call me Mom.

2007-09-12T00:04:00.000-04:00

So, this week I thought I would ask a question: Do you ever feel like a slacker mom?

I think we all do.

So much we are "supposed" to do - love our kids no matter what, feed them healthy food, listen to their every word, take them wherever they wish to go, determine when they are actually lying, catch every sneaky act, point them to the Lord every day, take advantage of those teachable moments, push them when they need it - but not too much, reach their hearts with our discipline, never yell, never lose our tempers, never show them any impatience, teach them to make the right choices, make sure they look "cute", make sure they never act up, make sure they are respectful at every moment, always expect first-time obedience, enjoy every little moment, keep a perfect house, make sure they fulfill their potential - and I'm quite sure I left out a few hundred things. And don't get me started on the wife "supposed" to list: confidante, chef, model looks, ... well, you know the rest, I'm sure.

I believe in high expectations. For ourselves. For our children. I think it's biblical and I'm not knocking the goal.

But, I am concerned that some may think that we here at Multi-tasking moms are in the "SuperMom" category. And I sincerely feel that I need to address that - at least for myself.

I am so NOT a SuperMom. I do some things really well - I can turn out a mean schedule and sometimes it actually works! And, I can almost always help you figure out how to do more in less time. How to get more things done, and how to do that with less stress. I can organize an office, a file, a pretty good birthday party. What is the saying "Necessity is the mother of invention"? Well, organization in my life with homeschooling and a business is absolutely necessary - so I've discovered some things that work. For me.

So, here's my true confessions - knocking myself off the Supermom pedestal. Because I firmly believe that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and if I'm strong in the "organizational" category and you are not - I can guarantee you that you do something well that I am a total "slacker" about.

Yes, I have a 6 week meal plan, a daily schedule for every 15 minutes, a cleaning schedule, a daily to-do list, a homeschool "plan".

But, also:

I have a cleaning company every other week - and if I care about your opinion of my house - no you may not come over. Trust me.

My house is decorated in "very lived in." And that's phrasing it nicely.

I have a picture frame that has hung on my staircase for 2 years with no picture in it.

You cannot walk in my daughter's room.

I let my daughter choose her own clothes - and it shows.

I let my daughter fix her own hair - and it definitely shows.

I rarely do the evening's dishes that night - I'm too tired.

I never have time to just sit and watch TV with my husband, and I think he misses that.

If you don't see me write on my to-do list in my computer, it won't happen.

I never get enough sleep.

I only need my glasses to drive, and I can never find them.

We are frequently late. (usually because I cannot find my glasses - which I need to drive, remember?)

I cannot drive and do anything else at the same time. Can't even talk. How I wish I could take advantage of those "deep" conversations that my kids always seem to want to have - in the car. When I am trying to drive. Trying to, you know, not kill us.

There's more, but that's all the self-exposure I can handle in one conversation.

I only have 2 children. I homeschool - which means they are with me all day every day. And there are more days than I would like to admit that I get to the end of the day and realize that I have not once looked into their eyes that day and actually, truly listened to an entire sentence.

And I can guarantee you that when they are grown - listening or playing a game with them now is more important than anything else.

And, that, my friends is the whole point FOR ME of organization. If I don't have to think about dinner - then I can spend that few minutes doing something worthwhile. Lasting. Meaningful. If organization does that do that for you, but instead adds another "expectation" to your list, then DO NOT organize another thing. It is not worth it.

So, please don't think of me as a supermom. You may think of me as a mom a little farther down the path. You may think of me as a mom with different gifts from God. Please think of me as the mom with a few good ideas.

But please don't think of me as a supermom.

It was a day that changed our nation

2007-09-11T06:08:00.000-04:00

As the memories from 6 years ago return today, may each of us remember and pray for all those affected by the events, six years ago, in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC.

I'm sure we can remember the moment when we heard about the attacks in NY and the planes down in PA and at the Pentagon.

I know we can still reach out to others, showing God's love for all. We can have faith and hope in Him and share His love with those around us. We need to fill our children with faith and love because we don't know what the future holds. We need to give them the hope and strength that only our Heavenly Father can comfort us with.

Moms - today, let us share how we can fill our children with love for others. What can we do today, in the lives of our children, to affect their future?

I know one way - to pray. If you haven't visisted this parent's prayer blog, please do - and pray together with us, for our children.

Let us remember those who gave their lives and let us never forget.

Recipe Roundup: My Ultimate Cookbook

2007-09-10T01:32:00.000-04:00

Most busy moms have a favorite cooking resource they always turn to: a Web site, a collection of old family recipes, their own moms. Although I do turn to the Kraft and Epicurious websites, as well as my mom, my favorite resource happens to be "The New Basics Cookbook" by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins.

There are many reasons why I love my well-worn copy of this 800-page book (849 pages if you count the bibliography and index in the back). One reason is that this is the first cookbook I bought after my husband and I got married 15 years ago. Another reason is the gingersnap recipe the authors included in this book. That particular recipe, with just a few alterations by me, has been a hit at every cookie exchange party I've participated in since 1992. (Stay tuned. I might post that recipe in a roundup closer to the holidays.) But what I really like about this cookbook is all the helpful food hints the authors provide throughout the book.

I can't even count the number of times I've referred to the beef roasting chart; the selecting, storing and preparation methods for various produce; the herb and spice chart (including their best use); and their suggestions for how to stock what they call a "Panic-Proof Kitchen" and a "Basic Pantry."

Most of the recipes aren't the kind you make in 30-minutes or less, but the time you spend on what you prepare is worth the effort. Some of my favorites are recipes for shrimp scampi, olive rosemary bread, chicken Kiev, curried zucchini soup, lemon shortbread cookies, and of course gingersnaps.

If you haven't picked up this cookbook before, I highly recommend that you do. It came in handy for me as a newlywed who didn't know her way around the kitchen, and it comes in handy for me now when I want to try a special recipe or need more information about a specific ingredient.

I love collecting cookbooks, and would love to hear about your ultimate cookbook. Use the Mr. Linky below so others can visit your blog and learn about your favorite cookbook. don't forget to leave a comment to let us know you plan to participate. Also, if you've used "The New Basics Cookbook," let me know some of your favorite recipes. I might try them out and post either for a Recipe Roundup or on my cooking blog, Just Mom Cooking.

God's Little Devotional Book

2007-09-08T09:02:00.000-04:00

I'd like to share with you a devotional book that I like called;

" God's Little Devotional Book for Mom's"

Here are a couple devotions out of it that I'd like to share with you.

A child is fed with milk and praise.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:29

Consider these "Commandments for Parents," written from a child's point of view!

1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenver I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; slow down so that I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; let me exlore it safely; don't restrict me unnecessarily.

3. Housework will always be there; I'm little only for a short time. Take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.

4. My feelings are tender; don't nag me all day long (you would not want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness).

5. I am a special gift from God; treasure me as God intended you to do - holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragemnet but not your empty praise) to grow. Go easy on the criticism; remember , you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

Children are natural mimics -
they act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. 3 John 11a

If a child lives with criticism
He learns to condemn;
If a child lives with hostility
He learns to fight
If a child lives with ridicule
He learns to be shy; If a child lives with shame he learns to feel guilty
But
If a child lives with tolerance
He learns to be patient;
If a child lives with encouragement
he learns confidence;
If a child lives with praise
He learns to appreciate;
If a child lives with fairness
He learns justice;
If a child lives with security
He learns to have faith;
If a child lives with approval
He learns to like himself;
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
He learns to find LOVE in the world!

I leave you with these devotions. Make some wonderful memories with your families.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Gym vs.Dentist

2007-09-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

I am the opposite of a gym rat. I would rather visit the dentist than work out at a gym. Speaking of dentists, I actually enjoy having my teeth cleaned. Peaceful music, relaxing in a chair...no kids in sight. It’s like a day at the spa. Well, ok, not really. But you get the idea.

Back to working out. I played soccer with my husband for years, and during those games I experienced for the first time enjoying “exercise”. I think it was because I was so focused on the tasks at hand (don’t kick the ball to the wrong player...don’t kick it into the wrong goal, etc.) that I forgot I was actually burning calories

But after our third baby was born, it was too much for me, to find babysitters for those weeknight indoor soccer games. I wanted sleep, not soccer. Sleep was so much more important than exercising. And that was the end of my soccer “career”.

But, there is one form of exercise I actually like and will be able to do (God willing) all my life. Walking. I really enjoy a good walk, especially if I don’t have a bunch of things to do upon my return to the house. I can think, I can listen to music, I can actually burn calories and enjoy burning them...nice!

This week, Leslie Sansone over at Walk at Home is hosting a Teen Walk. What a great idea! Plus... we're giving away a free Teen Walk DVD! Check out her site- just click on the button- and leave a comment below to enter the contest.

And, keep in mind...even if you haven’t visited the gym in years (like me), you can take a walk! Every step counts.

"Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow." ~Henry David Thoreau

"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time."
~Steven Wright

And my personal favorite:
"He who limps is still walking." ~Stanislaw J. Lec

Finding Peace among Chaos

2007-09-06T22:31:00.000-04:00

Chaos reigns. There is a trail from the front door through out the house of things left behind as people come trasping in. There is a similar trail leading from the garage throughout the house. One child is on the floor crying because he step on a lego, there is a yelling coming from another room about having nothing to wear. And then there is my husband, complaining he can't find a coffee mug.

Have you ever noticed that your outside world reflects how your soul feels on the inside? If your life and home are in chaos there is a good chance your soul is feeling the same way. I know mine is.

For the last two months, I have basically been stuck at home. I couldn't attend church or do much of anything but sleep, taking my pain meds, and pray for another day to pass. Recovery from surgery has been no picnic for me or my family. Not only that but life hasn't stopped happening around me, it kept on going and expected me to find some way to cope with it all. I have but I have neglected my relationship with my Father.

This past week, the pieces of my life finally fell into place. I finally starting getting "back to normal." It was like awaking from a fairy tale. Everything was safe and warm there. I didn't have much to worry about. Now I have snacks for soccer, homework, lesson plans, spanish lessons, laundry, and somewhere under all this dirt is a house. I have spent the last week rediscovering the living room floor, the kitchen, and the bathroom. The house is looking normal but yet chaos still reigns.

I was really confused about this until I realized - while I was busy righting the wrongs in my home, I had forgotten to right the wrongs of the hearts living in this home. The boys are fighting, hubby is stressing, and I am quite sure no one has prayed in a month. It so easy to see what is in front of us and ignore the mess within.

This next week, I plan on letting the house go and focusing on the hearts within it. We need to start our day off with prayer and end it the same way. To begin our day with our bible lessons, to make church a priority, and to remember who gave us all the blessings we take for granted.

If chaos is reigning in your house, I urge you to stop everything. Look up and beg for help. Chaos isn't meerly a reflection of the busyness of our lives but rather an ache in our soul. God is there to lead us on our path through life yet so often we try to take over and do it 'better.' If you are living in chaos, you have lost sight of God's plan for your life. You are leading instead of following. Take this week to ask God to lead you and your family again. Make him a priority and let peace find its way among the chaos!

My Multi-Tasking Secrets Revealed

2007-09-05T08:19:00.000-04:00

I am honored and thrilled to be the first Featured Multi-Tasking Mom. In the blog-world, I am TCC of The Campbell Corner. I am a real mom with real kids learning how to navigate real life. Sound like you? Let's find out what else we may or may not have in common...

Do you enjoy laundry; thrilled at the opportunity to scour off a layer of skin while attempting to remove a stubborn stain from your child's clothing? Are your children naturally obedient, prepared to responsibly respond to the next request that is made of them? Do you have hot fresh meals prepared daily with apron cleanly pressed and pearls around your neck? If you answered yes to all of these questions then sadly, this post is not for you. However, if a "no" crossed your lips, then read on...there may be something that has worked for me that will work for you too.

#1 The Moldinator
Do you know what this is a picture of? It is a petri dish covered with mold. I am actually comfortable with this. I did many labs with my students where we grew colonies of common bacteria and fungi. It allowed them to become familiar with how quickly bacteria form colonies and what environmental variables impact that growth, observe and classify bacteria according to their physical properties, follow the procedure of Gram staining and determine if the colony was Gram + or Gram -. They were also able to observe differences between bacteria and fungi. It was scientific. It was in a controlled environment. Procedures were followed for the completion of the growth and disposal of material which is considered to be a biohazard. This is when I am OK with these 'germs'.

Outside of the classroom I am not a fan of bacteria - or any other microorganism. I wash my hands after I handle raw meat or crack an egg. I make sure I use a cleaner with paper towel to wash down my sink and counter tops and table and any other surface in my home. I NEVER use a sponge. Even though I zap it in the microwave to kill those microorganisms - you just never know.

You can imagine my glee when I discovered that Barber's train sweatshirt (that he received as a Christmas gift and has worn maybe 3 times) was covered with mold because it was left in a plastic bag, soaked, for about 2 weeks in the basement laundry room. I am not proud of this fact. I didn't realize it was soaked but obviously this means I hadn't frequented the laundry room for about 2 weeks...

Back to the point. It was covered and stinky with teeny reddish dots. Although those teeny dots had merged in certain areas making it simply a red patch. I was utterly disgusted and annoyed with myself. I was feeling a bit helpless too. Kind of like the time when I discovered that I had somehow overlooked a purple crayon in Jeter's clothing and only noticed it after everything was dried. Loverly. The difference was this was mold...a biohazard. Ugh.

I have no idea why but I decided to lay it on top of the washer and sprayed a little bit of OxiClean Active on a spot. I really didn't think it would help. I was looking for definitive proof to declare the sweatshirt a 'lost cause' and toss it. To my utter amazement when I went down to the laundry room the next day (to actually do some laundry) I noticed that there was a patch that was lacking red spots. NO WAY!?! Was it actually possible to clean mold out of this sweatshirt?!?

YES!!! Granted I used about half of my bottle of OxiClean Active but it was well worth it. I put the sweatshirt on an old white sheet and sprayed this all over one side - no scrubbing. Just saturated it and let it sit. 24 hours later I repeated the step. 24 hours after that I turned the sweatshirt over and saturated the back of it. After another 24 hours I sprayed the few spots that still remained. If I had a digital camera I would be showing you a clean mold-free sweatshirt that cost me $2 (to fix - I bought it at BJ's), about 15 cumulative minutes of spraying and then patience to wait for the spots to literally disappear. I do not typically advocate products on this blog but seriously, this is amazing. I also don't plan on this ever happening again but you never know... On another note, it's also excellent at removing grass stains with limited scrubbing - if you don't feel like waiting for them to disappear.

#2 Growing Up and Being Responsible
I know charts are not for everyone but these have worked wonders for our family and you never know...it could give you the peace you need as well.

Barber experienced tremendous success with the potty chart and kept asking me for a new chart. We are still figuring out what he will receive besides stickers but right now the stickers mean a lot and I have seen tremendous improvement in his behavior is just three days. I needed this. Three is an important age. I prefer to reinforce positive behavior and there has been a need to focus on areas where improvement is needed - like making good choices, quick obedience and respecting others. At the same time I added areas where he is already pretty successful but we want to continue to reinforce; brushing teeth, zero accidents and being a helper fall into this category.

Jeter's chart is set up to reinforce positive behavior, establish new levels of responsibility and teach him valuable lessons about tithing, depositing money into his savings account and saving for the purchase of something special. Each sticker he receives represents five cents. Last week was his greatest earning of $1.95. Since I recently added two categories, he has the potential to earn $4.20 per week. In a few weeks his level of obedience has improved and he is quick to complete his responsibilities and even jump in to help with things that aren't on the list. Simms and I are purposely not labelling this as an allowance. Rather, it is a tool to teach Jeter responsibility while instilling in him (hopefully) a strong work ethic.

Finally, I shop and cook in bulk. This allows me to provide healthy meals for my family amidst the busy-ness of life. It allows us to enjoy the seasons of soccer, t-ball, swimming, church activities and whatever else ends up on our schedule and still eat a good meal together as a family. If this interests you, check out the food category of The Campbell Corner. You will also see cakes and cookies that I have made (I love to bake) but if you scroll down you will find information about bulk preparation and cooking as well as some neat recipes to try.

Thank you, Multi-Tasking Moms for the opportunity to share with you today. I am still learning how to master the art of multi-tasking and appreciate the encouragement and practical resources that the women of MTM provide daily. If you are interested in being the next Featured MTM click here for more details!

Who Will Be Our Next Featured Multi-Tasking Mom?

2007-09-05T08:05:00.000-04:00

TCC @ The Campbell Corner is our very first Featured Multi-Tasking Mom! Congratulations TCC! Which one of you wonderful women want to be next month's pick and receive an Orderly Mom Notebook?

The Orderly Mom Notebook was designed by Tiany @ More of Him~Less of Me! This is a wonderful product has everything you need to organize youreslf!!!

Now to enter, all you need to so is:

1. Leave us a comment to enter.

2. Add our button to your sidebar

3. Send us an email by clicking on our little envelop to the right (subject line: Featured MTM) sharing with us how you multi-task. Please add your name/username and name of blog with URL. If you have already blogged a great tip, please send us the link. (For those of you who entered last month are welcome to reenter another tip or the same one.)

Can't wait to hear from you:)

Mommy Moment ~ On Assignment from God

2007-09-04T02:12:00.000-04:00

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

~Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)

As mothers, we have countless, daily opportunities to plant God’s Truth and Love in the hearts and souls of our children. God desires for us to cherish the little (and big) hearts of our children, as a gift from Him. As my children have grown from infants, I have taken this scripture verse to my heart and prayerfully asked God to give me a passion for keeping my children’s hearts. In my quiet times with Him, I have been led in discovering what Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands us to do. The first thing I discovered was my own need for daily time in God’s Word. Prior to this, I routinely attempted to handle each day in my own strength. I often sent “prayer arrows” up to God asking for help, but I was not faithful in seeking God’s wisdom for each day. Giving my early morning time to the Lord gives me the guidance and strength I need to reflect the attributes of the Lord, disciple my children’s hearts and train them in the way they should go. Another foundation in my life to apply this scripture has been through prayer. Having three young children has me on my knees and seeking God’s guidance in all areas of life. It is during these moments of prayer that I cast my concerns, frustrations, prayer needs and desires to the Lord. I strive to humble my heart and confess any sin in my own walk so that I may intercede on behalf of my child. I ask God to touch my child’s heart and reveal Himself to them in a personal way. I also pray for their spiritual development, for future Christian spouses, for God’s will in their life and anything else the Lord lays on my heart. I can honestly say that when I am daily praying for my children, I see a marked difference in their heart attitude as compared to days I do not pray. God shows me in marvelous ways that He does hear and answer my prayers! We might not know this side of Heaven how our prayers have influenced the lives of our children, but we can be confident that God is working in and through them!

So, how did I learn to apply Deuteronomy 6:6-7 in our daily life? God showed me that He wanted me to reflect His joy, love and affection as I trained my children. For me, this meant enjoying them as the treasures that they are. They are unique people whom I love to spend my days with. I laugh at their funny antics, show genuine joy with their presence in my life and lend kindness in my words and by my actions. I share with my children the majesty of God as we discover the beauty all around us. My husband and I strive to train them in God’s commandments through family devotions and Bible readings. They have plenty of opportunities to practice loving others first. They learn obedience in the home, which will mature to obedience in the Lord. Most importantly, I believe that my children will see our passionate love for God and will embrace His love for them as well.

As I was cleaning my young son’s room yesterday, I found a beautifully detailed coloring page that he created. I was moved to tears as I realized the picture was of him, holding a kite on a beautiful sunny day. Written on his kite was the name, “Jesus.” My heart rejoiced and praised the Lord for this Mommy Moment. It was a much needed glimpse of how God is working in the hearts of my precious children, May you be inspired today as you live out your own assignment from God ~ the job is not easy, but we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength we need (Philippians 4:13).

Recipe Roundup: Winner and Lunchtime Fun

2007-09-03T06:05:00.000-04:00

We Have A Winner!

Jason and Caryn, come on down! You are the winner of a beautiful hand-crafted apron, sponsored by Practically Necessary. Please e-mail your contact information to MultiTaskingMoms@gmail.com.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and keep checking back for more giveaways.

Now, on to the Recipe Roundup for this week. This Roundup of delicious lunchtime ideas was written by Leigh Ann. Enjoy!

Oh! Happy Labor Day, everyone!

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Recipe Roundup

Tired of the same old sandwich? Here are five ideas from the Kraft Foods Food & Family e-mail newsletter. Pack them in your child's lunchbox, eat them at home, or pack up lunch and your children and head to the park (or under a shady tree in the back yard!). If you aren't receiving this fun newsletter, click here to sign up!

1 TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Flour Tortilla
1 Tbsp. PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
2 Tbsp. TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
3 slices OSCAR MAYER Shaved Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 lettuce leaves

SPREAD tortilla with cream cheese spread, then salsa.
TOP with turkey, cheese and lettuce. Roll up tightly. Wrap in plastic wrap.

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1 pita bread (5 to 6 inch)
1/2 cup torn lettuce
2 slices OSCAR MAYER Smoked Ham
2 slices OSCAR MAYER Smoked Turkey Breast
2 thin tomato slices
1 Tbsp. KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Tbsp. KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing

CUT edge from top of pita; fill with lettuce, meats, tomatoes and cheese.
DRIZZLE with dressing; wrap in plastic wrap.
REFRIGERATE until ready to serve.

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1/4 cup drained, canned white tuna in water, flaked
1/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Tbsp. KRAFT Mayo Real Mayonnaise
2 slices whole wheat bread
MIX tuna, cheese and mayo.

SPREAD onto 1 of the bread slices.
COVER with remaining bread slice.

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2 slices whole wheat bread
1 Tbsp. MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
1 slice OSCAR MAYER Beef Bologna
1 KRAFT Singles

SPREAD 1 bread slice with dressing. Top with bologna, Singles and second bread slice.
CUT sandwich into desired shape, using a 2- to 3-inch cookie cutter. Use a small knife to cut the sandwich trimmings into assorted shapes for the remaining "puzzle pieces." Wrap in plastic wrap.

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2 slices whole wheat bread
1 Tbsp. mayo or miracle whip
1 slice beef bologna
1 slice cheese

SPREAD 1 bread slice with dressing. Top with bologna, cheese and second bread slice.
CUT sandwich into desired shape, using a 2- to 3-inch cookie cutter. Use a small knife to cut the sandwich trimmings into assorted shapes for the remaining "puzzle pieces." Wrap in plastic wrap.

Now it's your turn. How do you make lunchtime fun for your children? Whether it be packing lunches for school, when having friends over, or for when it is you and your kids? Use Mr. Linky to post to your favorite homemade lunch, or leave a comment below.

The whole piece

2007-09-01T02:15:00.000-04:00

In church on Sunday my aunt handed my son a stick of gum. "One for daddy too?" he asked. And she handed him a second one for his daddy.

While his daddy was in the choir singing, my son held that piece of gum. First it was in the wrapper, fresh and new, a perfect gift for his daddy. Later, when I looked at him, he was slowly unwrapping it, peeking inside. Pretty soon the whole wrapper was off and my son was liking the piece of gum. By the time his daddy came down from the choir, my son handed him a tiny piece of the gum and the rest was gone.

You might say that was too much temptation for one little boy. He was responsible for such a big piece of gum, and while I'm sure his daddy wouldn't have minded halving it with him, I doubt he cared for the pea-sized portion he ended up with.

Sometimes my days are like that fresh piece of gum. I know that the first thing I should do each day is share it with my Father. But I want to sleep just a little bit longer, or I get a phone call, then the kids need me. Books, television, the computer, they all get my time before I get a chance to pray, and all He's left with is the tiny pea-sized portion of my time right before I fall asleep at night.

How would my life be different if I put God first? It is my prayer this year that I will desire Him most of all.

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:21

Get Your Body in Motion!

2007-08-31T06:30:00.000-04:00

With school days in full strength we know the fall is coming soon! Our thoughts begin to turn towards removing the summer clothes from our closets and replacing them with the comforts of fall. Long sleeves and pants are the armor of the day. Good bye shorts and tanks, hello winter breezes. Many tend to let their health and/or exercise regimens fall to the side. The smell of baking is in the air, candy begins to fill our pantries in hopes for trick or treaters. Is that a turkey headed towards the oven? Ahem.. I digress! :)

We should be health conscious all year long. But what fun is that? We are approaching the time of year that the weather is a pure delight! But do not blink - it will be oh so cold before you know it. Why not rent a Space Walk for a day and jump away with your kids? Or go out with the kids to jump on that trampoline? Talk about family fun! You would be surprised at the aches you would feel after such a family fun time. Not to mention - bonds forged.

Ok, does that not work for you? Do you have the latest and greatest Wii game?? I have heard raves about how this game gets you up and moving. I am not a 'gamer' but I must admit, this is on my Christmas wish list! Or dance around with your child to some upbeat music. Try doing that for 10 minutes without a break! (I did this yesterday and, I must admit, my calves are throbbing. So you may want to stretch first.) Keep it fun!! The more fun, the better! If you include your child AND keep it fun, you are changing your life and theirs.

I was watching a re-run of Oprah last week and the guest was Dr. Oz. I love Dr. Oz! He just seems so logical and easy going! He was sharing a recent statistic. 1 of every 2 women will die of heart disease. 1 out of 2 women will die of heart disease! It is the number one killer of women.

Our diets matter, our intake of water matters, our exercise matters, our health matters, WE matter! Little changes do make a difference. You do not have to starve yourself to death or avoid every single food on the no-no list. Pick one thing and change it! Did you know getting your heart rate up 90 minutes per week will help your heart??? 90 minutes per week! That is nothing! We can all do that! We just need a buddy. Someone who will push us and get us up and moving. If we can make an effective change in our lives, we will change the next generation. Our daughters will become accustomed to an active lifestyle and may have less health scares than we do today.

As I was getting my morning tea, my mornings start with sweet iced tea. Not coffee! I know - the horror (My day used to begin with an iced cold Coca Cola! heehee). Anyway, as I was drinking my TEA, and thinking about this post, I thought - "It's not like this tea is going to kill me or anything." I do not know how to tell you what happened next. It was weird. I thought, I've heard that phrase somewhere before, and then I had the worst feeling!' YIKES, I felt unsettled in my spirit. Does it sound familiar to you? {"You will not surely die." said the Serpant.} Genesis 3:4. It may not kill me on the spot, but what is it doing to my quality of life today? What is it doing to my quality of life in 10 years? I realized that I can be like Eve, and throw caution to the wind, or I can take the little warnings I'm given and step into LIFE. We are accountable for our choices! This God Moment reminded me that there ARE consequences to our choices ladies!! Whether we like it or not.

Drink water - ok I'm guilty of filling my tank with sugary substances and carbonated beverages! Lets drink water!! Good ole H2O! I know it doesn't have that kick we need, but we can add a squeeze of lemon or lime and retrain our taste buds. Take baby steps but, like a baby, keep making new progress. Don't get stuck!! What if we all joined together, as a chord, that we could lean on during a weak time? Let's throw out the scale, rip the size tags out of our clothes and take one thing at a time! Let's get that heart rate up 90 minutes a week, for now, and celebrate that victory. Let's start with 32 ounces of water a day for a week and then increase it! We can all be honest here. None of us have arrived!

Let's beat this heart disease statistic! Let's link arms and accomplish these 2 small goals - 32 ounces of water a day for the next week and increase our heart rate (ie walk, jog, jump in a Space Walk, dance) for 90 minutes this week. Are you game? I know I am! I want to pass on a legacy of healthy choices and not health defying ones. Will you join me?? Can you drink 32 ounces of water EVERY DAY (7 days) this week? Will you get that heart rate up for 90 minutes this week, if so, sign Mr. Linky and share how you keep your workouts fun? I will post my accomplishments in 7 days and I ask you to do the same!

Controlling the Chaos in the Grocery Aisle

2007-08-30T08:12:00.000-04:00

I was planning to post something else, but after reading WeaverMom's entry yesterday, I had to back her up! I have to agree 100%, having a meal plan is a HUGE time saver in our household too, but right now I can only handle one week at a time--I am striving to be as organized as WeaverMom and be able to have a 6-week menu. I just started to rotate them around since I've made my Handy Dandy Grocery List.

This has been another extremely helpful time saver for me. I look at my weekly menu , which look something like this

Then I grab my shopping list and start marking what I need for that week. (I keep a copy of it and save it for the next time I use this weekly menu, keeps me from having to do it all over again.)

After that, I fill in the rest of the necessities we need and VOILA! When Saturday comes I get just what I need...it's fast and easy! (Fortunately we have another refrigerator in the garage, which really helps me to do a one-day-a-week shopping.)

So that is one way I control the chaos in our house, how about you?

PS~ don't forget to enter our Recipe Roundup!

Meal Planning - go for it!

2007-08-29T06:34:00.000-04:00

What is your best time-saving tip?

Ah, this is an easy one - Meal plans! They save time on grocery store trips, and the nightly angst of "what's for dinner?" A meal plan seems so much harder and time-consuming than it actually is. It is a small investment for the amount of time you save.

I have a confession - I really hate going to the grocery store! What a waste of time! :) When WeaverDad and I first married and I was working full-time, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of a workday was go to the grocery store, walk around the entire store in uncomfortable "nice" shoes, stand in line with all the other people shopping for dinner, get home at 7:00 and THEN start cooking dinner. (I ate a lot of cereal when I was single. *wink*) And now that I'm staying home with the kids, I get to wear comfortable shoes and I can go to the store when I want to which helps, BUT, I get to bring the kids with me! Enough said, right?

I've done meal plans for 11 years now. As I write that, that freaks me out a little bit - but it's true. My husband can taste if meat has been frozen (I know!) so I shop by the week so that I can serve fresh meat as much as possible. I've done it several different ways. When we were first married, we ate out quite a bit, so I only planned 4 days a week. Then, 5. We moved to a place a little more remote and going out wasn't as easy, so I planned 6. Punkin arrived and we never went out, so I upped it to 7. Hubby was laid off, and I planned very carefully for awhile, checking the sales flyers and doing some bulk buying.

When SnugBug arrived, I found that I procrastinated going to the store because it felt like so much effort to plan the meals. So, I continued shopping by the week - but I planned for a month at a time. My original system was that I cut cardstock into 2x2 squares. I went through our recipes and wrote the names on the cards. Then I could lay them out on the table and arrange them as needed. I included cards that said "open", "new", and "out". After I arranged things for the month, I would transfer the names to a calendar page, and then when it came time to do my grocery list, I knew what to shop for! This worked well for me and I did that for almost 2 years.

Then, we started homeschooling and I started my business, and finding time to do the monthly meal plan became difficult. So, I came up with a 6 week meal plan. It's based loosely on this formula:

1 mexican
1 italian
1 meat & potatoes
1 fish
1 veggie
1 slow cook (for activity night where we don't get home until after 6:00)
1 easy

I don't plan nights of eating out, but I sure don't miss out on them when they are offered (or when I can finagle them.) I just skip a meal from the next week's list when I'm making my grocery list, and include the missed meal the following week.

And, since I personally find it easier to modify someone else's ideas instead of starting from scratch - here is what it looks like:

Week 1
Crescent Picadillo Bundles
Spinach Lasagna
Meatloaf
Scallops & Rice
Veggie Night (example: spinach/ cornbread, pasta salad w/protein, corn)
Frozen slow-cook (straight from the freezer section)
Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato & Basil

Week 2
Fiesta Casserole
Spaghetti
Hamburger Steak
Salmon, rice & veggie
Antipasto Plate
Slow cook pork chops
Soup & Sandwiches

Week 3
Beef Tacos
Brunswick Stew
Chicken Marsala
Tilapia, broc
Chicken Pot Pie
Hot Dogs & Rice
Frozen slow-cook

Week 4
Chicken Tacos
Bow-Tie Lasagna
S&B BBQ pork chops
Chicken Squares
Beef & Noodle Casserole
Roast, veggies
Tortellini w/ alfredo sauce, salad

Week 5
Frito Soup
Spaghetti
Rotisserie chicken
New fish
Cheese Enchiladas
Frozen slow cook
Soup & Sandwiches

Week 6
Texas Hash
Pizza
Simple Marinated Chicken
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
New veggie
Frozen slow cook
Mexican Chicken Salad

I know some of you use meal plans. Please share what works for you!

Happy meal planning!

Mom Moment - The brain cells are gone

2007-08-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

I was standing in my mother's kitchen on Saturday when she walked into the laundry room. I heard her ask out loud, "Now what did I come in here for?" There was a long silence as she thought for a few moments. "Oh yeah," she recalled out loud and began to dig around for something.

Now there was a time that I would have laughed out loud at her! As a teenager, this would have created many a joke for the rest of the day. But this time, I said nothing. You see, now that I have three children, I am becoming more like my own mother everyday. The conversation she was having with herself sounded all too familiar to me now.

My brain cells are clearly disappearing and I am reminded of that almost daily now.

Yesterday, I ran upstairs to get something. Once I got up there, I totally forgot what I went up there for. I stood around trying to think and for the life of me, never remembered.

I find that if something comes to my mind while talking with my husband, I have to interrupt and tell him right away or write it down. If I don't, I will probably forget it even when prompted to remember.

My oldest daughter has to remind me over and over to get her the things she asked me for. I can't get mad because my pattern in that I totally forget in the midst of all I am doing.

I have dialed a phone number and by the time someone picks up on the other end, I have completely forgotten who I called. Now, normally the voice helps me remember, but there have been times that I have to say, "Oh my goodness, this is Mary, who did I call?"

I was searching my car for my cell phone the other day and couldn't find it. I finally gave up and drove to my destination. When I climbed out of the car, my cell phone was found...IN MY LAP!

I had a great example of a mommy moment I thought of on Sunday and wanted to blog. For the life of me, I can't remember what it was!!!! Help! I have forgotten what I was supposed to include here. (I have dwelled on this post for 2 days trying to come up with it)

Is it just me or is anyone else losing their mind?

Recipe Roundup: 30-Minutes Or Less

2007-08-27T00:26:00.000-04:00

One of the many things I've learned during my first year as a stay-at-home is that you don't suddenly get more time in your day to cook. Between picking up after a busy preschooler and keeping various appointments, there are days I simply forget to throw something in the crockpot for supper. Because the last thing we I want in this house is yet another delivery pizza night, I've been searching for quick and easy 30-minute meals.

I found the following recipe for Speedy Swedish Meatballs in "Semi-Homemade Cooking," by Sandra Lee. I made some adjustments to her recipe because I think her version uses unnecessary amounts of fats. And you know what? The recipe still tastes wonderful. If you're curious about what the final product looks like, visit Just Mom Cooking.

By the way, after you've taken a look at the recipe, scroll down to the fabulous giveaway we've got in store for you, courtesy of Practically Necessary.

Speedy Swedish Meatballs

1/4 C. vegetable oil
2 pounds frozen beef meatballs (for our family of 2 1/2, one bag would have been enough)
2 T. all-purpose flour
1 14-oz. can reduced-sodium beef broth
1 1/2 C. whole milk (I used 1 C. skim milk and 1/2 C. 2% milk because that's what we have in our house)
1/4 C. sour cream (I used non-fat sour cream)
1 pkg. (8.8 oz.) egg noodles (I used No-Yolk brand)

1) Heat oil in a heavy large skillet over medium high heat. Add meatballs and cook until brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a bowl.

2) Add flour to skillet and cook 1 minute, scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet. Stir in broth and milk.

3) Return meatballs to skillet. Simmer until liquid thickens, about 5 minutes.

4) Remove skillet from heat. Stir in sour cream.

5) Cook noodles ina pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm. Drain.

6) Transfer noodles to a large bowl. Spoon meatballs and sauce over noodles. Serve immediately.

Now it's your turn. Share one of your favorite recipes that you use when you need to make supper in 30 minutes or less. Just use Mr. Linky to link to your blog. If you don't have a blog, share your recipe in the comments section.

****Another Awesome Sponsor***

Kerry at Practically Necessary is sponsoring this Recipe Roundup and is giving away this beautiful hand-crafted apron to one lucky multi-tasking mom. (Sorry, MTM contributors, we're still not eligible for all the wonderful prizes.)

Front view

Closeup of pocket

To enter, just leave a comment by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, September 2. Winner will be announced on Monday, September 3.

Good luck!

More new happenings at MTM!!

2007-08-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

It’s been almost a month that the Multi-Tasking Moms blog has been up and running! It has been a great time for us and we hope you have enjoyed it too. Now that we’ve had some time to see what the interests are for the blog, we want to introduce some new theme ideas we’ve planned for you!!

We are going to feature a Recipe Round-Up every Monday. Be sure to get your recipes ready for Mondays so you can link back to us. This week we’ll kick it off with “Dishes Under 30 Minutes.”

“Mommy Moments” will be our theme for Tuesdays and this will include some reviews, heart to heart mom struggles, as well as fun and heartwarming stories.

Wednesdays, we will continue with our "Wednesday with WeaverMom" as well as our "Guest MTMs" and "Featured MTMs." We just had our first Guest MTM this past Wed!!

Something we're all learning to do is how to “Control the Chaos.” So, we’ll bring you some of our best tips and hints for shopping, schedules and all good things for around the house!!

We’ll continue our “Go Figure” theme on Fridays keeping you updated with the current trends in health and fitness and sharing our ideas for ourselves as well as our families!

We’ll end the week with a Saturday them of “Seeking Him.” Here, we will share devotionals and as well as stories and situations where God has taught us something and where we grew in faith and trust.

We are really excited about these new theme ideas and we hope you are too! See you back here on Monday!!

Go Figure

2007-08-24T02:30:00.000-04:00

I for one know that I need to get into a better routine of exercising at least 5 times a week.

I'm glad I'm not alone, it's always nice to have support, someone to encourage and motivate you to keep you going.

That's why we decided to start a new feature called Go Figure!

Every Friday we are going to share tips on exercise, weight loss and health.

We'd love for you to join us and let us know what works for you.

Here are my exercise tips for the week:

Go outside for walks and get the fresh air.

We love to get outside and walk together as a family.

and

Go out and purchase one of these exercise balls.

I try to do 50 - 100 sit-ups 5 times a week.

While I'm doing my sit-ups I have my 5 year old count with me.

I'm helping her learn to count to 100 at the same time I'm exercising.

Now that is multi-tasking!

I do many more exercises on the ball too.
My exercise ball also came with a exercise tape.

This ball comes in handy when you don't have time to
get outdoors and walk nor time to get out to a fitness center.

Please feel free to sign Mr. Linky below and share your exercise tips with us.

Happy exercising everyone! Good luck to you!

Walk Slim Winner and Round 'Em Up

2007-08-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

And the winner for our 1st Go Figure contest is........Kay in PA!
Congratulations Kay!

To all that entered and missed our first contest sponsored by Leslie's In Home Walking, don't fret, they'll be back:)

Here's the tip Kay shared:

One things I have found helpful in losing weight, besides replacing my beverages with water and herbal teas is cutting back on my carbs, and eating only healthy carbs when I do have them. My midwife had me do this while I was pregnant (I could only have 80g carbs a day and 80g of protein) and I actually lost a total of 12 pounds during the pregnancy bringing me 25 pounds lighter than I was when I started. I still have a ways to go because of the weight gain from my previous pregnancies (I was 80 pounds over weight), but I feel as though I have a head start and I know where my problem is....white sugar and white flour and to much of it!

Thanks for the tip! I know cutting back on white flour has helped our family, we're still working on the sugar.

Oh, and for those who are curious to know the answer to the contest bonus question:

Leslie Sanson is the spokesperson for which company?
Answer: Easy Spirit you cand find the answer HERE (then click on bio)

In the meantime, we're gonna need you to roundup your 30 minute-meal recipes, they are Practically Necessary;)

I've Found Heaven, And It's Called Laundry

2007-08-23T04:41:00.000-04:00

Yes. You read the title of this post correctly, and no, I haven't lost my mind. On the contrary, I think I've found a slice of heaven.

Oh, sure, there was a time (i.e. before child) when I hated doing laundry. I would instead let the laundry pile up until I ran low on undergarments just so I could read one more chapter in my book, write one more entry in my journal or just putter around the house. I still let the laundry pile up, but I do it so I can have some quiet time.

Take yesterday, for example. My hubby was at home, grading finals, and was therefore able to keep an eye on our son while I "set up shop" in our basement family room. I took with me a tall glass of raspberry iced tea, set up the ironing board and iron in front of the TV and tuned in to HGTV. I hung out downstairs while load after load was washed and dried, and then I did the ironing.

For 2 1/2 hours it was just me, my thoughts, my tea and a few really expensive seaside homes -- on TV, of course. As I ironed I dreamed of one day owning a home that overlooks the ocean. Each puff of steam from my iron became the various features this home would have: large windows, a grand open staircase, a massive kitchen with center island, a large library. You know, all the essentials in life. ;-) I thought about whether this home would be in Ireland, Oregon or Hawaii; about whether it would be Edwardian, Mediterranean or, heck, a mansion. I didn't care.

Do you know what was the best part about this experience? Unlike in "real life" I can control the volume in my basement hideaway. I love my family dearly, but a girl's gotta have time to daydream, right?

Yes, it was pure bliss. I think next time I'll take an umbrella drink with me and really relax.

-- Originally posted by Just Mom on May 16, 2007.

Ring that Dinner Bell

2007-08-22T00:42:00.000-04:00

First, let me say that it is an honor to be the guest blogger today. I admire all the multi-tasking moms here that make this particular blog a fun place to go for helpful hints and the opportunity to network with each other.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Diana and I have my own blog, sunshine on my shoulders. I have been married 26 years to a wonderful husband and we have a 19 year old daughter and 17 year old son. I am also a youth worker. Sadly, I am not very good at multi-tasking. I could have used a blog like this when my kids were young.

I was once at a baby shower where we were asked to give one piece of advice to the new mother. After a little thought, it came to me. It didn’t sound very profound. In fact, it sounded a little silly compared to some of the other answers. But ever since then, I give this simple piece of advice out whenever I can and to whoever will listen because i feel it's a pro-active way the family can work at remaining a close-knit unit.

The piece of advice is this… eat dinner together as a family, at a dinner table, every night that you can. Make it a priority in your family.

This may not sound very profound and yet, I believe, it truly is. It sounds so simple, and yet it has such a powerful and positive effect on the family unit. This time is an opportunity to come together to spend time in fellowship with each other and to learn how to interact as a family. I feel this is important in a world where the family unit can be so easily split apart.

In my family, we would ask the kids what they learned that day, or, what their favorite or worst part of their day was. They could then ask us the same thing. It was a time where we were all on equal footing, where we talked and listened, where we could come together on a daily basis to learn, laugh, and love.

I don’t want to give the wrong impression. Not every meal was enjoyable. Some were downright miserable. There were definitely times where I wanted to ship my kids off to some other family. But that’s part of being a family and there’s lessons there for both children and parents. Don’t let the hard times distract you from the good that is being accomplished in the long run.

Some of you are saying, “but we do this and will continue to do so.” Great! I will tell you, though, that as the kids grow older and schedules get crazier, it will get more and more difficult. I would like to impress upon you to continue to make the family dinner time a priority, even through these more hectic times.

You might be surprised to know how many families out there don’t eat dinner together or eat in front of the t.v. set instead of the table. There are various reasons for this and I don’t want to judge. I ask those of you who fall into this category to take small steps in trying to get your family together for family dinners. You might be very surprised at the results.

I just read a survey where the top answer, from 13-24 year olds, to the question, “what makes you happy?” was spending time with family. When your children are young, this is pretty easy. As they grow up, it gets more difficult. Why not have something in place that you can keep consistent through their childhood, into early adolescence, and into young adulthood. I don’t think you’ll ever be sorry.

Thanks to multi-tasking moms for having me over and thanks for reading what I had to say today.

Keeping it Clean

2007-08-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

I hate to clean. I LOVE to organize but hate to clean. (make sense?) In my mind, cleaning just didn't work for me:

I am home with 3 little children and do NOT have time to clean. They need me.

I am just not good at it.

I am too tired at night to clean. I need time to relax.

We should have a housekeeper. (oh yes, my favorite one)

Oh yes, the list goes on. I had plenty of excuses, but they weren't keeping the house tidy.

That being said, I am pretty good at daily chores. I load the dishwasher and run it nightly. I keep the counters fairly clear. Our house is regularly picked up and straightened.

It's those darn weekly/monthly cleaning jobs that were being neglected. Instead of keeping up with the bathrooms, vacuuming, and dusting, I would go crazy trying to clean before guests were coming over OR I would get fed up with the mess and spend a evening cleaning while my husband had to watch the kids. Something had to be done.

I finally put my foot down and stomped on all of my excuses! I had to get things organized. The time had come to put on the cleaning lady hat, so I did what I know best...I made a list. (yes I love lists) I wrote out all of the things that had to be cleaned on a weekly basis in my house. Then I took each of them an assigned them a day that made the most sense. I was able to cover all of it by Thursday, so that left me Friday with nothing to do.

Take a break, right?

Nope, not this cleaning lady! Friday is used to rotate in cleaning tasks that don't need to be done weekly.

The result:
Monday: (basement focus)
Laundry gets completed and folded and maybe put away!
Vaccum and dust basement
Empty all small trashcans in bathrooms (our trash day is Tuesday)

Tuesday: (upstairs bathrooms
Clean toilet, sink, and mirror in both upstairs bathrooms
Refill toilet paper rolls in both bathrooms
Put away any remaining laundry

Wednesday: (main level)
Vaccum and dust main level
Clean toilet, sink, and mirror in main level bathroom

Thursday: (upstairs level)
Vaccum and dust upstairs

Friday: Shopping Trip to BJ's
1st Friday- clean all kitchen appliances (microwave, toaster oven, etc)
2nd Friday - organize fridge/freeze and pantry as needed
3rd Friday - wipe down all cabinets
4th Friday - chores as needed - windows? OR break!

Sunday PM - Sort and begin laundry
*Husband vacuums main level and washes laminate floors. Then week 1 cleans tub and shower and on week 2 cleans the bathroom floors. Yes, he does a GREAT job! The man cleans better than I do.

I have been using the schedule for about 3 months now and I love it. It has worked wonders for our house and my life. I don't have to spend time on Saturdays cleaning at all, which I love. My house is ready for guests pretty much anytime without me having to quickly scrub out toilets!

The goal is to get these things done during the day with the kids, but that doesn't always happen. The nice thing about the schedule is that I know exactly how to focus my time once the kids go to bed. I can immediately get my cleaning task done and then relax. (or blog...he he)

My favorite cleaning resource is Real Simple Magazine's Cleaning Section. Visit and poke around. It is a great place. If you don't know what should be cleaned in your house daily, weekly, and monthly, then you'll find it there!

So get cleaning ladies and if you have a tip, please leave a comment. I would love some more cleaning ideas!

Health Food Snob

2007-08-20T07:15:00.000-04:00

As soon as our first baby reached the age where she began to try solid foods, I went overboard with healthy eating. Completely overboard! Not only did I make all her baby food from scratch with organic vegetables, fruits, etc, but I wound up ordering organic, all-natural food for me and my husband: raw cheeses, freshly ground grains, sprouted breads...you get the picture. We were saturated in health.

Fast-forward four years (and two more children). I had become a health food snob. I am embarrassed to admit to you that I actually looked down on moms I knew who took their kids to a certain restaurant with golden arches. I shuddered at the mere thought of my kids eating there.

Then we moved: we left the earthy, bike-riding, tree-hugging state I had lived in all my life, and moved thousands of miles away, to a small town where organic was a relatively new term and considered a fad instead of a way of life. Not to mention the prices were outrageous. What did I do?

Well, I cried. Multiple times. Then I started cooking with things I never thought I would use again. Brand-name items. Fruits and vegetables without an organic label. I bought regular old bread in a plastic bag. And guess what? My kids, well...they grew! And seemed healthy. It was a miracle! Or so I thought.

Fast-forward 3 more years. We moved again... back to the earthy, bike-riding, tree-hugging state I had lived in most of my life. Once again, everything super-healthy was at my fingertips.

But, guess what? I’m not a health food snob anymore. I learned something important: that I don’t need to be obsessed with what we’re eating- and it can definitely be an obsession (for me). Everything in moderation is my new motto.

Now that you have taken the time to read this ~~boring~~ detailed post, I’ll add one of our favorite and super-easy (and healthy but not obsessively healthy!) family dinners below.

Quick Chicken and Black Bean Burritos

Ingredients: (go organic if you desire)

10 whole wheat tortillas
2-3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 can vegetarian refried beans
1 can black beans
1 cup shredded, low-fat cheese (your preference)
1 jar salsa (I like Trader Joe’s varieties)
assorted cooked veggies (I use leftovers)
Optional: lettuce, salsa

Lay out tortillas. Mix refried beans, salsa and black beans in a bowl. Spread and top with chicken and veggie, then top with cheese. Roll and bake in a 350 oven for 8-10 minutes. Top with shredded lettuce and salsa, and serve with a fork. Freeze leftovers for a quick lunch.

What's up @ MTM?

2007-08-19T07:07:00.000-04:00

The winner of the momAgenda contest is:

is Michelle at Michelle's Food Page

Congratulations! Please click on the little envelop to the right and send us your address. Thank you everyone who participated in this contest. Be sure to check Saturday's post, for another great contest.

What's Up?

Multi-Tasking has been an understatement lately for this group of MTMs. We've been working on ways to make this site more beneficial for each of you while keeping ourselves on track in our own homes.

Emails and on-line chats have been extremely common this week - and we're ready to give you just a sneak peak at what fresh, new and exciting things we have coming your way.

This coming week we are going to feature a Guest Multi-Tasking Mom - please check back on Wednesday to see who she is!

We also want to let you know that next month we would like to feature one of you Multi-Tasking Moms out there on our blog. We want to know how you multi-task. Please share with us your family's favorite recipe, how you schedule your day or a wonderful cleaning product you can't live without and why. (If you need more suggestions, just have a glance under our categories section.) One of you will be chosen Friday, August 31, 2007. We will post the Featured Multi-Tasking Mom on Wednesday, September 5, 2007.

Lastly, we are looking to try out a 'schedule' of weekly topics. Food on Monday, Exercise on Tuesday or maybe that should be the other way around - lol - but, you get the idea.

In addition to our weekly topics, we have decided to limit our posts on Sundays - to allow everyone to get the rest and relaxation we need to gear up for the coming week. We may offer occasional posts here and there, but not every Sunday. We all know it is important to rest as our Creator designed us to!

We hope to see you tomorrow!

Blessings,