the shoppes
DESCRIPTION
Spring magazine showcasing mom's and their businesses. Tid bits for spring fun. Recipes for the whole family to enjoy.TRANSCRIPT
Home
Fun
Food
C
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t
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Family Moms Behind their Shoppes
Don’t Over-Negotiate With Your Child
Spinach Pesto Pasta
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Grilled Fruit Skewers with Yogurt Honey Sauce
Peanut Butter Pie
Ricotta Cheese Lasagna
10 Inspiring Ideas for a Rainy Day
Little Puddles weighs in on cleaning
Make a Pin Wheel
43
44
45
46
47
13
18
30
48
6
Healthy Choices –
Boost Your Immune System
41
Spring Cleaning 34
Mom on a Money-Saving, No-Chemical
Mission of Reducing
25
What is your purpose?
What purpose does your business
serve? Are you a SAHM, WAHM, or
a Working mom!!
I continually ask myself that question. Being a
homeschooling mom of six there are plenty of
times when I am not sure what my purpose is.
Should I dedicate all my time to my kids, their studies, our
home? Often times it comes back to what works for our
family.
Each individual family has a unique set of circumstances
that dictate the way we spend our time. I know for our
family, my sanity depends on having a small amount of
―helping others‖ time.
My purpose in running The Mom Shoppe is to provide an
avenue for moms to introduce their businesses to other
moms which gives me much needed adult interaction. The
Mom Shoppe is something I can build on as my kids grow,
allowing them to become the people God intends.
For me the purpose of my business is to connect with
other moms while teaching, caring for, and raising our
precious kids. This spring is a great time to take inventory
and remind yourself what your purpose is for you, your
family and your business!!
Joy Filled,
Nicki
Note from the Editor
One pink ribbon lined
clip with a felt chick
inside a turquoise
Easter egg. Egg
measures 1-3/8‖ x 2‖.
Small multicolored felt
dots within egg center.
Non-slip grips applied
to clippie. ($3 + shipping)
One pink ribbon lined
clip with a pink felt
owl. Owl measures
approx. 1-7/8" wide and 2-1/2" long.
Non-slip grips
applied to clippie. ($3 + shipping)
One ribbon lined
clip with an array of
bright, fun colored felt
flower. Flower measures
approx. 1-3/4‖ across.
Non-slip grips applied
to clippie.
($3 +shipping)
Easter Egg Chick Clippie Pink Owl Clippie
Bright Flower Clippie
One ribbon lined clip
with a cute red and
brown felt robin. Bird
measures approx.
2‖ x 1-1/2‖.
Non-slip grips applied
to clippie.
($3 +shipping)
Red Robin Clippie
1. Sort through the toy cupboard:
It‘s surprising how much fun this can be! Get everyone together and aim to
clear one shelf or drawer. You will probably find that old treasures are
rediscovered, odd pieces can be thrown away, and some things will be ready to
be passed down or sold. If you are not sure whether to get rid of some of the
toys, try packing them away in a box and hiding them in a dark corner of the
cupboard for a few months. When they come out again they will either cause a
sensation, or not - which will make it easy to decide on their fate!
2. Record the sounds around you:
Get out the tape recorder and make a project out of recording everyday
sounds. Try water running in the bath, someone ringing the bell and opening
the door, or flushing the toilet! It certainly makes you think about things a little
differently than usual. Suggest that some friends or neighbors do the same
thing and then get together to see if you can identify each other‘s sounds!
3. Make a story tape:
Grab that tape recorder and a blank cassette, find a story you enjoy, and make
your own story tape! Each child can read for a while, or can take on the part of
a particular character. Make the appropriate noises, too! You will probably have
to practice a few times to get the hang of it, and be prepared for lots and lots of
giggles! Tip: a homemade story tape makes a great present for a child who has to go to hospital or is bedridden for a time.
Kids Activities –
10 Inspiring Ideas for a Rainy Day
There is nothing worse than a rainy day in the
middle of the school holidays, when children are
cooped up inside, you have nothing planned, and
the inevitable cries of ―I‘m bored‖ are not far
away! Keep this list of rainy day activities ready
for just such a day. Older children may enjoy
choosing from the list themselves.
4. Have a jigsaw puzzle afternoon:
Get out all your puzzles and invite some friends around with theirs too! Clear
plenty of space and have a marathon jigsaw puzzles session. Some libraries
have puzzles you can borrow too, and you can often find jigsaws for sale very
cheaply at charity shops (thrift stores) and car boot sales (garage sales). Tip:
if you buy your jigsaws second-hand and the box has seen better days, cut
out the picture and store it in a re-sealable bag with all the pieces.
5. Have a mammoth junk modeling session with friends:
Invite a few families around and ask them to bring their craft-cupboard junk
with them – boxes, containers, and other bits and pieces. You provide glue,
sticky-tape, scissors, and encouragement. You could make houses, or
creatures, or boats, or modern art – or you could all combine together to make
one giant model!
6. Make a card house:
If you don‘t know any good card games or haven‘t anyone to play with, try
building a card house! Start by balancing two cards against each other so that
they stand up in an inverted V-shape. Take it from there!
7. Make an indoor obstacle course:
Check with an adult that this is OK first! Use easily movable furniture (kitchen
chairs, coffee tables) to mark out a course. Create a tunnel to crawl through
with a blanket draped over low tables, or space cushions around the room to
use as stepping-stones. You will have lots more ideas!
8. Practice balancing:
Balancing is fun! Try walking the length of the room with a book on your head.
When you can do that, try balancing two or three – then add a cuddly toy to the very top!
Lindsay Small is the author of “Boredom Busters for
Kids” – a downloadable e-book with over 50 pages of
non-stop fun activities for kids like those above. Find it at
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/boredom_busters.htm.
She is also the creator of Activity Village - providing the
ultimate one-stop resource for parents and teachers
looking to educate and entertain their children. Visit the website at http://www.ActivityVillage.co.uk.
9. Create an indoor den:
A few blankets and tablecloths can create the
most wonderful indoor den. Drape blankets
between sofas and chairs, over stepladders
and clothes-dryers, or tie the ends to
cupboard knobs and door handles. Once the
den is created find some special snacks,
coloring pages and pencils, a CD player and
music, a torch or two, and camp out for a while!
10. Play with string:
Older children can create some wonderful inventions with a ball of string and
their imagination! A toilet roll and a sloping length of string make a great
message chute or rocket. Get some action toys involved too: try making them a
lift (elevator) out of a box or a basket and hoist them up! Adults should
supervise constantly if there are younger kids around.
Wacky Dot Insulated Lunch Box
Adorable way to keep your little
one's lunch hot/cold.
Monogrammed name included
in price.
10"L x 5"W x 8"H
Zipper Closure with Two
Outside Pockets
Insulated $18.00
Mini Blue and Brown Market Tote
Perfect for baby showers, nursery or
children's room storage, or to keep in the
car with books and toys!
Market Tote is collapsible with steel frame.
Price included personalization.
Please include name that you would like
to have monogrammed $22.00
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pdsboutique
Real Life Moms
Real Life Moms-
Where perfect meets
reality!! Sharing the
funny side of
motherhood
together! http://www.facebook.com/The.Real.Life.Moms
Join us on Facebook:
Pepsi or Coke?
Do you ever make food from scratch?
Do you make to do lists?
Ever have a mommy day where you wanted to HIDE from your KIDS?
Do you ever use a crock pot?
What is your favorite thing about being a mom?
Your most embarrassing mommy moment?
• Premium leather uppers
• Leather lining
• Flexible rubber sole
• Wide toe box
• Velcro closures
• Removable squeakers
$19.99
http://www.happylittletoes.com
Pink and Brown Cup Cake Tutu with
Swarovski
Pink, Hot Pink and Brown tulle with
Pink Satin Ribbon, Hot Pink, Lime
Green and Pink thin strands of Polka
Dotted ribbon and Crystals. $25.00
PERFECT FOR 1ST BDAYS!
Website:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/candyapplecutie
A Look into Who the
Moms and Women are
Behind their Shoppes!!
Monica of
Gia‘s Bowtique (page 50)
Featuring
Rozzi of
Sweet Pea Blossom‘s (page 15)
Kristen of
Silly Ili‘s Tutus and More (page 14)
Silly Ili's: ―I am a stay at home mom to a beautiful miracle baby
girl, Iliana! I have always been on the crafty side, making things for
friends and family. I had every intention to go back to work after
maternity leave. However, the day my little miracle was born I took
one look into her eyes and knew I could never leave her side. Silly Ili's was created out of the desire for Iliana to look cute and to stay
home with her. Silly Ili's has had an amazing journey over the last
10 months, creating custom boutique costumes, accessories and
clothing for children around the world. I take great pride that Silly Ili's is known for Bringing Imagination to life. If you can dream up
the costume in your head I can create it.
―Over the past 10 months I have met some amazing women in my
business's journey. One is Roz at Sweet Pea Blossoms . We
created our first custom costume together for a charity auction for
children. From there it has blossomed into a successful
partnership. Although we each make our own designs, some of my
favorites are what we have Created together. The Romantic Rodeo
Collection was inspired by my very own Texas roots. Two Creative
designers, Two different states, One goal in mind to bring you
custom designs that are one of a kind!
Who are the people behind Silly Ili’s and Sweet Pea Blossoms?
Rodeo Romantic Rose
Star Dress
Beautiful lace ruffle
cuffs, Velcro closure
with button for detail.
Perfect accessory for
any rodeo outfit $7.50
A SHOW STOPPER!!!
Gorgeous ruffles
everywhere...and a
sweetheart of the rodeo
Star applique. $62.50
Beautiful lace leggings
perfect touch for this
Rodeo dress $22.50
Round Up Rodeo Hair
accessories $10.00
All items can be made
from 0-6t
Rozzi's Sweet Peas: ―…originally started Feb. 2008 to give friends and
Mommies a place to pick out a gift. It wasn't a business, rather a work of
love.. Then almost 2 years ago, after two devastating illnesses ending
with emergency surgery to save my husband's life, I found myself at
home, retired from my job as a NICU RN with nothing to fill the long
hours or pay the bills. I turned to sewing to help me stay at home and
take care of him. I have been sewing since I was 5 years old. Taught
by Irma, my grannie, I have always loved to create and sew – the whole
process is like magic to me. It helped me keep my little boys in cute
clothes from birth to teenage years – when no boy in his right mind
would wear something his mom made...hehehe!
―I have been sewing online Children's Custom Boutique Clothing since
2008 but as a business only since last year, 2010. My husband and I
are amazed at the wonderfully supportive customers we've made along
the way.
―I enjoy creating Frilly Little Frocks that Rock for our sweet peas. I love
working with mommies to get that unique one of a kind (OOAK) fashion
that gets lots of ooohs and ahhhs, and I love the pictures they send and
create in my Brag Book LOOKS that all grandmas and grannies enjoy!
Nothing can be finer than to see little sweet peas smile and shine. I like
to say that Retro to New I can sew it for you... With over 40 years of
sewing experience I can ‗Git ‗r done!‘‖
Outfit on the left:
Yellow rose of Texas
Vest: 100% Cotton
$20.00
Paired With Floral
and Cow print.
Ruffled Bloomers:
100% cotton $23.99
Roses and Rodeo
tutu: 3 beautiful red
roses over 100 yards
of tulle of yellows,
browns and pinks.
Mixed with assorted
ribbons $55.00
Beautiful feather hair
accessory with mini
cowboy hat: $10.00
Can be made
from 0-6t
Outfit above right:
Floral and cream Flowered Rodeo shirt with
Satin Ribbon : $20.00
Red Rose Denim Rodeo vest $20.00
3 layered Denim Rodeo tutu over 100 yard
of tulle, of pinks , maroons, blues, and white
tied of with strips of denim for that perfect
touch. $55.00
Large pink Rose hair accessory $8.50
All items can be made from 0-6t
Outfit directly to the right:
Beautiful, peasant dress, with sewn-in apron
and tuxedo neckline. Perfect match for riding
her favorite pony. Made of Robert Kaufman
and Donna Wilder fabrics. $39.99
Wild Long Cowgirls Tutu:
Over 200 yards of tulle in yellows , reds ,
whites, browns , Tied with red and yellow
bandannas and mixed colors of Denim.
Perfect match to any cowgirl‘s day of fun at
the rodeo! $60.00
Red rhinestone flower hair accessory: $8.50
can be made from 0-6t
Silly Ili Tutus and More
Rozzi’s Sweet Peas
Kari Polak Photography
If you are a parent who negotiates constantly
with your child, you probably feel like you‘re
living with a little lawyer who ―objects‖ to
every rule and request and wears you down
with endless questions and challenges. With
some kids, everything becomes a
negotiation, and it starts from the time they
get up in the morning until the time they put
off going to bed. Many parents who over-
negotiate with their kids mistakenly think it‘s
somehow improving their child‘s sense of self
worth. They think they‘re letting their child be
a little adult and that they‘re recognizing
them for who they are. Now, all those things
are important, but the way for your child to
achieve a sense of self worth is not by
negotiating limits with you. And by the way,
instead of ―negotiate‖ I‘d like you to consider
the word ―bicker,‖ because that‘s what
parents are really doing—letting their kids bicker and bicker with them. So the over-
Don’t Over-Negotiate With Your Child by: James Lehman, MSW
negotiating parent will say, ―It‘s time to go to
bed. It‘s 8 o‘clock.‖
And the child says, ―Oh Mom please, this
show is really important, can I just stay up
until 8:30 tonight, I just want to watch the end,‖ The mom says, ―No, you have to go to bed
now.‖
The child continues to argue: ―Oh please,
please, you never let me do anything. Just ten more minutes.‖ The mother relents: ―OK, if you promise not to give me a hard time.‖ And the child says, ―Thanks, Mom. You‘re the best.‖ The parent goes back and forth with the
child, when really, there‘s nothing to
negotiate here. Let me be clear: the more
you give in to negotiating with your child, the
more you‘re training your child not to accept your limits.
There‘s something called
―medication rejection syndrome‖.
That‘s when a patient is taking
medication that helps them, but
once they‘re feeling better, they
decide to stop. In a short amount
of time they become sick again
because they‘re not taking their
meds. Similarly, people do certain
things to be successful, like
getting enough sleep to be
energetic and alert at school, and
then when they are successful,
they think they don‘t have to do
those things anymore.
Predictably, you‘ll see over time
that they become unsuccessful
again.
Here‘s another way of looking at
it: I know people who go to
casinos and play slot machines,
and they inevitably lose. You
know why? Because the
machines are fixed to make sure
they lose, but they keep playing
because they think, ―This might be my lucky day!‖
Here‘s the reality: if the machine
took their money in an hour, they‘d
never go back. But what happens
is, the machine takes a little of
their money, then gives some
back, then takes more and gives a
little back. Every now and then
someone hits the jackpot, which
keeps the excitement in the air.
So at the end of the day, the
person has lost all their money,
but they‘ve been trained by the
machine to sit there and keep
playing because they can‘t tell if
the pay-off is coming.
It‘s the same way with kids. Once
you let them over-negotiate or
wear you down, then your child
never knows if this time he‘s going
to get lucky. He‘s like a gambler.
He doesn‘t know if he‘ll get his
way this time or not. And since he
has very little to lose, he thinks,
―Why not take a shot?‖ The truth
is, we are the ones who train our
kids to do that.
When Kids Test the Limits
Hear this: kids are going to test limits, that‘s
their job. What parents forget sometimes is
that it‘s their job to stand firm. In some ways,
parents confuse negotiating with somehow
empowering their child. Believe me when I
tell you, allowing your child to negotiate for
things does not empower them. Instead,
what empowers them is understanding the
limits.
With all these questions parents have about
kids who push the limits, don‘t forget, it‘s the
adults who have the power to change the
limit. If you find your child is pushing the
limits a lot, that usually means you‘ve given
them the power to change limits too many
times, and now they‘re looking to do it
whenever they can. And your child doesn‘t
know the difference. Parents say things like,
―Why are you doing this to me? I try to be
nice to you and look what happens.‖ They
say those things out of frustration, but the
bottom line is that once you start changing
the limits, as far as your child is concerned,
there are no limits. Remember, kids are very
black and white. Once you give them any
gray area, don‘t blame them for trying to get
more. That is their nature; that is their
developmental level.
And by the way, if your child asks you for
something, let‘s say a later bedtime, and you
think they have a point, tell them what they
have to do to earn it. So if you think your
child can handle staying up a half-an-hour
later at night, don‘t let them back you into a
corner by negotiating with you and
complaining to you about their situation all
the time. Tell them what they have to do to
earn that half hour, and tell them for how
long. So you can say, ―If you do this for a
week, I‘ll be happy to talk with you about
staying up later.‖ What you‘re doing is taking
control back by rewarding your child for their
good performance, instead of letting them
push you into a corner.
For instance, if your child wants to stay up
later at night, if it‘s a school night, the
message should be quite clear that they
have to go to bed and get a good amount of
sleep. But you can say to your child, ―If you
go to bed all week without giving me a hard
time, I‘ll let you stay up a half-an-hour later
on Friday and Saturday." That way kids learn
to develop the fundamentals of negotiating
so each person faces a win-win situation.
Learning how to negotiate is an important
problem solving skill in life. But don‘t confuse
that with bickering or wearing down people
who are in authority.
James Lehman, MSW was a renowned
child behavioral therapist who worked with
struggling teens and children for three
decades. He created the Total
Transformation Program to help people
parent more effectively. James' foremost
goal was to help kids and to "empower
parents."
My name is Crystal, and I blog over at ―Domestic, But Not Martha‖. I'm 25,
a military wife and mother to three amazing and rambunctious children who
are seven and under. I also homeschool and go to college in addition to
blogging, and I love learning about everything and anything arts & crafts, DIY.
I began my blog in early November, and it has been a huge blessing already!
I love writing and meeting new people, so blogging was a perfect
fit for me. I also have a soft spot in my heart for WAHMoms & Handmade
shops, and I enjoy helping others' dreams become a reality by blogging about
their talents, hosting giveaways, and by doing tutorials and guest postings.
I never charge for features, and I enjoy getting to know all of you talented
mommies so please feel free to connect with me at
http://DomesticButNotMartha.com or even Tweet or Facebook with me.
I can't wait to hear from you!
Custom Motocross wall mural
Hand painted and sealed on a
pre pasted product for easy
application. Appears painted
directly on the wall when
applied.
Motocross character is approx.
40" tall and 28" wide
Personalize it to make it your
own.
Choose colors or a special
detail you want included. $45.00
Animal Name Mural
Hand painted and sealed on a
pre pasted product to ensure
easy application and a fantastic
finished look.
Choose the color or the animal
You can have your name done in
any theme
$25.00
Banana Tree Monkey
Hand painted and sealed on a
pre pasted product for easy
application and a fantastic
finished look.
Measuring approx. 36"tall it is a
great addition to your
youngsters room
$40.00
Cinderella Wall Mural
Hand painted and sealed.
Pre pasted for easy application.
Perfect for a real princess room
measuring approx. 36" tall
$25.00
My family and faith are most important to me – they are my reasons for everything. I have a
love for crafting, scrapbooking, and other creative projects that I enjoy sharing with others. I
also promote natural (or ―green‖ as the term is now so widely used) living and natural products
including those I create. Reducing the consumption of many things – water, heating fuel,
gasoline, plastics – is very important for the environment, and it is something that my family and
I regularly practice. In addition, the purchase and consumption of many household items – food,
cleaning supplies, and toiletries – may be reduced to lessen their environmental impact and
their dent in our budgets.
When I realized I wasn‘t doing enough to protect my family from the many harmful chemicals
out there I immediately began researching homemade products. I was quickly taken aback at
the amount of ingredients for these items I already had in my home (with the possible exception
of a few ingredients for homemade soap and laundry detergent…more upon that in a bit). My
husband was actually very excited about this (occasionally my thoughts and ventures do not
excite him as much as they excite me - quite understandable!) as he knew we would be saving
money by making our own products, something I had mentioned to him prior to beginning my
research. The fact that I had to purchase minimal ingredients was something my budget could
very much handle at the time - I think it (the budget, that is) jumped for joy almost as much as
my husband did! Since becoming a S/WAHM one of my highest priorities has been to save as
much money as possible, and I am certain I am not alone in this. To this day, the amount I have
saved in NOT buying laundry detergent alone has been enough to save ―for a rainy day‖ or to
put an extra payment on a bill or two – very important in my husband‘s eyes! This is not even
including the other products I no longer have to buy!
Reducing the amount of chemicals and other harmful (and, I would argue, wasteful) products
that would come into the home is something to which I feel everyone should at least give
consideration, if for no other reason but to save money. As I researched homemade products I
was amazed at the many articles I found about the very harmful chemicals in everyday items –
some which we think are safe for our families. Healthy Child Healthy World is a great resource
for reducing the amount of chemicals brought into the home, and I highly encourage you to
check out their site for more information! (Please note: I am in no way affiliated with Healthy
Child Healthy World. I am a concerned parent and have found this company and their website
an excellent resource in reducing the amount of chemicals in my home). I don't believe that
their video, ―A Wake-Up Story‖ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vAVkv1LBx8) about the
many, many chemicals that are being absorbed into our bodies is meant to scare anyone but
that it merely serves as a bit of a wake-up call to those who may want to know more. I found it
encouraging and knew that it was directing my family and me toward our best path.
First on my list of homemade products was cleaning supplies, with which all family members
(pets included) come into contact daily. While I did not have an over-abundance of cleaning
supplies containing harmful chemicals (I did try to limit what I bought prior to making my own
products) I was still amazed when I finally sat down and read the ingredients in each product.
Mom On A Money-Saving, No-Chemical Mission of Reducing
by: Shauna at Momma's Creative Crafts
Even a few companies who promote their ―green‖ line actually use chemicals that could be
considered harmful (I will not disclose the name of this company, as I do not doubt their
honest attempt to introduce a less harmful product to the market – my humble opinion is that
they merely need a slight change to their formula). After I began making my own cleaning
products I was informed by many people that the main ingredient I was using – vinegar –
has excellent properties for nearly all household needs. Where were these discussions
before?! If vinegar is so wonderful (and it has proven so) why was it not being widely
promoted as opposed to the chemical-filled products lining grocery store shelves?!
Vinegar now is one of the only ingredients I purchase to clean my home (and one that I
regularly have on hand for other uses). It is extremely inexpensive and, depending on what I
am using it for, lasts a very long time. I mix it with water and castile soap as an all-purpose
cleaner and with just water as a glass cleaner and to mop my floors. I also use vinegar
rather than fabric softener in my laundry. You may think that last idea would make clothing
smell less than desirable but given the small amount of vinegar used in comparison to the
amount of water in a load of laundry, the smell dissipates rather quickly. I also combine it
with baking soda (another ingredient I regularly have on hand) which makes a nice soft
scrub for tile and ceramic. In particular, apple cider vinegar and baking soda is a GREAT
drain cleaner! I am sure there are many other uses for vinegar but those cover mine.
Up next on my agenda was laundry detergent. I had read many tutorials on how to make
homemade laundry detergent in both powder and liquid forms. The ingredients are the same
for each; it merely depends on how much time you have to make each. Obviously the liquid
takes a bit more time as you need to boil water for it, but even that is a drop in the time
bucket to keep your clothing chemical-free. For clothing in my home I prefer to use the
powder version, however the liquid version works better with cold water and as I use cold
water I find myself using the liquid detergent more often. For the liquid detergent I saved
several laundry detergent bottles and continue to reuse them each time I make more liquid
detergent.
For storing the powder detergent I did purchase a 5 gallon bucket, but it also doubles as my
mixing container when making the liquid detergent. The other ingredients are as equally
inexpensive as the vinegar and last just as long: the initial ingredients I used were Borax,
washing soda, and bar soap (Ivory may be used since it is one of the purest soaps on the
market). I have since tweaked my recipe, including the use of the another product that is
mentioned on the next page.
Powder laundry detergent works
well in warmer water which, in
my opinion, is perfect for getting
tougher stains out of clothing.
The final homemade products to mention are toiletries and beauty products, made
naturally to reduce the chemicals absorbed into our bodies. At one time I purchased
goats‘ milk soap for my family from trusted sources and added my own essential oil
blends to suit our needs. As time went on, however, I decided it was time to delve into
the world of cold process soap-making as a way to control all of the ingredients in the
soaps I make, both for my family and also for customers interested in purchasing them.
Cold process soap-making is also even more budget-friendly. Typically soap on the
market, aside from being filled with unknown ingredients, is very expensive! I can smell
equally as good and be equally as clean for a fraction of the price! I have also started
using my homemade soap in my laundry detergent, which saves even more money!
Only recently have I made beauty products such as lip balm, lotion, etc. I am still new to
that process, however I have found it equally as fun as making other products and even
more inexpensive. For example, in the past I used Burt‘s Bees lip balm (and still do on
occasion). It did work wonderfully, but I wanted, once again, to have more control over
the ingredients I was putting onto my lips. I found a few great online tutorials, one
courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs, to aid me in making lip balm. It has been ridiculously
inexpensive (a recurring theme, of course) by comparison and even my children have fun
helping while learning about different herbs that are good for our bodies.
My journey in making a healthy home for my family while helping the environment has
really just begun. I hope to encourage all who may have similar interests for their family.
After all, saving money while living a more healthy life can benefit everyone!
Shauna is a SAHM, wife, blogger, and college
student. She manages Momma’s Creative
Crafts, a craft/handmade goods business, and
has a love of music, reading, crafting,
scrapbooking, gardening, cooking and baking,
natural and homemade products, natural living,
the outdoors, and “enjoying as much time as
possible with [her] children and husband”.
Ruby for Women is an online
Christian women's magazine
that features a wide variety of
articles on family-friendly topics
including recipes, patterns and
tutorials, gardening and
business advice, devotionals
and poetry, stories, and crafts.
The mission of Ruby for Women is to bring support and encouragement to
women of all ages, whether young or old, mothers, daughters,
grandmothers, sisters, friends - with advice and information we strive to be a
unique community for women as they minister in their homes, to their
families, churches, and communities, and encourage all women to honor
God through their daily tasks. http://rubyforwomen.com
Abbey Fatica, Owner and CEO
Living My MoMent, LLC
http://www.livingmyMoMent.com
Promoting YOUR MoMent is our Passion, Purpose & Priority!
Living My MoMent is committed to be an affordable advertising agency
for busy MoM & DaD owned Small Businesses!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LivingMyMoMent
Facebook: Living My Moment
The other day I did something I
never ever thought I would
do…I hired a house cleaner. I
am a firm believer that a
cluttered house leads to a
cluttered mind, and I find it
incredibly distracting if the
house is untidy. Then I had a
baby, and now that theory has
gone right out the window!
I'm currently on maternity leave,
due to return to work part-time in
less than 2 weeks. I also have a
small business, Little Puddles
(www.littlepuddles.com.au), in
which I indulge my craft
addiction and create hand-
embroidered bunting, hairclip
boards, jewellery [Australian for
jewelry!] and accessories for
women and children using up-
cycled quilting remnants, quality
beads, semi-precious gems,
glass tiles, and much more!
.
And of course, I have my
beautiful baby girl, Emily Mae.
She is 8 months old and an
absolute joy. I love nothing more
than spending time with her and
watching her grow.
I have so far been able to juggle
Emily Mae, Little Puddles and
managing the house during my
maternity leave, but honestly, I've
been wondering how long it
would take for my house to look
like a bomb site once I go back to
work… and that bothers me. I
struggled with the idea that a
stranger would come into my
house and see it at its worst - I
must admit, I am a person who
likes to give the perception to
others that I am wonder woman
and can 'do it all', and to invite
someone into my house to take
over where I felt I was failing?
Sacrilege!
But when I weighed it all up in my mind, what was more
important? Of course, number 1 is Emily Mae, that goes
without question. And returning to work is incredibly
important to me. I worked hard to get to the position I am
in and thoroughly enjoy my role. But Little Puddles, well,
that is my therapy! I love sitting on the couch in the
evenings crafting MaeBaby headbands, hand-
embroidering bunting, etc. It's so relaxing, and I can get
lost in the joy of creating something special for others to
enjoy.
So I made the decision to hire my wonderful house
cleaner, and it is BLISS! She cleans my house for 2 hours
every other week, and what she gets done in those 2
hours is phenomenal. If I attempted to do what she does, I
would still be cleaning in 2 days time! All that is left for me
to do is vacuum and mop once a week and my house is
wonderfully clean. And the weight that is lifted off my
shoulders is priceless.
The best thing about this decision is the fact that I can
spend more quality time with Emily Mae and more time
concentrating on what I want Little Puddles to achieve in
2011. My cup runneth over (so to speak) with new ideas
and grand plans for my business, and I'm excited to return
to work part-time and rejoin my colleagues. I'll miss Emily
Mae immensely but am comforted by the fact that she will
be well looked after (and spoiled, I imagine!) by her
grandparents while I am at work.
And the best thing? It's true what they say…'A happy wife
equals a happy life!‘
Natalie resides in Australia with her
husband and daughter
http://NannasThreads.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.com/NannasThreadsBoutique
The All American play food set. This is
every kids favorite foods. This set will
include a milk, 2 cookies, 2 mac & cheese
and a PB & J. $12.00
Grilled T-Bone steak dinner with mashed taters and gravy and
yummy green beans. All-American favorite meal!! The T-bone
and mashed taters are lightly stuffed with fiberfill. All the pieces
are stitched on my embroidery machine. This would make a
great addition to your child‘s play food set $12.00
As the springtime sunshine finally pours through your windows, you can‘t help
cringing as you notice the streaks and grime on the glass that weren‘t visible before.
And as you take a closer look around, you see that the rest of your home is living
proof that your family has been trapped inside during the cold winter months. The
prolonged furnace blasting has caused the dust to settle – on the furniture, along
the edges of the carpeting, and on the blinds. Clutter is at an all-time high. Even the
dog seems to be in desperate need of a bath.
Yep, it‘s time to haul out the rags, scrubbies and cleaners and get to work.
As you dive in to your spring cleaning this year, here are a few tips that may help.
• One room at a time. Spring cleaning can be an overwhelming project,
especially if you try doing everything at once. Breaking it up over a week or
two is often a good idea. By concentrating on one room per day, not only will
you feel a sense of accomplishment when you see the results at the end of
each day, but your stress meter is more likely to remain on ―low.‖
• Crank it up. Studies have shown that we accomplish more when music is
playing, particularly loudly. Music gets our blood flowing and energy pumping
and is also a great distraction to the nastiness of the task at hand. So crank
up that radio and whistle while you work!
Seven Spring Cleaning Tips
By: Lynn Powers
• Time Share. Do you love to vacuum and have a friend who doesn‘t mind doing
windows? Why not do a switcheroo and swap homes for an afternoon? You can
each do the other‘s ―dirty work‖ and not have to do those things you can‘t stand.
Or, double up and work on one home this week, the other one, next.
• Get the family involved. Hey, they helped to make the mess, they should help
clean it. Put the younger kids to work wiping down walls and baseboards. The
older children can clean out the garage or give your car a thorough springtime
cleaning. That way, you can concentrate on those areas you‘d prefer to do
yourself.
• Bring out the bins. Three, to be exact. Label them: Put Away, Give Away, and
Throw Away. As you go through each closet and cupboard, toss items in the
appropriate bins. It‘s as simple as that!
• Utilize those classic cleaners. Baking soda: Scrub away grime in your kitchen
and bathroom sink and sprinkle a little on carpets and let set overnight to
eliminate musty odors. White Vinegar: Use straight vinegar in toilets to remove
stains and stubborn rings or dilute and use on windows, tubs, and appliances.
Lemon Juice: Great for copper pots, silverware, and tile grout.
• Have a party. Just can‘t get motivated to start cleaning? Invite a few friends over
for dinner. There‘s nothing that makes us grab the rags and get to work faster
than knowing company is coming.
Although it‘s tempting to put it off, the sooner you start this somewhat overwhelming yet
often necessary project, the sooner you will get to sit back and enjoy the benefits of a
sparking clean home. Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=276216&ca=Home+Management
Baxter...a newborn
monkey is a full sized
traditional wooly sox
with 4-ply embroidery
floss used for features.
Also, embroidery floss
is used and double
stitched at each joint or
seam or appendages
for extra durability.
Machine washable in a
tied pillowcase set on
delicate. Hand to air dry
$40.00
Sugar Spice And Everything Nice
Diva Sock Monkeys As glamorous
as we dare...contact for custom
girly monkeys!
$40.00
http://www.diaperdivacreations.com
Powerhouse Smoothie
½ frozen banana (chop it up before freezing to make it easier to blend)
½ cup frozen strawberries or mixed berries
½ cup kale or spinach (I promise you won‘t taste it but it adds a punch of goodness)
2 tablespoons Chia seeds or flax meal
¼ cup kefir or a high quality yogurt plain or berry flavored
½ cup almond or hemp milk
1 tablespoons Aquave Syrup or Honey (optional)
Blend all until smooth. Add more milk if it is too thick.
You can easily double this recipe to get the goodness into more kids & family members!
Enjoy the immune boosting goodness and the added bonus of an energy kick, too.
Healthy Choices
Boost Your Immune System
This winter has really been a cold one,
which can be hard with little kids bouncing
off the walls – especially when you have to
spend days inside at a time. It is a double
whammy, cold and flu season. So what
should we be trying to do to build up our
immune system? Here are my top 3 picks
and my favorite Immune Boosting
Powerhouse Smoothie Recipe!
1. Omega-3‘s – Omega-3 is an essential
fatty acid found in fatty fish and in flaxseed,
walnuts and chia seeds as well as in some
vegetables in small amounts. Omega-3
helps your white blood cells be more active
in eating up all the bad bacteria in your
blood. It has been shown that children who
had 1 teaspoon of omega-3 rich oil a day
experienced fewer respiratory infections
and absent days from school.
2. Vitamin C – Most of us know the health
claims of Vitamin C, and they are not
unfounded. Vitamin C helps boost our
immune system by doing several different
activities within our blood. It
increases the number of infection fighting
white blood cells and antibodies. It also puts
a protective layer on our cell surface that
prevents viruses from entering them.
Vitamin C is readily available in many fruits
and vegetables. Some of the top
contenders being Strawberries, Oranges
and Kiwis
3. Probiotics – These little organisms are
the driving force for the good bacteria in our
intestines. These little do-gooders stimulate
the immune system, increase antibodies,
and inhibit the absorption of pathogenic
organisms, in other words, stop the bad
guys from getting in. Probiotics are found in
fermented foods, yogurt, Kefir or sauerkraut
to name a few.
Now how should you get all these in your
system every day, you may ask. Well you
can take supplements for all of them, which
for the omega 3‘s I would suggest but you
can also include them in your diet to get
them in their most natural state. I love
making myself a powerhouse of a smoothie
everyday that includes the use of all 3 of
these immune boosting wonders.
Sharon Tanner, CHC
Certified Health Coach
http://www.wellnesswithsharon.com
http://twitter.com/TheMangoBuzz
Boost Your Immune System with One Powerhouse Smoothie By Sharon Tanner, CHC
Directions
1. In small mixing bowl at medium speed, beat eggs until well beaten.
2. Add peanut butter and continue beating.
3. Beat in sugar and vanilla until well blended.
4. At low speed, gradually beat in milk until smooth. Pour into pie shell.
5. Bake on bottom rack of preheated 400°F. oven until knife inserted near
center comes out clean – approximately 35 minutes.
6. Cool on a wire rack, then refrigerate. Garnish with whipped topping and
peanut halves, if desired.
Ingredients
½ cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups milk, heated very hot
½ cup sugar
(1) 9 inch pie shell, unbaked
4 eggs
Whipped topping (optional)
1 ½ tsp. vanilla
Peanut Butter Pie
Recipe from
Wikia Recipes
Description
Are you a peanut butter lover? Then look
no further! This simple recipe for a rich,
delicious dessert will satisfy your family
& impress your friends. Now, bake away!
Recipe from
Wikia Recipes
Description
A perfect summer treat, these fruit
skewers are great for kids and adults
alike – who needs ice cream? These
skewers also work nicely with chicken or
a nice cut of beef. Add a little variety to
your skewers by trying different fruits.
Ingredients
For sauce:
12 oz (1 ½ cups) nonfat plain yogurt
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
For skewers:
4 firm-ripe plums, each cut into 8 wedges
4 firm-ripe peaches, peeled and each cut into 8 wedges
½ ripe pineapple (1 ½ lb), peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
(48) 8-inch wooden skewers soaked in water for 1 hour
Directions
1. Prepare grill for cooking.
2. Stir together yogurt, honey, lime juice, in a small bowl and chill until ready to
serve.
3. Thread 3-4 pieces of fruit onto each skewer. When fire is medium-hot, grill
fruit in batches on a lightly oiled grilled rack. Turn each skewer once. Cook
for 5 minutes or until each side is browned and lightly softened.
4. Serve fruit on skewers with dipping sauce on the side.
Grilled Fruit Skewers with
Yogurt Honey Sauce
Ingredients
16 ounces (450 g) cream cheese
¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream (use half milk, if desired)
⅓ cup (80 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon (60 ml) garlic powder
16 ounces (450 g) frozen cut leaf spinach, thawed and well drained
1 can quartered artichoke hearts, rinsed and well drained
⅔ cup (160 ml) shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 cup prepared (240 ml) salsa
Crackers or tortilla chips, for serving
Directions
1. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, process the cream cheese,
cream, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder until smooth and creamy. Add
the spinach and process until thoroughly mixed. Add the artichokes and
process just until coarsely chopped.
2. Turn the mixture into a 3½-quart electric slow cooker; smooth the top.
3. Cover and cook on the high heat setting 1¼ to 1½ hours, until hot in the
center. Sprinkle the top evenly with the Jack cheese and spoon the salsa in a
ring around the inside edges of the slow cooker. Cover and continue heating
on high 15 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted. Reduce the heat to
the low setting and serve warm with crackers or tortilla chips for dipping.
Refrigerate any leftovers.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Recipe from
Wikia Recipes
Description
Formal or informal, Spinach Artichoke
Dip is a great appetizer at any party.
Quick and easy to prepare, the dip may
be served with a variety or crackers,
breads, or chips.
Recipe from
Wikia Recipes
Ricotta Cheese Lasagna
Ingredients
(1) 32 oz. container ricotta cheese
2 eggs, beaten
5 cups Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce
12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
1 ½ pounds mozzarella cheese, thickly sliced
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
(1) 10 oz. package Mozzarella & Garlic Bread
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Stir the ricotta and the eggs in a medium bowl.
2. Spread 1 cup sauce on the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Layer
with 3 lasagna noodles, 1 ⅓ cups ricotta mixture, 1 ½ cups mozzarella, ½
cup Parmesan and 1 ½ cups sauce. Repeat to make 2 more layers. Top
with the remaining noodles, sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Cover the baking dish.
3. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes or until the
lasagna is hot and bubbling and the cheese is melted. Remove the lasagna
from the oven. Let the lasagna stand for 1 hour.
4. Increase the oven temperature to 400°F for the bread. Bake the bread
according to the package directions.
5. Cut the bread into 2-inch diagonal slices. Serve the bread with the lasagna.
Description
Layers of ricotta cheese, sauce, noodles,
and mozzarella cheese round out this
traditional Ricotta Cheese Lasagna that
everyone will love.
Spinach Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
8 ounces of fettuccine
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups fresh spinach, stems removed
1 cup fresh basil leaves, stems removed
½ cup low-fat, low sodium chicken broth
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
(1) 15-oz can of cannellini (white beans), rinsed and drained
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
1. Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain and place in large mixing bowl.
2. In a blender, add olive oil, garlic, spinach, basil, parmesan cheese, and
chicken broth. Mix well until leaves are blended.
3. Pour sauce over pasta. Mix until pasta is well coated.
4. Add beans and red bell pepper. Lightly toss and serve.
Description
Pesto sauce and cannellini beans are
popular in many Italian dishes. No one
will know that this spinach pesto sauce
has three cups of spinach.
Recipe from
Wikia Recipes
Make a Pin Wheel Things you will Need
Piece of heavy quality paper, cut into
a 7" x 7" square
Pencil
Ruler
Markers, paints, crayons or magazine
pictures (your choice)
Paper glue (if gluing on pictures)
Picture hook pin (small)
Bead to serve as backing on the pin
(matching the size)
Stick suitable for the handle (a small piece of
dowel wood is a good choice that will keep even)
Hammer
Scissors
Steps
1. Cut the paper into a 7" x 7" / 17.5 cm x 17.5 cm
square as suggested under the "Things You'll Need".
2. Draw four equal squares on the piece of paper.
Use a pencil and ruler to get the square dimensions
accurate and straight. Do not draw the lines too hard
or they will show up under your coloring later.
3. Color in the squares. Make each square a
different color. Here are some ideas for different
ways to color the squares:
Color each square with a marker or pencil; Paint
each square; Glue on pictures cut from a magazine
into each square. Be sure to glue firmly.
4. Allow paint or glue work to dry before proceeding
to the next steps.
Spring Time Fun
5. Blue lines marked for cutting. Place a ruler diagonally at the
edge of one corner of the square. From the edge, follow the
diagonal line of the ruler and draw a line of 3 inches / 7.5 cm
toward the middle. Repeat this for each of the corners, so that
you have four lines drawn toward the middle, and they are all
of the same length
6. Cut along each line to its end.
7. Label each line A, B, C and D. Mark on the left side of each
cut, as shown.
8. Take edges A, B, C and D in your fingers. Pull these to the
center of the square.
9. Place the pin into the middle of the edges A, B, C and D.
Push the pin right through the paper, so that each one of
these edges sits snugly on top of the other on the pin.
10. Slide a bead onto the underside of the pin. This bead
forms the part that permits the windmill to spin between the
paper and the stick.
11. Place the stick down on a flat surface.
12. Place the pinwheel with bead intact above the stick, ready
for hammering the pin directly into the stick.
13. Hammer with care. Drive the pin into the stick securely. If
necessary, fold back any part of the pin that sticks through the
other side of the stick.
14. Take your pinwheel outside and watch it catch the wind.
―My name is Monica, and I am the owner and designer
behind Gia's Bowtique. My store is inspired by my
daughter, Gia. And everything I make, I make with her in
mind. So a lot of love and care goes into the making of
each item. All our bows are sewn together and heat
treated to prevent fraying. You'll always receive bows
that look as good from the back as they do from the
front. I am always available to answer any questions,
and I also love custom orders!‖
Gia’s Bowtique
Spring Fling
Yellow Daisy
Bow
$7.75
Cutest Princess Pack
This pack includes a pink crochet kufi hat
With a detachable white carnation flower
clip
White crochet headband
Pink crochet headband
Light Blue Solid bow
And a custom Clay center and
monogrammed Bow, which can be
customized by:
*Hair Color
*Skin Color
*Initial
$29.50
OOAK Butterfly
Bow on Alligator
clip
$8.50
