You Know You're a Mom When...

Posted Monday, November 09, 2009



  • Your baby coos/walks/talks for the first time and you tell EVERYONE that will listen, and you don't really notice when the postman rolls his eyes at you.
  • You no longer have to read the words to The Barnyard Dance; you have it memorized.
  • You have a hard time finishing a
  • You feel no shame by the fact that you know the words to the theme song from Clifford the Big Red Dog, you just don't freely offer up that information at cocktail parties.
  • You realize that the butt-sniff-check is sometimes necessary to determine a mess and sometimes other people have to witness you do it.
  • The word "late" was never in your vocabulary until Aunt Flo was and you've never been on time for anything since.
  • You can't count the number of times you've asked your child not to lick other people/things.
  • You sometimes find yourself talking to another adult and ask that they excuse you because you need to go "potty."
  • You don't remember what 8 hours of sleep feels like.
  • You've trained your body to function on 4.
  • You can pinpoint a meltdown five minutes before it happens and already have a time-out spot picked out.
  • Time-outs are really just sanity savers in the form of discipline.
  • You finally completed all of the items on your To-Do List; from last Thursday.
  • During your last date night, the conversation kept returning to baby's diaper rash and next week's preschool orientation. You also stopped and picked up diapers on the way home. Romantic.
  • You realize that the last R rated movie you saw is only viewable on your VCR.
  • You just felt a little older after realizing that I was talking about VHS and you know what that is.
  • Lounge pants are not just a fashion statement, they're a way of life, and they make you forget about your skinny jeans and the unholy need to fit into them again.
  • You can't remember anything, but you have to remember everything, because no one else will.
  • You smiled at least twice while reading this list and nodded your head in agreement.
  • You know how incomplete this list is and understand that this is the ice cube perched on top of the ice berg. Perhaps even just an ice shaving on top of the iceberg. And while we could continue to add to this list, we may never leave our computers again, which only goes to show that you know you're a mom when you can no longer count the ways.

Don't even get me started on the Mom of a Teenager List. Oi vey!

Written by Winklepots for The Mama Dramalogues.

The Power of Positive Emotion

Posted Saturday, November 07, 2009


It turns out that we can still be happy even when we're worrying, according to a new study by the University of NC - if we also savor positive emotions in everyday life. The study showed that experiencing moments of awe, amusement, joy, interest, and other positive feelings builds up our emotional resources - even when those emotions occur on the same day as negative ones. A larger reserve of emotional resources enables us to rebound better from stress and ward off depression, the researchers say. To build up your daily reserve - here are some recommendations:

Find healthy, low or now cost activities you enjoy and can do daily, such as running, reading or knitting.

Seek out nature. Studies show that being around water, trees and sky boosts positive emotions.

Truly connect with others. Rather that gossip together, try to engage with friends in a positive way.

Make a gratitude list. Jot down good things that happen during the day to you or your family.

~Information was taken from Parent and Child magazine, Nov 09 issue~
~Painting is one of my VERY favorites and I just wanted to share 'Flaming June'
by Frederick Leighton

Featured Shop : Scandeez

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009

Christmas is coming and I am starting to worry about the Christmas shopping list that is bare, well, empty really. Half way through the year I did well and bought a lot for my daughter but I still have my son, and the rest of the family to buy for. Starting to panic, life is hectic without adding Christmas shopping to the mix!
So with a Christmas list in mind I set out to find a super cute Christmas item to feature today and I couldn't go past the leather infant shoes from Scandeez.

So modern and beautiful without being over the top.

Scandeez of course has other items available that are for everyday wear, but to dress baby for Santa's first visit the below outfit is perfect.


The one thing that I loved about Scandeez shop is the effort that Connie has put into her profile
After reading it you really have an insight to the person behind the store which is lovely when shopping online.
Enjoy!

Santa's Sleigh Ride Team Holiday Sale - Second Stop


This holiday season, join the Etsykids Team for a ride in Santa's Sleigh! Starting November 1st through Christmas Eve, participating shops will be sharing the holiday cheer with a shop sale of their choice. Santa will be traveling to each shop to take advantage of these great savings and you can come along and perhaps snag a deal of your own! To help Santa, and so he doesn't get lost, we'll be tracking his journey with a new blog post at each regional stop and highlighting the stores he's visiting.

This week, he started his journey in Canada and now he's moved south into the Pacific Northwest. He'll be stopping in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Check out these fabulous shops....

Welcome to crochele, where all products are made with the highest amount of care and attention to the smallest of details.

I'm offering 10% off any purchase (prior to shipping, if applicable) AND buy any 2 or more items and receive FREE shipping Let's Shop!



Welcome to my shop!

I'm offering 10% off and free US shipping Let's Shop!



Handmade Eco Friendly Chlidren's Clothing

I'm offering Free worldwide shipping Let's Shop!



Welcome to Retro Family Works. I work with retro style fabrics, especially high quality cottons and linens and create one of a kind clothing items.

I'm offering Free shipping Let's Shop!



All of my patterns are original designs by me.

I'm offering Buy 2 patterns, get the 3rd FREE and buy 5 patterns and receive a gift certificate for $25 Let's Shop!




Hand painted clothing and accessories for children and adults.

I'm offering 10% off (prior to shipping) and 2/$12 korker hair bow sets (cannot be combined with 10% off) Let's Shop!

Stay tuned, Santa will be visiting a new region on Tuesday!
For your own copy of Santa's Official List - Click Here

Sunshine and the Leopard

Posted Monday, November 02, 2009

The weight of being a mom is almost always noticeable on my shoulders. It can be quite heavy or quite light, all depending on how I choose to carry it.

Every single night before Brayden drifts off to sleep he has to snuggle up in bed with one of his two favorite stuffed animals, leaving the other one to have a "sleepover" in the bottom bunk bed with Gage, who is more than happy to have a cuddle buddy for the night.


Brayden made Sunshine during a family vacation to Va Beach in the summer of 2006. I was five months pregnant with Gage at the time and one evening after spending the day at the ocean we all went to the local mall in an effort for me to beat the heat by still be out and enjoying myself with my family rather than be cooped up in a hotel room. It was there that we saw it, Kid Heaven. $50.00 later Sunshine the beach bear was born courtesy of the Build a Bear Workshop. He came home with us complete with swimming trunks, a tank top, a Hawaiian print over shirt, sandals, and a bucket hat, most of which has been removed and since lost. It was love from the time that Brayden stuck that plush red heart into his new best friend. The two have been inseparable ever since.

Brayden got his next buddy on yet another vacation to Va Beach in 2007, this time from the gift shop of the local zoo there. Back then, when he was younger and still enamored by pre-k television spending his "pocket money" at the zoo shop was the highlight of Brayden's vacation, courtesy of Charlie and Lola. It was there that Brayden picked out a super soft and super cuddly stuffed leopard. For a little over two years now, in addition to Sunshine, Brayden and that plush leopard have been the best of friends, sleeping together, watching cartoons together, sitting at the table for dinner together, and so forth.

The one thing that Brayden never did to that stuffed animal was give him a proper name. No Cuddles, No Lenny the Leopard, or any other cute and catchy names in which a small child might give to a stuffed animal. Brayden simply refers to him as his Son.

This is where my life gets heavy. In the total normal act of a child bonding with a toy I see how my son watches his father and I and comprehends our own parenting skills, transforming them into a daily routine of this very own between him and his Son. Brayden wants to be a parent as a direct result of the examples he has been given.

Brayden is watching me and I act now, with even the simplest of things, will directly influence the rest of his life, and his children's lives, and so on down the line. I have a responsibility to that little boy and to the future generations of my family to be the best mom that I can be. And as the direct example, I have a responsibility to that leopard as well.

Written by Amanda for The Mama Dramalogues

Santa's Sleigh Ride Team Holiday Sale

Posted Sunday, November 01, 2009


This holiday season, join the Etsykids Team for a ride in Santa's Sleigh! Starting November 1st through Christmas Eve, participating shops will be sharing the holiday cheer with a shop sale of their choice. Santa will be traveling to each shop to take advantage of these great savings and you can come along and perhaps snag a deal of your own! To help Santa, and so he doesn't get lost, we'll be tracking his journey with a new blog post at each regional stop and highlighting the stores he's visiting.

This week, he's starting his journey in Canada. And those Canucks know how to craft. See for yourself...

Each of my one-of-a-kind hair accessories and finger puppets is 100% handmade. That means hand-cut (no craft punches or die cutters), hand-stitched (no glue), and designed by me.

I'm offering 1 free hair clip (5.00 value) with the purchase of any three clips Let's Shop!



Simple and stylish designs for everyday living.

I'm offering Buy 1 item take 10% off your order, buy 2 items take 15%, buy 3 or more and take 20% off your order (prior to shipping) Let's Shop!



Here you will find quilts, crayon bags, crayon rolls, tea wallets, coasters and eco friendly cloth napkins. Let me help you find the perfect gift!

I'm offering 10% off your total order (prior to shipping) Let's Shop!


Stay tuned, Santa will be visiting a new region on Thursday!
For your own copy of Santa's Official List - Click Here

Santa's Sleigh Ride Team Holiday Sale - Santa's List


He's made his list, checked it twice, now he's shopping with Etsykids, for a Christmas "just right."

Santa's complete holiday shopping list, so you can snag some deals of your own.

3 Little Monkeys

J J & K’s Girly Things

Princess Designs

Ahmelie

Kid's Fashions by Linda

Pumpkin's Boutique

B3Bling

Kim's Stitch in Time

Quilt Dream

Bella's Sweet Boutique

Kind Living Designs

Rags N Ribbons

Belles Mademoiselles

Layla Legs

Rose Prints Online

Boutique Lucky Stars

Lil B Designs

Sara Yard Art & Designs

Burry Babies

Lill Boo & Co.

Sassy Sweeties

Busy Little Hands

Lillipops Designs

Scandeez

Butterflies and Rainbows

Little Bird Creations

Sew Stylish Bowtique

Candy Stick Lane

Little Bit Shabby

Silly Sock Monkeys

Childish Thoughts

Little Diva Crafts

Spiced Sugar

Clara Clips

Little Ray

Sunnybrook Farm Design

Counting Bunnies

Loop Loft

Sweet Designs by Maryum

Crochele

M Rowe – Prairie Path

Swiedebie

Cuppy Cake Designs

Mee a Bee

The Clever Kitty

Daisy Creek

Monkeytree Creations

The Cute

Dirt Chic Kids

Monogramming By Tammy

The Posh Bowtique

Everyday Celebrations

Ms Liesenfelder – Retro Family Works

Tiki Tales

Flying Frog Apparel

My Little City Girl

Tootsie Tidbits

Giggle Baby

Nana Browns

Trendy Peas

Grace Hester

Nellaboos

Tutu Cute & Moore!

Happy Babee

Noah and Lilah

Twinkle Star Art

Harvest Moon by Hand

Pinna 4 Piper

WindyLou

Hi Mamma

Plum Tree Studio

Winklepots



Woolly Boo

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