How To Fold A Fitted Sheet

Do you ever wonder how companies can pack those fitted sheets so nicely into such small packages? When you try to fold your fitted sheets at home do they just end up in a crumpled ball in your linen closet? Martha Stewart has graciously shared how to (finally) get those sheets folded where they will lie flat in your closet! Click the link below to get step-by-step PHOTO directions

* Taken from Martha Stewart Living, Volume 53 October 1997 

 

 

 

This technique yields a fitted sheet that will lie flat in the linen closet. (Instructions are for a right-handed person; reverse them if you're left-handed.)

• With the sheet inside out, place one hand in each of two adjacent corners.
• Bring your right hand to your left, and fold the corner on your right hand over the one in your left, so the corner on top is right side out. 
• Next, reach down and pick up the corner that is adjacent to the one that was in your right hand (it will be hanging in front), and fold it over the other two corners; this third corner will be inside out.

• Bring the last corner up, and fold it over the others so it is right-side out.

• Lay the sheet on a flat surface, and shape as shown. Fold two edges in, so all the elastic is hidden.

• Fold the strip of fabric into a rectangle. Continue folding until the rectangle is the size you want.

Menu Planning Made Easy

What is menu planning?

Planning in advance what you will be cooking in a given period of time (week, 2 weeks, month, etc).

Benefits of menu planning:

• it's efficient: you can create your grocery list from the ingredients lists of your recipes. Gone are the days of staring blankly into the pantry or frantically rummaging through the refrigerator in search of what to eat or what to shop for.
• it's budget-friendly: Less food is wasted because you buy/use only what you need.
• you can have variety: You keep track of how often you eat what, so you can plan in new dishes or family favorites.
• it's healthier: Eating at home is healthier than eating out. You know exactly what goes into your meals, and can even alter the recipes to certain health needs or caloric requirements.

Creative Meal Planning Ideas

• dedicate each night of the week to a different type of food {soup, salads, crockpot, one-dish, ethnic food, seasonal favorite, etc}
• create a theme night once a week

Resources for menu planning

A Basic Guide to Meal Planning - simplemom.net - all you need to do to get started

7 Tips to Simplify Meal Planning - workitmom.com - basic guidelines to helping meal-planning run smoothly in your house

Family Nights - whittakerwoman.typepad.com - fun and creative ideas for making family nights special for everyone

Menu Planning Resources & Ideas - simplemom.net

*taken from http://cefcmops.blogspot.com

Plain to Bilboard in 60 seconds....

"No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted"

Beautiful! - Inside & Out

Tip of the week: Basic rule of thumb, the majority of skin tones (80%) are either neutral or warm. Therefore, to counterbalance warm tones (used in N and W foundations) focus on cool pastel shades of pink and lavender eye shadows with pale cranberry lips. If you prefer earth tone shadows, focus on a soft taupe and a deep gray shadow with soft coral lips. Both combos will look great on neutral or warm tones.
 

Tiffany Harger
http://www.tiffanyharger.myarbonne.com/

Operation Organization

Operation Organization - taken from Moms of Faith

Can you barely find your kitchen counter under the stack of bills and magazines that pour in through the mail every day? If this sounds familiar than it is time to set up operation organize. Being organized is key to my sanity. As a single mom who takes care of all the cleaning, bills, grocery shopping and finances, I found early on that being organized would not only make my life easier, it would give me more time to spend with my daughter and do the things that matter most. Here are a few essential organizing tips.

Kitchen Organizing
Keep the kitchen tidy by not allowing mail to build up on counters. Purchase a basket or a three bin organizer you can hang on the wall. Label each bin. For example, label the first bin bills, the second, coupons, the third in could be appointments or to do lists, this could include permission slips, invitations, announcements, etc. A cork board is also a great way to post important reminders for the day. Don’t forget to hang your keys somewhere that you won’t forget them

The space under the sink can get messy if you keep cleaning products there. Find some inexpensive organizing bins. I found long oval tin containers at my local drug store for about $1.00-$1.50 and they hold my cleaning supplies, sponges, and trash bags perfectly.

Living Room OrganizingIf the living room is your family’s gathering space it is most likely the most cluttered room of the house. If you read magazines or books, and watch movies there, make sure you have an appropriate place to put everything once your family is finished using it. Make sure you have enough magazine and bookshelves. A big basket or CD holder works great for DVDs.

Mudroom or Entry Organizing
You know the drill, the coats get thrown on the floor, the shoes are piled up, and wet umbrellas are lying around. Your entryway sets the tone for your home, it should be welcoming and clean. If you don’t have a hall closet, hang a rack that you could hang coats and hats on or purchase a coat rack. Get an old rain boot and put your umbrellas in it. A bench that opens up is another great way to utilize storage space.

Bedroom Organizing
If your closet is filled with shoes and your drawers are overflowing then it is time to take inventory and rearrange. First sort through your clothes, give away anything you aren’t going to wear. Then sort into seasons, get all your winter clothes and place them in plastic containers or even suitcases and store them in the attic, basement, or anywhere you have room. Don’t forget to label them by season. A shoe rack can be an inexpensive investment that you can either hang in your closet or on your door.

A laundry hamper for each person’s bedroom will also help to eliminate clothes all over the floor. Then make each family member responsible for bringing their own hamper to the laundry room on laundry day.

Linen Closet OrganizingA great space saver for towels is rolling and stacking them. I use wicker baskets to store my hair dryer, brushes, combs, etc. If I have extra lotions, perfume, or toothpaste, I place them in plastic storage containers that are the size of a shoebox and stack them.

Office Organizing
It is essential to keep your finances in order. When bills are scattered you are in danger of missing or making a late payment. In the current economic climate it is important that we stay on top of our finances. I suggest placing your bills in a binder with various folders. Label the folders according to your bills, for example, credit cards, donations, utilities, taxes, mortgage, car payments, education, credit reports, etc.

You can also have two separate bins, one for bills that you have to pay immediately, or that you want to pay within the next week or two, and the other bin for bills you don’t have to pay until later. Get in the habit of opening your mail on the day it arrives and filing it in the appropriate place.

There are so many ways to simplify your life. The idea is to find creative ways to organize that fit your lifestyle. So get those creative juices flowing and get organized. Become the captain of your ship and get everyone aboard.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Feeding A Picky Toddler/Preschooler

If your child is picky when it comes to eating veggies, here are some fruit alternatives worth trying:

•  Broccoli-haters can still get vitamin C through kiwi, oranges or strawberries.
•  Carrot-haters can still get vitamin A through mango, cantaloupe or papaya.
•  Tomato-haters can still get lycopene from red grapefruit, watermelon or apricot.
•  Spinach-haters can still get lutein from pears, tangerines or red grapes. 

 

*taken from http://cefcmops.blogspot.com

Encouraging Independence & Responsibility In Young Children

"Never do routinely for your children what they can do for themselves."

Susan Reichart, MOPS mentor

Encouraging independence in preschoolers is vital if you want them to grow to be a responsible adult. Not only is a natural desire for a young child, but it is a healthy desire for them to have! A child encouraged to do things for him/herself grows to be a more confident child, willing to take risks and learn from mistakes. For a preschooler, a sense of self-worth comes from being able to do something without an adult's help. Here are 7 ways to encourage your child toward independence and responsibility:

1. Encourage your child to complete self-help tasks, such as cleaning up spilled juice or sweeping up paper from a cutting project.
    
2. Break complicated tasks into small steps and celebrate all the little successes along the way.
    
3. Praise the effort, not the task: “You didn’t give up and kept trying until you opened the toothpaste. Way to go!”
    
4. Build extra minutes into your daily routines to allow your child to complete tasks without being hurried — such as putting on his own socks, buckling her own seat belt, etc.
    
5. Allow your child to brainstorm and try his own solutions to a problem. Resist giving him what you think is the easiest/fastest/best solution.
    
6. Help your child make a book or poster of all the things she can do. Read it when she is feeling frustrated or disappointed about not being able to complete a task. Adding photos of your child doing things for herself would be fun, too!
    
7. Give your child simple chores around the house such as setting the table, putting away the silverware, watering a plant, or feeding the family pet. Other age-appropriate chores for preschoolers include: dressing themselves, wiping the table or counter, wash their hands, dusting (Swiffer Dusters are wonderful tools for little ones), picking up toys, folding towels, putting books on a shelf, etc.

For these tips and other resources related to helping your preschooler be more responsible and independent check out the Let's Explore Blog.

If You Give A Mom A Muffin

by Kathy Fictore, adapted from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff

If you give a mom a muffin, she’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She’ll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She’ll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She’ll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, she’ll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She’ll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She’ll smell something funny. She’ll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She’ll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Potty Training HELP!

Every Single Stinkin' Thing I Ever Learned About Potty Training

 

Here is a link to an article about potty training. Some of our mom's are going through this process right now.  For a lucky few it is incredibly smooth and easy....but for most, it is frustrating and tedious!  

Here are the main points: (The author elaborates on each point in her article!)

1. Don't do it until they are ready

2. Don't do it until you are ready.

3. Treat them like big kids.

4. The specifics are up to you.

5. Keep it positive

6. Don't sweat the nighttime potty training.

7. What about regressions? Or really stubborn kids?

8. Don't compare yourself- or your kids- to others?

9. Limit the use of disposable training pants.

10. I am not a fan of the potty chair.

As you read, please keep in mind that these are just ideas to help you succeed on what can be a very frustrating part of "toddler-hood"!   Every situation, child, and family is different. (For example, she says she doesn't like a potty chair - my oldest son didn't need a potty chair and we never even bought one...but with my daughter, it was an essential part of the process for her and we couldn't have done it with out her beloved Froggy Potty!) 

 

Stay strong......Potty Power!

Android & iPhone Apps for Moms

Nowadays, if you have a cell phone there is a really good chance that it does a lot more than call people!  In fact, if you have a phone, chances are you also have a calendar, a calculator, e-mail access, and much more.  For our moms who cannot live without their smartphones and for our moms who are looking to maximize its use and make life a tad bit easier, here are some apps that might come in handy!

*List compiled by Heather Leister, www.babble.com - - Check out her website for more,The iPhone Mom

Top 25 Android Apps for Mom

1. Out of Milk
2. Epicurious
3. ShopSavvy
4. The Coupons App
5. Seasonal Harvest
6. CPR-Choking
7. iTriage Mobile Health
8. Endomondo
9. Calorie Counter from MyFitnessPal
10. Pink Pad
11. Baby Bump
12. Baby ESP
13. Baby Monitor and Alarm by Tappy Taps
14. Lightning Bug Sleep Clock
15. Baby Name-o-Matic 10K
16. Cozi Family Organizer
17. Family GPS Tracker by Life 360
18. ICE
19. Mint
20. Carr Matey
21. Google Sky Map
22. Kid Mode by Zoodles
23. Movie Reviews by Kids In Mind
24. Easy Kid Timer
25. MommyCount

Top 25 iPhone Apps for Mom

1. Grocery Gadget
2. How to Cook Everything
3. Safe Browser
4. Web MD Mobile
5. Red Laser
6. Craft Finder
7. Mint.com Personal Finance
8. iHealthTrax
9. Pageonce Bills
10. Weather Bug Elite
11. Allrecipes.com
12. Edibles-Diet Journal
13. Amazon Mobile
14. Coupon Sherpa
15. iReward Chart
16. Mom Maps
17. Angry Birds
18. Lose It
19. Better Gift List
20. Baby Activity Logger
21. Silent Bodyguard
22. Sprout
23. Betty Crocker
24. Grocery IQ
25. Smart-ICE4family

Beautiful! - Inside & Out

Mineral Makeup has been taking the world by storm in the last few years. It is made up of 100% micronized minerals. The makeup contains no chemicals that are harsh to the skin. One of the key points of Mineral makeup is that you won’t find talc, fillers, rice powders, fragrance, silicones, chemicals, mica, wax, or dye in any of the products. Mineral makeup is suitable for all skin conditions including super sensitive and dry skin.

Many people compare the finish after applying the mineral makeup to the look of an air-brushed looking complexion.

Sometimes mineral foundations can emphasize enlarged pores and fine lines. Here is a tip I use that works like a charm:

Never use a Khabuki brush in applying mineral, instead use a long-handled fluff brush and work quickly all over your face to apply the product.

Next, using an eye cream (or a cream that is concentrated) dab a small amount in between your middle fingers...dab your fingers together to distribute the product until it feels tacky...now dab your fingers over the fine lines (around the laugh lines, fine lines around eyes, between brows).

Then take a clean cosmetic wedge and dab where you applied the cream. Here is what is happening: the mineral foundation is settling in the fine lines emphasizing unwanted areas, then the eye cream is being distributed in the problem areas and adhering to the mineral particles. The dry cosmetic wedge is "pulling" out the unwanted product.

After you do these steps, you need to "set" the mineral. NEVER use just a mineral without setting the product. Try "Awaken" to mist over the face. If you don't have Awaken, try using an Evian water in a spritz bottle. I think JcPenny's used to sell Evian in spray bottles. DO NOT use a toner for this step as it will break-down the foundation. You MUST set a mineral to knock off the excess product and give the overall look of the skin a luminous glow!

Tiffany Harger
www.tiffanyharger.myarbonne.com

Bohemian Rhapsody...Mom's Style!

Snicker Salad

This is a delicious summer salad!  My kids gobble it up for dessert...clueless they are eating apples!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 pkg (3.4oz) instant vanilla pudding
1 8oz. carton cool-whip
4 large apples, chopped
4 snickers, chopped





Directions:

In large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in cool-whip. Fold in apples and candy bars. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Problem Solving and the Preschooler

8 Ways To Help Preschoolers Develop Better

Problem-Solving Skills

1. Provide a variety of open-ended toys that encourage creative thinking and experimentation.
    
2. Talk out loud while you solve problems to model effective problem-solving strategies.
    
3. Ask questions more often than you give answers. Get in the habit of saying, “What do you think we could do to solve this problem?”
    
4. When your child is trying to solve a problem, think of yourself as a coach. Guide your child through identifying the problem, brainstorming possible solutions, choosing a solution to try and trying it, and evaluating how the solution worked.
    
5. Help your child view mistakes as opportunities to learn.
    
6. Try puzzles, tangrams, various math manipulatives, etc.
    
7. Create your own scavenger hunt with clues – make them just tricky enough that your preschooler has to think without getting frustrated.
    
8. Do simple science experiments together – practice making predictions and seeing what happens. Start with a sink/float experiment or search for things that are magnetic.

To find these tips and more information on problem-solving visit the Let's Explore Blog.

Gift Ideas for Kids

Looking for simple birthday gift ideas for children?  Here are a few ideas that offer a handmade touch.  They  are useful and can be open-ended.

Cozy Reading: a new book, a homemade bookmark, and a pack of hot cocoa mix

Collage Kit:  a mixture of collage materials (pom poms, paper cut-outs, buttons,
sequins, etc.), plain + glitter glue, and a canvas or shadow box

Memory Maker:  disposable camera, mini scrapbook, and a few scrapbooking supplies

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub:  toothbrush, washcloth, fun soap (store bought or homemade), band aids, comb, new headband, etc.

Doughy Delight:  homemade playdough in a couple colors, cookie cutters, and mini rolling pin (include the playdough recipe, too!)

Little Chef:  apron, measuring cups, mixing spoon, and a few simple recipes printed on cards & laminated

Play Date Coupon:  make a coupon for a fun activity to do with the birthday child – miniature golfing, going to a movie, picnic and park, zoo, etc.

Green Thumb:  terra cotta pot, paints and paintbrush for decorating, a little bag of organic potting mix, and some seeds

Also, have fun gathering a few treasures based on a child’s favorite color or animal.  Also, art supplies are always a winner!

What are your go-to birthday gifts for kids?

Produce Tips - Tomatoes

Here are a few quick and easy to remember tips I have found on a website called The Mom's Buzz.   This site is a great resource on a variety of topics, including produce! 

Here are some facts and tips about tomatoes:

• Shelf Life: 4 -7 days
• Storage: store at room temperature away from sunlight.  Never refrigerate!!!
• Tip: for homemade salsas use seeded tomatoes.  Here is how to seed tomatoes. To remover excess of seeds and water, cut in half cross-wise, then hold cut side down and gently squeeze.  Your salsa will have a more intense tomato flavor and will be less watery!  

~Fine and Fit~

Children Learn What You Eat

There is a wonderful poem written by Dorothy Law Nolte called “Children Learn What They Live.” It’s a sort of cause and effect list that follows the pattern, “If children live with [X], they learn [Y].” It is an inspiring poem to me as a parent, and I had the pleasure of hearing the author read it at a conference once.

One of the things that Ms. Nolte didn’t include in her poem, however, is what happens when children live with good nutrition. I wouldn’t expect her to have included it, of course. She focused on more philosophical issues, although healthy eating does tie in with many pressing concerns in today’s society.

We need to model a healthy lifestyle to our children, and that includes healthy eating. A few years ago, researchers made some shocking discoveries. Let me share a couple of the headlines from that time: “Children’s Life Expectancy Being Cut Short by Obesity” (Pam Belluck, March 15, 2005, New York Times) and “Life Expectancy to Drop For First Time in 1,000 Years” (Jacqueline Maley and Mark Todd, March 18, 2005, Sidney Morning Herald). This is—pardon the pun—heavy stuff. Why is this happening, and what can we do about it?

According to the American Obesity Association’s website, there is only one cause of obesity that can’t be helped, and that is genetics. The other contributors like sedentary lifestyles (thank you, TV, computers, and video games), general inactivity, and poor nutritional choices are completely modifiable. Easy? Not necessarily, but isn’t our children’s health worth the effort?

A pediatrician friend and I often talk about nutrition because I am determined to teach my children to enjoy healthy food in spite of today’s focus on convenience. Unfortunately, convenient often equals unhealthy. But my choices are become my children’s choices. Our pediatrician often comments that he gets frustrated with parents who complain that their children won’t eat vegetables, yet they quickly offer very unhealthy options as a back-up. He submits that we’re just teaching our kids that all they have to do is whine a little to get the junk they know Mom and Dad have stashed away somewhere. So, he says, offer only healthy food and that’s what our kids will learn to eat—and like. Remember the season of Survivor when the team of starving players ate cooked rats out of sheer desperation, then commented on how surprisingly palatable they were? It’s amazing how tastes change when it’s rat (or green beans) or nothing.

So, that doesn’t sound too hard…in theory. But we’re also up against marketing, which is a powerful force in America. What I call Kid Food is big business here, and it’s pretty much all junk. Look at a kids’ menu in a restaurant and you see fried chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and corn dogs. Oh, and by the way, they’re nice enough to throw in fries with the main course. I asked in a restaurant recently if I could substitute some veggies for the fries in my daughter’s meal and the server’s response was, “Not on the kids’ menu.” Are you kidding me? And what about the food in the grocery store that targets our youngsters? Those prepared lunches, for example, offer such things as pizza rolls, tacos and nachos, and even cinnamon rolls.

Here is where we come back to Ms. Nolte’s poem. We have to resist the sweet pull of convenience-in-a-box and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants dining or our kids are going to continue to suffer. Their lives are already expected to be shorter than the previous generation’s, and according to Belluck’s article, by as much as five years. So, if we eat burgers and fries, pizza, and fried chicken every night, that’s what we’re teaching our kids to eat. If for a snack, we munch on chips or ice cream, how can we expect our kids to ask for an apple? If we grab a Snickers at the checkout in the grocery store, we can’t respectably refuse our kids candy on the grounds that it’s unhealthy. It is not just about presenting our children with healthy food, but eating it ourselves in front of them (and for that matter, when they’re not around too).

I need daily motivation to make the right food choices. In fact, it’s more like an hourly requirement. But knowing that modeling healthy eating to my children may literally decrease her chances of developing nasty things like heart disease and diabetes, and ultimately will support a long life is just the motivation I need.

Jacque Butler is the owner of JB Fitness in Glenwood, Iowa. www.jbfitnessiowa.com For tips on fitness & nutrition, you can follow JB Fitness on Facebook.

Beautiful! - Inside & Out

Dark circles under the eyes are attributable to many causes. Allergies, nasal congestion, too much sleep, too little sleep and heredity are among some of the most frequently cited causes.

Eat right…Plenty or proteins, fish and fresh fruit and vegetables (vitamin C and iron) and cutting salt out of your diet will help you look and feel a lot better. Salt dehydrates and vitamins and proteins will help keep the skin firm and looking healthy. Remember to always use an eye cream and drink plenty of H2O for hydration!
Despite the cause, if you don't have time to treat those dark circles before work or a big date, you need to find a way to conceal them.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:
• Special concealer
• Foundation

Choose a Concealer
Choose a lightweight, cream concealer product. Use a yellow tinted concealer to hide dark purple circles, an orange concealer to hide blueish circles and blue, mauve or tan concealers to hide brownish circles. There are even green and light blue products to conceal red under-the-eye circles.

Apply Concealer to Dark Circles

1. Apply the foundation or tinted moisturizer you normally wear to even out your complexion. Blend it as you usually would, without paying any special attention to under the eye. Once your foundation is in place, you should be able to clearly see the dark circles that you need to conceal.

2. Use your specially purchased concealer on the dark circles, applying it in a thin, even coat. This can be accomplished either by using a makeup brush or by patting it on with your finger. I prefer patting as the heat from your finger helps the concealer melt into your skin for a flawless finish.

3. Pay close attention to the area where your eye meets the bridge of your nose. This area tends to have the darkest circles and may need more concealer. Other areas to look at closely are directly under your eye and the outside edge where your eye meets your cheekbone.

4. Powder the concealed areas with a translucent powder, using just enough so that the concealer no longer looks sticky or shiny.

Here’s to beautiful eyes!

Tiffany Harger
www.tiffanyharger.myarbonne.com

Android & iPhone Apps for Kids

You may view your phone as a communications device, but your kids know that it’s actually an awesome mobile gaming center. When you’re caught in traffic or facing an unexpectedly long wait at the pediatrician’s office, you are going to hand over that phone. The kids will be happy, you’ll be relieved, and, if you choose your apps carefully, they might even learn something while they play. — Sonya Mukherjee (babble.com)


The Top 25 Android Apps for Kids

1. Angry Birds
2. Fruit Ninja
3. Spaghetti Marshmallows
4. Dropwords
5. Shape Builder Preschool Puzzle
6. Doodle Jump
7. PopMath
8. Celeste SE
9. Kids Socks
10. Airport Mania
11. Kids Piano 
12. Pocket Soccer
13. The Cat In The Hat
14. All By Myself
15. Math Attack
16. Space Physics
17. 50 States
18. Kids Doodle
19. Bubble Blast 2
20. Rush Hour
21. Labyrinth
22. Alphabet Bingo
23. Benjamin Bunny
24. LOL Libs
25. Three Little Pigs

Top 5 Preschool Android Apps

It's true: You're never too young to play with Mom's Droid. Preschool kids are naturally drawn to touch screens, where they can tap and swipe with the best of them. These apps are electronic versions of preschool classics, like matching games, letter puzzles, and toy pianos.

1. Shape Builder Preschool Puzzle
2. Kids Socks
3. Kids Piano
4. Kids Doodle
5. Alphabet Bingo

The 25 Top iPhone Apps for Kids   - by Heather Leister, www.babble.com

1. Weet Woo!
2. 123 Color
3. Elmo's Monster Maker
4. Kid Calc 7-in-1 Math Fun
5. Duck Duck Moose Apps
6. Math Bingo
7. Pocket Zoo
8. Dr. Seuss Books
9. Count with Sesame Series
10. Preschool Connect the Dots
11. Highlights Hidden Pictures
12. Jelly Doodle
13. Harry Potter Spells
14. Fish School
15. ABC Pocket Phonics
16. Jack and the Beanstalk
17. The Oregon Trail
18. Wacky Chatter
19. Peekaboo Barn
20. Olivia
21. Faces iMake
22. Letter Writer Oceans
23. Doodle Find
24. iBooks & Kindle
25. Triazzle

8 years of our lives!?!?

Many women are raised to be shoppers. We go back-to-school shopping, hang out at the mall with our friends, go grocery shopping with our parents, and pick out cosmetics at the drugstore as soon as we're able and allowed to. Those shopping trips grow exponentially when you're independent and no longer need an adult to provide you with allowance and a ride. But how many hours have ladies clocked browsing and spending over the course of our lifetimes? Marketing research firm OnePoll.com surveyed 2,000 female shoppers to find out and, um, it's a lot.

The average woman makes 301 shopping excursions each year, spending around 400 hours buying clothing, books, food, and toiletries. They multiplied that by 63 shopping years and discovered that ladies spend 8.5 years, or 3,148 days of their lives shopping. Now, let's take a minute to remember women are the primary shoppers in each household. Picking up new socks for her kids or buying food for dinner and school lunches are hardly selfish acts or even retail therapy—they're more like errands! ''Many men seem to think women only shop when they are buying clothes for themselves," said a spokesman for OnePoll. ''But they quite often shop for the entire family and that can be incredibly hard work.'' You tell 'em!

Here's the breakdown of the amount of time we spend shopping for specific retail items each year:

• Clothes — 30 times, total 100 hours and 48 minutes
• Shoes — 15 times, 40 hours and 30 minutes
• Accessories — 18 times, 29 hours and 31 minutes
• Food — 84 times, 94 hours and 55 minutes
• Books — 57 times, 31 hours and 21 minutes
• Toiletries — 27 times, 17 hours and 33 minutes
• Gifts — 19 times, 36 hours and 17 minutes
• Window Shopping — 51 times, 48 hours and 51 minutes

Do these numbers ring true for you, or do you feel you spend less (or even more!) time hitting the shops?


*Written by Joanna Douglas, found on Yahoo Shine*

Fruit 'n' Cheese Snack Mix

A cute and simple way to motivate our young ones to eat healthy!!

Prep Time: 10 min. | Makes: 1 serving.

What You Need

1 oz. KRAFT Cheddar Cheese, cut into bite-size pieces
1/4 cup whole strawberries, stemmed, quartered
1/4 cup seedless red or green grapes, halved

Make It

PLACE cheese in 1 side of resealable sandwich-size plastic bag; loosely tie pie cleaner or twist tie around middle of bag. Place fruit in other end of bag; seal bag, then twist pipe cleaner tightly to separate cheese from fruit.

CURL ends of pipe cleaner to resemble antennae of a butterfly.

REFRIGERATE until ready to serve. Untwist pipe cleaner, leaving bag sealed. Gently shake bag to mix fruit and cheese. Open bag and enjoy!

Size-Wise: 
This eye-catching snack is easy to make and a fun way to get your kids to eat a 1/2 cup of fruit.



Best of Season: 
Add fresh blueberries when they are in season.


*taken from Yahoo, Shine

Can you relate?!?!

This is a MOPS promo from a couple of years ago....but still cute!  Enjoy :)

31 Biblical Virtues to Pray For Your Kids

by Bob Hostetler, excerpted from Pray! Magazine issue #4

If you want to pray more for your children, but aren't sure what to pray or how to pray for them, then use this list of virtues as your guide. Next to each virtue is a prayer based upon Scripture that you can pray, with the reference to where in the Bible the prayer was inspires. This makes for a great prayer calendar. Just pick one virtue each day of the month to pray over your child/children.

1. Salvation - "Lord, let salvation spring up from within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." Isaiah 45:8, 2 Timothy 2:10

2. Love - "Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them." Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:2
 
3. Self-control - "Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do." 1 Thessalonians 5:6
 
4. Love for God's Word - "May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb." Psalm 19:10
 
5. Justice - "God, help my children to love justice and You do and act justly in all they do." Psalm 11:7, Micah 6:8
 
6. Mercy - "May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful." Luke 6:36
 
7. Respect (for self, others, authority, etc) - "Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands." 1 Peter 2:17
 
8. Biblical self-esteem - "Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God's worksmanship, creating in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:10
 
9. Faithfulness - "Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts." Proverbs 3:3
 
10. Courage - "May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their action." Deuteronomy 31:6
 
 11. Purity - "Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions." Psalm 51:10
 
12. Kindness - "Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." 1 Thessalonians 5:15
 
13. Generosity - "Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age." 1 Timothy 6:18-19
 
14. Peace-loving - "Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace." Romans 14:19
 
15. Joy - "May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 1:6
 
16. Perseverance - "Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them." Hebrews 12:1
 
17. Humility - "God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all." Titus 3:2
 
18. Compassion - "Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion." Colossians 3:12
 
19. Responsibility - "Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:5
 
20. Contentment - "Father teach my children to the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength." Philippians 4:12-13
 
21. Faith - "I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them." Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40
 
22. A servant's heart - "God, please help my children develop servants' hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men." Ephesians 6:7
 
23. Hope - "May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
 
24. Willingness and ability to work - "Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heat, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23
 
25. Passion for God - "Lord, please instill in my children a soul that follows hard after You, one that clings passionately to you." Psalm 63:8
 
26. Self-discipline - "Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." Proverbs 1:3
 
27. Prayerfulness - "Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." Ephesians 6:18
 
28. Gratitude - "Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 2:7
 
29. A heart for missions - "Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all people." Psalm 96:3
 
30. Growth in grace - "I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18
 
31. Honesty and integrity - "May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection." Psalm 25:21

Fun and Easy Ideas

Water Balloon Yo-Yo
1 small balloon
1 large rubber band

Directions: Cut the rubber band in half. Tie a loop securely on one end of the rubber band. It should be big enough to fit around your finger. Use a garden hose or water faucet to fill the balloon ¼ of the way with water. Blow air into the balloon until it is the size of a tennis ball. Tie the balloon shut. Securely tie the rubber band around theknot on the balloon. Place the rubber band loop around your middle finger and gently throw the balloon toward the ground. When the balloon springs back toward your hand, try to grab it.

Super Sidewalk Paint
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ cup cold water
6-8 drops of food coloring

Directions: Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small plastic bowl. Add food coloring and stir. Repeat this process to creat different colors of Super Sidewalk Paint. Super Sidewalk Paint can easily be washed away with water

Beautiful! - Inside & Out

True beauty comes from within, so the key to a healthy glow may not come from your cosmetics. Your skin is the largest organ of your body. If you nourish your body from the inside out, you will make a difference in the way your skin looks - and ages.

5 Diet Secrets to Healthy-Looking Skin

• Swap Your Carb
Replace refined carbohydrate foods like white bread, cookies, and pasta with their whole-grain cousins. Not only do whole grains provide a lot more anti-aging antioxidants, they also provide the key element of a healthy skin diet - fiber.

"A high-fiber diet with lots of whole grains can help eliminate toxins and act as a detoxifying agent for your body," says nutritionist Tanya Zuckerbrot, who is currently working on her second book F-Factor Beauty Diet. She recommends eating 35 grams of fiber every day.

• Trade In Your Fat
Toss out the bad fats in your diet - saturated and trans fat - and replace them with good fats. Omega 3 fatty acids from fish sources can reduce skin cancer risk, according to nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, author of Age-Proof Your Body. She suggested eating 200 mg of DHA a day - that's equivalent to two servings of salmon a week. While most of us get plenty of omega 6 fatty acids from our diet, Somer stressed the importance of another good fat - linoleic acid - in preventing dry, flaky skin. Linoleic acid can be found in vegetable oils like safflower oil, sunflower oil and olive oil.

• Citri-cize Your Diet
Citrus fruits play an important role in keeping your skin looking young. That's because the antioxidant Vitamin C found in citrus "is involved in the formation of collagen - a protein that binds cells and tissues together", according to nutritionist and Food Network Chef Robin Miller. In other words, collagen helps keep your skin firm and hence reduces wrinkling. Therefore, include more Vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, grapefruit, kiwis, strawberries, red bell peppers, and broccoli in your diet.

• Keep the Strings and Peels
There are more health reasons to add fruits and vegetables to your diet. Silica found in plant-based foods can help maintain the elasticity of your skin and improve your complexion, suggested Chef Miller. What you probably don't know is that silica is often found in parts that are often discarded - strings and peels. So if possible, enjoy the whole fruit and vegetable, like cucumber skin and the strings of celery and asparagus.

• Stay hydrated
Fluids keep your skin hydrated and help flush toxins. Drink at least 6-8 cups of water every day.

A Concert in Your Backyard! - FREE EVENT THIS SATURDAY!!

During the summer, the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance brings FREE concerts to Marana on a monthly basis!! I've gone to a couple in the past and have really enjoyed the fun, relaxing atmosphere.  Each month spotlights different genres of musical, which is an excellent way of exposing your children to different cultures around the world!  It's also a fantastic way to establish community!

The concerts start at 7pm, but you can come and go as you please.  Whenever we go to the concerts, we typically stop at Subway for sandwiches or pack a picnic dinner around 6pm and then head out to the park.  This gives the kids time to run in the grass or throw a frisbee around.  We have a nice picnic dinner and the kids shake and dance until they have nothing left in them! (Sometimes I've even had them go to the concert in their pajamas!) When they get tired, my kids just lay down on our blankets and count the stars.  And then, it's home to bed!

The flier says that it is located at Crossroads Park...but it's not in a location you can see from Silverbell.  There is a big grassy area located behind Wheeler Taft Abbet  Library....that is where the stage is set up.  So, parking by the library is best!  I have seen people sit on blankets spread out on the grass, couples comfortable in chairs, and have even seen people dining on their card table, with glasses of wine! So, come as you please and be entertained!


Details for THIS Concert:

July 9th - 7pm @ Crossroads Park - Free Admission
7548 N Silverbell Rd

The Soul Proprietors
The talented Eleanor Winston and the Soul Proprietors will cast rhythms of r&b, soul, and funk on your dancing feet.  Eleanor Winston - vocals, Ed De Lucia - guitar, Larry Redhouse - keys, Mark Usolvk - bass, Ralph Gilmore - drums

For more information, visit www.SAACA.org

String of Stars

Just in time for this 4th of July, here is a great activity for your little ones!!  Children can make a string of red, white, and blue stars to decorate your house, the backyard, or picnic table for this patriotic holiday. Your stars can be simple and plain, or can be decorated with glitter, feathers, and more!  It's all up to you and your child! Have fun!

The directions for this craft was found on Enchanted Learning...click here to visit the actual site.

Supplies Needed:

• Construction Paper (red, white, and blue)
• Printer (optional)
• Scissors
• String or yarn (red, white, or blue)
• Stapler, tape, OR glue

Instructions:

1. Print out the star template or just draw a large star on a piece of paper
2. Cut out the star and decorate it if you like
3. Fold over one tip of the star
4. Staple, glue, or tape the star to the string
5. Make many stars and attach them to the string.  Leave some extra string at the edges for hanging.

Now you can decorate any area with patriotic flair!

4th of July - Tasty Treats

Revolutionary Berries   

by Sharon Cindrich and Judith Fertig, Photographs by David Roth, Family Fun Magazine

Rally the kiddie corps to help with these fun-to-prep bites!

Ingredients

• 12 ounces white chocolate chips
• Strawberries

• Blue sugar or edible glitter

Instructions

1.  Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate chips in a microwave according to the package directions (make sure the container and the berries are dry; even a little moisture will alter the texture of the candy).
2.  One at a time, dip strawberries into the chocolate and then into blue sugar or edible glitter.
3.  Set them to harden on waxed paper.

Makes 35 to 45 decorated berries.

Frosty Fireworks (Flavored Ice) from Family Fun Magazine

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One way to make a splash this Fourth of July is by treating your kids to tall glasses of Patriot's Punch. Simply fill an ice cube tray with a red or blue fruit-flavored beverage (such as Powerade, Gatorade, or Kool-Aid) and let the cubes freeze solid. Then drop three or four colored cubes into each glass, pour in flavored seltzer water or clear soda, and watch the special effects. As the cubes melt, colored bubbles will swirl through the seltzer.

Ingredients

• Red or blue fruit-flavored beverage

It's Hard To Be Cool In A Minivan!