Guest Post: Water Fun with Recyclables

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Published: 05/17/2012

Water Fun with Recyclables

Summer is right around the corner and we all know that kids like to have fun with anything that deals with water play. So, I have been saving some recyclable things around the house for us to come up with fun, creative things we can do and share with others.

We have already had some HOT days so we started a little early. Our first project was baking fun with a syrup bottle and parmesan cheese container. I gave the kids some flour, colored coconut and they added a little water to it. We had a blast, more pictures on my blog.

Our second project was having a tea party with the Gain laundry container. I put the Gain bottle on our deck and my son filled it up the other day and said, “Mom, look it’s a water dispenser.” Wow, the things kids think of! You've got to love their imagination. Next we added some food coloring to the water along with colored ice cubes and the kids had hours of fun.

These are just a couple fun things we have come up with for water fun for the hot weather. There is more to follow on my blog and Facebook, so stop by to see what else is in store for the Summer! We look forward to sharing our fun days with you.

Catherine is a mom of two, a boy (J) born 6/2008 and a girl (C) born 9/2010. She has always been a crafty person, so she loves crafts with her kids. She started her blog because she wanted to share ideas with other moms. Catherine and her family are always busy exploring places, doing things and just having fun.

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Savings Nation Workshop Info and Giveaway

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Published: 05/17/2012

BeltwayBargainMom (aka, Laura Harders) is probably my favorite person in the world. Calm, sweet, and just an all-around awesome Christian woman, she seems to juggle a career, children, homeschooling, and her website with ease that I can only wish I'll one day possess. Kind and even-tempered, when there's the person I always go to for counsel when I have "blogger drama". (Blogger drama? Why yes, readers, I am that big of a dork.)

If I had to pick a teacher to walk me through something that can be, admittedly, a little complicated when you first look at it, I'd pick Laura. And, lucky you (!!), she's going to be teaching her first Savings Nation Workshop in Burke, Virginia on May 21st!! In partnership with Savings.com, Laura will be giving you the tools, information, and organizational strategies that will help you save up to 50% off your grocery bills!

(PS- I know it's election season and you have people left and right telling you that either the economy is improving or that once you oust the old guy it's going to improve. Honey, it doesn't matter, 50% off your groceries in an up OR down economy is 50% left in your account you can use on getting that pedicure at the end of a crazy week with your children. Focus on the pedicure. Even if you only coupon on your cleaning supplies, that's a few extra Starbucks runs without guilt!!)

Want to go? Registration is just $5!!

What: Savings Nation – Grocery Savings Workshop in Burke, VA (sing up using this link!)
Date: Monday, May 21st, 2012
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Burke Community Church (classroom #118), 9900 Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke, VA 22015

In this 2-hour workshop you’ll learn:

Realistic Couponing
Strategic Grocery Shopping
Meal Planning Made Simple
Online Tools to Simplify Your Savings

From BeltwayBargainMom's description: This is a fun and interactive class that is great for beginning couponers as well as a place for seasoned bargain hunters to congregate and share tips. You’ll receive a workbook to take home, as well as coupons, and get the chance to connect with like-minded savers.

If you'd like to go, BeltwayBargainMom has provided me with 2 tickets, so leave a comment by 11:59pm tomorrow (Thursday, May 17th) to go!

BeltwayBargainMom.com generously provided me tickets to allow two readers to attend her workshop free of charge. I was not compensated for writing this post, or for hosting a giveaway. Winner assumes all liability, and all that. Winners are not required to take me out for coffee with their savings, but I'm not saying I'd stop them, either :)

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Meet Micaela!!

Published: 04/24/2012

Micaela Williamson, aka SuperNovaMommy is a member of my friends the "MamaMafia", easily the coolest online friends I have :) She's been such a tremendous friend and supporter and I can't say enough how glad I am that I met her!!

On her site, Micaela frequently interviews people, so I decided to flip the tables on her and interview her so you'd know who was running the site while I'm away!!

1) What toy buys you the most time to get something done?

Definitely the train table! It was a group gift. My parents bought the table, my in-laws got the tracks and some trains, and my husband and I bought the drawers. (Because nothing says "Happy Birthday" to your child more than getting him some drawers.) We have had it for over three years, and both my kids still use it. It depends on the day. Sometimes it is a lego station, Radiator Springs, or just covered with their junk, but they love that train table!

2) Where's your favorite place in NOVA?

Frying Pan Park Farm, hands down! I consider myself to be their official stalker and receive email updates when baby animals are born. My toddler and I attend "Little Hands on the Farm" classes there, and I love all the special events Frying Pan has too. I have gotten to know some of the staff members, and they are amazing, friendly people.

3)Have a good embarrassing kid story?

When my son (then 3) shouted in Target. "Mommy! You must be SO EXCITED! They have BRAS HERE!" About four old ladies turned around and looked at me with disgust.

4)Adorable awwwww moment kid story to make up for the embarrassing one?

When my oldest helped me empty the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen and said "I am always going to clean up for my wife when I'm a daddy." Awww! Now, go teach that to your father!

4) What makes you crazy enough to run supernovamommy?

Um, why are there two question 4s? I am still trying to figure this out, but I keep going because of the fun local people and businesses that I am connecting with.

(confidential to Micaela, I'll get you for noticing my two 4's one day!!) ;)

5) Your top 3 parenting advice picks

"This too will pass." One day your kid WILL sleep through the night and use the potty. I promise!

"Be consistent." If you said we're leaving the park if you throw sand one more time, and your kid throws sand, then leave the park.

"If you feel frustrated, change the scenery." We live in an area with so many fun things for kids to do. Just get out and have fun!

6) Shoes or jewelry?

Shoes

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Cooking with Bloggers at Alice and Louise Cooking School

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Published: 03/28/2012

Being a blogger is not fun when your space bar isn't working. Being a blogger IS fun when you get to hang out with other bloggers at Alice and Louise, however!

Last week, I was able to go check out Alice and Louise with a group of Northern Virginia Bloggers for a fun networking event put together by Andrea from Real Housewives of Northern Virginia. Alice and Louise, in addition to doing catering, also hosts cooking classes for everyone from children through adults, and will do corporate events or private parties. (Interested in doing one? Email me! If we can get a group of 8 together I'll book it!) They can work around your price range and interests, and, bonus, you can BYOM (bring your own Merlot).

Mother Earth Meals was also on hand to share some great cooking inspired by battling cancer and increasing your health using food. Simply Desserts was also there with some delicious cheesecake tips. By the way, did you know that it's Lent? Everything smelled delicious and got gobbled up, but I just watched. Le sigh. (Okay, really I've been trying to pinpoint a few tummy issues and keep giving up different things to try to figure it out, but Lent is a much faster explanation)

Group shot! These ladies are a lot of fun! They didn't even make fun of the fact that I brought my own beverage (it was lemonade made with stevia) in a Patriots cup. Rocking :)

Pictured (In No Particular Order):
Paper Placemats
Mom Machine
Caffeine and a Prayer
Creekside Learning
703MommyandMe
SuperNovaMommy
Real Housewives of Northern Virginia
Beltway Bargain Mom
PwcMoms.com

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You Know You're Busy, Too.

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Published: 11/08/2010

Moms, let's talk.

I am so busy it's not even funny. And, it's my fault. I am one of those people that has trouble saying no...which is probably why I have 3 kids. Anyway, that is also why I'm PTA President and Sunday School Teacher and Scout Helper and chauffer and babysitter....you know what I'm saying.

So, I'm happy to take a little help where I can get it. When my first son was born, I spent 4 days making home-made hand-stamped individualized Christmas cards. Now, however, as a veteran mom (and a veteran Chief Home Officer in charge of where the cards go) I know that the only thing people keep each year is the pictures. My cards that I spent 4 days on? Those went in the trash. The cute pictures of the baby that some teenager took at Wally World in under 10 seconds? Those stayed on the fridge for a year.

What I'm saying, is that there is nothing wrong with not wasting your time or your money on something that's going in the trash. Especially if you're like me and you do not have time. That's why this year I'm ordering our Christmas Cards from Shutterfly.

We're CHRISTMAS Christmas people (since my other job is Children's Pastor), so I always look for something that references that it's a religious holiday for our family- so we're probably going for the O Holy Night cards here

However, if you celebrate another holiday, they've got you covered, too. My hubby's family is Jewish, so we also celebrate Hannukah- and although I don't send cards for it, if I did, this would be a winner in my book:

Finally, if you just want to cover all your bases, you know, Bodhi Day on December 8th, Winter Solstice on the 21st, Yule, Diwali, Eid ul-Adha, Kwanza, Festivus, whatever it is that you and your friends and family celebrate- I actually really love this card. Happy Everything. Pretty much says it all.

So, Happy Everything to you and your family this holiday season, and, save yourself a little time and send people what they really want- Awesome Fridge Pictures, no need for a card :)

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