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New Years Resolutions:2010 Goals

December 29, 2009 By 4 Comments
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Now that we are winding down 2009 it is time to look ahead into the future.  This is always a tough time of year.  You feel like doing nothing.  All of the holiday hype is over and now I am TIRED!  I am sitting on the couch having a Jamma day wondering what will make 2010 different from 2009.  It is always fun to think of what you will do new and different.  For me it is implimentation that is the issue.  I, like many others, tend not to meet myresolutions.  Is there a possibility that 2010 will be different?  My answer is yes.  This is my year to shine and here is why:

  1. The kids are a little older now so perhaps I will have a little more energy to focus on myself.
  2. I am preparing myself to be a success in my mind.
  3. I need to get healthy.
  4. I have a nice support system set up this time

So with all of this going for me I am sure to be a success.  I know that last year I most likely said the same thing but this year I am going to do it.  I will be embarking on my weight loss journey on January 2, 2010 and would love to have some of you join me.

If weight loss is not a resolution please share your resolution with us.  Support is the most effective way to accomplish your goals.  So what do you hope to accomplish this year?

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Christmas Countdown 2009: Little Santa Hat Cookies

November 18, 2009 By 4 Comments

38 Days Until Christmas
36 Shopping days remaining

The Cookie Exchange Week

For most of us cookies are an important part of the Christmas season.  Holiday baking can be a fun way to bond with the kids, enjoy extended family or relax alone.  In the 2008 Family Fun Magazine I found the cutest Santa Hat Cookies.  They are simple and fun to make and they come out super cute.

Ingredients:

  • 2 egg whites at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • Red colored

Heat the oven to 200 degrees.  With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until a soft peaks start to form.  .  Beating all the while, add the cream of tartar and vanilla extract,then slowly add the add the 1/2 cup of sugar.  Continue to beat until the peaks stiffen.

Spoon the meringue into a quart-size plastic bag.  Snip off a corner and pipe 2 dozen 1 1/2 inch-tall Santa hat triangles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet ( you should have about 1/4 of the meringue left).  Sprinkle the triangles with the red sugar then use the remaining meringue to add one pom-pom and trim.  Bake until the hats are hard but make sure they do not brown.  It should take a hour and 20 minutes.  Turn off the oven and leave the cookies for an additional hour with the oven off to allow crisping.

Becca


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Christmas Countdown 2009: Holiday Checklist

November 1, 2009 By 2 Comments

75 Days of Christmas Countdown:

55  Days Until Christmas

It is so important as the holidays approach to have a game plan.  I think that there are some simple things that can be done early.  These are not things that will be rushing the holiday.  They are things that will help you to be more prepared when they get here.

Image by disneyspeak.com via Flickr
  • Start Baking: There are many holiday treats that can be frozen and thaw well.  By starting holday baking a little at a time now you will have a chance to enjoy friends and family more at the holidays.
  • Get the calender out: It is never too early to start firming up plans for the holidays.  If you are planning a holiday party discuss them with friends and family now.  If there is a special trip you would like to pick the weekend now.  If there is a special day you would like to go shopping with a friend confirm the date and make the plans now.  If you would like to go see Disney‘s, “A Christmas Carol in 3-D” pick the date now.
  • Update Address Book: All through the year people move, pass away and change their phone numbers.  Go through your address book and make sure that you have all of the correct addresses for friends and family.  This will mean that when it comes time to send out Christmas cards you will be ready.
  • Make a Master Gift List: Write each person you need to shop for.  As you think of things that they will enjoy add it to your list.  Remember to leave room to check off when you buy it.  ALso remember to keep it away from the kids.  This also helps you hunt for the best price.
  • Develop a Budget: This is more important this year than it may have been in years past.  Many people have said that they will be spending less this year.  This means that we will all have to plan more and spend less.  
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Christmas Coundown 2009: Christmas Cheer

October 27, 2009 By 4 Comments

75 Days of Christmas Countdown

60 Days Until Christmas:

Unfortunately this year we have had some turbulent, personal issues.  This has meant that I have neglected the first 15 days of my famous 75 Days of Christmas Countdown.  With all of that being said I think that the most important thing to address this year is Christmas Cheer.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (TV special)
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What is Christmas Cheer you ask?  It is that special kind of happiness that only comes one time a year.  It is a time that we should all be a little nicer.  For some it is a time for family and friends and for others it is a time for giving back to their communities.  It is the desire to gather around with others and just be cheerful.

Now I am not sure why, but many people are lacking in their holiday cheer.  I have kept my mouth closed about this long enough.  I cannot contain my disappointment any longer.  It seems like Christmas has been taken over by the Grinch.  Christmas cheer is a quickly dying experience.  In the stores, on the street, in community centers, Christmas Cheer is dying.

So here is what I plan on doing about it.  I am going to be the Christmas Cheerleader.  I am going to spread Christmas cheer even to those whose hearts are three sizes too small.  I am going to help out our troops with the Girl Scouts, I am going to visit the nursing home with some presents, I am going to do everything I can think of to infect the people in this country with some good old fashion Christmas Cheer!  Join me in my quest to revive what we all love about Christmas!

Becca

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Michigan Mother in Trouble for Helping out Friends?

October 1, 2009 By 4 Comments

The story has been out for two days now!  A mother in Michigan is in trouble with the state for putting three neighborhood children on the bus in the morning.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Why in the world would this be an issue?  Perhaps people have nothing better to do then to worry about a mom who is helping out.  I am so appalled by this!  With the economy it is more and more important that friends and neighbors use each other as resources.  My parents cannot afford to pay their friends to help out.  It is like a barter.  You help me and I will help you.  So why is this wrong all of a sudden?

A 19th-century example of barter: A sample lab...
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As a mother with three children I certainly ask friends to help out from time to time.  They ask me for help as well.  That is whay friends and family are for.  This woman is not profiting, she is helping.  I am so flabbergasted by this entire situation!  My mother in law is forever talking about “big brother” watching.  I usually blow her off and poo poo the allegations.  Then a story like this comes along and I have to say that I agree!

What do you all think about this case?  Do you think that this mother should be a liscensed daycare because she puts three kids on the bus for FREE?  Join in and let me know what you think.  I am always interested in opinions!

Becca

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The Wizard of Oz: Celebrating 70 Years

September 30, 2009 By 3 Comments

This is the 70th anniversary of the “wizard of Oz“.  I watched it on TV the other night for old times sake.  It is a move that has find memories for me.

The first thing is that television when I was a child was not what it is today.  The “Wizard of Oz” was on once a year and that was it.   In our house it was an event.  An even that impacted me for my whole life.  Many times I remember going to my grandmothers and watching it.  We all gathered to share that joy that the movie gives.  The only bad part for me was that Grandpa G would not let us sing!  I love to sing and those are catchy toons.  My cousin and I would develop a show for after the movie where we could let out all of our singing and other talents… tap dancing was always a must!

The Wizard of Oz, filmed in 3-strip Technicolor

Other times we watched it at home.  We would pop popcorn and sit and watch it.  Each year my mother would retell the same story… When I was young we did not have a color television.  It was not until I was married that I understood why they called it the horse of changing color. ..

See what I mean we all have memories of this movie.  It is MAGICAL.  For all of the negative during production it has lived in all of our hearts year after year.  When Abigail turned 1 I bought a DVD copy of the movie for my father.  I wrote a note saying that this movie was always something special and now we can make the same memories.  Although all of the girls like the movie it is just not the same.  It can be watched any day of the year now.  It has lost a little bit of its magic.  It will forever be in my heart as a time when I was happy…  The hours of my life I have watched “the Wizard  of Oz” are full of joy!  Until the flying monkeys came and got you in your dreams that is.

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Christmas Countdown 2009: 75 Days of Christmas

September 29, 2009 By 4 Comments
Edinburgh on the hill 2 - christmas corner
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Well it is almost that time of year again.  Yes I said it… Christmas is upon us.  I know that you are thinking that I am a bit over the edge but it is only 12 more days until my 75 Days of Christmas Countdown.  Day 75 is on coming quickly and I have begun to think a lot about what I am trying to cover this year.

Last year I offered my ideas of what the holidays should be and what they actually are.  If there is one thing that I have learned it is that Christmas never goes the way that I plan it.  It has more bumps then I am ever ready for but in the end the memories are fond when I look back.

I was thinking that this year there are some important things that I would like to cover.  I know that we are all on tight budgets this year.  Many people are out of work and even others are just struggling to make payments on their mortgages each month.  I am going to try and make this year a cheap, yet fun year.  I will be posting budgeting ideas, low cost gift ideas, easy crafts for kids and adults, and of course my insight and humor.  Yet again there is a lot to do and what feels like a lot of time to do it in!

I would like to ask all of you what Christmas topics you are looking for this year?  Shall I post recipies, survival guides, crafts, gift ideas or even a funny story or two?  What are we looking for this year?  What do you want your Christmas to be?

Becca

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Webkinz Jr.

August 31, 2009 By 3 Comments
Webkinz
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Webkinz has done it again.  Webkinz has released Webkinz Jr. which is a site made specifically for children ages 3-6.  I think that this is a wonderful thing.  I know that Emma has had a webkinz since she was 3 and enjoyed the decorating part of her room and the dressing of the pet.  I used to play all of her games so that she could earn money to do this.

Now there is a whole new Webkinz World for younger children.  I explored some and like what I see.  There are seperate areas.  The games are meant for the younger user and seem more educational.  All in all it looks very cute.  I just have to investigate some more to find out if there are actual Webkinz Jr.’s or if any Webkinz pet can be registered to the site.  I will keep you posted.  Perhaps I will give it a try with Analiese.

Becca

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Back to School: What Do You Really Need to Buy?

August 27, 2009 By 4 Comments

We are only 6 days away now and back to school is all I can think about.  I will admit that it is because I am anxious to see the kids out of my house back at school.  They thrive under structure which the summer just does not provide.  So as we get closer and closer I started to think about the fact that I have done NO back to school shopping yet.  For a few moments I was really worried.  My heart beat sped up and the headache started to come on.  I was in a panic yesterday thinking about how I will afford all of it and how will I get it in the next few days.

The JanSport logo
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The more I thought about it the more I realized that there was just not a huge need, like I kept thinking there was.  So I made a list of what I needed to buy and what I wanted to buy.  I think that given the current state of the economy, I am not alone in my desire to separate wants versus needs.  The school does not help too much.  They want you to buy book sox.  I did find them in Walmart for $.50 each but come on.  Why is it that we do not reuse… You know the keys to a greener earth… Reduce, recycle and REUSE…?  Why do we have to buy something to cover a book?  I remember taking my paper grocery bags and spending time with my parents learning the fine art of book covering.  This was real bonding time.  Instead of this free option I had to add $2.50 to my budget.  Seems wrong to me.

Either way here is what I came up with:

Needs:

  1. All supplies on the kids lists
  2. A bookbag (we have decided to reuse old ones.  We are going to bedazzle them so that they are more fun this year)
  3. New shoes for Abigail: She grew like a flower this summer

I think that all in all that is all of the NEEDS we have.  Grandpa and Grandma were nice enough to buy about 90% of the school supplies.  So once I buy shoes my NEEDS are met.

Wants:

  1. New first day of school outfits
  2. New fall wardrobe
  3. New hair accessories to match all of their clothing
  4. New lunch bags
  5. A JanSport book bag for Abigail
  6. Winter coats
  7. Haircuts for the girls
  8. Fall jackets
  9. Book bag for Emma
  10. New shoes for Emma

The thing is that these are only wants.  It became clear the more I thought about it that we did not NEED these things.  I usually spend about $800 on back to school.  This year I estimate spending about $100.  I am sure that I am not the only one tightening my belt.  Abigail has a birthday in three weeks.  I am sure that between myself and her grandparents she will be the best dressed kid in 4th grade.  Most of the clothing out there for back to school is too hot for September anyway.  I will let you all know how this goes.  I am anxious to see how bad I am going to feel for not buying into the back to school.  I think that I may feel bad for a while but in the long run it will all be just fine!  The kids ARE going to live through it.  They WILL still be dressed nicely.  The most important thing is that it teaches them a lesson.  Money does not grow on trees…

LESSON LEARNED:  You do not have to buy into the commercial hoopla.  You can resist and live through it.

Becca

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Time Out: Does it Work? Parenting Tips

August 25, 2009 By 4 Comments
Two of a Kind
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Time out is one of those parenting tips that everyone throws around.  It is something that is supposed to work.  I think that it all depends on the kid.  I have found that there are some things that you have to make sure happen when you do time out.  They have worked for my oldest, my middle daughter and even my two year old gets the idea.  The trouble is that even I forget that time out can work because from time to time I get too emotional.

Yes it is true that I tend not to keep my cool.  I yell and yell and yell a little more.  Then I throw them in time out while screaming some more.  I yell most of the time they are in time out.  If they stay in time out that is.

Then there are those other days when I do time out right.  Here are the steps that you are supposed to take with time out.  I have found time and time again that when I follow them time out is much more effective.

  1. Have an area in your house that is the time out spot.  This can be a step, a time out chair, a mat on the floor, or even a large stuffed toy
  2. Do not make your time out spot in a child’s bedroom.  This is where all of their toys and things that they love are.  If they are told to stay there where is the punishment?
  3. Only place your child in time out for 1 minute per year.  So if your child is 6 then they should remain in time out for 6 minutes.  This is because your child’s attention spans grow with the child.  You cannot expect a 2 year old to sit in time out for 10 minutes.  they just do not have it in them.
  4. When you are placing your child in time out remain calm.  This is so that the message is not lost.  If you remember way back when you were a child I think that you will remember that you stopped listening once people were yelling at you.   Kids are no different right now.
  5. Tell your child why you are placing them in time out.  Say, “Abby, I you need a time out because we do not speak that way in this house.”  This makes it clear to the child what they have done.
  6. Set the timer and walk away.  It is important not to engage your child when they are in time out.  If they get out of time out, place them back and restart the timer.  DO NOT TALK TO THEM.  This feeds into the game that they want you to play.
  7. When time out is over tell your child again why they were placed in time out.
  8. Do not force your child to say that they are sorry.  This is my own personal belief.  All you are doing is forcing the child to lie.   If they are sorry they will say so on their own.  I think that you should never tell a child to say sorry when they are not.  Many times the child is not sorry.  You are not looking for sorrow.  You are looking for an understanding of what they did and that it was not acceptable in your home.

Sounds easy right.  If you look at Nanny Jo on Supper Nanny she will even make you think that it is simple.  For those of you who know me you know that I am not a sugar coat it kind of person.  IT IS HARD.  It takes a lot of work and you have to be dedicated.

One more note… It is alright that you take a time out if you need one.  I have done it before and it works.  Sometimes it is not the kids but the adult who needs a break.

Do not handle time out like my favorite episode of Lucky Louise.  He did it all wrong!

Becca

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