Fashion Friday: Faux Fur Vest {Giveaway}

Hello and welcome to all The Dating Diva readers!

I'm Reagan, the label-maker lovin', OAMC cookin', game playin', sexy date plannin' woman/wife/mom behind Where is the ME in Mommy?.  

Something I really love is striving to NOT look like a mom. No mom jeans or mom butt on this woman!  To celebrate fashion loving women everywhere, I'm giving away a one-of-a-kind faux fur vest!

Look carefully at the following celebrity fashions.



Now, what is the common thread?

Faux Fur Vests of course!

Faux fur vests are kinda the "in" thing right now and luckily the trend fits any budget.

Wearing a faux fur vest is easy!

rolled jeans + T shirt + vest + flats + bold accessory = Effortless Style

Tees by Forever 21
Flats by Mossimo

Chambray dress + boots + vest + necklace = Casually Confident

Day Dresses by Old Navy
Boots by Mossimo

Breezy dress + boots + vest + bangles + ring = Boho Fun

Day Dresses by Charlotte Russe
Boots by Charlotte Russe

Skinny jeans + long sleeved T + bold necklace + vest = Cool and collected

Tees by Mossimo
Boots by Mossimo

Have I tempted you into desiring a faux fur vest?

To celebrate the launching of the all new The Dating Divas website, I'm giving away a faux fur vest!

Winner of this giveaway will receive a faux fur vest similar to the one below (color/pattern may vary from the photo).

Wanna throw your name in the hat?

Here's how:

Head to THE DATING DIVAS and follow directions there.

And while you are at it, take a stroll through their blog and plan a hot date for your special lovey!

{Guest Blogger} Things I Love--Responsibility Chart

Welcome to today's guest blogger, Sarah!

Sarah is from the South and loves to cook.  She's the cookin' cutie behind Frontier Kitchen.  I may have mentioned a few thousand times how much I love her cooking and trust me, I'm not making this up.  I. Love. Her. Cooking. 

Though Sarah is one of my BFFs (which is why we can double date and do Twilight stuff together), I'm pretty sure my tummy/muffin top/thighs are convinced she's the devil incarnate.  Check out her blog. You'll understand.

Anyhow, big huge THANK YOU to Sarah for contributing to this week's "Things I Love ..."

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I haven't met a mom who doesn't love Melissa & Doug products. They're fantastic, durable and classic.

One of my favorite products of theirs is the Responsibility Chart.

I have an earlier version of this one for my daughter. My mom had bought two for my younger brothers over ten years ago and thoughtfully sent one of the charts to us last year for Lillian to use.

I love how these are magnetic so you can adjust it each month for the responsibilities you want your child to work on depending on their age or skills you want them to learn. Right now my daughter's has: get dressed, put away toys, set the table, stay dry, no whining, help mom, and take care of pets.

I love how all the responsibility magnets have pictures of what needs to be done along with the words for them. This is not only good for children who can't read yet, but it also helps them understand that words have specific meanings by routinely seeing them used together.

I love that you can work with your child to set goals to keep them motivated to work on their responsibilities. So with my three-year-old, I set rewards up (getting ice cream, buying a small toy/book, an hour at Chuck E Cheese, etc) and also use words of encouragement. This appeals to the strong extrinsic motivation all young children have and also nurtures their development towards intrinsic motivation. 

What system do you have to encourage responsibility in your children?

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Want to know where else you can catch Sarah?  She's on The Dating Divas today and is giving away a necklace and ear ring set. Do you want to know more?  Click here!

{Guest Blogger} What I Think About: What it Means to be a Woman

A big Wyoming welcome to Pam, our guest blogger of the day.  Pam is the U.K. blogger behind  Geek Chic.  I "met" Pam through the 30/30 challenge and instantly became a follower because of her staple belief.

Pam states, "I firmly believe a woman can never have too many boots."

Sign me up for that!

Anyhow, Pam followed WITMIM? back--a somewhat "weird" follower in that she is not a wife or a mom.  And yet her submission of this guest blog just really spoke to my heart.  She isn't a part of the secret society of women with rugrats and diamond rings but she is still trying to find that balance of what it means to be a woman. 

If you read nothing else today, read this and ponder.  (Oh, and giggle at the slight language differences.  Even in print I LOVE an English accent! Ha!)

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There’s really no need to say that now being a woman is more difficult than it ever was.  It’s not just about beauty magazines either.  Everyone has a say in what it means to be a woman and this 25 year old is getting really peeved by all the contradictory information. 

We’re supposed to be powerful yet nurturing, slim yet curvy, smart yet not too smart, stay at home Mum’s who go to work too. The media tells us that they love natural looking women whilst advertising hair colours only imagined by sugar high pixies and bright red lipstick and then they tell us that natural beauty involves a lot of mascara and giant eyelashes. 

 It’s crazy and it’s really no wonder than teenagers are so confused.

I’m a few years past my teenage years and yet I keep being told I’m not a woman. I’m unmarried and don’t have children so I’ve not lived enough to be a woman. With marriage and children comes an invite into the sacred group known as women. But of course, if I pout and throw a hissy fit I’m told “You’re a grown woman, act like it” somehow I’m not even sure how to be a woman anymore.

Sex in the City promotes promiscuity and feminists tell us this is okay because we’ve reached a time of sexual freedom, but what if I don’t want to throw myself at every good looking man I see? Is it really so difficult to imagine that actually being in love is more important than the perfect orgasm?

I find it so hard to imagine what I’m going to do when I get married and maybe have a kid. I believe I can be a good Mum whilst working and my government backs me up but at the same time there is a lot of public pressure concerning children who didn’t have a stay at home mum...apparently they’re all delinquents. I doubt that but what do I know? I’m just a kid still. 

So what is a woman? I know women who are innocent and some who are not. I know strong women and weak women, women who love men and women who don’t. I know Mum’s and Gran’s and Aunts and Cousins, women who have been in the army and women who are fighting essay deadlines and exam stress. Is it fair to say that a woman must be strong? That excludes a lot of women. What about those who are smart? I was once told to get a man I needed to dumb myself down. Clearly I ignored that advice; I found a man who loves me for who I am not who people think I should be.

When you’re young people tell you that you can’t be in love. After all you’re young, what do you know about love? I still get told that but there are women younger than me who are married and have children (some don’t but they still have a ring that gives their love validity) does that mean their love isn’t genuine? No, it doesn’t. Somehow an engagement ring and a wedding band means that they are serious about their love whereas not having these things means you will sit there and smile when people make assumptions that you’ll break up soon. It’s madness yet because I’m “young” it’s okay for people to assume I don’t know a thing about love. 

Maybe one day I’ll figure it out. Who knows but somehow I doubt that’ll be the day I get married or give birth. Perhaps I’ve already figured it out, at least until the next advert tells me I haven’t.

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Did you know that THE DATING DIVAS launched a new site and are hosting some awesome giveaways this week?  Necklaces, earrings, subscriptions, marriage calendars, faux fur vests ... you better check it out!  Click here

{Guest Blogger} The Reason Behind The Happy Dance

A big WITMIM? welcome to guest blogger Deanna. I "met" Deanna through the 30/30 challenge and she's offered to do a post for me while I'm in Mexico! (Do you get the feeling I'm rubbing it in? No, well how's this? I'm in Mexico. Na na na na na!) Just kidding ;)

Anyhow, please look at beautiful Miss Deanna and read all about WHY she's doing a happy dance ... digitally captured and shared online!

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Purple Necklace – Jewelscapes Full Bodied Vino Necklace – Amethyst stones, Agate Stones, 44 inches long
Earrings – Jewelscapes Amethyst Daggers Earrings
Yellow Necklace – Jewelscapes Liquid Sunshine Necklace
Ring – Jewelscapes New Jade Stone Wire Wrapped ONe Size Fits All Ring
All Jewelscapes jewelry is handmade by me and available at http://www.jewelscapes.etsy.com/
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Hello!  First of all I want to thank  http://whereisthemeinmommy.blogspot.com/  for the opportunity to be on her great blog!

I'm Deanna and I am  the 34 years young Jewelscapes jewelry designer and creator,  photographer of myself and my creations, mama of 3 rascally kids who’s names I change for blog land (Sunshine – 13 years old///L man – 7 years old///Little S – 3 years old), wife of a hardworkin man, and I daily share jewelry and outfit coordinating ideas at my blog http://www.jewelscapes.blogspot.com/ !

This outfit and jewelery coordination was for a little luncheon I threw for some girlfriends! Woo Hoo!

When you are the mama of 3 kids and work from home, making time to hang out with a group of your girlfriends doesn’t happen as often as you’d like, so I was pretty excited about it.

That’s why I’m doing a little happy dance in those photos!

We had a great time visiting, exchanging advice, making baby shower invitations for another friends baby shower, eating, and sipping some tasty drinks!

This occasion seemed to call for the comfort of a soft sweater,  lots of fun colors, and necklaces that swing, sway and  glimmer! Fun fun fun!!!

What do you think? If you are a mom, how often do you end up getting together with your girlfriends?  

Although I get together for lunch or a movie with one girlfriend at a time every once in a while, it’s been about a year since a whole group of us got together to hang out!  

What do you do when you get together, chill out at one of your homes or go out somewhere?
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Hello fellow bloggers! Do you have some of my handmade Jewelscapes Jewelry marked in your etsy favorites? Would you like 20% off of the next item you purchase at Jewelscapes.etsy?  I would love to give it to you too!
I have just created a NEW Jewelscapes.etsy button in my sidebar, it links people to my etsy shop not to this blog. All you have to do is copy the code below the "Handmade and Vintage Jewelry/ jewelscapes.etsy.com picture" in my sidebar, add it to your sidebar,  and leave it there for 30 days. As soon as you put it in your sidebar and let me know about it in a comment here, the next item you purchase at jewelscapes.etsy will be 20% off for you!  (just mention this offer in your etsy message to seller at checkout and I refund your Paypal!)
Thank you so much. It is a joy to know you all and I hope to help each other too!
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my shops -
http://www.jewelscapes.etsy.com/
http://www.jewelscapesvintage.etsy.com/
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Did you know that THE DATING DIVAS launched a new site and are hosting some awesome giveaways this week?  Necklaces, earrings, subscriptions, marriage calendars, faux fur vests ... you better check it out!  Click here

Days of Play--Snow Scream

Happy 2011 to you.  And if you are a number person, happy 1/1/11!

I'm a dreary weather person who likes the cold too.

None of this explains why I'm gearing up to head to Cozumel on Monday (except that I also LOVE to scuba dive and you can't do that in WY).

We've had unseasonably warm weather in WY this year so snow has been hard to come by.  Lucky me, though, we just had some serious winter weather.

To celebrate the onslaught of flakes, I put a big clean bowl on the deck.

Why?

To make Snow-Scream!

What?

Ice cream made out of snow.  Basically this give adults an excuse to eat snow.

If you have snow, I encourage you to make snow-scream today.

Okay, okay--it's NOT as good as the stuff with cream and sugar but it's fun (dare I say magical) to make and I think since it's made of snow you could count it as an organic health food {wink}

What you'll need:

1 BIG bowl of snow (it compacts so you need a lot of snow--a gallon is about right).
1 cup of white sugar
1-2 cups of milk
vanilla or chocolate powder (to desired taste).

What to do:

1. Get a bowl full of snow and stir in the sugar.
2. Add in milk (any percent but the thicker--2%, whole, whipping cream--the creamier the taste) until the ice cream is the right consistency. (We like ours more like soft-serve than slushy).
3. Add in flavoring.  We've done chocolate powder or vanilla but you could experiment with cherry or peppermint flavoring.
4. Put in a bowl.
5. Eat with your mittens on.

Fashion Friday--New Year's Eve Guide

Do you have New Year's Eve plans?

Do you know what you are wearing for those plans?

Whether you are going out or staying in, this is a great occasion to shop your closet!

Here are three formulas that will cover your New Year's Eve plans.

Staying home or going to a causal get together?  Try this sweater and jeans formula.

One sweater + one BOLD necklace + skinny jeans/cords + boots + bag= ready to go (or stay--your call).

Skinny Denim by Forever 21
Boots by Old Navy

Maybe you're heading to a party that calls for a edgy-prepster look.

Embellished top + vest/blazer + necklace + skinny pants + heels=ready to party--like a sophisticate

Skinny Denim by Gap
Boots by Charlotte Russe

Perhaps yours is the sort of affair that necessitates your little black dress.

LBD + notice-me-necklace/bracelet + pop of color heels + clutch + outerwear = On your way!

Black Dresses by Ann Taylor
Boots by Charlotte Russe

Of course you could opt for PJs! 

Remember that I'm showing you clothing options NOT so you go buy, but so you go LOOK in your closet. I'm guessing you have a sweater or tank or heels that would be perfect. Go. Play. Enjoy.

Happy New Year!

Things I Love--Reminicing

Every now and then Matt gets pretty reminiscent about life, especially when it comes to time with our kids.

One day not so long ago he was listening to OURS by The Bravery and it got him thinking about the time that is ours ... and how quickly it passes.

So he created this slide show documenting our family in the year of 2010.

Happy New Year!

What I Think About: Reward Systems

Have you ever asked a child to do something (clean her room, pick up his toys, put a plate in the dishwasher) and the child responds with "What will you give me for doing it?"

Have you have a conversation about "these kids today" and how "ungrateful and unmotivated" they are?

Have you ever wondered where these kids learned it?

{GULP}

Photo Source

Reward systems are pretty widely used by parents and educators alike.

I see it in classrooms all the time.  Well intentioned teachers use a token of some sort to bribe  manipulate encourage kids into good behavior.  If everyone does well, you get a pizza party. If you turn in your homework you get a star.  If you get three stars, you can buy a pencil.

Educators do this because of "real world" applications.  When I perform at work, I get paid.

The problem is that most reward systems work for kids who wouldn't need the system in the first place.

The "good" kids rack up points/stars/tickets/smiley faces and are able to "buy" pencils, sleepovers, and IPods.

Meanwhile, the "bad" kids lose their tickets/points/stars/smiley faces and as a result, feel angry, hurt, humiliated, and hopeless. And if they are in the hole, why not act out more since there's nothing to lose?

And this happens in the real world too.

The "good" hard workers get the "good" jobs with good pay.  The "bad" workers don't. (Of course we won't let discussion about systemic injustices in poverty, education, etc., play into these conversations ...)

As a parent and an educator I have used reward systems sparingly, a few times.  Mainly I used them for a brief period to encourage specific behavior.  In the classroom, I used rewards to get through the last two weeks of school (because kids check out and "stop" school mentally by then).  In my home, I used a reward system during potty training.

And that is it.

Why?

I do not want children, mine or anyone else's, to blindly "behave" in order to get or not get something (because I feel the same way about demerit systems as I do reward systems).

I don't want kids to clean their desks/lockers/rooms because they are going to get a pencil; I want them to do it because they were asked to do it--because it's the "right" thing to do.

Obedience is a high expectation and I think too often we sell our kids short by assuming they HAVE to have some sort of immediate, tangible reward in order to do what is right.

What I fear is that kids become so accustomed to getting something in return for good behavior that they stop doing things because it's the "right thing to do" and do it because they'll get something in return.

And then adults complain about a generation of entitled brats.

It is an inconvenient truth that reward systems have been the subject of much research and such research demonstrates that though reward systems can be temporarily effective, in the long run, such systems result in lowered intrinsic motivation (I'll plug one of my favorite books here: Punished by rewards: The trouble with gold stars, incentive plans, A's, praise, and other bribes. by Alfie Kohn).

A lot of people have had the experience of having done something and they loved it—until they started to get paid for doing it, after which they wouldn't dream of doing it again without getting paid. The phenomenon whereby extrinsic motivators cause intrinsic motivation to evaporate is not on the tips of our tongues, but it's not that far from consciousness, either. (click here to read this interview)

You won't see charts or graphs at my house.  You won't hear me bribing M.E. to clean her room with promises of a toy from the dollar store. You will hear expectations for her being spoken loudly and clearly. And you'll see me model it.

I want my children to understand that, socially, there are acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and actions.  I want them to learn to do what is right for right's sake.  Not because I gave them a gold sticker.

Reward systems?  Not at my house.

Photo Source

A Monday Tune to Get Stuck in Your Head

A lot of people get post-Christmas blues.

If that's you then this song if for you.

It totally crack me up!

It gets "awesomer" with every viewing :)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Dear beloved friends and readers,

This is my favorite Christmas song of all time.

May it convey all I hope for you this Christmas season.





Merry Christmas,
Reagan

Fashion Friday--Holiday Colors

Every year winter brings with it holiday colors.

This year, those colors are white, berry, and gold.

I'm all over it!

Are you dreaming of a WHITE Christmas?

Cardigans by Old Navy
Rings by Forever 21

Berry Christmas to you!

Crewnecks & Scoopnecks by Forever 21
Necklaces by Old Navy

GOLD, incense and myrrh

Shortsleeve Tops by Eddie Bauer
Platforms by Mossimo

I'm always posting stuff you can buy now at stores like Gap, Old Navy, Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, etc., but don't forget you can find great stuff at second hand places, like Plato's Closet and Goodwill. I got a great gold belt at our local Goodwill for $1! YAY!

{Holiday} Things I Love--Traditions

My favorite part of the holiday season are the traditions.

I love that we do a big fancy-schmancy dinner on Christmas Eve and something low-key Christmas Day so I can enjoy time with my family and not my kitchen appliances.

I love that we eat the same coffee cake for breakfast every Christmas morning. 

I love that we sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus before we eat that cake.

I love that we don't *have* to open presents first thing.

I love that we sit around an pajama clad audience and slowly open gifts--sharing what we received and thanking the giver.

I love that we go outside and worship in God's creation.

I love that we host an annual Christmas party and cookie swap.

I love that we act out the Nativity story with Little People.

These are little things--very little things--but to me, this is what makes this holiday season such a blessing.

What I Think About--Santa

Not so long ago I gave you my schpeel on why I struggle so much with Christmas.

In that post I also told you that we don't teach our kids about Santa.  I received a couple of comments/e-mails about this decision.  A couple were very supportive but a few others pretty much berated me as the worst mom ever since I'm "ruining" my kids' childhood fun.

I decided to take today to explain why we don't do Santa.

First let me say that I think this is a heart issue, not a salvation issue.  I don't think anyone's going to hell in a handbag for celebrating Christmas with Santa or without him.  Santa is not right for my family; my sister's family does Santa--we parent differently in many areas and this is one of them.  On issues such as these, it is okay to disagree agreeably.

Next, you must know I have a Santa collection.  I don't have a ton of them but it started with this ironing board Santa my mom and I made in '94 and has grown. If you came to my house you will see Santa Claus.  However, you won't see us celebrating him, singing about him, or telling stories about him.

Here's why.

This poster has been floating around for a while and it pretty much sums up my point of view:

 

 

Photo Source

In case you can't read it, the poster says: Dear Children: One day you will learn everything about Santa Claus.  On that day remember everything the adults have told you about Jesus.

Whether we like it or not, many people think Jesus is a lie just like Santa is a lie.  A nice lie.  A fun lie.  A lie of hope.  But still a lie.

My problem is that I don't believe that Jesus is a lie.

And I don't want my children to think Jesus is a lie, either. 

If you are critical like I am, you've probably noticed that Santa has some pretty god-like characteristics.  He's  all-knowing; he is everywhere; he has the power to put kids on the nice or naughty list. 

My problem with this some of the hidden agenda here. 

• Kids get what they want if they are good (enter discussion on saved by faith v. saved by works here). 
• Kids "obey" because they are afraid of "not" getting what they want as opposed to obeying for the sake of learning, with their hearts and character, what is right.
• Kids learn that seeing is believing.  They can believe in Santa because he is everywhere--at the mall, at the YMCA, in Church ...

Is it any wonder that when kids learn the truth about Santa--that he's not real, that he's not omnipotent, that he's not omniscient, they begin to question these truths about Jesus as well?

I never want my children to have this conversation:

One boy asks the other, "What do you think of all this Jesus Christ stuff"? And the other boy replies, "It all sounds like another Santa Claus to me – probably just another lie."

I know some people say that Santa is needed for good imagination and that it's just fantasy. 

That may be a fine point but the problem is that kids don't KNOW that Santa is fantasy and so they idealize and love and worship something that is. a. lie. 

Furthermore, my daughter has a fabulous imagination.  She has imaginary wolf and fox friends.  She drives laundry basket cars and goes shark diving in the bathtub.  And she's done it all without Santa.

I don't need Santa to make Christmas fun and festive.  I don't need Santa to help me raise/discipline my children.  I don't need Santa to increase my children's imagination.

I need Jesus.

He is who I celebrate at Christmas.  He is the one who guides me on my parenting roller-coaster.  He is the giver of ideas.

That's why I personally feel like it is wrong for Matt and I to stress Santa Claus at the expense of talking about Jesus during Christmas. If we don’t make it a point at Christmas to tell our children about the significant birth of Christ, we are missing an incredible opportunity.  If we lie to get our children to believe in Santa while telling them about Jesus, then we set ourselves up for having to explain later on why we lied about Santa while hoping they'll trust us when we say Jesus is real.

What I think about Santa is that involving him in your holiday celebrations is your decision.  My decision is to ignore the charming little story in lieu of what I believe is the truth: JESUS.

(If you are interested in a lengthy, biblical analysis of Santa in culture, click here)

To Do Tuesday--Wish Us Happy Anniversary

******Today is our anniversary!******

Here are 21 Fun Facts about our marriage:

21.  We got married on a Saturday.  On the Friday before we finished our finals from grad school and law school, decorated, attended showers, a rehearsal, and a rehearsal dinner.  Phew!

20.  Matt used a line on me: "So if I were gonna call you, what name would I look up in the phone book?"  My answer?  "I'm unlisted but if you'd like to ask for my number I'll give it to you."

19.  I kissed Matt first.  I'm kinda bold like that.  It was 3:00 am and freezing out.  He didn't walk me to my car (good thing too since I was floating).

18.  Our "song" is Little Black Backpack by Stroke Nine.

17.  We didn't dance to that at our wedding.  We danced to Back at One. There's a story there.

16.  We always go to bed at the same time.  Always.

15.  Matt told me early on he doesn't like onions or mushrooms.  I know 2 recipes that don't have one or the other in it.  He now likes onions and mushrooms.

14.  We like to recreate together--hiking, rock climbing, road biking, scuba diving ... give us the outdoors and each other and we'll be fine.

13.  Matt handles all our finances and I do all the cooking. We are like the stereotypical couple from the fifties (except I don't vacuum in dresses).

12.  We take the game "truth or dare" to new levels each time we play.

11.  We still date one another.

10.  We have never, ever used the bathroom in front of each other. (We said we'd never do that and his aunts said we'd cave one day. We've been together 11 years and I've never seen him pee!  Can I hear an amen?!?!)

9.  Matt throws up louder than anyone I know.  I stop being sympathetic right about the time his dry-heave sessions wake the kids.

8.  We have very secret codes, innuendos, and looks we give each other in public.  I've "said" some pretty naughty stuff in your presence ... trust me :)

7.  One time Matt's mom kept calling and calling and calling us.  When Matt finally answered, she asked where he was.  He said, "In the shower."  She asked, "Why didn't Reagan answer the phone."  He said, "Because she was in the shower."  Now my MIL (who is awesome BTW) just leaves a message.

6.  Matt is better at making breakfast than I am.

5.  My dad told Matt that he'd be the most wonderful person in the world, save that one week a month when he'd be the worst man alive.  My dad knows me all too well.

4.  Matt does kind things for me out of nowhere.  A lot.  One time he left fifty(ish) yellow post-it notes EVERYWHERE in our house telling me things he loved about me.  You can't buy awesomeness like that!

3.  Matt has never forgotten my birthday or our anniversary; if it weren't for me, he'd never remember his family member's birthdays or anniversaries.

2.  Matt and I laugh ... a lot.

1.  Though there have been ups and downs, and diagonals in our life and marriage, I wouldn't want to go through life without Matt.  He is my perfect provision!

Happy Anniversary, Map!

Guest Bloggers Wanted!

I hate to brag but I'm going to Mexico in January and I'd love some guest bloggers!

Interested in writing a piece for WITMIM? ?

Well, send me your submission to whereisthemeinmomm{at}gmail{dot}com by December 21st and I'll let you know if you made the cut ;)

Feel free to write about anything MOM, WOMAN, or WIFE related.  Recipes, craft ideas, opinion pieces, fashion finds or faux pas, ... your call.  For one week only I won't be following my general routine.

HOWEVER, each sumission must include:

• Your name and the names/ages of your children;
• Links to your blog (if applicable) or esty store;
• 2-3 good quality photos;
• E-mail in html format preferred.

What you'll get in return:

• This is not a big blog by any stretch of the imagination but you will get 1 day of my reader's attention (and I'd rather have 100 loyal followers than 2310 luke-warm follwers, BTW!).
• Hot silver gums (Okay, this is a "nothing" award.  M.E. decided "hot silver gums" were the coolest thing ever so now I hand them out like invisible trophies. It's kinda like Who's Line--the points don't matter--neither do the hot silver gums.  But it sounds cool, doesn't it?).

Once again, if you are interested send e-mail me your submission of your post by Dec. 21st.

whereisthemeinmommy@gmail.com

**Please note** I have the right to refuse submissions that are not in line with the mission and vision of this blog.  I also maintain the right to edit as needed.

Oh and one more thing, I'm all about controversial topics but keep the language PG cuz that's how I role!

Days of Play--Gifts in a Jar

I really like to give close neighbors and friends some holiday cheer that's cheap homemade.  I take cookies, breads, and drink mixes but some of my favorite gifts are gifts in a jar.

You've seen them--bread, soup, cookie and hot drink mixes in fun mason jars with raffia--now make some. 

Source

Measuring is a great "math connection" for kiddos and what can be better than making gifts for others, together?

Here are some great "gift in a jar" recipes that I've tried and loved (oh, and here's one Miss Frontier Kitchen made that looks amazing!  I heart orange cranberry bread!).

Hot Snow (for more drink mix ideas, click here)

10 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk
4 cup confectioner's sugar
2 8 ounce jars of French vanilla flavored nondairy powdered creamer
3 1/2 cups Nestle's Quick
2 3/4 cup nondairy powdered creamer
1/2 teaspoon salt

8 pint size gift jars

Combine all ingredients. Scoop into jars.

Print out the following instructions on card stock to attach to the jars with a ribbon and peppermint stick.

Stir 3 heaping tablespoons of cocoa mix into hot water or milk.

Snowballs

Layer the following in a 1-quart jar:

3 cups vanilla wafers (Nilla) finely crushed
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa

Attach the following gift tag to the jar with a ribbon and a mini-bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream.

Combine contents of jar in a bowl.
Mix in 1/2 cup Bailey's Irish Cream and 3 tablespoons light corn syrup and mix with a wooden spoon until well blended.
Allow to stand 5 minutes.
Shape mixture into 1-inch balls.
Roll balls in confectioners sugar and allow to dry on wire rack 1 hour.

Store leftovers in air-tight container between layers of wax paper.

 Dirty Snow Soup

A hearty rice and mushroom soup to help you warm up after a day of play in the snow.

1 (2.75 ounce) package country gravy mix

1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
2 teaspoons dried celery flakes
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 cup uncooked wild rice
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped dried mushrooms

Pour gravy mix into wide-mouth pint jar. In small bowl, stir together bouillon granules, onion, celery and parsley. Pour into jar to make second layer. Add layers of wild rice, white rice and mushrooms. Seal with lid. Attach gift tag with a ribbon and wooden spoon.

Dirty Snow Soup
Empty contents of jar into a large saucepan. Add 7 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until rice is tender.  Stirr occasionally. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Candy Cane Bath Salts

12 (12 oz) canning jars with lids

2 cartons (4 pounds) of Epsom salts

4 pounds of kosher salt

1 tsp glycerin, divided

12 drops peppermint essential oil

red food coloring

Empty one carton Epsom Salts into large mixing bowl.
Add 3 cups sea salt, stir well.
Stir in 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and 6 to 8 drops essential oil and mix well.
In second large mixing bowl, empty one carton Epsom Salts, and add 3 cups sea salt. Stir well.
Add 1/4 teaspoon glycerin, 6 to 8 drops essential oil, and red food color.
Stir until completely blended and color is even.
Hold canning jars at an angle, layer salts in jars, alternating white and colored mixtures. (**If you want, you could divide into three--and have white, red, and green salts to layer).
Add instructions to jar with ribbon and a candy cane.

Instructions:
Add 2-3 tablespoons to hot water for an invigorating bath

Source

Consider themes
Christmas Cookies
Make a jar of Gingerbread cookie mix, attach a cookie cutter to the jar and put in a basket with a The Gingerbread Man book.

Winter Fun
Get a saucer sled.  In the concave part of the sled, put a jar of soup mix, some hot cocoa, some inexpensive gloves/mittens, and a fire starter log.

Snowman Hat
Get a black hat.  Put in a jar of Hot Snow.  Add a large plastic carrot, two big black buttons, two sticks, and a red scarf.

Family Night
Get a basket.  Add a jar of pizza dough mix, cookie mix, a family game (such as Sorry or Uno) and an inexpensive holiday movie.

Final Thoughts

• If you don't want to use jars, use holiday themed gladware, fabric bags, or brown paper sacks decorated by your children (put ingredients in Ziploc bags before putting them into fabric/paper sacks).
• Make sure to wash jars and lids before you use them.
• If you make soups mixes with beans, make sure to rinse and inspect beans first.

{Girls} Date Night In: Cookie Swap

Every year I host an cookie swap and it is one of my favorite holiday traditions.

The Skinny:

1. Each guest chooses 1 type of cookie to make and lets you know in advance so there aren't duplicates. 
2. Each guest makes 1 dozen cookies per attendee PLUS a dozen to share on cookies swap day (that means if 5 people RSVP, you make 6 dozen of the *same* type of cookie--5 doz to give, 1 doz to share).
3. Package cookies dozens individually (on paper plates, paper sacks, etc.) so they can be quickly and easily distributed. 

The Beautiful Part:
You leave the cookie swap with several dozens of DIFFERENT types of cookies that you can re-arrange and give to neighbors. I looks like you baked for hours :)

The Rules:
*Only make 1 type of cookie to swap (I've been known to break this rule BUT when I break it, I still make a dozen of EACH cookie.  So if I make buckeyes and pinwheels, each guest still gets 12 of each).
*Cookies only--popcorn balls, candy, fudge, caramels, etc. are really hard to divvy up.


The Event:

• Send an evite to several friends explaining the process and the benefits.
• The day of, make some tea, coffee, and cocoa, turn on Christmas music, and play hostess.
• This can be a quick drop off-take-leave event or you can draw it out.  Have time to chat, sample cookies, and perhaps give white elephant gifts.
• Make sure everyone leaves with cookies

Share the Love:
When the swap is all over, open up those cookies and layout a nice cookie assortment on plates.  Cover with wrap, add a bow and gift tag, and take to your neighbors.

{Holiday} Things I Love--Christmas Music

Every year I wonder what the "right" time is to start listening to Christmas music.  Because even though some people would rather rip their ears of than hear Michael Buble sing "I'll Be Home for Christmas," I simply can't get enough. That's what she said.

Though I know several families who break out Rudolph on November 1st, I try to make myself wait until the week of Thanksgiving.

If you are compiling a list of must-have Christmas songs, here are my top picks of songs and the artists I prefer to sing them!

10. O Holy Night~Glee
9.  Santa Baby~Calista Flockhart
8.  Baby It's Cold Outside~Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey (judge me all you want.  You know it's good) or Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone
7. Christmas Canon~Trans Siberian Orchestra (I walked down the aisle to this song)
6. Carol of the Bells~Trans Siberian Orchestra
5.  The River~Robert Downey, Jr.
4. Bells will Be Ringing~Bon Jovi
3.  Last Christmas~Taylor Swift (uh huh. I just said Taylor Swift)
2. Silent Night~Boyz II Men (I like to kick it old school!)
1.  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas~Judy Garland

Of course I love, love other songs as well but these are my faves!

What I Think About--My Little Girl Growing Up

Whether you can believe it or not, I'm a mess.

M.E. is five today.

Five.

I keep trying to figure out where the time has gone.

Wasn't it just yesterday I found out I was pregnant?

It feels like it has just been hours since I first held her in my arms.

Surely it was just minutes ago that she started saying "mama" and "dada.

It can't be more than a few seconds ago that she started toddling around and exploring.

And now she's at that delightful age of begging to stay up until midnight (she doesn't even "get" what midnight is yet) and gearing up for kindergarten.  

Some times the days feel like they go slowly but the years go by so fast.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those moms who wants my children to stay babies forever.  I've loved every age and every new season.  I look forward to reading Anne of Green Gables together, having "the" talk, and going shopping for wedding dresses.

I look forward to the lifetime of companionship that mothers and daughters have (Yes, I know moms and sons have great relationships too).

But today, if only for today, while I can hope and dream about the kind of woman she'll become, I'm just a bit sad that these days don't last forever.

To me, being a mom is a glorious burden.  So much hope for the future rides on the lives of my children.  And yet I fear that I am not enough--that I won't do the right things, say the right things, or teach the right lessons.

Every day as this baby becomes a girl, becomes a young lady, becomes a woman I cry out to God and ask that He make me the kind of woman this little girl thinks I am.  She's watching me.

Happy 5th Birthday to our Big Girl!

Tuesday's Too Clean Tip--Cross Contamination

If you are like me you're probably whipping up a few extra special meals and goodies this holiday season.

Sometimes being in a hurry to make a lot of food for a lot of people results in some forgetfulness and negotiation of basic food handling rules.  The result?  Cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination often results in food poisoning.  Ick.

If you don't want to spend your holidays with your head stuck in the toilet, remember to follow basic rules of food preparation.

MEAT and POULTRY

• Buy "fresh" poultry as late as possible.  Store them in the fridge and cook within 48 hours.
• Defrost frozen turkeys in the fridge.  DO NOT defrost turkeys on the counter or in a lukewarm bath.
• DO NOT wash your turkey under the kitchen faucet. Bacteria splash from the raw meat and poultry to counter-tops, cutting boards, and utensils. Proper cooking will kill any bacteria, so it doesn't need to be washed.  
• Use a meat thermometer to make sure meats are cooked all the way through.

PREPARATION

• Wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER handling food. 
• Use separate cutting boards, knives, etc., for different meats and produce.
• Germs that cause food poisoning can also linger on surfaces for days. Make sure to use a CLEAN rag and antibacterial cleaner to wipe down surfaces tainted by raw meat and poultry.
• Immediately clean surfaces and utensils after using them.

LEFTOVERS

• Don't leave leftovers sitting on the counter or table.  Food poisoning producing bacteria grow quickly so eat and refrigerate. 
• Store food properly.  Keep meat away from produce. Try to adios leftovers within 48 hours of cooking them.
• By the way, there is an old wives tale that leftovers needs to "cool" before it can be refrigerated.  FALSE.  You should cool food before freezing so you don't get ice crystals and freezer burn but there is no need to let that leftover turkey "cool" for three hours before popping it in the fridge (unless, of course, your diet of choice is a nice stomach flu).

CLEAN UP

• Use different colored sponges or dishcloths for wiping surfaces and washing up. 
• If you have accidentally used the wrong sponge or cloth (or if you want to make sure germs are gone) place rags/sponges in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

When you are in your kitchen whipping up some holiday food magic, don't forget that cleanliness is next to godliness (I don't actually believe this but you see where I'm going...).

Calling All Bloggers

I hate to brag but I'm going to Mexico in January and I'd love some guest bloggers!

Interested in writing a piece for WITMIM? ?

Well, send me your submission to whereisthemeinmomm{at}gmail{dot}com by December 21st and I'll let you know if you made the cut ;)

Feel free to write about anything MOM, WOMAN, or WIFE related.  Recipes, craft ideas, opinion pieces, fashion finds or faux pas, ... your call.  For one week only I won't be following my general routine.

HOWEVER, each sumission must include:

• Your name and the names/ages of your children;
• Links to your blog (if applicable) or esty store;
• 2-3 good quality photos;
• E-mail in html format preferred.

What you'll get in return:

• This is not a big blog by any stretch of the imagination but you will get 1 day of my reader's attention (and I'd rather have 100 loyal followers than 2310 luke-warm follwers, BTW!).
• Hot silver gums (Okay, this is a "nothing" award.  M.E. decided "hot silver gums" were the coolest thing ever so now I hand them out like invisible trophies. It's kinda like Who's Line--the points don't matter--neither do the hot silver gums.  But it sounds cool, doesn't it?).

Once again, if you are interested send e-mail me your submission of your post by Dec. 21st.

whereisthemeinmommy@gmail.com

**Please note** I have the right to refuse submissions that are not in line with the mission and vision of this blog.  I also maintain the right to edit as needed.

Oh and one more thing, I'm all about controversial topics but keep the language PG cuz that's how I role!