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14 lbs in one month
In the begining of my pregnancy I was so sick that I was no gaining he right amount of weight that...
September 2011
Thoughtful Thankful Thursdays - To Our Military Families
Thursday, September 29, 2011 by Stef Daniel
There isn’t a day that passes that we don’t hear about a soldier that has died, or a group of men and women that are being deployed to most uncertain ground over seas. They are fighting a war that, for most families - is completely invisible without the luxury of television and print media. What we don’t see is t...
Thursday, September 29, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Years ago, Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote a book entitled “It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.” “It takes a village to raise a child” is actually an African proverb I love and embrace when it comes to philosophies about parenting. When it comes to our wee ones’ developing personality, there are some...
Layaway Plans Make a Comeback this Year in Time for the Holiday Season
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
As a young girl with my mom, and then into my teenage years after I got my first job, I can recall shopping in stores like Kmart and TJ Maxx, finding items I wanted to purchase, not having enough money with me at the time, and taking the items back to the layaway department to put on hold. After handing the cashier a set amount of money, I’d ...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Around this time each and every year, for the past 11 years – I am overwhelmed with a sadness of "what could have been." 11 years ago, I had a miscarriage. For me, it wasn’t the run of the mill miscarriage (not that there IS such a thing) that happened a few days after my period was late. I had already seen the baby...
Tuesday's Top 10 - Best Baby Shower Gifts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by Stef Daniel
We have all been there. You get invited to a baby shower with the enclosed gift registry, which means you have to spend time shopping for a gift that is nothing more than a token present. Don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to buying gifts for people – but honestly, how many receiving blankets can one person use? (I h...
The ABC's of Preventing Allergies
Monday, September 26, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
This summer I realized how many kiddos have allergies. In my professional life, I have the pleasure of working daily with children and their families. My mailbox, with all its epi pens, looked like a pharmacy. It made me wonder how and why so many munchkins these days seem to have allergies. When it comes to child development, first and foremost, ...
It’s Hard to Create a Budget When You Don’t Know What You’re Spending
Monday, September 26, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
What a response we had on the first budgeting post! It seems that this is a topic close to many moms’ hearts. I hope that you continue to follow along and add your input as we talk about setting a family budget. I know several posters mentioned they made so little money a budget wouldn’t matter, but budgeting can always help, and it is...
Sunday, September 25, 2011 by Stef Daniel
If you have been keeping up with the world today, you know that the economic plight of so many people has become one of trial and trouble. This is a sad time for the United States, and even sadder for the generation of parents that are trying to raise children among such high inflation on every day commodity items such as fuel and food. &...
Get in a National Park Free Day!
Friday, September 23, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
Looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend? How about visiting a nearby local national park. The cost can’t be beat: admittance is free! We are always on the lookout for fun activities near the house. I love getting the kids outside on the weekends, wearing them out by running, playing, hiking, and being active. We always t...
What I learned from My Horoscope
Friday, September 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Okay, I admit it. I love (or loved) reading my horoscope. In my younger years, I couldn’t wait to buy the little miniature, rolled-up, monthly Aries horoscope scroll found at gas station cash registers. And it took nearly all of my self-control to NOT read ahead. Then I got married, had a few kids – and suddenly ti...
Friday’s Thrifty Round Up Post
Friday, September 23, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
Pancakes, anyone? This week’s bargain: Krusteaz Pancake Mix The sale: A box for $1.24 The coupon: $1 off 2, printable coupon Total price for two boxes made it $1.49 for two or $.74 for each. What was your biggest deal? Let us know in the comment section!...
Thoughtful, Thankful Thursdays
Thursday, September 22, 2011 by Stef Daniel
If you have been reading my blog, you probably realize that I have a pretty good sense of humor. I feel that laughing at ourselves and appreciating our positions in life is an often-easy way to see the metaphorical cup as half-full rather than half empty. For me, that is what Momspirational is all about! Reminding one another that ...
Repeat After Me: “Can I Get a Rain Check, Please?”
Thursday, September 22, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
In the store I frequent for groceries, those who extreme coupon almost always beat me to the shelves for the best deals, clearing them within an hour of a new sales cycle. I’ve learned a few strategies for finding the items I want, which I’ll share at a later day; still, sometimes no matter what I do, those who shop daily for the best ...
The Good Stuff...Worth The Wait?
Thursday, September 22, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
My child asked for cotton candy today. The funny thing about this is that she didn't know if she would like it. I asked her why she wanted it. It was pink and fluffy looking (what's not to like?!). She's 4 1/2 and has never had it. Never. She didn't get it today either. She settled on the homemade cookie I had packed for our picnic lunch. There's ...
Printing Coupons: Is the Cost of Printables Worth the Savings?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
When I began my couponing adventure several years ago, I started off in a flurry, printing every coupon that came my way. It didn’t matter if I had it in an insert also; I printed. Write out my list? Please! It was available online, and all I had to do was click and print. I didn’t think much about the cost of the ink and paper used un...
Early Or Late Talker - Does It Matter?
Monday, September 19, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Are you excited to hear your little one's first words? You betcha! Hearing your munchkin's language development is one of those amazing moments in this journey. Awesome doesn't capture the seemingly magical progression of an infant moving from imitating sounds to producing an actual word. I recall being at a family meal and hearing some...
Friday’s Thrifty Round Up Post
Monday, September 19, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
Pasta Sauce: It’s What’s for Dinner! This week’s bargain: Barilla pasta sauce at Publix. The sale: A jar of Barilla for $1.34. The coupon: $.55 off from Smart Source’s 8/28 flyer. Total price for a jar of pasta sauce: $.79! What was your biggest deal? Let us know in the comment section!...
The Holidays are Coming to Town: Have You Budgeted or Started Shopping?
Monday, September 19, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
I know it may be difficult to think about winter holidays when the temperature outside still creeps into the nineties some days, but in reality we only have a few months before we’re spending our children’s inheritance on talking dolls and creepy looking plastic toys that we step on in the middle of the night as we trek to the bathroom....
Setting a Budget? First, Change Your Way of Thinking
Thursday, September 15, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
While using coupons at the grocery store can save the family money, if you don’t know where the rest of your money is going, how will you know where to cut back or how much you need to save for certain expenses? Budgeting is an essential component of saving money, but for a lot of people – even me at times – the idea of budgeting...
Thursday, September 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
In today’s world – everywhere you go you see people attached by the ear to their cell phones. I have to admit that I am one of these people. Whenever boredom hits me, I find myself facebooking via cellular service, looking up random things on the internet, or even, I admit…playing Angry Birds. (If you haven&...
Thursday, September 15, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
I admit it, I don't like to share. This includes chocolate, ice cream, coffee and - I even admit - my daughter. It's true. I am selfish. When my little one rocked my world, I wanted every moment I could with her. Perhaps it was because I am an "older" mama or because it had been 13 years of just the hubby and I. Whatever it is, it's hard ...
Tuesday's Top 10 - Things That SCREAM Dad
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I saw this joke the other day, and aside from cracking me up – it struck a nerve and prompted this Tuesday’s Top 10! Last Tuesday I poked fun at "us moms" and all the things that seem to magically happen to us after we "breed." You know, saggy boobs and stretch marks. But you know what? Men c...
My Biggest Challenge to Cutting Back the Monthly Grocery Bill: Mid-Week Stops
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
I know it’s been said time and again that one of the biggest budget busters remains the extra trips made to the grocery store. You know, those mid-week trips where you go to pick up a jug of milk and end up with forty dollars worth of stuff in your cart that you didn’t need in the first place. For each large weekly grocery trip, I&rsqu...
Do You Have a Household Budget?
Monday, September 12, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
I have a friend who shall remain nameless, although I’ve blogged about her in the past and she knows it. She and her husband have issues with budgeting and finances, and they always have. This has been a topic between us for a long time, as well as a joke. If I feel the urge to shop, she encourages me: “Go on! You can buy it!” If ...
Confessions. I (Sometimes) Think Motherhood is BORING
Monday, September 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
More confessions. I Sometimes Think Motherhood is B.O.R.I.N.G. It occurred to me this afternoon, after I had already swept the stupid kitchen floor two or three times, that I was only really sweeping again because I was wrought with boredom. I was bored with blocks, bored with Mickey Mouse clubhouse, bored with playing make...
Bye-Bye Bottle, Binky, Blanket...
Monday, September 12, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
I have a confession to make. If you come into my kitchen and peek into my cupboards, you'll find a cup full of binkies. I just haven't been able to part with them. The same is true of one bottle. And, as for my daughter's blanket? Well, when she is finished with it, IT'S MINE! See, the problem is that I am more attached to these items than she is a...
Saturday, September 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Just the other day, my daughter said, "Are you ignoring me?" She had been asking incessantly about some purse she wanted that she found on the internet, and I had already told her, "Maybe for your birthday," a dozen or more times. Obviously, this was not the answer she wanted to hear. So, my response to her sna...
Friday, September 09, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Sticky fingers and stinky feet touch nearly every surface in my home at some point or another. I share my bed with wiggling children, who steal my pillows and - I am always the one person in the house left without toilet paper when it’s my turn to use the bathroom. (Luckily, I know where it’s hidden.) I share a closet, help my chil...
Friday’s Thrifty Round-Up Post
Friday, September 09, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
Today's Weekly Round-Up: Got Pickles? This week I got a great deal on Mt. Olive pickles at Publix. The sale: A jar of pickles for $1.39. The coupon: $1 off Mt. Olive pickles from Smart Source’s 8/28 flyer. Total price for a jar of pickles: $.39! What was your biggest deal?...
New Research - If You Have One Child With Autism, Will You Have Another?
Friday, September 09, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
As a parent, writer and general geek of any news and views related to children and families, I keep my eyes and ears open for interesting research that is hot off the press. Autism is one of those words that tends to get my attention. Perhaps it is because when it comes to child development, autism is one of the disorders which holds so many myster...
Selling Unused Items to Make Money for Items Needed (Or Wanted!)
Thursday, September 08, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
The other day we shopped for school clothes. Yes, I realize school has been in session for a few weeks, but we waited for a few reasons. First, I didn’t see spectacular sales pre-school this year. Did you? Supplies were marked down, but I didn’t feel clothes were, which eat up the largest part of the back to school budget. Secondly, ...
Wednesday, September 07, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Has anyone else looked at the calendar lately? I have, and when I realized we were actually moving forward with September, my thoughts immediately jumped ahead 4 months to Christmas. Holy smokes…Christmas is just around the corner, which for me means I will be fighting a deeply ingrained funk of emotion that ultimately should have ...
A Saving Rule for Teaching Children About Earning, Saving, and Spending
Wednesday, September 07, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
As we talk about how we can teach our children to save – and spend – money, one question that regularly comes up is how much money they should use for each. When I give my girls an allowance, they immediately want to spend it all. This is totally normal, since children don’t yet understand the concept of saving and spending. How...
Take the Challenge: Thrifty Mom's Weekly Savings Round-Up
Tuesday, September 06, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
Everyone loves a bargain, and most bargain hunters love to hear about them, too. I know when a friend tells me they got a bag of coffee for $1.00, I get as excited as I would if I paid that amount. Each Friday, we will run a Weekly Saving's Round-Up where you can share your deal(s) of the week. I'll begin by telling you mine, which might go somet...
Tuesday's Top 10 - Things that Scream I am a Mother
Tuesday, September 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Remember back before you had children when you would look at mothers waking around with their toddlers and say, “I will NEVER do that!” “When I become a mother, I will still wear sexy lingerie every day!” “I will be the COOLEST mom in town!” HA! How is that working for you? Especially s...
Tuesday, September 06, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
We have some good friends that refer to shower time as vacation time. If you are a new parent, you probably understand. Physically caring for a little one, you may struggle to find a few minutes for yourself, even to simply take a shower. If you're lucky, you've got other support - friends, family, etc., who are with you in those early weeks ...
Do These Jeans Make Me Look Fat?
Monday, September 05, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Maybe it’s because I have girls and my husband isn’t too concerned with what I wear, but I find myself often asking my kids if "this outfit" looks good. Actually, what I say is, “Does this (insert article of clothing) make me look fat?” To which they of course answer, “No mom, you’re not fat &...
Saturday, September 03, 2011 by Stef Daniel
For most of my children’s lives, they were the only grandchildren on either side of the family. Sometimes it was frustrating because with no one else to focus on, it felt like my children were treated by the grandparents like the epicenter of this great big universe that only existed because of them. Then, a few years down t...
A Fun Activity to Teach Children About Working, Saving, and Spending
Friday, September 02, 2011 by Kathy Murdock
While it seems tough to imagine, the winter holidays are fast approaching, and we all know what this means: tantruming children dropping to their knees in the middle of Target, pounding their little firsts on the floor as their faces turn red and they screech about ‘wanting stuff’ and never ‘getting stuff’. Oh, and all the ...
The Most MOMSPIRATIONAL Mom I Know
Thursday, September 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
All of us have people in our lives that we love, honor, and respect. Many of these special people are mothers just like us, who drive us to reach for higher mountains and who give us the strength and willpower to keep on keeping on…especially when we are covered in vomit and smell like peanut butter sandwiches. I know one o...
Thursday, September 01, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
I thought I knew what I was getting into. Surprise! Parenthood is like that. The years before my hubby and I jumped into this adventure called parenthood, we volunteered for a non-profit organization that raises dogs to become working guide dogs. I am thankful for those experiences I had long before jumping into parenthood. To make it sh...
