Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

hot party game idea!!!




oh the class parties being planned...

as one of the many, many mama members of a pto i have had my share of choosing some sort of quick activity for a fabulous party entertaining the likes of 20 or so 7 year olds.

i recently found the HOTTEST ideas on a site called printable games

check them out in the sidebar, they have awesome games for any holiday or party theme from baby showers to wedding toasts that can be customized and printed instantly for those of you like me, who for some strange reason forget until you are about to walk out the door that you had game duty...no they can't help with the fact that you forgot the candy corn for the monster hands for the 3yr olds halloween party...but i digress.

games available include bingo, charades, pictionary, picture puzzles; categories include kids and adults so they are adaptable to all audiences!!!

save your sanity for the chaos that is about to abound with thanksgiving, hanukkah, christmas and new years and cruise over to printable games!!!

Friday, May 9, 2008

happy mama's day!



It's almost here! The LOVELIEST day of the year. No I am not talking about Christmas...I am talking about the the one day every year when daddy gets up with the pumpkins, throws together a special breakfast and everyone stays nice and quiet so mama can sleep in...until 8 or so!!!

What do you all do for the blessed occasion?

My family all gathers together for brunch made by all the boys at my parents home. FABULOUS!!! The boys cook, serve and clean up as well as chase kiddies while us girls sit around chatting...oh the joy!

As for the gifts we stay away from cut flowers, candy and even jewelry...not that those are not three of my favorite things, especially the jewelry, but i prefer to give things for a beautiful spring holiday that will grow and flourish as well as provide memories each year. Two years ago my mother in-law had a beautiful weeping cherry tree planted in my front yard for me...YES, I was getting one for that specific spot anyway ;)

So if you a lucky enought to have sunny weather this mother's day (we are not on the east coast) try these little tips for after your hike/ picnic that Suzi suggested:

Check into giving potted plants, a great alternative to taking the lives of innocent little flowers being cut down in their prime!!! A few weeks back I wrote an article on bringing plants into your home and workplace so I have re-listed some great ones here again:

Gerber daisy

Bamboo palm

Spider plant

Areca palm

Reed palm

Dwarf date palm

Boston fern

Janet Craig dracaena

English ivy

Australian sword fern

Peace Lily

Rubber plant

Weeping fig



I actually went to the florist yesterday and picked up nine, yes you read correctly we have mamas, grand-mamas, god-mamas & special aunts; in my opinion whether you gave birth or not, if you take care of a child in any capacity you deserve a mother's day gift, nine little peace lillies. I must say the lillies and the adorable pots I picked out for each one came to about $15.00 a piece. I was shocked that what I consider to be such a thoughtful, generous gift was so inexpensive.

Now my own little pumpkins are giving me a day outside, my FAVORITE. When the weather gets nice again, the kids and I are going back out to plant more "kid-friendly" plants. Baby #1 even made me some "coupons" good to be used for digging, weeding, raking leaves and such (he's 9 so of course he HAD to tell me early;) ) We have used up all of our planting area for this year so I went out and bought recycled, re-usable pots to make little container gardens for our patio. The girls love the LOUD flowers like marigolds and daisies so that's what we will get...LOT'S of color!

Whatever you give, receive or do for mothers day, just knowing a child makes you the luckiest, most blessed person "in the galaxy!" I thank my babies everyday for choosing me to be their mama, they always laugh, but really there wouldn't be a mother's day without those precious little devils.

Have a FABULOUS mama's day and week and hug every baby, whether 1 second or 100 years old extra tight!!!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

some of the things in my purse...

what do you keep in your purse...are you surprised to see what's actually living in there?

check out this beautiful hand crafted bag designed by pamela robinson of unique handbags using a variety of different fabrics, there are also custom designs girls.

here is the beautiful custom designed bag that's waiting to be shipped to the winner!



check out the link for ORGANIZED MOMS...you can earn up to TEN entries !

*a winner will be chosen by random drawing sunday may 11th 2008 and notified by email

DON'T FORGET TO PRETTY LITTLE PUMPKINS WHEN YOU POST!!!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

kiddie picnic


potterybarn kids

Well last week i talked about how we have been bringing out our "good" china for regular dinners, even for when we barbeque and my husband liked it but...then he asked about all the really cool everyday plates, bowls and cups i use for the kids normally. So I have to tell you about the great melamine items we use and you can find, we pick these awesome sets and pieces up wherever we see them, the foodstore, potterybarn kids, etc. and they are great because they dress up the table, are (usually) unbreakable, and they are RE-USABLE!!! When any of our four kids has a party, we use these in place of traditional paper plates and such.

The only real draw back is the clean up, but we have learned if you have the sink emptied except for water with some dish soap, most people will toss the dishes right in and the major work (soaking) is done while you enjoy the party.

Then we have the plasticware, but not just any, we have these awesome little animals...zoo pals, the kids love them and they are again washable to be re-used.


hefty zoo pals


As far as drinks, I stay away from juice boxes and I am even buying more frozen juices for less waste, i make the juice in a great container from rubbermaid and use adorable little tumblers...these are from crocodile creek



and for the baby we use the first years take and toss sippy cups (we don't toss though) and i am happy to say these are BPA-free



Most of the time the kids will pick a theme for their party, we will buy the party ware to match and then we use the cups, plates and utensils as part of the childs "goody bag", they LOVE it!!!

I really wanted to mention the cloth napkin thing here also, we are begining to use them here, with four little ones I'm sure you can all understand how much laundry this is now producing!!! This is such a great idea because they are re-usable, you can change them up for the seasons and holidays, and they make every meal feel special...just like at a grownup restaurant!!!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

breast cancer petition

See link below to sign up for the petition. I just did it and it only took about 1 minute.

From a nurse:

"I'll never forget the look in my patients eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the doctors to keep these women in The hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies.

So there I sat with my patients, giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank You they muttered.

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a Mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure.


Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important .. Please take the time and do it really quick!


Please share this link with everyone you care about. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require Insurance Companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on."


PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the Web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.


http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php


PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS.

spring dining



Although we have had a spring set back and the temperatures have fallen again i am still dreaming of spring. Oh the fresh fruits and veggies, the barbequeing!!!

Sadly most people associate their grill and picnics with disposable flatware, plates and cups...BREAK THE CYCLE!!!! Not only is it so much better for the condition of landfills to use our everyday china but think about using your beautiful "good" china. We love to dress up our dining room with our seldom used wedding place settings, the kids get a kick out of being able to use wine glasses (no alcohol included!!!) and lighting candles for an uneventful tuesday night dinner of takeout chinese or daddy cooking steaks on the grill!!!

checkout some beautiful settings to brighten up your spring at :



pfaltzgraff

lenox



add some beautiful stemware with:

Orrefors



and finish off with your flatware!!!

oneida



Have a FABULOUS week!!!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

veronica turns 4!!!



i can not believe it...veronica turned 4!!! after 2 and a half years of trying for our second baby she turned four on easter. it is so hard to believe, it seems like yesterday i was getting ready for bed and went into the bathroom and sat on the toilet and my water broke...totally convenient right?!?!? the was the begining of the end.

we now have 4 babies and love them all SO much but it is too funny that vernoica was the one that we tried SO hard for (the others were wanted but came unexpectedly) and she has become the BOSS!!!

today she went into my room, AGAIN and took many pieces of my jewelry out of my box and misplaced some and broke others then she went into her fathers drawer and took his prescriptions and lost them!!! (we found ALL of them)

it's just another blink and she will be off to college...

Thursday, March 27, 2008

yuck!




when is this weather going to finally break?!?!?!

i don't know about anyone else but we have been sharing our germs all winter at my house, one gets a cold or the flu and slowly it makes it's way through the other 5 of us...now this is getting RIDICULOUS!!! it is the end of march and 2 of our daughters and myself have the flu...AGAIN!!!!

i am through with taking prescriptions, everytime the baby has the sniffles the peditircian is prescribing steroids, whats that all about?!?! remind me to use some vapo rub, the humidifier and prescribe lots of snuggeling (maybe some tylenol to make her comfortable)

today i went to the naturopath and he suggested zinc, echinacea with goldenseal and vitamin c...(not orange juice due to the high sugar content)for myself as well as the kids...what a novel idea, using herbs and vitamins and minerals instead of chemically altered prescriptions!!! believe me, i have NOTHING against prescriptions or drug companies, there is a time and place for them, just not with EVERY ILLNESS!!!

if you don't have a health food store in your area check out puritans pride or even drugstore.com

Friday, February 29, 2008



how simply sweet is this little fashion accessory?!?!? pretty little pumpkins is so excited to debut the new line from leila and ben!!! check out the funky ties for boys...fresh dresses for girls and for baby HOT HOT HOT little cow print sleep sacks (complete with little pink zipper to resemble the little cow belly!!!)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

hot new accessories coming soon...



check out these hot little fashion accessories for your sweet little pumpkins!!!

within the next week prettylittlepumpkins childrens clothing boutique will be offering these adorable little belts from gigi belts for both boys and girls!!!

...and i always wondered why the heck baby pants have belt loops...yea, know i know ;)

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

sisters

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,
drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As
they talked about life, about marriage, about the
responsibilities of life and the obligations of
adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her
glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance
upon her daughter

'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling
the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll
be more important as you get older. No matter how
much you love your husband, no matter how much you
love the children you may have, you are still going
to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now
and then; do things with them.'

'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...
your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other
women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women
always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman
thought. Haven't I just gotten married?
Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a
married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely
my husband and the family we may start will be all I
need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact
with her Sisters and made more women friends each
year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,
she gradually came to understand that her Mom really
knew what she was talking about. As time and nature
work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,
Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world,
here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how
many miles are
between you. A girl friend is never farther away
than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
neither would I. When we began this adventure called
womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or
sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we
would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on
to all the women who help make your life meaningful.
I just did. Short and very sweet:

There are more than twenty angels in this world.
Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine are
playing. And one is reading her email at this
moment.

Send this message to ten of your friends including
me. If you get 5 replies, someone you love will
surprise you.

Happy days!

Don't break this; it's working