...and she blogged

Great New Mom Community Called CafeMom

Liza — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:06:39 GMT

I just discovered a great new community of moms. It is called cafemom and looks to be really well-designed. The website is www.cafemom.com
It has been around for about a year and I am just now checking it out. It is huge!

It is quick and easy to join. You can give as little or as much information about yourself as you feel comfortable. You can join groups, or create a personal journal, or just post your thoughts. Check it out!

Toys For 2yr and 4yr Old Boys

Liza — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:27:45 GMT

The Holidays Are Coming!
I really, really, really try every year to be so organized in my gift buying and giving for two reasons: I hate spending a lot of money at one time and I hate shopping on Christmas Eve. However, I generally wait and buy gifts in December and sometimes November and more years than not I am shopping on Christmas Eve!
This year though I have a plan and I am sticking to it!

It is already November so I kind of blew that part, but I do plan to have all shopping completed by the end of November... This is what I have so far-

For the2 year old and 4 year old boys:

Bikes and Helmets. I probably will try to make it out the day after Thanksgiving to fight it out for the best price on those.

Something to add to the Thomas train set we have like a crane or another train.

Tinker toys (they played with some last weekend and loved it!)

Light Bright

Both of these are great for the imagination and also help with fine motor skills...plus they are two classics that everybody should have!

Maybe some remote control cars????

Give Yourself A Little Mindless Entertainment With Big Fish Games

Liza — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:02:47 GMT

Not that mindless is a bad thing. I have found that at the end of the day once all things have been put back in their proper place, everyone has been fed and bathed, the little ones are asleep, all I want is for my body and brain to rest. Computer games are a great way for me to rejuvinate my mind. I just heard about this cool website with hundreds of free game downloads called Big Fish Games. Some you already know and some will be new to you. There really is something for everyone here. So go have some fun.

Think Pink and Buy Pink

Liza — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:08:46 GMT

Here is a link to Good HouseKeeping's pink products. They have put together a showcase of some really great items. Each one gives a percentage to various Breast Cancer organizations. You can find the details at Good Housekeeping's Shop For A Cure Website

Here is a sampling of what you will find:

Right Bank Babies Victoria Pink Print Dress
10% goes to American Cancer Society

Red Envelope Pink Leather Card Case (www.redenvelope.com)
10% goes to Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund

Buy great stuff and give back at the same time...how cool!

N is for Newt and B is for Bear- T's With a Purpose

Liza — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:30:10 GMT

I ran across these awesome t's on the internet...
I admit I don't own one yet, but they just look awesome. They are alphabet T Shirts for kids made by biome 5. You can check out their website here. The colors are awesome, the graphics are too cool. When the child looks down they can read the word that just happens to be printed upside down for that very purpose. Check them out.

Mattel Toy Recall

Liza — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:01:12 GMT

Mattel has just announced a new, massive, toy recall, fearing excessive amounts of lead paint in toys made in China...again!
Check the article on the latest toy recall here.

Thank God for hand-me-downs! I have not bought a new toy in a while simply because we get hand-me-downs from their bigger cousins. We have a birthday coming up this month so I am going to pick and choose my gifts wisely. Really, what makes them most happy is the sprinkler (is it my day to water?), pots and pans (drums), my gigantic exercise ball that I have not used lately, DADDY!!!, and climbing in and out of kitchen cabinets. Maybe we can give up toys altogether???
Probably not.

Road Trippin'

Liza — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:34:39 GMT

One of my favorite movies is Fandango...ever seen it? It features a really young Kevin Costner and Jud Nelson among others. A group of college friends set out after college graduation on a road trip to dig up a bottle of Dom Perignon that they buried years earlier. They make frequent stops along the way and encounter crazy characters and just see the country! I love it!
My huband and I took several weeks two summers in a row long before marriage and kids and just drove. We went from GA to West Coast and back and saw whatever we wanted to see. We tease and say "That was back when we were in love!" We miss that freedom!
If you are lacking the freedom to just take off and drive, or if you just don't have the time or courage to do the road trip thing with small children like my husband and I, check out this game called Discovery Channel® American Road Trip

It can help you show your children the world until you can muster up the energy and courage to take a RoadTrip yourself.
Summer is coming to an end and the heat is unbearable so pop some popcorn, turn down the lights, and have a family road trip from the comfort of your couch.
Enjoy!

Have A Snow Day

Liza — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:42:13 GMT

I just found this awesome site...just in case you are hot and don't have anything else to do
My big guy Finn made a snowflake even though I don't think he has ever seen real snow in his short 3.5 years.
Check it out it really is neat. Click on the picture below to go there and create your own unique snowflake.

Who Gets To Have A Baby Shower and Who Should Host It?

Liza — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:53:08 GMT

Baby Shower Etiquette

Who gets to have a baby shower?
Baby showers are definitely appropriate for first-time moms, but what about moms having their second, third or fourth baby? Are they also entitled to a baby shower?

Each child is special and unique, so I think it is appropriate to have a shower for baby #2, 3, or 4. Moms may already have the basics, but it never hurts to throw a party for an expecting mom to show love an support.

Themed showers are a good idea if it is for baby #2, 3, or 4. Maybe something to pamper the mom or to include the other siblings or even a couples shower so dad can be involved this time.

Now that we know (or think we know) who gets to have a baby shower, let's figure out who can give a baby shower. It used to be a social faux pas for family members to throw a shower for an expecting mom, but not any longer according to Baby Center's Baby Shower Planning and Etiquette. I certainly wouldn't throw a shower for yourself and I certainly wouldn't ask someone to throw you a shower, but if somebody offers, heck yes! Have a shower!

To Game or Not To Game? That is the question!
I for one hate cutesy baby shower games. We are all grown-ups (hopefully!). If games are your thing I am sure you can find a million of them posted on the Internet. I do, however, have a suggestion for a great baby shower activity. It is my personal baby shower product called Wishes For My Baby. It is a great gift even if there is no shower, but at a baby shower it is a fun, meaningful activity. Each guest has the opportunity (they don't have to of course...nobody should ever be forced to write against their will) to write a special "wish" or message to the new baby on a card. There is a place to include their name and the date. This gift ends up being a beautiful and meaningful keepsake for the new mom and baby. I love looking back at my baby book and seeing which of my parents' friends and family gave me cerain gifts. Wishes For My Baby is even more special because it is a message directly to the baby from friends and family. Some guests will choose to be light-hearted which is great and others will be deep and sentimental which is also great. The message comes directly from the guest to the baby and that is the beauty of it. The cards are then kept in a cute keepsake tin for the baby to keep all of his or her life.

Wishes For My Baby, The Must-Have Baby Keepsake Gift, Don't Have A Baby Shower Without It!

Come On Moms, Let The Dad Help

Liza — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:01:56 GMT

Some guys shy away from baby duties simply because they don't feel like they know what they are doing.
Little do guys know that having a baby is new to us too! We don't know what to expect or what to do when the baby is screaming his head off and refuses to sleep for 18 hours straight! (oh, the memories!) But we are the moms so we do it because that is what moms do.

Encourage your guy to be involved for his sake, your sake and the baby's sake.

Moms have to cooperate too. It won't work unless you relenquish some of your parenting power. You don't have to do it all!

I just ran acros this book by Scott Mactavish...I have not read it (my baby having days are over if all goes as planned), but I found this wonderful exerpt from his book, The New Dad's Survival Guide : Man-to-Man Advice for First-Time Fathers

If you are pregnant I would strongly suggest looking into this witty, first-hand advice that Scot Mactavish's book has to offer. At least print out the exerpt for your husband. The more he knows, the more involved he feels, and the better it is for everyone. You can buy it at Amazon following the link below.
The New Dad's Survival Guide: Man-to-Man Advice for First-Time Fathers

This book looks great and seems to lay it out straight for guys. Pregnancy, childbirth and parenting is a life-changing experience so you might as well not fight it, embrace it. A book and other people's experiences will never have you fully prepared for your own baby, but I imagine it can get you started.

Here are some links to dad-friendly sites: (let them know they are not alone!)

http://www.babycenter.com/dads/

http://www.greatdad.com/

http://www.drmoz.com/momdadbabyblogs.html#DadBlogs

http://www.dadgear.com/index2.cfm?CFID=4792034&CFTOKEN=93013450 (be the coolest dad on the block)

Its A Baby Shower Revolution

Liza — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 06:36:31 GMT

Keepsakes & Such is starting a Baby Shower Revolution!
Our Wishes For My Baby is the new must-have baby keepsake gift that is needed
at every baby shower.
It not only is a cute, affordable gift that any mom and baby will be thrilled to receive,
it is also a fun activity.
Friends and family together can create a wonderful keepsake for the new baby.
It is a crowd and mommy pleaser!

Wishes For My Baby ~ Don't have a baby shower without one!

Being A Mom...Could This Be Considered A Dirty Job?

Liza — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:08:35 GMT

You have probably seen this Mom Job Description in an email that was forwarded to you, but I just love the Wages and Compansation part!

POSITION: Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, MehMeh, Maaaaaaa

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier
duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until some one needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack
mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work
throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT &PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those
in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become
financially independent.

When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Being A SAHM

Liza — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:36:18 GMT

I am so happy to be able to stay home with my children. I have been home for almost 2 years and my children are almost 4 and almost 2. I am the type of person that does not do well without a schedule of some sort....I am getting better at it though!
Transitioning from a working mother to a SAHM to a WAHM was not easy for me. I stumbled upon The MomsTown Guide to Getting It All. It was just what I needed at the time. It helped me get organized and get as much of a schedule as I needed, but left enough room for the unexpected events that arise while raising children. It is funny how simply making up your bed or making sure you get a shower can help set the tone for your day.
If you don't have The Momstown Guide To Getting It All, get it today.
The Momstown Guide to Getting it All: A Life Makeover for Stay-at-Home Moms

The Momstown team even has a website loaded with tons of information for stay at home moms and making money...you have to be a member for some of their info. If you need an idea for a business or have an idea for a business, they may be able to help you. Check it out for yourself. They are two very successful women and probably have a lot of good ideas to help you.

As Seen On TV The Swivel Sweeper Is A Beautiful Thing

Liza — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:11:59 GMT

I am not claiming to have a clean house.... the swivel sweeper does, however, give me hope! This thing is awesome! It is light, and easy, and picks stuff up...dog hair, cheerios, pieces of crayon and paper....all the things you might find in a kid friendly house. The only issue (and for me it is not an issue simply because the benefits are so great) is that I have to empty it quite frequently. It is so easy to get it out of the closet and walk around the house with it that I don't mind stopping by the trash can a few times. My kids love it! They fight over who gets to swivel sweep for real!
The battery is rechargeable As Seen On Tv Cordless Swivel Sweeper

Shake, Shake, Shake Your Ice Cream? Homemade Ice Cream In A Bag

Liza — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:05:00 GMT

When I was teaching science, one of the most fun days was when we made ice cream. The kids loved it and I loved it too. We made it into a science experiment, but the truth is it is just plain fun and it tastes really good. Here is the recipe:

Into a Quart Sized Ziploc Bag (use a good quality bag)
Add 8oz whole milk
2-4 tbs sugar
a few drops of vanilla extract

Seal the bag!

Into a Gallon Sized Ziploc Bag
Add 2 cups of ice
1/2 cup rock salt
Place the filled smaller bag into this bag

Seal the big bag!

Shake, shake, shake!
Warning: The bag gets really cold due to the fact that the salt lowers the freezing point of water, thus allowing the ice to get cold enough to make icecream.

Check your icecream after about 2 minutes minutes (shake longer if needed). Ice cream can get really firm if you give it enough time. If you don't mind a milk shake you could just eat it when it gets thick.

Have fun! Be sure to add chocolate syrup or sprinkles if you like that kind of stuff.
We did it on July 4th and it was a big hit with kids and adults.

Outdoor Fun

Liza — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:28:58 GMT

We broke out the slip n slide on July 4th...I had forgotten how fun it was! If you are a grown woman or man and you attempt to slip n' slide please note the following: If you do the feet first on your side slide...it hurts. I highly recommend the head first tummy slide...even if you are well-endowed, but you might slide right off of the end unless you have a cool one like we do with a little blow up thing at the end.
Slip 'N slide Wave Rider
My kids are not into speedo's or anything, we were just lazy and stripped down to the undies without going in to find our swimsuits.

I found it on Amazon, but I also found some bigger and better ones.
Can you imagine having two slip n' slides going at one time? You could have races and all kinds of fun! I have never tried a double slip n' slide, but if you have bigger kids or if one of your kids was having a summer party I would suggest checking out the double slide.
Wham-O Slip ‘N Slide Double Wave Rider

The giant ball sprinkler is also a bunch of fun. We played in that at their grandmother's house the past few years. Lots of fun for lots of kids.

So, don't let the heat keep you couped up inside. Take em out and join in the fun if you dare or just soak up some sun (with sunscreen of course!)

Catch The Baby Bug

Liza — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:18:27 GMT

Catch the Baby Bug. If you have a story to tell, share it on the Baby Bug, a niche social network dedicated to getting the word out on everything baby. Registering is easy. If people like what they see, your story will move up to the published list for everyone to see. Check it out. You can find all kinds of neat things and then share your new knowledge with others.
Just go the the baby bug and click on submit story. It is easy and fun....
enjoy!

Great Wish List For Baby

Liza — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:45:07 GMT

I ran across this on a blog...A mom, Csara, at Baby Talkers wrote out 15 wishes for her little boy on his 2nd birthday. This is exactly what my Wishes For My Baby is all about. Check it out. Wouldn't this list be great in a cute keepsake tin that the little boy could keep all of his life and show his kids?

Fifteen wishes I have for my son

Fifteen wishes I have for my son on his second birthday!

1. I wish for you to live a long, happy and healthy life.

2. I wish for you to be successful in love and life and
 all that comes with it.

3. I wish for you to find a life partner that loves you
 unconditionally, treats you well and makes you feel 
as special and amazing as you truly are.

4. I wish for you to find passion in life.

5. I wish for you to always know how much your 
parents love and adore you.

6. I wish for you to always trust in us and know 
we are here for you no matter what.

7. I wish for you to always use your best judgment 
when making decisions.

8. I wish for you to learn independence, yet feel 
comfortable depending on those that love you 
whenever you need to.

9. I wish for you to be close with any siblings 
you end up with.

10. I wish for you to make some very good
 friends in your lifetime.

11. I wish for you to have a wonderful education.

12. I wish for you to have many great memories.

13. I wish for you to have children of your own 
someday and to feel the same intensity of love 
that daddy and I have for you.

14. I wish for you to be confident because there
 is no reason you shouldn’t be.

15. I wish for you to always be close to us.

Happy Birthday, baby boy. I love you always!

What's Happening- Kid Stuff

Liza — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:43:35 GMT

Museum of Arts and Sciences and Barnes & Noble Team Up To Bring You:
Free Dinosaur StoryTime and Activity!

Saturday, June 30
10:30 a.m.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 265 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd, Macon, GA
We went to the one today and had a ball. We started with dinosaur gummy treats which my kids love. The story was a hit and the activity kept everyone busy and happy. They finished off with an awesome tiny vanilla milk shake. There was plenty for everyone. Don't miss it tomorrow!

Go to the Museum of Arts and Sciences web site www.masmacon.com and print off the voucher provided so that when you buy a book at Barnes & Noble this weekend you can also help out the museum.

Congratulations Nancy Grace!

Liza — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:03:53 GMT

You go girl!
Nancy is newly married and expecting twins. That is great news! I love Nancy Grace. Sometimes I find myself laughing, sometimes I am cheering her on and sometimes she infuriates me. All the time, however, I am informed as well as entertained, which I think is what her show is all about and keeps people coming back for more.
Her marriage and pregnancy is big news here because she is one of our local celebrities in the great town of Macon, GA.
I want to give her two Wishes For My Baby for her twins on the way....anybody know when they are due? Boys or girls or both?
Give me the scoop if you know it.