Christmas is fast approaching. Our tree is lit, the stockings are hung and the scent of cinnamon is drifting through our home. In the background I can hear the little chattering of...... uh, my kids telling me of all the things they want? All of a sudden my mind comes to a screeching halt! Okay, I get the fact that kids want everything under the sun but I definitely don't want my kids to think that Christmas is all about getting "things". My 5 year old comes up to me with a magazine in hand and shows me 4 pages of toys that he so kindly circled to indicate the items that he would like from Santa. Wow. No bueno.

No matter what religion you practice or how you celebrate this holiday season I think that we all can agree on the importance of teaching our children that giving to others is far better than receiving. I told my 5 year old that he needed to go through his toys and pick out what he would like to donate to other boys and girls. I was unbelievably surprised at how excited he ended up getting when he fully took on the task. My son transformed from "wanting" for himself to "wanting" to give back. Although this might change tomorrow I am still excited to see his growth in such a positive direction.

There are so many struggling people who are waiting for all of us to put our "wants" aside so that we can give them what they need. If you feel compelled to do so, please visit the site below (one of many sites!) and see how you can be of service to a family in need. Not just this holiday season but always!

http://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/lander/default.aspx?media=Google&source_code=DHQOQ1107W1GGR&keyword=needy&gclid=COGg0tLQg60CFRJthwod4zoPKw&tgs=MTIvMTUvMjAxMSAzOjEyOjA3IEFN

Getting GLITTER fever!

I think most mom's would agree that keeping up with a regular Mani and Pedi is just plain difficult. With our kiddos, schedules, home and work...how can we possibly touch up our nails? I think it's important for every mom to feel beautiful and sometimes it's the little things (like having our nails looking nice) that can make all the difference in how we feel about ourselves. Thanks to Cosmopolitan Magazine, a very obvious solution was brought to light.

Facets of Fuchsia

 I decided to paint my nails instead of getting them done at a salon. I just don't have the time to go. I painted my nails a dark purple/blue and I absolutely loved the color, especially since it's so fitting for this time of year. After a few days of washing dishes, taking care of my kids, laundry, cleaning etc, my nails began to chip away. I was frustrated at the thought of having to take enough time to make sure my entire finger wasn't purple from the polish. Cosmo made me realize that there is an easy and quick fix to my problem. The solution? Chunky glitter polish. Yep, glitter! Now, at first I thought to myself- "Really? I don't think so....I'm not 15yrs old!". For some reason I felt as though I wasn't able to wear some fun, funky polish. I mean, c'mon...I'm a MOM!! WRONG!!....even more reason to wear some fun colors and top it off with some dazzling glittery polish.

 I picked myself up Revlon's Fuchsia chunky glitter polish and let me tell you how easy it was to put on my nails and how effective it was at covering up the chipped polish that hid underneath. Viola! I saved time covering my chipped nail polish as well as adding a little flare to my style. It's the little beauty tips that help make a mom's life a smidge easier.

I survived.... my auditions.

So, my auditions came and went. All of my preparation for this audition was put to the test the moment that I stepped in front of the casting director's.

The morning of the audition:
I woke up early....REALLY early. Too early in fact. At 4:45am my cell phone alarm went off, echoing in my ear drums. All I could think of was how comfortable my warm bed was. I got ready and left my house hoping to bypass the horrific LA traffic that was more than likely waiting for me. Sure enough I sat in traffic for over an hour. The worst part was I didn't even have my coffee to give me some sort of morning boost!

I arrived at the audition venue and noticed a large line of people wrapping around the old building. As I walked up to the line of people I couldn't help but wonder who was a better vocalist or actor than me. I patiently stood in line until everyone was brought into a large, stuffy room. I soon found out that I wouldn't get the chance to audition for another 6 hours!! Let's fast forward 6hrs, past the boring story of me sitting on my butt for 5 hours and spending the last hour driving to a Starbucks for tea; It was finally time for me to audition!

I stood next to the door that I would soon enter, hoping to amaze the director by giving a superior audition. My heart was beating pretty fast and my palms began t sweat. I kept telling myself to relax as I took in a deep breath but I couldn't help the involuntary shaking. I walked into the audition room, handed the pianist my music and took center stage. I smiled and the director's smiled back. I began to sing "I dreamed a dream" from Les Mis and finished after belting "shame". The director said "that was very good" then looked my resume and head shot over again and then told me thank you for auditioning. I left feeling defeated.

On a positive note~ I am happy with my audition and for the wonderful experience! I love meeting new people and having the chance to do what I love and grow from each audition that I have.

A friend of mine that is a very famous person in the entertainment world once told me this: "there are many talented people in this world but the people that will make it are the one's that can control their nerves. The other 75% wont be able to handle the pressure".

Now that I'm a wife and mommy it is definitely a different "ball game" when going on auditions and being part of the entertainment world. There's a lot of benefit such as how I approach my auditions now that I'm a wife and mom. I appreciate each opportunity and respect the arts to a new level. The trick is balancing it all! That will be a work in progress!

Surviving the Lion's Den

Yes, I'm here. Although I haven't posted in a while, I can assure you all (if anyone is out there haha!) that I am still circulating in the world of "blogs". Life has been crazy and somehow each day, week and month seems to exceed the craziness of yesterday.

 I'm jumping back into the world of performing and hoping that I can keep my nerves in check. My un-ending love for performing is the reason I've jumped back into the lions den. Why do I call it the lions den? Well, auditioning for something is never an easy task. Auditioning requires confidence, ability in whatever you have to showcase, as well as being dynamic, fun, energetic....blah, blah, blah...you get the picture. More importantly for me, it's keeping my nerves in "check". If I can do all that then I have to wait and see if the "lion" is going to chew me up and spit me out (reject me) or allow me to live (a call back).  A call back is HUGE. A call back means they liked you enough to have you come back again and hopefully WOW them again.

I'll never forget a time I was in a singing competition. I knew I had to wow the judges and so the pressure was on for me to remember my lines, show emotion and energy in my acting and hit all the right notes. The room that I auditioned in was dim. There was a small stage and in front of me was a table. At the table sat 3 lions...I mean judges;) The judges didn't smile, talk or even turn away for a second. They kept their gaze on me as if to not miss the moment when I failed. I took my spot on the stage. My feet were firmly planted on the little black piece of tape that was stuck to the stage floor. I nodded to my pianist to begin and away I went. I became the character and lived, at that moment, as if the words I was singing were true reflections of my real life. I wouldn't have been able to tell you what was reality and not because I became the character I was supposed to be. Once my audition is done it's as if a light switch has been turned on. Reality is back and the fantasy of the character is safely placed in the lyrics on my sheet music. This particular audition went very well and the "lion's" were pleased. I won the competition and all the hard work and time put into had payed off.
So, now I'm back in the whirlwind of auditioning and now practicing for a few auditions that are coming up. I'm very excited as well as being very nervous. It's the bitter and the sweet, right?

My kids are amazing when it comes to me practicing for an audition. I'll sing my song to them and they'll listen, critique or sing along with me. Perhaps I have a few performers in my brood? No matter what happens I can walk away from each audition with a smile on my face knowing that I am doing something that I love! Keep the dream alive, folks!!

Today was a crazy day... one of those days where you feel like everything has literally been passing by with snail speed. I felt completely overwhelmed yet extremely bored. Is that even possible? Apparently. The past few weeks have actually been pretty crazy; preschool, family gatherings, deadlines, adventures...you name it and it seemed to happen.

One particular event that took place, sometime during these past few weeks, has made me think... a lot. Do you ever have those days where you just sit for some seemingly endless amount of time about a cluster of stuff that should be nothing but really is something? Wow. I just confused myself so I assume I've lost any of you reading this. I guess what I am trying to explain is that sometimes things happen that leave you feeling like you need to ponder the experience. You have to dig deep and figure out what it all meant. But sometimes when you dig deep you have a rush of unwanted emotions that saturated your clear thinking. These emotions leave you foggy, drained and confused. You almost feel angry for even wasting your time on these emotions because you most likely will never find a resolution as to what it all means. Life is funny that way, don't you think? We live each day, some days better than others, and are left with experiences that can either move us in a positive way, enriching our lives further, or in a negative way which will drag our hearts down to our feet. Or sometimes you left in the middle. Your neither up or down, just smack dab in the middle trying to make sense out of something.

love not hate

All through school my biggest fear wasn't whether or not I made it on a sports team, dance or leading role in the play. I feared not being liked. I was petrified at the thought that someone wouldn't think I was nice or fun to be around. I had such a difficult time accepting the fact that someone may not like me.

As an adult my feelings on this have changed quite a bit. I'm sure there are people that don't like me and for reasons I will never know or understand BUT there is nothing I can do about that. I except it as their problem, not mine. I don't feel that way I did when I was younger and as a matter of fact I don't think much about it except when I think about my children going through the same feelings that I had.

Now, as a mother, I have a new fear.A fear that my kids will be engulfed with the same worries that I had growing up. I don't ever want them to feel sadness or pain, yet I know that it's inevitable. I hate to think that someone may not like my kid!! Of course, I think to myself, "how in the world could someone not adore my child?" but, as life goes, someone will hurt their feelings and break their heart's.

I hope that we can all be aware of how our children will feel as they go through school. Our children may be scared to meet knew people for the mere fact of being rejected. I believe that it's important to treat each other with an open heart and absolute kindness so that our kids can see how to treat each other.

www.thesunnybelle.com

Natural vegan and non-vegan soaps, lip balms as well as oils and creams; The Sunny Belle is a little online shop catering to those that crave a natural, artsy and healthy way of living. All products are homemade and created with the utmost care and concern for each client. All items are made in small batches and most items are made to order!

The Sunny Belle takes great pride in using some ingredients from local farms as well as from The Sunny Belle garden=) Custom orders are welcome, especially when ordering gift bags for special gatherings such as baby shower, bridal showers and more!!

Check the Etsy shop, Facebook and Website for new items that are added weekly!!


COMING SOON: Baby food jar candles! ~ Pre-order now for your baby shower!! Email with questions thesunnybelleshop@yahoo.com

Come and check out The Sunny Belle on Facebook and Etsy!! Also, check out www.thesunnybelle.com

The Busy Life Of Bees.....

Things are crazy in my life right now.....I have things going on with my kids such as swim lessons, play dates, doc appts and more as well as my own little business (http://www.thesunnybelle.com/) going on, my hubby and his work, family, friends........My head spins just thinking about everything! Please bare with me if I don't post often. I will try to be consistant but there may be times that the blog is uneventful.

Once I get on the roll with things and become better at time management I plan to update the blog regularly=)

So, how many of you feel like your a worker bee; buzzing along working...and working...and doing more work? Do you feel worn down, exhausted, beat up? I guess this is what life is all about. Life must be about working hard for that reward you desire. I would LOVE to go on a vacation for my 5 year wedding anniversary SO I continue to grind and get work done in hopes of getting my desire for a much needed vacation!

Comment below and let me know what YOU hope to do this summer....maybe it's something you have been working towards for weeks, months...even years! Tell me all about it!!!

**NOTE: for some reason I am UNABLE to leave a comment in response to your comment. I am in the process of figuring out why this is so but until then leave me a comment=)

Insomnia

Every night I tell myself the same thing..."this is the night I'm going to bed early", and every night I end up looking at the clock, rubbing my blood shot eyes, and shrieking at the fact that it's past 2am. For some reason I just can't get to bed early. Don't get me wrong...I WANT to go to bed early. As a matter of fact I day dream about it all day long; tucking myself into my cozy bed, relaxing and drifting off into the land of Zzzz's is what I look forward to. As we all know, a parents job is never done and although we try to stay on some sort of schedule, things change all the time and my hopes of going to bed before the sun even goes down is a more distant possibility than I acknowledged.

Our evenings are insane. I'm not sure if you all can agree, but once it hits 5pm all Hell breaks loose in my house!! It's almost as if the kids have some type of clock set into them, signaling when it' 5pm and when it's time to drive me insane. The baby is screaming for food, my daughter just decorated my floor with juice and my son is annoyed that I haven't fetched him a glass of milk quick enough. All the while I am dreaming of my jammies, sneaking into my warm bed and falling asleep. Nope....not tonight, because after dinner it's bath time and then after bath time is story time and after story time is a million questions as to why they should have to go to sleep and a million answers why I NEED them to go to sleep. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Once the circus has ended I creep back down stairs and start my own personal work. Almost like clock work the monitor goes off and my 6mo has woken up and demands me to put him back to sleep...there goes another 30 minutes to an hour away from my work.

Some of you might be wondering where my husband is during all of this. Well, I could say he's passed out on the couch as I'm running ragged BUT that's not true. My husband deserves a lot of credit since he does help me with everything from dinner to bathing the kids to putting them to bed. He usually hits the pillow long before I do...lucky hubby. So, here I am...awake in the middle of the night, working on special concoctions or sometimes writing, as my house if full of the gentle rumble of snoring. Once my eyes have become far to heavy to keep open I grab my water and head to bed. The feeling I have when I hit the pillow is beyond words...so why can't I fall asleep?!?!? AHHHHH I'm tired but I can't sleep....all I hear is TICK TOCK TICK TOCK......the minutes are melting into hours and before I know it my phone reads 3:30AM. I think there might be a lot of mom's out there that can relate....usually it's late at night when we take care of things and more often then not we are too wired to doze off. I'm going to try to get to bed early though, even if I'm wide awake, starring at a blank ceiling. It gets lonely at 3am ya' know.

Art Heals Mommy

Art is all around us. It is vibration through speakers, ink on paper, seeing through a lens and creating with our hands. Art is something that almost all of us can find a common ground with. There is something that we can all agree on….art is everywhere. So how does art heal? And how does it heal this mommy? To me, art is a necessity. Much like air and water; art feeds my soul and gives me strength to get through the days ahead. I take each and every artistic moment of my life and keep it locked away within me, ready to surface into my work space when the time is right. As a mother it might be hard to tap into your creative self. How in the world are we to find our creativeness amongst the care giving of our young? How do we find time to make creativity happen in a day limited by time screaming past us? My children are my keyhole to the creative world……a creative world for moms. My children give me the gift of seeing the world through their eyes and this gift is a beautiful one. I see life piece by piece, with movements slow and colors vibrant.

A tree is no longer just a tree. A tree is a skyscraper with arms; colors that are crisp earthy forest greens and browns. This tree is so much more to my children then I ever gave it credit for and so with that the art of play has taken place. I get inspirations from my children. Every story they tell, cloud they marvel at and hug they give has opened my eyes to what they value as artistic and fun.

Art has given me a chance to embrace difficult times as a parent. It heals the heart and allows a re-birth of the mind. During the time I lived in Montana I was constantly surrounded by beauty. The scenery was amazing. Mountains were so high it looked as though it was a path to heaven; climbing towards the endless powdery blue skies. I would lose myself in thought as I watched the clouds pass by. During my time in Montana I began to write….a lot. I tapped into the art of writing and fell in love with the freedom of it. Every time I would write I was allowing a little piece of me to spill out onto paper. How vulnerable of me yet exciting all at once. Now as a mother I write for the same reason….I love it, but also because my children keep each and every day interesting and fun which gives me more and more inspiration. Art is alive and well in my home.

Here are 5 ways Art Heals<this>Mommy:

1)      Art, such as writing, clears a cluttered mind: I can release thoughts that are crowding space within my mind. Whether good or bad, writing allows me to “get it off my chest”.

2)      Art keeps me grounded: Seeing, reading etc someone else’s art opens my eyes to the diversity and the amazing talent that others have. I become a student every time I dive into someone else’s work.

3)      I’m bonding with my kids: Nothing heals more than to see our children happy. Art can be painting a picture or running through the mud and making foot prints on the concrete. My kids dig it and so do I.

4)      I can “find” myself through art: As a mother it’s easy to feel like I’ve lost myself but art allows me to feel connected to who I am as an individual.

5)       Art is stress free in a stressful world: If I’m working on a project I don’t feel stressed. Art gives you a chance to open the creative flood gates and turn off the panic button.

So, as long as I can fulfill my creative needs and share this love with my children, I will continue to be happy and inspired by all that surrounds me.

I love my new home but I might get knocked out before the end of this year:

I said knocked out NOT knocked up…for all of you doing a double take reading title=)

My new home is great. It’s spacious, new upgrades and best of all awesome neighbors but there just might be a downfall to this picture perfect set. When I first moved into the home I met one of my neighbors. A wonderful couple and their pooch greeted me with open arms. We talked for a bit and then the women asked me if I had encountered any golf balls yet. Our backyard faces a golf course and although that sounds great; nice view, no neighbors directly behind us, there is a bit of a danger with this. I started looking around our backyard and noticed that we had TONS of golf balls sitting all over our grass. My friendly neighbor told me to watch out for golf balls flying into my yard and potentially knocking someone out. At that very moment 2 golf balls flew over my house and onto my front yard. Ok, now I know nothing about golf but how bad do you have to SUCK in order to hit a ball onto someone’s front lawn….mind you, my front lawn is NOT facing the gold course!!!! I don’t know the entire “lingo” for golfing but the area where you hit the ball (trying to make it into the green (?)) is no where near my home. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that it’s strange that balls land in my front lawn.

My backyard is another story….I assume it will start raining golf balls and if it does I’ll be right there, basket in hand, catching every single one of them. One day, while sitting in the backyard with the kids, I noticed that a cart was coming in our direction. Two older guys were in it and seemed to be looking for their ball. No biggie. It wasn’t until they opened their mouths that things got….uncomfortable. “Hey, there…have you seen our balls?” the driver said to me…..he was seriously asking this. I paused for a second, looked him in the eyes and said “nope, I haven’t seen….your balls”. Is this not just weird?! Okay, I’m not trying to be a kid and laugh at such a silly thing but I was laughing....A LOT…. to myself….deep inside. So after that situation occurred I noticed that we had a new addition to our ball collection. Someone had just hit a ball over and I happily placed it into my basket. Should I sell these balls to naggy golfers looking to annoy me, yet entertain me with their useless “have you seen my balls” banter? Nah…..I will usually throw it back to them IF their nice=)

So my backyard experience has so far been good. I hadn’t been knocked out yet and most importantly my kids were safe…..everything seemed to be okay UNTIL a ball came flying over almost hitting me!!! <GASP> what the heck?!? I looked around, searching for someone to catch. No one was around just the distant sound of “FOUR”. How am I supposed to release my furry if I have no one to do it to?? I could have been knocked out but MOST importantly my kids could have been hurt!! I make it known that if my kids are hurt then I morph into one nasty person. A nasty person I would advise no one to see. Luckily we have something we can roll down that kind of barricades the patio. It’s not that bad but I definitely have to be on the look out and if a ball comes flying my way then it better be flying into a bush.;)

Moments.....

Here I am. A wife to a man that is truly my other half. I'm a mother to three amazing kids. Their ages are 4yrs, 2yrs and 6mo and each day, as the aggressive clock of life ticks away, I become more and more aware that my little kids are getting bigger....older. I feel like the ticking of this clock is set on high; the sound blasting through a megaphone, penetrating the auditory nerves and shooting an unforgivable pain down my spine. I've realized that my children can't stay small forever and it terrifies me. I'm terrified that the moments of my children's lives, as precious as every moment is and will be, wont be remembered the way they should be. The smile, kiss, hugs, laughs...all of this will not be remembered in the most vibrant way as when it occurred that very second. I remember the day my first child was born. I remember his beautiful face looking up at me. His eye's squinting from the bright lights and his little body curled up next to mine. But I can't remember his sweet smell. The way that very moment was is forever a distant memory and as my children get older, so does my memory of the early days. I try to remember though. I always reminisce the days of their births, first steps, words etc. I keep my memories stored in files within my mind. It's much like a filing cabinet , really. A filing cabinet in my mind where the most recent memories are stored in a file that is placed front and center; easily accessible. Memories from years ago are placed in a file towards the back of my mind. I have to search and dig for these memories but once their retrieved it is that moment played all over and the elation of that day is once again.
Before having children I was a different person. I was someone that allowed things to happen, turned my back at what was important and filled my desires with wants instead of needs. My children have made me better. Sure, there are times when I'm ready to pull my hair out; the baby wont let me put him down, my 2yr old throwing a tantrum and my 4yr old demanding something I can't get to him quick enough BUT these three children have taught me patience, love and what happiness on this Earth is all about. When ever the kids and I go outside I like to sit back and watch them. Their curiosity for life and all that is around them is exciting. A butterfly that passes grabs their attention. They begin their enchanted journey following this butterfly, hiding behind trees and rolling in the grass. Their enjoying life in the most simplest, purest way. It's great to watch. These precious moments go by so fast and I hate the fact that I can't freeze time. I try to savor each hug and smile the moment it happens. Sure, I can hug them a million more times but nothing will capture that very moment. Sometimes when I hug my children I just can't let go. Letting go would mean that the moment is gone and I have to rely on my memory to keep it fresh. A giggle and soft squeeze from my daughter brings me to reality and I reluctantly let her go. So I guess my problem is with time. Time is unchanging. Time is constant....constantly moving forward. Somehow in the flow of life I am expected to except this process that is guaranteed to make my children grow up. Every fiber of my being wont let me except it. So, here I am...a wife and mother trying to balance life on one hand; painfully watching as time robs me of my moments and hoping to come to terms with this reality. For now I have those special moments filed away nice and neat inside my mind but most of all I have it all tucked deep within my heart.

Crochet Creations by Alisa~ Giveaway~

 Crochet Creations by Alisa

GIVEAWAY

I am honored to have Alisa Newman, owner, designer and creator of CROCHET CREATIONS BY ALISA  Sponsor this amazing giveaway!! Alisa will be giving one adorable crochet black beanie away. Placed on the beanie is a flower on the side and gem placed in the center of the flower. The winner gets to pick the color of flower out of these options: Lavender, light Pink, gray, orange, teal, brown, mixed grey/black, mixed purple/blue, sienna- a burnt orange/green/beige mix, green with sparkles, pea green or white with sparkles. The gem color options are: pink, black, red, blue or green.
NOTE: BELOW ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE BEANIES ALISA HAS DONE AND SOME OF THE FLOWER COLOR OPTIONS. THESE ARE NOT BEANIES TO SELECT FROM IF YOU WIN.

 

       How to enter to win:

For each 'LIKE', 'FOLLOW', repost or referral that you complete, it is an extra entry  which gives you a greater chance at winning.

NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLETE EVERY POSSIBLE ENTRY. DO AS LITTLE OR AS MANY AS YOU LIKE. THE MORE YOU DO THE BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING!

1. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years blog
2. 'LIKE' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Facebook (click 'LIKE' button to the right of this page)
3. 'LIKE' Crochet Creations by Alisa on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Crochet-Creations-by-Alisa/192730317431013?closeTheater=1
4. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/survivnmotherhd
5. Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page and then post link here so I can check=)
6. Post about this giveaway on twitter and then post link here so I can check=)
7. Post about this giveaway on your blog and then post link here so I can check=)
8. REFER a friend! For every person that enters this giveaway, and was referred by you, is an extra entry for you!! So, if you refer 5 people then that means you post below with the name of the person you referred (they have to complete at least TWO form of entry: ie- follow OR like me AND Crochet Creations by Alisa) and your email 5 seperate times!

With each 'LIKE' and/or 'Follow' you do it is a seperate entry so leave your name AND email each time you comment below!!


***On the evening of May 5th, 2011 I will be announcing a winner picked by Random.org (NOTE: If there is not at least 5 people entered for this giveaway then I will extend it and will notify you all via Facebook.

The winner will be emailed by me and then the sponsor. If you do not have your email listed with EACH post you make then I will have no way of contacting you and a new winner will be chosen.

If you have any questions email me at survivingmotherhoodearlyyears@yahoo.com ~ I check my email once a day, occasionally more if I have time so please be patient with me=)


***PLEASE make sure you post something on Crochet Creations by Alisa wall when you 'LIKE' her on Facebook. Let her know that Surviving Motherhood Early Years has sent you and tell her THANK YOU for the giveaway!
Alisa is not only a busy mom of two but she is donating all funds from her business to Project Mexico, a charity through her church. How amazing is that!! Let's just make sure we give her a BIG thank you so she knows how much we appreciate this!! <3

GOOD LUCK!!

OR

HOW TO BUY:

Would you rather just make a purchase? Or perhaps you would like to enter to win AND check out Alisa's Facebook page for purchasing an item... No problem! Get ready to be amazed by her talent!! She has pictures up of her work so once you 'LIKE' her facebook page, take a peak around and check out the pictures. Send Alisa an email on facebook for purchasing=)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Crochet-Creations-by-Alisa/192730317431013?closeTheater=1

 

~Cheri<3

Pink Sparkle and Lace~~Giveaway~~

Pink Sparkle and Lace

GIVE AWAY

I am honored to have Tammy La Motte, owner, designer and creator of PINK SPARKLE AND LACE sponsor this awesome giveaway!! She will be giving a Hobo Tote to one lucky fan. You get to choose which bag (out of 4 total) you would like.

 

How to enter to win:

For each 'LIKE', 'FOLLOW', repost or referral that you complete, it is an extra entry  which gives you a greater chance at winning.
NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLETE EVERY POSSIBLE ENTRY. DO AS LITTLE OR AS MANY AS YOU LIKE. THE MORE YOU DO THE BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING!

1. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years blog
2. 'Follow' Pink Sparkle and Lace blog http://pinksparkleandlace.blogspot.com/
3. 'LIKE' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Facebook (click 'LIKE' button to the right of this page)
4. 'LIKE' Pink Sparkle and Lace on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Sparkle-And-Lace/186866321326544
5. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/survivnmotherhd
6. 'Follow' Pink Sparkle and Lace on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/PinkSparkleLace
7. Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page and then post link here so I can check=)
8. Post about this giveaway on twitter and then post link here so I can check=)
9. Post about this giveaway on your blog and then post link here so I can check=)
10. REFER a friend! For every person that enters this giveaway, and was referred by you, is an extra entry for you!! So, if you refer 5 people then that means you post below with the name of the person you referred (they have to complete at least TWO form of entry: ie- follow OR like me AND Pink Sparkle and Lace) and your email 5 seperate times!

With each 'LIKE' and/or 'Follow' you do it is a seperate entry so leave your name AND email each time you enter!!


***On the evening of April 23, 2011 I will be announcing a winner picked by Random.org (NOTE: If there is not at least 5 people entered for this giveaway then I will extend it and will notify you all via Facebook.

The winner will be emailed by me and then the sponsor. If you do not have your email listed with EACH post you make then I will have no way of contacting you and a new winner will be chosen.

If you have any questions email me at survivingmotherhoodearlyyears@yahoo.com ~ I check my email once a day, occasionally more if I have time so please be patient with me=)


***PLEASE make sure you post something on Pink Sparkle and Lace wall when you 'LIKE' her on Facebook. Let her know that Surviving Motherhood Early Years has sent you and tell her THANK YOU for the giveaway!
Tammy is a VERY busy women with a heart of gold. She has generously offered one of her Hobo bags for this giveaway. Let's just make sure we give her a BIG thank you!!


GOOD LUCK!!

OR

HOW TO BUY:

Would you rather just make a purchase? Or perhaps you would like to enter to win AND check out Tammy's shop... No problem! You must be warned though...there are TONS of awesome items for sale and it might be difficult to purchase just one thing!=) Check out the links below to visit Tammy's website and Etsy shop!

http://www.wix.com/pinksparkleandlace/products

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinksparkleandlace

~Cheri

Auction and Giveaways!

Don't you love auctions?? I sure do! Well, Surviving Motherhood Early Years is gearing up for an auction once we hit 100 fans on Facebook!! The feature item for the auction is a BRAND NEW Dooney & Bourke Jenna Tote (retail value $210, STARTING BID $75~~ the starting bid may even be lowered!!) Other items will be added to the auction as well. This is a great way to get awesome items for great prices AND find out about other Facebook pages/shops. So go ahead and click the 'LIKE' button to the right of this page and tell your friends! =)

Giveaways!! I LOVE giveaways!! It's such a fun way to find out about great Facebook pages/shops and have a chance at winning an awesome item!! If you read the Fabulous Female Feature then you are somewhat familiar with the ladies that will be sponsoring the giveaways. Each lady has agreed to donate an item from their shop to YOU! Deatils to come on how to submit entry for your chance to win!

~Cheri

Fabulous Female Feature!!

I am absolutely giddy to feature three women that exude such an enormous amount of talent that it would be an injustice to all to not spread the word about them! Each of these women have a business that is fueled by passion, consideration for their client and a whole lot of heart! I know each of these ladies personally, some longer than the other but what I have realized with each person is the positive energy that each exude and how this energy is passed on through their work. It is an honor to feature each lady and I hope that you take the time to 'LIKE' them on Facebook, follow on Twitter, Blogs and/or check out their Etsy shop if they have one listed.

Now...drum roll please.....

Fabulous Female Feature!!

Crochet Creations By Alisa
Alisa Newman


Crochet Creations: Beanie

I am so happy to introduce you all to Alisa. She is a wife, mother of two and SUPER talented. Alisa is the owner, designer and creator of Crochet Creations by Alisa. Alisa makes the most intricate, beautiful crochet work that I have ever seen. Her attention to detail makes each item a work of art. I have purchased a beautiful headband for my daughter. The headband features an adorable, oversized flower which makes this accessory a favorite for my little girl. Alisa sells headbands-$10, scarfs-$15, beanies-$15, single strap headbands- 3 for $15, double strap headbands- $8 and baby bracelet- $10. The baby bracelet is adorable! My daughter wont take hers off because she loves it so much.
All profit goes to a charity called Project Mexico which is a ministry through her Church- Creekside Christian Fellowship in Irvine. One to two times a year a visit is made to Mexico to build homes for families in need. This is a fantastic charity and it is extremely generous of Alisa to contribute in this way.

Flower headband

Double strap headband

My daughter Isabella wearing one of Alisa's  crochet creation: flower headband.

Alisa has just recently started the Crochet Creations By Alisa facebook page. Go to her page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Crochet-Creations-by-Alisa/192730317431013 and 'LIKE' it so that you can see more photos of her work!!


Pink Sparkle and Lace
Tammy La Motte

 Now, it's time to meet Tammy. A wife, mother of three grown men and creator, designer and owner of Pink Sparkle and Lace. This women can sew like no ones business, literally putting every bit of heart into each stitch she makes. I've known Tammy for quite some time now and anytime that I have seen something that she has handmade, I immediately thought she purchased it in the store. Tammy must be a perfectionist because her work is flawless!! I just recently purchased some items from her Etsy store. These items, shown here, are so adorable, comfortable and durable....as we all know, when we have kids we NEED things that will last; holding up to our kids adventures. Pink Sparkle and Lace offers an array of items from aprons- full and half size, toddler dresses and boxers, hobo bags, change purses and diaper covers to name a few. Her price ranges from $5 on up.

Pink Sparkle and Lace has a Facebook account, Etsy shop, Twitter, blog and website. There are tons of ways to connect with her, see her work and make a purchase!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Sparkle-And-Lace/186866321326544

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinksparkleandlace
http://twitter.com/PinkSparkleLace

http://www.wix.com/pinksparkleandlace/products#!products 



My daughter wearing an adorable red and white diaper cover.



My son wearing a Hawaiian print bib.



My son wearing comfy "chili pepper" boxers.



Orange Quilt Bee

Lisa Wiltse

Orange Quilt Bee

Last but certainly not least is Lisa- a wife, mother of 2 adult children and co-owner of the Orange Quilt Bee. Orange Quilt Bee is a shop that not only offers an array of materials and items for sale but they also offer classes to help you advance in your desired craft. I have known Lisa for almost 17 years!! Her daughter Sarah and I have been best friends since 7th grade!! Throughout the time that I have known Lisa, I have been amazed by her talents. Her attention to detail and passion for sewing and quilting shows through with each piece she does. Something that may interest quite a few crafty mommies (or dads) out there is that the Orange Quilt Bee sells a pattern for cloth diapers!! I have come across so many moms (and dads) that make their own cloth diapers or would like to start and need a pattern. Well, the Orange Quilt Bee is the place to go to for your cloth diaper pattern. Go to the Orange Quilt Bee site's that are listed below and contact them for purchase!!                                                      

A quilt made by Lisa for my husband and I. Our wedding gift.

A beautiful quilt made by Lisa for my daughter.



An adorable Dr. Seuss quilt made by Lisa for my son.



http://www.orangequiltbee.com/

http://orangequiltbee.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please take a moment and visit their facebook, twitter, blog, Etsy and/or web page. Each lady has such wonderful things to offer and more importantly they are full of passion and love for what they do. Make sure you tell them that Surviving Motherhood Early Years has sent you!! Also, stay tuned for some fantastic giveaways from each of these ladies!! This is a great chance to win one of their items!!

~Cheri

Surviving Motherhood Early Years is on Facebook!

Surviving Motherhood Early Years is on Facebook! Please "LIKE" the page and get ready for some fun and exciting things ahead!! Tons of reviews AND giveaways!!

~~ Motherhood is the TOUGHEST job you will ever LOVE so join this page and relax.....it's a safe zone!;)~~

Japan Relief

Do you want to help the but not sure how? Go to http://www1.networkforgood.org/

and pick a charity of your choice to donate to. Your donation will go towards the efforts in helping those suffering from the catastrophic events that took place on March 11th. Pray for those in need, not only in Japan but all across the world. Peace&Love.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110321/lf_afp/japanquakelifestyleeconomy

Life as a Global Mom: Your Choice of classic Boba or select ERGObaby Ca...

Want to win a baby carrier??? Then click on this link and enter to win a $110 dollar credit to CSN stores for a Boba or ERGObaby carrier!!

Life as a Global Mom: Your Choice of classic Boba or select ERGObaby Ca...: "CSN Stores carries a great variety of baby carriers including Boba, ERGObaby, Catbird Baby, Sleepy Wrap, Moby Wrap and more! In honor of o..."

Who takes care of Mommy?

When the house has been hit with illness, who comes to the bedside with tender care? When a child has skinned their knee who is placing a band aid on the "boo boo" and making it all better? Mommy does....OK, dad's too. I'm not trying to discredit the daddies but let's talk about moms for a sec, k? So, where was I? Oh, yes.....you can find mommy running around taking care of her family, bringing calmness in the home and all coughs, sneezes and "boo, boos" treated. Us mom's are running around so much that I have actually considered doing something that some may laugh at. I have considered wearing a fanny pack in my home just for the purpose of efficiency. That's right, a fanny pack. I figured that if I were to wear a fanny pack then I could fully care for my family in the quickest way. Does someone need a tissue? BAM, there you go! Does someone need a band aid? BA-BAM, there YOU go! and does someone need a cracker? Well, BAM! It just seems like the right thing to do in order to get my kids the things they need in the fastest possible way while saving myself from running all over the house and possibly losing my mind in the process. I don't know about you but my kids are ALWAYS asking for something and they tend to take turns asking. For example, my son will want a drink and so I ask my daughter if she wants one as well and she says no. So, I go and get my son the drink and what do ya know but my daughter demands one as well. Or they want snack at different times etc. It's a never ending game which brings me back to the reason for the fanny pack....don't laugh.

So, if mommy is always busy keeping all the puzzle pieces of a home in place then what happens if mommy gets sick? What will be of a family that is use to mommy waking them up in the morning, mommy getting their meals prepared and mommy doing their laundry? Will they survive??? Let me fill you all in on what life has been like in my home for the past week. Folks, this mommy has been sick...REALLY sick and my ability to keep things intact finally failed and let's just say things got....um, messy. First, I started feeling feverish, although I never got a fever, and my body started aching and tingling. Then my throat started hurting. It felt like I had swallowed razor blades. This sore throat was also accompanied by laryngitis which means my voice box was done. I could barely talk and for me this would mean that I was about to be taken over. I couldn't let my kids know that I was losing the one thing that got their attention. I use my voice and often times my voice is the reason the kids stop fighting or they head to bed. I get loud. So, here I am, nervous as my voice is fading and my kids are getting more wild by the second. Once my voice was gone all hell broke loose. My 2 yr old hit the 4 yr old and my 4 yr old pushed the 2 yr old....even my 4m old chimed in with a cry. I tried to say something but the pain was too great. I retracted, holding my throat and grimacing at each attempt to swallow. The kids had won. I was in too much pain and felt too weak to battle.

My home became a war zone; dishes in the sink, laundry piling up, toys scattered across the floor and food all over the couch, table and who knows where else. I cringed at the look of my home. My personal diagnosis of OCD was kicking in and I was ready to jump out of my skin at the chaos. My husbands long hours left him little time to help so it was basically on me to try and keep things a float. I wanted to be taken care of....just for a moment. My husband tried to take care of me; giving me Tylenol, water and then letting me rest in our room....the only problem was he left the door open and the kids came charging in. I had an infant nursing, a 2 yr old drawing on my foot and my 4 yr old begging me to read to him. What happened to dad?! I was under attack!! I was forced to read a book- which I'm sure I made up the words since I don't remember reading it- and I was subjected to marker scribbles all over my foot. If someone could of heard my thoughts they would have heard me scream HELP!!! Hubby came running in shortly after and blamed his distraction on a necessity to see the score of a game. Awesome.
My husband had the kids left and for a moment there was silence. The sweetest thing I had experienced all day was the absolute absence of sound. I could hear my breathe as I exhaled and I could hear the gentle tapping of the wind on my window. That's it, nothing else. This was great!! Just as I was drifting off into sleepy sleep I heard the loudest sound that startled me. My lovely 4 yr old had dropped his (toy) bowling bowl from the top of our stairs and managed to have it crash down on the side of the wall. The kids started screaming with laughter.

My appearance coming down my stairs was one from a horror flick, I'm sure. My eyes were bloodshot, my hair was a mess, and I was wearing an oversized robe stuffed with booger infested tissue....ew, right? I was followed to the couch by my family trying to tend to me the best they could. As I sat there I looked around at the house turned upside down, the kids munching on crackers and cheese for dinner- compliments of chef daddy- and all the kids in mix matched pajamas. My husband tried to care for me and the kids and I appreciated that. I realized, though, that mommy somehow finds super human powers within herself to manage the household, kids and hubby especially in a time when their sick. So, who will take care of mommy? Probably your hubby and kiddos, trying to make it right so that mommy can get back to normal and things are back in place. So long to the days when mommy was a child and chicken soup, cozy resting sessions and peace and quiet was the agenda for the day. Even as sick as I was I laughed at my families efforts to make me better. I asked my oldest to get me a tissue and so he did. He came back with a wet nap.....you know, the wipe we use to clean our babies bottoms with. Um, yeah......At that very moment I got a great idea....that fanny pack plan came back in my mind and I realized I could use it for the things I need too!! Mommy CAN be taken care of!!!! Tissues? YES! Medicine? YES! Ear plugs? Yes, YES, Yes!! Problem solved!

Thankful for Thirsties

When I first started cloth diapering I was overwhelmed with all of the diaper options. There were pockets, all in ones, hybrids and more (which I had purchased) but I wanted to stretch my dollar AND get something that was top notch quality. When I inquired about the basic prefold and cover, since it was the best choice economically, I was amazed by the response about what brand to use. It was unanimous-- Thirsties!! There was such positive feedback about the Thirsties cover that I just had to try it. I'll admit that at first I wasn't convinced. How in the world would this thin cover hold in the abundance of...well, you know. I wasn't sold on it, yet I just HAD to have it and see for myself. I purchased my prefolds and a few Thirsties and was ready for leak central since I nurse my son throughout the night and he tends to be a heavy wetter. We co-sleep so I expected to wake up, drench with urine and a very wet and unhappy baby. I lined our bed sheets with towels and hoped for the best. Before turning off the lights and drifting off into dream world my husband gave me "the look". You know, the look you give your kids when they've done something wrong. In that very second he said what I was dreading he would say..."maybe we made a mistake getting cloth diapers. It seems like it's gonna be a lot of work". I went into panic mode. How in the world would I convince my husband that this was a great choice if I wasn't even sure about it. We turned off the lights and I layed, next to my sleeping boy, hoping and praying that my husband didn't wake to saturated sheets.

Eight hours later the suns beating rays ripped through our bedroom and woke us all up. I apprehensively felt around the sheets, ready for my hand to graze the patch of wetness. Much to my surprise I felt NOTHING! That's right, nothing at all.....zip, zilch, nada! My sons clothes were dry as well as the sheets and hubby. I couldn't believe it. I had spent 8 hours, nursing my son on and off and having him in cloth with the Thirsties cover over it and not one drop leaked. My little man was sure to need a diaper change so I reached for another prefold and another cover. Once I pulled off the Thirsties cover I noticed that his prefold was soaked. Now, I'm not talking about being soaked in one area, I mean drenched ALL over.....there wasn't a dry spot on this piece of cloth. I was even more amazed that the Thirsties cover kept all of that wetness from leaking out and soaking my sons clothes. Not only was the Thirsties cover amazing at keeping all of the wetness INSIDE, it was also amazing how I could wipe down the cover with a damp cloth or wet wipe and reuse it for another diaper change. The diaper didn't have the typical harsh ammonia smell and the inside dried almost immediately after wiping it down. Score! I felt like I won the lottery on this one, folks!

Thirsties covers have kept me a happy mama, not only for it's durability and leak proof construction but also because of the price that is sure to appeal to all mama's. For just $11.50 you can get a Thirsties cover in a adorable selection of colors. For only a few bucks more you can get a "one size" Duo wrap which literally grows with your baby by snapping to make the diaper a small, medium or large size. The next two options are the Duo Diapers, a two-piece diapering system using an insert that gives maximum absorbency and the Duo Fab Fitted which is a super trim, less bulky diaper that can be paired with a Thirsties cover for maximum absorbency. The soft material used is sure to make your little sweetie smile. I have had such a great experience using Thirsties and felt that it was imperative to share it with others. For all you mommies considering cloth let me be the first to tell you that it is easy, ecological as well as economically kind AND highly addictive. I am just so glad that I tired Thirsties, even with my skepticism, and realized how wonderful this product is and how it has truly enhanced my cloth diapering experience......I can definitely say that I am thankful for Thirsties!!

My darling DIVA....

In most homes an adult is in charge, setting rules and expecting their children to follow them. But what if you have a diva as a daughter?? The roles somehow reverse and it is your diva of a daughter calling the shots and taking no prisoners!! Welcome to my home which consists of a darling, but tyrannical DIVA of a daughter. Yes, folks-- don't be fooled by those big round blue eyes, Cheshire cat smile and adorable gestures....she's tough, stubborn and 100% DIVA. How old is she you ask?....she's two!! Yep, I'm controlled by a two year old, but if you knew her personally you would know that age is just a number. So with much experience living with a diva I have devised a diva proof system that is sure to keep any diva from major meltdown, and as we all know a diva meltdown is MUCH more different than a "regular" meltdown. My daughters diva meltdowns consist of my carpet being saturated with orange juice, food smeared on my walls and a lot of theatrics....

Here are my 5 ways to keep from disaster with your DIVA:

1. Keep a selection of snacks on hand: Your diva doesn't want one option of a snack. Oh, no- your darling wants a smorgasbord of treats. One minute she might want grapes, the next crackers, heck she might want a steak!! Have an assortment to choose from or else her pretty little vocals are sure to be put to the test.
2. Positively PINK: Almost every diva LOVES pink. If you know whats good for you, you will keep something, ANYTHING pink on hand. A button, ribbon or sticker would even be fine as long is it displays the unchanging allure of pink.
3. Compliments are expected: A sure way to keep your diva happy is by incessantly complimenting them. Make sure to compliment their diva outfit, even though the black tutu, green boots and orange head band look anything but diva-esq. Whenever I compliment my diva she turns to me with a smile, puts her hand on her hips, shakes her booty and tells me she's a princess...well, it's better then a tantrum, right?
4. Sparkles are a must: If it sparkles and shines than you have a winner! If your diva is headed towards meltdown lane then bring out the sparkle. My diva has a pair of glittery shoes and every time she is having an especially diva type day I have her wear the shoes and poof...an absolute diva has transformed into a doll. She becomes so distracted with her diva sparkling shoes that she forgets about why she was even mad in the first place.

5. Dress to impress...or not: I don't know about you but I'm letting my diva pick out her clothes....the tantrums not worth it!!! Sure, she looks a bit silly at times but for some reason she is as giddy as can be once she picks her own attire. She loves her rain boots, tutu's, head bands-that she wears similar to Rambo, and she has to have her purse and her half naked baby doll. The second I try and take one of those items away my darling diva's eyes water, her face turns the color red and a shrill is heard 20 miles away. I'm not messing with this two year old wardrobe, that's for sure!

My darling diva is the most precious little girl who I love more than words could express BUT that doesn't take away the fact that she is a true blue DIVA. The truth is I wouldn't change her diva-ness for the world...but then again I'm saying that since she's tucked cozy and comfy in her bed, sleeping and the house is finally at peace. Until tomorrow=)