Project Life Giveaway

I recently shared how much I love Becky Higgins' Project Life kits.

Well, the amazing Becky is giving away a kit every day this week!

Go! Go now and enter!!! Click here.

I would love for you to win.

SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: Steri-Bottle

Okay, Mamas, this week's giveaway is perfect for those of you with wee-ones who are still in the baby bottle phase.

Imagine the convenience of disposable diapers, but with baby bottles. Steri-bottle is a disposable bottle that requires no washing and no sterilizing. Just open the box, fill, feed, and throw away.

These one-of-a-kind disposable bottles offer unmatched convenience that is perfect for traveling. Think of how many times you have been on the go and forgotten about that baby bottle that you used on the flight or in the car or at the restaurant that has still be sitting in your diaper bag. Festering and turning into a science experiment gone wrong. These bottles are meant to take and toss. Of course, the eco-friendly side of me wants to urge us all to use bottles that are not single use most often. But, for those times when ease is the necessity, we can at least rest assured in these disposable bottles being BPA free and 100% recyclable!

Each bottle is ready to use, BPA-free, phthalate free, 100 % recyclable, and made in the USA!

5-pack: $5.49
10-pack: $9.99

At about $1 per bottle, that is not bad.

Steri-bottle is going to share the love with our readers and are offering two lucky mamas a 10 count box of their choice (medium or fast flow).

Enter to win by leaving a comment answering the question below:

What is your best tip for traveling with babies or kids?

How to earn additional entries in this giveaway:

1. Follow our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

2. Subscribe to the Mama Memo and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

3. Blog about the giveaway, and link back here. Post your blog entry before you comment.

4. Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5. Follow us on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway: "Giveaway- Win steri-bottle pack from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"

6. Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left.

This giveaway will be closed Saturday at 11 p.m. and the winner will be announced next Sunday!

Congratulations to the winners of last week's giveway:

Jodie

Lauren

Katie

Jackie

Kelly K.

Shoot us an email by 3/13 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we'll hook you up!

Mama Love

... I love the cozy new "slippers" from Snoozies. Picture this - a cozy slipper that is crossed with a sock. You have the ability to wash them like a sock (perfect for the busy mama who may step right in that spilled juice!), but they have a sherpa lining and the slip on comfort of a slipper. The anti-slip soles keep your feet on the floor, even when it is a slippery surface. Happy feet make for happier mamas.

... We have loved getting to test out a fun and educational game: Synonyms. It is a clever word game that has your mind spinning and racing as you search your "mental vault" for vocabulary. This is the perfect multi-tasking game for kids and teens who need some prodding to work on their vocabulary for future college test prep. It was created by parents who wanted to help their own kids work on their vocabulary. Honestly, it is challenging! I was reminded that my mental muscles are out of shape and that more time should be spent exercising my brain. I was surprised by how many words I learned while playing this game.

... We love the Ignite stroller from The First Years. Whoever designed this stroller really got it: ample storage (basket and console) for parents - check; taller handles that fit parents comfortably - check; a stroller that maneuvers like a stroller should (not like the funky shopping carts with the one wheel that turns on it's own and makes it impossible to go left when you are steering to the left) - check; shade canopy for sunny days - check; one hand folding - check; euro design on a frugal mama budget - check! This is an umbrella stroller to love.

... You know I love real food. I was absolutely shocked when I learned that tomatoes were being cross with fish (flounder) in a the bio-engineering process. I know we all like juicy tomatoes, but that is just sick and wrong! I am loving the packaged stewed tomatoes from Pomi. Pomi is a BPA free tomato product straight from Italy. Packaged in a Tetra Pak, the tomatoes are kept extremely fresh and have a long shelf life, bringing us the straight off the vine taste we love, but can’t necessarily obtain during the winter. Pomi has no preservatives, added water, artificial flavor, additives, or citric acid. Pomi watches the process from the seed (non genetically modified), to harvest (pesticide free), and packaging (which is recyclable). Hands down, Pomi is the healthiest and safest tomato product on the market this winter!

The Memory Keeper

In my former life (pre-kids), I was a scrap-booker. I made scrapbooks all through high school, college and early married life. I am an avid journaler and love the process of recording life to look back on. I also have a bit of a paper obsession. I love, love, love the school supplies section of the store. Some gals like to get their hair done as a nice kid-free treat. Me? - You just set me free to wander a good stationary section and school supplies and I am happy. Scrapbooking was always a way for me to play with pretty paper.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had very grand visions of creating this beautiful scrap book of my motherhood experience and her childhood. I could just see her flipping through all those pages, recounting the memories that I had joyfully written out.

I can hear you chuckling. You know, don't you.

Yes, I started her scrapbook. It is lovely. She loves to look through the pages of her book.

All 6 months worth of pages.

She is seven years old. Ugh. I know.

And then, there is child number 2. He has a book, but it has yet to be started.

He is turning five next week.

But, in all honesty - I have not given up on the idea of this happening for them. I have things I want them to know about their childhood and I have photos that are way too precious to just sit in my computer's hard drive.

I just needed a better system. The traditional scrapbooking program was definitely not working for me.

I recently stumbled on Becky Higgins' blog. I think I read through her entire blog in one sitting. My eyes were burning, but I had a serious blog crush on this amazing mom who exudes creativity and killer style. [Her blog is seriously amazing and you must visit and check out all her fabulous ideas.] One of her greatest ideas is her Project Life spin on scrapbooking. It is like Scrapbooking for Dummies. It is definitely a method for those of us who want to be able to integrate photos with cute paper, and a journaling element, but may not have the time or space to scrapbook the way we used to.

The kits come with a very cool designer 3 ring 12 x 12 inch album. You can choose from the Amber (more girlie version, but my fave!) or Turquoise kits (also amazing). It also includes 54 divided photo pocket pages for horizontal pictures and the pre-cut journaling and title cards, hundreds of these cards, and hundreds of day and number stickers, and a date stamp for labeling photos and the journaling cards. Everything is organized in cute little card holders so that it all stays nice and neat.

How lovely is this kit? ...

[12 x 12 sheets of paper]

[journaling cards - also perfect for wee love notes, or gift tags]

[date cards to highlight specific dates]

[the kit in its entirety]

(all photos above are of the amber edition. to see the turquoise edition, go here. It is a more neutral and linear design. I really like it too, I am just a total sucker for the bohemian style of the amber edition.)

I was beyond excited when Becky sent me these Project Life kits to play with. Oh, and play I did. I have already started two albums for my kids. They are going to be their "School Years" albums, and we are going to create a few pages for each grade, starting with Preschool and leading up to 12th grade. Keeping it simple over here, people. Because, unfortunately, if we do not keep it simple over here, it will not happen! I am so excited to do this with my kids. I will do the bulk of it, I know. But, my daughter in particular, is in this phase where she is all about writing - making lists, creating stories, and leaving notes. She will love sharing a few tid bits about her school years. (And, if you want to create a very simple School Years scrapbook with your kiddo, Becky has already created some simple yearbook templates just for this... didn't I tell you that she is amazing! They are found here, in her FREE STUFF link. Look on the right side of that page for all the free stuff. )

Aside from the albums I have started, over the past two weeks, I have used the Project Life supplies in a variety of FUN ways:

[wine tags]

[gift tag for a friend]

[gift tag for a new couple]

[a tag for a gratitude box I made for 2 friends who just got married!]

[a pretty frame for a new baby's nursery]

[a gift for a friend expecting a new baby - I put together an album for her baby girl's first year. I set up a few pages ahead of time for her to just slide photos into, and fill out a couple of journaling cards with some anecdotal notes]

I have organized the smaller elements and cards from the two kits in a Trader Joe's clementines box. Fancy, I know. It was just the perfect fit and I can keep it all stashed for impromptu projects, as well as while working on our school years kits.

[the left side of the box has the "amber elements" and the right side has the "turquoise elements"]

This is a quote I love:

"Gratitude is the heart's memory."

-french proverb

Regardless of what we all choose to do with the photos that represent the memories that we have been blessed to experience - we can all walk forward with gratitude. I feel so blessed to have walked this road with my family. With the children that I was told I probably would not be able to have. With a husband that is truly my best friend. I am thankful for these good and prefect gifts and so excited to have beautiful materials to chronicle my gratitude with. Thank you, Becky, for sharing your inspiration with all of us. xo

SUNDAY GIVEAWAY WINNERS of MAMALITA: An Adoption Memoir

The two lucky readers who've each won a copy of MAMALITA by Jessica O'Dwyer are:

Cindy and Courtney!

Congratulations! Send us an email by March 7 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with the name of your prize in the subject line, and we'll get your book in the mail!

SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: Where's Walrus book

Where's Walrus is a new book by Stephen Savage (author of Polar Bear Night and The Fathers Are Coming Home).

In this captivating book (illustrated with a retro flair) we are introduced to an adventurous walrus who is bored with life at the zoo, and escapes to the outside world.

This wordless picture book captivates children as they watch Walrus hide along side firefighters, businessmen, dancers, and even high divers in a contest. It is an adventure told through really fantastic illustrations.

Here is a trailer that gives a taste ...

We are really excited to be able to give away FIVE copies of this book!

To be entered in this giveaway, leave us a comment answering the following question:

"What is your favorite animal to visit at the zoo?"

How to earn additional entries in this giveaway:

1. Follow our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

2. Subscribe to the Mama Memo and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

3. Blog about the giveaway, and link back here. Post your blog entry before you comment.

4. Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5. Follow us on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway: "Giveaway- Win a copy of Where's Walrus from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"

6. Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left.

This giveaway will be closed Saturday at 11 p.m. and the winner will be announced next Sunday!

Congratulations to the winners of last week's giveway:

{{{ Cindy }}}

{{{ Courtney }}}

Shoot us an email by 3/7 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we'll hook you up!

homemade diaper rash solution

Even though this is baby number four, we have gone the cloth route for the first time. One thing I LOVE is the cloth wiping. Based on cost and environment alone, I'd never go back to solely using disposable wipes. But truly the greatest advantage is the beautiful baby bottom left behind.

We went through a period of serious diaper rash his whole first month, while I was using organic cotton balls and plain water. So I started experimenting with different combos of natural ingredients to find a good homemade cloth wipe solution, and this is the one that finally made a world of difference. Literally within a few diaper changes any sign of a rash was completely gone, and has never been an issue since! Obviously every baby's skin reacts differently, but I just love this!

One batch lasts me about 2-3 days.

Mix:
1 cup distilled water
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon tea tree oil (an amazing natural antibacterial with many other household uses)

Pour into some sort of squeeze bottle (like the one from the hospital), and squirt directly onto the skin, or onto the cloth wipes.

As for the cloth wipes, I made 25 or so before he was born, which for me is enough to last the two days between washes. They are about 7" square and double-sided: organic bamboo knit, and organic french terry. But even if cloth isn't your thing, consider trying a vinegar/tea tree solution for diaper rash as an alternative to your typical zinc oxide cream! It has worked wonders for me.

Happy wiping!

Fabulous Chimichurri Sauce

This chimichurri sauce (herby goodness) will dress up any meat as a marinade or served right on top of grilled steak or chicken! Get ready for a flavor explosion.

Ingredients:

1 cup parsley leaves, chopped

1 shallot, coarsely chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

In a medium bowl or food processor, combine the ingredients. Mix thoroughly or pulse to combine. Use as a marinade or serve over grilled meat.

Here is another great chimichurri recipe I found today!

Food for Thought {and thoughts about food]

I have been thinking a lot lately about food. Well, lets be honest, its not just lately that I have been thinking about food. Me and food - we like each other. I love preparing food. I love cooking for people. I love how so much of life revolves around food. Celebrations. Festivals. Social engagements. Rituals. If you have never made this connection, just decide to fast for a week and you will quickly see how often our thoughts revolve around food and how often things we do with our family and friends revolve around eating.

So, yes, me and food - we are kind of like BFF's.

Here is my question:

Do you know where your food comes from?

I really want to know. Think of how you would answer that. Because when someone asked me, I answered. And, then, I started thinking, and for the most part, I actually really don't.

My first response was that it is from the store. I walk in, and there are the aisles, and I am pretty aware of checking labels. I pursue organic products.

But, before landing there, on those shelves - where is my food from? The food that I put into my body daily. Into my children's bodies. Who grows it? Where do they buy their seeds? Have their products been genetically modified (there is no label for this)?

I went to my pantry and my fridge and began scanning - and, I kind of had a moment of panic when I realized that I don't really know where any of my food comes from, how it is grown, how it travels from there to the store.

What I am realizing, and kind of mourning (yes, I know that sounds VERY DRAMATIC), is that we have really lost the connection with our food. I almost want to roll my eyes at myself, but hang in there with me on this one. Think back 150 years ago - most families grew their own food. They KNEW where their food came from. They trusted that it was not compromised and that it was healthy. Industrialization has changed how food is grown, and how it gets from farm to our plates. And, like everything else in the industrial world, all of the change has not been good.

Think about this, mamas, if a stranger walked up to you on the street and wanted to hand you a steak, or a bushel of veggies, or even a box of cereal - would you take it? Would you feed it to your children? Would you trust that this random individual was handing you pure food?

I don't think I would. Because what I know is that what we put into our mouths can keep us alive (we need food and water to live, afterall), or it can lead to death (the poison apple serves as an iconic reminder).

So, why do we simply trust that all the food lining our shelves in the store is safe?

I was encouraged recently to watch the movie Food, Inc.

All I can say is - WATCH IT.

Please watch it.

Pretty please.

I was enthralled by the information shared. I learned so much. And, I was left feeling puzzled, perplexed and more than a little frustrated.

Here are some of the things I learned ...

Did you know that in the one burger you eat, there may be pieces of 5,000 cows?

Did you know that the majority of corn grown in Iowa actually cannot be used for human consumption?

Did you know that corn is in almost every product on the mainstream grocery store's products?

Did you know that about 5 companies produce all the meat in our nation?

Did you know that the American farmer is losing his ability to farm?

Did you know that it is virtually illegal for us to criticize certain companies? That freedom of speech does not apply to the food industry?

Did you know that a meat processing plant could have 6 people die from e coli poisoning and not be shut down?

Did you know that seeds are being modified to contain pesticides INSIDE the plant?

There is far more to list, but I want you to see it for yourself. This film is so well done - I believe that regardless of your political affiliation you will be glad that you watched.

I got my copy through Netflix. I started a free trial, and am now hooked. I love that for about $8 a month I can rent as many movies as I want. Even better, there are oodles of movies available on Netflix that you can watch from your computer instantly. Food, Inc. is one of the movies that is available to watch instantly. So... go ... watch ... and come back and let us know what you thought.

Here is my resolve - to find farmers who still farm that I can support, to purchase free range products, to buy as few GMO products as possible, and to vote in a manner that honors the farming industry and our earth. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE MY FOOD COMES FROM.

Other resources for you to pursue:

Michael Pollan

Fed Up (another movie you can find on Netflix)

King Corn (another movie you can find on Netflix)

Fast Food Nation (another movie you can find on Netflix)

SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: Mamalita: An Adoption Memoir by Jessica O'Dwyer

When Jessica O'Dwyer and her husband fell in love with the online photo of a Guatemalan baby girl, they had no idea of the twisted journey that awaited them. Their eagerness to become adoptive parents lured them into signing with an inept LA agency whose slapdash methods left the couple fearful that their baby would never come home. At that point, Jessica made the brave decision to move to Guatemala, learning how to care for baby Olivia, while at the same time struggling to break through the bureaucratic indifference that stood in the way of making Olivia hers forever.

Kirkus Reviews calls this memoir, "a scathing critique on a foreign adoption system and one woman's attempt to fight it."

Author Joyce Maynard describes Mamalita as a book about the nature of parenthood, "the fierce love and loyalty that makes it possible for us to do more than we ever knew we were capable of." You may have a good cry when you get to the end; I certainly did!

You can learn more about Jessica's story on her blog.

We're delighted to have TWO copies of Mamalita, courtesy of Seal Press, to award to two lucky readers. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment answering this question:

How has being a mom or dad drawn out your inner strength? Or if you're not a parent, what important relationship or situation has demanded that you act with courage?

How to earn additional entries in this giveaway:

1. Follow our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

2. Subscribe to the Mama Memo and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

3. Blog about the giveaway, and link back here. Post your blog entry before you comment.

4. Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5. Follow us on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway: "Giveaway- Win a copy of Mamalita: An Adoption Memoir from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"

6. Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left.

7. Become a fan of Mamalita: An Adoption Memoir on Facebook!


This giveaway will be closed Saturday at 11 p.m. and the winner will be announced next Sunday!

mama Love

... I will blame my sweet tooth on the rapidly approaching Valentine's Day propaganda that surrounds me these days. But, my sweet tooth loves Santa Cruz's line of organic chocolate syrups.

My favorites are the chocolate and mint chocolate flavors. Whip up some tasty chocolate milk, or a mint mocha, or top ice cream with this tasty treat. I love that this product is made with certified organic ingredients, and does not contain any high fructose corn syrup.

... Where's Walrus is a new book by Stephen Savage (author of Polar Bear Night and The Fathers Are Coming Home). In this captivating book (illustrated with a retro flair) we are introduced to an adventurous walrus who is bored with life at the zoo, and escapes to the outside world. This wordless picture book captivates children as they watch Walrus hide along side firefighters, businessmen, and even high divers in a contest. It is an adventure with a bit of a twist. Here is a cute trailer that gives a taste of this story line. (We like this book so much, we will be giving a few copies away next weekend, so check back!!!)

... I have fallen in total and utter love with a new book. One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp, has completely spun my world (in a brilliantly great way). A friend of mine mentioned it to me the other day and I happened to pick it up at the bookstore the next day and began thumbing through it. I could not put it down. I stood there, captivated, drinking in the words that felt like water to my very parched soul. It was timely. More timely than I probably even know. It is the kind of book that I wish I could buy and give to every person that I love. You can read the first chapter online here.

Better yet - watch this ...

a million dollar bouquet

Today was a "mommy and me" tea at the twins' preschool. In Kembe's class, there was a wall displaying the answers each child gave to the following question: If I had a million dollars, I would buy my mommy . . .

Kembe decided he would spent a million dollars on flowers.

A sweet thought . . . but we may have to have a little chat about the prudence of spending that much money on something that will die within the week. Four is a fine age to start discussing return on investment, right?

Talk Back: A Parenting "Mulligan"

I am a big fan of living in the present and trying to focus on my future actions rather than dwelling on the past.

That being said ... what if you had the chance for a "do over" as a parent?

What would hindsight inspire you to do differently?

Would you discipline differently? Would you shut down the "family bed" before it began? Would you institute the "family bed" and have memories of warm bodies snuggled against you in bed? Would you do private over public? Would you respond to an event with your child differently?

Is there anything you would do differently if given the chance?

Today, I am given you that chance, and we want to hear what you would do ...

Here is my response:

Heavy response

I'd visit myself as a brand new mama and whisper in my own ear: "Don't worry so much."

Light Response

I would NEVER have let my kids play with my iphone. They would not even know what an angry bird is.

Just for fun, I asked my husband the same question. Here is his response:

I would not have asked my preschooler to say, "I'm watching you 'Focker'!" (As you can imagine, "focker" was completely mispronounced, and because we started laughing, this phrase was repeated a few times.)

For real, I cannot wait to read your answers!

Five Ways To Bring More Gratitude In Your Life

For the past few months, I've been working on a daily gratitude project. It's not quite ready to be released to the world yet... That's mostly because I haven't found the time to work on it thereby negating the "daily" part of daily gratitude project. I'll keep you posted.

However, I am amazed at the difference it makes in my day whenever I do find time for it. Here are just five simple steps that have brought so much more joy in my life:

1. Change "Didn't" to "Done"

At night after I shut my eyes, my mind races about everything I failed to accomplish that day. It could be a last load of laundry. It could be something stupid I said. Maybe I yelled when I should have listened.

Whatever it is. I decided to counter with listing all of the things I did accomplish. Sometimes the best I can come up with is, "hey, we survived another day" and sometimes that, in itself, is huge.

2. Dare To Do Nothing.

A few weeks ago, Oprah did a show a happiness. According to her guest, studies show that just 10 minutes a day of silence will increase your happiness. I don't know about you, but ten minutes seems like an impossible commitment (especially if you can't even go to the bathroom without little ones and a husband following behind...). So Oprah challenged people to start with just one minute a day of silence.

One minute. I could do that!

I tried and it did make a difference. I felt calm, resolved, and peaceful, but I still felt self-conscious about sitting and doing... well, nothing.

A few days later I found this online: Do nothing for two minutes. Your stare at rolling waves for two minutes... and if you touch your mouse or keyboard, it restarts. Since you're on your computer, you can take your moment between projects. (And no one has to know.)

3. Say Please and Thank You! (With A Smile)

Taking the time to appreciate others, makes you feel appreciated too. It's not just good manners, it also builds a connection and fosters community. When I recognize how much others truly do for me, whether it's pouring the streamed milk for my latte just right or running to hold the door as I maneuver a stroller, I feel less "me against the world".

4. Put Yourself At The Top of Your To Do List

As moms, there isn't a second of our day that we're not thinking of others. Heck, as women... we continually put the needs of spouses, parents, friends, and everyone else before ours. It's wonderful, but what about bringing at little of that love and concern back home?

I used to think that "me time" involved getting a sitter and a weekend away or elaborate spa treatments. Who can afford that on a regular basis? I certainly can't!

Then, it occurred to me that "me time" could simply be me doing something I love like spending an afternoon baking (which I did yesterday) or making time for a hobby. My plan is to do one thing per week that's just for me. It could be talking to my best friend on the phone or a walk with the kids. No sitter needed.

5. Listen To Your Kids

I talk to my children all day long. I tell them to hurry up because we're late for school... again. I remind them to bring their plates to the sink and put their socks in the hampers. I ask them, "What do you say...", but I don't always ask time, "what do you think...."

My children are four and one, so there are just now expressing their views. Neither them are shy about expressing their preference... loudly, but they have started dabbling in the ways of the world.

Things I've long since taken for granted, they bring a whole new level of fascination. Why do birds make different sounds? And how awesome it is that there are so many! Why can't we have ice cream sundaes for dinner just this one time? Can we go to the park on our way home?

Remember how fun it was to just run in an open field? Just run. No form or heart rate monitors or calories burned. Just you and the sunshine and wind in your hair. I dare you to be grumpy after that.

One Dazed and Confused Mama Stops Trying

On Saturday afternoon, my 8-year-old son Gobez and I settled in to watch 9-year-old sister Didi play basketball. The coach on the opposing team looked vaguely familiar.

I poked Gobez in the ribs. "Does that guy have a kid on your soccer team?" I asked, gesturing as discreetly as I could.

"I don't know," he muttered. "I don't exactly pay attention to the parents."

I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't exactly pay attention to the parents either. Like most busy moms, I struggle to make it through each hectic day, and important information is perpetually falling through the cracks, like the names and faces of good, decent people.

Before my husband and I adopted our children (one from India, two from Ethiopia), I joked that we were destined to be THAT family in our little town of 25,000 -- as in, "that family with the black kids." It hasn't turned out to be quite like that, but we do tend to stand out in people's minds, partly because we look different, and partly because the kids are just so darn friendly. Almost every week, a stranger greets me in Trader Joe's like an old pal.

"We met you and your family at Jamba Juice awhile ago," a bubbly mom might say. "The kids all played tag on the sidewalk together. We had such a great time!"

I just smile and nod in confusion.

There's one very sweet grandpa I see everywhere; he even knows my name! He never fails to ask about the children; apparently my kids and his grandkids enjoyed a spontaneous good time in the park three or four years ago. It's disorienting not to be able to recall all these kind strangers, but I'm training myself to make the most of the reunions.

I'm also training myself not to feel guilty about my overloaded brain. Consider this:

3 kids x 3 classrooms = 100+ parents per school year

100 parents x 7 combined years of elementary school = 700+ parents encountered, give or take a few dozen repeat contacts

3 kids x 6 sports teams per year = a harder math problem than I can handle at the moment

And here's another dirty little secret: even after four seasons of soccer and basketball, I still don't know how many players are required for each sport. Frankly, I don't care. If I get the right kid to the right game at the correct time and place, my work is done. Please don't ask me to learn the rules, either.

"How's your soccer player?" a smiling woman asks in the coffee shop.

"Great," I answer. I have no idea which kid she is talking about.

At last weekend's basketball game, I had the good fortune to sit next to someone I do actually remember, a lovely woman I'll call Sarah. My friend and I have a lot in common; we both have three children in elementary school playing on multiple sports teams. Unlike me, Sarah grew up in this community, so I assume she has an edge when it comes to remembering folks. Then again, she's also a school principal, which means she's an A-list local celebrity with even more contacts.

"What's the name of your daughter's coach?" I asked her. "I think I know him."

"Oh man," Sarah sighed. " I don't know."

"That makes me feel good," I said. "I assumed you're better at this than me."

"People ask me to sign their school permission slips in the grocery store. I have no idea who they are. I just sign."

I wanted to hug her.

As the game broke up, I noticed Gobez chatting with the dad/coach he'd claimed not to know, and all the sudden it hit me: not only did the guy have a kid on our soccer team, we've even carpooled a couple times!

"Nice to see you, Paul," I said.

Lesson learned: miracles can happen when you just stop trying.

Creamy Corn Bake

This delicious corn casserole recipe, courtesy of Marta of Haus of Girls, makes the perfect accompaniment to a big bowl of chili or tortilla soup. It is just way too easy and yummy not to share!

Ingredients:
Can of Corn, Drained
Can of Cream Style Corn
3 oz Sour Cream
1 Cup Melted Butter (see why this is so yummy?)
2 Eggs, Beaten
1 Box Corn Muffin Mix (regular size Jiffy)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine the two corns, sour cream, melted butter, beaten eggs & corn muffin mix.
Mix well & pour into 9 x 13 baking pan and bake 35-40 minutes.

DONE! Make this! Tonight!

Sitcky Bellies Giveaway winner

Oh what fun it was to see how many of you are cooking some buns in your ovens. Lots of babies due in late spring and summer!

Our winner of the super fab Sticky Bellies stickers is ... Giofamily.

For real, your comment made me laugh out loud. I am the 3rd child in my family and the comparison of photos between my sister, the 1st child, and me is hilarious. It is like - "Look this is the day Ali was born." "Oh, and here she is graduating from high school."

Congratulations! Shoot us an email by 2/20 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we'll hook you up!

We have some great giveaways coming in the near future so keep checking back.

Happy Sunday, y'all.

Teen Speak: Gag me with a spoon!

That’s right, I was a Valley Girl. Not the pretend kind. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and could weave 30 “likes” into any conversations with skill and ease. I had great intonation. Plus, I had perfected the eye roll (also known in the day as rad skilz!). I’m sure it was painful for anyone over the age of 16 to engage in conversation with me.

That said, there were some phrases that were off limits, including: “Like, oh my God.” The other no-no: “Shut up!” (as in “no waaay!”). My parents made it clear they didn’t want to hear either of those and especially not directed at them. Today, these top my list of no-no phrases too. So, it’s no surprise that I wince whenever I hear a fourth grader say, “OMG.”

Yet, OMG is typical of today's teen speak, which is cloaked in cryptic acronyms via a steady stream of text messages. A recent report in the Wall Street Journal, said that the average teen sends more than 100 texts per day or more than 3000 text messasges per month. That's a lot of time. But, my beef isn't with quantity. I logged a ridiculous number of hours on the telephone when I was teeny-bopper. (Of course, the phone was tethered to the wall and I was safely tucked in my bedroom.)

My problem is the number hours spent sending sloppy, grammatically incorrect text messages back and forth. Not to be melodramatic, but I’m concerned about the destruction of the English language and annihilation of general civility. (Okay - so I'm a little melodramatic). For real -- I find texting crass. When I see LOL, I want to scream, “Use your words!” So cliché. So boring. So utterly lazy.

However, I'm smart enough to know that this is how my kids will someday soon communicate with me. They won’t use whole sentences with punctuation. They won’t even use their own words. They’ll send me quick, punchy texts to tell me their whereabouts. But, because it’s their language and their rules – I’m learning.

The Online Mom, Monica Villa, writes, “Think of the Internet as a giant swimming pool. You can put a fence around it. But, the safest child will be the one who knows how to swim!” I’d add one important footnote here. You can’t teach your kid to float if you don’t get in the water.

So, this is me, diving into the world of texting – NT (no thanks), NE1HR (anyone here), 143 (I love you), PAL (parents are listening) or TAW (teachers are watching). For the down-low on IM/texting lingo, check out Monica’s handbook on “Staying Safe Online.” And to keep it real, I remind myself that I regularly used the words "groddy," "totally" and the occassional "gnarly" during my formative years. Alas, I turned out okay.

(In full disclosure – I skillfully butcher the English language everyday on Twitter and have never once used LOL, ROFL or LMAO. I prefer the authentic “HA!” or laid-back “funny” instead. There’s also the sublime “tee-hee-hee.”)

Goodbye Pacifier, Hello Reminder

Yesterday we decided to be done with Asher's pacifier.

say it ain't so!

(Actually, Ryan decided and I begrudgingly tried hard to see why this made sense on this particular day because yeah, I'm quite easy-going about such things, I'll admit it--I don't get all uptight about what the books or other people say about pacifiers.) (And yes, Asher is 3 and a half and still slept with a plastic thing in his mouth.) (Don't judge.)

So last night was the big night, if only on a whim, and so we prepared ourselves for a fight. We prepared ourselves to get up a lot. We tried to prepare Asher by talking about it throughout the evening, before bedtime.

He argued a whiny attempt at changing our minds incessantly for the last ten minutes before bed, his enormous blue eyes looking up at us, begging. So we tried bargaining and praising and convincing, etc...infinity...

But he continued to say things like, I don't want anything but my paaaaciiiiii. (And believe you me, it was so tempting to say OKAY FINE because he's the cutest little cherub with a nasal-y voice you ever did see.)

I carried him to bed and whispered good things to him. I put him down and told him that he's a big strong boy, just like his big brother and that I knew he could do it.

And then, after all that arguing and whining, he said, "You are right, Mommy." (With a little quivering lip, a big sigh and very sad Goodbye Paci eyes.)

Then he immediately went to sleep and did not make a peep all night long and slept later this morning than usual. True story.

~~~~~

I'm consistently surprised by motherhood. By parenting. By life with kids. We hardly ever get what we expect no matter how we try to prepare or not prepare and no matter how uptight or easy-going we are. All I really no for sure is how totally out of control I am no matter how much I try to control things.

I'm in no way an expert on anything. I mean, I allowed my boy to have a pacifier until age 3.5 (and honestly, I'm totally cool with that), but if I could give one piece of advice (even though I'm truly not much of an advice-giver, since I know that can be annoying) to new parents, this would be it:

Roll with it, friends. Almost everything in the early years works itself out in its own time, it really does. The sleep schedule, the feeding schedule, the potty training and the pacifying. These are simply small things when you look back. So trust your heart-gut rather than the books or even the experts and do your best to...well, relax.

I wish I had done that, from the beginning. And maybe it just takes time for us to learn to do that. But it's not laziness to relax a little. I think it might just be surrender--to life with kids, on its own terms. Of course it's important to remain consistent with discipline and all that, I'm not saying it's not. I'm simply talking about letting go and living out the process and trusting your heart-gut if it's telling you everything will be okay, even if it's not right now.

I mean, really friends. If I don't take on this attitude myself, I may not be able to handle it tonight when Asher has a complete fit over not having a pacifier anymore.

(Look at me, trying to predict the future again. My learning curve...it ebbs and flows.)


Heather writes at The Extraordinary Ordinary