How long does your makeup last?

Do you own that lipstick that can only be worn around Christmas because any other time you look like a working girl? Or own an eyeshadow you hardly wear but can't bring yourself to throw away because the color has been discontinued?

Well, did you know that old makeup can harbor harmful bacteria,
yeast, and fungi that grow on their surface and transfer to you when you use it?

How long does makeup last?
Here are some general guide lines....

1. Lipstick is good 1 - 2 years so you can get 2 Christmas' out of that lipstick.

2. Mascara needs to be changed out every 4 months and it isn't good to share.

3. Nail Polish is good for about a year unless you put it in the fridge then it lasts much longer.

4. Lip liner & eye liner are good for up to 3yrs but make sure you are sharpening them often.

5. Foundation is goof for about a year but if it starts to lose it's consistency before then throw it away.

6. Eyeshadow is good for up to 3 yrs.

7. Facial creams and gel cleansers are good for a year.

If you are like me, you have piles of makeup and facial creams you get to go through now and throw some away.

Now when you buy new makeup, you can write the date you bought
it on the label to help you know when to throw it away and buy new.

Have Kid, Will Travel

My three younger kids and I were in New Orleans last week. It’s one of our favorite spots to visit—definitely one of my favorite cities of all time. As we strolled the French Quarter, I caught several raised eyebrows and curious glances. I was reminded of another trip to the city, when a woman standing behind us in line at a restaurant asked me why on earth I would bring my children with me to New Orleans.

I was really taken aback. I think I stammered something about the historical aspect of the city, about being careful not to take the children to any questionable spots. But the more I thought about it, the more this bothered me.

Taking my kids with me on trips is one of the great joys of my life. Being able to experience new places together or to see old familiar spots through their eyes is incredible. I love to hear what they’re seeing and listen to their perspective on what we’re doing.

As I told that woman years ago, I’m not stupid about this. When we’re in New Orleans, for example, I don’t walk down Bourbon Street at 11 o’clock at night with my kids in tow. Believe me, they’d get a totally different kind of education if I did that! But we also try to do more than just the typical tourist activities. Our trips are an equal part fun and education, and if I’m doing my job, none of us can really tell where one ends and the other begins.

Traveling with children also exposes them to different people. In our normal daily life, my kids don’t necessarily see many street performers or sidewalk artists. But in New Orleans, this is part of life, and it sparks conversation about what kind of life that might be. It makes us all more aware of our own blessings and appreciative of the passion for their art that most of these performers have.

I know that by taking my children along, I’m creating in them a love for traveling and a thirst for adventure! My kids are almost always ready to jump in the car and drive away on a trip. They’ve become quite good at all the preparations now, so that I don’t have to do nearly as much as I used to as we get ready to go. They’re smart about packing, preparing and patience. And we always have a wonderful time discussing our favorite parts of the trip, what we learned, what surprised us and what we’ll never forget.

My parents took my sister and me almost everywhere with them, and I am happy to be able to carry on the tradition with my own four. Yes, it requires a little more patience. And if you have small children, vacation might not mean sleeping in each day. But I promise you, the days you spend traveling with your kids are priceless. You’ll never regret a trip like that.

So grab your maps and your suitcases and the kids and start to plan it—where will your next adventure take you and your children?


Associated Content

Tawdra Kandle is stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of four children who range in age from 9 years to almost 21 years. She and her husband of over 22 years live in central Florida, where he is in seminary. Tawdra spends most of her precious free time writing and reading, and she loves to travel.

Giveaways Galore

Here is our Weekly Linky. I'm asking other Bloggers to put there Giveaways here for my readers. They will go in Monday's newsletter!
I'll be signing up them all of them, I hope you will too! I won 3 last week!

Ten Tips that Will Change How You Look and Feel About Beauty

Ten Tips that Will Change How You Look and Feel About Beauty
By Vivian Diller Ph.D. with Jill Muir-Sukenick Ph.D., edited by Michele Willens,
Authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change

Face it: there is no magic solution to aging with grace and dignity. Having just written a book offering guidance to millions of women who feel trapped by conflicting feelings, we think we are on to something. We have found satisfying, long term solutions that help us deal with a culture that virtually programs women to have a crisis over their aging appearance. We were once professional models, so we were made acutely aware how quickly a premium on physical beauty can fade with age. It took hard work and time, but we learned the secret of how to enjoy our changing appearance. Now we are therapists treating hundreds of women who may be fulfilled and evolved in many ways, but are still having difficulty coming to terms with the lines of time. Here are some great psychological tips we tell women to "think" about that help them change the way they "feel" and "look." They worked for us. They can work for you!

1) Beauty is not just a physical experience, but a psychological one as well. We all tend to think of beauty as a skin-deep issue, all about how we physically look. But research tells us that perception of what is deemed attractive and unattractive is much more complicated. Why do you think some beautiful women say, "I've never thought I was pretty"? Yes, even beauties like Uma Thurman and Michelle Pfeiffer have drawn attention to what they consider flaws. Similarly, there are women who may not be your typical image of beauty, yet when you ask them they say they are quite confident in their looks. Serena Williams never tries to cover up her unconventionally muscular physique: in fact, she flaunts it and somehow it makes her more appealing. What makes people feel attractive goes well beyond our physical self. It runs deep, much deeper than the eye can see.

2) Although we can't stop the physical changes of aging, we can change our experience of aging. No one, not any doctor, dermatologist or surgeon can stop physical changes of aging. There may be ways to look better, take care of your skin and bodies that put things temporarily on hold, at least on the surface. We're all for that! We're also for ways we can experience -- and even enjoy -- our changing looks. If we take care of ourselves, it makes us feel better and we smile more. When we smile, we look more attractive. The sooner we go through an interior process, (we offer six steps in our book) the better you will feel inside and out.

3) While aging is inevitable and irreversible, self-image is not. Self-image can be fluid and timeless. Self-image is not an actual still picture of oneself. It is an internal experience, how we see ourselves from within, over time throughout our lives. It's flexible and malleable. And if we understand that self image is changeable, then that is what we try to help women conquer. Not age itself. That's a battle we can't win.

4) Beauty is in the "I" of the beholder. If we become our own internal "eye," we can take control over how we see ourselves, rather than give it over to other people to determine if we're attractive or not. Our six steps serve to change the internal lens through which we see, not only ourselves, but others as well. The result? Women will be less self critical and less critical of each other.

5) Chronological age does not have to define you. You can define yourself at your chronological age. A particular age has little to do with how old you feel. You can define how you want to be 40, 50 and onward. We also don't have to let magazine images define what is beautiful. Some women in their 20's feel old. Some women in their 60's feel young.

6) Put your beauty in your identity, not your identity in your beauty. Your identity is made up of many aspects of yourself. How you look is just one of them. As you get older, more aspects of yourself can make up your identity; for example, your experiences in life, your accomplishments and your relationships. If you hold onto youthful beauty as a narrow definition of yourself, you're especially unlikely to enjoy your looks as you age. You leave out so many other ways to feel good about yourself.

7) Take an honest look at who you are, not what you look like. Mirrors tell only a little of what we really look like. Gaze again and go beyond, past your reflection and see who you are as a person. Think of what you see as only the image of yourself, that informs the world of your physical self. But who you are is more than what they see.

8) Rob beauty of its power over you. Take back that power and you will feel more beautiful. Our culture has given beauty power over women. We are told who and what is beautiful. We know that youth is beautiful. Most people see babies as beautiful. But grandmothers can be beautiful as well. Some of the most beautiful women in the world are those who smile, engage and appear happy at any age. If you take back the power of what makes you feel attractive, you will become more attractive to yourself and others.

9) Become less afraid of aging and you will look more beautiful. When you see a face that is scared, you would hardly call it beautiful. There is nothing pretty about fear. Women need to accept that aging happens and that becoming more courageous about all aspects of our lives will enhance them . . . and us.

10) Beauty matters to all women, but to those who age beautifully, it matters neither too much nor too little. We all know that a core aspect of our identities is our appearance. No doubt our looks matter. But women who allow beauty to matter, but keep it in balance with all other aspects of their lives, can enjoy their looks at any age.

Bottom line: Dealing with your looks as they inevitably change is a psychological process as well as a physical challenge. Master the first and the second will come with much more joy. When it comes to your face, your body and your aging process, be smart, be thoughtful and you'll be more beautiful.
© 2010 Vivian Diller Ph.D. with Jill Muir-Sukenick Ph.D., edited by Michele Willens, authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change

Author Bios
FACE IT: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change by Vivian Diller, Ph.D, with Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D. and edited by Michele Willens is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances. As models turned psychotherapists, Diller and Sukenick have had the opportunity to examine the world of beauty from two very different vantage points. This unique perspective helped them develop a six-step program that begins with recognizing "uh-oh" moments that reveal the reality of changing looks, goes on to identify the masks used to cover deeper issues, defines the role beauty plays in a woman's life, and ends with bidding adieu to old definitions of beauty so women can enjoy their appearance -- at any age!

For more information on the book, authors, and events, please visit http://www.faceitthebook.com or visit their fan page on Facebook.

To Sin with a Scoundrel Giveaway & Blog Tour!

A reclusive widow known for her scientific scholarship, Lady Ciara Sheffield is shadowed by rumors that she poisoned her husband . . . A rakehell rogue notorious for his devil-may-care antics, Lucas Bingham--the Earl of Hadley--is not accused of murdering anything--save
for the rules of Polite Society. The only thing they have in common is
seeing their names featured in the lurid gossip columns of London's
newspapers. Until an ancient manuscript draws them together.

Ciara needs a titled fiancé to quell the slanderous speculations which may
send her to the gallows. Lucas needs brilliant scholar to help his
elderly uncle decipher the secrets of the mysterious manuscript. So
when her friends urge her to accept the earl's proposal of a temporary
alliance, Ciara decides that she has no choice but to make a deal with
the Devil. And so begins a seductive dance of sinful pleasures and
hidden desires as the two of them waltz through the mansions of
Mayfair. Lies, intrigue, treachery, sex. They find themselves facing
slanderous whispers, unscrupulous relatives-not to speak of their own
simmering passions, which quickly ignite into dangerous flames. It's a
potent mix and the result may be explosive-and perhaps deadly-if they
don't watch their step.


Author Website: CaraElliott.com Author Blog @ WordWenches Become a Fan of Cara Elliott on Facebook
Follow @CaraElliott_1 on Twitter

I started creating books at the age of five, or so my mother tells me. And she has the proof — a neatly penciled story, the pages lavishly illustrated with full color crayon drawings of horses and bound with staples — to back up her claim. I have since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England, a time and place that has captured my imagination ever since I opened the covers of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

I have a BA and an MFA in Graphic Design from Yale University and now work as the creative director of a lifestyle sporting magazine, a job which lets me combine my love of the printed word with my love of art. I’m very fortunate in that my work allows me to travel to interesting destinations around the world — however, my favorite spot is London, where the funky antique markets and used book stores offer a wealth of inspiration for my stories.

Hatchette Book Group has been kind enough to allow me to giveaway up to 5 copies to my readers. To Qualify, let me know your favorite time in history to read about.Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; leave a separate comment for each entry)

Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on FaceBook HERE
5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right)

Giveaway will end on March 21th at 11:59pm. The winners will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. & Canadian residents 18+ only.

Horizon Organic lowfat Chocolate Milk Review & Giveaway

The newest addition to Horizon’s extensive line of dairy products is the new Horizon Organic lowfat Chocolate Milk with DHA Omega-3. Available in lowfat half gallons, this chocolate milk provides a great tasting and easy way to add calcium and DHA to your family’s diet.

What is DHA?

DHA belongs to a category of healthy fatty acids known as Omega-3s.
Found in high concentrations in the tissues of the brain and eye, DHA Omega-3 is thought to help support healthy function in these areas. Children’s brains grow incredibly fast. In fact, the brain nearly quadruples in the first five years of life.
DHA is a key structural component of the brain, yet many young children don’t get their recommended daily amount of DHA as it is found in a limited number of food sources.
DHA has also been shown to help support heart health
The review? Here our review team to tell you
It’s no secret – kids love the taste of flavored milk!

As I expected, my girls loved this chocolate milk. Thick and creamy, it’s SO much better than adding chocolate syrup to regular milk!
According to 2005 USDA data, 66% of the milk chosen by children in schools is flavored.
Flavored milk provides the same 9 essential nutrients as unflavored milk (calcium, potassium, phosphorous, protein, vitamins A, D, B12, Riboflavin and niacin), and can help kids meet their calcium requirements.
Flavored milk consumers did not have higher total fat or calorie intakes than non milk consumers.
And adults do, too!

A 2006 study showed that low fat milk was as effective at post-exercise rehydration as sports drinks.
Because of the natural carb:pro ratio in flavored milks, low fat chocolate milk is an effective post-exercise recovery beverage.
Consuming carbohydrate and protein post workout has been shown to:
Enhance muscle glycogen formation.
Promote a hormonal environment that encourages muscle growth.
May lessen immune-suppressive effects due of intense exercise.
Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Omega-3 is fortified with a natural, 100% vegetarian and sustainable source of DHA – a safe, wholesome, delicious way to bring more of this important nutrient into your family’s diet. Visit http://www.horizonorganicdha.com/ to learn more!
Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Omega-3 is fortified with a natural, 100% vegetarian and sustainable source of DHA – a safe, wholesome, delicious way to bring more of this important nutrient into your family’s diet. Visit www.horizonorganicdha.com to learn more!

BUY IT!
Enter your zip code in Horizon’s Store Locator to find where to buy this and other Horizon products. Horizon Organic provided me with the information above, as well as coupons for myself and for giveaway, all opinions are our own.
WIN IT!
Two of my readers will each get 4 coupons – two for a free half gallon of the new Horizon Organic lowfat Chocolate Milk with DHA Omega-3 and two coupons for $1 off a half gallon of the same milk. To enter, please visit Horizon Organic’s website and leave a comment telling me what other product you’d like to try, or if you already have a favorite, you can tell me that, too. Please make sure if your email address is not visible in your blogger profile you leave one in your initial entry!

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; leave a separate comment for each entry)

Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on FaceBook HERE
5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right)


This giveaway will end on March 21, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be drawn via random.org. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. Open to US residents only

Guest post by Author Kim Crouch - TAKE TIME FOR MOMMY

TAKE TIME FOR MOMMY


Let’s face it. Women have taken on every role society has to offer. There has not been a time when we have said no to a challenge. The plight of women in modern society could be described as the evolution of the superwoman. This is particularly true of those of us with kids.


We are mothers, teachers, doctors, wives, sisters, actresses, musicians, directors and everything in between. There is no doubt that we are physically capable. As we have expanded our roles in society, we need to do more to consider our personal growth and development because the truth is we have mastered the complex but neglected the simple. We spend so much energy on the outside world that no energy remains for our own spirit. Even with all our material possessions, we realize something is missing.


I’ve seen so many of us striving hard to complete one goal after the next whether it’s paying the rent of closing the million dollar deal-that we have become experts at completing tasks. Upon completion, we ask, “what’s next?” Somewhere in this process we find that we are missing our sense of self. We find ourselves saying if I won the lottery I would… When the kids grow up… or even “I can’t wait until the weekend.” We are so consumed with deadlines and obligations that we long for a time when we allow ourselves to live.


When we reach this point, many of us can’t believe the time we’ve spent putting ourselves and our spirits on hold. The bottom line is no set of instructions can help you regain your spirit, but there are things you can do. Learning to love, live and express yourself everyday is a matter of choice. Don’t be afraid to take time for mommy and to enjoy yourself and your life right now. After all, you can’t ever replace today so make the most of it. Your kids will appreciate it, your mate will appreciate it and most importantly you will appreciate it!



Kim Crouch is the author of Mother To Son: Words of Wisdom, Inspiration and Hope for Today’s Young African-American Men. She blogs about parenting issues at http://mothertoson.blogspot.com and is an attorney, author and married mom of 3 boys.

For all mothers who have heard the adage that mothers raise their daughters but love their sons, comes a powerfully written book Mother To Son that shows that mothers do more than just love their sons. The book offers candid advice for mothers to provide their sons on the issues they may face from racism to self-recognition to navigating the American maze and concept of beauty.

Shushybye Book Review & Giveaway

I recently reviewed Shushybye Sleepover Surprise book, and Close Your Eyes CD, by The Shushybye Dream Band. I received this with no other compensation.

About Shushybye

Established in January 2004, the Shushybye Company is proud to present shushybye, the original child-parent interactive sleeptime multi-media and bedtime product entertainment and lifestyle brand. The Shushybye Company developed and launched shushybye to inspire children to look forward to sleep time during the day, and to help parents prepare their preschoolers for sleep at night.

Shushybye is an interactive television show, book and music ritual for parents as they prepare their preschoolers for sleep. The books offer colorful characters and charming stories, while the accompanying catchy and spirited original shushybye rock and pop songs help inspire children to look forward to sleep-time.


Book Description

SHUSHYBYE is the land way above the clouds where the Shushies (led by SNOOZLES, DOZIE AND ZEEZ) make dreams for children, then place them in SHUSHYBYE Dream Boxes, which are sent to sleeping children via the SHUSHYBYE Train driven by CONDUCTOR MCCLOUD. In order to get their SHUSHYBYEdreams each night, children have to go to sleep on time for the arrival of the SHUSHYBYE Train.


Our Review -
Up until this point we had never heard of Shushybye but the girls love music so I thought it wwould be a perfect product for us to review. The girls love the bright pictures although I thought it was a mouthful to read. My 3yr old said "Again Mommy!" She loved the rythm and the silly name. My 5yr old said she liked it but enjoyed the music even better. The C.D offers a fun- filled musical journey across many diverse music forms. Everything from Country, rock, jazz, and more. It was a lot of fun!

Buy it: Visit the SHUSHYBYE Shoppe to see all the great products and make a purchase.

Win it: 1 Taking Time for Mommy reader will win their own copy of Shushybye Sleepover Surprise & C.D!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Shushybye and tell me another product you like or something you learned.

Please make sure if your email address is not visible in your blogger profile you leave one in your initial entry!

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; leave a separate comment for each entry)

Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on FaceBook HERE
5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right)

This giveaway will end on March 21, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be drawn via random.org. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. Open to US residents only



Disclaimer: I received a copy of Shushybye Sleepover Surprise for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. All views expressed are my own opinions. I learned about this opportunity from The Product Review Place.

Jamaican Chicken Burgers

Jamaican Chicken Burgers Prep Time: 24 minutes
Other Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Makes 4 servings


Ingredients
1 pound ground chicken*
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 1/2 teaspoons Jamaican jerk seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 hamburger buns
Toppings: fresh mango slices, lettuce leaves, sweet-hot pickles
Preparation
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into 4 (3-inch) patties. Cover and chill 30 minutes.

2. Cook patties in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 7 to 8 minutes on each side or until done. Serve on buns with desired toppings.

*Ground pork may be substituted.

Southern Living, MARCH 2010
You can order the Southern Living Magazine fromBecky Grimm, visit her personal website Here

Sixty Uses for Salt

Although you may not realize it, simple table salt has a great
number of uses other than simply seasoning your food. The
following list will give you sixty uses of salt, many of which
you probably didn't realize:


1. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.

2. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.

3. Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will
come off easier.

4. Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier
pouring.

5. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.

6. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh
eggs sink; bad ones float.

7. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs;
a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.

8. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up
fluffier.

9. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to
perk them up.

10. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't
stick.

11. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them;
they will last longer.

12. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.

13. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet
bowl.

14. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack
out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a
hammer to break it open easily.

15. Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they
will last longer.

16. Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and
vinegar, thickened with flour

17. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand
in for a longer life.

18. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let
the salt soak up the stain.

19. Clean you iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on
the ironing surface.

20. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a
double boiler will make the food cook faster.

21. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.

22. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of
salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.

23. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.

24. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it
hot for a sore throat gargle.

25. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth
polisher.

26. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.

27. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

28. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.

29. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for
awhile.

30. A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.

31. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.

32. Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your
clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your
final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.

33. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to
prevent yellowing.

34. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.

35. Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.

36. Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt
water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.

37. Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.

38. Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.

39. Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not
discolor.

40. Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.

41. Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.

42. Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.

43. Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.

44. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to
remove stains.

45. Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.

46. Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.

47. Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more
quickly.

48. Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odour.

49. A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee.

50. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out
matched.

51. Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.

52. Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water
later.

53. Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.

54. A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.

55. To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to
four parts alcohol.

56. Salt and lemon juice removes mildew.

57. Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want
grass growing.

58. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look.

59. Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot
solution of salt water.

60. If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt
on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake
into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven
has cooled.Author - Unknown

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Homeschooling.Part 4

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Homeschooling. . .

. . .But Were Afraid to Ask. . .
Part 4: Am I Out Here on My Own?


As I said a few articles back, when we began our homeschooling journey, by and large we were on our own. We knew of a few other families who were educating their kids at home or who had done so in the past. But there really wasn’t anyone to show us the way or give advice. For quite a while, I felt as though we were out on our own.

I had read one older, somewhat dated book about a homeschooling family. It made me feel a little better, but it didn’t give me any ideas about how to begin, how to explain what we were doing to others or how to deal with hard days.

The Internet was around at that time, but we weren’t using it the way we do now. It took me a few years to find our nearest homechool support group, and even then, it covered such a large geographical area that frequently their activities were too far away for us. Our area also suffered from a frequent homeschool group malaise: we had one very conservative Christian group, and we had one strictly secular group. The former was exclusive to believers; the other billed itself as inclusive, but actually was not very tolerant of anyone who disagreed with its fairly liberal view.

Fortunately for us, homeschooling can sometimes be like the chicken pox: it tends to spread between families. Before too long, several families whom we knew had decided to begin homeschooling, too, and we had an informal homeschool social group.

Beyond that, I discovered that most larger curriculums were developing online support groups. When I begin to post on those boards, I met incredible homeschooling moms from around the world. . .some of whom became my closest friends.

Since moving to Florida, we’ve become part of several local homeschooling groups. Some of them are more socially oriented, while others exist to organize field trips and learning co-ops.

So what’s the benefit of being involved in a homeschooling support group? First of all, there’s the dreaded “s” word: socialization—not only for the child but for the parents. It’s good for kids to spend time around other children who are being homeschooled, who understand the unique benefits and keep roughly the same hours. And it’s a relief for moms and dads to be able to talk with other parents who share the passion for home education.

It’s also helpful to have a group that can act as a sounding board. Everyone is going to have questions or decisions to make at one point or another, and getting some input from parents who have already been through that process is enormously important. Homeschool groups are wonderful places to get curriculum ideas, as well as links to valuable Internet sites. Of course, most groups also have all the local legal requirements and can give heads-ups on upcoming legislation that pertains to homeschoolers.

And on those days when we’re ready to toss in the towel and send the kids back to public school, or when we’ve heard one too many snide comment from the cashier at the grocery store (“Oh, you homeschool? I think children who aren’t in school turn out weird.”), or when our husband has come home, looked at the messy house and asked archly, “What do you do all day?”, homeschool groups are a precious resource. Sometimes just venting about what has happened to other people who understand is a relief.

I love homeschooling. I don’t know that I’ve found anything about it I don’t like. But by its very nature, it can be a lonely adventure. Why should we be out here on our own when we don’t have to be? Find a homeschool group. If you can’t find any local groups with whom you are comfortable, try some of the national or international groups.

You don’t have to go it alone!

Giveaways Galore!

I love Giveaways! As a matter of fact I have won 4 this past week alone!Great way to stock up for Christmas and find out about new products.I'm asking other Bloggers to put there Giveaways here for my readers.I'll be signing up them all of them, I hope you will too!

Giving up on Perfection

At age 41, I’m a proud mother of two fantastic kids. Married to an amazing husband and trying my best to keep fit and healthy while trying to help others do the same.

After my amazing results with P90X, I thought I was as close to perfect as I was going to get. Seeing that this was at age 40, I thought that was pretty darned good. But, life gets in the way and my fitness took a few steps back. I spent too much time on the computer (a bad thing) and more time with my family (a VERY good thing).

I was concerned that this “slip” in fitness focus would make me less credible. It’s not like I’ve gained all my weight back. In fact, I’ve probably only gained back about 10 pounds, but being a perfectionist, I could not accept this slip. I tried to keep it hidden from my readers, fans, followers, etc. NO MORE! I’m out of the closet with my fitness failures and back on track to be better each and every day. Not perfect, just better.

Practically all of my life, I have been a perfectionist. Nothing is ever good enough; I am always striving to do better. Of course, there are both good and bad things about this characteristic. I decided to do a little research about what others think about being perfect as well. I happened to stumble upon a comment from a Father Michael of Liveholiness.com. He said,

I think perfection is a great goal, but it can lead to great frustration. I experience that frustration every day when I see how imperfect I am! A friend of mine always likes to remind me that it’s about “progress, not perfection.” Even though I’m imperfect each day, I can at least try to make some progress in some area each day as well.Ah, with a sigh of some relief, I realized THIS is me. THIS is what I am aiming for. I am not striving to be perfect, but to better myself, even if just a little, each and every day. I never thought I’d have this in common with a priest, but hey, you can’t argue with divine intervention, huh? I was obviously meant to stumble upon this exact blog and this exact comment.

Another blogger, Belinda Munoz, wrote a great piece about perfectionism. She states:

Here’s the reason why perfectionism is exactly what we need: because in the chase of it, we will find under no uncertain terms that flaws are here to stay. They’re not going anywhere. Our flaws and other people’s flaws. And these flaws that you and I share appeal to the best of us because through our flaws, we have amazing opportunities to bond in very real and meaningful ways. No big mystery. Just another proven, timeless, simple truth.Once again, I could not have said it better myself. Thanks Belinda! So, let’s rejoice in our imperfections, but try to improve them. We’ll work together to be stronger, more fit, flexible, health and happy. I’m here for you and so many of you are here for me as well. On with the journey!

All the best in health and fitness.
- Coach Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com and Team Beachbody

Free Kim Harrison's The Hollows SeriesDownload!

Kim Harrison's Newest Book - Black Magic Sanction the lastest book from the Rachel Morgan The Hollows series is finally out!I can't tell you how excited I am!Haven't read any of the Rachel Morgan series?Amazon has the first book in the series available for a Kindle download for FREE!Don't have a Kindle that's fine, you can also get the pc download, blackberry app, or iphone/ipad app HereGo HERE for the first book in the Rachel Morgan The Hollows Series. It's FREE!

How to sneak spinach into your children's food

Dark leafy greens such as spinach are good for your eyes, blood pressure, strengthens muscles, helps protect skin, and have anti cancerous properties and theseare just a few things spinach is good for. It's rich in minerals like potassium, manganese, zinc,magnesium, iron, and calcium. Vitamins like folate, niacin, vitamins A, B6 and C. Spinach is packed full on beta carotene, lutein, thiamine, riboflavin, and much much more!Spinach is so good for you that you should even give it to infants. It is rich in protein, vitaminsand mineral, and phytonutrients resulting in proportionate development in their growing stages.As good for you as spinach is kids, that doesn't matter to kids. They think eeww.Growing up I never new spinach could actually taste good, I only had it out of the can and warmed up on the stove and yes, it was eeww! In my home, it's only fresh spinach. Either out of our garden or organically from the grocery store. I've incorporated some ways to sneak it into my children's food.1. I layer it on pizza with tomatoes, garlic, and cheese2. I add it to pasta dishes like their favrite mac and cheese or linguinie alfredo3. Instead of lettuce I'll use spinach for their sandwiches.4. I put it in their soups along with many other veggies.5. I make small salads out of it, adding their favorite fruits6. Just tell them they can be strong like Popeye (but then you need to explain who he is lol)

Free Kindle downloads for Blackberry & PC with 5 free book downloads

Don't have a Kindle? No Problem! Amazon now has Kindle for your PC, Kindle Iphone/Ipod Touch , and a Kindle App for your Black Berry! All Free! Kindle for Mac coming soon!
Kindle offers many books for free! Books from old classics and promotional books to get you hooked on the author.Here are a few I've found for you!Apothercary's Daughter (pictured above)Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice

The Wild's Call

Kiss Me Deadly

Preview of Fang


Here is another one

More Blood, More Sweat, and another Cup of Tea

Homemade Pudding

Say good bye to that powdered pudding mix!
Hello to delicious easy to make goodness!Ingredients
•3/4 c. sugar
•4 egg yolks
•2 Tbsp. flour or cornstarch
•2 c. milk
•1 tsp. vanilla

Directions
1.Stir sugar, yolks, flour and milk together in pot over medium heat until boiling.
2.Continue to boil for 5 min. (for thicker pudding allow to boil while stirring for another few minutes, you will feel it thicken and it will thicken more when it sits)
3.Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and let sit for a few minutes
For Banana Pudding - Layer dish with vanilla wafers, top with sliced banana and pour pudding over top. Refrigerate for at least 1 hr.

Jordan Book Blog Tour and Giveaway

Closed - We have 5 winners!
Vivianne Blackstone devotes herself to her career, putting her love life on hold. Her latest project is a spaceship designed to protect Earth from the deadly Tribes. But its engineer, the alluring Jordan McArthur, now threatens both her job and her wary heart . . .

Jordan's past goes back to King Arthur, and he must find the ancient artifact that can save the galaxy. Vivianne's ship is his best hope, but convincing the fiercely independent beauty won't be easy. Especially when the passion flaring between them burns through their defenses - and love is the last thing they need to survive.

I received a complimentary copy of Jordan to review from Hatchette Book Group and

this book was HOT. Definitely something you should pick up if you

are into Romance books.

Author Bio:

USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Kearney is a native of New Jersey and has a Business Degree from the University of Michigan. Her fifty plus books include contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, futuristic, science fiction and paranormal novels. She resides in a suburb of Tampa-with her husband, kids, Boston terriers and iguana. Currently she's plotting her way through her 52st work of fiction. You can reach her through her web site at www.susankearney.com.

Read an Excerpt HERE

Hatchette Book Group has been kind enough to allow me to giveaway up to
5 copies to my readers. To qualify tell me if you've read any of Susan Kearney's books yet, if so, which was your favorite?

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; leave a separate comment for each entry)

Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HERE
Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on FaceBook HERE
5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right- Leave one comment, I'll count it 5 times)

Giveaway will end on March 7th at midnight. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. & Canadian residents 18+ only.

Freebies - Music, Book, Glade Gift pack, & Redkin!

We love our freebies here at Taking Time for Mommy and I found you some good ones!
FREE Redken Product....you choose from 3 differant products!HERE

Free Leap Frog Board book - all you have to do is select a leapfrog toy from the list they provide to link it..doesn't matter whether you actually bought it or not.
HERE

The gift pack includes a Glade® PlugIns® Scented Oil Warmer and Refill in Hawaiian Breeze® or Vanilla Breeze®. 1st 10,000 to respond 1 per family HERE

While we revel in our memories of a glorious 2009, we can't contain our excitement for 2010. These 10 artists are set to make big noise in the year to come -- and we've compiled a song from each into an exclusive FREE album!
HERE

Quilting - How To Make An Amish-Style Traditional Rag Quilt

When it comes to quilting, one of the easiest quilts to make is a Rag-Style Cotton Quilt. Unlike traditional quilting, these type of quilts are quilted as you make them and they have exposed outer seams which you snip after you are done sewing them to make it fringe. After laundering, it rags which leads to your quilts country charm.

For this particular quilt, I chose to work in traditional Amish colored scheme with solid black fabric along with solid colored fabric. All of the fabrics used are cotton as they rag and fray the best. You don't want to use polyester or nylon-blend type of fabrics in these type of quilts.

Supplies Needed:

Approximately 7-8 Yards of Cotton Fabrics
2 Packages Warm and Natural Cotton Batting
Scissors
Fiskars (tm) Rag Quilt Snipping Scissors
Sewing Machine and Basic Sewing Supplies
Rotary Cutter, Mat and Ruler

Seam Allowances: I used a 3/4" seam allowance while making this rag quilt.

Finished Throw Quilt Size: 15 rows by 19 rows. (In other words, I have 15 squares in my horizontal rows and 19 squares in my longitude rows).

Preparation: Wash and dry your fabrics before starting. If necessary, iron them if they become wrinkled.

Cutting Fabric: I cut my fabric down to 4" sized squares using my rotary cutter. Try to make the squares an accurate 4" in size. You will need a total of 570 squares which will make 285 blocks. (2 fabric squares make up 1 block).

Cutting The Cotton Batting: You need your batting squares to be smaller than your fabric squares, mine measure 3" square. You will need one batting square for each fabric square so you need a total of 285 cotton batting squares.

Step 1: You need to make your fabric squares by layering a piece of cotton batting between to fabric squares. The right side of your fabric will be facing out and the batting will be inside. Use your sewing machine and sew an X through each square. You do this by going from the top left corner and down to the bottom right corner. Then flip your square and do the other side. It should resemble an X pattern on the center of your square. I leave 3/4" of an inch un-sewn at each corner. You will do this for all 285 squares.

Step 2: Clear off a large table or use a clean floor. Lay out all of your sewn fabric squares in a pattern or design that you like. For the pattern that I chose, I alternated between black and a colored square. (see photo)

Step 3: Using a 3/4" seam allowance, so your squares together in horizontal rows.

Step 4: Using a 3/4" seam allowance, sew all of your horizontal rows together. As your quilt increases in size, it becomes a little bit difficult to hold and pull through your sewing machine...if needed, work it in 3 sections and then sew the 3 sections together to make it more manageable.

Step 5: Once you have all your rows together, you will have a rectangular throw quilt. You need to load it back into your sewing machine and go around all 4 sides with a 3/4" seam allowance. Finally...all your sewing is completed.

Finishing Your Throw Quilt: To finish your rag-style throw quilt, you need to snip all of your seams...you need to be VERY careful to not snip throw any of you sewn lines/seams. If you don't own a pair of the Fiskars (tm) rag quilt snippers, I highly recommend that you get a pair as they are easier on your hands than scissors. (however, you can use regular sharp fabric scissors too). This next snipping step for will take a long time, so sit down with a cup of coffee and put a movie on. Using snippers or scissors, you need to snip/clip all of your seams to make the fringe. I like to clip mine every 1/4" and the closer together you clip them, the more your quilt will fray and rag when you launder it. You will do this on all of the seams and around the outer edges of your quilt.

Washing The Quilt: Now its time to make it all raggedy. I wash and dry mine 2 complete cycles. Put your quilt into the washer with a little laundry detergent and some fabric softener and wash it on the normal cycle. Once it is done, dry it in the dryer and then repeat the washing and drying again.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your quilts will shed a ton of threads and lint during the washing and drying process for the first few cycles. You need to clean your lint traps frequently, especially while drying them. I set a timer and check my dryer lint trap every 10 minutes as I don't want to catch anything on fire. After they have been laundered a few times, the shedding will stop.

The more you wash and dry your raggedy quilts, the softer they will become.

Enjoy your new quilt!

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys crafting, sewing, scrapbooking and sewing. You can visit Shelly's online craft site at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/ for free sewing and crafting project ideas. You can find step by step instructions along with photo's of the rag quilt at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot ... quilt.html