Dear younger self:

Dear younger self,

I know you're having a good run at life! You're aiming high for your goals, though some times too focused.

As a mother now, I urge your to run, jump, and laugh like you don't have a care in the world! I know there are things that worry you and people that you'd like to make happy, but don't let any of that steal YOUR joy and confidence. THIS is the time to explore -- be spontaneous and adventurous for those days are numbered! Not to fret; there are joys and difficulties in each season of life, but it doesn't get any simpler. Revel in you and the life God has given to you today. Laugh, and laugh often, even at yourself -- everything's ok!

And I'll take these words to heart as I go about my day today.

Best wishes, and I'll see you in the future!

Love,
Me


This was part of the Blog Dare Prompt What Would I Tell My Younger Self.

A Winner!

We have a winner --

Leah has won her choice of Roundabouts Cupcake Sleeves!

Don't forget about these active giveaways:

• RelaxZen Stress Relief 2/7
• $5 Dinner Mom's Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook 2/13
• Hooded Towel 2/13

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

I wish I'd known...Cloth Diapers!

When I was pregnant, I debated about whether to use disposable or cloth diapers and asked around for different opinions. Most everyone I knew used or uses disposables because it's plain convenient -- disposables are frequently advertised on tv and can be purchased at the grocery store, drug store, and online with so many coupons available for use! And the ones that had any experience with cloth discouraged me from it because they said it was troublesome and about the same cost as disposables. Unfortunately, I had no friends with recent experience with cloth diapers -- because now cloth is more simple and efficient than years past, and I didn't know about the wealth of information in the blogosphere from veteran moms!

I happily used disposables for several months, only recently reconsidering the debate again when our beloved FuzziBunz Perfect Fit moved into our home. I was so surprised at the ease of use and how my daughter didn't seem to notice a difference -- it never leaked, no matter how wet or stinky it got! And cleaning it wasn't much of an issue as I was able to rinse it out (since I don't have a diaper sprayer) and throw it into the wash; I was so impressed when it came out of the wash looking brand new again! I rested a bit more comfortably knowing that her diapered areas got a break from all the processed material of a disposable too.

So many people tout about its cost effectiveness, but I never sat down to figure it out. . . until today. In my estimation, purchasing 20 cloth diapers at $18, doing laundry every other day, would be a total of $360. I normally purchase my disposables for around $6 a Jumbo pack which lasts about a week, now that my daughter's older. Attempting to factor in the lower amount of diaper changes as babies grow, I think cloth diapers would pay for themselves in one year. For a lot more investment upfront and a little more investment in cleaning and washing off poop, that's a good investment even if you had one child, and a great investment if you have more than one child!

As I did more investigating, I was blown away with the many companies and their many types of cloth diapers and decided to request samples. As it turns out, many of these businesses have also allowed me to present giveaways here! So coming soon (maybe even next week) will be my series of my Cloth Diapering Experience, with a Mother-Ease system, Thirsties Duo, Knickernappies, and Super Skivvies for you!

Please help me spread my excitement of this event by posting this event button on your blog -- you'll also earn extra entries by ! (I'm also excited that after a few hours, I learned how to create the button myself!)

<a href="http://discoveringthemeinmommy.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt=" Discovering the Me in Mommy" src=" http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff459/discoveringthemeinmommy/pink-1.jpg" /></a>

Friday Follow and Low Entry Linky

It's the weekend, once again! Thanks for stopping by -- I hope you'll enjoy your visit! And check out the low entry giveaways below! =)

Previously Stephanie from The Ten Talents' shared her Low Entry Lowdown, but she's no longer doing that. So I'd like to list a few low entry giveaways (less than 100 entries) which end in the next 2 weeks. Feel free to add and share!

• Roundabouts Cupcake Sleeves 1/30
• RelaxZen Stress Relief 2/7
• $5 Dinner Mom's Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook 2/13
• Hooded Towel 2/13
• Thirty-One Gifts Giveaway 2/02
• Miss Morgans Designs 1/31
• Bezaleel Artisans 2/5

Add your low-entry giveaways, ending in the next two weeks here!

Wordless Wednesday

200 Facebook Fan Giveaway!

Thank you for helping me get to 200! As a thank you, Sweeter Than Sweets is giving away this hooded towel: Amy Butler Love Arabesque Baby/Toddler Hooded Towel and Washcloth Set.
Description: This teal Amy Butler Love Arabesque baby/toddler hooded towel and washcloth set is perfect for your growing child since it's made from a traditional full-sized bath towel. This 100% cotton ribbed teal towel is approximately 49 ½” long by 26” wide. The hood is covered with designer Amy Butler’s fabric in the Love Arabesque pattern. This same fabric adorns the washcloth, approximately 12” by 12”.

Buy It!
Tricia at Sweeter Than Sweets is offering a 15% off coupon, with code MeInMommy.

Win It!
Obviously, since it's a Facebook Fan giveaway, you must be a Facebook fan of Discovering the Me in Mommy! Visit Sweeter Than Sweets and tell me what your favorite item is -- post this information on Discovering the Me in Mommy's FB page under the 200 Fans Giveaway Post!

Bonus Entry!

Become a Facebook Follower of Sweeter Than Sweets!


Contest ends at 10pm EST on Sunday, February 13, 2011 when I will draw a winner at random. PLEASE leave your email address in your entry. I will notify the winner, and s/he will have 36 hours to respond!

Thoughtful Living Tuesday

I made Potato Soup for the first time. . . and it looked great and tasted excellent, which made me think of the benefits of homemade soup. Pretty much every soup I've made at home has been preservative free and rather healthy, perhaps a little bit of chicken or protein and lots of veggies, a rather healthy combination! Some say soup is a good way to limit calories since the liquids tend to be filling without an overwhelming amount of calories. And with the bitterness of winter, the warmth does wonders! And if I can make it, it's easy to create! Would you make a pot of soup this week?!?
(And try this great recipe for Potato Soup!)

The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook Review and Giveaway

Erin Chase, The $5 Dinner Mom, has created over 200 new breakfast, lunch, and snack ideas to eat at home or to pack for school. It's obvious, through her writings, that she desires the best nutrition for her family while keeping a good eye on the budget! She's authored The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook and blogs at $5 Dinners; I personally have gotten great tips from Erin as well as other readers on the blog.

Honestly, I'm not really a cookbook kind of girl -- I either have recipes given to me, or I look them up online because my cookbooks sit on the shelf, permanently! I normally get discouraged looking through lots of lists and then realizing that I don't know what half of the ingredients are, suspecting that most would be pricey to purchase. When I received The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook today, I was so excited to browse through the book -- her prologues were quite thought-provoking, as she gave tips about saving time and money preparing breakfast or lunch, as well as other tidbits (like batch cooking and freezing) that I've tried to intellectually process but haven't successfully integrated in my life. Interestingly, I enjoyed looking at the recipes; I recognized all the ingredients, and her list at the end showed me that the entire meal would be less than $5, often averaging between $2-3.

I knew Erin had this new cookbook out (Jan. 4, 2011), and part of me wondered why she created one just for breakfast and lunch. But she has me sold! I really appreciate the unique ideas she has for breakfast besides my grand ideas of cereal, oatmeal, or omelets -- even our picky eater perked up when I mentioned homemade whole wheat apple waffles. And lunch recipes can easily work for dinner too.

She really has something for everyone. We're on our Daniel Fast right now, which is a pretty strict vegan diet, but I found several recipes we can use, like White Bean Chili as well as Avocado, Corn, and Black Bean Salsa. And the recipes are so versatile that they can easily translate to dinner ideas too.

Buy It!
You can purchase The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook: 200 Recipes for Quick, Delicious, and Nourishing Meals That Are Easy on the Budget and a Snap to Prepare on Amazon for $14.99, but it's on sale for $8.82 -- keep in mind Amazon prices may change at any time.

Win It!
This is open to U.S. To enter, you must be a Google Friend Connect Follower (and you don't have to be a blogger to sign up) and tell me, on average, how much does your lunch cost! This is required and must be done before the extra entries count! PLEASE leave your name and email address with your entry.

Extra Entries!
You can do any of these things for an extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH thing you do along with you email address.

1- For ONE extra entry, Like Discovering the Me in Mommy on Facebook.

2- For ONE extra entry, Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway.

3 - For ONE extra entry, Like $5 Dinners on Facebook and leave some comment love!

4-For ONE extra entry, Subscribe to my blog via email.

Contest ends at 10pm EST on Sunday, February 13, 2011 when I will draw a winner at random. PLEASE leave your email address in your entry. I will notify the winner, and s/he will have 36 hours to respond!

****This is not a paid post. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Erin and Sarah for the review and giveaway products!****

Winner!

We have a winner --
Reeva has won Tropical Traditions Organic Palm Shortening!

And get ready for our 200 FB fans giveaway!

A Fear I have For My Children

"Say, 'Please.'"

"No."

I've had this "conversation" too many times in the past month, and it's left me frustrated and confused. Was it out of my 19 -month -old's stubbornness that she kept refusing to say please or was it just a lack of understanding and immaturity? I just didn't want her to grow up and be "that kid" who was ill-mannered and rude.

In this country, we really are privileged. For our family, we are above the poverty line, yet my husband does not bring in the "big bucks" that we think he deserves. We are forced to make choices about how to spend our money -- what can we actually afford without going into debt and what can we splurge on. And I want my children to realize the gifts and opportunities they have, some as simple as the freedoms all Americans share. I've interacted with enough children and adults who come from an arrogant perspective that they deserve or are entitled to certain things that I want to help my children truly appreciate all they have.


This was part of the Blog Dare Prompt What I Fear Most For My Children.

Wally the Wonderbug Is Here!

In December, I had the opportunity to offer a sneak peek at Kolcraft's new activity center, as an entry into a contest; although, I didn't win the contest, I was sent a Wonderbug Activity Center to review!

I let the activity center sit, unassembled in the box, for about a month, unsure as to how long the assembly process would take. Surprising, I was able to put it together in about 20 minutes! Instructions were fairly simply to follow, and parts had a snug fit -- a minor difficulty was trying to twist and "lock" the shoulder caps, which some of the toys then fit into.
The toys have just the right amount of sound and movements, and even my toddler, who's obviously too old for this, liked playing with the toys! The seat height is adjustable with a strap on the underside, and it has a smooth 360 degree turn, much smoother than my other activity center of a different brand.

My little helper!

There are actually two "designs" for the activity center, Wally or Wanda, both just as colorful and fun! You can find out more information about Kolcraft's Wonderbug on their website!

Friday Follow and Low Entry Linky

I have two low entry giveaways, and there's a linky below to add yours!

We're so close to 200 Facebook friends and an awesome giveaway from Sweeter than Sweets!

SmileyCookie.com Review

Who wouldn't love a smile...and cookies? Send both with Frosted Heart Cookies or Cookie Gift Baskets from SmileyCookie.com.

We received these smiley face heart cookies, heart shaped sugar cookies hand-iced with a pink base and white face. (And yes, the cookies do look exactly like the picture!)
These really are convenient (especially for non-bakers) to send to anyone needing some love and smiles! Our cookies arrived in an air-tight container, and carefully wrapped so none were broken. Since we're still on the Daniel Fast, I asked my extended family to give it a try. For "store-bought" cookies, they were impressed with the freshness of the cookies and even the softness of the icing.

For those care packages, go send some smiles!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Thoughtful Living Tuesday -- Outdoors

We've been blasted with winter, lots of snow and below-freezing temps. But I've still been trying to get outside -- people are thinking I'm crazy! Yesterday, it was a little above freezing, and I wanted to pull the stroller out, but I figured I'd get too many strange looks -- instead, I bundled the little one, and we went out in the backyard to play!

Just getting a little fresh air does wonders for our body. And even if it's partly cloudy, there's still a chance for getting a small burst of sunshine, to naturally get that vitamin D level up! Depending on how active your child is, the outdoors will help expend some of that energy.

I keep telling myself that spring is right around the corner!

My First Post - May 26, 2010

May 26, 2010 -- first posted using Wordpress' free site (In case you're wondering, My first post on blogger was on June 11, 2010 about a free smoothie!)

I’ve toyed with this idea of blogging, but thought I didn’t have anything original to add to the blogsphere. I might be right; but perhaps I’m wrong. Remember that first year teacher who was so optimistic and wanted to inspire that optimism in her students, the one who brightly and confidently responded that everyone has an original story to tell? So I figure this is a good time to live out the line I’ve repeated many so many times I can’t even remember now. (We can try to start counting now if you let me know.)

In the past, it’s been easy to find identity in my career – teaching high school students. In 10 months, I went from having 120 kids to having 1. The year that has followed has actually be a confusing time for me because I have trouble identifying who I am. Sounds strange, I can imagine. But here’s the reason for writing, I’m trying to discover the new me in my new role as mommy.

One thing I know is that I love to save money! So I’ll have a few thoughts in that area…and I’m working on something big, so stay tuned!

Looking back at what I've learned about blogging and also myself, I wouldn't change anything in that first post. Everyone has their unique beginning and continues on his/her own journey, learning from personal experiences. For myself, I've learned that I can try to model blogs that I enjoy and gain much from, yet adapting things to better suit my personality, values, and lifestyle. And I do thank you, reader, for being part of this journey.

RelaxZen Review & Giveaway

Motherhood is stressful! Some days, you just want to scream as loudly as the toddler in her terrible twos, and some nights, your brain is whirling in a fury of to do lists -- that's how it is for me, at least!

I was given the opportunity to try RelaxZen, which offers two "shots" to help with stress. The RelaxZen Day is to reduce stress and fatigue without effecting productivity, and I did find this to be true. I took it right before the craziness of late afternoon and noticed that I was more calmly able to handle my toddler's fussiness as well as get dinner rolling. I wasn't too fond of the taste of "Mellow Berry" -- it was like sweetened, diluted cough syrup. I did like the taste of RelaxZen's Night "Mellow Berry;" -- it tasted like honey water. But it also lived up to the concept; I was tired and ready to sleep 15 minutes after drinking it!

Honestly, I'm not one for energy drinks or things of that nature, but a key concept of RelaxZen that piqued my interest was its ingredients. In RelaxZen Day, you'll find L-Theanine (which some thing reduces stress), L-Threonine (which also reduces stress and boots your immunity), Vitamin B12 (for energy), Vitamin B6 (helps to strengthen the body), GABA (Gama-amino butyric acid, for brain power and function), Passion Flower Extract (can act as a muscle relaxant, and Acai Extract (some call the wonder herb). With RelaxZen Night, you'll find L-Theanine, L-Threonine, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, GABA, as well as Chamomile Extract (for a calming effect), Pantothentic Acid (also known as Vitamin B5), and Melatonin. I wouldn't have a problem taking this longer term to deal with stress. Find out more about RelaxZen on their Facebook page.

Buy It!
It seems like some people have trouble finding it at their local drug stores, but you can purchase it at Thirstmonger.com, and use code SMILE (expires 1/31) for 10% off plus free shipping on any RelaxZen product.

Win It!
You can win your own sample of RelaxZen! This is open to U.S. To enter, you must tell me about one thing that stresses you out! This is required and must be done before the extra entries count! PLEASE leave your name and email address with your entry.

EXTRA ENTRIES!
You can do any of these things for an extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH thing you do along with you email address.

1- For ONE extra entry, Like Discovering the Me in Mommy on Facebook.

2- For ONE extra entry, Follow Discovering the Me in Mommy on twitter and tweet about this giveaway.

3 - For ONE extra entry, Follow via GFC.

4 - For ONE extra entry, Like RelaxZen on Facebook.

5 -For ONE extra entry, Subscribe to my blog via email.

Contest ends at 10pm EST on Sunday, February 7, 2011 when I will draw a winner at random. PLEASE leave your email address in your entry. I will notify the winner, and s/he will have 36 hours to respond!

***Update***
There's also another contest to win a 30-day supply of RelaxZen DAY and RelaxZen NIGHT. Just Tweet about what stresses you out, and include the hash tag #RelaxZenLife. Every tweet will count as a separate entry to the contest! Winner is selected 1/25/11.


****This is not a paid post. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. I received a free sample of RelaxZen to review courtesy Smile.ly!****

Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves Review and Giveaway

Many people prefer preparing cupcakes instead of cakes for celebrations now. It makes the "cake cutting" process much simpler, and provides a new approach to the standard cake. But for some people, like myself, decorating the cupcake to make it truly stand out is slightly more challenging.

Roundabouts® was first envisioned by mom Sheri Mersola, as she planned her daughter's 13th birthday. Sheri founded Moon Cherie, and Roundabouts® were born! She's also carefully investigated greener and more effective technologies -- Roundabouts® "are produced without the use of toxic agents or bleaching chemicals, and are resistant to water, grease, and oily substances" (according to promotional material). You will not be disappointed!

I received the candy hearts for my review, and I'm excited to make some Valentine cupcakes! All I have to do is to make whatever cupcake I'd like, decorate the top, and then wrap the Roundabout® over the paper/foil cupcake liner. Wahlah!

Roundabouts® offers a really fun way to dress up those cupcakes. With over 70 designs, there really is something for every occasion! Likes those pirate birthday parties . . .

or perhaps something more elegant like a bridal shower. . .
Buy It!
You can purchase Roundabouts® starting at $8.99/dozen.

Win It!
Sheri is giving away your choice of Roundabouts® Cupcake Sleeves!
This is open to U.S. To enter, you must be a Google Friend Connect Follower and let me know which Roundabouts® Cupcake Sleeve you'd choose if you won! This is required and must be done before the extra entries count! PLEASE leave your name and email address with your entry.

EXTRA ENTRIES!
You can do any of these things for an extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH thing you do along with you email address.

1- For ONE extra entry, Like Discovering the Me in Mommy on Facebook.

2- For ONE extra entry, Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway.

3 - For ONE extra entry, Follow Roundabouts® on Twitter.

4 - For ONE extra entry, Like Roundabouts® on Facebook and leave some comment love!

5 -For ONE extra entry, Subscribe to my blog via email.

Contest ends at 10pm EST on Sunday, January 30, 2011 when I will draw a winner at random. PLEASE leave your email address in your entry. I will notify the winner, and s/he will have 36 hours to respond!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Friday Follow

It's Friday again...this week seemed to fly by so quickly!

If you feel extra friendly, help me get to 200 Facebook friends before the end of January (and there'll an awesome giveaway from Sweeter than Sweets )

Coming soon....

Here's an upcoming look at the line-up for reviews and giveaways (with a few more to add)!

Wordless Wednesday - Snow Dog

Thoughtful Living Tuesday -- Introducing a Vegetarian Meal

My husband and I began our Daniel Fast today, which consists of only consuming fruits, vegetables, and water. I know of some people who use this as a weight loss mechanism, but I'd rather look at some finer points which can be worked into every day living to make it even more excellent.

We eat rather healthy (in my opinion), and I didn't realize how much I love meat -- I was craving chicken today, on the first day of the fast! Although lean chicken is not bad for your health -- everything in moderation -- introducing a vegetarian meal once a week can help to bring a family's focus back on balanced, proper nutrition, because most of us do not consume enough fruits and vegetables.

I was watching television today, and one of the shows noted that many Americans have way too much sodium intake daily because of high sodium in processed foods. Since we're focused on fruits and vegetables, processed foods are out! Also, by going vegetarian for a meal, you can reintroduce fruits as dessert, cutting back on sugars -- as I type this, I'm craving cookies and chocolate.... but I'm realizing I eat them just to eat them, hence probably eating more than I really need....

This Daniel Fast might be considered extreme, with improper perspective -- which is why we're doing it collectively with our church for only 3 weeks in a year -- but taking small, healthy snippets can still make a difference.

Indulgence

Indulgence....chocolate and ice cream. Coldstone Creamery -- dark chocolate peppermint ice cream with peanut butter chips mixed in.

We just got our emails from the previous Birthday Club (btw, did you get yours?!?), which gave us a free small scoop, but with us going on the Daniel Fast, where we basically go to a strict vegan diet, for 3 weeks, today's the last day to truly indulge! And I find it so difficult to pass up on a good deal -- a freebie, nonetheless -- we so printed our coupons and had our rich ice cream!

It'll be interesting to see what happens to me in the next 3 weeks, as I relinquish my comfort foods. I know I'll survive, but I sure will miss my chocolate and ice cream.

The News

For the most part, I like watching the local news. My husband and I have our favorite news anchors and meterologists -- the hubs has full confidence in one news station's meterologists versus the other station's, and I think he's accurate in his conclusion! The station with the more accurate and less dramatic meterologists also happens to have a more balance appproach in how they present their "news" pieces, but you can still tell when there's a rather slow news day! I still prefer to watch the news to stay connected with local news than to read it online. Now the national news . . . that's another story!

Friday Follow

Happy Friday!

If you feel extra friendly, help me get to 200 Facebook friends before the end of January (and there'll an awesome giveaway from Sweeter than Sweets )

If you enjoy giveaways, take a look at my low-entry giveaway list, and feel free to add yours!