Mother 2 Mother Blog

Veggie Tales - Robin Good & His Not So Merry Men Review

2012-03-18T19:17:00.001-07:00

My grandson and I love the Veggie Tales. We had the opportunity to review Veggie Tales' Robin Good and His Not So Merry Men DVD. A long time ago, in the faraway town of Bethlingham, roved a band of merry men, led by the fearless Robin Good. Their mission: to help people by fundraising from the rich and giving to the poor! But when a greedy Prince starts stealing the townspeople's hams, donations are down and Robin's friends take off and decide to give robbing from the rich a try. Feeling rejected, Robin thinks can't get any worse, until he finds out that the ham-hoarding Prince has also captured his friends. Can Robin overcome his own hurt, rescue his friends and restore the townspeople's hope? Find out in this fun Veggie Tale story where kids learn that there's no hurt too big for God! God will take care of you. It teaches children to give their burdens to the Lord. I think this lesson is so important to children these days. They need to know they have someone they can always talk to about their problems.

There's another fabulous story on the DVD, Lenny & the Lost Birthday. Lenny is sad because he thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday, which is March 1. Because it is Leap Year, February has 29 days. Lenny is not aware of the extra day and doesn't take the extra day into consideration when counting the number of days to his birthday. His mother explains Leap Year, and tells him that his birthday is the next day. Lenny realizes that he is not forgotten, and all is right with the world.

I love the lessons on this DVD. I think it's important to teach our children Christian values. My 4 year old grandson loves to go to church. He understands saying prayers and counting blessings.

We would love to give away a copy of this wonderful DVD to share with your children. Here's how you can win:

Let us know your favorite Veggie Tale character- 1 Entry
Tweet about this give away - 2 Entries (Leave a comment with your Twitter Name & that you tweeted about the give away)
Follow Mother 2 Mother - 2 Entries (On Left)

This give away will end April 6 at mid-night. The give away is open to US Resident only. The winner will be selected randomly, and notified via email. Please make sure your email address is current.

Beyonce Uses Harness For Blue Ivy

2012-03-18T05:33:00.001-07:00

Looks like Blue Ivy is about to loose a slipper. Aren't they adorable. Beyonce takes advantage of the beautiful weather we're having on the east coast and strolls with her bundle of joy in New York. Blue Ivy is becoming a big girl. According to her grandfather, Matthew Knowles, she's going to be tall. Granddaddy said, 'You just want to love and kiss her, but the great thing with grandkids is that you can give them back.'

I agree with Matthew on that note. You allow your grandchildren to get away with things th at you wouldn't let your children get way with. Extra treats, sweets, late nights with the TV and the list goes on. Blue Ivy is the second grandchild for Matthew and his ex-wife Tina Knowles who divorced him after 31 years of marriage. He has a grandson, Daniel "Julez" Smith, by his daughter Solange Knowles. Thanks to the Daily Mail for the picture of mother and daughter.

Kristi Yamaguchi Book Give Away - It's a Big World Little Pig

2012-03-12T18:26:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since Mother 2 Mother has sponsored a blog give away, so we're going to give away a copy of Kristi Yamaguchi's adorable book, It's a Big World, Little Pig. Dream Big is the message that Kristi Yamaguchi sends in her new book. Poppy the pig is an ice skater, and has been invited to skate at the World Games ice skating championship in Paris. Poppy is nervous about heading to Paris. She lives in New York, and becomes anxious about heading to France. It's so far away. She is encouraged by her friend, Emma, who tells her to "Dream Big, Pig!" Poppy's grandparents said, "You go girl!" and her parents give her comfort by letting her know that they would be with her every step of the way.

Emma gives Poppy a good luck charm, and Poppy heads to Paris. Once she arrives at the World Athlete Village, she is nervous and bumps into a snowboarder from China named Li. Li and Poppy become friends and walk the village together to find the athlete check-in. Poppy becomes hungry and decides to head to the dining hall. The dining hall is full and she scans the room for a seat. A skier from Italy waved to Poppy and offers her a seat at her table. They too become friends.

Poppy leaves the dining hall and heads to the practice rink. There she meets another skater from Japan. They admire each other's costumes and become friends. Poppy skated from her heart during the competition and remembered all the friends and discoveries that she had made during the trip. Her parents were there to support her and decided they would stay for the remainder of the week so they could visit the Eiffel Tower, museums and eat French food. It turned out to be a beautiful trip, one that Poppy would always remember.

We would love for you to have a copy of this beautifully illustrated book. It will make a great bedtime story or gift. Here's how you can win:

Leave us a comment on why you would like to have Kristi's book and who you will be giving it to - 1 Entry
Tweet about this give away - 2 Entries (Retweet lower left corner of this post. Leave your Twitter name in your comments and that you retweeted the give away )
Follow Mother 2 Mother - 2 Entries (On the left)
Follow @sugarkisses on Twitter - 2 Entries (Leave your comments with your Twitter name and I'll follow you back)

This give away is open to US Residents only 18+ only. The give away will end April 6 at mid-night. Winner will be selected randomly and notified by email. Please ensure your email address is valid; otherwise, you will be disqualified and another winner selected.

Easy Recipes - Zucchini Bread

2012-03-09T19:47:00.001-08:00

Looking for clever, easy recipes. Whip up a batch of zucchini bread. My grandson loves it with a glass of milk. You can freeze it or wrap it tightly and put in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. I make mine with walnuts, but if you're not comfortable giving chopped walnuts to your little one leave them out. I love indulging on the bread myself with a nice hot cup of coffee.

Planting my own zucchini has been rewarding. I blanched and froze several quarts this summer, and I love being able to whip up a fresh batch during the winter. It tastes a good today as it did this summer.

1 cup finely chopped walnuts
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. baking powder
2 cups grated zucchini
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Gradually beat in sugar, than oil. Add flour mixture, alternating with zucchini into egg mixture. Stir in walnuts and vanilla. Pour into two greased lightly floured loaf pans. Bake on lowest rack at 350 for 55 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Jessica Simpson's Nude Pose

2012-03-09T04:14:00.003-08:00

Jessica Simpson has duplicated Demi Moore in her nude pregnancy photo shot. Jessica is gracing the cover of Elle magazine, and looks beautiful. Jessica said she wasn't uncomfortable with the shot, but in fact felt comfortable in her skin. She has stated that she is more confident than she has ever been. Pregnancy can be such a beautiful thing for some. Many are saying the pose is getting old; however, it's generating some buzz. Personally, I wouldn't have the encourage to pose in all my glory. Besides, I didn't feel pretty when I was pregnant. Maybe because women at that time weren't encouraged to embrace our beauty during pregnancy. Maternity clothes weren't fashionable, and we surely wouldn't have posed in the nude for a photo shoot. Just looking at yourself in the mirror was a nightmare for most. My how time changes things. My daughter took so many pictures of her growing bump with my grandson, and did so with pride. She showed her bump to everybody she encountered, lol.

Jessica has revealed that she is expecting a girl, and baby girl will be a whopper. Her doctor is expecting the baby to be around 10 lbs. Jessica is contemplating starting a maternity line. She believes a woman should feel beautiful during her pregnancy, and should be able to wear stylish clothing. She has stated that she has stayed away from maternity clothes, but purchases regular clothing in bigger sizes. I love the maxi dresses she has worn, and think they make great maternity dresses.

It is rumored that Jessica has gained 40 lbs. during her pregnancy. Doctors recommend an extra 25 - 35 lb. weight gain during preganancy. Jessica has reportedly signed a $3 million deal with Weight Watchers to loose her extra pounds. She revealed that she enjoyed a slice of cheesecake before her photo shoot, lol.

What do you think about Jessica's nude photo? How much weight did you gain, and what was your favorite craving when you were expecting? Leave us a comment on you experience carrying your bundle of joy. Thanks to Elle Magazine for the photo of Jessica.

Disney Fantasy

2012-03-04T17:32:00.002-08:00

Doesn't Mariah Carey look great. Mariah and Nick christened the new Disney cruise ship Fantasy. Mariah said, 'I can't wait to bring dem babies here".

The Fantasy sailed from Germany to New York. It is a 4,000-passenger, 14-deck ship and equiped to satisfy every child's Disney fantasies. The Disney Fantasy is larger than the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. It has 5,336 beds, which is approximately 1,900 more than the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. It's also 2 decks taller than the Magic and Wonder.

Can you image your child sliding into this Mickey Mouse pool. I'm hoping to take my grandson on this cruise next year. I wanted to wait until he was old enough to remember everything. He will be five in September, so I thought 2013 would be a great time to take him.

Vegetable Gardens

2012-03-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

It's almost time to get the vegetable garden ready. That's my grandson wearing his Lighting McQueen rainboots. He's watering the garden last year, and was quite a little helper. He was actually fascinated to see the blooms develop and turn into luscious veggies. This was my first vegetable garden and I'll be doing it again. It was so relaxing tending to the garden, and it was nice to have fresh vegetables in the house instead of the cardboard sold in grocery stores. I hope that I will never have to purchase another vegetable from a store again, that is unless it's from a farmer's market.

I canned tomatoes and froze peppers for soup, chili and salsa. The veggies were as fresh when I used them this winter as they were when I plucked them from the garden. My peppers were huge as you can see. I'll be planting those babies again. Those are Amish Paste tomatoes shown and are great for sauce and salsa. I planted a few Hybrid and a few Heirlooms last year. I'm going with Heirlooms this year. I've decided on a variety for color and taste to include: Boxcar Willie, German Johnson, Kellogg Breakfast, Cherokee Purple and Aunt Ruby's Spicy Green. It's just about time to get the seedlings started indoors so they can be germinated, harden off, and planted in the garden by June. I'm in zone 6, so I usually garden from June to October. I may plant collard greens this fall, we'll see.

Here's a few of my crookneck squash. They were so yummy. I froze a few squash and zuchinni for baby food for Zarriah and zuchinni bread for me, lol. Did I mention I put away 50 ears of corn and about 6 quarts of fresh peaches for baby food. Yes, I was quite busy in the kitchen last year.

I'm going to expand my garden by approximately 5 feet this year. I'm leaving out the eggplant, and putting in pickling cucumbers for homemade pickles and small, but sweet watermelon. Below is my dream garden. I love the arbor and bench in the back. I would sit and admire the ~~fruits~~ veggies of my labor. You would be surprised at how many vegetables you can grow in a small amount of space. My garden was less than 10x 20, and I was able to produce an abundance of fresh veggies and flowers. I will be expanding it to 10 x 25 this year. If I ever get this baby built, I would expand to 10 x 40 feet. This year I'm putting up a 250 feet privacy fence, so this garden fencing will have to wait. In the meantime, I'll dream about it. A girl can dream can't she? We're also building a tree house for my grandson, stay tuned.

Be sure to follow or subscribe to Mother 2 Mother so you don't miss my Gardening With My Grandson posts. You can also connect with me by clicking one of the social media buttons on the right. Do you garden with your children? What are you planting this year? I think it's important for children to understand the land and how to grow your own food. With this economy, we need to teach our children how to survive and save when and where we can. My grandson loves flowers, and has a small area where he is responsible for watering them and pulling weeds. He takes his job seriously. We lead by example, would you agree? Leave a comment and let us know what's happening in your backyard.

Pregnant Celebrities

2012-03-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

Mother 2 Mother has spotted several pregnant celebrities. Jessica Simpson has traded her high heels for flip flops. She shows off her baby bump in a black maxi and cardigan on the beach in LA. Jessica is due any day.

Bruce Willis and his pregnant wife Emma Heming leaving Craig's Restaurant after having dinner with Slyvester Stallone and his wife Jennifer Flavin. This will be Bruce and Emma's first child together.

Rachel Zoe and Skyler

2012-03-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Rachel Zoe and her celebrity baby, Skyler, head to Kitson Kids in Hollywood. Skyler is wearing $230.00 Gucci booties. Spending $230 for Gucci booties for your tot isn't a problem when you dress the stars for red carpet events. (Photos courtesy of Daily Mail).

Nayda Suleman

2012-03-01T08:01:00.002-08:00

Wondering what happened to Nayda Suleman and her 14 children? She's back in the news. This time for losing her driver's license. Apparently, Octomom was enjoying herself in Beverly Hills. Yep, the Beverly Hills where Rodeo Drive is located. She obviously wasn't familiar with the area, she was caught driving down a one way street the wrong way.

Now my questions is, why was she in Beverly Hills? She certainly can't afford to shop there. She was just on the Wendy Williams show crying about not being able to afford her mortgage. Nayda has stated that it costs approximately $15,000 per month to raise her 14 children. I still wonder what was going through the fertility doctor and her head when they implanted 12 embryos in her when she already had 6 children that she couldn't care for.  It look like neither of them have a license now. Her fertility doctor had his license revoke and has now filed for bankruptcy.

According to reports, Nayda was suppose to appear in court December 20 for the ticket. She didn't pay it, and failed to appear in court. The end result, she loses her drivers license.

Oh what is Octomom to do? Her manager has quite or been fired, it depends on which one of them you talk to. According to her manager, failing to appear is the norm for Nayda. Her manager stated that she would not respond to anything relating to work. Her manager stated that couldn't deal with her anymore. She feels sorry for the children, but she's done.  Nayda apologized for her selfish behavior and has asked the management team to take her back as a client, but it doesn't look like they're willing to look back. They're so done, they've deleted the Twitter and Facebook accounts they created for her. Now if I was in her situation and had a helping hand, I certainly would respond to invitations to make money.

When will this women ever get her life together, and be able to make good decisions.  I guess when you have 14 children and don't know how you're going to feed or cloth them from day to day, getting anything together has to be difficult.   I saw her on Dr. Drew several months ago, and she was going a hundred miles an hour. She doesn't appear to be wrapped to tight if you know what I mean. She stated that she was completely broke and couldn't afford to make repairs in her home. She was bathing the children in the kitchen sink.  Dr. Drew offered her a year's free cleaning service and child care services from Au Pair Care. Nayda was suppose to enroll in an on-line class to get certified as a personal trainer. I wonder if she completed that.

Look at those adorable children (picture courtesy of Daily Mail). It's hard to believe they are three. Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariah, Makai, Josiah, Jeremiah and Jonah celebrated their 3rd birthday last month. I look at this woman and just shake my head. I look at her children and said they're just adorable. It seems like she fails at everything that is handed to her. Her mother lost her home because she took everything she had to help Nayda with the first 6 grandchildren. She turns around and has 8 more. Her father mortgages the house she is currently in so she would have a place to raise his grandchildren and she is now loosing that house.   Her manager quits because she doesn't want to work.

I wouldn't want to walk a day in this woman's shoes.  I can't image having 14 children to raise in these times. I just hope these children receive the love they deserve and don't suffer as a result of their mother. What are your thoughts about Nayda Suleman and her 14 children?

Look At My Preemie

2012-02-29T17:21:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that my little preemie has turned 6 months, and is doing great. Zarriah is sporting her new ear piercings in the top picture. We got her ears pierced yesterday, and she handled it like a trooper. She's so amazing. We're purchasing 6 month clothing for her now. She arrived August 28, 2011 at 2lbs. 10 oz. and now weighs a whooping 13 lbs, lol. She doesn't believe in missing a meal, so it didn't take long for her to catch up.

Zarriah Garbrielle is wearing her Valentine's Day outfit in the picture above. She loves her fingers and they go into the mouth as soon as she gets the chance. She's rolling now and loves tummy time. She's ruling the household, mommy and daddy sleep when she says. For several months she was sleeping through the night, but she has reverted somewhat. She wakes up once through the night demanding her yummies.

We're going to try giving her fresh peaches within the next few weeks. I canned fresh peaches last year, so we could make her baby food. I also froze fresh zuchinni, squash, and greenbeans from my garden. I'll be planting sweet peas in the spring so we can make baby food out of those as well.

Grandparenting is such a blessing. I am so grateful and blessed that she is thriving and there are no major problems. She gets congested quite often, but the doctor is telling us not to worry. As her lungs get stronger, she will grow out of it. I'm looking forward to seeing Zarriah sprout and come into her own over the years. I'll be working on her 1st year scrapbook soon, lol,

Michelle Obama

2012-02-28T18:41:00.001-08:00

Michelle Obama was smoking hot at the 2012 Governor's ball. I am love, love, loving this gown. For a mother of 2, Michelle Obama is in tip top physical condition. The designer of this gown is unknown at this time, but she should stick to whoever it may be. I'm not a big fan of many of her fashion statements, but when it comes to formal attire she's in her element.

Michelle Obama wearing Naeem Khan

Michelle Obama wearing Michael Kors

Michelle Obama wearing Peter Soronen

From one mother to another, keep rocking the gowns Michelle. Please leave us a comment and let us know which gown is your favorable and what you think of Michelle's fashion sense. Please follow Mother 2 Mother on the left, and connect with me on the right by clicking one of the social media buttons.

Pregnant Celebrities

2012-02-28T16:24:00.003-08:00

Mother 2 Mother is watching pregnant celebrities. We found Jessica Simpson and her baby bump taking a stroll in LA with fiancee Eric Johnson. Jessica is due any day! Photo courtesy of Daily Mail.

Blue Ivy

2012-02-27T16:20:00.000-08:00

Beyonce has finally decided to take her precious daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, out and about. She is strolling about New York City with Blue Ivy in a leopard print Baby Bjorn wrap.

The second picture is Beyonce leaving the restaurant where she and Blue Ivy had lunch with daddy, Jay-Z, at the Italian eatery Ristorante Sant Ambroeus in the West Village.

Jay-Z and Beyonce own a large portion of this Tribeca, lower Manhattan, apartment building including a Penthouse. It is rumored that they added a 2,200 square foot nursery for Blue Ivy and her nanny.

Check out Beyonce's release of other pictures of her and Blue Ivy here. Be sure to subscribe to Mother 2 Mother on the left so you don't miss give aways and other great posts. You can also connect with me on other Social Media sites in the upper right corner.

Wraps for Toddlers

2012-02-26T08:12:00.000-08:00

Wraps are in! No, I'm not talking about wraps for food. Dresses to wrap adorable little girls in. I love wrap dresses and if they're in for our little girls, I'm sure they will be making them for mom too.

Diane Von Furstenberg has teamed up with Gap and has designed this bold dress for your toddler. She has actually created an entire line of clothing for toddlers to celebrate life and color. I think the tunic and leggings below are adorable. You can find the sandals in her collection too.

The collection is set to launch March 15, 2012 at the Gap. Be sure to visit and see what adorable creations your toddler must have for her summer collection. 

It's a Big World, Little Pig Book Review

2012-02-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

Dream Big! That's the message that Kristi Yamaguchi sends in her new book It's A Big World, Little Pig. Isn't she adorable. Her name is Poppy. Poppy is an ice skater, and has been invited to skate at the World Games ice skating championship in Paris. Poppy is nervous about heading to Paris. She lives in New York, and becomes anxious about heading to France. It's so far away. She is encouraged by her friend, Emma, who tells her to "Dream Big, Pig!" Poppy's grandparents said, "You go girl!" and her parents give her comfort by letting her know that they would be with her every step of the way.

Emma gives Poppy a good luck charm, and Poppy heads to Paris. Once she arrives at the World Athlete Village, she is nervous and bumps into a snowboarder from China named Li. Li and Poppy become friends and walk the village together to find the athlete check-in. Poppy becomes hungry and decides to head to the dining hall. The dining hall is full and she scans the room for a seat. A skier from Italy waved to Poppy and offers her a seat at her table. They too become friends.

Poppy leaves the dining hall and heads to the practice rink. There she meets another skater from Japan. They admire each other's costumes and become friends. Poppy skated from her heart during the competition and remembered all the friends and discoveries that she had made during the trip. Her parents were there to support her and decided they would stay for the remainder of the week so they could visit the Eiffel Tower, museums and eat French food. It turned out to be a beautiful trip, one that Poppy would always remember.

Personally, I think the book is adorable and highly recommend it. My daughter and I were big fans of Kristi's and followed her during the Olympics and on Season 6 of Dancing With The Stars.  The lesson in her book is clear. It teaches children to work through their fears and follow their dreams.  It also teaches them to experience new things and meet new people. The world is a big place and should be experienced. It also teaches children about being kind and helping another person.

The illustrations in the book are colorful and fun and the book has a hardback cover that will help withstand little hands. I'm sure it will become a favorite bedtime story for many children.  I'm looking forward to reading it to my granddaughter.  The only thing missing in Kristi Yamaguchi's book is her autograph.  Now if I could just figure out how to get this book signed, lol.

Kristi adorable book is due out March 6, 2012. The book will sell for $16.99 in the US. All proceeds will benefit childhood literacy programs supported by Kriti's Always Dream Foundation.

Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

Christening Day Tips

2012-02-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

This is Mother 2 Mother's first post from our Guest Bloggers. Our guest blogger today is Elaine K. Stephen who is a work at home Christian Mom and the Sole Proprietor of the Inspirational Gift Gallery and Inspirational Sympathy Gifts. Elaine sells affordable gifts, including Baptism gifts, that express God’s word, Christ's sacrifice and inspire Christian love, comfort and joy. Elaine also enjoys writing for her Inspirational Christian Stories, Poems, Gifts blog. Elaine shares Christening Day Tips below.

A child is the most precious of all earthly gifts from God. In acceptance of our gift, we promise our Lord that we will raise our child in Christian faith. Depending on your Christian denomination, your may Christen your baby, have a Baby Dedication or Baptize an older child. No matter which, the ceremony day is a day of celebration.

As with any celebration, moms want to do it right. We want to make the day special and the celebration memorable. Planning in advance is crucial. There are so many things to do and so many people to honor in our Christening, Baby Dedication or Children's Baptism celebration.

OK, I’ll just say it. It’s a party! But for Christian moms, one of the most important parties we’ll ever host. So where do we start? No matter what the occasion, I always start with a list of guests. Everything you purchase for your celebration depends upon the guest list. For most parties the number of families, adults and children is sufficient. But when selecting guests for a Christening, Baby Dedication or Baptism celebration, it’s important to remember the place of honor each guest has during the ceremony and celebration as well.

The total number of families will tell us how many invitations and thank you cards we need to purchase. The invitations should include what the celebration is, who the celebration is for, the time and Church location for the ceremony. The time and location of the celebration and the RSVP information. It’s important to remember to leave at least an hour between church ceremony and the start of the celebration for both traveling and freshening up time for your guests as well as preparation time for yourself.

The total number of adults and children will tell us how much food we should prepare or order. If your celebration is to be held at a restaurant or you are having it catered in your home, the planning of food is left up to the professionals. But for those moms who prepare their own food, we need to calculate. We want to make sure we have enough food and don’t run out, but we also don’t want to over spend and waste a lot of food. As a rule of thumb, each guest will consume approximately one pound of food. For example, if you're serving four items, such as an appetizer, a salad, a main dish, and a side dish, you can multiply 1/4 pound of each food item per person. Of course, people of different sizes consume differently. Children may eat less, teenage boys may eat more. So to be on the safe side, add 10% to your total food. I certainly have nothing against leftovers and my guess is most of you moms don’t either.

The place of honor the guests hold will tell us how many and what type of keepsake gifts we need to purchase. When you plan a wedding reception, all the guest receive the same keepsake gifts at their place setting. When you plan a child’s birthday party, all the children receive the same goody bags. But when you plan a Christening, Baby Dedication or Baptism celebration, this is not true. We will need to purchase different keepsake gifts for the people of honor in the ceremony, clothes relatives and general keepsake gifts for all other family members and friends.

Godparents should be honored with a special keepsake gift. A Godparent love’s your child and promises to assist you in the rearing of your child in Christian faith. They usually are selected to rear your child in your absence. This is a great gift to you and your child and a respectable undertaking.

Grandparents should be honored with a special keepsake gift as well. Grandparents are the driving force behind your Christian rearing and your child’s. They love you and your child and provide a lifetime of experience. Surely their wisdom will be of great assistance to both you and your child throughout the years to come.

Since your guests support your child’s Christening, Baby Dedication or Baptism and show their love for you and your child with gifts, it is important for us to show our appreciation with small keepsakes. If your child’s Christening, Baby Dedication or Baptism celebration will be a sit down dinner, then a place setting keepsake gift is appropriate. If you are having a buffet, then a basket of keepsake gifts at the door personally handed out by mom and dad as your guest depart is wonderful way to say thank you.

Decorations will make your child‘s Christening, Baby Dedication or Baptism celebration beautiful. For decorations, a simple white and silver or white and gold color theme is usually selected. White symbolizes your child’s purity. Silver is said to symbolize the connection between man and God. Gold is said to symbolize rejoicing in our blessings. A Christian symbol should be selected as well. A cross is the most common, but a dove of peace or angel theme is perfectly acceptable. Paper goods, room decorations and your keepsake gifts should be unified in color and Christian symbol.

Your baby’s outfit is a special one which will follow your color and Christian symbol theme and become keepsakes as well. For the ceremony, depending on the child’s age, a gown, dress or suit, a bonnet or hat, and baby booties or shoes and socks are a must. There are so many additions to the basics available these days including jewelry and handkerchiefs. But don‘t forget a change of clothes for your child in case of a mishap. And don‘t forget about your own and the rest of your families outfits for the day.

Entertainment suitable? I say yes. Almost anywhere you hold your Christening, Baby Dedication or Baptism celebration can accommodate Christian music. Either a CD player or a DJ will do the trick. If small children will be in attendance, Bible story coloring books, games and puzzles will keep them entertained.

Keep the memories alive for a lifetime with photographs. Your going to be busy! You have guest to talk to and a child to care for. Ask a family member or friend who is good to take pictures and video if possible. If you can manage it, a professional photographer can’t be beat. If you like candid photos, supply some disposable cameras your guests can use.

Lastly, don’t forget about accommodations for your out of town guests. You may be able to house close family member or friends. If you can not or there are just too many, supply a list of local hotels in your invitation. If the out of town guest is a Godparent, you should offer to pay for their accommodations. After all, they are an honored part of your ceremony and celebration.

Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

Leave us a comment if you're planning a Christening in the future and what plans you have to make it a great day.

Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter

2012-02-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

Finally a picture of Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter and oh what a beautiful baby she is. Who would expect anything less from the famous mother and now most famous baby in the world. Beyonce looks like a proud mother, and she looks fabulous just weeks after giving birth to this little bundle of joy. I love the fact that mom and dad decided to trademark the name Blue Ivy Carter. So if you had plans to try to duplicate little Blue Ivy, forget about it. How savvy is that, lol.

Here's a picture of Blue Ivy's crib. Daddy, Jay-Z, shelled out $22,00 for the coach at Posh Tots. That's a bundle of money for me, but when you're worth several hundred million it's a drop in the bucket. Personally, if I had millions I would purchase this adorable crib for my little princess. Actually, Jay-Z is quite frugal compared to Mariah Carey. Check out the coach she purchased for her little princess. That baby starts at $47,000, lol.

Oprah sent a trunk full of her favorite children's books and friend Gwyneth Paltrow has gifted Blue Ivy with a top of the line special edition Bugaboo Cameleon stroller. The Bugaboo Cameleon is the stroller of choice for the stars. Friend Kelly Rowland give her BFF a Swarovski-crystal studded Baby Diamond Bathtub worth $5,200. I love royalty in America, lol. I wish Beyonce and little Blue Ivy the best, and hope she enjoys being a mother as much as I do.

Check out Beyonce and Blue Ivy taking a stroll in New York City here. Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

Before Social Media

2012-02-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

Social Media has changed the way we do business, communicate and meet new friends. It seems to have taken over a big portion of my life. I was thinking about my life before Social Media became a part of it and here's how I lived it before I became a Social Butterfly:

Visited family
Went to stores to shop
Cooked frequently
Cleaned the house
Made to do list
Watched TV occasionally
Talked on the house phone
More physically active
Met friends/family at Social Functions and for lunch or dinner
Visited the library

As a result of Social Media I now:

Talk to family on Facebook
Send text messages
Shop on-line
Rarely cook
Hired a maid
Watch television while I'm on the computer
Rarely spend time with friends
Less active and spreading like the flu
Meet new friends on-line
Share my thoughts on Twitter
Own a Kindle Fire to read books & magazines
Blog

I have started to spend less time on the computer. I'm now gardening, scrapbooking, and walking 1.5 - 2 miles each morning. Leave us a comment, we would love to know how Social Media has changed your life.

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Teen Pregnancy

2012-02-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

Would you put your teen daughter on birth control? Are we naive to think that our teen daughters won't engage in sex? Statistics state that 3 in 10 teen girls in the US will get pregnant at least once before age 20? That's about 745,000 teen pregnancies each year. The average cost of raising a baby through the age of 18 is approximately $269,520. Statistics show that the US has the highest birth rate followed by the United Kingdom.

Sexually active teens prefer the condom.  They also engage in sex using the withdrawal method and the pill is their third choice of birth control.  In March 2011, a study showed that teenage sex had decreased. There was no explanation as to why, but it was assumed that they were concerned with sexually transmitted diseases. Wouldn't it be nice to think our children will remain abstinent until they get married. I live in the real world, and I know that chances of that happening are slim to none. As a result, can we have a dialogue about birth control please.

Students at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania can get the "morning-after" pill by sliding $25 into a vending machine. They can purchase a condom from the same machine or a pregnancy test. Some experts have concerns that making Plan B so readily available isn't a good idea.  They are equating it to the abortion pill.  Experts feel that teens should at least have to go to a pharmacy to obtain Plan B, so they can discuss the risk factors. Now I'm not saying that discussing risk factors isn't a good idea, but I would venture to say that it won't be a priority for a teen who didn't use protection.  As far as being educated on the risks, they will probably see Google as a better alternative than having to drive to a pharmacy to discuss Plan B over the counter. Lets say they did drive to the pharmacy,  rregardless of what the pharmacist says, they will more than likely take the pill.

When I read the article, I wondered what the difference was from a teen purchasing the morning after pill out of a vending machine versus them being able to go to a clinic and getting birth control for free. I don't want to make this a pro-abortion or pro-choice post. I try hard to leave my political beliefs out of my posts. However, twenty-one states allow minors to obtain birth control without parental consent. Somebody must be coming into the clinics to get them or it wouldn't be an issue.

Personally, I preferred to take my daughter to obtain contraception rather than her going on her own, and I did.  Yes, I sure did. Some may see me as condoning her having sex, but I saw it as a preventive measure. In my mind, I thought it would be best if she had if and when she decided to become active. Why, because I didn't want her to become a teen mom and I wasn't naive enough to think that she wouldn't become active once she was out of my control. As a single mother, I didn't want to raise another child.  Most importantly, I didn't want her to be a statistic. I was a teen mother. I became pregnant with my daughter at seventeen and gave birth at eighteen.  Although I had a supportive mom and dad, raising her was not easy. I didn't pawn her off on my parents, I took responsibility for her.

I was thankful that I had a good job with potential to move up in the federal government and I did. I had excellent benefits, and was lucky enough to be able to provide a good life for her. I never lived off the taxpayer's dollar, received food stamps or WIC. She didn't receive free meals at school and the taxpayer didn't pay for her medical expense. I married a year later, and my husband provided well for us.  Most teens are not in a position to be able to provide and they usually don't marry and have their husbands provide for them.   The taxpayer usually ends up with the expense. I am so grateful that I wasn't a welfare statistic nor did I have to go through the trauma of giving my child up for adoption.

I believe that we can preach to the choir, but will they truly hear the sermon.  We can try our best to be examples, but when hormones are jumping and our teens are influenced should we supply them with protection. My daughter married after she completed her college degree, and she didn't have children until after she was married. I often wonder if that is because of me helping to protect her as a teen.

For my readers who are currently raising a teenage daughter or will have a teenage daughter in the future, would you take your daughter to get birth control? Do you think birth control should be dispensed from a vending machine? Do you have experience as a teen mother or as a single mom? I would love to hear your views on this subject.

Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

Super Bowl Commericals

2012-02-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

I love Superbowl. Not because I'm a big football fan I don't watch it to be honest, but I do watch the Superbowl commericals. Why, because I love the commericals and I want to see why a company has spent a millions dollars on a commerical. Here's my list of best and worst commericals in no particular order:

Best

Doritos: Man's Best Friend
Audi: Vampire Party
Chevy: Happy Grads
Fiat: Seduction (still laughing about this one)
Honda: Matthew's Days Off
Pepsi: The Lava Lizard (Elton John and Flavor Flav)
Cars.com: Neck

Worst

Chevy: 2012
Bud Light: Dog Rescue
Acura: Jerry Steinfield
Hulu: Hulaboratory
Go Daddy: The Cloud

If I had to choose one from the Best List, it would be the Fiat commerical, and from the Worst List it would be Go Daddy. I'm so sick of Go Daddy using half naked women to sell their brand. That type of advertising is just not appealing to me. What where your favorite and less favorite commericals? Leave a comment, we would love to hear from you.

Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

First Birthday Tutus

2012-02-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Look what we've found! Another fabulous find. It's the most adorable birthday tutus that I've seen in a rainbow of colors. This adorable creation is being crafted by Amber at Beana Baby Boutique. Beana Baby Boutique was inspired by Amber's curly top blonde daughter who she nicknamed " Bean ".

Amber stated that she wanted a few fun things for her daughter, and had a difficult time finding them locally. She started making the dresses, tutus etc for her and then began getting referrals. The rest is history. Amber is a proud member of the Mompack and specializes in birthday outfits.

I can tell you that I will be purchasing a set for Zarriah's birthday. She will be having her first birthday pictures taken in the set. The biggest decision will be which one. I thought it was going to be the set at the top. I've fallen in love with the set at the bottom too.

Will you be purchasing a set for your daughter? You know you want to. Your little darling will be the life of the party, so head over to Beana Baby Boutique and scope out her birthday outfit today. Prices start at $39.99. Beana Baby Boutique uses only the highest quality fabrics and materials. Their mission is to offer you peace of mind of knowing that your product is the best quality for you and your baby. All products are made in the USA.

Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

Cheaters Never Win

2012-02-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

How would you feel if you husband fathered a child outside of your marriage/relationship with one of his close friends and business partner? Oh, lets forget close friend with anyone for that matter. Would the fact that the close friend and business partner was at the hospital sharing in your joy with you and your husband plunge the knife in a littler deeper?  Would the fact that the close friend and business partner rode home in the limo with you and your husband after the delivery drive the knife in deeper. Would the fact that the close friend and business partner attended the ballets and school graduations send you over th edge.

A similar story has taken place in Connecticut.  Eric Fischer said he saw the red flags when his youngest daughter was born, but for 15 years he loved her and raised her like she was his own. As time went he, he couldn't ignore the fact that she looked nothing like his oldest daughter. Finally, he decided on a DNA test. As he already knew deep in his heart she was not his, but in fact the close friend and business partner of his wife's.

When I first read the story, I thought how sad is that. Another case of baby's daddy. How do you betray another person in that manner? How do you explain to the child that I'm not your father, mommy's friend is.   These are not people who were in a relationship, but a married couple. How do you sleep beside someone for 15 years, knowing what you've done? People like this scare me. This is a person who has no conscious.  People who have no conscious are capable of anything. Of course the couple divorced. How could a marriage survive after that kind of betrayal.

Let me tell you Eric Fischer didn't take it lightly. Oh no he didn't. He decided to sue baby's daddy for every dime that he spent on the child for the 15 years that he raised her as his own.   The court decided that $195,000 would suffice for the reimbursement. Eric Fischer was initially turned down by a lower court for the judgement.  The court stated that he “had held himself out to be the younger daughter’s father, that he had caused her to rely on him to meet her financial and emotional needs, and that revealing her true parentage after she had been led to believe for her whole life that [Fisher] was her father, would be detrimental to her emotional well-being." I wonder about our legal system at times. What true man would want to believe that a child his wife just gave birth to wasn't his. He didn't give up the fight and took it to the Supreme Court. They overturned the lower court's decision and is now allowing Mr. Fischer to return to the lower court with a new judge to fight for the $195,000.

Will money compensate for the betrayal of his wife and her lover? We know the answer to that is no; however, it may set a precedent to others who believe that it's okay to play with a person's heart and head. Will this betrayal have a negative effect on the little girl? I'm sure it will. I'm hoping that the court will give his ex-wife this award:

Let her explain the betrayal and the true meaning of marriage to her daughter. I know there are many couples who have children they are raising that don't biologically belong to one or the other. These decisions are made freely and lovingly. I think Mr. Fischer has a right to know the truth, and he also had the right to decide that he would not raise a child that was not his. I hope that he can find peace and the daughter can recover from the infidelity as well. Leave me a comment, I would love to know your thoughts on this story.

Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.

Chicken Wing Cupcakes

2012-02-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

Cupcake meet chicken wing. American loves cupcakes and chicken wings. A bakery, Coccadott's Bakery, outside of Albany decided to merge the two. When I first thought about the two, I almost got sick. When I found out that the cupcake is actually cornbread topped with blue cheese and a wing I was more receptive.

The owner said she was thinking about the Superbowl and thought what goes better with the Superbowl than chicken wings. She said that she tried several combinations and was ready to throw in the towel, but decided to try the cornbread and blue cheese combination before completely giving up. It was the winning combination.

I checked out Coccadott's Bakery, and their cupcake selection is impressive. They offer everything from Sex N City to Opposites Attract. Why not a Chicken Wing Cupcake? I love watching the Food Network, and I expect to see Coccadott's Bakery on Cupcake Wars in the near future.

If I lived near Coccadott's Bakery, I would place an order. Would you?

Guest Bloggers Wanted

2012-02-02T04:51:00.000-08:00

Mother to Mother will be featuring mom businesses and guest bloggers throughout the year. If you're interested in being a guest blogger, please contact me. I'm looking for posts on family, fashion, grandparenting, recipes etc. Anything post that relates to the Mother 2 Mother blog.

If you have a product that you would like featured or know of a mom who is trying to get her product out, feel free to contact me.