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#MrsFieldsMoments Slow Down And Enjoy A Cookie With Someone You Love! #USO #cookies #family

2014-10-16T03:16:00.001-05:00

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Mrs. Fields Famous Brands ("Mrs. Fields") and Interbake Foods LLC ("Interbake Foods," the company responsible for the manufacture and sale of Mrs. Fields branded pre-packaged cookies sold at retailers throughout North America) today kicked off "Mrs. Fields Moments," a national campaign inspiring busy cookie lovers to slow down and enjoy a cookie moment with loved ones.

At a time when obligations leave precious little time for the ones that matter most, Mrs. Fields is encouraging a nationwide movement to dedicate Sunday night to cookie moments with family and friends. Mrs. Fields wants every cookie lover to embrace and share their #mrsfieldsmoments – from milk-and-cookies to bedtime treats – and has provided fun and useful tools for doing so at www.mrsfieldsmoments.com.

Mrs. Fields is a Proud Supporter of the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), and "Mrs. Fields Moments" builds on the Organization's "Every Moment Counts" campaign, which helps all families – military and otherwise – make the most of every moment together.

"When you buy Mrs. Fields cookies, you're not just buying a cookie: You're helping create moments that matter for troops enduring long deployments," said Kevin McDonough, President of Interbake Foods. "By buying a box of Mrs. Fields cookies, you help give a cookie moment for you and for them. It's a touch of home to those who need it most."

Visit MrsFieldsMoments.com for "Snacktivity" ideas, Conversation Starters, more information about the Mrs. Fields–USO partnership, or to find a grocery store with Mrs. Fields Cookies (look for the USO banner on the box!).

About Mrs. Fields Famous Brands The Company is a well-established franchiser in the premium snack food industry, featuring Mrs. Fields® and TCBY® as its core brands. Through its franchisees' retail stores; it is one of the largest retailers of freshly baked, on-premises specialty cookies and brownies in the world and the largest retailer of soft-serve frozen yogurt with live active cultures. Its franchise systems operate through a network of more than 950 franchised and licensed locations throughout the United States and in 23 foreign countries. In addition, it operates an internet and catalog gifting business, a branded retail business and has entered into licensing arrangements that leverage awareness of its core brands among its retail customer base. The Company is currently relocating their headquarters from Salt Lake City, Utah to Broomfield, Colorado.

About the USO The USO lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transition and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

About Interbake Foods Headquartered in Richmond, VA Interbake Foods LLC is a baked goods manufacturer with over 110 years of business experience. Interbake Foods is the North American cookie and cracker Division of Weston Foods. This includes Interbake Foods in the USA and Colonial Cookies Limited in Canada. Weston Foods' mission is to be recognized by its customers as providing the best bakery solutions in North America and Interbake is privileged to serve the marketplace with our award-winning products and services. Interbake Foods consists of three distinct business segments: Retail Private Brands, Contract Manufacturing and Girl Scout cookies through our ABC Bakers Division.

We would like to encourage you to spend a little extra time this Sunday with your family, here is a list of great "Snacktivities" to enjoy with the kids, from mix and watch movie night.....to a family costume contest, these ideas are so much fun. Turn off that TV and put down those devices for a little quality time. Enter to win the trip of a lifetime for your family in the #MrsFieldsMoments contest HERE , just upload a fun photo of your cookie moment and you will be entered to win a trip to Washington DC.

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Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations #crafts #kids

2014-08-20T14:17:00.001-05:00

Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations

Rheney Williams-Guest Blogger

For moms who grew up in the '80s like I did, you'll probably remember those spinning art toys that let you create splashes and spiral smears of paint. You know – there was a spinning platform with paper exposed underneath, you dropped dots of paint into the middle and the spinning motion and centrifugal force pulled the paint out to the edges of the circle and you were left with these crazy, tie-died-looking paintings?

Although the toys have changed over the years, a kid's (and kids at heart!) basic desire to see swirls of paint and crazy combinations of colors hasn't. And an old-school product is making new spiral innovations possible: Shaving cream! All you need are a few basic supplies and you and your kids can have hours of creative and colorful fun with a beautiful piece of artwork to show for it at the end of the day.

Gather the materials for your shaving cream paint projects. You'll need:

Foam Shaving Cream (not the gel)
Paints in an assortment of colors
Heavy card stock or construction paper
Spatula or ruler
Skewer or little fingers!
Large cookie sheet or use smaller individual trays, one for each child

Tip: To make clean-up a breeze (and avoid having to buy a disposable tray), line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil first. Then all you have to do is remove the foil and you're done!

1. Spray a few lines of shaving cream onto the sheet and use the spatula or ruler to spread out the shaving cream flat and in a square or rectangle about the size of the paper.

2. Add a few random dots of paint or food coloring around the shaving cream palette.

Tip: If you have leftover paint samples from the last time you painted a room, this is a great way to use those and ensure whatever masterpiece your kids come up with coordinates with the space!

3. Use the skewer to make swirls with the paint in free-flowing circles or waves and if you have little kids, just let them go nuts with their fingers.

4. Place the paper into the shaving cream with the right-side facing down so that when you pull the paper off, the paint is on the correct side.

5. Gently push the paper into the shaving cream so that all surfaces touch and allow it to sit for about 10 seconds before carefully peeling the paper off of the shaving cream.

6. Place the paper on a flat surface (in my case, I had another foil-lined sheet pan at the ready) and carefully scrape all of the shaving cream off of the paper to reveal the magical marbling below!

7. Set the paper aside to dry thoroughly and if the edges start to curl, place a glass or other heavy object on the corners to keep them down during drying.

From here, take some time to admire your work and see what imaginative images your kids can find! Can you spot the hidden smiley face that appeared in my swirls? In addition to your classic refrigerator pin-up, here are some other creative uses for your pint-sized Picasso's masterpiece:

Make DIY bookmarks to give as Christmas gifts to the readers you love
Use the brown paper bags from the grocery store in your shaving cream paint project and have unique book covers for school next year
Frame it so you always have a custom piece of art in your office or work space
A DIY puzzle: Cut it into a bunch of different pieces that your kids can put back together and learn about how shapes and patterns relate to each other

What other cool things can you and your kids come up with for shaving cream paint creations?

Rheney Williams is a prolific crafter with a background in theatre arts. Besides writing about projects for Home Depot, Rheney is currently putting her DIY expertise to work by remodeling her first home and experimenting with colors and textures in her home decor.

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Are you a Business Owner? Now Sponsorship is easier (and cheaper) than ever!!!!

2014-07-16T19:49:00.001-05:00

Every day, moms across the country are logging into their chapter of The Mommies Network, thanks in part to the support that we get from our sponsors... and our moms are returning the favor by finding out more about those businesses that support their chapter.

That could be you! Sponsorship is a really inexpensive option to marketing, and this week, it's even more affordable.

Now until July 23rd, we are offering 50% all Forum Sponsorship spots with a graphic and text. For as little as $10-$125, your business can be in front of our members for a whole year!!!!

And, we try to make it really easy for you.

Simply Click Here and select the 50% Forum Sponsorship Option. From there, select your chapter and how many spots you want and fill out all of the other information and your discount is instantly applied. Or, you can look around to see if one of our other options works better for you!

After submitting your sponsorship, you'll be taken to a secure PayPal page, and with that complete, we will have your sponsorship up and running within 24 hours!!

An entire year of presentation to our members for as little as $10.... how can you NOT afford to!

Click Here to order your sponsorship today.

WANNA CHANGE YOUR USERNAME? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!!!!!

2014-05-29T12:02:00.001-05:00

We are in the last 48 hours of the Mommies Network May is for Mothers, and we are upping the perks for you to donate!!!

If you make a $25 donation before 11:59pm on May 31st, you can change your username by simply forwarding your donation receipt to heather@themommiesnetwork.org!

Yeah- it's really that easy!!!

Visit http://themommiesnetwork.causevox.com to make your donation right now!!!

Are you part of the 99%?

2014-05-08T10:19:00.001-05:00

How would you feel if I told you that less than 1% of the people around you cared about what you need?

Far too often, we feel the impact of standing alone and just wish that someone else would stand there with us, knowing that the journey would not be so hard if we just had a few extra people to help us along the way. This is apathy, and it's a big problem. I bet this is something you have experienced in your life. However, when the shoe is on the other foot and something out there in the world needs us, we tend to pass it right by.

The Mommies Network has over 20,000 members... moms who come to us for help and support and community. 20,000 moms just like you. Last year, less than 350 of those members donated to The Mommies Network during our May is for Mothers campaign. Look around you- do you think that only 350 of our members need support and community and the other 19,650 don't? And which one of those are you?

When we look at our chapters, that is not what we see. We see moms logging in day after day, sometimes 20 or 30 times a day. What we see is that almost all 20,000 of those members do need us and do use us, but that less than 1% of our membership helping burden the cost of the other 99% of us. Less than 1% of us are committed to what you need.

Forget the money, because it's not about the money. It's about apathy. The indifference of saying 'I don't need to do anything because someone else will take care of it and I'll still get what I need'. Do any of us really want to be that person?

Are you satisfied knowing that select few people are more invested in your support than you are?

This week, the conversation we are having on the forums is asking our members to make a commitment. We are asking one simple question:

"What will you do to make your community better?"

It doesn't have to be money! There are dozens of ways you can help... little things like signing up for Amazon Smiles and giving 0.5% of your purchases back to The Mommies Network, or asking a friend to join so that our community of support gets bigger, going to an event that one of our volunteers worked hard to provide to you, or even just not passing by a post without saying something.

Or you can give a few bucks and know for the next year that you were not a part of the 99% being cared for by 1%, if for not other reason than to know that a community cannot sustain itself like that and you know you use and need that community.

Give today so you can receive tomorrow.

Get Support. Give Support. The Mommies Network.

I Don't Like Mothers Day

2014-05-06T09:44:00.001-05:00

Let me tell you why.

I don't want to sound ungrateful- I really don't! But, I could do without the store bought card. Flowers are always nice, but they will wilt ( and guess who is going to have to throw them out and wash out the gunky water from the vase?)

Honestly, one day a year, a $5 card and overpriced flowers do not make this job any easier. I'd rather get something I know that I need. Something that actually makes motherhood a little easier. Something that is personal. Something I use the whole year!

This year, I am asking the people I love to give me a community of friends and people who understand me. This year, I'm just asking the people who love me to skip the card and the flowers and make a donation to The Mommies Network instead.

The Mommies Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which means that it can't continue to bring FREE support to moms without help.

It's super easy and takes just a second! Just click on the image you would prefer below and you can post it right to your Facebook Wall. Tag the people you know will be sending you a card and ask for this instead! Best of all, you actually are saving time (and money) of those people you love, because this takes just a minute. We will even be send out a personalized E-Card to you on Mothers Day to let you know that person has made a donation in your honor.

Give up the Mommy Myth that you can't ask for what you need, and tell the people that love you to skip the card... you'd prefer a circle of friends this Mothers Day!

Click here to Share this image on your Facebook Wall

Tales from our Supermoms

2014-05-03T10:41:00.001-05:00

Over the past two days, we asked for our moms to share their Mommy Myths, and the response has been overwhelming! Here are a just a few*...

" I had to learn it's okay to ask for help... My mom was very sick several years ago and was in and out of the hospital.... between taking care of my mom, going back and forth to the hospital... trying to keep some sort of normalcy for my family.... Dinner, homework, etc, I almost lost it. I felt like the world was on my shoulders and I was a moment away from losing it.

Thankfully several friends from this site would just send little notes of encouragement, offers to help with the kids, etc. I wouldn't have made it without them. I tear up just typing this because I will never be able to repay them for what they did during that time...."

"I'm not one who's afraid to lay it on the line.... For some reason however, it took me longer than usual to talk about (some) issues. I finally opened up last week and boy am I glad I did! It was like a weight was lifted. I don't want to talk about it on FB .... but I knew here I'd be safe. I got a ton of support and a wealth of information I would've had no clue about otherwise. I feel a lot better about my situation and I feel like I'm able to move forward not only more educated but also supported which means the world."

"When I started back at work after having my first daughter, I really depended on the MOTC forum for major support. I remember the feeling of missing the baby were so strong I felt like someone was ripping my heart strings out! I cried my first day back. The first few weeks were the hardest, and I went to the forum often for encouragement, understanding, advice, tips on how to balance working and being a new mom. It was so fantastic to get connected with other moms who knew exactly what I was feeling."

"I was talking to my MIL last night on the phone, and she asked me how I was coping... I said "Well, I am managing to feed the kids and keep them fairly clean, so we're doing okay." and she said "Well, I see you post smiling, happy pictures on FB and just think you are doing fine,....

Which is exactly why BM helps me. I don't post this stuff on FB because I don't want the whole world to know, but I can come here and talk, vent, ask for advice etc. I know that people here, other moms going through similar things will understand and give me support.

That's really such an amazing thing TMN provides, for their members to get and give support, for FREE! "

This is what just a few of our moms are saying when they are telling us why they need their chapter. We are not social media! We are a place where moms find support when the rest of the world expects them to just deal with what life throws at them. But we cannot do it alone.. just like these moms cannot do it alone.

We give this to our members for free because we don't believe that moms should have to pay to get this kind of support... but that doesn't mean that that it's cost free for us to provide it. We have moms who can't donate... and we understand that. We also have moms who already give their time to our organization, and we do not want to ask them to give more... they make your support possible! If you can give, give for yourself and another mom. Your donation means that these moms and tens of thousands of moms just like them can come here tomorrow and get the support they need!


Click here to donate now!

* Some of the details have been changed to protect the identity of our members and have been used with the permission of those members Our mission: To provide a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

Lessons from a Stressed-Out Mommy!

2014-04-30T23:04:00.001-05:00

I've had it. The smile has disappeared from my face and I am in a twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt and the words echo through my brain like a mantra I know too well.

I can't do it all....

Those aren't the words of the Mommy I show the rest of the world. To the rest of the world, I am a rock. A pillar. A foundation. But inside, I am crumbling. The dozens of masks I put on... complete parent to my children, loving partner to my spouse, absolute provider to my family, dedicated employee to my job, willing volunteer to the schools and clubs, kind and thoughtful neighbor, generous and loving daughter, giving and supportive friend... I'm exhausted and I'm sick of constantly sacrificing myself. I have to be these things- all of these things- and I don't know which one to let go of ( or even if I can let go of) without feeling like I've disappointed everyone. And in my mind, I spin.

...But I have to do it all.

This is where I have been. Tied up in knots. Caught in a race with myself. Unable to feel any satisfaction because everything I did, even if it was good, was never good enough. And the path out of my Stressed-Out Mommy Syndrome was simple. I just wanted someone else who understood it all.

There is a relief that comes with having someone who tells you that you are not alone. The reason is that within struggle lies a feeling of solitude..and not the good kind of solitude I get when the kids are in bed and I can have a moment of peace. The bad solitude... the lonely solitude. People, by nature, long for connection, especially in times of struggle. And during those times, the best connection is made by simply acknowledging that my struggle is hard. And that I am not alone in thinking that.

What lessons have I learned? Three simple things:

- Admit the struggle. Every time you think the world is depending on you, stop telling yourself that you can't show that to the rest of the world. Stop thinking that you don't deserve support, because you do. We all do.

- Don't underestimate the power of connection. Connecting with other people is key, and finding a place where you can let down the masks, and what you get back is that you are not alone; it's vital to overcoming struggle that you not feel like you are walking the path by yourself.

- You only get what you are willing to give. When we connect, we cannot simply expect to take and never give. Connection is about exchange.... others being there when we need them, and showing up when others need us. With this, we create our own safe space. Our own community of people we can turn to.

This is what we do at The Mommies Network. When we started, we didn't do it to get the latest slow-cooker recipe or to debate about the whether we return shopping carts or not. We did it because we recognized that connections matter, and that women ( and especially mothers!) find it difficult to connect in a meaningful way unless we have a place to be honest about our struggles. And nobody can understand the struggle of a mother like another mother. When I talk about the twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt, that is a place that almost every other mother recognizes. When I say I can't do it all but I have to do it all, millions of other mothers know this feeling... because they feel it too.

We Get It

We've Been There

This month, The Mommies Network is launching in annual May is for Mothers campaign focused on one idea... the letting go of the Mommy Myth. The Mommy Myth is simply that we don't need help and support. What we do is give you a safe space to let go of your Mommy Myths. A place to come with your struggles and have a community of moms who understand why it's so hard who can rally around you and say the thing you need to hear... that you are not alone.

We are YOUR Community

We are asking for a donation- whatever you can afford- so that we can continue to keep "the lights on and the doors open", for you and for every other moms in our communities. If you have received support, or watched other moms benefit from simply having a place where they can be honest about their struggles, please make even a small donation. We want to keep doing this year after year, but we can't do it without your help.

Click on a mom YOU identify with to help us keep doing what we love.... supporting you!

Now Thru 3/31- earn $5 for The Mommies Network by purchasing from Amazon!!!!

2014-03-24T08:44:00.001-05:00

The Mommies Network

Now through 3/31, make an Amazon purchase through The Mommies Network Amazon Smiles page, and Amazon will donate $5 to the organization we love so dearly ( in addition to the 0.5% we receive regularly). If you are making a purchase from Amazon ( including Prime purchases), please use this link to earn TMN $5!!!

HOW EASY IS THAT!!!!

Click Banner to sign up now to start earning money by shopping at Amazon for The Mommies Network!

Check out our latest deals from our TMN Affiliates!

2014-02-12T21:06:00.001-06:00

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Organizing Holiday Decorations

2013-12-09T16:29:00.000-06:00

Last year I took the time to label and organize my Christmas decorations. Now that it is that time of year again, I find that I really appreciate knowing exactly where to find everything.

Here are a few things you can do to help make your Christmas decorating a breeze:

Label each container with the holiday and a brief description of what is stored inside. (ex . Christmas Stockings, Tree Skirt)
At the end of the season, store your decorations so that you can easily access the decorations you put up first. This saves you from having to dig through mountains of containers to find your outside lights or tree ornaments.
Label the contents of every box when you put your decorations away this year (unless the box has a picture of the item that should be stored in it) and make a habit of labeling the boxes of any new items as you acquire them. This makes putting decorations away at the end of the season a breeze.
Label decorations that were gifts with the name of the person who gave it to you and the year you received it. It is fun to reminisce as you pull each item out!

I always make sure to decorate in the same order every year so that I have a system. I personally like to start with the biggest (and most difficult) jobs first and work my way down to the smaller items. I begin with my outside lights and then put up my tree. That way I can enjoy putting the small touches on the rest of my house knowing that the big stuff is finished!

– Contributed by Shelly (shell)

Shelly is a professional organizer and owns her own business, Clutter Contained. She helps clients simplify their lives by clearing away clutter and creating efficiency. She works with residential clients to eliminate clutter and increase efficiency and with small business clients to increase productivity and create better balance between professional and personal lives. Find out more at www.cluttercontained.com.

Pieces of the Puzzle - A Level-by-Level Infographic Guide by Melissa & Doug

2013-12-06T09:46:00.000-06:00

Which puzzle is perfect for your kids? This easy reference guide walks you through the options - including chunky shapes and boards, sturdy wooden jigsaws, giant floor puzzles, and more! - to find just the right fit for puzzlers of every age and stage.

Pieces of the Puzzle - A Level-by-Level Infographic Guide by MelissaAndDoug.com.

Building Blocks - A Level-by-Level Infographic Guide by Melissa & Doug

2013-11-30T09:45:00.000-06:00

Find the perfect block set (plus play tips!) for any age and stage with this handy guide. Consider it your blueprint for hours of constructive playtime and years of block-building fun!

Building Blocks - A Level-by-Level Infographic Guide provided by MelissaAndDoug.com.

Prematurity Awareness Month: My Story

2013-11-12T09:40:00.000-06:00

For Thanksgiving, you are to remember what you are most Thankful for. Usually people say family, friends, their job, things like that and more. I am thankful for all those things but November will always help me remember one thing that I will be forever thankful for! PREMATURITY AWARENESS.

November is prematurity awareness month. One out of every 8 babies each year are born premature, which means they are born at least 3 weeks before their scheduled due date.

In March 2010, prematurity awareness changed my life. March 2010, my daughter was born! She was born on March 16 via scheduled c-section due to IUGR (intra-unterine growth restriction-which means something causes the baby to stop growing in the womb). We heard this news that our daughter had stopped growing between 31-32 weeks. There was no explanation for this and to this day we do not know that cause.

Paige was born weighing 4 pounds 12 ounces and 16 3/4 inches long. She was so TINY. Once I was out of recovery, I was told my daughter was in the special nursery under constant nursing care. We were at a hospital that didn't have a NICU because that was the hospital I worked at and we were hoping for the best. They wheeled me up to the window to show me my daughter and she was laying in this tiny little bed inside a plastic bubble. This plastic bubble was fulled with oxygen helping her breathe.

Miss Paige - Day 1 or 2 in the NICU

Paige's pediatrician then came to talk to me. I worked with him and he was very understanding and told us exactly what was going on. He told us that Page was struggling to breathe and he was going to give Paige some time to see if she would start breathing better on her own. He would come back a lunch time to talk to us and check on Paige.

During the 3 hours till lunch, we had constant visitors wanting to know what was going on and to be honest we didn't know. At lunch the pediatrican came and said, "I think we need to transfer." I held it together the best way I could but it hurt to know I would not be able to follow my newborn daughter the hour away drive to the NICU hospital. My OB doctor would not let me leave the hospital because I just had major surgery.

The evening that special transport ambulance showed up and the nurse and doctor wheeled Paige into my room in this big clear box and Paige was hooked up to wires, oxygen, and this WEIRD contraption on her face to help her breathe. I lost it. I just cried! My husband followed the ambulance up to the BIG hospital and helped get Paige all settled.

Doesn't that look a just a little uncomfortable!
It was holding the ventilator tube helping her
breathe because she kept trying to pull it out!

For 48 hours I was STUCK! Stuck in this room where I couldn't go anywhere. I couldn't talk to the doctors about Paige. I didn't know anything! It was the worst feeling ever! They tried to hook up a webcam so that I could see my daughter which we all know how technology works. Half the time it doesn't!

Finally the day came when my husband picked me up from the hospital. If I could have I would have RAN out of the hospital and into the car but I was still recovering from the c-section. So we got to the hospital and walked into Paige's room. It was so quiet, so dark, so sterile. Paige was in a little bed with a ventilator tube in her mouth, IV in her belly button, heart monitors, and other numerous wires coming off this little 4 and half pound baby. I did not say anything I just watched. My parents came to visit and brought our 2 year old to see his sister and then they went home as did my husband. He had to work the next day, leaving me by myself looking at this tiny little helpless baby.

Paige was a mover she was always getting tangled in her wires and tubes. That evening the nurses came in to untangle all the wires and I stood there and watched the next thing I remember is seeing the numbers on Paige's monitors start bottoming out. Paige's oxygen level dropped and all I remember is the nurse asking me Mama, you doing okay as they are working on Paige and I stood there in shock. I just ran. I walked out of the room and and called my husband and started crying. No baby should have to go through with this. But for some reason God chose for me and my daughter to have to go through with it.

For 8 days, Paige was on a ventilator (the thing with a tube in your mouth) helping her breathe. It was the WORST 8 days of my life! I couldn't hold my baby, I couldn't feed my baby. Nothing a new mom wants to do with their baby. I couldn't do it! Finally it was the morning on day 8, I was staying every other night at the hospital alternating with other family members. And I hear the respiratory therapist say, "Alright, lets pull it out" I was still half asleep when I heard this and I could not believe what I was hearing!

The nurse then said, "Mama, come take a look at this pretty little face." There was no tubes on Paige's face anymore just oxygen! I was so excited to see this! Later that day I got to hold Paige! Best FEELING in the world to hold my 8 day old little baby!

Mommy holding Paige for the first time

Paige was in the NICU for a total of 14 days! The day we finally got to take Paige home was priceless! Finally having my 2 babies in the same house! Paige came home at 4 pounds 10 ounces and was the most beautiful little girl I knew!

Paige NOW!! 3 and a half years old! And still tiny weighing in at
30 pounds, but you would never know where it all started!

Thanks to the AMAZING staff AT Parkview Huntington Hospital in Huntington, Indiana and Parkview North Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana for the amazing care that they gave me and Paige during our hospital stays!

– Contributed by Jayde (jfiggins)

Jayde owns 322 Photography and recently moved to the St. Louis area from Indiana, where her two children were born, her second, prematurely.

Prematurity Awareness Month: Tips from a NICU Mom

2013-11-07T09:00:00.000-06:00

Since November starts Prematurity Awareness Month and November 17th is World Prematurity Day, I thought I would share a topic that is something very near and dear to my heart. For anyone going through it, they know about the emotional toll the roller coaster ride takes you on.

Finally off the CPAP and out of the isolette

My son was born 8 weeks early and stayed in the NICU for almost 6 weeks. I had IUGR which is interuterine growth restriction. Right around christmas of 2011, I got the news that he went from 40th percentile to 10th in a matter of 3-6 weeks. I am high risk so I get ultrasounds so often that it seems like I had them every other doctor visit. It still makes me tear up every time I think about what would of happened if I didn't see a high risk doctor, well actually I try to never think about it because I don't need a breakdown (for those wondering he would have been a stillborn).

At 29 weeks I was put on home bedrest. A week and a half later I was admitted to the hospital for continuous monitoring and bedrest. Everyday my baby had to pass his biophysical profile and have the absent blood flow in the umbilical not get worse in order to have him stay put. Another 1.5 weeks later they told me it was time, since the lack of blood flow was causing him stress and deceleration. What an emotional wreck I was. Being a NICU mom is hard then it gets harder when you have a child already and can be with both.

Kangaroo care with my preemie

If you know ahead of time that your baby will be born premature (like I did):

Find the best MFM doctor there is so that you and the baby can get the best care possible. If you need recommendations, please see the best high risk doctor in St. Louis - Dr. Michael Paul near MoBap Hospital (seriously the most knowledgeable expert out there in our area). If you know that you will be going before 30 weeks ask him for a reference to a BJC doctor so that you can be closer to your newborn who will have to go to St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
If you are having cervix issues, discuss all possible medicines and procedures to keep your baby inside longer where it is safer.
Make sure your doctor knows the right time on giving steroid shots so your baby has the best possible outcome once born. The steroid treatment cuts the risk of lung disease in half and reduces a premature baby's risk of dying by up to 40%.
Ask for a tour of the NICU at your hospital so that you can prepare yourself for the hustle and bustle (that is everyday normal, along with the noises and beeps you constantly hear there). They will also give you a parent hand book to reference common NICU terms and their policies. It really helped me to see a baby with CPAP on so that I knew what my son would look like inside the isolettes.

For those finding themselves unexpectedly having a premature baby:

Learn the signs of premature labor and do not be afraid to ask to get checked out! The main difference between preterm labor and full-term labor is that preterm labor is likely to be much faster. Babies may be born before the cervix is fully dilated, so you may move very quickly from stage 1 of labor to stage 2.
This goes along with also knowing ahead of time, but your birth plan will go out the window and accepting that early on will save you a lot of heart ache. One in five premature babies are delivered by caesarean.

One of the hardest parts was not knowing what questions to ask or more importantly it was uneasy to get this response from doctors or nurses “Well we really can’t say because we don’t know what condition he will be in or what situations will arise.” But remember, they will explain everything as often as you need in as many different ways when the time comes and are there to support and help you. Next issue for me was on the day of my discharge date, leaving the hospital with no baby. Oddest feeling in the world and makes you feel like I went through all of this with nothing to show for it. It didn’t feel right being home minus a baby.

There could be millions of reasons that could be causing your baby to have to come early and each one affects the outcome differently so not everyone’s experience is the same, but one thing is for sure. It makes you appreciate the benefits of going to full term that some overlook or complain about. One emotion that happens after the whole ordeal is over is jealousy yes jealousy. It will creep up on you slowly or on your due date but it is common for NICU moms to have some resentment towards those who had full term births or having a healthy baby. Find a support person to talk to or if it gets serious, find a therapist. They can also be a resource for PPD as well. Having a shoulder to lean or cry on is very important during the NICU stay. If you are having problems, reach out immediately to your primary nurse, head nurse, hospital worker, Neonatologist, and most importantly your spouse, family, and friends. Here is how one preemie mom put it: “It is hard to be around pregnant women right now, since I feel as though I failed in my pregnancy. Even if it wasn’t my fault and we have no idea what happened, I still cannot help but feel guilty. My baby should be in my womb right now, all safe and snug, not hooked up to medical equipment. If you are pregnant, please understand I am not angry with you but I may not want to be around you or celebrate in your joy right now. I need time to adjust to this new reality.”

People might have a tendency to say the wrong thing as well, but just remember that they might not know how it comes off or don’t know what to say in that situation. I can’t tell you how many times I heard either “Everything will be fine” or “when is your baby coming home”… NO everything will not be ok, you don’t know what is going on (when in reality everything was fine, just didn’t feel like and didn’t want to hear it) and I don’t know when he is coming home because they can’t predict when he will eat on his own (it’s just one of those things that get asked a lot and you feel like a broken record or people don’t seem to understand that you don’t have a definite date). If you ever need an outlet to discuss preemie parenting with someone who “gets it” search out national discussion boards for that topic and if you keep in touch with any of the other mothers from the NICU it can help to chat about things we go through.

Just when you think the “scary” part is all over and baby get discharged because they finally graduated from the NICU, you get the uneasy feeling in the bottom of your gut. You know that time is coming when your going home checklist is nearly complete (aka car seat test, watching CPR video, baby able to take feeds on their own etc.). Rest a sure that you will be able to handle it and will take the utmost care of your precious newborn. Also, the hospital will have a nurse come to your house for a few times to do weight checks and make sure everything is going well. If this is your first child, make sure you have a pediatrician lined up because they will want to see the baby within a week of being discharged. Do not feel weird telling people to not touch your baby once home, it is the last thing they need is a nasty virus or bug to send them right back to the hospital. Preemies require more sleep than newborns so it can make feedings hard so ask for tips before you leave the NICU.

My preemie at 20 months old

Rule number one for being a preemie mom is be your child’s advocate! Speck up if you notice anything! Find all the resources you can to help your baby. If your baby has any delays, First Steps is the best early intervention help your child can receive so request an evaluation if you find any delays. One thing that I hope that all preemie mothers try to help their baby out is giving their baby breastmilk either via pumping or nursing. Your child will benefit greatly from the antibodies, proper nutrients, and fat building necessities. Preterm colostrum has the absolute highest concentration of antibodies found in breastmilk than at any other time. Preterm colostrum also has very high concentrations of human growth factors, anti-inflammatory and anti-infective components which provide a “coating” to help mature the premature baby’s intestinal lining. This allows the premature GI tract to be able to begin digesting milk earlier. Not to mention breastmilk has lower rates of a severe and potentially fatal complication called NEC. The last but not least important rule is TAKE TONS OF PHOTOS!!! Nothing is more rewarding that capturing the progress our little fighters went through.

– Contributed by Kelly (kellymom127)

Kelly and her husband Jim welcomed their first child, a girl, in January of 2010. Then in February 2012 their preemie son joined their family 8 weeks early.

5 Steps to Organize Your Holiday Dinner for a Stress Free Meal

2013-11-04T15:45:00.000-06:00

The holidays are a wonderful time to connect with family and friends. If you are hosting a meal this holiday season, follow these simple tips to enjoy a stress free holiday dinner party!

1. Plan your holiday menu in advance.
Advance planning goes a long way when throwing a large dinner party. As you plan your holiday menu, list which items can be frozen, which items can be prepared in advance and which items will require preparation on the day of the party to ensure you do not run out of time on the big day. If you are stumped for menu ideas, try this Thanksgiving Menu Planner tool from Epicurious which takes into account the size of your dinner party, your experience as a cook, and the amount of time you have to devote to the meal.

2. Purchase your ingredients in advance.
Start purchasing the nonperishable ingredients for your holiday dinner as soon as you have your menu planned. Purchasing ingredients in advance will save you valuable time the week of your dinner party and it also helps you spread the expense of throwing a large dinner party out over a few months. These free downloadable holiday meal planning sheets from The Project Girl will help you plan your menu and all of the ingredients needed to prepare each dish. Be sure to list the staple items you keep in your pantry such as flour, sugar and seasonings as a reminder to check and make sure you have enough. Cross ingredients off of your list as you acquire them, and make your last trip to the grocery store the day before your dinner party to pick up produce and other perishable items.

3. Deep clean your house two weeks before your party.
Avoid the stress of trying to cook and clean at the same time by deep cleaning your house well in advance of your party. Once your house is clean, maintain it by keeping up on your routine chores until your dinner party. Maintaining a clean house in advance of your party will leave you more time to prepare the food and enjoy your guests! If you don’t have a system in place for routine chores, try the Motivated Moms chore planner!

4. Prepare as much in advance as possible.
Prepare any appetizers, side dishes and desserts that you can freeze a week or two before your dinner party to give you ample time to prepare dishes the day of your party. Prepare any items that will keep well in the refrigerator the day before your dinner party. Finally, cut down prep time on on the day of your dinner party by chopping vegetables, measuring dry ingredients, and having your recipes ready to be put together at a moments notice! Martha Stewart has some excellent make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes and each recipe states how far in advance you can prepare it and how it should be stored.

– Contributed by Shelly (shell)

Shelly is a professional organizer and owns her own business, Clutter Contained. She helps clients simplify their lives by clearing away clutter and creating efficiency. She works with residential clients to eliminate clutter and increase efficiency and with small business clients to increase productivity and create better balance between professional and personal lives. Find out more at www.cluttercontained.com.

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

2013-10-15T15:04:00.000-05:00

Today we remember all the babies that were taken from this world far too soon. To the mommies whose arms are empty and hearts heavy, we grieve for you. May you find comfort and strength today and every day.

Recipe Organizing for Magazine Lovers

2013-10-14T16:23:00.000-05:00

I will be the first to admit that I love food magazines. I love to experiment in the kitchen so I love having a steady stream of new recipe ideas coming into my house every month.

Food magazines present an interesting organizing problem. Unlike cookbooks, magazines aren’t meant to be kept for years but it is impossible to try all of the great recipes in each issue before the next one arrives. Often, this problem leads to piles of magazines with dog eared pages collecting dust somewhere in the home. My personal collection point was my coffee table, when I imagined I would some day find the time to flip through fifty magazines each time I wanted to try a new recipe.

One day I finally had enough with the growing pile of magazines. For hours I sat and flipped through each one, pulling out only the recipes that I was sure I would try. To my surprise, I only pulled 5-10 recipes out the 50 or more that were featured in each magazine. On pages that featured multiple recipes, I used a highlighter to mark those I was most interested in.

Recipe Binder

Once I had my pile of recipes I wanted to try, I needed to figure out what to do with them. Enter the recipe binder. This binder was simple to put together. To make you own you simply need a three ring binder with 1″ rings and a set of binder pockets with tabs. I used these binder pockets from Avery.

I labeled each pocket with the same categories I use to organize my recipe box. That way, when I go looking for a new potato casserole recipe I immediately know to look under vegetables and not casseroles. Now, when a new magazine arrives, I tear out the recipes I want to try and file them in the corresponding folder. Once I try a recipe I take it out of the binder. If it was a hit I type it on a recipe card to add to my permanent recipe collection. If it was a dud, I throw it away so I don’t make the same mistake twice!

This simple binder can be used for any ideas you routinely pull from magazines from family crafts to decorating ideas. Since creating this binder I have found that I try more new recipes from my magazines because I can always find what I am in the mood for!

– Contributed by Shelly (shell)

3 Ways to Keep Technology from Destroying Your Productivity

2013-09-25T16:07:00.000-05:00

Technology solutions can be great for productivity, but they can also cause distractions. Follow these simple steps to get all of the productivity benefits from your technology solutions without destroying your productivity!

1. Check and respond to email at set times.
Checking and responding to emails as soon as they arrive is detrimental to productivity because it provides a constant source of interruption. Instead, turn off email notifications in your email client and on your smartphone and tablet. Set aside a few times a day to check and respond to email and advise anyone that needs to reach you with an urgent matter to call instead of sending an email. You might consider including a line in your email signature that notes the times of day you typically check and respond to emails as well.

2. Turn off unnecessary notifications on your smartphone or tablet.
Smartphone and tablet notifications are another frequent source of interruption. Social media and news apps send a high number of unnecessary push notifications and most of us cannot resist checking a notification once it is received. Disable push notifications for any app that you do not require them for, and get in the habit of checking for updates manually instead.

3. Avoid distracting websites.
Social media websites are a major source of distraction, especially when you are procrastinating on a dreaded task. If you do not require your browser for the task at hand, close it entirely and do not reopen it until you are finished. If you need your browser and cannot resist the temptation to check the latest status updates or tweets, consider installing a browser extension that will block these sites for you. I personally use StayFocusd for Google Chrome, which works by setting a daily time limit for distracting websites and blocking those websites entirely once that limit is reached. If you use Firefox, check out LeechBlock, which allows more customization by allowing you to block certain websites at times of your choosing.

– Contributed by Shelly (shell)

Homemade Fruit Snacks

2013-09-10T08:17:00.004-05:00

They only require 3 ingredients. 2 .25oz packets of unflavored gelatin (each box comes with 4 packets in it), 1 3oz package of any flavored jello and 1/3 cup water.

All you do is pour the water into a much smaller saucepan than I used and add the 3 packets. Then turn on medium heat and stir till dissolved.

Lastly, pour it into silicone molds as these are the easiest to get back out when set. It takes about 20 minutes to set and viola!

I purchased the jolly rancher flavors for a fun first attempt and they were gobbled up quickly. My molds were a bit large so we only filled them halfway. I will however look out for smaller molds to do this again. It was super quick and tasted great.

This is only part of them as I had to be quick or there would be nothing to show you.

– Contributed by Elizabeth (ebethteach)

Elizabeth is a teacher, preschool coordinator for her church, and works as a 911 EMS and Fire dispatcher. She's home during the summer with her 4 children, plus 2 bonus kids (a niece and nephew). As if 6 kids, ages of 5-12 are not enough, they also have 1 cat, 4 chickens, and 2 horses and a dog who live next door and the kids call them their own. They live on 10 beautiful acres and enjoy the "country life" just outside the St. Louis metro area. She blogs about their adventures at Ebeth's Creative Chaos.

Invitation to free new website that helps moms better manage their kids’ group activities

2013-08-26T10:20:00.001-05:00

Hello Mommies,

I am a fellow member of the Mommies Network and the creator of a new website called

Podanize, which helps moms, dads and group leaders better organize their kids'

group activities (e.g. soccer, scouts, school classes, etc.)

Kids today are overscheduled, and keeping up is a challenge:

• What day did I volunteer at school to go read with the kids?

• Who is driving to the scout meeting?

• When am I signed up to bring the team's snacks?

These are just a few of the many little details that busy parents have to keep straight.

Try as we might, something inevitably falls through the cracks. We all need a little help

to stay organized.

I’d like to invite you to join our brand new website. To join, just go to http://

www.podanize.com and click Get Started to create a "Pod" for any real-world group, or

even just your family for now. You can create a Pod if you’re a group leader or a group

member. It’s quick, easy and free. Then "get your Pod going" by adding discussions

or events, and inviting others to join your Pod. Podanize can also be accessed via a

mobile browser, and our mobile app will be available in late 2013.

Our mission at Podanize is to help ease the stress that comes with keeping our

kids active and involved. To this end, we welcome any feedback you have. Podanize

is for you and is built to get better over time by adding your suggestions – I’d love

to hear from you. Also, if you know of other moms (or dads) who might benefit from

Podanize, please share this with them.

Podanize is ideal for all extra-curricular activities: soccer, little league, playgroups, scout

troops, swim teams, theater groups, school classes, PTA, etc. The list is endless and

includes anything with a need for ongoing communication and coordination.

Again, just go to http://www.podanize.com to get started.

Best,

Nikki Sacks

Co-Founder of Podanize

nikki@podanize.com

National Mommies Night Out!

2013-08-22T17:16:00.003-05:00

You need a night out with the girls and you know it!!

StLouisMommies is joining chapters of The Mommies Network across the country in a National Moms Night Out this month! Moms from across the country will leave their kiddos at home and enjoy meeting new friends and hanging out with old ones on Friday, August 30. And all mommies are welcome to attend (both members of StLouisMommies and Non-Members - so invite all your mommy friends)!

We'll start off the night at Hacienda Mexican Restaurant in Rock Hill at 6 pm for dinner, followed by drinks at DD's Irish Pub & Karaoke.

Please RSVP on the forum calendar or the facebook event so we can make reservations.

PS - Please bring along any school supplies you wish to donate to KidSmart - More details here!

LouFest in St. Louis + Ticket Giveaway!

2013-08-13T19:18:00.000-05:00

LouFest is coming to Forest Park September 7th and 8th, 2013. This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY event with a special area just for kids called LouKidz. Stop by each day of the Fest from 12pm to 5pm to enjoy some family-friendly activities including music, dancing and crafts! Plus, kids 12 and under get into LouFest free of charge with a ticketed adult.
Here's some details – more information can be found at www.loufest.com/loukidz.

Super Conductor – calling all kids to the dance floor! Super Conductor will be spinning family friendly tunes each day
Madonna Limberg Yoga – find your inner zen in the middle of the festival with yoga for all ages
Z Fit Studio Zumba – put your moves to the test and party down with zumba
Breakalicious Entertainment Breakdancing – BreakLouis dancers will teach kids the art of street dancing and bustin' a move
School of Rock Petting Zoo – looking for a jam sesh? Stop by the School of Rock "Petting Zoo" to learn a song and rock out with friends
Rainbow Face: Face Painting – rock some festival face art and get noticed
Signature Hollywood Salon – a chance for kidz to get rock star treatment and amazing hair using environmentally, kid friendly products
St. Louis Chess Club – Check Mate! Catch a game of chess on a life size board
Loutivities – Stop by to make your own festival souvenir with some hands on arts and crafts

As an special gift, one of our blog readers will win two 2-day passes (to cover parents' admission as the kids get in free of charge)!

Use the widget below to make your entries. Contest runs today through Sunday, August 18, 11:59 pm. Many will enter, one will win. Contest is open to all US residents, but please only enter if you are local or plan to travel to attend if you win. A valid photo ID will be required to pick up your tickets on site. Please be sure your facebook email is current before entering, so we can contact you if you win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pushing Puff Balls (Busy Bag #3)

2013-08-12T20:26:00.000-05:00

Materials:

Plastic yogurt or butter tub (with lid)
pom-poms or cotton balls
scissors
colored permanent markers to match pom pom colors

How to make:
Instructions for making the pushing puff balls activity can be found here on the blog Children's Learning Activities.

Younger children simply push the pom-poms through the holes (the holes are slightly smaller than the pom-poms so the kids must push them through, rather than just dropping them in the holes). We used colored permanent markers to color around each hole so older children have to match the color of the pom pom to the proper hole, not just push them through any hole. Children could also count the pom-poms as they push them into the container - how many of each color are there? How many total?

– Contributed by Jenny (DoodleMommy)

Jenny is a Co-Chapter Manager for StLouisMommies and blogs at Play St. Louis, where she reviews parks and places to play with kids in St. Louis.

Summer Snowball Fight!

2013-08-08T20:34:00.000-05:00

Today we had a snowball fight. Though in hindsight I should have whipped it up myself and then let them play with it but ya know how it is with 6 kids. They just can't stand not being involved.

Supplies Needed

IT'S SIMPLE.. 2 boxes of cornstarch and 1 can of shaving cream. I would maybe do 1 1/2 cans next time though. Simply mix together well and then make snowballs. This amount only makes about 6-8 good snowballs. I will double it in the future too.

Mixing it all up

After we threw the snowballs it turned into an attack on each other. The ingredients are so soft it was the most fun I have had with the kids in sometime.

– Contributed by Elizabeth (ebethteach)