My girls' Lalaloopsy bedding.

If you’re a mom of a little girl, then you most likely have heard of Lalaloopsies. My two girls, now ages 5 and 2, are crazy about the cute Lalaloopsy dolls. In fact, a Lalaloopsy doll was the only thing my daughters asked for this past Christmas. So, when we were having trouble getting our daughters to each sleep in their own rooms, my husband and I decided to get a full size bed, put it in our youngest daughter’s nursery, and deck it out in Lalaloopsies.

It worked like a charm! Each night the girls can’t wait to go to bed in their Lalaloopsy bed. I found this adorable Lalaloopsy bedding set. It washed well and is even more cute in person than I was expecting. The eyes on Jewel Sparkles and Mittens Fluff n’ Stuff on the comforter are actual buttons instead of just being part of the print. The comforter is the perfect weight for kids, not too heavy and it’s super soft.

To add to the cuteness of the Lalaloopsy comforter, I also bought some super cute wall decals.

Wall decals in my girls' Lalaloopsy bedroom.

No one is making Lalaloopsy wall stickers yet, so I found a cute girly set of wall decals at Target that really add to the room. I chose a wall sticker set that has flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, and ladybugs. The girls love it. The best thing about using wall decals is that they are cheap and don’t damage walls, so when the girls decide they want something different, it’s painless on my part.

While Lalaloopsies are still pretty new, which makes finding Loopsy decor challenging, I discovered that you can design a super cute Lalaloopsy bedroom with a little imagination. Simply start with the bedding set, then decorate the room with girly wall stickers, artwork, window treatments, rugs, and lighting. The trendy feminine colors in the Loopsy comforter are easy to match. Mix in some flowers, friendly creatures, and maybe even a teapot or two and you’ll have an adorable Lalaloopsy room in no time that your daughter will love as much as mine do.

“Me time” has become a very popular catch phrase among stay at home moms. Many complain about needing more. I’ve spoken with many working moms that say they could never stay at home with their children every day because they’d go insane. I’ve read comments from moms on mommy forums saying how miserable they are staying at home with their kids. If you find yourself feeling very unhappy staying at home with your little ones. If you find yourself craving more me time despite the fact that you regularly get together with girl friends, go to the spa, go shopping without the kids, or use a mom’s day out program then this post is for you.

One time I was complaining to my dad about how worn out I felt as a stay at home mom to three. Mainly because my littlest is still nursing and not sleeping through the night and my two oldest stress me out with their constant fighting. I was expecting to receive a little sympathy from my dad, instead he shocked me with his reply. He said, “Your great grandmother raised nine children with none of the modern convenience gadgets you have today. She had to kill and pluck the chicken before it could be cooked for supper. She didn’t have a dishwasher or an automatic washing machine and dryer. And she did it all without me time.”

You know what? Dad was right. Our generation is soft. We aren’t used to working hard and we’re quick to complain. But even worse than that we possess a terrible trait for any mother to have. We’ve become selfish. Instead of focusing on what you need and what you want, I challenge you to focus on what your kids need and what your kids want.

I know the advice in this post is not going to be well received by any moms that aren’t already thriving moms, but hear me out. If your only source of me time is your weekly grocery shopping trip, I’ll admit that’s not good. Grocery shopping is work and I don’t know any mom that truly enjoys grocery shopping. However, if coming back from grocery shopping without the kids doesn’t make you feel a little bit renewed and ready to greet your children with a smile and a hug then the problem isn’t with your lack of me time. The problem is within yourself, and I just may have the answer.

The male and female brains are wired differently. It’s a fact. There are many differences, but the one that I want to focus on is that fact that  a woman’s brain multitasks while the man’s brain focuses on just one thing at a time. There is a biological reason for this. Before civilized times it was essential for woman to multitask while men stayed in deep concentration on the task at hand. Women were in charge of all the kids and household tasks. A woman needed to be able to be aware of what each of her children were doing while also taking care of all of the household chores. Whereas men did all the hunting. In order for men to be successful in the hunt, while also staying safe, they needed to be able to fully and completely concentrate on their surroundings.

What does all of this have to do with being a mom in today’s society you may wonder. Well, our multitasking brains overwhelm us. At one given time we’re thinking about the bedroom dresser that needs dusting, the baby that needs to be changed, what we’re going to cook for dinner, what our kids will wear to school tomorrow, the fight we had with our husband last night, heck we’re thinking about our kids dentist appointment next month. The problem with this is we have a difficult time living in the moment.

The secret to enjoying motherhood is learning to honestly live in the moment and enjoy it. You’ve seen your husband do it. He may have a big, stressful project going on at work, but when he’s playing with the kids you can tell by his big smile and hearty laugh that he’s not thinking about anything but the kids in that moment.

The next time you catch yourself feeling frazzled, possibly even resenting motherhood, take a lesson from you husband and live in the moment. Stop thinking about the laundry that needs folding, how fat your bottom looks in those jeans, whether your husband still finds you attractive, and how you forgot to call your friend back today and instead look your kid right in the eye, take a deep breath and enjoy your present.

Most parents remember to bring sunscreen to the pool, beach, or lake, but it’s easy to forget it when hanging out in your own backyard. Be sure to get a good quality, kid safe (so it doesn’t sting their eyes) sunscreen and apply it any time your little ones will be outside between 11:00am and 4:00pm. Even if your child tends to tan more than he or she burns, sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer later on down the road. I had my first skin cancer removed several years ago when I was only 29 years old.

The spray on sunscreens are easy and convenient to use. It’s a lot easier to spray down a squirmy baby or toddler than it is to rub in a thick lotion, but the gentle mist from a spray on sunscreens can blow away even in a gentle breeze so that your child’s skin doesn’t get coated well. Be sure to buy a waterproof sunscreen if you will be playing in water or sweating. My final sunscreen tip is to buy a separate sunscreen to use on

My children playing in our backyard.

your child’s face. They stay on really well, which is important since our faces are what are exposed to the sun the most, and they don’t burn your eyes. My favorite face sunscreens are Coppertone and Neutrogena.

Put sunscreen on the whole family every time you go outside and enjoy your summer.

School will be out soon for summer. My oldest is in preschool and has really enjoyed it. I know without plenty of hands on learning activities this summer she will quickly start climbing the wall due to boredom. So, the gears have been turning in my head as to what I can do with her to give her a fun filled summer at home.

We enjoy spending a lot of time outside during the hot summer months and outdoor toys can turn your backyard into a fun filled oasis for your kids. Two fun and educational choices for backyard fun are sand play tables and play water tables. Both can be a lot of fun for babies and toddlers.

If you live in a hot climate like we do, then any type of water toy would be a great choice. My kids have more fun with an inexpensive inflatable pool than you can possibly imagine. Another favorite out our house is for my husband and I to blow bubbles with the kids use their water guns to shoot them down.

Sometimes we all need a break from the sun, and that’s when it’s time to think up some indoor activities. I enjoy crafting projects and have started my daughter on a kids weaving kit. All three of my kids are huge fans of the Blues Clues show on Nick Jr, and I’ve found a ton of Blues Clues arts and crafts to keep them entertained.

Be sure to think ahead and have plenty of fun summer toys and projects on hand for your kiddos before school is out!

If you’re a new parent you may have heard about baby sign language and have lots of questions. I taught my first two babies sign language and found it easy and quite rewarding.

First, it’s important to understand that baby sign language is no different than standard sign language. When you purchase a sign language program, your baby is actually learning ASL (American Sign Language) which is a great skill to have even as they grow from baby to toddler to child to adult. The term baby sign language simply came about as programs developed that focused on teaching sign language for terms that baby typically need to communicate, such as eat, drink, milk, more, potty, etc.

Next, you may be wondering why baby sign language is even important, after all babies eventually learn to talk at some point. The truth is, speaking language takes quite some time to develop. My oldest didn’t start really talking until after her second birthday. However, babies as young as six months can already learn a few basic signs and start communicating with these gestures. Not only is it fun to be able to communicate with your baby at such an early age, it’s quite handy. I really appreciated my baby being able to tell me she was crying because she was thirsty instead of hungry, or that she wanted more of something.

Finally, you may be wondering how you can teach your baby sign language. I review and tried a few baby sign language programs. There are various baby sign language books, flash cards, and videos. Many parents are familiar with the Baby Einstein program, and while I love their entertainment videos I did not like their sign language program. After trying several programs, the one that worked at educating and entertaining my babies was Signing Time.

Baby Signing Time DVD Collection – $ 99.99 This set includes all four volumes of Baby Signing Time on DVD, plus four music CDs with all the wonderful, original songs. Includes over 100 signs! Includes a free copy of Good Night Baby CD

As a parent, I appreciate how entertaining all of the Signing Time videos are. I even enjoy watching the videos. The songs are catchy, without being annoying. The images are fun and very family friendly. Finally, the words the Signing Time program teaches are exactly the ones I wanted to be able to communicate with my babies.

As a certified teacher, I am really impressed with the quality of the Signing Time videos. My second baby began picking up signs simply by watching the videos in the car while running errands about town. The songs help reinforce the words and signs. The repetition really gets little ones learning the words fast. A great touch to the Signing Time program is that every sign is first shown by the adult instructor and then by babies and toddlers, which really helps babies to get the signs right.

My oldest is four and a half now and she still sometimes uses her signs, simply because she enjoys communicating that way. In fact, she was signing the alphabet this morning. I think it’s a great skill to have. Maybe she’ll continue to learn new signs. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she were someday fluent in sign language? That would be great to someday put on her college applications and later her job applications.

There are few baby products that I believe in as much as the Signing Time series.

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Recently I saw a question posted on Yahoo by a mom to a 9 month old boy who was just starting to walk. She was wanting to know what type of shoes to buy for him. She had first tried a pair of soft soled shoes, but was concerned that he walked too “stiff.” She then bought him a piar of thick soled athletic shoes and noticed his gate had changed and become less stiff, which she thought to be an improvement. She was wondering if it was really that big of a deal to keep her baby in stiff shoes since she thought he was walking better in them than in the soft soled shoes. The short answer is yes it’s a big deal and no the stiff shoes are not better for your baby or even your toddler for that matter.

The bones in a baby’s feet are not yet hard like that in a child. The bones are still soft and easily molded. Putting your baby or toddler in soft soled shoes allows their feet to grow and develop naturally, which is healthy. Putting your baby or toddler in standard stiff athletic shoes, dress shoes, or anything other than a ultra flexible soft soled shoe can actually damage their delicate foot which is still growing and developing. This can cause them foot problems for the rest of his or her life.

So, why then did this mom observe her baby walked stiff in the soft soled shoes, but more fluid in the stiff shoes? A baby is supposed to shuffle when the first learn to walk. Soft soled shoes allow for this naturally gate by gliding easily on the floor. Stiff shoes, on the other hand, grip the floor which forces your baby to lift his foot before taking his next step. This encourages an unnatural gate and can set your child up for future developmental problems.

Learn more about the importance of soft baby shoes and view a great selection of soft leather shoes for babies and toddlers.

Yesterday my daughter was playing in the backyard. She came in the house proudly holding a weed saying, “Look, mommy. I picked this for you because I love you.” Of course I got teary eyed as I put the little weed in a small glass with water.

Many people have the idea that this is a typical scene in the day of a stay at home mom. But it’s not. Most days my daughter shouts at me, “I don’t like you.” Usually because I’m requiring her to do a chore or not allowing her to hit her little brother.

When you’re a stay at home mom, daddy is the rock star of the family because the kids don’t get to see him as much. Since the kids see you all day long every day, they take you for granted. So, gifts of love and sweet words are rare. But, when they do happen, like yesterday, it fills you up with such as sense of appreciation and accomplishment that it recharges your battery, making the daily grind and mundane tasks of motherhood that much easier to bear.

I write this post to help other parents.

My kids were playing in our backyard yesterday. We have a wooden privacy fence and there are locks on the gates so no one can come in through the gate. So, we are doing all the right things to help keep them safe.  I was watching through the back window as they played because my baby has an ear infection in both ears and can’t be out in the wind. I saw a hand come through the fence (in between the slats which are a few inches apart ) to pet our dog. We live in a friendly neighborhood and people frequently visit our dog at the fence. So, I thought nothing of it until I saw my two kids eagerly run to the hand. I jumped up and opened the back door and saw my kids talking to a man. I called them in and when I did the man didn’t say hi or acknowledge me at all, instead he said bye to my children and CALLED THEM BY NAME.

He didn’t touch my kids and talked to them a max of 30 sec before I intervened, but I used to work for CPS and my training told me that this man had bad intentions towards my kids. The two red flags:  1) He was friendly with my kids, but not with me and 2) He used my childrens’ names over and over (this is called grooming, it builds familiarity so your children think he’s a friend).

Many parents would have left the incident at that and just kept a closer watch in the future. But, being a former CPS investigator, I knew this was a matter for the police. It’s far better to call BEFORE the perp does something to your kids. The police discovered this man lives in my neighborhood and is a career criminal. He has a record dating back to a juvenile record. He is NOT a registered sex offender, so a search on watchdog wouldn’t help here. So far he’s only been arrested for criminal trespass, DUI, and drug possession. But the police agreed with me that a grown man doesn’t need friends that are 2 years old and 4 years old. He had ill intentions towards my kids.

Parents let their kids as young as 5 years old ride their bikes and walk around in our neighborhood alone. We live in what people think is a safe neighborhood and this criminal lives 5 houses down from me.

This is just a reminder to really be very alert. If something doesn’t feel right about anyone in your neighborhood, then call the police. They really do care about creepy behavior and will patrol even if no crime was committed. If anyone seems suspicious call your local police nonemergency number.

To finish my story, the man talked to my kids for less than a minute, the time that it took me to get to the back door. My 4 year old told me he asked my 2 year old to come close to the fence so he could pick him up! He was going to reach over the fence and snatch my 2 year old. If I had been cooking or cleaning or otherwise distracted for just a minute, my 2 year old would be gone.

To all the parents…give your kiddos a big hug and a kiss today and keep them safe.

It’s been a lazy day for me and the kids. The weather is lovely; the high is only 94 (sure beats the 106 degree weather we have been having). This morning it was a super comfortable and breezy 86 degrees, so you better believe that I had the kiddos outside enjoying this lovely weather.

The toddlers were playing nicely. Something about the fresh air seems to help the forget that they hate each other. The baby was eating her favorite baby food puree, pears with raspberries. Yep, it was a lovely day.

I brought the kids in for lunch. They actually ate what I gave them. I know, right? I bet it had something to do with my giving them lemonade to drink instead of water. My middle child, he’s 2 years old, decided to be an absolute angel. I changed him, laid him in bed, and told him “night night.” He simply said, “OK, momma.” And that was it. He went right to sleep.

I was on a roll. The kids had played nicely, everyone was fed, 1 child was already napping. Today was cake. Then it was time to put my oldest down for a nap, she’ll be 4 next month. I told her it was nap time. She told me “nope. it’s playtime.” I reminded her that we have lunch then nap. She reminded me that she didn’t want to nap. *sigh*

I was in the middle of our nap time struggle when I smelled it…the distinctive smell of baby poop. My 7 month old was happily squealing and crawling away as fast as possible. Was that some brown I just spotted on the back of her all pink outfit. Oh no. I picked her up and rushed to the changing station and that’s when the warm, wet goo began to seep through her clothes and all over me. Ugh!

I opened up her romper to discover the horror. Gooey, squishy, mooshy poo was all over her. It shot out of the font and back of her diaper. For 5 seconds, while holding her wiggly feet firmly in place, I gazed in awe of the terrible mess. “Think, think, think,” I say to myself as I try to figure out the best way to clean up this disaster. The neck of her romper is too small to take off without pulling over her head. OK, time to crinkle it up like a pair of panty hose and quickly lift it over her head. Yes, this would work. It had to. My oldest jumped on the bed, throwing me off my game, and grabbed the baby’s attention, causing her to quickly roll over and crawl 2 steps before I managed to grab her again. Ugh. I felt the gritty grain of pureed pears poop under my fingernails! Crap, crap, crap…literally!

Baby wipes. I need baby wipes. I started pulling them out of the dispenser. OK, 6 wipes later she still wasn’t completely clean and I still had baby poop under my fingernails. “Think, think, think.” My oldest, “what’s wrong mommy? You should calm down.” Note to self, try and use a phrase besides “calm down” when toddler is having a tantrum, because it sounds quite obnoxious when it’s said back to you.

I tried to distract my oldest, who’s now really getting in the way, by asking her to bring me a receiving blanket. My plan was to wrap the baby in the blanket so that I could transport her to the bath tub without getting poop all over me and the house. She came back with a tiny burp cloth. If this were a sitcom, this would be where they’d insert the canned laughter. I send her back for another blanket, this time telling her to get one big enough to wrap her baby doll in. Score! This time she brought back a receiving blanket.

I wrapped the baby up, who was pleased as punch by the entire fiasco, and rushed her to the bathroom for a much needed bath.

Whoever first coined the phrase poop (replace with the non family friendly synonym here) happens must have been a mom. Life at home with the kiddos can be joyful, peaceful, and loving one minute and then boy oh boy, poop happens!

Are you a stay at home mom or a working mom that is hoping to make money blogging so you can keep your kids out of daycare? Many moms are doing it, making money blogging that is. Making money online has grown from a gimmick to a reality for many moms just like you. I’ve even jumped on the blogging for money band wagon.

If you want to make a living blogging, here are the first steps you must take:

1. Get a free Google account and then start up an account with Blogger. You can have a free blog, just like the one here, and use the Blogger platform to create it and have Blogger host it for free. This is a great place to start. After you get your feet wet in the blogging world and start making some money, you can buy your own domain name.
2. Choose a niche. Writing about anything that crosses your mind is great for a personal blog, but if you want to make money blogging you need a niche and the more specific the better. What is so great about Blogger is you can easily (through the “monetize” tab) place items for sell from Amazon directly on your blog. If a visitor clicks on one of your Amazon links and then makes a purchase you get commission for the transaction. Pretty neat, huh?
3. Get rid of that ugly blog. You need to get a Blogger template to jazz your blog 
4. up. There are a lot of great things to say about Blogger, but they’re templates look generic and unprofessional. You can make your blog more eye catching with any number of free templates. Here are some of my favorite sites to go to for free Blogger templates:
   1. Sharnee at Yummy Lolly makes some very unique templates. Most of her templates are very feminine. If you’re shopping for a free girly Blogger template, then Sharnee has got you covered.
   2. Gisele Jaquenod is known around the web for her Birdie template designs. Her style is super unique. Nothing else looks like her Blogger templates. She offers several free Blogger templates on her site.
   3. Blogger Styles is your one stop site for a huge variety of free Blogger templates. Yummy Lolly and Gisele Jaquenod offer great templates for feminine style blogs, but Blogger Styles has a ton of different style blog templates, many of them look very professional.
   4. If you want to keep one of Blogger’s basic templates but just want to change the background, then you need to check out The Cutest Little Blog on the Block. They offer a wide variety of free Blogger backgrounds for your blog. The benefit of changing the background over the whole template is that it makes it much easier to deal with the page elements on your blog and you never have to touch your blogs HTML code.
5. Now that you have a blog host, niche, and snazzy new template, it’s time to add some content. This is what is going to get visitors to your site.
6. After you have about two weeks worth of content on your site, it’s time to join an advertising program. The main ones are AdSense, AdBrite, or Kontera. Check out those three sites, choose one, and join. After you put their code on your site, your only job will be to keep adding great content to your site and keep marketing so you continue to get traffic.

If your blog grows, gains visitors, and becomes successful, you can look into adding affiliate sales to your blog. The main companies I trust for great affiliate programs are: Share a Sale, Link Share, and Commission Junction.

I wish you a ton of blogging success. Happy earning.

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net