Mother 2 Mother Blog

Are We Giving Up On Marriage Too Soon?

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:20:00 +0000

Are we giving up on marriage too soon? It seems to be quite a few break-ups in Hollywood recently, or maybe I'm just noticing. Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, Seal and Heidi Klum, Kenny G and his wife Lyndie. It seems so easy to just walk away these days. Now I'm not judging anybody, I'm divorced. I left an unhealthy relationship, and I believe these types of marriages should end. They're not good for anyone involved including the children. I'm grateful that I had the courage to leave, and I'm even more grateful that I had the courage to survive it and better my life. So, I'm not standing in judgement of anybody. I'm just wondering why people walk away from a marriage if it is basically healthy, it just requires a few adjustments. Couples are suppose to grow together, but it seems more and more are growing apart.

I'm wondering if it's because people are not willing to compromise in their marriages, if there's another person involved or they've just fallen out of love. It seems that people believe that it is easier to replace their partners, and they do. Do people still include the words for better or worst, for richer or poorer and in sickness and in health in their vows or is it until I get sick of you and than I'm history? It's been awhile since I've been to a wedding.

Is it unfair to mislead your partner, and have them believe that you love them when you really don't? I would be devastated. I would rather part than sleep with someone whose heart is with another or simply not with me.

I'm sure there is stress and strain in celebrity marriages. Us regular folks have stress and strain why can't they feel the same. I'm sure when one partner is traveling and the other is left to run the house and management the children that produces a tremendous amount of stress. Oh that's right, they have tons of money, nannies, chefs and domestic help don't they. On the other hand, those things don't have anything to do with loving another person do they. What happened to perseverance and persistence? What happened to going the extra mile for your family? It seems that it has all fallen by the wayside. Has women's liberation made it easier for us to walk away from marriage? I was driving back from a visit with my daughter, who has a healthy and loving marriage in spite of my divorce, and I was listening to a CD of old songs. Natalie Cole's I'm Catching Hell came on. She spoke of the difficulty of living alone after her man left. She said it was the little things that she missed, him fixing things around the house, carrying the groceries, and paying the bills. You know the things we take for granted. Not once in that song did she say she missed anything about who he was as a person or how he treated her.

Has the fact that women make as much if not more than their husbands had a negative effect on marriage? I look back at women my mother's age, and there were very few divorces. They stayed and worked through their problems. Most women who stayed in their marriages didn't work outside the home. They relied on their husbands to pay the bills and take care of the finances in the home. Does a woman making more money than her husband cause him to have a bruised ego? So many questions and so few answers. Women today make their own money and celebrate divorce with a Divorce Cake. It's not big deal.

How do we get back to the true meaning of a marriage? What do we as women need to do to stay in our marriages and ride out the storms? What is it that men need to do? I would love to hear from women who have left their marriages and those who have stayed. You may hold the key to a successful marriage or may have some advice for those of us who are struggling in our marriages and love life. Leave us a comment.

Bad Baby Names

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:30:00 +0000

When I heard the name of Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby girl, Blue Ivy, I immediately thought damn here we go with these crazy celebrity baby names. I've wondered if parents think about the name calling and harassment their child will have to endure as they grow up.  I understand wanting a unique name for your child, but some of the names we place on our children are just down right ridiculous, and Blue Ivy is one of them. Blue Ivy is so rich, her name won't matter. She will be tutored and socialize with Apple, Alabama Luella, Banjo, Sailor Lee and Diezel. Yep, the names of other Celebrity children.

What about the common folk? You know the children that have to go to regular school and endure being teased on the playground or later in life turned down for a job because of their name.  Lets get real, people are turned down for jobs because of their names in Corporate America. People prejudge or automatically make assumptions about who you are because of preconceived ideas.  They see your name on your Resume and automatically think they know you. It hits the trash can. We're not interested in the likes of you and your name says it all.

Years ago names like Lexus and Mercedes were seen as ghetto names, especially if the children lived in the projects or another low income area.   What's the chances of someone living in the ghetto driving or getting close to a Lexus or Mercedes? Lexus and Mercedes have dropped to the bottom of our Bad Baby Names list.  Names like Buwana, KimKisha, Chandeler, Obamaneshaa, Pilot Inspektor, Jermajesty, and Blue Ivy are on the scene.  These are the names that will wear on innocent children. These are the names that will cause a person to save every dime they can so they can change it down the road. Sorry mom, but Obamanesha or Pilot Inspektor was more than I could bear. I hope that you understand.

People please think about your children and the world in which we live when you decide on a baby name. More than likely, they will have to live with that name for the rest of their life and the torture that goes along with it.   If you've noticed, I have intentionally not called my list Ghetto Names. Bad Baby Names have no boundaries. They're just bad rather you live in the suburbs, Hollywood Hills or the ghetto. Leave us a comment and let us know the worst baby name(s) that you've heard or what you think about parents who give these poor children horrendous names.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:05:00 +0000

My daughter's Birthday Cake

Easy Recipes - Chicken and Noodles

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:44:00 +0000

On cold winter nights, I love to whip up a pot of chicken and noodles. This recipe belonged to my now deceased Mother In Law, so each bite warms my heart and soul. It's easy and hearty. I serve it with warm rolls, yum. I've switched to the No Yolk noodles for this recipe. It doesn't change the taste, and the No Yolk noodles are 99% fat free and no cholesterol.

3 - 4 chicken thighs
3 - 4 chicken legs
4 - 5 potatoes cubed
1 package of No Yolks noodles
1 large (49 oz.) can of Swanson Chicken Broth

Cook chicken in just enough water to cover it until it falls from the bone. (You should check the water occasionally). Remove the chicken from water and cool. While chicken is cooling, add the cubed potatoes to the water and cook until tender. You can add some of the broth if needed. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken and shred. Add the chicken and more of the broth to the potatoes. Season with your favorite seasoning; mine is Lawry's Season Salt and pepper. Simmer 15 - 20 minutes. Add noodles and remaining broth and simmer until the noodles are done. Enjoy!

Moscato D'Asti Is Bangin

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:39:00 +0000

I discovered Moscato D'Asti during the holidays and I'm here to tell you that if you're a mom who needs wine occasionally, you must try this. It's a sparkling white wine made from the Moscato Bianco grape and imported from Italy. Some consider it sweet, and drink it with dessert. I personally don't find it sweet at all. It's the perfect wine for me.

I'm salivating as I'm writing this article. If I don't watch myself, I could turn into a Moscato lush. I want to head to the kitchen for a glass now. When I purchase this wine, one bottle won't do. I can polish off a bottle alone, so I get one for me and one for whomever I'm drinking it with , lol. I soak pomegranate seeds in the wine and place them in my champagne glass while I'm sipping. The seeds are refreshing with the wine and delicious to eat. Strange you say, some people eat strawberries with their wine, I love pomegranate seeds with mine. At least with this particular brand.

I have a long week-end coming up, and I will be enjoying a glass or two of this delightful concoction. I'm also a big fan of Steeple Chase, which is a red wine made by the Maryland Winery, Linganore. If you live in the Maryland area, you need to check out the wine festival hosted by Linganore Winery. They host Funk, Reggae, Motown, Blues, and Steel Drums bands during the summer.

Are you a wine lover? What's your favorite, red or white. Leave us a comment, we love to hear from Moms Who Need Wine.

Fabulous Baby Finds - Alice Baby Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Are these fabulous or what? I absolutely adore them and had to add them to my Fabulous Baby Find list. These are a must for my Zarriah. I just brought a ton of shoes for her for Christmas, but these will go on the Easter list for sure. These are custom made shoes. Now don't let those 2 little words frighten you. You can purchase them at a great price, $38.00, at Lollipop Moon. Love that store. This shoe is called The Alice, and is great for any formal occasion. I have church in mind for Zarriah. She will be able to wear them every Sunday until she outgrows them. They also have The Audrey, which is adorable, The Suzette and the list goes on. You need to head over and check out their fabulous collection. Styles and prices vary, they have something for everyone.

If you decide to order these, do so in plenty of time. Custom orders take at least 2 - 3 weeks to make and ship.

New Book Series: Fearless Five Super Heroes

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:05:00 +0000

I love discovering fabulous products for my grandchildren and readers. I was notified this morning about a book series about five African American Super Heroes. The super heroes are called the Fearless Five. What a great concept. As an African American, I have a difficult time finding toys and other items that focus on African American children.   It's so disappointing, especially in 2012. I'm sure my African American readers can relate, so I thought I would share this find.

My grandson is a big fan of Super Heroes. He loves Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk, so I jumped at the opportunity to purchase this series of books. The series is about five characters: Bender, Blaze, Tank, Element and Phenom. They are all adorable. The concept is to raise the self-esteem of African American children. According to experts, a child's self image is developed by the age of seven.  As with any parent, I want my grandchildren to grow up with a positive self-image. I want them to believe they can accomplish anything with hard work.

The books send messages to the children on self esteem, team work, education, and morals to name a few.  Since I just ordered the books, I can't give an honest opinion on the messages, but I am looking forward to doing a review and hopefully a give away.

The books can only be ordered on the Fearless Five site at this time. I love the fact that you can check out through Paypal, it's quick and easy.   I'm hoping this series will be a huge hit for our African American children. I would love to see this concept come out on DVD too.

This series would make a great birthday or Christmas gift. Please go to the Fearless Five site and order a set today!

Elementary Math - How Many Slaves Picked Oranges?

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:57:00 +0000

How many slave's hands are tied in this photo? That's right, how many slaves are tied in this photo? I could not believe an article that I read this evening about Beaver Ridge Elementary School in Norcross, GA that incorporated slavery into math problems for third graders. WTH? Let me give you a preview of an actual problem sent home, "If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in one week?" I truly find this hard to believe in 2012.

The explanation given for this poor judgement is that teachers are encouraged to mix subjects. I buy that; however, who is teaching students about beatings, picking oranges and cotton and anything else associated with slavery and finds it acceptable. I know that slavery was a way of life in the south and many still have a slavery mentality, but teaching it in our schools. As far as I'm concerned, the teachers should have been be fired. The principal has agreed to sensitivity training, but is that enough? These teachers are college educated, but obviously have no common sense. That's dangerous. People with no common sense lack judgement and that soon leads to disaster.

We wonder why the American school system is in the sad state that it is currently in. We have our answer! What's your thoughts on this gross error? Leave us a comment, we would love to hear from you.

Area Teacher Arrested for Soliciting A Minor

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:10:00 +0000

Do you know who's interacting with your child on-line? I received a post from one of my friends on Facebook where an area teacher this week was arrested for soliciting a minor for sex, 13 year old, on-line. This sh** just makes my blood boil. We simply can not trust our children on-line, in school, in sports or anywhere these days. It's so sad, but the reality of the world in which we live.

The cover-up at Penn State was enough to make me cry, people just turning their heads and looking the other way while someone is abusing a child. How do you sleep at night? How do you get up in the morning, dress, go to work and look at someone who you know is abusing children and you do nothing. Now it's happening in my own backyard. Predators! People who we believe we can trust as role models for our children taking advantage of them. The teacher in my area was a fourth grade teacher at an Intermediate School about a mile from me, and had been recently named as the assistant boy's basketball coach at another Middle School in the areal. I wonder what we could have expected there, another Jerry Sandusky?

We as parents must see danger when it comes to our children, and our children must understand the danger of on-line predators as well as those that they will encounter in their childhood. If you're like me, you're probably wondering what you should do to keep your child safe on-line. Here's a few tips:

Talk to your child about on-line sexual predators. They'll probably try to convince you that they're okay and know what's going on, but stand firm.
Improve your computer skills. and controll what your child accesses on-line. There is parental control software on the market, download it on your family computer. We were all children at some point, so we understand privacy, but this is your child's life and we must protect them at all costs.
Make sure you can view your child and the screen on the computer when they're on-line.
Know what sites they're visiting, and enforce rules.
Looks for gifts, money or other items that where not provided by you or grand parents.
Limit the amount of time your child spends on the computer if they are not doing homework or playing games.
Check for sexual communication, images etc.
Limit the number of hours your teen/child is home alone.

What do predators look for when in search of prey:

Most find our children in chat rooms, through instant messages, email or social networking sites.
They befriend and win children's affection with gifts, being kind and giving them attention. They are astute at knowing who to solicit.

Unfortunately, we can't protect our children around the clock. Make these stories a part of your dinner conversation, so your child can understand how real predators are and if they aren't cautious they too can become prey.

Fabulous Baby Finds - Mud Pie Boots

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:04:00 +0000

Are these boots adorable or what? As you know, I'm a high heel boot wearing momma. So is my daughter, and we're training my granddaughter. I had to share this find with you. I purchased them for Zarriah this Christmas. I can't wait to see her with these on with her skinny jeans. Yep, I found a pair of skinny jeans for her too.

The boots are made by Mud Pie, and they look as great in person as they do in the photo. Most of Mud Pie clothing line fits ages 0-6 months. The boots follow the same sizing, so Zarriah should get a lot of wear out of them.

I found them at Amazon for $22.99. I'm an Amazon Mom, so shipping is free. The boots have a velcro closure, so you can adjust them when needed. The ribbon is made of satin and is high quality. The label states that the boots can be machine washed, but I would be leery. I'll spot clean them. If you're looking for an after Christmas gift or nice baby shower gift, head over to Amazon and order a pair of these. They are adorable, you won't be disappointed.

Parade of Lights

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:13:00 +0000

We took the grandchildren to see the Virginia Beach Parade of Lights again this year. I've decided to make it annual trip for us, it's such a wonderful sight to see. I must say, the displays last year were more organized, but it was worth the trip. It's a great family outing if you're in the area and want to entertain the children for an hour or two.

You can order hot chocolate, popcorn and hot dogs for your trip down the boardwalk or bring your own goodies to munch on while you watch the show. You can drive at your own pace and hop out for a picture or two. The parade is sponsored by McDonald's and it's the only time of year that cars are allowed on the boardwalk. Approximately 30,000 cars make the trip each year. There are displays to be enjoyed by everybody. You can find fish jumping out of the ocean, dinosaurs, Santa, and the list goes on. I look forward to seeing this great display, but most importantly I look forward to seeing my grandson in awe of these wonderful displays. Can't wait until my granddaughter is old enough to make the trip, she enjoyed the lights on the Christmas tree, I'm sure she will enjoy the displays as well.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:42:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I wish each of you a blessed year and I truly thank you for following me this pass year. For me, 2011 was a stressful year. I've spent the past 6 months helping to nurse my premature granddaughter, and it has just worn me out. I am thankful to say that she now weighs a healthy 8lbs. 10 ozs.

I've decided not to make any resolutions for the new year, but just to live life and play whatever cards are dealt to me. I will say that I'm starting my new year on my treadmill. I will strive to be healthy and to bring lots of give aways to my readers, write posts on my grandchildren and continue to give my opinion on what's happening in the world.

If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see on Mother 2 Mother, please leave a comment. If you don't have any suggestions let me us know what you wish for or will be striving to accomplish in the new year. Blessings!

Reindeer Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:15:00 +0000

I found this adorable cookie recipe at Super 1 Food and had to share it with you. My grandson and I are lovers of peanut butter cookies and we will be making these for Santa this year. I love surfing the internet and finding great ideas that I can share with my grandson and readers. We discovered a live feed to watch Santa's reindeer after school, and these cookies are perfect to bake and enjoy while we're watching them.

Ingredients:

18-ounce package refrigerated peanut butter or sugar cookie dough
48 small pretzel twists or thin pretzel sticks
48 brown M&M candies
24 red M&M candies

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Place the cookie dough in the freezer for 15 minutes, or until firm.

Cut the dough into 24 slices and place the slices 2 inches apart on large, ungreased cookie sheets.

Pinch in each side to form an hourglass shape. Position 2 pretzels on top of each slice to form antlers. Create eyes with the brown M&M candies, and noses with the red M&M candies.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden. Remove to a rack to cool completely.

Yield: 2 dozen

Watch Santa's Reindeer

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Are your children getting excited about Christmas? My grandson can't wait for Santa to arrive. We've picked out the cookies that we will be baking for him this year and we've added another activity. Watching his reindeer each evening. They're resting and gathering their strength for the big trip. If you want to have your children watch Santa's reindeer, you should tune in to the live feed at http://reindeercam.com/ Santa arrives each evening at 5:00 pm EST to personally feed the reindeer. What a great treat for the children.

Fabulous Baby Finds - Milky Dot Jacket and Hat

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:38:00 +0000

I found this fabulous Milky Dot Jacket and Hat at My Baby's Closet and just had to share it with you. I love the softness of the Milky Dot fabric, and thought the jacket and hat would be adorable on my granddaughter. Both come in sizes newborn to 24 months. The Jacket is $26.00 and the hat $17.00, both excellent prices.

I dropped both in my cart and they'll arrive just in time for me to wrap as a Christmas gift for my granddaughter. Stay tuned for more Fabulous Baby Finds from Mother 2 Mother, I'm shopping until I drop! Did I mention that I'm doing it from the comforts of my home. That makes it even better.

Yo Gabba Gabba

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:26:00 +0000

Christmas is around the corner. If you're like me, you look for bargains. I'm an Amazon Mom, and I just had to share this adorable night gown with my readers. If you have a child, family member, or neighbor that is a Yo Gabba Gabba fan, this night gown would be a perfect gift.

I like the fact that the gown has all the character instead of just one like must tees or gowns, and it's available in sizes 2T - 5. What could be better for the Yo Gabba Gabba fan than being able to snuggle up with all the characters, the price. This fabulicious find is only $10.00. If you're a member of PRIME, which I absolutely am and love, you can get free shipping.

Hurry before this deal is gone. At this price, I don't expect it to be on the market long.

I'll Get You - Daughter Posts Video of Family Law Judge Beating Her

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:11:00 +0000

Oh modern technology! You gotta love it. This beautiful young lady decided to video her father who is a Family Law judge beating her with a belt and posted it on Youtube. When I watched it, I was stunned to say the least.  It was hard to believe that anyone in this day and age would be using corporeal punishment on their child, especially a family law judge. What made it worst was the fact that her mother was in on it.

This young lady has cerebral palsy, which just makes me cringe. She was caught downloading music to her computer. Hello, that's what teens do. I disciplined my daughter a hundred times when she was a teen for downloading music and virusus on the computer.  Did I resort to beating her, no.

During the beating with a leather belt, the judge said that he was going to beat her into submission. Her mother told her to lay on her stomach and take it like a woman. How sick is this? The young lady was 16 years old. Not only that, we as woman are suppose to allow some man to beat our ass. I don't think so. This is what you want to teach your daughter?

This brilliant young lady understood abuse, and knew that her father needed help. She also understood that abuse gets worst not better. She hold on to the video for 7 years, and finally decided to post it last week so the public could get a glimpse of who he really was. Why, because she said her father was now harassing her. The judge when questioned about beating his daughter, stated that it wasn't as bad as it looked. He also said that he had apologized. The mother apologized to her daughter years ago, and left the marriage. I wonder whay?

I'm happy to say that Judge William Adams is being investigated. I can't image this man making a decision about anyone's life after seeing the video. As of yet he hasn't been removed from the bench, but it has been decided that a visiting judge should hear his cases until the investigation has been completed.

I applaud this young lady for having the courage to expose her abusive father. She now regrets posting the video, but believes that he needs help and exposing him was the best way of pushing him into some kind of therapy. Applause! Applause!

Pregnant Mother Arrested For Unpaid Chicken Salad Sandwiches

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:54:00 +0000

Shop at Safeway? Be sure to pay for any items that you or your children have eaten while shopping. If not, you'll probably be sent to the slammer and your children turned over to Children Protective Services. That's what happened to a famished pregnant mother and her husband at a Safeway in Hawaii.

Yep, they slapped the cuffs on her and hubby and hauled them off to the slammer like common criminals. Here's the story. The 30 week pregnant couple had recently moved to Honolulu from California. They needed groceries and ventured off to Safeway. While there she started to feel hungry and picked up two chicken salad sandwiches saving the wrappers so she could pay for them when she headed to the register.

After walking around the store and finally heading to the register, she paid for the groceries. However, she forgot to pay for the two sandwiches. Now any mother who has a 2 year old knows that by the time you get to the register you're frazzled. Forgetting to pay for the sandwiches is understandable. You're lucky if you can remember how to find your way back to your car in this case the bus stop. The former Air Force Staff Sergeant paid for the groceries and headed out the store. They were stopped and questioned about the sandwiches by security. They were returned to the store and lead to an office. Rather than allow the couple to pay for the sandwiches, they called the cops stating that store policy did not allow shoplifters to buy for purchases once it left the store.

Once the cops arrived, 4 hours later, they were read their rights. A lady from Child Welfare took their daughter and the rest is history. They spent the night in jail and away from their 2 year old daughter. The baby was returned after 18 hours away from mom and dad. Needless to say, moms across America are livid. I mean really. The couple paid for their groceries, so they obviously had money and didn't need to steal. The woman was 30 weeks pregnant, hell we're always hungry when we're expecting.

Safeway has apologized for the way the situation was handled and has promised to review their policy. They have stated that they understand our rage. I don't shop at Safeway, but if I did I would be giving them a piece of my mind.

My advice for moms out there is to stick something that you can munch on in your purse for you and the children. Be sure that it's in a baggie or container. I've watched moms in grocery stores open chips etc. and allow their children to eat while they're shopping. I've also watched managers walk up to them, and state that they can't open food while in the store. The policy is they must pay before consuming it. I think the situation was handled poorly, and she honestly forgot to pay when she went through the check out. What's most upsetting is that they hauled that poor little girl off while sending her parents to jail for $5.00 worth of sandwiches. Do you think the situation was handled poorly? What advice do you have for pregnant women or moms of tots who may get famished while out shopping? Leave us a comment, we can't wait to hear from you.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Xavier enjoying a fall pony ride at the pumpkin patch.

Lego Pumpkin

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:14:00 +0000

Check out this cool pumpkin made out of Lego Blocks. The pumpkin is located in Legoland, CA. Click on the link and check out other great displays.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:23:00 +0000

Virginia Beach Sunset

Kidz Bop Christmas Party CD Give Away

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:57:00 +0000

Christmas is right away the corner! Christmas music always gets me in the holiday spirit. I love listening to music while I'm decorating and baking for the holiday seasonb but my favorite part of the holidays is enjoying the kids. There's nothing better than seeing the excitement of the holidays in my grandson's eyes. He loves baking cookies and making crafts with Mama. I've been given the opportunity to review the Kidz Bop Christmas Party CD and it is the bomb. It would be perfect playing in the background while the kids decorate the Christmas tree, color Christmas pictures, help you bake cookies or wrap gifts for grandma and granddaddy. Being a grandmother, I just had to throw that hint in, lol.

I love the Kidz Bop CDs and this one did not disappoint. Christmas Party is loaded with holiday favorites like Deck The Halls, Jingle Bell Rock, and Silver Bells. My favorite is All I Want For Christmas Is You. It gets Mama moving and my grandson laughing. He loves to dance with me.

Mother 2 Mother wants you to join the Christmas Party. We're giving away a copy of this great CD. Here's how you can enter and win, leave a comment on your favorite activity with the child/children in your life. It can be your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew.

Want extra entries? Do one or all of the following:

Write about this give away on your blog with a link back to Mother 2 Mother (5 entries)
Grab our Mother-2-Mother button and place it on your blog (2 entries)
Subscribe To Our Blog (left sidebar; 1 entry)
Follow Us On Twitter and tweet this give away (1 entry)
Comment 2 posts on our blog (2 entries)

This give away will end November 11, 2011 at mid-night. Give away is open to US Residents 18+ only

Decorating A Nursery On A Budget

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:27:00 +0000

We're working on the nursery and I just had to give you a preview of our purchases. We decided on a Beautiful Butterfly theme. This is the crib that we selected for Zarriah. This picture really doesn't do it justice nor does it show the true color. The stain that we chose is called Espresso Java and the crib is the Delta 5th Avenue sold by Target. It's actually darker than the picture, almost black. I wasn't sure how I felt about dark furniture in a nursery, but I've fallen in love with it. We looked at numerous cribs on line, Babies R Us and countless other stores, but my SIL had his heart set on dark wood so the Espresso won out.

Since, Xavier's, my 3 year old grandson's birthday is around the corner as well as the holidays, we set a budget of $2,500 for the nursery. We're just about finished purchasing and so far we're within budget. We ordered the crib on-line from Target for about $250.00, which included shipping. The crib is solid and receiving great reviews, so we've chalked this purchase up as a steal. The crib we were looking at initially was in the $500.00 range. We liked this one better because of the color. It turns into a toddler bed, which is a bonus. For $250.00 if we decide to use it as a toddler bed we really got a great deal, if not we don't have $500.00 invested in a crib that won't get more use.

Here's the matching changing table. We loved the fact that this piece had 6 cubicles for storage and it was more vertical than horizontal. The cubicles on the table will be handy for housing toiletries, wipes, blankets etc. when we're changing the baby, and it doesn't take up a wall because it's horizontal. We grabbed this piece for $170.00. My SIL is astute at putting things together and enjoys it, so we're saved on assembly cost for both the crib and changing table. So far so good, right. We found these adorable butterfly bins at Babies R Us for $10.00 each. We purchased 6, which will replace the baskets shown.

We found this adorable dresser at Wayfair. It was originally $400.00, we grabbed it for $200.00 including shipping. We were actually looking for an armoire, and found one at Babies R Us in the price range, but unfortunately it doesn't come in Espresso. We loved the lines on this dresser, and at half price we couldn't resist. The lines are perfect with the changing table. This dresser is actually the true color of the espresso furniture. We need to find a mirror and a few pictures for the wall and we'll be done.

We choose Valspar Dusky Lavender satin paint from Lowes at $30.00 a gallon. With trim paint, rollers, brushes etc,. we spent $150.00 on paint and material.

The Butterfly bedding and accessories were $500.00, an exclusive from Babies R Us. We selected the comforter, 2 lamps, hamper, diaper stacker, 2 valances, butterfly rug, keepsake box, sheets, bumper pad, and wall decals. We also purchased a rocker and foot stool for $250.00. Can't wait to put everything together. Stay tuned for the final pictures of the nursery. Would you put dark furniture in your baby's nursery? What do you think of our Beautiful Butterfly theme. Leave us a comment, we would love to hear from you.

Kids Eat Free

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:19:00 +0000

Need a break from the stresses of the day? Here's a list of places where you and hubby or you and a girl friend can relax and the kids eat for free. Mother 2 Mother recommends that you call ahead to ensure that the establishment will be able to accommodate you and your children and be sure to ask what days they offer free meals:

Applebees
Buffalo Wild Wings
Cici's
Denny's
Fuddrucker's
Golden Corral
IHOP
KCMaster Piece
O'Charley's
Pizza Hut
Shoney's
TGIF
Backyard Burger
Bennigan's
Black-eyed Peas
Captain D's
Chick-fil-A
Fazoli's
Godfather's Pizza
Lonestar Steak House
Texas Roadhouse
Marie Callender's

Lady Bug Tutu Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (rmgales) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:08:00 +0000

Just in time for a beautiful Christmas photo. We're giving away this adorable ladybug tutu. Your daughter, niece or God daughter will look so cute in this tutu. Don't have a daughter or niece? It would make a great Christmas gift.

The give away will include tutu dress, headband with flower, and diaper cover. Tutu Cute! Fits babies 6-9 Months. Leave us a comment on who will receive this adorable tutu if you win.

Want extra entries? Do one or all of the following:

Write about this give away on your blog with a link back to Mother 2 Mother (5 entries)
Grab our Mother-2-Mother button and place it on your sidebar (2 entries)
Subscribe To Our Blog (left sidebar; 1 entry)
Follow Us On Twitter and tweet this give away (1 entry)
Comment 2 posts on our blog (2 entries)

This give away will end October 30, 2011 at mid-night. Give away is open to US Residents 18+ only