Monday, September 08, 2008

MomAdvice Monthly Recap: August '08

Thank you to everyone who took the time to visit the site this past month. We had a great month and I so appreciate each of you who come regularly and share the site with your friends. Without you, this would not be possible!

Please make sure to subscribe to our blog feeds so you will be among the first to know when we update the site. You can subscribe to each of our blogs and even our article feed!


These were our top ten articles for the month:

1. Grocery Shopping Tips
2. Mystery Shopping
3. Aldi Menu Planner
4. 2008 Online Family Planner Roundup
5. Piggy Pancakes
6. Picky Eater Dinner Ideas
7. Back to School Free Menu Planner
8. Cloth Diapering 101
9. Ten Useful Tips for Twitter Users
10. And My Heart Breaks...

And a big thank you to our top ten referrers for the month:

1. Freebies 4 Mom
2. Money Saving Mom
3. Twitter (I am including these because I wanted you to see how beneficial it is to be a part of the Twitter community!)
4. Tip Nut
5. The Centsible Sawyer
6. The Homespun Heart
7. Deal Seeking Mom
8. Mommy Snacks
9. Hooray for Freebates!
10. Baby Cheapskate

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Friday, May 23, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 05.23.08


Did anyone miss the Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling, hosted by Today's Homemaker, this week? It was EXCELLENT and was a giant notebook of great things you could have fun doing. I was so excited to see a couple of my own posts included. My Retro Housewife Bunco post and our article, "The Benefits of Line Drying Your Clothes," were both included. I also won a prize pack for the Eco-Fab category- whoohoo! Thanks to Today's Homemaker for including us in her amazing carnival!

We are still struggling with technical problems on the forum and review site. We will let everyone know when we are able to get everything back up and rolling again. I apologize for all of the troubles and know that we are doing our best to restore everything to its former glory.

Featured Article:

Summer Survival-
The summer season is here and along with it comes summer vacation for the school-aged kids. Moms are now responsible for coming up with the ideas and curriculum for their children and I am the first to admit that by the summer my creative juices have just about run out. How can you make summer another time of fun and enjoyment rather than boredom? And just how do you do this on a budget? There are lots of great things that you can do this summer and ways to keep organized when doing it.... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Something Exciting is Happening -
We are trying to complete our homework for starting kindergarten and this week Ethan got his teeth cleaned. Ethan's teeth looked beautiful, but we discovered a special secret that his mouth had been keeping... Ethan has his first loose tooth. He was so excited to tell me that his tooth was loose and I told him that I had a special book that I had been saving just for this occasion. Hidden in the depths of my closet, I have had a special tooth fairy set that we could get out when this momentous occasion happened..... Continue Reading

Old School Baking Day- My sweet little bread machine kicked the can last week after two years of hard work in our family. I used my bread machine two to three times a week so it does a lot of work for us and I am missing it terribly. I got mine at a garage sale and I just can't see paying for it retail, but my husband is insisting that we just buy one new this time. I don't know though... I think I might check the thrift store a few times before buying one......Continue Reading

The Bad Side of Gardening- Our neighbors have the most beautiful yard on the block. The landscaping is impeccable and they are always working on their lawn. I can see them slaving away while I sit in my little lawn chair in my garage...which is why they have an amazing lawn and I have a so-so lawn.....Continue Reading

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Giving Away the Mother Load!

We hope to return to the land of the giveaways next week. We apologize for our technical difficulties!

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Old Fashioned Spaghetti & Meatballs (and how to eat it)

Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Are Baby Carrots a Convenience Food?

Reducing Plastic Bag Consumption

Sam's Club Click 'N Pull Review

Fun Family Game Nights

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Gifts for Grads

Frugal Hacks: Breathing in Some Inspiration

Blissfully Domestic: Avoid Summer Schedule Overload

Michiana Family Magazine: Gearing Up for Summer

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

FAQ for Amy

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Friday, May 16, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 05.16.08

This was an exciting week for me as I have finally hit the landmark of my 1,000th post! In case you missed it, please drop by and say hi. I would love to hear your thoughts on what you would like to see on here so that I have material for another 1,000 posts...and hopefully more.

We are still struggling with technical problems on the forum and review site. We will let everyone know when we are able to get everything back up and rolling again. I apologize for all of the troubles and know that we are doing our best to restore everything to its former glory.

Featured Article:

The Benefits of Line Drying Your Clothes-
There must be something great about drying your clothing outside as it seems all of the laundry detergents aim to get that fresh smell in their detergents. I see promises of fragrances filled with the smell of mountain freshness and April showers. What is not to love about that? Did you know that it is possible to achieve that just by line drying your clothing outside? With a simple clothesline and some clothespins, you can save your family money and achieve the scent that every detergent company is trying to capture... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

There are Holes in My House Where My Clutter Used to Be -
This corner of my garage has been housing our old dishwasher since we replaced it this fall. It was one of those things that needed to be taken care of, but I kept procrastinating on it. As long as I could get my car parked and open our doors comfortably, did it really matter that it was sitting there?.... Continue Reading

Rainy Day Activity: Popcorn Fun- It's raining, it's pouring...what is a desperate mom to do? My popcorn tub came to my rescue this week and I have pulled it into our guest bathroom so the kids could have a blast in it, with easy clean-up for me.....Continue Reading

Creating Morning Rituals- Today is going to be our last day in the book, "How Did I Get So Busy." We have had such a great discussion from this book and I feel like I have made a lot of positive changes by sharing through this format and from encouragement from you. It has definitely been a positive transformation for me and I hope that you have gotten as much from it as I have....Continue Reading

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Giving Away the Mother Load!

We hope to return to the land of the giveaways next week. We apologize for our technical difficulties!

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Simple Oatmeal & Chocolate Chip Muffins

Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Leaner Ground Beef for Less

Ding-Dong: Did Someone Order Groceries?

A Few Words About Convenience Foods

Make Your Own Flavored Creamers

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Getting Ready for Vacations

Frugal Hacks: Keeping Summer Essentials Handy

Blissfully Domestic: Reclaiming Myself, One Day at a Time

Michiana Family Magazine: Gearing Up for Summer

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

FAQ for Amy

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Friday, May 09, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 05.09.08

These past two weeks have been a test on my patience and probably your patience as well. Our web host's server went down and we are still trying to recover from this problem. Please know that we are doing ALL that we can to restore what was lost and our hope is that all will be restored soon. Many apologies to our forum members and those who are waiting on giveaways. We promise to extend these giveaways longer and restore our forum content as soon as we can.

I felt a little lost last week without you guys! I appreciate all your sweet emails of encouragement and your patience- I know I am very lucky to have such great readers!

Featured Article:

Gearing Up for Summer-
Summer is just around the corner and with the warmer weather comes many preparations in both the interior and the exterior of the home. Spring-cleaning your house should not just involve the deep-cleaning of the interior of your home, but it should also include preparing the outside of your home for all of those lovely days that you will be able to be out enjoying the sunshine... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Working Out on a Budget -
Our discussion last week about exercise really struck a chord with me. My family suffers from many health problems that I hope to not replicate, but if I am sitting on the couch (or in front of the computer), I may suffer from the same ailments.... Continue Reading

Taming the Tech Habit- I can tell you one of the reasons that I often feel overwhelmed is because of my tech habits. A quick login to my email account can set my day into a tailspin- a review that needs posting, an article that needs writing, a page that needs editing- I have suddenly lost an hour of my day.....Continue Reading

Rainy Day Activity: Popcorn Fun- It's raining, it's pouring...what is a desperate mom to do? My popcorn tub came to my rescue this week and I have pulled it into our guest bathroom so the kids could have a blast in it, with easy clean-up for me.....Continue Reading

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Featured Recipe of the Week:

Yummy Jerk Chicken

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Cheap Summer Day Trips

WSBT: How to Save Money at the Grocery Store

Frugal Hacks: Simple Writing Brings Simple Pleasures

Blissfully Domestic: Freebies For Moms & Babies

Michiana Family Magazine: Goodbye, Old Friend- Asking Jealousy to Leave

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

FAQ for Amy

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Friday, May 02, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 05.02.08


Featured Article:

Gearing Up for Summer-
Summer is just around the corner and with the warmer weather comes many preparations in both the interior and the exterior of the home. Spring-cleaning your house should not just involve the deep-cleaning of the interior of your home, but it should also include preparing the outside of your home for all of those lovely days that you will be able to be out enjoying the sunshine... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Retro Housewife Bunco -
This month, I got to host our Bunco group, and I was so excited about my retro housewife theme. The best part about this theme was that I could display my apron collection and I could make all my friends wear aprons too.... Continue Reading

What Would You Buy?: The Ultimate Work Wardrobe- One of our readers emailed us with a question about what to buy for her starter work wardrobe. I pieced together some ideas for what to wear and open the floor up to our readers to share where they have had success shopping....Continue Reading

Knit for a Cause- I am so enjoying learning how to knit and it has been a wonderful outlet for me in the evenings. I have been practicing and learning each day. Progressively, I am getting a little better, but I am no speed demon and certainly am still in the learning stages....Continue Reading

You Knew it Was Coming...Exercise & You- Oh, you just knew that this chapter was upon us after our frank discussion about self-care. I just want you to know that I am not just being Miss Preachy and I promise you that I am making serious changes with the help of this book. The changes I am seeing in myself are making me a much happier mommy.....Continue Reading

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Giving Away the Mother Load!

I am really trying hard to share everything I can with all of our readers and we now have a Mother's Day contest posted with Lands' End! We will be offering one winner a $100 gift card to Lands' End to make her own custom-fit swimsuit! I am so excited that we can offer this and I hope you will head over there to check out all of the contest details.

New Real Mom Reviews:

Lands' End Swimsuits

Mia Reading Software

SimplyMobile Mom

Todd English GreenPan

Phosphate-Free eco+ Dishwasher Detergent


Featured Recipe of the Week:

Starbucks Iced Peppermint Mochas

Forum Discussions:

Do you have anything special planned for Mother's Day? How does your family celebrate? ...Join the Discussion

Girls, I need your help! I am looking for something natural to take for migraines. Most of them are triggered by hormones. I have heard that feverfew and passionflower help. Do any of you use anything similar to these? ... Join the Discussion

Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Leaner Ground Beef for Less

Ding-Dong: Did Someone Order Groceries?

A Few Words About Convenience Foods

Make Your Own Flavored Creamers

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Making a Rainy Day Survival Kit

Frugal Hacks: Entertaining in Smaller Spaces

Blissfully Domestic: Thirteen Frugal Momma Bath Tips

Michiana Family Magazine: Goodbye, Old Friend- Asking Jealousy to Leave

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

FAQ for Amy

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Friday, April 25, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 04.25.08

Featured Article:

Goodbye, Old Friend: Asking Jealousy to Leave-
I pull into the parking lot and park my beat-up car between a Hummer & a Mercedes. I let out a sigh and turn behind me to find him sitting in the backseat between my two children. “You can leave now. You aren’t wanted here,” I say. He looks back at me, absently, dismissing my request with a blank smile..... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

How Our Garden Grows -
Welcome to my little garden. After my earnest attempts last year, I realized that the place I had planted in was far too shady for any good growth. After much thought and careful consideration in my yard, I decided to plant our garden alongside our patio. It is a sunny location that is close to the house, so it will make it easier on me to maintain it and water it throughout the summer ... Continue Reading

At the Car Wash- Keeping little ones entertained during the summer doesn't have to be a challenge. Check out our fun and crazy car wash that we did this week....Continue Reading

Earth Day Reflections- We had a great day together, celebrating Earth Day yesterday. To celebrate we spent the entire day outside and I made sure we had lots of stuff to do while we were out there. I gathered all of our supplies together and grabbed two water bottles for the kids to keep them hydrated while we were outside. Apparently, Ethan had been discussing Earth Day with his teachers because he looked at me and said, "That bottle is not a 7, right? 7's are BAD and I can't drink from them."...Continue Reading

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Giving Away the Mother Load!

ParentsConnect is sponsoring a fabulous giveaway on our site. They are offering gift packs with a Nickelodeon umbrella, t-shirt, and a Barnyard Book for two of our lucky readers. To enter, please submit a comment HERE and tell us one of your best parenting tips. Entries are due by April 29th (Tuesday) at 8 PM Eastern Time. I am sorry but this contest is only open to US Residents (including PR and CAN).

It is time for another bloggy giveaway carnival and I am going take the plunge and participate again. Because I am oh-so-unoriginal and always think you shouldn't mess with a good thing, I am sponsoring the same exact giveaway as I did last time.. $25 Starbucks Gift Card! The last contest was such a roaring success that I want to replicate that again. Yeah, I know...boring and unoriginal. To enter, please tell me one issue you struggle with when it comes to your family finances. I will use your questions as material for my site. It can be anything, anything at all. The more original the better. ENTER HERE BY 8PM TONIGHT!!

New Real Mom Reviews:

Todd English GreenPan

Phosphate-Free eco+ Dishwasher Detergent

Kraft 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Vanilla Scented Granola

Forum Discussions:

What kind of things do you do for your children's bedtime routines? Have you adapted them over time? About how long does the routine last? ...Join the Discussion

Boo Hoo. I had to buy gas this morning and it's 3.89 a gallon...the lowest price I could find here. I swear I almost had a panic attack when I saw the price... Join the Discussion

Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Going Without Prescription Coverage: A Self Discovery

Use eBay & Save

Hospital Hospitality

Good Cheap Fun- BUNCO!!

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Affordable Birthday Parties

Frugal Hacks: Celebrating Earth Day

Blissfully Domestic: Weeding Through Your Childs Artwork Creatively

Michiana Family Magazine: Goodbye, Old Friend- Asking Jealousy to Leave

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

Carnival of the Recipes (@ Wow! You are Really Lucky...)

Carnival of Personal Finances (@ The Happy Rock-We made the Editor's Pick!!!)

Make It From Scratch (@ Stop the Ride)

Carnival of Debt Reduction (@ No Debt Plan- We made the Editor's Pick!!)

Festival of Frugality (On Financial Success)

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Friday, April 18, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap: 04.18.08

My son is back to school and Spring Break has ended. We had so much fun this past week that he was very reluctant to return back to school. I think I made it a fun vacation for him and I hope that you all enjoyed your spring breaks with your kids too!

This has been a wonderful week for my family and I just want to thank you all for your sweet comments and congratulations on achieving one of our financial goals. It has meant so much to me to read those and I promise to share next week a more detailed explaination for how we were able to accomplish it.

In the meantime, there is PLENTY of stuff to read! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy some special time with your family.

Featured Article:

Goodbye, Old Friend: Asking Jealousy to Leave-
I pull into the parking lot and park my beat-up car between a Hummer & a Mercedes. I let out a sigh and turn behind me to find him sitting in the backseat between my two children. “You can leave now. You aren’t wanted here,” I say. He looks back at me, absently, dismissing my request with a blank smile..... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Rainy Day Survival Kit -
I have been wanting to work on this project for some time, and since it was miserable weather all weekend, it seemed like the perfect time to tackle this project. I went to Goodwill and found a plain leather suitcase for $5. I gave it a good scrubbing, when I got it home, and proceeded to decorate it with some knick knacks from my craft supplies ... Continue Reading

Being Busy or How Technology Takes Over Our Lives- Technology is a great thing, but it can also cause a disconnection between ourselves and the people in our lives. I will use my cell phone use as a perfect example for how it has helped my relationships grow and how it can also take away from my relationships....Continue Reading

Spring Break '08 Cost Breakdown- We did so much over our spring break, that we took the last day off to just rest. The kids were tired and so was I, but we finished the weekend off with a yummy dinner and another free Netflix rental..."Alvin & the Chipmunks."...Continue Reading

This American's Dream- When the American dream consists of a McMansion, giant flat screen television, and an expensive car, I often feel like my American dream seems modest and unremarkable....Continue Reading

Our Debt-Free Party- We finally celebrated our debt-free party, after making the final payment on our credit cards today. I wanted to make sure that it was really special and that the kids would be an active participant in our joy and elation of all we did to work towards this day.....Continue Reading

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Giving Away the Mother Load!

ParentsConnect is sponsoring a fabulous giveaway on our site. They are offering gift packs with a Nickelodeon umbrella, t-shirt, and a Barnyard Book for two of our lucky readers. To enter, please submit a comment HERE and tell us one of your best parenting tips. Entries are due by April 29th (Tuesday) at 8 PM Eastern Time. I am sorry but this contest is only open to US Residents (including PR and CAN).

New Real Mom Reviews:

Phosphate-Free eco+ Dishwasher Detergent

Kraft 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese

Hane's Childrens Clothing Line

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Key Lime Pie With a Graham Cracker & Oatmeal Crust

Forum Discussions:

Do you live green? Use eco-friendly cleaning products? I found this website...Join the Discussion

Has anyone had experience with bananas leaving a stain that won't come out? I had no idea this might happen. My daughter went a little nuts with her banana at daycare one day, and got a lot of it on her pants. She also had some dirt on her knees from crawling around outside (it was a rare nice day here in the Midwest).... Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Taking a Look at Our Electrical History

It's Not What You Know, It's Who You Know

Ask For Your Discounts

Budget Friendly Ideas for Kids Rooms

Car Repair on a Budget

Disney or Bust

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Affordable Birthday Parties

Frugal Hacks: Preparing for Those Rainy Days

Blissfully Domestic: Dressing Your Kid Like a Celebrity...Or Die Trying

Michiana Family Magazine: Goodbye, Old Friend- Asking Jealousy to Leave

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

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Friday, April 11, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 04.11.08


Featured Article:

Goodbye, Old Friend: Asking Jealousy to Leave-
I pull into the parking lot and park my beat-up car between a Hummer & a Mercedes. I let out a sigh and turn behind me to find him sitting in the backseat between my two children. “You can leave now. You aren’t wanted here,” I say. He looks back at me, absently, dismissing my request with a blank smile..... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

InfantSEE: Free Vision Care for Your Infant -
If you have an infant or even if you have a friend who has an infant, I beg you to not miss this blog post on how you can get free vision care for your infants and why it is so important for healthy development... Continue Reading

How Did I Get So Busy? (A Busy Bee Quiz)- I am exploring how I became so busy and how to stop my feelings of being run down all of the time by sharing a new book I am reading that is helping me...Continue Reading

I Am Tapped Out- I would love to get your feedback on what you would like to see on our site. I have been struggling with the day-to-day maintenance of running the site and our household and I welcome your ideas...Continue Reading

I Am Busy, But Why?- I am trying to share reasons why I have become so busy and how our busyness can be directly relate to our own self-esteem and self-worth...Continue Reading

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Giving Away the Mother Load!

We are running TWO new giveaways this week! Dr. Mindell has written a book called, "Sleep Deprived No More." This is an autographed copy of her book sharing tips for getting pregnant mommies to sleep better and tips for early motherhood. If you would like to win a copy of this autographed book, please leave me a comment here by Friday (04/11) and I will include you in the giveaway. If you have a sleep tip you would like to include that has worked for you, please let us know!

We are so excited to be offering FIVE Kodak Sport Cameras up for grabs! This giveaway will end next Monday ( 04/14) at 8 PM. To enter, please share one of your favorite tips for getting a great picture or a description of one of the best pictures you have ever taken here! I especially love to hear tips for capturing those dreaded family photos or how to get your child to stand still for any length of time. Of course, the winners will be chosen at random, but I look forward to your responses. Good luck, everyone!

New Real Mom Reviews:

Ticklebug Changing Kit

dunkluv biscotti

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Forum Discussions:

Its been awhile since I have been on. I fell off of the frugal homemaking bandwagon. *sigh* I'm back though, and I'm still so uncertain of what I'm doing. A sales flyer has whole fryers on sale for 78 cents a pound. Is that good? I have never in my life cooked a whole chicken. I've read that typically its cheaper to buy it this way though, and I was wanting to give it a shot. I just have no idea when cheap is cheap though. Any help would be great...Join the Discussion

How do you feel about negative thoughts or "vibes" around you making things happen or not happen? For instance, a person in your life that is always grouchy, yelling and angry, how do you feel that affects the things that happen to you? Do good things happen to those with a positive attitude? And negative things happen to those with a negative attitude... Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Our Kitchen Makeover

Weekend Projects: The New Workspace

A Tutorial on Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Budget Friendly Ideas for Kids Rooms

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Tips for Spring Cleaning

Frugal Hacks: One Deck of Cards Equals Hours of Enjoyment

Blissfully Domestic: Creative Toy Replacements

Michiana Family Magazine: Goodbye, Old Friend- Asking Jealousy to Leave

The Daily Special: Spring Cleaning & Healthy Eating

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

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Friday, March 28, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 03.28.08

Here is this week's round-up of fun activity. There was a lot going on this week, but lots of great discussion. We talked about our gardens, our parenting woes and solutions, and are still working on all of that spring cleaning. Anyone else feel like their house is going back to square one?

I hope you will check out what we have been up to! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!


Featured Article:

Spring Cleaning for Today's Mom-
With spring comes all of the beauty of the changing season. We finally began to see our grass; we enjoy seeing the new buds on our trees, and the sweet smell of a good April shower. What also comes along is the dreaded ritual of spring cleaning. Maybe you went through this awful experience as a child. Your mother would be pulling all the linens, washing the drapes, deep cleaning every nook and cranny of your home and then collapse after a full day of cleaning. I don’t remember this as being a fun ritual for our family and have decided to try a different method of cleaning in our own home.... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

How Does Your Garden Grow? -
I am looking forward to spring, as the snow piles again on the ground, and wanted to discuss gardening plans this year. I also share a list of some great posts that I have read recently on making the most of the gardening season this year... Continue Reading

A Truthful Journey & Then a Party- Next month will be the last credit card payment that I hopefully will ever have to make. I am looking for ideas for throwing a debt-free party and am opening the floor up to you...Continue Reading

Just Call Me Ticketmaster- We are trying a new reward system in our house, thanks to a great reader tip and a fabulous book that I read. We are trying to overcome our discipline problems with some good old-fashioned beatings... just kidding, some positive parenting....Continue Reading

We Need to Work on Our Letters- Ethan is really interested in reading and writing so I shared some things that have worked for us and opened the floor up to discuss what tools you have used to help your children learn to write their letters...Continue Reading

You Discuss: Are Rewards Systems a Bad Idea? - We are having an honest discussion on whether rewards systems are a good tool in parenting? Do you agree with these or not... Continue Reading


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Giving Away the Mother Load!

Another giveaway? Say it isn't so? This time I am picking ten winners for an amazing prize from Duracell! Each winner will win a set of rechargeable batteries and a portable charger. Head over to The Mother Loot and enter today!! Be sure to read our review on their awesome product!

New Real Mom Reviews:

Ticklebug Changing Kit

dunkluv biscotti

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Better Than Pam Spray

Forum Discussions:

This is Spring Break week for my kids. We have been having fun without spending much money. A trip somewhere wasn't an option, so we have been doing something fun here everyday... Join the Discussion

I am a first time mom and my daughter is now almost 17 months old. She is showing just about all the signs that she is ready for potty training. My dilemma is that from now until August this year we are going to be doing a lot of traveling, in the car and by plane, and I am not sure this is the best time to start. We have bought a small potty for her and have been getting her acclimated to it. She continually tries to pull her diaper off and lets us know that she is going pee pee or poo poo. She does not let us know that she has to, only when she is going. I am afraid that with all the traveling it will be too much stress on her and on us to potty train her now. She will also be starting daycare in August for socialization. She just loves other children. What do you guys think??... Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

The Poor & The Sick

Lower Your House Payment

Creative Toy Replacements

How We Accomplish a $50 Grocery Budget


Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Planning a Cheap Getaway

Frugal Hacks: Quit Being a One Woman Show

Blissfully Domestic: Repurposing the Sandbox

The Daily Special: Spring Cleaning & Healthy Eating

Kenmore: Make Meal Planning Easier

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Friday, March 21, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap: 03.20.08


I apologize that this was a slow week on the blogging for me. The printables, a cold, and a promotional event for Kenmore slowed down the MomAdvice.com factory a bit. I am hoping to take this weekend to get back on track and work on some other things too. I appreciate your patience and hope that you will check back next week for some more fun and discussion!

Featured Article:

Budget-Minded Easter Celebrations-
Easter is one of the holidays where you just don’t need to spend a bundle to have a memorable celebration. Take a few hints from us and learn how to have a budget-minded Easter celebration, while celebrating the holiday in style... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Incomplete Projects-
We had a fun discussion going on The Grocery Game and my sewing lessons and I dropped the ball. I decided that neither activities, at this point, were worth the time and effort. Yup, I continue to be an Aldi shopper and a die-hard thrift sale shopper instead of making my own clothes or cutting coupons... Continue Reading

Spring Cleaning the Bathroom- We tackled our kitchens and now we are tackling another area in our home... our bathrooms! I also begin to question my own sanity on why in the world I thought doing this many printables was a good idea... Continue Reading


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Giving Away the Mother Load!

Another giveaway? Say it isn't so? This time I am picking ten winners for an amazing prize from Duracell! Each winner will win a set of rechargeable batteries and a portable charger. Head over to The Mother Loot and enter today!! Be sure to read our review on their awesome product!


Featured Recipe of the Week:

Buttery Bread Machine Rolls

Forum Discussions:

My son's crib must be an unusually large one because none of the crib sheets that are supposed to fit "standard sized" cribs fit his mattress. I have ripped many sheets trying to get them on. I tried buying twin sheets because I was desperate and but those are just too big. I can't seem to find a sheet made for extra large crib mattresses. Any suggestions or advice on finding sheets that fit large cribs?... Join the Discussion

Hi ladies! What's Easter day like at your house? What are your traditions? Do you have a special Easter dinner? Does the easter bunny come? Do you attend an Easter service?... Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma! (A Spring Cleaning Edition)

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Repurposed the Sandbox

When Do You Have the Talk?

Schedule a Day In Your Kitchen

Homeschooling on a Budget

How We Accomplish a $50 Grocery Budget


Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Easter on a Budget

Frugal Hacks: Does Your Thriftiness Impact Entertaining?

Blissfully Domestic: Old School Momma Declares War

Blissfully Domestic: Making Books Come to Life

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Friday, March 14, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap 03.14.08

I am so happy to announce that I am officially a Domestic Diva and have joined the team over at Blissfully Domestic. I am honored to be working with some of my favorite writers and will get to share more tips with you, covering the topic of family/parenting. This is a great online magazine of all things domestic and they have a hopping community already going. If you haven't visited the site, I know you will be extremely impressed with the content and design. It is wonderful!

Featured Article:

Budget-Minded Easter Celebrations-
Easter is one of the holidays where you just don’t need to spend a bundle to have a memorable celebration. Take a few hints from us and learn how to have a budget-minded Easter celebration, while celebrating the holiday in style... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Tooth Fairy Economics-
We got a great reader letter inquiring what the going rate was for the tooth fairy these days. Come join us in a fun discussion on Tooth Fairy Economics... Continue Reading

Travel Trips from Tracy Gallagher - Tracy Gallagher, from the Travel Channel, joins us for an interview and shares some really great tips for traveling with your children. We covered everything from saving money to saving your sanity to keep your children safe... Continue Reading

Spring Cleaning the Kitchen- We are breaking the spring cleaning down into smaller and more manageable task for moms and even providing personal coaching and encouragement through free printables. Learn how to clean anything and everything in your home and check in with us daily for some motivation... Continue Reading

Thank You Writers Strike Part III- We did it. We got rid of the extended package, after our rates were raised again. Join us in a discussion on whether or not cable (or satellite television is worth it) and how you got around paying THE MAN...Continue Reading

Don't miss a single entry and subscribe to my feeds! We have made it easy for you to do it- you are just a click away!

Giving Away the Mother Load!

The Geek Squad is offering one lucky reader a gift card for $169 to be put towards the Geek Squad helping put in a wireless network in your home! How cool is that? To enter this giveaway, please leave us a comment by March 19th at 8PM on The Motherloot. In your comment, please share one thing you would like our new resident Tech Mom to cover about computers- ANYTHING you are struggling with understanding is fair game for discussion on future features... Enter To Win!

Today is the LAST DAY to enter our Horizon Organic Milk giveaway!! Why buy milk when I could just give it to you for free? Hurry over to The MotherLoot for contest details on a giveaway for three containers of Horizon Organics Plus with DHA!


Featured Recipe of the Week:

Apple Pie Muffins

Forum Discussions:

Does anyone know of a site where there are any coupons for Crayola, my kids love the Color Wonder products but there are very expensive, Target has them on sale and I am just trying to find a way to make the deal sweeter!... Join the Discussion

I LOVE my crock pot too! Unfortunately, only after 8 years my crock pot just went on the fritz. It was a Rival, which I thought was the original...do you have a brand you like? I'm going to be buying a new one soon and could use some suggestions! It's funny, I had my mom's that she had received as a wedding gift for years, and it was still working after 37 years but I donated it since it was small and the crock didn't come out. That is what I get for wanting the added convenience!... Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma! (A Spring Cleaning Edition)

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Displaying a Collection

Get Yourself Organized

How Do You Organize Your Pantry

Getting the Car Organized

Free Up Pantry Space & Make a Snack

Maximizing Space

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: The Amazing Dishwasher

Frugal Hacks: Frugal Momma in Overdrive

Blissfully Domestic: Fun Family Game Nights

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Friday, March 07, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap: 03.07.08

It has been a busy week of blogging and lots of great new stuff. We have a new article up, a brand new giveaway, and lot of fun entries for discussion on the blog! Not enough talking? Be sure to visit our hopping forum to share more with women like you!

Featured Article:

Budget-Minded Easter Celebrations-
Easter is one of the holidays where you just don’t need to spend a bundle to have a memorable celebration. Take a few hints from us and learn how to have a budget-minded Easter celebration, while celebrating the holiday in style... Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Old School Momma Declares War-
I am bringing back some old school games and sharing the rules for playing War in this post. We also have a lively discussion going on what our favorite childhood games were ...Continue Reading

Spring Cleaning Your Computer - It's that time of year again for all of that fun spring cleaning. Have you been overlooking your computer in your annual cleaning checklist? Guest author, Nicole Conway (from the Geek Squad) joins us monthly to share computer tips and share her great advice...Continue Reading

Baby Steps: Being Frugally Fashionable- We continue our series with a fun discussion on how to stay fashionable without breaking the bank We begin the discussion with stores to shop at and are asking you where your favorite spot is to find great clothing and shoe deals... Continue Reading

Thank You Writers Strike Part II- I have started reading again and am sharing my reviews of some really great books I have read... and a few things I have watched. I am looking for your book recommendations and movie recommendations for this next month...Continue Reading

Don't miss a single entry and subscribe to my feeds! We have made it easy for you to do it- you are just a click away!

Giving Away the Mother Load!

The Geek Squad is offering one lucky reader a gift card for $169 to be put towards the Geek Squad helping put in a wireless network in your home! How cool is that? To enter this giveaway, please leave us a comment by March 19th at 8PM on The Motherloot. In your comment, please share one thing you would like our new resident Tech Mom to cover about computers- ANYTHING you are struggling with understanding is fair game for discussion on future features... Enter To Win!

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Sloppy Joes & Oven Fries

Forum Discussions:

We have a garden every year... not big, but enough to eat tons and even can or freeze some. I enjoy it and nothing tastes as good as something you helped to grow! I save a ton of money in the summer and we eat fresh produce till we are going to bust! Are you going to have a garden? I always plan my menus with LOTS of fresh produce in the summer! YUMMY! I can't wait... Join the Discussion

Do you use Angel Food Ministry? Do you like it? Do you pay up front or when you pick up? What are some of the bad things or down falls about it? Thanks for your help... Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma! (A Spring Cleaning Edition)

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Clean: The Cooktop

Booster Seat Cleaning Solution

Caring for Stainless Steel Appliances

Frugal Carpet Steaming

Cleaning Up Yo' Grill

Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: Saving Money On Beauty Services

Frugal Hacks: Organizing Your Spring Cleaning Supplies

Blissfully Domestic: Bring Back Family Night

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Friday, February 29, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap: 02.29.08

Another week and another month behind us! I just want to thank everyone who continues to support my efforts here. Your comments and emails totally make my day.

This is what I have been up to for this week:

Featured Article:

Spring Cleaning for Todays Mom-
With spring comes all of the beauty of the changing season. We finally began to see our grass; we enjoy seeing the new buds on our trees, and the sweet smell of a good April shower. What also comes along is the dreaded ritual of spring cleaning. Maybe you went through this awful experience as a child. Your mother would be pulling all the linens, washing the drapes, deep cleaning every nook and cranny of your home and then collapse after a full day of cleaning. I don’t remember this as being a fun ritual for our family and have decided to try a different method of cleaning in our own home.....Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

Staying Fashionable Through Ebates-
I love to be fashionable, but I just don't have the money to keep up with the trends. I share some thrifty spots to visit for your fashion needs and an easy way to earn money towards your clothes (or shoes!) ...Continue Reading

A Sad Life for the Clark Kids- Lots of Chores! - Do your children lead as sad of a life as mine? We are having such a fun discussion on what chores you do in your house and rewards that you offer for good behavior...Continue Reading

Baby Steps: Storing Your Stockpile- We continue our series with a fun discussion on how to store your grocery stockpiles... Continue Reading

Testing the Grocery Game: Week One- Watch me make mistake after mistake trying to figure out how to use coupons. How entertaining does that sound? Continue Reading

Don't miss a single entry and subscribe to my feeds! We have made it easy for you to do it- you are just a click away!

Giving Away the Mother Load!

Hurry-don't forget to enter our Ann Taylor LOFT Giveaway on The Motherloot! One lucky winner will win a beautiful maternity outfit of her choice. Please enter our giveaway by letting us know what your favorite outfit is by Monday, March 3rd at 8PM. Make sure that you provide a valid email address so you can be contacted.

We will be offering another AMAZING giveaway on Tuesday and adding a fun new feature to our site. I am bursting- can't wait to share it with you!

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Forum Discussions:

Have any of you taught your babies sign language? If so, was your experience positive? Are there specific web sites or books you would recommend? I am working with my daughter on a few signs, and sometimes she makes the signs for "eat" and "more". I think it would be helpful if I had some good resources...I love the idea of teaching her to sign words before she can say them, so she can tell me what she wants. She has just gotten to the stage where she points to everything and is starting to get impatient when I don't understand what she wants... Join the Discussion

I was wondering if anyone has had any success at earning a little extra income with Online Surveys? I've been checking out a few sites, but I really have no idea where to even start.. Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma! (A Spring Cleaning Edition)

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Washin' The Washer

Washing Your Child's Lovie

Organizing Your Laundry Room

Caring for Your Table Linens


Not enough of me yet?

WSBT: The Art of Stockpiling
Frugal Hacks: Spring Cleaning & Organizational Hurdles

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Friday, February 22, 2008

MomAdvice Weekly Recap: 02.22.08

Keeping up with everything can get overwhelming for me, so I imagine that as a new visitor, the site can put a person on overload.

I am going to start a weekly recap of activity on here, that might get missed in the shuffle, and highlight everything we have been up to.

Of course, no recap would be complete without a few highlights from our archives so I will include a couple of those too.

Please let me know if you find this helpful and if you would like me to continue this each week- I would really appreciate it!

New Article:

A Frugal Mom's Guide to Coffee-
I have a hard time resisting a cup of coffee at a coffee shop. It isn’t just the coffee itself, but it is the act of going to get a cup of coffee, the soft music, and the break away from it all. If I am having a hard day with the kids or I just long for a small treat for myself, the first place I think of is the coffee shop. In some ways I have replaced my desire to shop with a desire to just have some quiet time alone with a delicious cup of hot coffee and a book....Continue Reading

Blog Entries for Fun & Discussion:

The Art of Stockpiling-
I have started a series featuring baby steps that our readers can begin taking to work towards saving money. We begin our series with a discussion on stockpiling groceries...Continue Reading


Disney or Bust-
We are asking for reader tips on how to save money on your Disney vacations. We share a site we found for doing Disney on a budget and we are asking for your help...Continue Reading

Giving Away the Mother Load!

Don't forget to enter our Ann Taylor LOFT Giveaway on The Motherloot! One lucky winner will win a beautiful maternity outfit of her choice. Please enter our giveaway by letting us know what your favorite outfit is by Monday, March 3rd at 8PM. Make sure that you provide a valid email address so you can be contacted.

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Homemade Hamburger Buns

Forum Discussions:

I have been looking for a storage ottoman to keep games and books in our living area, but they seem to be on the expensive side. Any ideas of where to look or about restoring one? Join the Discussion

Do you have a daily schedule or do you just wing it?? I have a "flexible" schedule... don't have things broke down to the minute, but have a routine of things that I do each day. It really helps! I would love to see your plans. Join the Discussion


Play it Again, Momma!

Did you miss these posts the first time around? Here they are for your reading pleasure!

Foamy Soap

Broken Crayons Equal Good Fun

Sam's Club Click 'N Pull Review

Wholesale Club Shopping

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