Moms, we are too hard on ourselves! We don't need to be all things to all people all the time. We need to pick one small doable goal each day and then go for it. With 4 kids (and especially with the youngest being 5 weeks old), my goals are basic and fundamental, but it feels good to be able to achieve them.
Nina-Rose is my only daughter. I am so lucky to have at least one girl so we can do all the fun "girl" stuff together. Recently, I had an awesome afternoon tea at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead with her. It was wonderful to indoctrinate her into the joys of 'taking tea' and to create such a great memory.
Afternoon tea at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead is offered Thursday through Sunday with seatings at 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Cost: $34 (or $43 to include a glass of champagne), $21 for children 6-12 years old, complimentary for children 5 and under (though they don't suggest bringing kids younger than 5). Valet parking is complimentary.
Disclosure: I received complimentary afternoon tea with my daughter from the Ritz-Carlton in hopes I would write about the event. There was no monetary exchange and as always the opinions are entirely my own.
Paper Coterie, the upscale photo site is offering ALL first time customers a FREE journal just for signing up (an $18 value)! These journals are awesome quality and are super helpful ways to chronicle the everyday happenings of your life. You can add some photos of the kids to the journal cover and then keep it in the kitchen or perhaps in your purse/diaper bag to jot down all the little things that happen each day. It can be a book to write out frustrations, record funny moments or to memorialize thoughts that otherwise might be forgotten thanks to "mommy brain".
In addition, by signing up before Friday June 22, 2012, first-time customers will be entered into a "Capture the Summer" giveway to win an Olympus E-PL2 Compact Camera System with 14-42mm Lens, a Memory Keeper, and a Photo Book! (No purchase necessary to enter the giveaway.)
To receive the free book just has to enter the coupon code welcomejournal at checkout, and first time customers will receive one of their top selling journals free. Standard shipping rates do apply but there is no minimum purchase necessary.
With summer now upon us in Atlanta, children are out of school and it is the perfect time to start documenting their lives. What did your kids do today? What did they say? Writing it down in a new journal will help you remember the summer of 2012 forever.
"Makes me wonder why the smell from a grill can spark up nostalgia..."
-"Sumertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
This a line from one of my all-time favorite summer songs and it just rings so true. For me, the smell of a charcoal grill brings back memories of fresh-from-the-fields sweet corn, ice cold lemonade, and my Dad's favorite steak on the grill. I don't even eat red meat anymore, but I still love the smell of a charcoal grill cooking up some meat.
Even though I don't eat red meat, my husband does and after a recent all-beef hot dog cookout, my kids have now been indoctrinated to the joys of red meat too. I decided that as long as my family was eating meat that was of good quality, I could be OK with letting a some beef into the house. With that in mind, I was happy to hear that the organic all-natural meat company, Applegate Farms, is now selling their all-beef, nitrate-free hotdogs at Kroger and Whole Foods in Atlanta. (To find a store near you, visit http://www.facebook.com/applegatefarms and click “Product Locator.”)
It can be hard to find good, healthy foods, but Applegate Farms is making it a little easier.
Applegate makes sure their animals are never given antibiotics, hormones or artificial growth promotants. Their products are made with natural and organic ingredients. They conduct their farming practices with integrity and treat their animals and land with respect. And now, Applegate hot dogs are widely available in the Atlanta area!
In honor of summer beginning officially this week, here are my top five summertime grilling tips: 1. Use the best meat you can get. (Like Applegate hot dogs for example?) 2. Don't forgt about the kids! Having kid-friendly foods, (ones they can recognize) will help both the kids and their parents. 3. Make sure to include veggies! You can throw them right on the grill for some delicious flavors and easy clean up. 4. Don't wait for the "perfect" day. Being from Wisconsin I remember family members pulling on their boots to grill out in the snow. Just pick a day and go with it. 5. Eat outside! It doesn't have to be fancy, just grab some chairs and a card table if one's handy, and enjoy the sweet smell of summer.
Want more tips? Check out my Pinterest "grilling" board.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Applegate blogging program and received compensation. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.
When God hands you lemons...make lemonade. When God puts you on bedrest days before you're supposed to host a "Mommy Party" to get folks excited about the new Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted movie...well you don't get to go to your own party. Typical me...I think I can cram everything in before giving birth and life doesn't always work like that.
Through my association with the Children's Claritin Moms Crew, I was selected to host a get together to watch Madagascar 1 and 2 and get the kids (and moms) ready for the the third edition of the series. Since my pregnancy had taken a turn for the worse, I had to ask my guests (my fellow North Cobb Mocha Moms Mother's Support group) to party on and enjoy the Claritin samples and Madagascar treats without me. Instead of watching the movies, they met at a park and flew kites. So the only viewers at my viewing party were my 3 big kids who gave me a 90 minute respite during each of the movies. Yay for DVDs! My kids can't wait to see Madagascar 3! Now the question is...am I brave enough to take 4 kids under 6 to the movies?
Here's some pictures from the non-viewing viewing party:
Disclosure: I was provided with samples and giveaways in exchange for hosting this party. All opinions are my own, as always.
I am three weeks into being a mom of four and I'm not ashamed to admit it's tough. For all the moms who have said to me "I don't know how you manage 4 kids", the secret is: I don't know either. It's a learning process and there are good days and bad days. But I think it comes down to attitude. How do I look at my life? What do I focus on? Do I life my life based on negative or positive viewpoints?
The Negative Viewpoint
OMG...I have FOUR kids! I have a house that's too small for so many people and strewn with toys, crayons, and crumbs from last night's dinner. Is THIS my life? I have kids running everywhere, a crying baby, leaking breasts, a to-do list a mile long, and a dinner that won't cook itself. Will I always be exhausted, have a baby on my hip (or in my belly), drive an older minivan, and constantly need to lose weight? I worry about money, schools, my kids' BMIs...will my life always be like THIS?
OR I could look at life like this: The Positive Viewpoint
Wow! Is THIS my life? I'm so lucky! I have FOUR healthy, happy, well-adjusted kids and a husband who loves them as much as he loves me! I have a house that can fit several kids in one room and gosh it's so great that my children have so many toys and creative outlets. I won't always have a cuddly, sweet-smelling baby sadly, so I am lucky to have this precious time now. What's a few months of little sleep in the big scheme of things? I am blessed to have a car that runs well and fits all my family (plus some) and if I just keep working at it, these baby pounds will come off eventually. My worries are real but not life-or-death and my life is certainly better than most. Is THIS really my life?
Today I am making a conscious choice to choose the positive. Are you?
Are you expecting? Have a new baby (like my newest cutie)? Or maybe just know someone who fits in those categories? Then you need to head to the Atlanta Baby Shower Expo at the Gwinnett Center this weekend (June 9-10).
Join other parents as they check out the best baby brands on the market, hear from impressive speakers like Dr. Oz (yes, the one from TV) and Lisa Oz, and enter to win tons of cool prizes and giveaways. There will even be a kids play area for those of us who have a kid or two (or three) to entertain while doing the things moms want to do. The event will also feature a "diaper party" to benefit the awesome non-profit, the Atlanta Diaper Relief. And if that isn't enough, there will even be a moms relaxation area! Woot!
Want to go to this amazing event? You could pay $10 online per person or $15 at the door or you could win 2 tickets to the Atlanta Baby Shower Expo just by commenting here! I am giving away two sets of two tickets to some lucky readers. Just comment here telling me why you want to go. I will chose the two winners using random.org on Thursday, June 7 at 5pm. Want 5 extra entries? Just subscribe to this blog (and leave another comment telling me you did so). Easy peasy!
The Atlanta Baby Shower Expo will take place Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Children 12 and under are free. For more information check out http://www.atlantababyshowerexpo.com.
Just because I can't resist. Here's a photo of my newest reason for attending the Atlanta Baby Shower Expo. :)
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