Children's Mucinex® Multi-Symptom Cold

Children's Mucinex® Multi-Symptom Cold: Thx #ChildrensMucinex for my free sample! Receive $2 off Childrens Mucinex® Multi-Symptom Cold http://bit.ly/13A6rdQ *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

Ready For Love on NBC

Ready For Love on NBC: Even @EvaLongoria knows dating is hard @ReadyforLove enlists 3 Matchmakers starts 4/9 at 9/8c bit.ly/10i0Je3 *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition Presented by Pureology

Every child deserves a learning environment that’s safe, healthy, free of harmful toxins and optimal for learning! That's why I'm entering the Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition Presented by @Pureology. You should enter to make learning better for your children too: http://bit.ly/VzWAQh. Thanks for the tip @Influenster!"

I am entering to a xenoscape garden to the kids school.  The children and environment would benefit from a xeriscaped garden.  The students could take part in planting and caring the plants.  Utilizing rain barrels and environmentally friendly cleaning products would be part of the plan.  The students would be able to utilize the xeriscape garden as an outdoor learning environment.  All green, sustainable materials would be used to create the classroom space.  The land to the North of the school is big enough for this space.   


 http://bit.ly/VzWAQh
Enter your school at the above link.

ENTER JANUARY 1 - MARCH 31

IDEAS FOR YOUR SCHOOL

• Create a recycling program
• Conduct an energy audit to determine ways energy can be saved
• Install solar shades to improve natural daylighting of classrooms
• Switch to green cleaning products
• Install energy-efficient light bulbs
• Use sustainable building materials, such as bamboo flooring and recycled runner gym mats
• Replace outdated or unsafe carpets and other materials with new, non-toxic ones

Backpack Makeover: A Butterfly Backpack.

I was very proud of D for choosing a quality backpack over the character ones, so I decided to dazzle it up a bit.   This is my FIRST sewing project, and my first time ever using a sewing machine.  Thanks to a quick lesson from a friend, I have been introduced into a whole new world of crafting.

I saw a cute tutorial here:  Taidye Original


Before:

  

I followed the tutorial at TaiDye Original to make the wings.

I wanted the wings to be removable, so I added snaps instead of sewing them on.

 

And I added the wings to the back of the backpack, so it would look like she had wings when the backpack was on.

And the final product:

A Boob, Time Magazine, and a Soap Box

I very rarely (or maybe frequently, if I am being honest) get so emotional that I feel the need to publicly vent, but I was upset seeing Time Magazine this month that I am starting up my blog again.

I am NOT this upset that women breastfeed older children. 

I am NOT this upset about the image on the cover, because I understand that sensationalism sells.  (Although I can imagine how unhappy that little boy will be with it when he is about 13)

I am NOT this upset at the title, which has a lot of bloggers in a tizzy.

I AM this upset because I am judging these women.  I would love to get on my high horse and say that mothers make the choices that are best for their children and that we should all accept and support those choices.


That would be hypocritical.

To say I am opinionated would be a drastic understatement.  I have opinions on just about everything and don't hesitate to share them.  At what point do my opinions become judgements?

When I am judging someone we tend to think "I would never do that."  Now I'm reminded of all the times I judged others and then found myself in the same situation: letting my kids watch too much TV,  going into public in pajamas,  never getting around to you sending thank your cards after a birthday party,  bribing my children with candy, taking my husband for granted. 

There are an abundance of websites dedicated to defining the difference between opinions and judgements.  I believe (an opinion) that an opinion is how one feels about an issue (i.e. I think you should breast feed, if you can, for a year).   It becomes a judgement when you draw a conclusion or think less of someone with a different opinion (i.e. There is something wrong with that mom for breastfeeding that long).  A judgement happens when we fail to respect others opinions. 

I can think of all the ways I'm not judgmental. 

I support gay marriage.
I have friends from a variety of different religions and backgrounds.
I don't judge people by their ethnicity or my family background.  

Do these things should make me nonjudgmental?

Because, I can also think of ways I have judged people in the last week.

I judged this mom on the cover of Time.
I just a friend who is getting a divorced.
I judged a good friend for buying a new car instead of paying off a credit card.
I judged an acquaintance for having a messy house.

Are these small, insignificant judgements any better than the larger judgements? 

Novelist Paulo Coelho wrote, "We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path."  There are countless ways to raise your children, manage your finances, or maintain a marriage, I do not have all the answers (I just pretend to).  Reserving judgement and respecting differences will be a lifelong learning experience for me and hopefully rub off on my children.


Will I ever judge someone again?  Probably.  Definitely. 

Will I stop to consider other people's situation and respect their opinions?  Hopefully.


So thank you Time Magazine for making me a better person.  (fingers crossed)

Progress...

I feel like I am finally on the upswing!  I have managed to be eat better this week, and gotten a little exercise.  Yesterday, we walked home from my parents house, instead of driving.  It may seem like a small thing, but it makes me feel good!

I tackled the office, girls' room, and master bedroom today.  I am starting to feel like an organized house is within my grasp.  It seems like my drive and ambition follows the laws of motion.  Once I start cleaning and organizing, I don't want to stop.  Getting over the inertia and getting started is the problem.  The key is to keep on top of everything each day, because I struggle with the day to day stuff that keeps my house from becoming overwhelming.

I had a great afternoon with my hubby and the girls today.  We went on a long nature "treasure" hunt and collected lots of great "treasures,"  and got some exercise.  While I am not an outdoorsy person, I don't dislike the outdoors.  I have OCD tendencies and issues with dirt, so it is a struggle to accept that my children like to dig in the dirt and pick things up off the ground.  I try really hard not to let my OCDness rub off on my children, but every once in a while I catch myself saying "ew, don't touch that!"  I did a good job of letting go today, and letting Dinah pick up all kinds of dirt!

Getting ready to go:

The "Treasures"

Tomorrow,

March Free Stuff

I just got around to uploading my free stuff pics from March.

The best part about this picture, is that I got paid about 2.26 to purchase these items.  The Gain was 1.87 at Walmart and the coupon I had was for $3.00 off one.  The new Walmart coupon policy allows you to apply the overage to your other purchases, or get cash back when a product costs less than the coupon!