Skirt Giveaway at Second Time Around!

Would you like a chance to win one of our skirts from The Modest Mom? At the Second Time Around blog Rachel did an awesome review of one our skirts and is hosting a giveaway.

Here's a peek at some of the review from Rachael:

I have always loved skirts and in the summer that's mostly what I wear. When I was pregnant with Tobin I didn't have a maternity skirt because I couldn't find one I liked that was modest and inexpensive (as well as cute). I wish I had known about The Modest Mom when I was pregnant, because I could have had a bunch of cute, modest, and comfortable maternity skirts.

She made a great model for this skirt didn't she? Go Here to enter the giveaway! Remember you don't have to be pregnant to have a skirt from The Modest Mom. We have women's skirts and maternity skirts for your specific season in life.

Organizing Your Day With a Schedule

From~Jennifer Allen

Do you start each day without a plan of what you are doing? Just as I always want to have a menu plan for my week, I also want to have a daily schedule. There are many ways to have a daily schedule. You can have your schedule set into time blocks through out the day. Each block of time is assigned to a specific job or activity. A great resource for this type of schedule is the Managers of Their Home book by Terri Maxwell. I know several homeschool mothers who have used her method of scheduling and loved it. In looking over the book for me personally it was too specific in how my time would be broken down. I prefer to have the general jobs or activities I have for my daily goals. This daily schedule is written down and can be changed according to the needs we have.

Here's my current schedule:

Daily Schedule:

Computer/Blog

Breakfast

Prayer, Devotions, Singing

Clean up, Start Laundry,Play

Exercise

Read with Girls/Sing/Color

Take walk/play outside

Lunchtime

Pick up toys/Clean house

Nap time/Computer/Blog writing

Play/outside play

Clean Up

Supper

Within each day I have a To Do List. I have a white board on my refrigerator. Part of the whiteboard lists out the days of the week. I will write on the specific days things I need to get done that day. Let's say I need to make banana muffins, can diced tomatoes in a water bath, make a meal for a new mother, and run to the store for this week's groceries. Most of this will get done this afternoon and evening.

I think it is important for children to have a general routine of what they know will happen each day. It is comforting and helps them to have good habits develop in their lives. The girls know that we will have devotions every day after breakfast. They know they will have time to play and read. They most certainly know that sometime after lunch they will be taking a nap.

Of course there are things that come into our lives that need to be taken care of, or people that need to be helped that will disrupt a daily schedule. I would never hold to my schedule so hard and fast that I would feel life is falling apart if this changes. My mother has dealt with Lupus since I was 16. My Mom is a very organized person and had schedules. However we also had to be very flexible as a family. Every morning when she woke up could be a different day health wise. So the plans would need to change. I learned to hold things loosely and do what was essential for that day. Even though I love "to do" list I'm always ready to change it if needed. I tackle what it most important on my "To Do List" first then work my way down. Life is so much better when you feel ready for your day, and your week, with a general schedule and knowledge of what needs to get done. Things flow much better.

If you have never created a schedule before just get a piece of paper and sit down with a pen. Think about what you need, or want, to accomplish each day. Be realistic! Don't pretend you are Super Woman or you will get discouraged instantly. Try this schedule for a week then adjust it as needed. You may see a drastic change in your attitude about the day ahead.

Skirt Giveaway!

Passionate Homemaking is sponsoring a giveaway for a skirt from The Modest Mom! Go here and enter to win a skirt of your size, style, and color!

Welcome to an additional blogger!

After much consideration, I'm really excited to be able to share the blogging duties with my sister, Jennifer. She sews orders for The Modest Mom when there is a need, and she is also going to be blogging here at The Modest Mom blog. Look for her posts on Mondays and Thursdays, where she will be blogging menu plans, recipes, and Home & Garden posts.

Baby Facts: by Andrew Adesman Review

Baby Facts Review by Jennifer Allen

The Baby Facts book by Andrew Adesman was a book I saw on the new item shelf at the library. It peaked my curiosity and as I started written I was pleasantly surprised. Written by a pediatrician the book is laid out in a easy to read manner. Dr. Adesman's goal with this book was to try and dispel myth and information concerning the everyday life of a parent and child. He always begins with the myth, for example: Sprinkle baby powder on your newborn after you change her. He then gives the reality: There's no need to use powder on your baby's skin. Next are the facts: in detail Dr. Adesman explains why he believes baby powder and cornstarch are not needed, and how they can harm your child.

Dr. Adesman begins with the myths and truths of feeding and nourishing your child, getting your child to sleep, keeping baby clean and comfortable, and the truth about diapering and toilet training. He then moves on to parents big worries, illness. In this section he deals with myths about childhood illnesses and keeping a child healthy. Growing up shares about your child's body and brain development, and what to do, or not to do, when your child gets hurt.

I was amazed how many myths I believed. This is an excellent parenting resource and invaluable book for new parents to read. If there are only a few books you want to read on parenting this one would make the top of my list. This book would make a wonderful gift at a baby shower for a new parent. They will thank you!

You may purchase a copy of Baby Facts by Andrew Adesman from Amazon for as low as $11.96 new.

Guest Post: Menu Plan for 2-22-10

Guest Post by Jennifer Allen

The last month has been very busy with helping my mother during a worsening of her illness, helping my sister with her new business, The Modest Mom, and keeping up with my own home life. Looking out at the beautiful ice and snow covering the landscape I'm reminded of how blessed we are in so many ways. Looking into my freezers and pantry is one of the blessings. They are filled to over flowing!

Last month I was reading along with the Eating From the Pantry Challenge at Money Saving Mom. At the time I was not able to join in. However, I took the idea to heart. Now that we have my Mom settled in our home I am having my own Eating From The Pantry Challenge. I wrote down everything that was in my kitchen freezer, and in the upright freezer in the basement. We have a fully stocked pantry as well. Now I'll be going through the list of food and creating my menu plans. I'm excited to see what I can pull off in creating meals from this food! If my husband is happy then I will have succeeded. :-)

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfast-
Monday-Breakfast Burritos, Applesauce
Cereal
French Toast, eggs
Country Breakfast Cereal
Cereal
Cinnamon Rolls & Eggs
Pg 37 of The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Oatmeal

Lunch-
Monday-Stir Fry & Rice
PB&J, fruit, veggies
Leftovers
Cheese Pizza on English Muffins, applesauce, carrots
Cheddar & Broccoli Rice w Chicken, Salad
Leftovers
Salad w tuna, fruit

Snacks-
Popcorn
Blueberry Muffins
Fruit
Carrots
Animal Crackers

Supper
Monday-Black Bean Soup w Rice, Double Corn & Cheese Muffins, Green Beans
Bread, Egg, & Potato, Applesauce, Yogurt
Chicken Pot Pie, Beets, Sweet Potatoes
Pg 126 from The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Chicken Strips, corn casserole, green beans, homemade wheat bread
Visiting
Eating out
Visiting

Motherhood

Growing up I never wanted to do anything else but get married and have children. The thought of having my very own babies sounded wonderful. In fact so wonderful that up until I had my first child I said I wanted 12 children. I would hold my baby dolls as a girl and pretend they were my real babies, the ones I would have as a married wife. When my husband and I first got married, we decided to allow God to send us our children, in the timing that He saw fit. We were pregnant with our first child three months after marriage and we were thrilled! We were going to be a real family now. Everything was going to be just like I had always dreamed and planned.

Then came the baby. And with him came crying, lots of crying. Dirty diapers would explode all over everything. Tired, aching shoulders from holding the baby constantly. A house that was a disaster. A baby that wouldn't gain weight for the first month of his life due to milk supply problems. Sleepless nights. Calling my husband in tears because all I felt I did was sit on the couch and nurse for the first several months. Finding out my baby didn't like to snuggle. And on top of all that, discovering I had severe adrenal problems that made it very difficult for me to just get through a day feeling normal.

There were times when I wondered if it was worth it. I would look at this child who did nothing but scream for the first 4 months of his life, and wonder what had happened to all my dreams of motherhood. Thankfully I didn't give up. The month my baby turned two, we gave him a brother. When he was 4 we gave him a sister. And now he is 6, and has another new little sister. I am so very blessed by all my children, because now I have learned the joys of motherhood.

The same little boy who used to scream and cry, learned to sing hymns before he could talk. The thrill I felt the first time my child told me that he loved me. Hearing my children learn to pray. Holding my new baby girl in my arms and listening to her coo and talk to me at 1 month old. The joy of giving birth with a supportive husband, wonderful midwifes, and encouraging friends. Snuggling with all my children while reading stories. Rejoicing in the victory of giving up my own desires for the day and being with my children. Watching my own little girl carry around her baby doll. Sweet little chubby cheeks that are plump from my milk.

The joys of motherhood can be found every day. Having a new baby is not traumatic like it was with my first. Nursing feels natural, a crying baby is nothing compared to hearing my six year old scream. I have traded my early woes of motherhood for new woes. I struggle with guilt almost every day. Am I being a good enough Mother? Why did I just allow myself to yell at my children? Shouldn't I sit down and have play time every day with them? Will my children learn everything they need to with me as their teacher?

I've learned that Motherhood will never be the rosy picture I imagined. It is work, hard, hard work, with no pay and very little praise. To keep going you simply have to have a vision of what you are doing. Raising Sons and Daughters to follow our Lord, to be Godly Men and Women. Teaching them all you know, and trusting the Lord will fill in where you lack. Pressing forward one day at time, looking to Jesus for strength for the day.

My own Mother's health is feeble these days, and it makes me keenly aware of how special she is to me. I look back on my childhood, and I know she wasn't perfect. But she loved me. Through every failure, every weakness in my life, she gave of herself to love me. I want to be like her, pouring myself into my children so they will never doubt if I love them. This is my goal, and only time will tell if I am successful.

Hurry! Time is running out!

If you are interested in signing up with the eCourse that I talked about earlier this week, you'd better hurry! Last count they had over 300 people signed up in the course, so spots are filling up fast! I made my first batch of soaked muffins using her instructions and I was so impressed with how they turned out! We all gobbled them up for breakfast, and I heard no complaints. Wardeh just released a huge question and answer page that gives lots more information about the course.

Fess Up Friday: Dirty Cloth Diapers

I decided to link up with Kendra at New Life On A Homestead blog, and fess up to not being the perfect housekeeper! For those who cloth diaper, you know that when the child has a poopy diaper, it must be dunked in the toilet (unless you are blessed to have a diaper sprayer, which I'm not. But my birthday is next month, hint hint to family reading this!). After cloth diapering for probably 4 years now, I must confess that I'm not always quick to get the dirty diaper dunked, hence my husband will walk in our bedroom where the changing table is and say "what's that smell?"

I think the worst moment was last week when my Mother In Law came over to watch our children. She was helping the children clean their room, and found a yucky diaper that had been sitting there overnight. :-( I was so tired the night before I just left it! Talk about being embarrsed! I am not the perfect housekeeper, though I do try. I have to say there is less dirty diapers sitting around than when I first started cloth diapering. Oops-I see a dirty diaper on my ironing board as I speak! Off to go clean it!

Gymboree Giveaway!

I am giving away 2 gymboree coupons good for 20% off your entire purchase! I can't afford to shop at this store, but the clothes that I buy used from gymboree always are in excellent condition. They seem to hold up really well! These expire February 28th, so this will be a short giveaway. The giveaway will end on Thursday February 18 at midnight, and I will pick a winner on Friday and get them mailed out as soon as I have the address!

To enter you have several choices:

1. Simply leave a comment saying you would like to win!

2. Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave the link in a separate comment.

3. Grab our Modest Mom button and put it on your blog! Leave a separate comment letting us know you did that.

5. Become a fan on our facebook page!

4. Post about this giveaway on facebook for another entry. Again, leave a separate comment.

Passionate Housewifes

Vision forum is offering this great book free right now, you just pay shipping!! Use coupon code FREEPHDG when checking out, you just pay shipping! This is an excellent book, I recommend every Wife and Mother to read it.

Blog Giveaway!

We are hosting a great giveaway today! Nursing clothes can be so expensive to buy, so a cheaper solution is to sew them yourself, or hire someone to sew them for you! We are giving away a brand new copy of Blessed Designs nursing dress pattern 1002. Here is the description of the pattern:

This pattern gives pieces and instructions for a crop layer nursing t-shirt with extended arm hole nursing access in the underlayer. Included are 5 neckline variations, 3 sleeve lengths, a dress option, and a jumper. Combine them to make 31 different garments! Style options include something for every climate and season. This pattern also includes instructions for lettuce stitching, a feminine alternative to flat hemming. You will recieve six sizes XS-XXL in one envlope which fits nursing bustlines from 32-52 inches. Sized for stretch knit fabrics only. Some stretch twills may be suitable for jumper.

This giveaway will run from Tuesday February 16-Tuesday February 23. We will draw a winner hopefully on Wednesday and announce it on the blog. There are several ways to enter.

1. Simply leave a comment saying you would like to win!
2. Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave the link in a separate comment.
3. Grab our Modest Mom button and put it on your blog! Leave a separate comment letting us know you did that.
5. Become a fan on our facebook page!
4. Post about this giveaway on facebook for another entry. Again, leave a separate comment.

GNOWFGLINS

What a name! I didn't understand how it could be connected with eating healthy until I read what the initials stood for: God's Natural, Organic, Whole Foods, Grown Locally, In Season. I'm thrilled to have discovered this website that is offering the most excellent eCourse I have seen on eating healthy!


The book Nourishing Traditions has been in my hands several times, but I just can't wrap my brain around several natural cooking methods-like soaking grains before you bake muffins or bread. I am very much a visual person, some things have to be shown me before I can understand them. That's why I was thrilled to discover this Fundamental eCourse!


Wardeh Harmon is a Mom just like you and I who has been blessed with a wealth of information! She offers this eCourse from her own kitchen, there is nothing fancy to this eCourse but the information that is shared is so valuable as we try to feed our families!

What’s in the eCourse?

• Overview: eCourse Overview
• Lesson 1: The GNOWFGLINS Foundation
• Lesson 2: How to Soak Whole Grains, Nuts and Seeds
• Lesson 3: How to Make Soaked Whole-Grain Flour Baked Goods I
• Lesson 4: How to Make Soaked Whole-Grain Flour Baked Goods II
• Lesson 5: How to Soak and Cook Dry Beans
• Lesson 6: How to Sprout Beans
• Lesson 7: How to Cook a Chicken and Make Chicken Stock
• Lesson 8: How to Make Skillet Dishes: A Dinner Formula
• Lesson 9: How to Make Water Kefir
• Lesson 10: How to Make Dairy Kefir
• Lesson 11: How to Make Soft, Spreadable Cheese
• Lesson 12: How to Make Sourdough Bread
• Lesson 13: How to Sprout Whole Grains for Sprouted Grain Flour & How to Bake With Sprouted Grain Flour
• Lesson 14: How to Make Natural Pickled Foods

This is all the basics that we need to feed our families! And she doesn't try to cram it all into several quick lessons, this eCourse is spread out over a 5 month period, with the cost being $27.00 a month, less than $10.00 a lesson! You couldn't go anywhere locally and recieve lessons on healthy cooking for this price! These are all the benefits that come from taking the course:

• A simple plan that builds your healthy cooking skills incrementally – not too fast and not too slow. By the time we’re done, you’ll be a confident, successful, healthy cook.
• My best advice on all topics related to traditional, healthy cooking – providing simple yet comprehensive answers to facilitate your mastery of the skills that will nourish you and your family.
• Extensive multi-media tutorials that I won’t be sharing on my blog – my tutorials will help you see yourself doing the cooking; we all know that if you can dream it, you can do it.
• Ingredient and equipment notes – you’ll find out the best, better and good choices for everything required, along with tips for where to find the best deals and who usually offers the healthiest choices.
• Exclusive forums for accountability, advice, encouragement, and brainstorming – let us share your goals, pick you up when you’re stuck, and keep you feeling good about your food choices.

Something I have always wanted to do but never is soaking grains to make muffins. She offers a sneak peak at the course through this lesson on making muffins. The video she offers is really neat to watch! You can even print out the recipe and instructions!

Enrollment Period

The doors opened at 8 am PST on Friday, February 5, 2010.

Doors close at 5 pm PST on Monday, February 22, 2010.

If you want to go through this course, she is only taking a limited amount of people, and then she won't be doing this again for another six months!

Juice Party!

Have you ever had a day where you were busy all day, but felt like you were getting nothing done? I had one of those days recently! The laundry was overflowing, the whole house needed cleaned, my baby was fussy all day, and I had 5 skirts to sew for some orders from The Modest Mom. We did manage to get homeschooling done in the morning, but after that nothing was going right! I kept wrestling inside with wanting to do my plans, yet also wanting to be a good Mama and somehow be sweet and loving to them in the midst of chaos!

Finally, I had an idea! We were going to have a tea party! I asked Israel if he wanted to have a tea party and his eyes got all big and round and he shouted "yes!" We quickly switched it to a juice party though as this Mama is not into drinking tea very often. It was torture as a child to drink tea, so even as teenagers my Mom would have juice or chocolate milk parties with us!


I went and unpacked a little tea set I had saved from when I was a little girl, and set it all up at the children's little table. They were estatic when they realized that I was going to sit at the little table with them. How often do we as Mothers rush around and forget to get down on their level? I know I do quite frequently.


We sat and had juice, cookies, and trail mix and I rejoiced inside that in spite of the mess and my busy schedule I was creating memories for my children. It was a perfect opportunity for learning manners, we worked on saying please and thank you and reminding them to be little gentlemen! They loved it, and felt so grown up getting to pour their own juice. Each of them thanked me on their own for doing this for them.


The mess can wait, but our children grow up so quickly. Let's try and grab hold of their hearts while they are still young! One day you won't be given a chance again.


If you would like to set up a regular time of having tea with your children, these books may be helpful. Let's have a Tea Party by Emilie barnes. It's a perfect chance to discuss manners with your chidren, what child doesn't catch on to the fact that they shouldn't be screaming or yelling with dainty tea cups around? Here are two books that could help. A little Book of Manners: Courtesty & Kindness for Young Ladies or A Little Book of Manners for Boys: A Game plan for getting along with others, by Emilie and Bob Barnes.

The blessing of Children

"I want to see little children adorning every home as flowers adorn every meadow and every wayside. I want to see them welcomed to the homes they enter, to see their parents grow less and less selfish and more and more loving because they have come. I want to see God's precious gifts accepted, not frowned upon and refused."
Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

All Natural Homemade Deodorant!

This blog post from Passionate Homemaking looks awesome! It is a constant struggle to find a natural deodorant that actually works, plus they are so expensive! I will definitely have to give this a try. We'll see what my husband thinks, that is the true test. :-)

Husband Happy Nursing Bras

Of my 7 years of marriage, I've been nursing almost 4 of them. Needless to say, I get tired of wearing boring white nursing bras! My husband wouldn't mind seeing me in something a little nicer looking either! Below is a list of nursing bras that I think would pass any husband's approval.

Nursing Bras By Passion Spice

Nordstrom Nursing Bras

Bravado Nursing Bras

Condessa Cassandra-Lace Nursing Bras

Condessa Cassandra-Smooth Nursing Bras

Condessa Veronica Nursing Bras

Glamourmom-has a nursing bra nightgown

Bare Necessities- Has several nursing bras to consider

Bella Materna Nursing Bras

Destination Maternity- Has several nursing bras to consider

Freya Nursing BraEve Alexander Nursing Bras

The Breastchester Nursing Bras
In my book the name of this site leaves something to be desired. However, they have an excellent selection of nursing bras.

Sew Your Own Nursing Lingerie: Sweet Blossom Lingerie Collection from Blessed Designs

Something else to consider is looking on Ebay. Nice nursing bras easily cost $60.00 each, that can quickly drain your pocket book! I won an auction that had 2 different nursing bras with matching underwear for $13.00 total with shipping. They were brand new with tags, and if I had paid retail through a store it would have cost me $120.00! If you already know what size you are, that can help you in your search. If you are not sure of your size, it might be best to go be fitted at a nice bra store. I was a little apprehensive of being fitted until my friends went and told me all about it. I was surprised over what size they said I really was. I think it is true, most of us are wearing the wrong bra size!

The perfect snack for the pregnant Mama!

At the birth of my third child, my sister fixed this snack for me to have right after she was born. My midwife had some, and loved the recipe! She now gives it to all her pregnant mama's to fix, as she says they are excellent to eat especially during that yucky first trimester. They are full of protein, and carbs which are needed to keep up your energy during pregnancy. Of course, you don't have to be pregnant to enjoy these. My baby is six weeks old and I just fixed another batch of these. Enjoy!

Putter Fingers

½ cup melted butter

3 cups quick oats

1 cup honey

3 Tb. Carob powder (or cocoa)

¾ cup powdered milk

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

½ cup peanut butter

½ cup raisins

½ cup sunflower seeds

(optional: can omit the raisins and sunflowers seeds and add 1 cup of carob chips or chocolate ships. This is what I normally do.)

Combine melted butter and oats in a large bowl. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Shape with moist hands or a cookie scoop. Chill until firm. Store in closed container the refrigerator.

Route 66 Skirt Giveaway!

The long ladies at mariemadeline studios design such wonderful patterns! They are offering to give their latest pattern away at this blog. Go there to enter the giveaway!

The Modest Mom Blog

I have so many hopes and ideals for this blog! I want to share about business updates on here, but more importantly share lessons I might be learning as a Mother to four children myself. Book reviews, Product Reviews, and little tips along the way. Being a Mother is such hard work, and I have been so encouraged by different blogs I have read. I pray that this will be an encouragement for some Moms!

The Modest Mom is growing and getting new products added to it. We just added nursing covers, and Women's skirts to the store. Hopefully in another month we will be adding some new products that I'm really excited about!