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Monday, April 30, 2012

Mother's Day with Art

Perfect Gift for Mom - Get 50% OFF at Art.com!
Get 50% OFF at Art.com, when you turn your photos into art - A great Mother's Day Gift! Use promo code50MOMMY.This is a limited time offer, valid from April 27th to May 4th, 2012. 
A gift mom will cherish forever. A gift mom will cherish forever. Get 50% OFF when you turn your photos into art at Art.com! (Valid April 27 to May 4, 2012) Use code: 50MOMMY

Save 20% OFF Everything at Art.comSave 20% OFF Everything when you shop at Art.com! Use promo code ART4MAY valid from May 1st to May 31st, 2012. 20% OFF Everything when you shop at Art.com! (Valid from May 1 to May 31, 2012) Use promo code: ART4MAY

Save 20% off this vivid colored art piece - Bloomer Tile V for $24.99 (Valid from May 1st - 31st) Use promo code: ART4MAY
Save 20% off this beautiful art print of a garden of Irises starting at $16.99 (Valid from May 1st - 31st) Use promo code: ART4MAY

Save 20% off this versatile art print of the Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, at Night starting at $8.99 (Valid from May 1st - 31st) Use promo code: ART4MAY
Save 20% off this elegant & affordable art piece - Almond Branches in Bloom by Vincent Van Gogh for $31.99 (Valid from May 1st - 31st) Use promo code: ART4MAY

Save 20% off this mesmerizing starry night art print starting at $12.99 (Valid from May 1st - 31st) Use promo code: ART4MAY






Tea Collection Sale

I wrote about Tea Collection the other day and how great their beautiful clothes for kids are. They have let me know that they are having a 4-day sale with 20% off sale items. Starting today, 4/30, until 5/3, use promo code EXTRA20 to get the extra 20% off sale items. 

Now is the perfect time to shop for your family for those upcoming summer vacations and family reunions. Tea Collection has the most adorable and unique outfits for kids that are perfect for summer! The Starling Batik Playdress and the Jaya Peak Playdress are sure to have the little girls in your life running around showing off their new look. The Ticking Stripe Shorts and the Roll Up Safari Shirt are too cute for words and are perfect for boys playing on the beach or in the backyard. I'm excited to share with you that Tea Collection is having a 4-day sale and if you shop 4/30 through 5/3, you'll receive an extra 20% off already-marked down sale items with promo codeEXTRA20! 



*this post contains affiliate links

Poems for Special Moms

Today, for the last day of Autism Awareness Month, I am posting so poems for Special Needs Moms. I hope that you'll be able to find some comfort in them on the days when things seem their worst, as they so often do...

I love you when you're dirty,
and I love you when you're clean.

And I love you when you're nice,
and I love you when you're mean.

And I love you when you're happy,
and I love you when you're sad.

And I love you when you're peaceful,
and I love you when you're mad.


God Chooses Mom for Disabled Child 
Written by Erma Bombeck Published in the Today Newspaper Sept. 4th, 1993
 
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children.
 
Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments forpropagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son; patron saint, Matthew.
"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter; patron saint, Cecelia.
"Rudledge, Carrie; twins; patron saint.... give her Gerard. He's used to profanity.
" Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child." 
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." 
"But has she patience?" asks the angel. 
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it." 
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence. She'll have to teach the child to live in her world and that's not going to be easy." 
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." 
God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?" 
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, there is a woman I will bless with a child less then perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says "Momma" for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations." "I will permit her to see clearly the things I see---ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--- and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side." 
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in midair.
God smiles.  "A mirror will suffice." 

One Flaw In Women

Author Unknown

By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said,
"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements.
"Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested.
"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days."
The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
"But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed,
"but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.
The Lord replied,
"Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something,
and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak,"
the Lord corrected,
"that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed.
"You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing."
And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness,
love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
However, If There Is One Flaw In Women,
It Is That They Forget Their Worth.

What's for Supper?

Back to a regular week for us...I'm finished working, the Hubs is away for work, and we are on our regular, weekly routine. So, I guess I need to plan out some meals for dinner, right?

  • Monday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
  • Tuesday: Homemade pizza, salad
  • Wednesday: Homemade hamburger with mac'n'cheese casserole
  • Thursday: Beef n'Broccoli Stir Fry
  • Pancakes and sausage
So there it is, short and simple. Some days might get mixed up, but that's going to be our basic menu for the week. What are you having?

*this post contains affiliate links

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Autism in the Real World

Friday, as my husband was traveling home, he came across a situation. This is the story as he told me...

There's a girl on our plane, in her twenties, obviously on the spectrum but not as high-functioning as Ethan (our son has Asperger's, a high-functioning form of autism) and she's traveling alone. Her cell phone is dead, with no way to get in touch with the people that are supposed to pick her up. I let her borrow my battery charger and had her write down the contact numbers in case her phone is dead, then I can call them for her...kind of sad that she was so poorly prepared by someone. She was asking everyone in the gate area for a charger and people were mean to her...sad. I actually had a woman ask me why I helped her? I said REALLY??? ....with a long pause. Because she needed help! That lady was so ignorant I didn't feel like explaining that  I have a son with special needs, and people should take care of each other. I looked at her and said...if it was a stray dog or cat, people would probably help, but because she looked dirty (unbrushed hair, yellowish teeth) and talked funny (in a monotone voice) she wasn't worth anybody's time...that is sad. 


She thought it was odd that all these people had cell phones with adapters just like hers, and that like her, they had no way of charging them...when the truth is they all did, but wouldn't help her. She was in the back of the plane, so I waited for her to get off. She said her phone was fully charged and that she called the person that was picking her up. I showed her where baggage claim was...she kept walking with me, and I told her it was alright, we would go to baggage claim. I think I made her feel safe and she didn't want to go by herself. It was really sad watching her try to talk to people and get help. Nobody, not one person, would help. She was very worried that her phone wouldn't be working. She said she had spent 3 hours looking for a charger. She thought it was so funny that everyone forgot their phone chargers, just like her. Half the people looked at me like I was crazy for helping her.
So what would YOU have done it that situation? Unless you have a child with special needs, you have no idea how terrified that girl must've been...in a strange place, asking people for help. I try to imagine my child trying to get help in a strange place with strange people...knowing that there are so many people unwilling to help others. I can only hope he would run into someone like my husband...someone willing to help another person in need, willing to look past the outside, not judging by looks, but seeing a need and stepping in to help.

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Etsy Mother's Day

Here are some great ideas for Mother's Day from Etsy...which is a great place to find homemade gifts.
Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest




Source: etsy.com via Meredith on Pinterest

There are several here on my short list of gifts for my mom!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Saturday's Top 5 Laughs


  1. Ethan told me as I went up the stairs in front of him, "Mommy, your butt jiggles." Guess I need to get back to the gym...STAT!
  2. As we talked to Ethan about entering puberty, he said, "but the problem is, my Axe deodorant isn't attracting the women!" How funny is that?!!
  3. We went to see a movie today in 3D...the first for myself and the boys. How funny it was to see their reactions as the 3D started and it seemed like you could just reach out and touch things.
  4. Not as much funny as ironic, but Jonah managed to bring down his dirty clothes to be washed and he cleaned the floor in his room...all so he could see a movie today! Forget all the times I have asked him, it takes bribing. I'll remember that!
  5. Jonah asked me this morning what I looked like when I was 20. I told him that I looked pretty much the same as I do now. Then he replied, "except for those wrinkles on your face?" Are you feeling the love here?
What funny thing has your child said lately? Please share, I need a good laugh!

Enter to Win $160 CASH!

$160 CASH VIA PAYPAL


 Finally is here!! $160 paypal giveaway event.  Enter now for a chance to win some cool cash. You must have a valid paypal account. Giveaway open worldwide. Winner will be selected via rafflecopter random generator. At the end of this giveaway, entries will be properly checked, no duplicate please. Check out the amazing sponsors of this giveaway in the linky list below.





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Mother's Day Gifts from Pinterest

Mother's Day will be here before you know it...do you have a gift picked out? Here are some things I found on Pinterest that are worth checking out.













So, did you see something for YOUR mom? Or maybe something you would want for yourself? I'm still trying to figure out what to get my mom, but these are some really great ideas!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Boys Spring Fashion

Boy's clothes are never as cute as girl's, but since I have 2 boys, I've gotten used to picking them out to last. Really, boys don't care what they wear as long as they're comfortable.




I can't resist cute boys clothes...or any cute clothes! You can keep up with more outfits at my Pinterest boards or my Polyvore. If you leave me your Pinterest name and Polyvore name, and I'll be glad to follow you back.

Girls Spring Clothes

I don't have a little girl to dress anymore...my little girl can almost wear women's clothes so the best I can do is pick out spring styles for other little girls, like my sweet niece. I would choose any of these ideas for her...





Girls Spring Collection 3 by graynmere on polyvore.com
Boys spring clothes ideas are coming next!