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April Extreme Cash Giveaway

I don’t know about you, but I could do a lot of splurging on myself if I had some extra cash. Candles, clothes, new shoes and home spa products galore would be filling up my online shopping carts.

It’s time for the April Extreme Cash Giveaway! This month’s prize is… a $500 Paypal cash prize!

There are many entry options and daily entries as well, so keep this page bookmarked so you can come back every day to increase your chances of winning.

Giveaway ends 5/13 and is open worldwide. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Taking Care of Mom: 5 Simple Ways to De-Stress

5 Simple Ways to De-StressAs a mother, it is SO easy to get caught up in the everyday chaos of life with kids. However, this doesn’t mean you have to be stressed out as you deal with the daily struggles Motherhood brings. While it might sound next to impossible, you can find ways to de-stress.

Here are 5 simple ways to de-stress.

Be Selfish:

That’s right – be selfish. I know this goes against everything mothers are “supposed” to be, but every now and then it’s okay to think of yourself. There are days when we, as mothers, get extremely overwhelmed. We’re being pulled in so many different directions. This is when it is good to take 30 minutes to an hour to yourself, for yourself – just to do whatever you want. It doesn’t matter if it’s writing in a journal, reading or taking a nap – do whatever you want. You will feel relaxed, de-stressed and able to focus after your mini-break.

Listen to Music:

Who doesn’t spend time in the car driving to and from work, or taking the kids to the various places they need to be? That’s a good time to try listening to music. It has a way of releasing the worries we have been carrying with us throughout the day. Make a CD containing a collection of your favorite “feel good” songs and keep in your car so always have uplifting music at hand. You’ll find that this CD will help your spirits on the days when everything seems to be bringing them down.

Have Quiet Time:

One of the easiest ways to calm your nerves and let go of your stress is to set aside some time each day to just sit and relax. Find the time that works best for you – early in the morning before you wake your children up for school, mid-morning or afternoon when they are at school, even right before bed has been found to work too. Regardless of when you do this, think of it as your time to clear your mind and calm your nerves – so, give it a try. It doesn’t have to be much time – as little as 20 minutes!

Pamper Yourself:

For most mothers, when they think about pampering themselves, they think it just isn’t feasible. However, what I mean is not the normal kind of “spa-treatment” most associate pampering with. The kind I’m suggesting is “home-spa” pampering. Purchase a few nicely scented candles, bath salts and new lotion. Once the kids are in bed, lock yourself in the bathroom and light the candles while you fill the tub with steaming water and watch the bath salts dissolve. Take a long (minimum of 30 minutes) bath and then apply the lotion once you’re out and dry. You will be surprised at how relaxed you will feel afterwards.

Phone a Friend:

Sometimes, life can seem unbearable and it’s just too much for us to take by ourselves. This is when it’s helpful to pick up the phone and call a friend. Another Mom, or friend who may be able to identify with what you’re going through, or could offer an objective view. We all have days when we just need to vent. However, it isn’t good to vent to our children and, sometimes, our spouses as well – they don’t always understand or make things worse by trying to “fix it.” Pick up the phone and call a friend. Tell her what’s going on and that you’re just venting. You’ll feel much better once you are done and your stress level will be lower too.

These 5 simple ways should help you, as a mom, escape Motherhood and all its stressors, at least for a little while. It’s important, as Moms, that we each take time to focus on ourselves, and de-stress to make us more relaxed as we face the day-to-day struggles and challenges that life with kids brings. Reach out, or look inward – find those simple ways to help you de-stress, and you will be a better Mom for it.

Finding More Me Time

It’s important to have time for you. Moms are the ones who never seem to have enough time for the things they enjoy. Between taking care of husbands, children and the house, they barely have time to breath, let alone relax. What can you do to find a little more time for yourself? You might not be able to take a week’s vacation, but even a few minutes here and there can make a big difference.

Mothers’ Day Out

There are many childcare centers, some in churches, that provide a Mothers’ Day Out program. These programs do not require that your child be registered for daily care. You can use the program a day here and there as needed. The time could be used for shopping, doctor appointments, or even just going home and pampering yourself. The prices on these programs vary, but it could be worth it to just get an hour or two free.

Play Dates

Depending on the age of your children and their friends, you might be able to arrange play dates for your children. By trading off the play date location, both the friend’s mom and you get a break. If it works out well, and more families are willing, you could include another family or two, gaining more free time for all the moms involved.

Tea Time

Taking even a short break during the day can be enough to recharge your batteries. Find a way to keep the kids entertained for a few minutes. It just has to be long enough to sit down and have a cup of your favorite tea, coffee or hot chocolate. The kids could have a snack, or a small craft project (that’s easy to clean up you don’t want to cause extra work). Sit where you can still see the kids, and just relax. If the children are too small to be left alone, put them down for a nap, or wait until they are in bed for the evening.

Date with Dad

It’s important for the kids to spend some quality time with dad. Why not suggest he take them out for a mini-date, while you stay home and relax. Have dinner as a family, and then they can go for dessert at the local ice cream shop. Or go to a fast food place that has an indoor playground. They can get a treat, and the kids can play for a while, and you get some peace and quiet.

Mothers’ Helper

Sometimes it’s nice to just have another pair of eyes and hands around the house. Many young girls take babysitting courses, but still need experience taking care of young children. If you can hire a mother’s helper for an hour or two a week, not only do you get a break, but they also get the needed experience. It is very helpful, especially if you have young children and aren’t comfortable leaving them with a sitter yet. You can still be close by, but you don’t have to be in the same room. This also makes a better transition when you are ready to leave your children with a sitter.

There are always ways to find time for yourself. It’s a matter of using the resources around you and putting your sanity at the top of the list. When you take care of yourself you’re better equipped to take on the family and all that life entails.

Photo courtesy africa

Sewing Project – Fabric Topper For Kitchen Towels

Sewing Project – How To Make An Easy Fabric Topper For Kitchen Towels
by Shelly Hill

If you are looking to make some fabric toppers for some of your kitchen hand towels, I think you will be pleased with this easy to make project. You can find inexpensive nice kitchen towels at your local dollar type of store.

Here is what you will need to make this project:

1 cotton kitchen hand towel
2 pieces of 6″ square cotton fabric
5″ square of cotton batting
large 1″ diameter button
8″ piece of cording or twine
Sewing Machine & Basic Sewing Supplies
Scissors

Place your two 6″ fabric squares right sides together with the 5″ piece of cotton batting sandwiched in between them. Using a 1/2″ seam allowance, sew around 3 1/2 of the sides. Turn the square right side out and hand sew the turning hole shut with a needle and thread. Set aside.

Find the center of your kitchen towel and mark the center with a straight pin. Using your sewing machine, run a gathering stitch down the center width of your towel. Pull the threads up so that your gathered towel will fit the width of your fabric square. Pin your fabric square onto the gathered edge (center edge) of your towel and pin into place. NOTE: Your square should be diagonal on the fabric and not placed up and down (diamond shape). Use your sewing machine and run a straight stitch down the center of your diagonal from corner to corner. Make sure you back stitch to ensure its attachment.

Finish your towel by hand sewing on a 1″ diameter button onto one corner of the fabric square and by sewing on hanging loop on the back corner.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys quick and easy crafts. You can visit Shelly’s online craft site at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/ for free craft and sewing projects. You can find a photo of the completed project at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-make-kitchen-towel-fabric-topper.html

Article Source: WAHM Articles