IowaMoms.com

List PlanIt Membership Giveaway thru 1/22/12

Staciele — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:45:39 +0000

Get organized in 2012 with List PlanIt. There are lists for your home, family, and work life. It will be a lifesaver!

http://www.sincerelystacie.com/2012/01/giveaway-get-your-list-on-with-list.html

Giveaway: DaGeDar – Hot new toy coming on the market!

Staciele — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:16:22 +0000

Check out my blog for a giveaway of DaGeDar. Hot new toy from the same people who created Zhu Zhu Pets!
http://sincerelystacie.blogspot.com/2011/07/review-and-giveaway-dagedar.html Giveaway ends August 14, 2011.

Cystex Giveaway at SincerelyStacie

Staciele — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:31:29 +0000

Check out my blog for a review of Cystex Liquid Cranberry and sign up to win your own bottle.

http://sincerelystacie.blogspot.com/2011/05/cystex-review-and-giveaway.html

Energizer Max Batteries Giveaway

Staciele — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:46:18 +0000

Check out the link to read about the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame and to sign up to win batteries on my blog, Sincerely Stacie. http://sincerelystacie.blogspot.com/2011/01/energizer-keep-going-hall-of-fame-and.html

Homemade French Bread Recipe

IowaMoms.com — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:20:15 +0000

We had a family dinner the other day and I was in charge of bringing bread. We were having pasta so I really wanted to bring French bread but I have never made it before. I didn’t want to go buy it because we are on a no spend challenge. After looking around I finally found a recipe to try. I am all about quick and easy and this recipe was just that. And it was delicious.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups bread flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 package yeast (2 1/4 tsp)

1 1/4 cups warm water

Place ingredients into your bread machine according to directions. Mine is liquid then dry ingredients. Set machine to dough cycle.

Once the cycle is complete remove onto a floured surface and cut dough in half. Take each half and roll into a loaf about 12 inches long.

Place onto a greased cookie sheet, cover with a wet towel and allow to rise for about 1 hour (double in size).

Using a sharp knife dipped in flour make slits 1/2 deep along the top.

Preheat oven to 450. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Place on wire rack to cool. Optional: You can use an egg wash (whites of eggs mixed with a little bit of water) to brush over the top to make it more crunchy.

Orginally posted by Sara at Learning The Frugal Life

Eastern vs. Western Parenting

IowaMoms.com — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:49:09 +0000

I’m a pretty laid back mom. I expect my kids to take responsibility for themselves in a lot of situations. I want them to do their homework without me standing over them. I want them to do their chores without me nagging them. I want them to find their passions and explore their own interests. I want them to make their own decisions and learn from their successes and failures.

I try to make my expectations clear and what the consequences are if those expectations aren’t met. And then I let my kids decide if they will do what’s expected or face one of those consequences. If they make the decision to not do their math homework then they face the consequence of no recess the next day at school. If somebody is getting a failing grade in one of his/her classes then he/she will lose their electronics privileges (video games, computer & TV). If one of them decides to smoke pot he/she will be grounded and subjected to random drug tests. My kids will tell you I often say, “It’s nobodies fault but your own that you are [insert punishment]. You knew this was the consequence for not doing [insert what he/she was supposed to do].” I’m far from a hoverer or an enforcer.

That’s not to say there aren’t arguments. Oh, there are there arguments. But I don’t spend my every waking moment making sure the kids do what they are supposed to do.

I guess that’s how I differ from a Chinese mother. And, yet, when I read that WSJ article I wasn’t outraged like many of the commenters were. Although I think some of her parenting “tricks” were a bit, um, extreme, both of her daughters seem to be happy and they are both on a successful path.

The author Amy Chua was on the national news earlier this evening and I thought she seemed very down-to-earth and even pleasant. She admitted she had loosened up a little with her youngest daughter Lulu for fear that she would lose her. Then Lulu spoke about how she thought her mother was a great mother and she [Lulu] wouldn’t be who she is today without her. So apparently it’s not all bad.

I remember watching a bio on Apolo Ohno during the last winter Olympics. In the piece Apolo talked about how hard his dad pushed him and how at times Apolo would rebel (or want to rebel) against that. But all that hard work paid off as he competed in the Olympics and stood on the podium to accept his medals.

As I watched the Ohno piece I wondered, “Am I not pushing my kids enough?” Would Keaton have been the next Thomas Muller if I had just forced him to practice his soccer drills every day and not let him quit club soccer just because he didn’t want to have soccer practice every day after school and several mornings before school during school soccer season? Could Skyler be a member of the American Ballet Theatre … if I hadn’t let her quit dance last year? Would they all be straight A students headed for ivy league schools if I cut down (or eliminated) their extracurricular activities?

Really? Who knows. We just do the best we can. We parent based on how we ourselves were raised and what works for us. And sometimes what works for one kid doesn’t work for another…even when those kids are in the same family. So if Amy Chua can raise two healthy, happy, successful girls with her Chinese method, then more power to her.

Post orginally posted by Christine at The Bean Blog.

Anniversary Equals A Family Tradition

IowaMoms.com — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 18:23:13 +0000

What would one expect for their very first wedding anniversary? A romantic dinner out? A bouquet of beautiful red roses? A Domino’s Pizza?

No? No pizza? Oh shoot, I guess Big Daddy and I got it all wrong then. Darn.

January 16, 1999 we celebrated our first wedding anniversary. We couldn’t afford a baby-sitter for Jake. A fancy meal out, followed by a romantic comedy at the theaters was totally out of the question. So, we opted for a Domino’s Pizza by candlelight. And it was perfect. We used the good china and poured our cheap beer into expensive glasses. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Well, I could have. But I didn’t. (You’re welcome, Big Daddy).

Yesterday, January 16, 2008 we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We COULD afford a baby-sitter for Jake and even the other 3 kids too. An elegant dinner out, followed by a show could have been easily achieved … but again, we opted for the pizza by candlelight. And it was perfect. As always … just as it’s been for every year since the first.

The anniversary that Big Daddy and I celebrate each year is such an exciting and anticipated event for all the children … and us. From year to year, we don’t change anything … except adding another chair to the table and the pizza from Domino’s to Casey’s. The children become giddy … and I wouldn’t want to ever even so much as dream of spending the evening in any way rather than the way we’ve been doing it for 10 years.

Don’t mind a shirtless Molly. I guess she got too hot in her sundress. After all it is 10 degrees outside.

This particular evening we informed the children that we would ALWAYS spend January 16th together eating pizza by candlelight. The oldest two in turn informed us that when they are married and have children of their own, they’d have to bring them along.

Fine with me. As long as they bring the pizza and cheap beer too.

Post Orginally Published At and By: An Iowa Mom - There Is More To Life Than Just Corn & Beans

Two Weeks For Only $5

IowaMoms.com — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:47:13 +0000

Please allow me to be frank. I love to save money. However, I DO NOT like all the work that comes along with buying the newspaper, pulling out the coupon inserts, flipping through them to see which coupons and items I may actually purchase and use, then grabbing the scissors and cutting along those annoying dotted lines. All of this just seems like more trouble than it’s worth, let alone seeing if I remember to actually take the coupons with me to the store and hand them over to the cashier.

Well guess what? Those days are a thing of the past. Now there is Savings Angel. Not kidding. You just log into this site, click on the store you’re planning to do your shopping at and WAA-LAA, a list of items on sale at that store, along with links that I can just click and print the coupon to receive additional savings. As if that’s not easy enough, you can even click to have certain items added to your shopping list and then just print it on your way out the door.

Finally, I can save money without spending hours of planning. And cutting. And cussing. LOL! And now you can too. I’ve just been told that since times are bad right now for a lot of folks, Savings Angel is offering their service for two weeks for only $5. Believe me, you’ll save WAY MORE than that, so you really have nothing to lose.

If you like to save money and even get stuff for free … you’ve got to check into this deal. You’ll be so glad you did!

Now … what will you do with all that money you’re gonna save?

Are You Staying Warm Or No?

Wendy (An Iowa Mom) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:50:45 +0000

As I sit at my computer and peck away at the keyboard, I have to hit the backspace button over and over again to correct my mistakes. I am not intentionally hitting the incorrect keys, but my fingers are literally numb due to being so stinkin’ cold. Annoying is not even the word for it. It got so bad that yesterday I even forced myself to venture out into the frigid air, just to visit my local SuperTarget. Oh, okay … so I don’t need an excuse and would drive through an F-5 tornado if it meant I got to spend a few minutes in my favorite store. But sssshhh, we’ll keep that between you and me, okay? Anyway, I kept my icicles, that I’ll call my fingers, crossed hoping to find a pair of fingerless gloves. They had to help some, right?

Right.

They do actually help a bit, but I’m still freezing.

I blame this all on my husband. My frugal, cheapo husband. The only who insists we keep our thermostat set at 66 degrees. You read that right … SIXTY SIX DEGREES. And while I run to it each time he walks out the door and press the UP button a few times … I swear I could still double as Frosty the Snowman sitting here trying to get some work done. I must admit, I’m quite happy when the neighbors start talking about their heating bills and ours is usually more than HALF theirs, but really … is this all worth it?

It brings me to ask … where do you all keep your homes set at in the winter months? Are you running around in your shorts and t-shirts or are you bundled in layers like I am?

Questions View Results

Perspectives On Social Media Marketing – Giveaway

Wendy (An Iowa Mom) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:24:51 +0000

Who would have ever thought five years ago that “Social Media” would be a household phrase in the year 2011? It’s become the norm. It’s now imperative that companies big and small utilize it. However, if you’re not familiar with the “social media” world, it can be a little overwhelming. No, wait! Scratch that. It can be A LOT overwhelming.

When I was asked to review the new book “Perspectives On Social Media Marketing“, I thought, “Sure! Why not? That’s right up my ally!” … and I never thought for one second that I’d learn as much as I did. This book is a tad bit different than most, where as you’ll find two different perspectives given for each of the 89 topics discussed in the book. Bonin Bough gives the brand perspective, while Stephanie Agresta will share her opinions through the agency point of view. Each will bring up good points and use great examples to get their thoughts across and teach you all there is to know about social media marketing.

The format of the book is quite simple to read and fantastic for using as a reference guide later on. Each topic is displayed in question form, followed by the response of each author. It could be compared to attending a conference on social media marketing where the attendees ask questions and the experts answer them. Very easy to follow and understand. Whether you are a beginner who is scared to death to get started, or a long time user of social media … you will learn from this book. Trust me.

Because social media has become such a huge part of the way we communicate not only in business, but in our personal lives too … I am so excited to offer you the opportunity to win a copy of this must have book. Just leave a comment below and a winner will be randomly chosen the morning of Friday, January 21, 2011. The winner will be notified via email.

Disclosure: IowaMoms.com received two free copies of Perspectives on Social Media Marketing for review and giveaway purposes. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed here are solely that of IowaMoms.com.