Blog on Hold

Hello bloggin' mamas! It has been too long since my last post, but unfortunately I am going to have to put my Mom Stuff blog on hold indefinitely. We have moved to Georgia, which is good but stressful because the hubby is still working out of Orlando so we only see him on weekends. My business is growing steadily, which is also good, but keeping up with two little kids on top of it plus housework, etc. has me stretched thin. I barely find time to take a shower every day let alone sit down to blog. I am still blogging for my business though so if you haven't clicked to follow my Chic Bebe Couture blog, please head over and do that soon. On May 25, one of the CBC followers will win a FREE HAIRBOW. And there is a big announcement coming soon that you will NOT want to miss at Chic Bebe Couture. Hopefully, things will settle down and I'll be able to resume my Mom Stuff blog soon. Until then, Love to All and God Bless!

Hearts for Tuesday

Many of you know about Tuesday and her recent passing. If you would like to know how you can be a part of celebrating her life and sending a message to the family, please click on the image "Hearts for Tuesday" above this post.

Jacie

Thankful

After reading around the blogosphere today, I have come across several ladies who are going through a variety of hardships. I know that bad things happen everyday and way too often to the people we know and love. In my reading today about the loss of loved ones, the end of a marriage and a cancer diagnosis, I have an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness for all that I have. My family is healthy, safe and secure. And I thank God for that. I say a prayer of gratitude to Jesus every day. Today it just seems that my heart has been especially touched by the circumstances of the women I read about and who I don't even know. I prayed for them today and I urge you to take a moment to acknowledge all that you have to be thankful for in your life. In our hectic, day to day lives, it's so easy to overlook things that are tremendously important. I want to be sure that I live and love for today with no regrets and thank God for every moment I have on Earth. I am Thankful.

Luv Award

Knowing how busy we all are and how little time we have to spare to be able to read our favorite blogs, I am thankful to have visitors to my blogs Mom Stuff and Chic Bebe Couture. Natalie at Little Shindigs has awarded me with the Luv Award, and if you haven't visited her blog, you just have to stop by--you'll love it too.

To continue this Luv-Fest please allow me to share my current Blog Luv list. Honorees, please follow these instructions and share the LUV!
1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to...start your highlight from the bottom up to get the photo)
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

So in no particular order:
1. Lori of I'm No Super Mom
2. Semi-slacker Mom
3. The X Mom
4. Sara at My Sippy Cup Runneth Over
5. Farm Girl
6. Bee and Rose
7. Audrey at One Cookin' Mama
8. Bustables
9. Somethin' To Talk About
10. Mama Loco

Moving

Hey ladies,
I'm in the process of moving and don't have a spare moment. I promise I won't neglect my blog buddies for long. I'll be back in the blogosphere once we get unpacked.
Jacie

Chic Bebe Couture Grand Opening Giveaways!!!

Grand Opening Celebration

To celebrate the grand opening of Chic Bebe Couture, we invite you to have a look at the great products we have in our shop and take some of them away with you for FREE!

Grand Opening Giveaways and Deals:

• Visit Chic Bebe Couture and sign our Guest Book for your chance to win a FREE CLIPPIE SET (valued at $6.00). Be sure to enter both your name and email address so you can be notified if your name is selected.
  
• FREE HAIR BOW(valued at $6.50) and FREE SHIPPING on orders $25 or more January 20-27th.
• Visit the Chic Bebe Couture blog, click to become a follower and leave us a comment telling us what your favorite item in the shop is along with your name and email so you can be notified if you are the winner. Then, email 10 friends and tell them about our boutique. CC: jacie@chicbebecouture.com so that your email can be verified. We promise your friends won't be hassled with unwanted emails. Seeing the 10 email addresses is for giveaway purposes only. So follow our blog, leave us a comment and email 10 friends to be entered to win a FREE WALL LETTER BOW KEEPER and a MATCHING BOUTIQUE HAIR BOW (valued at $15.00).
• Write a post about us on your blog including an image of your favorite Chic Bebe Couture design and linking back to us at www.chicbebecouture.com. Then place the Chic Bebe Couture website button on your blog's sidebar. Email us a link to your post at jacie@chicbebecouture.com. Once your post and the button have been verified, you win a FREE STREAMERS PONY-O (valued at $6.50) with your first purchase at Chic Bebe Couture.
  

ALL OFFERS EXPIRE AND CONTEST WINNERS SELECTED ON JANUARY 27, 2009.

We look forward to celebrating our Grand Opening with you!

Grand Opening January 20! FREE BOWS!!!

Hello everyone,

Well the big day is approaching. I will be opening my boutique on Tuesday, January 20th. It's been a lot of hard work, but I am truly blessed to be able to own my own boutique while staying at home with my son and daughter. I want to thank you all for your support and invite you to celebrate the GRAND OPENING of Chic Bebe Couture. We're going all out and doing it right with a CONTEST GIVEAWAY, FREE BOWS, FREE SHIPPING and more! Please, Follow our blog and help out this mom to spread the word --write a post, email and call your friends--to check in on Tuesday for all the details on how to get your FREE Chic Bebe Couture items.

Thank you all so much,

Jacie

A Mental Health Day

I'm sure most moms agree that there are just times when you realize that you've been going virtually non-stop for way too long and that you are on the verge of snapping. It's important that we realize when that point is reached and that we force ourselves to take the time we need to decompress. I reached that point this past weekend. I went to bed Friday night with my mind swarming with thoughts and worries. After tossing and turning and feeling like I would just explode if I didn't find a way to relax and just forget about everything going on, I took two Tylenol PM's and told my husband I would be knocked out and to listen out for the kids.

My husband, being wonderful like he is, got up with the kids the next morning and fixed breakfast while I slept. I finally woke up at 10:30 with an urge to get away from the house and go do something fun and relaxing and rejuvenating--just the four of us.

So went threw on our bathing suits and packed a change of clothes along with a cooler filled with snacks and juices and headed to the beach. Less than an hour later we were at Cocoa Beach playing in the sand and jumping the waves with the kids. It was sunny and 77 degrees. The water was even warm enough to play in. We played and snacked and lied around on the beach all day. It was just what I needed. These type days don't happen often enough, but I am determined to change that. I realize now that saving my mental health is just as important as saving my physical health, and they really are intertwined. So let me encourage you to take advantage of a mental health day every now and again. It's amazing how much better you can feel after taking some time for yourself.

Busy Mom Blues

It has been a while since my last post and as much as I'd like to blame it all on the holidays, the fact is that I have come down with a case of what I call the Busy Mom Blues. I'm sure all moms (and even women who aren't moms) can relate. I can only describe it as feeling blah all the time--I'm not really tired, but still I have no energy or motivation-- and yet I find myself constantly on the go working hard at everything on the To Do List while adding more to it--up by 7 but not asleep until 2 or 3--Busy Mom Blues.
This particular strand has hit me pretty hard, although I try not to let the hubby or kids know it. For weeks I've been in the process of starting up my online boutique Chic Bebe Couture and have hit too many bumps in the road to count. We have discovered that the house we are renting is being foreclosed and our landlord never thought it might be considerate to let us know that we would need to find another place to live. So we are currently packing up and house hunting. The hubby's job is really getting old because of his traveling all the time so I'm begging him to find something else. And on and on and on.

I'm not usually the type to complain--hence the diagnosis of Busy Mom Blues.

What is the cure you ask? I'm not really sure. It usually just goes away with time. Thankfully, it doesn't happen that often.

So, thanks to all my readers and SITstas for letting me vent. I think I'll go take a bubble bath and try to forget about that To Do List.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!
There will be no more posts until January 2009. I'll be spending my time thoroughly enjoying my family and all the wonders of the holiday season. I wish you all well and many many blessings this Christmas.
Jacie

Needed: Men's Gift Ideas

The countdown to Christmas is on and for the first time in ten years of marriage, I'm having a hard time deciding what to buy for my husband. I've been searching the top men's gifts lists and can't find a thing. I want something that he will love and remember but that won't break the bank. So I'm turning to my blogging buddies for ideas.
What are you getting your hubbies and do you have any gift suggestions for me?
Thanks for the help!
Jacie

Wordless Wednesday

Universal Studios

Tuesday Toot!

My Tuesday Toot is simple....I survived the Thanksgiving holiday.

I survived:
*2 nine hour drives with the dog at my feet jumping into my lap at every stop and scratching my legs, one child needing to stop every hour since she's still potty training and one child asking every 20 minutes (or less) when we'd be at Nana's house
*getting sick with tonsilitis and feeling guilty about having to stay in bed while hubby took care of the kids and me while we were at his parents' house
*going back and forth from my parents' house to my husband's parents' house and worrying if we were sharing our time between them equally
*travelling all over visiting friends
*2 Thanksgiving dinners full of delicious food and not being able to eat but a few mouthfuls of whatever was the mushiest because of my throat hurting
*dirty laundry the 4 of us accumulated over a 10 day period
*returning home to an empty refrigerator...so off to the grocery store
*helping my son do his "Thanksgiving holiday homework" of decorating a Christmas stocking for his Kindergarten class on Sunday night before school the next morning thus making a huge glitter mess to be cleaned up

This is just a glimpse into the chaos of our holiday. It may not sound that bad, but it was much crazier than things usually are in our family. Things are usually smooth sailing around here and being sick always makes things worse. But I survived. And despite the not so fun for me Thanksgiving, I AM actually looking forward to Christmas even though we will be travelling again. Maybe I shouldn't tempt fate, but I'm thinking Christmas has GOT to be better than Thanksgiving. (I like ham more than turkey anyway.)

Toot Toot

Smile Award!!!

Thank you Lori for this award. You ARE a super mom and such an inspiration. I love your blog and am so glad you thought of me for this award. YOU have made me smile!

Rules: The qualifications to receive the award are:
A. Display a cheerful attitude.
B. Love one another.
C. Make mistakes.
D. Learn from others.
E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world.
F. Love life.
G. Love kids.

The Rules:
1. Must link it back to the creator
2. Post the rules
3. Choose 5 people to give it to
4. Recipients must fill the characteristics above
5. Create a post to share this
6. You must thank the winner

An the Award goes to:
1. Michelle at Sweet Mady's Paper
2. Sara at My Sippy Cup Runneth Over
3. Teresa at Mimi and Reese
4. Julie at Cool Mom Guide
5. Natalie at Mommy Likes to Party and Little Shindigs

You ladies are awesome. You make me smile every time I read the comments you leave me. You are always so supportive and kind. Thank you.

Tuesday Toot--Bows, Bows and More Bows

My Tuesday Toot today is all about bows. I've been one big bow making machine. I've been working day (as much as possible with Taylor craving my attention every minute--she's in a mood) and night, but it has paid off because I've made some really cute bows that look great in Taylor's hair-- and I'll hopefully sell some too.
Please go check out my bows at Jacie's Designs.

Roast Chicken with Potatoes, Lemon and Asparagus Recipe

Well, hubby is out of town again but I cooked supper anyway. We had too much leftover of course so I called our wonderful neighbor whose whole family we just adore to come and take some of the food off our hands. She loved the dish and I so I emailed her the recipe. Well I thought I'd share it with other moms too. So here it is (and it really is very delicious.)

Roast Chicken with Potatoes, Lemon and Asparagus (A Martha Stewart recipe)

1 1/2 lbs. new potatoes halved
3 tablespoons of butter (I used more)
salt and pepper
1 package of chicken legs
1 bunch of asparagus trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
1 lemon cut into 8 wedges
thyme (calls for fresh, but I just use ground 'cause it's in the pantry)

1. Preheat oven 475 degrees. Place potatoes and half the butter in a shallow roasting pan (less than 3 inches deep). Season with salt and pepper. Roast tossing once until potatoes are golden about 20 minutes.
2. Place chicken skin side up on top of potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until chicken begins to brown about 20 minutes.
3. Scatter asparagus, lemon, remaining butter and sprinkle lightly with ground thyme on top of chicken. Roast until asparagus is tender and chicken is opaque throughout, about 15 minutes more.
Serve drizzled with pan juices.

Enjoy ya'll!

Wordless Wednesday (video)

Taylor (age 2)-- our future Georgia Bulldog cheerleader for sure!
She knows no fear.

Don't Exercise--PLAY!

We have all heard that obesity among children has become an alarming epidemic. I had never realized just how many young children are overweight until recently. But it seems that lately everywhere I go—the grocery store, my son’s school, shopping-- I see overweight children. I am saddened when I see these children, and it reassures me that I’m doing the right thing all those times I turn off the TV or video game so that we can walk up to the playground and when I say “NO” to my kids all those times they ask for cupcakes, chips and candy.

My husband, my children and I are all healthy weights and we try hard to keep it that way. We eat healthy and we play healthy. Notice, I said PLAY—not exercise. Doesn’t PLAY sound so much more fun? I am a stay at home mom, and while I may get a workout chasing around my two year old, I don’t have a steady workout routine. My elliptical machine and my Leg Magic contraption sit in the “exercise room” collecting dust because I just don’t find the extra time for them. I may not be in the best shape of my life(I doubt I’ll ever have abs or buns of steel), but I am a healthy weight, I fit nicely into my clothes and I’m fit enough to keep up with my kids without my chest pounding and without gasping for breath.

Here are the many things we PLAY to stay healthy:

1. We WALK! We walk back and forth to my son’s school each day. We WALK the neighborhood for a breath of fresh air, nature collecting, storytelling (you have no idea how easy it is to walk a mile when you are pretending you are walking through a jungle and naming all sorts of animals with a two year old), etc. We WALK to walk!

2. We DANCE! We put on a CD and DANCE, DANCE, DANCE! We DANCE when we clean up our toys, we DANCE when we finish homework early and we DANCE to be silly.

3. We PLAY! We PLAY (inside and outside) tag, red light- green light, wrestling on the carpet, touch football, soccer, gymnastics (rolls, handstands, cartwheels and such) and much more!

4. We SWIM! We have a pool and in warm weather, we use it. Almost everyday in the summer, we SWIM, play pool games, play pool volleyball (with a big bouncy ball instead of a real volleyball so it’s easier for the kids to play too), etc.

5. We joined the YMCA! Our son plays soccer on a team at the YMCA. He has practice once a week and a game every Saturday. This is routine exercise for him. The YMCA also has a great childcare area for children. Our daughter gets to go play in there while my husband and I go play tennis for a couple of hours. It costs us some money, but we love the YMCA!

We are an active family. In addition to eating as healthy as we can, being active is what keeps us at a healthy weight, keeps us fit and keeps us close. This lifestyle of PLAY is working for us—PLAY is fun—especially for the kids. They love having Mama and Daddy running around, swimming and dancing WITH them. So join in—for your kids’ sake! Here’s to our health!

Issues with Internet Explorer

Hey everyone! Thanks to those of you who let me know that you have been having trouble accessing my blog. I think it is only an issue if you use Internet Explorer and I have my computer guru genius of a brother-in-law working on the problem so hopefully it will be fixed soon. I use Firefox because I began having issues with Internet Explorer as well and just gave up on it. I must say that I like Firefox better. Everything seems to load faster and it is very easy to use. Anyway, please be patient as the problem is fixed, and please don't stray away too far and forget about me. I love getting all of your comments!
And please, if you are still having problems with getting to my blog and you don't use Internet Explorer, email me so I can pass the info along to my brother-in-law. Thanks.
schofield.jacie@gmail.com

Tuesday Toot

Toot Toot! Christmas shopping ---done! Well about 95% of it anyway! Hubby and I went early this year (2 weeks ago) and got just about everything off the kids' lists. There's only a little bit left for us to get. Our goal this year was to try hard to get the hectic stuff (shopping) out of the way so we could really enjoy the season with the kids doing fun stuff like decorating, watching Christmas movies while curled up on the couch with the kiddos in pj's, reading The Polar Express (Grayson's favorite) every night and visiting friends and family. Besides, getting the necessary shopping done makes it so much more fun to go browse-shopping when the mood strikes in December because you don't feel like you are on some mad mission in which you are prepared to beat down that woman who just put the last Darth Vader Starfighter or Sleeping Beauty's Walking Horse in her cart. Christmas shopping in December can get downright dangerous. That's why this year I started in October. Toot Toot.