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Essential Advice For Expectant Mothers

March 23, 2017 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Moms to be often have an expectation of what life with their newborn will be like. But when their newborn arrives, it’s often a lot different from what they imagined. And it leaves them wishing they had done things differently while they were in the planning stages of having their baby. Also, it makes them realize they should have spent less time on things that really weren’t that important! We can’t go back in time, but we can offer advice for other expectant moms. So, here is some advice for expectant mothers in the first few months with their newborn.

Enjoy every moment

You may be surprised how many moms look back and wish they had enjoyed the time with their baby more. You will never get that time back. They grow up quickly, and you wake up one morning to find that they are not your newborn anymore. Therefore, no matter how tired or stressed you might be, it’s a good idea to enjoy every moment with your newborn.

Savor the moments that they smile or giggle for the first time. And make sure you always have your camera next to you so you can take photos of your little one. Afterwards, you can then look back at the photos and remember those special moments. Many moms regret not taking more pictures of their kids when they were a baby.

Don’t try to do everything on your own

Some moms feel like asking for help will make them a failure. As a result, they may struggle with their newborn. Additionally, they may refuse help from their loved ones because they want to be some form of supermom! But in months to come, moms will look back and wish they had taken the help. After all, becoming a new mom is such a challenging time. It can be more challenging if you try to do everything on your own. If you’re inexperienced, it’s easy to get stuck.

Therefore, when friends and family volunteer to help, accept it with open arms. Getting your mother to look after the baby while you get some sleep can make a big difference. Furthermore, you want to be able to leave your little one with parents and friends without them crying for you.

It’s a good idea to get them used to being cuddled and played with by a number of people. Another option is joining a baby group. In fact, a lot of moms look back with regret because they didn’t join earlier. It’s great for socializing with other moms who are going through the same thing you are! You may be surprised how much of a boost chatting with another adult can give you after a whole day with your newborn. They may be able to provide advice for expectant mothers too.

Image from Pixabay

Don’t spend a fortune on unnecessary items

It’s so easy to go a little crazy when it comes to shopping for your newborn. After all, there’s so many cute things on the market. You may think that you need a ton of stuff for your baby. In fact, you might end up spending a small fortune on things for your baby. But a lot of moms look back after the first few months with their baby and wish they hadn’t spent so much initially. So, don’t be duped by magazines and websites that say things are essential, when actually they are not.

In fact, you might end up selling the items to try and get your money back. While it’s so important to stock up on things like diapers and clothing, you don’t want to buy too many as they grow out of them so quickly. Therefore, before you begin shopping for your newborn make a list of things that are truly essential. That way, you won’t go overboard with your spending. And it will help to ensure you don’t go off your budge while you are in the store. Most importantly, remember just because an item is expensive, doesn’t make it the best.

Put convenience first

When you look at items for your child, it’s so important that you put convenience first. After all, a lot of moms make the mistake of going for the cutest option. Or the one with the cheapest price tag. But they look back with regret because they pick the most convenient item for their child. After all, when you are stressed out with your newborn you want what is super easy to use. For example, when you are looking for a car seat, you want one which is simple to fit into your cars.

Getting a car seat into a vehicle can be tricky. It must be properly placed to ensure your child is safe. So, when you are looking online at reviews, check out Evenflo Tribute review. Make sure you look at the top quality brands. Also, you will know how easy it will be to get it in the car. Furthermore, make sure you choose a breast pump that is easy to use. In fact, read product reviews before you buy to ensure you’re are making the right choice.

Do what’s best for you

So moms look back with regret that they didn’t just choose an option which was easiest for them when taking care of their newborn. It’s so easy to follow the baby books or listen to other mom’s advice when bringing up your newborn. However, it is your baby and you must do what works for you. Sometimes what has worked for another baby might not actually work for yours. So take only what will work from you from our advice for expectant mothers.

If breastfeeding is causing you stress and worry, switch to bottle feeding. If you would rather co-sleep with your child, you should do what you think is best. And don’t worry about what other people think of you!

Some moms believe that they must get straight back into their pre-pregnancy shape after having their child. In fact, they put a lot of pressure on themselves to lose the weight as quickly as they can. Some moms look back and wish they hadn’t worried so much about their body. After all, there will be plenty of time to work on your figure. Therefore, concentrate on your child, and you can worry about your post-baby body later!

We hope that you enjoyed our advice for expectant mothers. It’s not all inclusive, but it should get you thinking about how you want to plan for your newborn.

Filed Under: Empowerment, Pregnancy-New Mom Tagged With: newborn babies, newborn gifts

Tips For New Mothers and How to Adjust to Motherhood

March 15, 2017 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

For expectant moms, it can feel like pregnancy takes an eternity. After all, you are so excited to meet your new baby. As a result, you would prefer to skip labor. It’s amazing moment when your little one enters the world. But it can bring a wealth of challenges in the months to come. Motherhood can be overwhelming for new moms. Many feel overwhelmed or struggle with their new role. But know you will get through it. Here are a few parenting tips for new mothers and how to cope in the first few months with your newborn:

tips for new mothers

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Many new moms think they are a failure if they have to ask for help. After all, there’s so much online and on TV talking about moms having a mother’s instinct. But whatever you may have done work wise, and no matter what your age, you may struggle when you have a baby. It is a know fact that not all mothers bond immediately bond with their newborn. However, rather than struggling on your own ask for help. After all, there will be lots of people around who can assist you with tips for new mothers during this stressful time.

For one thing, your mom or mother-in-law may be able to help you. Some friendly advice and a helping hand can ensure you become a confident mother. Friends are also useful. Especially girlfriends who are already moms. A visit or phone call may be all a new mom needs. Most importantly, take advantage of any services available from your midwife or hospital. After all, it’s their job to assist with any questions you may have about your newborn or motherhood. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Tips for new mothers is only a question or phone call away.

Get everything you need before baby arrives

As much as you might want to wait before buying a lot of things for your newborn, you need to be prepared before the baby arrives. After all, you don’t want to have to head to the store because you don’t have the basics for your newborn. In fact, not being prepared for the baby’s arrival and not having essentials could contribute to you becoming stressed out.

Emphasis should be put on nursery furniture; however, moms tend to forget about other stuff. For example, ensure you have baby bath products, a thermometer, and a sterilizer. If you will be nursing, remember to get items like nipple cream, breast pads and a breast pump. Educate yourself before your baby arrives. Check out Babiesforlife.org. The site has helpful information from dealing with diabetics, morning sickness, postpartum depression and more.

tips for new mothers

Take care of yourself

A lot of moms are so focused on taking care of their baby in the first few months that they forget to look after themselves. You must ensure that you are not neglecting your health. If you are exhausted and not eating right, you are not going to have the stamina to look after your baby.

Let your hubby or your parents take some of the pressure off while you take a nap or have a meal. You will be surprised by the boost that you can get from an hour or two nap. And as it says on http://thestir.cafemom.com/, having a good dinner can also help you to feel brighter while looking after your newborn!

Don’t put too much pressure on you and the baby

It’s so easy to look at other new moms and wonder if your newborn should be doing the same things as other babies of that age. This type of thinking can put pressure on you and the baby. After all, every baby is different. So, your child might not do the same things as others at the same time. And as long as the doctor says that your child is progressing and is healthy, you have nothing to worry about.

Therefore, stop comparing yourself to others. And remember, while baby books are a useful tool they are only a guide. For example, your child might end up sleeping longer than the average baby. Or your baby may be going through nappies a lot quicker than the book says. Therefore, use it as a guide. Remember every baby is different!

Join a baby group

Your life changes dramatically when you have a newborn. While your close friends will stick by you, there’s a chance that some might drift away. Being a new mother can make it harder to communicate with them. One thing you might consider doing is joining a baby group. It can give you the support you need to cope, and to build friendships with new moms. Being able to relate and talk to other moms can give you a boost. It will also give you an opportunity to get out the house, and into a different environment.

Find out what works for your newborn

You might have planned exactly how the first few months would go with your newborn. After all, we all have an ideal of the time we spend with our baby. However, things may not go as planned. After all, your baby might not be receptive to breastfeeding as you had hoped. Also, http://www.webmd.com/ has information on formula; however, we advise you to consult your doctor for advice and tips for new mothers.

To help you adjust to motherhood, don’t be afraid to try different things until you find what works for your newborn. You will eventually get into a routine with your baby. And remember to take each day as it comes. There will be good and bad days with a new baby. But it will get easier. Before you know it, you will be a pro.

We hope that you enjoyed our tips for new mothers. Remember, anyone who gives birth for the first time is a new mother. They survived and so will you. Before you know it, you too will be a pro.

Filed Under: Empowerment, Pregnancy-New Mom

Child Birth Essentials For Your Overnight Bag

October 21, 2016 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Getting ready for child birth is huge for all expecting mothers. It can be stressful trying to get everything ready, especially if you are a new mom and aren’t sure exactly what to expect. You may not have complete control over the birth, but, thankfully, there is one thing that you can sort before you need to leave for the hospital. That is your overnight bag. Every expectant mom needs to take an overnight bag with her so she can be as comfortable as possible during the birth. There are also things you should take that your newborn will need. Here are some of the essentials you shouldn’t forget:

Comfortable Clothing

It is very important to take something light and stretchy to wear while you are in labor and when you leave the hospital. Going through labor can be extremely uncomfortable for many women. Hospitals will provide one of their gowns or you can take your own. Make sure the gown that you take is one that you don’t mind getting ruined. Additionally, remember to pack soft T-shirts and jogging pants for the ride home.

Books And Magazines

Once admitted to the hospital, many women have to wait hours before they give birth. You will be having contractions during this time, but they won’t be strong enough for you to start pushing. Before strong labor pains kick in, you will just have to wait in your hospital room. So, remember to take some books and magazines with you. You and your partner can read and do puzzles while you wait for the baby to arrive! You could even do some puzzles on your smartphones.

Baby Clothes

Moms cherish the day that baby goes home. So, they usually pack an outfit for the occasion. Additionally, many parents have their baby’s picture taken prior to bringing their baby home. So, you may want to take an outfit for the hospital picture. Check out the newborn section at http://www.zoeyspersonalizedgifts.com/personalized-baby-bodysuits.

Snacks And Drinks

You will need to keep your energy level up while you are in labor. The best way to do this is to have plenty of snacks with you. You will be able to get free water from the hospital. Energy drinks that are isotonic are especially good to have with you. Check with your mid-wife, hospital or doctor prior to your arrival. Depending on how you intend to give birth, Natural, Epidural or C-Section may affect what you can eat or drink.

Hand Cream And Lip Balm

Women find that their lips and hands dry out a lot when they are in labor. To make sure this doesn’t irritate you too much, be sure to pack plenty of hand cream and lip balm. If your hands and lips ever feel chapped or flaky, simply massage some cream and balm in to give them extra moisture.

Filed Under: Empowerment, Pregnancy-New Mom Tagged With: child birth, child birth bag, child birth essentials

Guest Post – How to Thrift Shop for Gorgeous Maternity Clothes

June 23, 2016 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Being pregnant is a great blessing. For the first few months everything seems fine, and you can get away with no one noticing your condition. Pregnant women in that stage often turn to baggy jeans, sweats and skirts, steering away from maternity clothes. However, this is only delaying the inevitable. Once the belly gets huge a different approach is required. Today, I’m going to share how to thrift shop for gorgeous maternity clothes. You can look beautiful and empowered on a budget.

maternity clothing, pregnancy, thrift shopping

Maternity Clothing Can Be Fashionable

Spending a truckload of money on apparel that is going to be worn for just six months is not cost effective. Fortunately, the market is filled with great maternity clothing that is buried under mountains of flashy, commercial, and costly stuff. It is time to do research and find local stores or online retailers that are budget friendly.

Brick and mortar stores such as Goodwill and Once Upon a Child are increasingly popular with many expecting moms. If time is of the essence, a customer may order pieces online. You can find great maternity clothing in places such as a swap online consignment as well. With just a few clicks of the button women can secure a tailored dress designed for pregnancy, and one that also allows them to look fashionable. Comfort and quality come first, but the design is a close second.

Most items will probably be worn just a handful of times, and are likely to be in a great condition. Also with such a variety and volume of clothing available, pregnant women can always discover clothes that fit like a glove and match their taste. There is no need to hide baby bumps anymore or shop for the tent look. Stylish women have proven that tight-fitting clothes are all the rage, accentuating the bump nicely. Be sure to check each piece thoroughly.

Dress for the Occasion

Today, expecting moms pay much more attention to the bliss of the pregnant look. Blake Lively, Coco Rocha, Jessica Biel and others were spotted showing off their growing bellies while looking fabulous. They now compete over the best second-hand finds, and the reason is not just some desire to display frugality. Going through piles of clothes in thrift shops enables you to find unique vintage pieces that are virtually impossible to come by in regular stores.

Famous people have paved the way to snatch the inexpensive ticket for the big fashion show. Following the lead of famous moms, it is advisable to stick to dark and solid colors. Bold prints and bright colors are a questionable choice, because they can make you look bigger and are not easy to mix and match. Opt for pieces that reflect the regular style because repurposing will ensure that they serve well after the child is born.

Finally, keep the eyes open for all things wrap (dresses, tops, sweaters) because their adjustable comfort is a blessing during pregnancy. Make your pregnant self look like a million dollars, even though you spent nowhere near that amount.

Show Your Baby Bump In Style

Who said that pregnancy and stylishness do not go together? Move past stretchy and knit clothing, and dive into an ocean where opulent secondhand treasures lie. Invest time in finding clothes at a reasonable price, and you will be able to accumulate a beautiful dash without blowing your budget.

Author BIO:

Sophia Smith is an Australian based beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger. She is also very passionate about DIY projects, latest fashion trends and organic beauty products. Sophia writes mostly in beauty and fashion related topics, mainly through blogs and articles. She is regular contributor at High Style Life.

Find her on: Facebook Twitter Google +

Filed Under: Empowerment, Pregnancy-New Mom Tagged With: maternity fashion tips, maternity tips, pregnancy tips, shopping tips

21 Must See Girl Flicks

June 23, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Do you have a stash of girl flicks? If you don’t have one, you should start a collection. I love watching old movies either with the girls, family night or on the week-ends while I’m relaxing. While I was dusting off my collection of old DVDs and VHS movies, I thought about the good times I had watching them with my daughter when she was growing up. I love looking back on those days, and I’m so glad I created those memories for her and me.

Watching old movies is good for the soul? They make you laugh, cry and remember the time period when those movies were popular. For me, I remembered where I lived when I watch certain movies. Things were said or done when I watched them with family or friends. The last time I watched a few of the old movies, I remembered the old townhouse that I l lived in before I purchased the home that I live in today. I remember everything about that house and neighborhood so vividly. As you get older, you realize that so many things change. Unfortunately, we can’t stop change but we can always reminisce.

I’m always adding to my collection. I check out the movie boxes in stores like Wal-Mart, Big Lots, Kmart and don’t forget yard sales. I have grabbed quite a few of my favs for $5.00 at these places. I also look for them used on Amazon. There’s a shipping cost of $3.99, but if I can get the movie in good to excellent condition for a few bucks it’s worth it.

Here’s a few of favorite girl flicks from my collection:

1. The American President – I love any movie Michael Douglas is in. Annette Bening stars in this movie as well as Martin Sheen and Michael J. Fox. Who says the President of the United States can’t pursue a beautiful woman and run the country at the same time. That is exactly what happens in The American President, but not without hitting a few bumps in the road. My favorite line in the movie is Michael Douglas telling Annette Bening how he manages to give a woman flowers and be President, “Well it turns out I have a rose garden.”

2. Baby Boom – Diane Keaton another great actress plays her role perfectly in Baby Boom. Diane stars as a Manhattan executive who inherits a baby. She buys a house sight unseen in Vermont and leaves Manhattan to raise Elizabeth, but not without problems. The house has so many issues that it nearly breaks her financially and causes her to have a nervous breakdown. She gets her bearings and decides to come up with a plan to sell the house and move back to Manhattan. In the mean time she makes homemade apple sauce for her little picky eater and decides to try selling a few jar in one of the country stores. It’s a hit. She starts selling the applesauce as all natural gourmet apple sauce and babies across the country love it. She also falls in love. Will she stay in Vermont or will she return to Manhattan? Best line in the movie Diane Keaton, “I can’t have a baby because I have a 12:30 lunch meeting.”

3. Boomerang – I normally don’t take pleasure in other people’s pain, but I don’t have a problem with a player when he gets played. That’s is exactly what happens when things are reversed and Robin Givens who is Eddie Murphy’s boss in the movie plays him like a fiddle. Yes Robin Givens dishes out the same treatment to Eddie Murphy that he has dished out to women over the years. Murphy finds her treatment humiliating. She leaves him in love and in despair. Halle Berry tries to help Marcus through his pain. They become close. Will he go back to Robin Givens or stay with Halle Berry? The best line in the movie is Halle Berry to Eddie Murphy, “What do you know about love? What could you possibly know about love? You know, I’m sick and tired of men using love as if it’s some disease you just catch. Love should have brought your ass home last night.” Funny movie.

4. Driving Miss Daisy – One of my favorite movies with Morgan Freeman who plays Hoke, an African American chauffeur in the movie. Jessica Tandy is Miss Daisy and Dan Aykroyd plays her son. Morgan Freeman is hired by Dan Aykroyd to drive Miss Daisy’s, Jessica Tandy, after she wrecks her car. Jessica Tandy is not receptive to the idea for various reasons and makes her feelings know in various way. She soon grows fond of Freeman. A wonderful relationship is formed. She teaches Freeman to read and tells him that he is her best friend. The story line also touches on racial tension in the country. You have to get the tissues out a few times for this one. It touches your heart. My favorite line in the movie is Dan Aykroyd telling Jessica Tandy, “You’re a doodle, Mama.”

5. Fatal Attraction – I have one word to say about this movie, Psycho! As far as I’m concerned this movie has to be Glenn Close’s best performance. She has an affair with Michael Douglas who is a married lawyer with a child. His wife, Ann Archer, is out of town with the kid for the week-end. Douglas thinks he can return to his normal life, but Close has other plans for them. She wants to take things to another level, and she does. She tells Douglas she’s pregnant. He wants nothing to do with her and tries to that make that clear. She can’t process it and she’s not willing to accept that heart breaking news. She breaks into their home, kidnaps the kid and tries to kill his wife. This movie will have you on the edge of your seat no matter how many times you watch it. My favorite line in the movie is Douglas to Close, “I’ll pity you… I’ll pity you. I’ll pity you because you’re sick. Close – “Why? Because I won’t allow you treat me like some slut you can just bang a couple of times and throw in the garbage?”

6. The Body Guard – What a team, Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Hold on for a second, I need to make the steam off the TV screen. Great performance and sound track for this movie. Whitney Houston stars as a singer in this movie who is receiving death threats and is being stalked. Her manager hires former CIA Agent Frank Farmer, Kevin Costner, to protect her. Houston and Costner get close and sleep together. Costner finds it hard to protect her because he’s emotionally involved, so he breaks off the relationship. Houston defies his strategies to keep her safe, but learns that she must rely on him to keep her safe. Great performances by both. My favorite line in the movie is Kevin Costner to Whitney Houston, “I’m here to keep you alive, not help you shop.”

7. Legally Blonde – I loved Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde. She plays a dizzy blonde who is dumped by her boyfriend. She’s crushed, she expected him to ask her to marry him before he heads off to Harvard Law School. She decides to join him at Harvard, hoping that he will take her seriously and they can rekindle their relationship. She finds out the he is engaged to his old girlfriend. After she comes to term with the fact that he will never take her seriously, Witherspoon decides to complete her journey through law school for her. She gets serious about her grades and lands a position on a team of law students who have been selected to defend one of her rich sorority buddies. Witherspoon ends up being the head lawyer, guided by a senior attorney on the team, and wins the case. She also wins the heart of the senior lawyer who guided her. Funny movie! My favorite line in the movie, “Don’t stomp your little last season Prada shoes at me, honey.”

8. Maid In Manhattan – Jennifer Lopez stars as a maid, Marisa, working in a posh hotel. She is a single mother raising a son, and is working hard to get promoted. Her son often spends time at the hotel until she finishes her shift. A co-worker convinces her to try on a guest’s designer Dolce & Gabbana coat. Mean while her son has met and bonded with senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall, Ralph Fiennes. Her son wants to go for a walk with the candidate and seeks out his mother to obtain permission. She’s wearing the Dolce & Gabbana coat, and is mistaken for the socialite who’s room she is cleaning. She decides join her son and the candidate on their walk, and the candidate quickly falls for her. She continues to hide her identity and tries to avoid him, but he continues to pursue her. She is eventually exposed, but love conquers all and proves that dreams really do come true. My favorite line in the movie is the candidate telling Caroline, who he mistakenly invites to lunch thinking she was Marisa, “The first lunch was a mistake. A second would be complete torture.”

9. Two Can Play That Game – Vivica Fox, Morris Chestnut, Wendy Racquel Robinson, Monique, Bobby Brown, and Anthony Anderson star in this movie. Vivica Fox, an Executive, and Morris Chestnut, an attorney, are dating. Their relationship is threaten when it seems Morris Chestnut is crossing the line to straying. Vivica Fox considers herself to be a relationship expert and claims to know all of a man’s tricks. She develops a plan to get Morris in line. Let the battle begin. Funny movie with an all star cast. My favorite line in the movie is Anthony Andersonn, ” The CIA ain’t got shit on a woman with a plan!”

10. Monster In Law – Jane Fonda makes her return in Monster In Law along with Jennifer Lopez, Wanda Sykes, and Michael Vartan. Jane Fonda is a newscaster that has been replaced with a younger less intelligent girl newscaster. Wanda Sykes is Jane Fonda’s assistance. To put the icing on the cake after she is replaced her son, Michael Vartan, falls in love with Jennifer Lopez. Michael is a doctor, Jennifer is a dog walker, artist, and yoga instructor. Jane Fonda does everything in her power to sabotage their relationship. She fears losing her son to a younger woman. She works to make Jennifer’s life hell and almost succeeds, until Jennifer decides to fight back. Hilarious movie. My favorite line in the movie is Wanda Sykes to Jane Fonda, “Fix your hair. You look like a damn cockatoo.”

11. An Officer and a Gentleman – This is where I fell in love with Richard Gere. Long before Pretty Woman. I do love a man in a uniform. Richard Gere stars with Louis Gossett Jr. and Debra Winger in this movie. Richard Gere plays an Aviation Officer Candidate who doesn’t see eye to eye with his training instructor Louis Gossett Jr. He also engages in a relationship with Debra Winger as he struggles to complete his 13 week training as a candidate. He’s been warned about the local girls who get pregnant or pretend they are pregnant in hopes of marrying a Navy pilot. He keeps his heart guarded, he doesn’t plan on being around longer than his 13 weeks. After graduating from the program, he plans to move on with his life and become a US Navy pilot. His heart won’t let him, he can’t leave without the woman he tried so heart not to fall in love with. Beautiful teary eyed ending. My favorite line in the movie is Debra Winger talking to Richared Gere, “You know something, you ain’t nothing special. You got no manners, you treat woman like whores and if you ask me you got no chance of being no officer.”

12. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion – Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino star as Romy and Michele in this comedy. They’ve been Besties since high school and they’re heading back to their 10 year reunion, but not before they reinvent themselves. Neither have been ambitious, so they’re not pleased with who they are or what they’ve accomplished in the last 10 years. They borrow a friend’s jaguar and head to Arizona to celebrate with old schoolmates. While in route they decide that they will tell class-mates that they invented Post its. Mira Sorvino wants to take credit on the invention and thinks Lisa Kudrow should take credit for them being yellow. Lisa thinks that is an insult to her intelligence and by the time they arrive at the reunion they aren’t speaking. Making it through the reunion and living up to the Post it scheme proves difficult. Will their friendship survive? My favorite line in the movie, Mira Sorvini mocking the movie Pretty Woman – “Aw, look, poor thing – they won’t let her shop. Yeah – like those salesgirls in Beverly Hills aren’t bigger whores than she is.”

13. Waiting to Exhale – An all star cast stars in Waiting to Exhale. This includes the late Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Gregory Hines, Michael Beach and Wesley Snipes. This story revolves around 4 African American women who share friendships through divorce, affairs with married men, an unwed pregnancy, and single parenting. They truly demonstrate that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. My favorite line in the movie, Loretta Devine to Gregory Hines, “Would you like to have dinner with us tonight? It’s just leftovers. Collard greens and corn bread, some candied yams, a little potato salad, fried chicken, peach cobbler and a few slices of ham.”

14. Sabrina – Harrison Ford just gets sexier with age. Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and Greg Kinnear star in the remake of Sabrina and do an excellent job. The movie revolves around the Larrabee family and their million dollar business. In the movie Julia Ormond is in love with Greg Kinnear; however, Julia’s father is the Larrabee family’s chauffeur. Although Julia is in love with Greg, Greg likes to play the scene. Sabrina is not on his radar. She decides to accept an internship at Vogue and travels to Paris. Once competed, she returns home a new woman in more ways than one. She attracts the attention of both David Larrabee and his older brother Linus. She also finds out that her father, the chauffeur, is worth $2.5 million dollars. Who will win Sabrina’s heart? My favorite line in the movie is from Julia Ormond to Greg Kinnear, “They say you think morals are pictures on walls and scruples is money in Russia.”

15. Steel Magnolias – What do you get when you have Dolly Parton, Sally Fields, Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts, Olivia Dukakis, and Shirley MacaLaine? Fabulous! Everyone of these ladies gave a stellar performance in this movie. They will make you laugh and they will make you cry as the prepare for Julia Roberts’ wedding day and all the festivities that go along with it. They also come together for the birth of Robert’s son and her death after her kidney transplant fails. My favorite line in the movie is Dolly Parton, ” Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marchin’ across your face.”

16. Why Did I Get Married – Another great Tyler Perry movie starring Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, and Tasha Smith to name a few. The movies revolves around four couples, who are also best friends. The rent a house in the mountains for a week to help work out any marital problems and answer the question “Why did I get married?” It ends up being a bumpy ride, the couples don’t make it a week. Ugly revelations are spewed from one having a sexually transmitted disease and giving it to her husband, a husband having an affair with his wife’s cousin, one wife being called stupid for not have a child seat belted in correctly and the child dying, to another having her tubes tied and her husband not knowing. I loved it. My favorite line in the movie from Tyler Perry, “You women are so used to losing that you don’t even realize when you have won!”

17. Working Girl – Harrison Ford teams up with Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl. Melanie Griffin is trying to work her way up the corporate ladder. She shares an idea with Sigourney Weaver who plays her boss. Sigourney tells Melanie that she discussed her idea, but the executives didn’t buy it. Melanie Griffith finds out that Sigourney plans to pass the idea off as her own. She contacts Harrison Ford to hear her idea and help her sell it. He agrees. They also feel an attraction for each other and mix business with pleasure. Things get sticky, Sigourney Weaver has her hooks in Harrison Ford and wants to take things to the next level. He’s not buying, he’s into Melanie Griffith. Melanie and Sigourney butt heads over Melanie’s idea, but Melanie is able to convince the executives that the idea was hers. Sigourney is fired, and Melanie and Jack continue their relation. My favorite line in the movie is Melanie Griffith telling Harrison Ford, “I am not steak. You can’t just order me.”

18. Pretty Woman – Richard Gere and Julia Roberts are magical together. This movie made Julia Roberts a star. Julia Roberts stars as a prostitute who is picked up by Richard Gere on Hollywood Boulevard driving a Lotus. He initially asks her to spend the, which turns into a week which turns into a lifetime. I could watch this movie over and over, which I do. Nice soundtrack and also stars Jason Alexander as Gere’s lawyer and Hector Elizondo as the Beverly Wilshire hotel manager. My favorite line in the movie is Julia Roberts to Richard Gere, “I want the fairy tale.”

19. Something To Talk About – Stars Julia Roberts, Robert Duvall, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, and Kyra Sedgwick. Julia Roberts discovers that her husband, Dennis Quaid, is having an affair. They separate and struggle to keep their marriage together. Robert Duvall and Gena Rowlands play Julia Roberts’ parents who own a horse hunting and jumping farm also have problems. My favorite line in the movie is Julia Roberts asking, “Yeah, I just want to ask how many people here has NOT had sex with my husband?”

20. Touch & Go – Stars Michael Keaton, Maria Conchita Alonso and Ajay Naidu. Michael Keaton stars as professional hockey player who is mugged by a local gang. He catches gang member Ajay Naidu, and takes him home to his mother, Maria Conchita Alonso. Alonso offers to take Keaton to lunch for his troubles. He accepts and they become close, but not without a few struggles. Ajay Naidu follows him to an away game as a stow away on the bus and Maria Conchita Alonso is attacked by one of the gang members. Keaton returns to confront the gang member who attacks her. He brings her home from the hospital, sets her up in her own business and takes their relationship to another level. Nice ending to an unlikely love story, great love story. Favorite line in the movie, Keaton telling Naidu, “I’m going to knock on all of the doors with your head.”

21. Gloria – This movie is more of a drama than a love story. I love Gena Rowlands, so any movie she plays in is a girl flick for me. Rowlands stars as a girlfriend of a mobster in Gloria. She ends up with the son of an accountant and his wife who have a hit placed on them. The accountant is an informant for the feds, but he’s also an accountant for the mob. The wife knows they’re going to die, so she asks Rowlands to take the children so they can live. The daughter won’t go with Rowlands, but the son goes with her. She vows to protect the little boy at all cost. Gena Rowlands to the mob, “You let a WOMAN beat ya, huh?”

These are fun movies to watch no matter your age. It’s nice to see some of the veterans actors at their best. Hope you can find 1 or 2 that peeks your interest or that you already love enough to curl up and watch again. Are any of the movies listed one of your favorites? If not, what’s one of your favorite girl flicks? Stay tuned for my list of all time favorite movies, which is a series of drama, additional girl flicks, and westerns. Yes, I said westerns.

Filed Under: Life-Thoughts Tagged With: Life-Thoughts

Turn It Up Tuesday – #79

March 31, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to Mother 2 Mother! It’s hard to believe, but Easter is a week away. We’re already celebrating here on Turn It Up Tuesday!

Welcome to the 79th week of Turn It Up Tuesday! Last week, we had an awesome time on Turn It Up Tuesday with 448 links – another amazing week! We’d like to thank each and every one of you for making every week so amazing! Keep sharing your amazing posts with us here on Turn It Up Tuesday!

Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic…and having fun! Link up your favorite posts (old or new) and meet some awesome bloggers in return! Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, recipes, mommy moments — anything at all. We want to laugh, be entertained, be inspired, and have a good time!

Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Our sponsor for April is Great Escapes Travel Agency.

Great_Escape_Ad_Epic_Mommy_Adventures_Blog_3

Great Escapes Travel is a full service travel agency specializing in Leisure and Group Travel.
We plan land based vacations, cruises, destination weddings, and honeymoons to U.S. destinations, as well as the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico.

At Great Escapes Travel, we are not mere order takers who book your trip and then leave you on your own. We are “Escape Artists”. As Escape Artists, we act as an adviser and a resource for our clients. We take the time to talk with our clients to really get to know them. Then we are able to create the perfect vacation experience created just for them. We provide personalized service that is tailored to meet each of our client’s needs. We work with our clients every step of the way – before, during and after the trip. We make ourselves available to our clients by phone, text, email, and Facebook. And we guarantee that someone will respond to you within 24 hours.

Are you looking to get your blog or website in front of numerous people per week? Do you enjoy Turn It Up Tuesdays? Interested in having your blog or website featured for an entire month?
Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month by clicking here!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

(from the top – left to right)

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for March!

(from the top – left to right)

Interested in being a guest host for the month or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly guest hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Latisha chose Recipe Box: Clam and Bacon Pizza from On the Home Front. “Looks and sound delicious. Would love to taste that.”

Latisha chose Discovering Grace in the Waiting from Made to Mother. “This is a very timely article for me, because I am experiencing a major season of waiting right now, and sometimes I get frustrated in my impatience. This is a good reminder to me that God has a purpose in our waiting.”

Chocolate-Cake-with-Coconut-Cream-and-Marshmallow-Buttercream-Frosting_7039-2

Mari chose Chocolate Cake with Coconut Cream and Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting from Spoonful of Flavor. “I fell in love with Ashley’s cake because I love the combinations. It looks so decadent and mouth watering! I look forward to trying it.”

Tina also chose this post. “This cake looks stunning!!!A Chocolate cake with coconut and marshmallow frosting. A yummy treat for Easter. I’m going to try this!!Thanks for sharing.”

Mari chose Dulce De Leche Cheesecake Cookies from Organized Island. “Raquel’s Dulce de Leche treat is dear to me because as a kid I use to buy these little candy triangles at the corner store made of this treat. So to find it in cookie is a must try as well!”

Tiffany chose 5 Common Blogging Crimes No Blogger Should Commit from pig & dac. “This is a post every Blogger should read. It can be so easy to make simple mistakes that will drive away Readers and Followers. Jessica points out some that have simple fixes but can do major damage.”

This post also received the most clicks.

Tiffany chose Chalkboard Eggs from Ash and Crafts. “Love This! With Easter right around the corner I am definitely happy to find an easy and no mess way to let my kiddies have decorating fun!”

Tina chose Dollar Store Moss Topiary DIY from The Organized Dream. “I love simple and affordable ideas that look nice. Great for decorating an event like a wedding,christening ! Thanks for sharing!”

Marose chose The Ugly Side of Pregnancy from An Upstream Life. “I like this post because it talks about the beginning of motherhood. It can make woman realize how special they are even if their body is changing.”

Marose chose 5 Tips for Healthier Snacking and Love with Food Review from Divas Run for Bling. “Being healthy is really important and this post would really help.”

Lisa chose Cold Brew Iced Coffee from Bowl of Happiness. “You don’t have to say coffee twice to me and Haylea’s Cold Brew Iced Coffee reached out to me as if demanding me to make this delicious drink. I’ve been on a iced coffee kick lately and heard of cold brewing but never done it so this was the sign I needed. Can’t wait to try it!”

Lisa chose How to DIY a Side Table for FREE from noSmallLife. “I love a good re-purpose project and Megan’s DIY Side Table was great and looks great in her living room and entry way. She has my wheels turning now…I think I need a side table in my sitting room!”

Victoria chose A Guide to Using Essential Oils Effectively – Infographic from Urban Naturale. “I chose this post because I have gotten into using essential oils recently and I am still learning the ropes of all of the various uses for each oil. The infographic in this post was very helpful and providing new ways to use essential oils that I probably would have never thought about.”

The-Busy-Bloggers-Method-to-Effectively-Participating-in-Linky-Parties1

Victoria chose The Busy Blogger’s Method to Effectively Participating in Linky Parties from our very own Kimberly from Being a Wordsmith. “I chose this post because it was on an interesting topic and provided some good tips. I participate in linky parties and I used to run one myself, that I plan to start again, but at times, I know they become overwhelming.”

Stacey chose Chocolate Fudge Cake: Marshmallow S’mores Dessert from Kenarry. “Oh my, this looks absolutely divine! I am a major choco-holic with a massive sweet tooth, and I have to say, so are my kids. During our summer season, we do s’mores over an open fire, whenever we cook out. This would be great for winter time, when we can’t have one of our cookouts! Thank you so much for sharing!”

Zografia chose 40 DIY Spring Easter Wreaths from The Jenny Evolution. “So many beautiful ideas in one place! A great post for finding inspiration!”

Zografia chose Spring Chicks Egg Carton Craft from Typically Simply. “I loved these chicks! Just loved them!”

Jillian chose 4 Things You Learn When Your Post Goes Viral from Budget Girl. “I love this post because I’m so super excited for Chelsey, and because she shares some fantastic tips for when your post does go viral!!”

Jillian chose How to Choose a Planner System That Is Best For You from Mama’s Got It Together. “I love my Erin Condren Life Planner, but I don’t feel planner peace, yet. I feel like I am missing something. I’m wondering if I need to use my planner binder, too. After reading this post, I realize I have more research to do for myself.”

Natasha also chose this post. “As one of my goals is to become better organized this year, I have been looking at the Erin Condren planners – however, I have yet to find planner peace. These tips really helped me to get started on finding that balance and peace and taking some time to do some research. Great post!”

Kelly chose Recipe: Tie Dye Birthday Cake!! from Hopelessly Ever After. “This colourful cake made by Kristin for her partner’s birthday is super cool. I didn’t realise just how easy it is to make a tie dye cake and this has inspired me to give it a go!”

Kelly chose Easter and Spring Home Decor Ideas from Clean Scentsible. “Talented Jenn shares her home decor ideas she has prepared for Easter. I love how Jenn has used chalkboards – her writing and drawing looks so professional! I love it.”

Natasha chose Time to Stop Wasting My Precious Time on an Unworthy Guy from Surviving and Thriving in the Second Year of My Divorce. “It’s so true – dating is a serious gamble. And the biggest gamble is knowing whether or not you want to continue giving time and energy to a relationship that can potentially go nowhere. Kat’s stories are always great…and I really enjoyed this one. Great post!”

Ginger chose Pepperoni Pizza Waffles from A Simple Pantry. “Sounds like a delicious recipe and something my niece and nephew would love to help with.”

5 Green Ways to Motivate Your Fitness Routine

Ginger chose Upcycled Cardboard Box + Fabric Remnants = Fitness Motivation from Fashionably Employed. “Simple and easy idea but super functional and cute.”

Kimberly chose Look What I Did To My Daughter’s Dolls from our very own Latisha at Ask Latisha. “This mom was so creative in her efforts to save babydolls from being naked all the time! The cake decorating option was Extreme Makeover at its best.”

March Madness Appetizers - The Mandatory Mooch

Kimberly chose March Madness Appetizers from The Mandatory Mooch. “I’m not crazy about how March Madness always preempts Young & the Restless for two days and lasts well into April. But I can probably overlook the “madness” this year because of Nichi’s awesome compilation of appetizers. So creative!”

Stop by and show some love to our featured bloggers this week! I’m sure they’d all appreciate it!

If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!

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And the Best of the Best is…

4 Things You Learn When Your Post Goes Viral from Budget Girl

5 Common Blogging Crimes No Blogger Should Commit from pig & dac

Show some love to our Best of the Best bloggers this week!!!!

Best of the Best Bloggers – make sure to showcase the button below on your blog!

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Giveaways!

Thank you so much to all that have entered to win our Essential Oils giveaway!

From Sarah at Grace in Oils: I am so excited to partner with Natasha from Epic Mommy Adventures for this awesome giveaway! We are giving away three books & three Young Living essential oils. I originally got started with Young Living and essential oils in July 2014. I did a lot of research before choosing this company. I run a blog Grace In Oils (www.graceinoils.com) where I talk about my research, how I use essential oils, and other fun things! My goal with my blog and my Young Living business is to help bring essential oils into every home. I want everyone to know they can use essential oils! While I encourage research I also offer resources to those I enroll to help empower them to get answers to their questions. I chose Young Living due to their Seed to Seal guarantee and I go into that on my blog. If you are interested in starting your journey with Young Living I would LOVE to have you be a part of my team. I fully support those I enroll via online groups, an e-series, and more! I also offer a really amazing Welcome Kit free to those who choose to become a Wholesale Member with Young Living via purchase of a Premium Starter Kit (https://beta.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/start?sponsorid=1938897&enrollerid=1938897).

A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK!

So now that you’ve met our Sponsor for the month, our hosts and guest hosts, our Featured, the Best of the Best, and our giveaway,

let’s get started!

Show some love to your hosts and co-hosts simply by following them on social media and leaving a comment so they can follow you back.
Link up as many posts as you’d like! The more, the merrier!
Check out some of the other posts and make some new friends!
Grab the button below and showcase on your sidebar! Invite your fellow bloggers to join the fun!

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Link up your posts, make some friends, and earn the chance to be featured or become the Best of the Best on Turn It Up Tuesday! We will feature the favorite posts each week! **Disclaimer: Adding your link to this link party gives permission to Epic Mommy Adventures, along with co-hosts, guest hosts, and participants of Turn It Up Tuesday, to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features, roundups, etc. with an explicit link back to the original source.**

An InLinkz Link-up

Interested in reading all of our favorite posts on Turn It Up Tuesdays – past or present? Or do want to know if your post was featured before we go live next week? Follow Natasha Peter’s board Featured on Turn It Up Tuesdays! on Pinterest.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: linky party, social networking, Turn It Up Tuesday

Turn It Up Tuesday – Week 39

June 17, 2014 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to the 39th week of Turn It Up Tuesday!

Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!

As you may know, Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic…and having fun! Link up your favorite posts and meet some awesome bloggers in return! Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, recipes, mommy moments — anything at all, as long as it is family-friendly. We want to laugh, be entertained, be inspired, and have a good time!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Bex from Futures

Bex is a fashion, beauty & lifestyle blogger from the UK. She writes about just about anything & everything: her current day-to-day life, updates on Jack, reviews, shopping hauls, books she’s currently reading. Thank you so much Bex for being our sponsor!

Are you interested in having your blog or website featured in this spot? Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month! Click here! It’s only $5 for an entire month!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for June!

(from the top – left to right)

Interested in being a guest host or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly co-hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis. We’re now accepting guest hosts for July & August.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Elie chose Strawberry Cake Doughnuts {Yellow Butter Cake Mix + Strawberry Greek Yogurt = Strawberry Cake Doughnuts!} from Cooking With K. “I loved the Strawberry Cake Doughnuts from Cooking with K! They are so quick and easy and sound delicious. Perfect for any weekend morning!”

Ce Ce also chose this post. “This is such a great idea, I have always wanted to make homemade donuts. I love food blogs! I wish I can say I’m a foodie, but I don’t cook much and I love to eat!”

Carolyn chose Loving, Supportive Parents Make Me Not Want to Have Kids from Surviving and Thriving in the Second Year of My Divorce. “I chose [this post] because it’s straight from the heart and just really honest!”

Tenns chose How To Choose a Web Host from Blog U. “This post was such a good write up on hosting companies, that I feel more confident about who I’ve chosen as my webhost. I’ll definitely be referencing this post in the future when my current hosting is up.”

Shana chose Amazin’ Vegan Flourless Black Bean Brownies from Urban Naturale. “Deborah does a great job explaining the nutritional and health benefits of the vegan ingredients in her flourless black bean brownies. It’s nice to see healthy versions of our favorite indulgent foods, and this recipe certainly fits the bill.”

Rachel chose The So Called Perfect Body from Home is Where the Heart Is. “I truly connected with this article because I felt scarred and never would have had such confidence after my pregnancy. Body issues among women is a leading topic and this message is positive and beautifully written.”

Natasha also chose this post. “It’s amazing how body image impacts us as women every day. I’ve always had issues with my body, but never more than when I went through a c-section to give birth to my son. But every day when I watch what my body was able to create, I become less and less focused on my body image and more on creating happiness in my life. Great post!”

This post also received the most clicks.

Rebecca chose Put A Pin In It – A Reader Friendly Pinterest Option from MrsTeeLoveLifeLaughter. “There are a lot of Pinterest tutorials out there but this was really helpful – and offers something a little more than just that little hover button!”

Stacey chose How to Make Butterscotch Sauce from Little House Living. “During the summer, when I was a kid, we would go to get ice cream sundae’s and butterscotch was my favorite flavor to get. Butterscotch has been discontinued at a well known fast food restaurant, so I look forward to giving this a try.”

Debbie chose Blueberry Vanilla Creme Brulee from The Crafty Side of Sarcasm. “I absolutely love Creme Brulee and have never even thought of having blueberry vanilla creme brulee, this sounds amazing and the directions were very detailed. Can’t wait to try it!”

Jillian chose Don’t take your eyes off your kid. from Little White Dinosaur. “I chose this entry because it is summer and everyone is going swimming, this is a reminder as to why we need to pay close attention to our children as they go swimming.”

Katie chose Living Flower Wreath from Oh My! Creative. “I love the look of this wreath … Just stunning! I love that it’s easy to water. And I love how original and creative this is! Perfect for summer!”

Kae chose 5 Easy Recipes while on Vacation from Eat Drink and Be Merry. “I chose that link because I liked how simple it is to make and cost efficient. Definitely something I will take forward when I go on vacation next month.”

Katy chose Caprese – The Perfect Summer Food from The Coconut Head’s Cancer Survival Guide. “Caprese is one of my absolute favorite foods, so I’m always excited to see new recipes to try and think it’s such a great fit for summer weather.”

If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!

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And the Best of the Best is…

The So Called Perfect Body from Home is Where the Heart Is

Loving, Supportive Parents Make Me Not Want to Have Kids from Surviving and Thriving in the Second Year of My Divorce

As the Best of the Best, you win free ad space on Epic Mommy Adventures for 30 days! Please showcase the badge below with pride on your blog!

Please send an e-mail to Natasha at 1EpicMommy@gmail.com and she will provide you with all the details!

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So now that you’ve seen the Featured and the Best of the Best and met our hosts and co-hosts…

let’s get started!

Show some love to your hosts and co-hosts simply by following them on social media and leaving a comment so they can follow you back.
Link up as many posts as you’d like! The more, the merrier!
Check out some of the other posts and make some new friends!

Grab the button below and showcase on your sidebar! Invite your fellow bloggers to join the fun!

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Link up your posts, make some friends, and earn the chance to be featured or become the Best of the Best on Turn It Up Tuesday! We will feature the favorite posts each week!

An InLinkz Link-up

Never miss another Turn It Up Tuesday! Sign up for reminder e-mails!

Interested in reading all of the Featured Posts on Turn It Up Tuesdays? Or do want to know if your post was featured before we go live next week? Follow Natasha Peter’s board Featured on Turn It Up Tuesdays! on Pinterest.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: social media, social media blog linky, social networking, Turn It Up Tuesday

Turn It Up Tuesday – Week 36

May 27, 2014 by Rhonda Gales

Welcome to the 36th week of Turn It Up Tuesday!

Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Angie from God’s Growing Garden

In addition to being our fabulous guest host this month, Angie is also an amazing blogger. With over 40 years experience gardening, cooking, baking & canning, Angie can definitely be considered somewhat of an expert in her field. Her blog, God’s Growing Garden, focuses on helping her fellow ‘backyard farmers’ and features some great blog hops including The Great Blog Train and Wake Up Wednesday Link Party. Angie is also celebrating her 3rd blogiversary with a big giveaway…make sure to sign up!

Are you interested in having your blog or website featured in this spot? Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month! Click here! It’s only $5 for an entire month!
Use promo code: MAYFLOWERS all month for 50% off!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for May!

Interested in being a guest host or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly co-hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis. We’re now accepting guest hosts for June and July.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

Angie chose Gardening: How To Build A Bean Teepee from Mother 2 Mother. “My Bean Teepees never seem to last the summer so I resorted to putting up a bean fence but I think that the teepee is so much more pleasing to the eye (& so cool!). This Teepee looks like it would be very sturdy & last the entire summer!”

Karen chose Pom Pom Throw Blanket from Delineate Your Dwelling. “This is a great tutorial and the finished throw looks great with the pom pom detail. I have the same pom pom maker as Amy and like her, I love using it.”

Katie also chose this post. “I love this blanket for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s a Target clearance find … My favorite kind! Second of all … I had NO idea you could buy a Pim Pom Maker! This would have saved me SO much time when I made 80 Poms for a wreath last Christmas! I may need to acquire one ASAP. Plus the Poms add so much fun to the blanket!! Such a simple upgrade, but I love the result!!”

Rhonda chose Thrift Store Lamp Makeover from Budget Girl. “I fell in love with these lamp shades when I saw them months ago, but they didn’t fit into my décor. Imagine my surprise when I found them on these beautifully made over thrift store lamps. Love them!”

Carolyn chose The Best Italian Pasta Salad Ever! from Put A Bird On It. “This recipe is perfect for summer and it really does look like it would be the BEST pasta salad ever and I can’t wait to try it!”

grapefruit and chicken salad with wasabi dressing #CIC #SpatulasOnParade

Debbie chose Chicken Grapefruit Salad with Wasabi Dressing May CIC from Spatulas On Parade. “This recipe sounds so yummy I can’t wait to try it. The ingredients are original and I never would have thought to put them together. I also love that the recipe came to be as a crazy ingredient challenge.”

Jessica chose Am I Ready to Buy A Home On My Own? from Surviving and Thriving in the Second Year of My Divorce. “What she’s going through reminded me of buying my 1st home after my divorce with the ex. It signified my independence and new life with my son who was 8 at the time. I remembered when it felt soo good to be me again! I hope she enjoys her new found identity :-).”

Gurvy chose In a rut – Feeling Fat, Frumpy, and Foolish from Failing Perfect. “I can relate, I feel fat, frumpy and foolish a lot! I thank her for reminding me it’s a choice & we have the power to change the way we feel! There is no ‘perfect’, we make ‘perfect’.”

Jillian chose Managing Emotions During Pregnancy from Snippets of Inspiration. “While I was pregnant I went through loads of emotions and having a post like this would have helped me understand my emotions much better.”

Rachel chose Upcycled Toy Horse into a Garden Sculpture from Redo It Yourself Inspiration. “I thought this was unique and amazingly well done. I would not even have known it was a toy horse had I not seen the tutorial!”

Stacey chose The Spring Cleaner Smoothie from Raia’s Recipes. “I have been blessed with a super picky eater for a child and I often worry that he doesn’t get enough of the important things that come from fruits and veggies and this is a smoothie that I think he might actually drink, I know that I sure would! Thank you for sharing!”

Starbucks Lemon Loaf by Yesterfood alt 2

Cathy chose Starbucks Lemon Loaf from Yesterfood. “My son worked for Starbucks for 3 years. My favorite sweet treat was their Lemon Cake! I can’t wait to try this recipe!”

Natasha chose The Blogging Blues from Momfever. “I have had my share of blogging blues in the past 1 1/2 years since I started blogging. It’s amazing the posts that go popular on my blog – they are mostly those posts that I write in 5 minutes, whereas the posts that I put time, love, and passion into only receives a minimal response. But I love how this post identifies those feelings and talks about how to get past it. Great post!”

blogging-and-Why-Im-Frustrated-Baby-Doodah

The post with the most clicks is Blogging And Why I’m So Frustrated from Baby Doodah.

If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!

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And the Best of the Best is…

The Blogging Blues from Momfever

In a rut – Feeling Fat, Frumpy, and Foolish from Failing Perfect

As the Best of the Best, you win free ad space on Epic Mommy Adventures for 30 days! Please showcase the badge below with pride on your blog!

Please send an e-mail to Natasha at 1EpicMommy @ gmail.com and she will provide you with all the details!

<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" title="Epic Mommy Adventures" target="_blank"><img src="http://epicmommyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/200pxturnitupbuttonbest_zps00692ef1.png" alt="Epic Mommy Adventures" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

So now that you’ve seen the Featured and the Best of the Best and met our hosts and co-hosts…

let’s get started!

Show some love to your hosts and co-hosts simply by following them on social media and leaving a comment so they can follow you back.
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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: social media blog linky, Turn It Up Tuesday

You Are Not The Father

April 29, 2014 by Rhonda Gales

You are not the father! You are not the father! I lost count of the number of times that I heard this statement while watching daytime TV today. I know that it was more times than I heard You are the father. I know I should have been spending my time more productively, but I just didn’t feel like it. Do you ever have those days that you just want to do nothing? I’ve been having quite a few lately.

I digressed back to the show. One lady had been on the show 14 times for a DNA test, 14 times. Now I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be all innocent. I’m not, and I have problems with people who can’t be real and be truthful about who they. I’ve had a good time throughout the years, but I do wonder how a woman would not know who her baby’s daddy is.

I watched these young ladies state they are 150% sure they know who the father is, but the DNA test proved otherwise. Not only were they told the young man who stood accused was not the father, they endured being called out of their name by the young men. There were young ladies who slept with brothers, fathers and sons, and some who didn’t know who they slept with because they were in a drunken stupor. Now the party is over, and reality is hitting them hard. Rather this show is real or not, incidents like this occur everyday.

I decided to switch channels and found myself in a court room watching a judge determine if the men standing before them were the fathers of children being displayed on a screen. There were more DNA tests, but there were slight differences from the other show. Some of the people in the court room were married couples and the wife strayed. There were men and women some who had hooked up years ago, but never married and the child was now seeking the truth about paternity.

Between the two shows, I started thinking about all that these young ladies would have to endure as a single mother and all that they would endure through their parenting journey. I started thinking about the young people who had gone through a part of their life not knowing the truth about who their father really was because of their mother’s poor judgement. I also started thinking about how important DNA tests had become in today’s society to determine paternity. Have we made a wrong turn in society to the point that we need a test to determine who our children’s fathers are?

Are we not teaching our children about birth control or waiting until they are married? I understand women have found a new awakening, and they don’t have a problem getting their freak on. This includes young ladies who aren’t really responsible enough to take on such a huge responsibility. I can relate to being a single parent and all the struggles as a young mother. For this reason, I stressed the importance of protecting herself and not becoming a single parent to my daughter. As mothers, we want support emotionally, financially, and physically, but if a man is not your husband they can’t be depended on to help provide those things for us.

One thing that I noticed was although the young ladies had sex with these young men, nobody was calling the young men out of their names. Some things never change, it’s the women who are looked down on. I also understand why young men want DNA tests, it seems that young ladies give themselves so freely and they do so without thinking of the repercussions. There’s enough blame to go around. As a parent, I didn’t preach absenteeism to my daughter. The chances of your child remaining a virgin until marriage are slim to none. If you’re successful in achieving that goal, my hat is off to you. I did preach about the struggle of being a single parent and the importance of protecting herself from disease and an unplanned pregnancy. I stressed the importance of educating herself, traveling and achieving her goals before she took on the responsibility of parenting. Having these conversations with you child is so important. You can’t just have them in passing, it must be a constant so it can take hold in your child’s mind.

Are you discussing sex with your child? How are you approaching it or how do you plan to approach it?

Note: Photo courtesy of stockvault.net.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Life-Thoughts, Parenting-Kids, single mothers, unplanned pregnancies

Tori Spelling Shows Off New Baby

November 12, 2012 by Rhonda Gales

Photo courtesy of People Magazine

How adorable is little Finn Davey? We’re so glad to see Tory looking so happy and healthy after experiencing complications during her pregnancy. Tory was diagnosed with placenta Previa and rushed to the hospital. Placenta Previa is normally associated with C-Sections. Another possibility for the complications could be related to how soon she became pregnant, 1 month, after giving birth to her third child. She was ordered to have complete bed rest for 4 months. Tory has stated that she is most likely done with having children.

We’re glad everything worked out for the McDermott family. Tory said she survived the experience by focusing and envisioning her holding a healthy baby.