Well, besides my pursuit of the perfect Handmade Holiday, there is also the meal planning and festivities to think about (it's not all gifts, you know...)! One problem, or consideration, when YOU are the host, is what to serve? These days it is hard to just do a traditional turkey or ham because there are so many diet variations that people adhere to. In my family, I have one set of vegetarians, and another set who only eat organic (including meat)! Now, I don't have cows or pigs to slaughter, so that is a little difficult for me to do. I have, however, located some pretty fun recipes on the web. I am going to share these with you over the next few weeks- if you try ANY of them, please share with us! As a mom who works full time out of the house, and trying to run my own in house business, plus taking classes- I really don't get to cook to much! In fact, weekends I cook everything up for the entire week- freeze some of it- and we live off of that Monday thru Friday!
So, if you do use the recipes I list here, they are GREAT!, let us know! If they land everyone in the ER with stomach pain, let us know!

So, here we go...

For the vegetarians I found this great little site that has tons of vegetarian recipes. You can actually plug in ingredients you want to use, and it will pull up recipes that use those for you! Very cool....

http://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/category/vegetarian.php

now, remember to think of yourself during the holidays! Don't let the entire event become overwhelming and you run yourself into the ground, either! There are lots of things you can do to beat the stress! I found a great site with a few tips that can really help! check this out!

http://www.qualityhealth.com/featured-article-segment?fa=179&rf=41138&mc=MjA2MjgwNDA.&ct=36928

Hey, if you have ideas or thoughts on beating stress, share them here with us, too! We could all use a little down time for ourselves! Remember, you can always stop by Mommy Tyme and grab yourself a handmade soap or foaming bubble bath, and retreat to your tub for an hour with a good book! Check out the new serenity bar with essential oils known to calm and relax! On sale now at http://www.MommyTyme.etsy.com

Get Organized and De Clutter

Home Organization 101: Easy Steps to a Clutter Free Home

When you first move into your home it seems like you have so much space. As the years pass, you might find yourself becoming a pack rat. What are you going to do with all the stuff you have accumulated? Perhaps it’s time to weed out the unnecessary items and organize your home.

Home organization is a step-by-step process. It will take more than a day or even a week to get everything to a manageable level, but once you do staying organized is an easier task. If you have a family, enlist their help. They can pitch in and learn a thing or two about controlling clutter in their life.

1. Start with the high traffic areas. The living room and kitchen are usually the two most used rooms in the house. Everything gets dropped on a counter or the couch in these two places. Concentrate on getting everything set up the way that you like it before moving on to another room.

2. Use storage containers. Over the years, the style of storage containers has upgraded to be pretty as well as functional. Instead of storing containers in stacks in the garage, purchase ones that match your décor in each room and integrate them so that no one would even notice they were being used for storage.

3. Divide items into categories. You can use heavy duty trash bags for this part. Everything that you find can go into a pile: KEEP, THROW AWAY, GIVE AWAY, and RELOCATE. Items that will stay in that room are to keep. Things that you don’t need or are broken can be thrown away. Clothes or furniture still in great condition can be donated and scheduled for pickup by the Veteran’s association or Goodwill. Anything that definitely belongs in another room can be labeled for relocation when you get to that room.

4. Remove everything from drawers and cabinets. This is a time-consuming process but it is easier to start with an empty space and fill it instead of simply pushing things around. If you line things up on the counter, someone else can help by putting the items in some type of order.

5. Make use of all of your available space. In the kitchen, for example, appliances or extra containers can be stored on top of the cabinets provided they don’t extend all the way to the ceiling. That’s extra storage space without benefit of a storage container. Also use the top of the refrigerator for cereal boxes and breakfast food like boxes of instant oatmeal or grits. In the bedroom, shoes and winter clothes can go into flat storage bins that slide easily under the bed or the dresser.

6. Label your containers. Use tape and a permanent marker to identify the contents of your storage containers. Avoid writing on the actual container in case they are reused and the contents are changed. Labeling also makes for easy identification if you decide to sell or give away a container of books or something. You won’t have to open each container to locate them.

Organizing your entire house takes time. But, once it is done, returning everything you use to its proper place will maintain that same level of organization.

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All Mom Content

From the Mishaps of Mommy Blog- Excerpt

Well, here it is September.... I have been very busy with the blogs this month! I hope you have learned and benefitted from some of the tips, links, and ideas we have shared here! I also hope you have had the chance to check out some of my other blogs-
Mommy's Reviews you Can Use at http://mommysreviewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com
A New You at http://mommytymeswordsofwisdom.blogspot.com

Each of these blogs has different content to help you with your life, family, business, etc. So, please give them a view!

Also, as a new business owner, salesperson, handmade/handcrafted artisan, you may still find the market a tough nut to crack! I know I do! Some weeks are great, while others I feel like I am just wasting time- but, patience and diligence are the keys! So, keep moving forward!

Last month on the web site at http://www.mommytyme.org I gave away several free sample products for my contest/drawing- and the winner has been announced- visit the site and see who it is!



This month, again, I am offering a free gift for participating in the contest that runs between all of my blogs and the site! Up for grabs - an extra large, 50unce, butter Bath Bar- these great bars are jam packed with skin loving essentials like organic jojoba oil, honey, shea butter, a heaping scoop of organic cocoa butter, kokum butter, lanolin, vegetable glycerin and more! Moisturize while you shower or bathe! These come in fantastic, rich, long lasting scents that you will love! I will be giving one bar away every 10 days until October 10th! So, check back often and see if your announced! Then just contact me with the shipping address!







So, here are the new entry rules for the Butter Bar Giveaway:

1. Follow Mommy Tyme on Twitter - see the follow me button below (I will follow you back!)



2. Follow the blog
3. Sign the guestbook at the website http://www.mommytyme.org
4. Use the share button below - simply share this with at least 3 places (facebook, twitter, digg, etc. any of the choices listed, or you can share with the same site 3 times- it does not matter to me!)

Once you have done that, your name goes into the drawing bowl! That's it, that's all! To ensure your name is entered (in case you have any doubts) you can ask for confirmation in a comment on any of my blogs, or you can request confirmation in the guestbook at the site, or you can even email me at Mommytyme70@yahoo.com

Good luck!


More opportunities- Do you write well? Would you love to share a story about your WAH? Your opportunities you offer? Your items? etc? Do you have an article that women can benefit from? Well, write me an article for the website! Submit your article to Mommytyme70@yahoo.com and if I use it on the site, you will receive free Banner advertising with a link for as long as I use the article! You can write about your work, your items you create, offer a free pattern, recipe, whatever. I am open to take in all types of content! This is a great chance for more exposure for you, and for your business!


Finally- Interested in posting a link on my shopping pages of the website? It's simple! Just pick up one of my banners listed below, - post it on your site or blog with my link



Link to : http://mishapsofmommy.blogspot.com



http://mommytymeswordsofwisdom.blogspot.com





http://www.mommytyme.org



then send me an email with your banner and link and let me know where I can find mine on your site! That is it! I love reciprocal advertising and banner exchanges!

Fall Into the Holidays Sale at Mommy Tyme

Huge storewide sale going on At Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts! Get ready for the Holidays Early! So many new items, and several gifts under 5.00!
Free gift with every 10.00 or more purchase.
The more you buy, the greater the shipping discount!

Each new customer will receive a coupon for future use worth 15% off!

Check out what is new, what is on sale, and find the perfect gift at http://www.MommyTyme.etsy.com or http://fuzzb.com/MommyTyme


Find more photos like this on Artisans/Jewelry Designers Ltd.

Patience vs. Ambition Where is the line drawn?

I read a fantastic blog today that questioned readers to think about patience, and when is patience too much? The writer was referring to patience in your business, your family, and in relationships. I really thought about this, and the writer had some really in depth views. I wanted to share my personal vision of patience, and ask all of you to really dive into yourself and think about it also... Sometimes we get so busy with the realities of life, we don't stop and appreciate the life we are scurrying so hard to create! I have included the link at the bottom from the original blog post on this topic. I encourage to read it and truly examine yourself. You will be given the opportunity to join the social network when you attempt to comment on the original blog- Sign up! It's a great network, lots of interesting opportunities, and you can never have too many friends, right? On the questionnaire tell them Mommy Tyme (Valerie Poling) Referred you! I have included a social network link to the left, also!

Link: http://sta.rtup.biz/



There is a reason why patience is referred to as a virtue and not a characteristic. Patience is a quality most people do not have, unfortunately. In the hustle and bustle world of this generation, too many people are seeking immediate gratification and not willing to wait for the true pay off. Relationships are victims of the same pitfall... Everyone wants the "dream" yesterday, but realistically, once that ideal achievement is met, what comes next?
People always want the greener side, or the life they don't have. Thus the root of all evil, envy, emerges. How many people can truthfully say they are happy with what they have and where they are in life? Very few. That isn't because they are suffering or struggling, for most it is because they want more... Another sign of evil, gluttony!
The ability to wait patiently for the rewards of life IS a virtue. The ability to enjoy your moment, enjoy your family, your friends, your home, and your life right here and right now is a skill that requires reflection. You must be able to look at your past, see how far you have traveled, and appreciate the road you took. Not just easy paths, but the ones that helped to build your attributes, your characteristics, and your empathy.
However, appreciating your moment does not mean you stop and stand still. It is human nature to need challenge and to strive to be better. So, the real challenge is to continue down your road, looking for opportunities that will lead you down different paths, and to put your best foot forward to reach the next crossroad. But, remember to take in the view as you go....