Are you a Screamer?

Are you a screamer? How effective is that, really? We all lose our cool sometimes- although I like to think I have the patience of a saint- reality is, when I am already 15 minutes late for wrok and have a forty five minute commute to get there, still have my son trying to find his shoes, and the front door was left open so the dog has run off.... Sometimes I do yell (or as I call it, talking very firmly in a loud voice...) So, when I ran across the following article I thought, "Whew... I am not alone..." So, check it out- then tell me... How do you keep it together?

Why Parents Scream - Amy Wilson Explains Why Today's Moms Yell So Much

Author Amy Wilson wants grandparents to know why parents scream so much at their children today. The reasons might surprise you.

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Sale at Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts

I wanted to let my readers in on my sale at Mommy Tyme... I am closing out on select spring fragrances until next year, so lotions are drastically discounted, spring spritz's, certain handmade soaps, and in the spirit of the holiday season... I have cut prices on my scarves and accessories! I hope you take a minute to explore my shop and let me know what you think, what you would like to see more of, etc. I know that customers are the foundation of any good business, so what am I missing? Are there colors that you would be more interested in? fragrances? collections? baskets? gift sets?

I could sure use the advice of avid shoppers, so check out my shop, or just look at my widget below and let me know what you think....

Etsy Buy Handmade MommyTyme

Scrapbooking for Beginners- share some tips!

Scrapbooking for Beginners-

Now, I know many of the readers here are great with papercrafts, artistic, and creative. I have met most of my followers through crafting networks, so I have checked out your work! Please add tips, ideas, or even post your own work here to share with readers who may be new to this! Feel free! Promote your own work and items, as well!

Scrapbooking has been around for ages, but it has recently experienced a surge in popularity. People from all walks of life have discovered the joys of creating albums to showcase their treasured photos and keepsakes. But with all the elaborate scrapbooking techniques and myriad embellishments available, getting started can be intimidating.

The truth is, anyone that can use scissors and glue can scrapbook. And you don't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money to create attractive pages. With some basic supplies and a little imagination, you can create lovely scrapbooks that will be adored for years to come.

What You Need

You can get started scrapbooking on a small budget. Here are the things you'll need.

* An album - Scrapbooking albums come in all shapes and sizes. The most popular are 8 1/2" x 11" and 12" x 12". They can be found at most craft supply stores if you don't have a scrapbooking supply store nearby.

* Paper - Scrapbooking paper can be found in a variety of solid colors and patterns. This will be the basis for each page. You may also use scrapbooking paper for journaling and to create your own photo mats and embellishments.

* Cutting tools - You can easily get by with just a good pair of scissors. But an Exacto knife might make photo cropping easier. And if you're no good at cutting straight lines, you might want to invest in a paper cutter.

* Adhesives - There are all sorts of adhesives one could use for scrapbooking. Glue sticks and double-sided tape are quite popular. Some scrapbookers also use rubber cement or glue dots for certain applications. But when you're getting started, just use what you're most comfortable with.

* Photos - Beginning scrapbookers often start out with old photos that they've accumulated over the years. This makes for a nice, nostalgic album. Of course you can also take new pictures for your scrapbook. A digital camera and photo printer are two modern conveniences that make scrapbooking easier, but they are not necessities. Photos taken by a film camera work just as well.

When purchasing scrapbooking supplies, it's important to make sure they are acid-free. This will keep them from harming your priceless photos.

Basic Techniques

You don't have to know a lot about scrapbooking techniques to create an attractive album. Just a few simple techniques will suffice.

One of the first things many scrapbookers learn is how to mat photos. This can be accomplished by simply cutting a square or rectangle that is about a half inch longer and wider than the photo you want to mat. Then glue the photo to the center. To make a photo really stand out, double mat it by cutting out a shape a half inch longer and wider than the first mat, and center the matted photo on it.

Journaling gives scrapbook pages a nice personal touch. Simply write a note about the photos on a page, telling what was happening or sharing your thoughts on the subject. Use paper that coordinates with the background, and be sure to write with an acid-free pen.

Adding borders to your pages gives them a finished look. You can make them out of strips of coordinating scrapbook paper. You don't have to border all four sides. A strip along the top, side or bottom will do. For easy embellishing, use some stickers.

There's no need to throw in the towel if you don't have the time, money or know-how to create elaborate scrapbooks. Just start off simple, and learn new techniques as you go.

Emotional Eating!

How to Overcome Emotional Eating

Eating is a part of life. Your body gets its nutrients from food. Sometimes we can go overboard with our eating habits and it can result in gaining weight. One issue with food is emotional eating.

The problem of emotional eating may end with the scale but it begins in the mind. Stress takes its toll on your life. When your defenses are compromised your health takes a hit and so do your emotions.

Everyone has good days and bad days. How we deal with the bad ones brings emotional eating into play. You look for comfort for your hurts. People who turn to food for comfort find a coping mechanism that won’t judge them, hurt them or tell them “no.” To complicate the issue, eating pleasurable foods can stimulate the release of endorphins just like exercise. So, after you eat, you feel better.

All Health Content - For Health Marketers (medium sales page)

Emotional eaters use food to relieve stress. They hide behind the food instead of seeking solutions to the problems. This is not uncommon when the stressor is something horrible such as physical abuse or a death.

But, how do you know you are using food in this way? The first sign is obvious. You will gain weight if you eat too much. In light of the weight gain, examine other areas of your life:

* Have you been under stress lately at work or at home?
* Has anything traumatic happened in the last year?
* Are you dealing with a problem but haven’t found a solution?

Answering “yes” to any of these questions could mean that you are an emotional eater. You eat but you are not necessarily hungry at the time. The foods that you choose are what we term “comfort foods”:

* High fat foods like French fries, fried foods
* High carb foods like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes
* Sugary foods like ice cream, donuts, cookies, cake

There is help for emotional eaters. The first step is recognizing that you have a problem. You’ll experience feelings of helplessness and guilt. The guilt is over potentially ruining your health and the helplessness lies in the fact that you don’t see a way out.

Secondly, seek counseling. There are many types of counselors out there that can meet your need. Emotional eating has nothing to do with dieting or changing your eating habits but gaining control over your emotions.

A counselor might suggest things like visualization, practicing problem solving skills, relaxation techniques and family support. Visualization helps you to see your problems in a realistic way and not blown out of proportion. You will also learn to see food as nutrition for the body and not an emotional crutch.

Thirdly, your family can learn your triggers for stress and be on the lookout for changes in your eating habits. They can help you be aware of the foods you are eating, assist you in making healthy food choices and exercise along with you. Proper diet and exercise increases immunity, blood flow and positive thinking. Yoga enhances the mind/body connection so you don’t eat when you aren’t hungry.

Finding new ways to solve your problems and deal with stress will push food out of the equation. You’ll feel good about finding solutions which will replace the dependence on food.

Tips and Ideas for the Week...

Here is a link with great tips on dieting, replacing just a few items that you currently eat with something else- the result being saving several hundred calories a day and jump starting your metabolism! This is just one great resource available at this link- tips on dieting, health, signs to monitor with your health, and more... Worth a read!

http://www.qualityhealth.com/diet-weight-loss-health-center

Here are some great tips and ideas to get your kids off to healthy day at school. Complete the survey and receive free coupons, menu planners, recipe books and more! FREE! super quick and easy- takes five minutes!

https://www.qualityhealth.com/registration?path=39050&rf=39157&ct=36919&
mc=MjA2MjgwNDA.



When we talk about a new you, that is not just on the exterior, but on the interior also... Meaning spiritually, emotionally, building confidence and self esteem, getting your priorities in order, and finding peace. I think for me the ultimate transformation would be to find peace in my life. That is really hard. I have a hard time letting go of personal "warfare" or just occasionally accepting defeat and moving on.

I would love for some of the readers to share how they deal with the daily trials of their lives- is it through prayer? meditation? work? spending time with your children? do you have a hobby that lets you escape for a while? Please take a moment and share your thoughts on this to help another reader find their way to inner peace. For the next few weeks I would like to look at ways we can simplify our lives and draw on that inner sanctuary.

Feel free to leave comments... Remember, each comment brings you one step closer to winning one of the giveaways at Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts! http://www.mommytyme.org for more information!


4 Things you can Do Right Now to speed up your Metabolism! Really! This is a great article and feel free to reblog it and share it with others! Great ideas, simple to do, and really work!

https://www.qualityhealth.com/featured-article-segment?fa=101847&rf=39157&ct=36922&mc=MjA2MjgwNDA.

If you haven't checked out whats new at Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts in a while then check below:

New Scarves, neckwarmers, caplets and more for the upcoming holidays! Find the perfect gift now and save! Great sales going on at Mommy Tyme!

http://www.MommyTyme.etsy.com
http://fuzzb.com/MommyTyme


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






Hey everyone... Could you check out the great contest I entered at MIM? Since I run most of the contests here, I hardly get to participate in any! I sure would appreciate your vote on my item

Mommy Tyme at http://madeformebyoaklie.com/greatfinds.html

Some Helper's, Some Extra's

Here are some great savings, coupons, and more that I would love to share with you...





Escape in a Great Book...




Enter and Win....







Great Gift Ideas... Holidays are coming soon:






These are just a few things I wanted to share with you! If you need help, have questions, etc. Please comment and I will do my best to give you the support you need!

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.

For your skin...

As we age, we often notice those fine lines, wrinkles, discolorations... But, some of the OTC and in office medical procedures are pretty scary, right? I mean, really, you are going to inject a parasite or an infectious material into your skin? You are willing to put harsh chemicals that EAT a layer of your skin on? Wow. I am not sure I am ready for all of that. But, if you are considering chemical peels, botox, surgery... You may want to read the following articles:

Are peels safe?
https://www.qualityhealth.com/featured-article-segment?fa=102990&rf=38981&mc=MjA2MjgwNDA.&ct=36917

Skin Care Myths
https://www.qualityhealth.com/featured-article-segment?fa=470&rf=38981&mc=MjA2MjgwNDA.&ct=36918

Free EO Body lotion sample:
https://www.qualityhealth.com/registration?rf=38981&path=39355&ct=36919&mc=MjA2MjgwNDA.


You may decide to go with a more natural, less harsh approach to your beauty and skin care. The trend in the past decade has been towards a more natural, glowing skin. I.e.- the downpour of the mineral makeup, the organic make ups, etc. Well, how about some natural bath, body and lotion products. Visit my shop at http://www.MommyTyme.etsy and check out the new line of butter bars. These bars keep you hydrated with organic high grade cocoa butter, while producing a sensual bath or shower experience with rich lather, luscious skin softeners such as jojoba oil, aloe, and organic almond oil, followed with long lasting subtle fragrances (freesia, Angel, Secret Crush, or grapefruit). Or, if you order directly from the blog by sending an email to Mommytyme70@yahoo.com with Butter bar in the subject- I will give you the bar for 10% off Etsy price (that is 2.25!) What a steal!

Here are some fun things you might want to try

Spend some time with your kids and be the hit of any party!

Get your child ready for kindergarten...

To Flea Market...? It Depends on if you can Adapt

To Flea Market Or Not- The Answer is, “Really, It Depends”

Recently I wrote a blog trying to determine whether the advice everyone gives me about not using the flea market as a venue for selling my bath, body, and gift items is true or not. I was really hopeful that the flea market would serve as a great outlet for my products. So, I went ahead and signed up for one of the biggest flea markets in our area and did the show this past weekend.

It was really windy, cloudy, and cold. It rained a little here and there (just sprinkles), but I have a tent so that wasn’t too bad. There was a LOT of traffic, more than I had ever had at a show, but a lot of traffic just walked right by my booth without stopping. That became disappointing really quick, but I did not give up. Instead I started talking to every person who walked by about the weather, the day, the deals they were carrying or walking away with from other booths, etc. That got people to stop and talk for a minute. People tend to get really excited when they have found a bargain.

Typically at a show I make several small sales. My flea market day was opposite, in that I made fewer sales, but the sales were for several items each time. So, that has perks. The fee for the booth was higher than I normally pay, and I barely broke even. But, I did meet several people throughout the day that led me to future venues. I met one women who sells purses and Avon products. She linked me up with a few church bazaars that are coming up. These will be a new venue for me, also. But, I figure everything is worth a try. One or two people who buy the product, but then get on my web site to buy more, become return customers. And those are the customers I really want to make my business successful. I also met another man who sells birdhouses, he gave me a list of upcoming craft markets and their fees. Because he has done these before, he was able to tell me what to expect, the traffic, the type of people (is it a economically deprived area, is it an Amish area, are there other dealers with my types of products, etc). So that information will be very helpful in setting up my calendar for the next few months.

I took someone with me (in case I had to go to the bathroom, because it was an 8 hour day!). so, I had my friend watch my booth so I could walk around and check out other people’s set up’s. I learned that the typical set up and display I do for a show is not the best approach in a flea market setting. Generally, I set out my items in a way that shows the individually decorated boxes, puts items of like scents in groupings, post information about the high grade skin essentials and the benefits they have (i.e. shea butter, cocoa butter, list out essential oils, etc). People shopping at a huge flea market are looking for a deal, and they have a lot to look at in a short period of time. So, I noticed that most vendors had their items grouped by prices, or by category. For instance, glass ware on one table, pottery on another table, etc. etc. So, I wrote down several ideas for my next flea market (I am not ready to throw the towel in yet!). I came home and decorated shoe boxes with pretty papers and scrapbook embellishments. Each box will contain a different group of items when I flea market. For example, fragrance soaps in one box, lined up with the scent written on the end of the soap box and easy for the customer to see. Another will contain herbal soaps, etc. I also decorated some large baskets with bows and these will house my lotions in one, my hair care products in another, etc. Another idea for the flea market is to offer a deal of 3 items for a discounted price, and ensure that the sign states the savings for the individuals. That is what the flea market is about – the deal.

So, the conclusion from my experience is not to say that the flea market is a bad idea for the crafter. Rather the flea market is another opportunity for the crafter to network, meet people, get their name out there, hand out flyers and cards, get people to sign up for the email list, and to sell. However, the crafter must adapt their presentation to the setting by making it easy for the shopper to see the products quickly, easy to recognize the bargain, easy to access the information about the products that they need and the focus needs to be on the savings! So, I have another flea market on 6/20 and I will let you all know if these changes to my presentation make a difference in sales! Wish me luck. If you have any more ideas on how to make sales increase in this setting, let me know. I love comments and feedback!

Come back to my blog next week- The topic is going to be “How to get people to sign up for your contact-email list”

Visit Mommy's Tyme web site to enter a great drawing, get information, participate in discussions, even chat live with other viewers... Find links and topics on child care, family, parenting, marriage, recipes, skin care, beauty, and general ways to make your life a little easier... Free patterns, and more

www.mommytyme.org

Check out the new Web site

Please take some time today and check out the Mommy Tyme website- Brand New and Listed Today!

Lots of information, discussions, questions, links, link up to the marketplaces and shop right from the site....

I created this web site for Mommy's... Tell me what you want on there, and that is what I will post...

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and browse for ways to de-stress and simplify your life. Find patterns, products, advice and more...

Sign in at the guestbook and tell me what types of information you would like to see posted in the future.

Updated weekly!

http://www.mommytyme.org


Remember- The new product contest is still open! Send your entries to Mommytyme70@yahoo.com