Piggy Paints Coupon Code
March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment
A few months ago I wrote a review of a non-toxic nail polish called Piggy Paints.
The company was kind enough to extend a coupon code to Natural Moms Talk Radio listeners. Cool 
At checkout, simply enter code:
NATMOM20L
This expires May 1, 2009 so don’t dilly dally!
Natural Moms Podcast #119
March 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment
My guest this week is Patrice London.
Patrice is a Christian unschooling mom of 3 and a doula in training.
In her book Empowered to Birth Naturally, she shares the story of her 3 births. The first took place in a hospital, the second at a birthing center, and the third at home.
I loved Patrice’s book because in a straightforward, nonjudgmental way, she illustrates from personal experience how much our attitudes affect our birthing experiences, and how interfering with the natural childbirth process really does become a “slippery slope” leading to more interventions.
You can find her book at Amazon.com
EMPOWERED TO BIRTH NATURALLY: One Woman’s Journey to Homebirth
Fake Plastic Trees
March 28, 2009 | 3 Comments
… and other junky plastic-y things. 
One of my subscribers wrote to tell me that her biggest challenge is:
“Trying to defend our choice to stay away from junky plastic toys.”
Do you have any suggestions for her?
photo credit: stellar678
Salad Saturday: Lentil Salad
March 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment
If you like this, may I recommend the 365 Salad Recipes ebook for even more healthy, delicious salad recipes?
Delicious Lentil Salad
Ingredients:
1 cup brown lentils
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup red onions, diced
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
½ tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup celery stalks, diced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper, freshly ground
Instructions:
Put the lentils, carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaf and thyme in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring mixture to a quick boil, lower heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 – 20 minutes or until the lentils are cooked (don’t let them get mushy).
Remove the bay leaf and after draining the lentil mixture, combine with lemon juice, celery and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and mix gently.
Enjoy with fresh crusty bread!
Homeschooling Your Child With Special Needs
March 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Once an unthinkable idea, more and more families are pulling their children with special needs out of the public school system and are homeschooling them. Their diagnoses can range from ADD, ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, and dyslexia to medically fragile.
Many families spend a lot of time and energy “fighting the system” to get an inclusive education for their children. Homeschooling is the most naturally inclusive way to educate a child there is. Instead of being segregated in a room with similar functioning peers, they have the opportunity to interact and learn from their families and in the community.
Your child will have the freedom to learn at his/her own pace without the potential stigma of being in a special education class, or being warehoused in a resource room. You can tailor the curriculum around what motivates and inspires him or her.
Does teaching a child with special needs require specific training or a master’s degree? No. As a parent, you are your child’s first and best teacher. With the amazing amount of information at our fingertips in the Information Age, parents can easily find the help and information they need to homeschool.
You will need support. HSLDA.org is a great place to start. It answers frequently asked questions and has a great list of resources. They have two special needs coordinators who will be more than happy to spend time on the phone with you and help point you in the right direction. (You do need to be a member, the fee is a very nominal $8 per month.) A local teacher or consultant who is supportive of homeschooling will also be beneficial.
Here are a few additional helpful resources to check out:
The Home School Starter Kit (includes copy of Home Schooling Children with Special Needs, a CD-ROM entitled Understanding and Teaching Struggling Learners, a DVD of Program Planning for the Special Needs Child Workshop and an accompanying Curriculum Planning Guide from Almaden Valley Christian school. They also offer nationwide consulting services.
Christine Field has written several good homeschooling titles including Homeschooling the Challenging Child and Help for the Harried Homeschooler.
Sue Patrick has developed a workbox system inspired by her experiences teaching her child with autism and also offers consulting services. This is a great system to help you get organized and increase your child’s self control and independence. It has been the talk of my homeschool community the last few weeks.
Homeschooling your child with special needs can be tough, but may also be the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done.
Marya Mesa is living the chaotic suburban life in the Tampa Bay area with her husband, four children (two of whom have learning disabilities and one has Down Syndrome) and assorted pets. You can read her blog at http://www.suncoastmom.com
Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half
March 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Susanne Myers of The Hillbilly Housewife is up to her usual tricks. Her blog is full of frugal recipes for home cooked meals and other tricks for saving money at this homemaking gig.
She’s just put together a free report called “How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half“. 
She is offering it as a free download here. (No opt in or obligation required.) Who couldn’t benefit from a few of these tips? I’m reading my copy right now.
And in case you missed it in the newsletter, you can get a copy of her Freezer Cooking Made Simple here too. (This is a .pdf file and opens in a new window, you can right click on the link to save it.)
**** Edited ****
When I sent this link out to my subscribers, one wrote back immediately and expressed her concern that the recipes found within were hardly compatible with a whole foods diet.
“Beenie Weenies? ewwww! I don’t think this is something you should promote. It sullies your good name. Huge fan of the show.”
Supportively,
A Mom
I really appreciate the honest feedback from my listeners! To be frank, I had the same thought as I was reading the report… but then I realized that the recipes can be altered to be more healthy. We whole foods eaters are accustomed to having to change recipes around. For example, my kids love the uncured buffalo franks and I feel totally comfortable giving them those.
Also, the principles of saving money at the grocery store are helpful, no matter what the specific diet. Susanne has a lot of healthy recipes on her blog, HillBillyHousewife.com
Make Money Online This Year
March 25, 2009 | 1 Comment
Moms: Make Money Online This Year
Becoming a mom – it’s the most life-changing event we go through. Our children become the center of our lives, and we must make adjustments in our schedules and priorities make sure they’re cared for. Instead of hiring nannies or using day care services, more and more moms are choosing to start their own online businesses so they can be there for their kids and still contribute to the family income.
This is especially true right now during the tough economic times we’re living in. Even if you’re comfortably existing on one income, you may find yourself on no income soon enough if your husband gets laid off, downsized, rightsized, outsourced or whatever they’re calling it these days.
Do you have the recommended 6 months’ living expenses tucked away in savings in preparation for this event? Statistics show many of us do not. This is all the more reason for mom to look for ways to make money online before the disaster strikes.
Starting an online business has a number of advantages for moms. These include:
* Start-up costs can be kept low. So even if you are not currently working outside the home, starting an online business is usually within reach with small adjustments to the budget. Setting up a website means acquiring a domain name and hosting space – and with tools like WordPress available at no cost, you can literally be up and running for around $20.
For a limited time, Reliable Webs is even offering FREE WordPress blog installations with new hosting accounts. You can be up and running with a brand new site for around $8.
You will also want to invest in some education. Learning the basics of how to market your website online are not difficult, but be careful where you get your information.
The Natural Mom Business Guide is one solid source of info. It includes an ebook with detailed information about researching your target market, the various ways to make money with a website, and how to get the traffic you need to earn income. It even has video and audio tutorials as well as printable “cheat sheets” you can keep by your computer to remind you of the essential steps you need to take in your business to build traffic and make more income. This is the guide I created that outlines how I began a profitable online business. So I know it’s good.
* Doing business online doesn’t require one to keep regular hours. You can work early in the morning before the kids get up, during the baby’s nap, or late at night when everyone is in bed. And with the automation that the Internet has to offer, orders can be processed and virtual products delivered while you are sleeping or taking care of the kids.
* You can get some work done with the kids right by your side. Older children may even be able to help you with simple tasks. Did you know that the IRS allows you to deduct wages (up to a certain amount) paid to a child who is age seven or older to work in your home business from your taxes? I have even trained my oldest son to add articles to my websites. He earns a nice wage for doing so, far more than an allowance, and is providing a valuable service to me.
There are all sorts of online businesses that are great for moms. You could sell your crafts or start a recipe website, or you could start a podcast. You might offer services such as writing, transcription, web design or virtual assistance to customers around the world. Or you could create and sell information products. Even blogging offers impressive money-making potential. The possibilities are many, and there’s sure to be something out there that’s just right for any mom.
Moms make up a large portion of the people who are making money online. This allows them to take a hands-on approach to raising their children while still making money to support the household. They don’t have to count on a sitter to take care of their children’s needs, and they don’t have to make a commute part of their daily routine. It’s no wonder that the number of moms starting online businesses is growing in leaps and bounds.
If you need some assistance choosing a niche, get some coaching from another mom who is earning money with her online business. I offer coaching and you can get more information about my services here. I also highly recommend group coaching and learning as well as networking with Mom Masterminds.
If you have questions about earning money online, please ask below!
I Have Bag Under My Eye
March 25, 2009 | 2 Comments
Oh wise blog readers, can you help me solve a problem?
I have bag under my eye. Not bags, mind you, as in under both eyes. Just under one.
photo credit: Look Into My Eyes
Anyone know why I am having this phenomenon? The eye in question is my right eye. I sleep on my back or on my LEFT side generally, and I use two pillows.
Any ideas?
I am intentionally drinking more water and for the next few days am going to avoid salting my food to see if that helps. Any more thoughts?
Also, my brown eyes have been turning hazel for some time now. Anyone else have this happen? Apparently it’s quite common and has no real implications in terms of health.
Don’t mind me, I’m just having a bit of an existential crisis about no longer being a “brown eyed girl”.
Wordless Wednesday: Milk Run
March 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Let Me See Your Face
March 23, 2009 | 1 Comment
Have you noticed that on some blogs, faces show up alongside their comment as a small avatar?
When I log in to this blog, I see those avatars for many of the commenters.
You can go to Gravatar and upload a small picture and YOUR face will show up – it is linked to the email address you use to leave a comment.
Go register so I can see your face
