I keep seeing on Pinterest and these other mom blogs about making your own chalk. I guess I just don't really get it? Is it that far of a drive to your local Dollar Tree? Just so you all know its $1 there.
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Make your own chalk
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I hope you step on a Lego
You know you have thought it. That moment when you and your hubby are in a deep sleep and all of a sudden... the baby starts crying. Your laying there hoping he heard the baby, he is laying there hoping you heard the baby and then all of a sudden...
HE TAKES HIS LEG AND CASUALLY KICKS YOU (BUT RATHER HARD) THEN PRETENDS LIKE HE IS SLEEPING.
Well to all you husbands out there... we hear the baby crying. We just hope that you will get up without having to be asked. When you do that casual kick, we feel and we are awake. And in that moment we just... hope you step on a Lego.
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Yummy Low-Cal Desserts
Yummy Low-Cal Desserts
Desserts help to complete a meal, especially on special occasions. Whatever terrific main course you plan to serve, it is important to include a dessert in the meal plan as the capstone. The idea of dessert may bring to mind overindulgence. This is because many of the traditionally popular desserts like ice cream, cake and toppings tend to contain a high amount of sugar and fats. However, eating dessert can be a pleasurable experience and doesn’t have to leave you feeling guilty about high calorie intakes. All you need to do is ensure that you pick recipes with reduced amounts of sugar and fats, to keep the calorie count low. Be sure to choose recipes with health-promoting ingredients as well. By paying close attention to the nutritional value, your desserts can help to promote a healthy diet. Here are a couple of yummy low-calorie desserts you may want to try:Healthy Makeover Brownies
If you love all-things chocolate, this is a simple dessert you may want to make. It has a rich texture and delightful chocolaty flavor but is low in calories. Nonfat cocoa is used in place of chocolate and cholesterol-free spread as a substitute for butter. This makes the healthy makeover brownies a healthy alternative to regular brownies, which are high in calories, fat and cholesterol. The recipe requires a time commitment of 35 minutes, including preparation time of 15 minutes.Nutritional Information
- Calories – 95
- Total fat – 3 grams
- Cholesterol – 0
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder or granules
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup trans fat-free cooking oil spread
- 3 egg whites
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350degrees Fahrenheit. Apply grease on the inside of an 8-inch by 8 inch metal baking pan. Place the coffee and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Stir with a spoon to dissolve.
- Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt on wax paper.
- Place the sugar, coffee mixture, vegetable oil spread and egg whites in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until the mixture has a uniform color.
- Add in flour mixture. Mix until the bowl contents have a uniform consistency. Spread mixture into baking pan.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack. Allow to cool for two hours.
- Cut the brownies into 16 equal squares.
Quick Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes
This is a great recipe for chocolate and cheese lovers. The fruit jam topping is made from real fruit with no additional sugar or preservatives, which is a good source of vitamins and minerals. In just 10 minutes, this recipe will give you a real treat. You’ll get 12 mini cheesecakes from this recipe.Nutritional Information
- Calories – 61
- Total fat – 3 grams
- Cholesterol – 3 milligrams
Ingredients
- ¼ cup semi-sweet or bittersweet melted chocolate chips
- ½ cup part-skim ricotta cheese
- 12 chocolate wafer cookies
- 1 tablespoon 100 percent fruit jam
Directions
- Melt the chocolate on medium for one minute in a microwave. Remove and stir, then microwave on same setting for about 30 seconds. Remove and stir again. Repeat process until chocolate is fully melted. Alternatively, you may place hot water in the lower compartment of a double boiler and place chocolate in the top compartment. Stir the chocolate until it is all melted.
- Place ricotta and melted chocolate in a small bowl. Mix until you achieve a uniform consistency.
- Spread out the wafers on a large tray.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of chocolate-ricotta mixture and spread on each wafer. Top each wafer with about ¼ teaspoon jam.
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I'm Pregnant and I know it!
I came across this video today online and the first thing that came to mind was "Oh no she didn't!" but a couple seconds into the video I could not stop laughing.
The mommy you see is 38 weeks pregnant and she is bouncing around better than I could not with no baby bump. What do you think? Funny or just plain wrong?
I think... FUNNY. :)
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Are Your Kids Ready for a Visit to the Theatre?
Going to the theatre is a great way to spend time with the family - that is, if your children are ready for the experience. Theatre shows tend to last a few hours, which is more than most smaller children can handle with their short attention spans. However, if you recognize the following traits in your children, you will know that they are ready for a trip to the theatre.
* Your child is able to sit through a movie with little or no interruptions. In addition to lasting a few hours, a theatre environment requires silence and stillness. If your child is able to sit still and remain quiet for long periods of time, then a trip to the theatre might be feasible.
* Before bringing your children on a trip to the theatre, teach them the basics of behaving appropriately within a theatre environment. Since the theatre is frequented by many adults, inappropriate behavior such as crying and jumping up and down will not be tolerated. In many instances, you will be asked by theatre personnel to leave the premises if your child does not settle down.
* If your child enjoys music and dancing, the theatre is a great place to take them to enjoy a show. Children who express interest in music and dancing usually do well at the theatre because they are enthralled in the performance.
* Theatres usually have dress codes. The dress code is not typically fancy, but it does require dressing up for the occasion. Children who are not comfortable in dresses or slacks may be comfortable at the theatre and may tend to fidget more.
While many children do not mind dressing up, there are some who will protest. Rather than make your child uncomfortable and open up the door for inappropriate behavior at the theatre, it may be best to wait a little while before attempting to visit the theatre.
The theatre is an enjoyable experience for both children and adults. The lights, music and dancing are usually enough to keep even the most impatient children glued to their chairs. Before attempting to take your child on a trip to the theatre, make sure that they understand the appropriate behaviors and actions for a theatre performance.
It will also be to your benefit if your child has an interest in music and dancing, as well as not minding being dressed up for the occasion. If you feel that your child is ready for the theatre, take them along and enjoy the show!
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Hi! I'm Ciera, the face behind SwankyMomsClub.com. I live in Dothan, Alabama with my husband, three children and our mischievous dog Harley. To read more about me and my family just click the Meet Ciera tab at the top of the page! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to subscribe to our site using Google Connect (top left) or Networked Blogs (top right). Do you have something totally fabulous that you think is worth blogging about? Email me, I want to hear about it. Do you own a business? Check out how you can advertise with us!
* Your child is able to sit through a movie with little or no interruptions. In addition to lasting a few hours, a theatre environment requires silence and stillness. If your child is able to sit still and remain quiet for long periods of time, then a trip to the theatre might be feasible.
* Before bringing your children on a trip to the theatre, teach them the basics of behaving appropriately within a theatre environment. Since the theatre is frequented by many adults, inappropriate behavior such as crying and jumping up and down will not be tolerated. In many instances, you will be asked by theatre personnel to leave the premises if your child does not settle down.
* If your child enjoys music and dancing, the theatre is a great place to take them to enjoy a show. Children who express interest in music and dancing usually do well at the theatre because they are enthralled in the performance.
* Theatres usually have dress codes. The dress code is not typically fancy, but it does require dressing up for the occasion. Children who are not comfortable in dresses or slacks may be comfortable at the theatre and may tend to fidget more.
While many children do not mind dressing up, there are some who will protest. Rather than make your child uncomfortable and open up the door for inappropriate behavior at the theatre, it may be best to wait a little while before attempting to visit the theatre.
The theatre is an enjoyable experience for both children and adults. The lights, music and dancing are usually enough to keep even the most impatient children glued to their chairs. Before attempting to take your child on a trip to the theatre, make sure that they understand the appropriate behaviors and actions for a theatre performance.
It will also be to your benefit if your child has an interest in music and dancing, as well as not minding being dressed up for the occasion. If you feel that your child is ready for the theatre, take them along and enjoy the show!
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Commercial Day
My little princess was invited to participate in a commercial for Formally Yours. It is a local formal shop in our hometown that also happens to be owned by two of my lovely sisters. They designed my daughters heirloom dress for the Little Miss Houston County pageant and wanted her to wear it. We went to the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens for the shoot and it was just beautiful. It was so incredibly hot outside though.
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Hi! I'm Ciera, the face behind SwankyMomsClub.com. I live in Dothan, Alabama with my husband, three children and our mischievous dog Harley. To read more about me and my family just click the Meet Ciera tab at the top of the page! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to subscribe to our site using Google Connect (top left) or Networked Blogs (top right). Do you have something totally fabulous that you think is worth blogging about? Email me, I want to hear about it. Do you own a business? Check out how you can advertise with us!
Madison absolutely loved it. She was so thrilled to be able to participate and she loved the fact that she was checked out of school a little early. She proudly informed her class that she was leaving because she was going to be in a commercial. :)
She was also really excited because she got chosen as the "Good Citizen" for the month of March and is going to be having lunch next week with her principal at a local restaurant.
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Those Crazy Pageant Moms
I am sure that you have seen at least a clip of a Toddlers & Tiaras episode, if not an entire episode. You see some normal folks and then some absolutely crazy "pageant moms" that give the rest of us a pretty bad rep. Well not all pageants or "pageant moms" are created equal, I can tell ya that.
My daughter has never really been into pageants. This is my sad face -----> :-( I have always wanted her to do pageants but I never wanted to be "that mom" so I never really pushed it. Well she finally decided she wanted to do one. Woohooo! The pageant she chose to do was Little Miss Houston County which happens to be a preliminary pageant to the Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant. Yes, a pageant associated with peanuts. Stop judging me!
No really, the National Peanut Festival is a pretty big deal where we live. Dothan is known as the "Peanut Capitol of the World". Well really I don't know who else knows that except the lovely residents of the Wiregrass but we know it and that's all that matters. Anyway, to be eligible to compete at the Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant you have to win your town or county preliminary pageant. Based on where we live, Madison is eligible to compete at Little Miss Houston County and Little Miss Dothan.
They have a few practices to help the girls prepare. This was my little princess and my husband while we were getting her ready for her first "official" practice.
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Hi! I'm Ciera, the face behind SwankyMomsClub.com. I live in Dothan, Alabama with my husband, three children and our mischievous dog Harley. To read more about me and my family just click the Meet Ciera tab at the top of the page! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to subscribe to our site using Google Connect (top left) or Networked Blogs (top right). Do you have something totally fabulous that you think is worth blogging about? Email me, I want to hear about it. Do you own a business? Check out how you can advertise with us!
My daughter has never really been into pageants. This is my sad face -----> :-( I have always wanted her to do pageants but I never wanted to be "that mom" so I never really pushed it. Well she finally decided she wanted to do one. Woohooo! The pageant she chose to do was Little Miss Houston County which happens to be a preliminary pageant to the Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant. Yes, a pageant associated with peanuts. Stop judging me!
No really, the National Peanut Festival is a pretty big deal where we live. Dothan is known as the "Peanut Capitol of the World". Well really I don't know who else knows that except the lovely residents of the Wiregrass but we know it and that's all that matters. Anyway, to be eligible to compete at the Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant you have to win your town or county preliminary pageant. Based on where we live, Madison is eligible to compete at Little Miss Houston County and Little Miss Dothan.
They have a few practices to help the girls prepare. This was my little princess and my husband while we were getting her ready for her first "official" practice.
My sister owns a formal shop and does pageant coaching so in the weeks leading up to this we did a few practices with her since Madison had never really done this before. The night before the pageant we went for one last practice.
My little guy decided he was going to practice too --- notice the lovely pageant heels. LOL
The morning of the pageant she did an interview with the judges. This is just an opportunity for them to get to know the girls. All of the girls were given a pageant T-Shirt to wear with jeans. We just added a few girly touches to ours. My sweet husband was very involved --- he even went with us to pick out the fabric to add to her shirt.
He also went with us and sat through her hair appointment. Gosh I love this man. :) He was the only man in a room full of moms and pageant contestants.
At this pageant, they don't wear the glitzy dresses. They wear heirloom dresses instead. They also have an onstage question. All the Little Miss contestants had the same question which was "What makes you special?"
Here is my little princess with her two Aunts.
The pageant was a blast. She didn't win but she had so much fun and I was so proud of her. I thought she did an amazing job for her first real pageant. When we went back to the dressing room for her to change back into her regular clothes she looked up at me and said "Mommy it doesn't matter if you win or lose it just matters if you try!"
There is so much that we try and teach our kids and so much we actually learn from them. :)
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WooHoo for the time change!
Want to know what I love about the time change? The fact that I can hit the Walking Trail with my husband after work. Today after we closed the shop we went over to walk the trails with my little guy in the jogging stroller and I came home feeling SO GOOD! It is always nice to have that uninterrupted time with my husband with no computer, no phones and no tv. About a mile into the walk the little guy was out cold! We walked the trails for about a hour and half and then came home. The only thing I can complain about is that my allergies are absolutely killing me now.
Save $10.00 at L.L. Bean
Receive a FREE $10.00 Gift Card for L.L. Bean when you make a purchase of $50.00 or more!
Free Lanome Genifique Sample
I just received this sample coupon in an email today and wanted to share with you Swanky Moms!
Save Money at Bob Evans
This Swanky Mom does not cook that often. :) Now through March 23rd, 2012 you can save $3.00 off a purchase of $10.00 or more at Bob Evans. Print your coupon here.
Save $25.00 at Lane Bryant
Valid through March 25th, 2012 --- Save $25.00 off your purchase of $75.00 or more at Lane Bryant!
Try on a Bra and get a FREE Fragrance Sample
Go to your local Victoria's Secret March 9th - 11th, try on a bra and get a FREE Sample of the new Very Sexy Touch Fragrance!
Gotta love a nice relaxing bath
By the time I had baby number three I had pretty much accepted the fact that I would never be alone in the bathroom again. :) Well, at least not for a while. Yes, it seems like I can never potty in peace. Well my youngest is two and he is quite the little character. He has more personality than all of the kids combined.
Tonight I decided that I needed a little mommy time. I was going to take a nice relaxing bath so I get in the bathroom, run the water, and get in the tub. OMG it was amazing. Within a matter of seconds the bathroom door busts open and here comes a two year old with a hand full of tiny cars. You see when Collin takes a bath he runs the cars up and down the side of the tub. Up and down, up and down --- vrooooommm, vroooooom, vvvrroooooom.
So you see to my little Collin this was just amazing. Mommy was in the tub and now he had someone --- confined, that he could play cars with. So my relaxing bath was not so relaxing but I think that one day I am going to wish he had time to sit down and play cars with me so for now... I will just take it as long as I can get it and I can take a relaxing bath when he is too old to play cars with me. :)
Tonight I decided that I needed a little mommy time. I was going to take a nice relaxing bath so I get in the bathroom, run the water, and get in the tub. OMG it was amazing. Within a matter of seconds the bathroom door busts open and here comes a two year old with a hand full of tiny cars. You see when Collin takes a bath he runs the cars up and down the side of the tub. Up and down, up and down --- vrooooommm, vroooooom, vvvrroooooom.
So you see to my little Collin this was just amazing. Mommy was in the tub and now he had someone --- confined, that he could play cars with. So my relaxing bath was not so relaxing but I think that one day I am going to wish he had time to sit down and play cars with me so for now... I will just take it as long as I can get it and I can take a relaxing bath when he is too old to play cars with me. :)
18M Attitude Pie Giveaway
Oh my goodness! Check this out! This fabulous giveaway is from Missellaney in Dothan, Alabama. One lucky Swanky Moms Club reader is going to win a absolutely adorable ALWAYS THE PRINCESS dress by Attitude Pie. Missellaney is also going to be throwing in a matching bow. So here is how it works. You will see a list of tasks below, the more tasks you compete, the more entries you receive. The winner will be announced on March 11th so ENTER NOW! :) Dress size is 18 months!
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Dr Seuss Lorax Apron Knot Dress
Image by Racz Photography.
Healthy Eating Day 1: TOTAL FAIL
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