Mommy's Memorandum

Nutrisystem: Journey of a Hero Weeks 7 & 8

The past two weeks seem to have become one incredibly long, exciting and stressful time. The week leading up to Jake’s wedding was both joyous and off the hook stressful. Nutrisystem has been an on again off again entity as we stepped up to wedding countdown.

I shared that when he was little I never dreamed I’d way 80 pounds heavier when he married. Isn’t it funny how as raising our children we tend to center our hopes and dreams on them and fail to plan ahead for ourselves? The Wednesday before the wedding I still hadn’t found anything to wear. At one point, I broke down, cried and felt like I didn’t even want to go to the wedding because I had nothing to wear and everything looked awful on me. In a crazy shop after shop marathon, I finally found a dress that fit and I felt ‘okay” in. I bought it and hung it up in the closet.

Kyra arrived Thursday night, which was exciting and fun to catch up with her.

Friday was a crazy day of errands, last minute to-dos and trying to get everything together for the big day. At 9:30 Friday night I tried on my dress. My husband noticed it was hanging weird on the right hand side. The dart that extended down the dress was puckered and sewn crooked and it just looked tacky. There was no time to find another dress, after all, this dress took weeks to find. I ended up wearing the dress backwards, with a bolero. It wasn’t perfect, but it served it’s purpose.

Saturday of course was the big day. My son was handsome and so polished in his gratitude and speeches. It was truly an incredibly proud day for me.

Jake on his big day!

The ceremony was lovely and I gained a beautiful daughter–the perfect gift for Mother’s Day!

The new Mr. and Mrs.

It was truly a day of food, festivities and photos.

For many things I am truly grateful. I love my son, his new bride and my family. I posed for pictures, rather than decline. I’m hoping soon they will be a reminder of poor choices rather than the reality of what I look like:

Me with my son, Jake

Until then, I prefer to pictures that allow me to hide behind others while I work on getting healthier.

Me with my husband at Jake's Wedding

This week has been tough putting the stress away and getting back on track. I’ve been out doing more in the yard and playing with the kiddos. It’s paying off.
I’m down .7 pounds and hoping to hit a solid number this week…but little by little I’m celebrating.
Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem online.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

CIG’s to Couponing #Review and #Giveaway

My husband refuses to stand in a line to purchase anything with me. I’ve always used coupons, but lately I seem to use them more to stretch our budget. He complains it’s embarrassing and I reply, “It’s my way of thanking you for working hard for our paycheck.” Most of my friends say they wish they knew where to start and now I have the answer, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Couponing. It’s written for everyday people and shares tricks and advice on how to save big.

The book, like all Complete Idiot’s Guides is very thorough. In Coupoining the following is covered:

Understanding couponing basics
Tips on finding and cashing in coupons
Advice on multiple savings offers, money-back coupons, and rewards programs
The latest info on deal-of-the-day sites, rebates, and other online coupon options
How to best plan and organize coupons

I learned quite a bit and plan to reread the chapter dedicated to planning and organizing coupons again. I’m so weak in the organized department.

One of my favorite parts of the book is at the back where there is a glossory that defines all the acronyms seen on blogs, couponing sites and more.

In true Complete Idiot’s Guide fashion there are plenty of illustrations and Couponing is no different. They do an amazing job at explaining stacking coupons, rebates and sharing websites that can really help maximize the couponing experience. The cost of the book is a small investment for the hundreds of dollars this book will help you save.

One Mommy’s Memorandum Reader will win a copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Couponing.

Enter below using the Rafflecopter Widget.

Giveaway ends 5/31
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Unlikely Friendships: True Stories of Animal Friendships Book #Review

We love books and sometimes there’s a book or a series that just captures us. It is something we talk about. It tells a story in a way that tugs at your heart so deeply that you want to put it in the hands of anyone you meet. Right now we are passionate about Unlikely Friendships for Kids.

In this series, Jennifer S. Holland, a Washington based writer for National Geographic. This books shares inter-species affection between animals like a monkey and a white dove, a pit bull who permits a flock of chicks to use him as a floating device in a swimming pool and more.

Our first introduction was with The Dog and the Piglet and Four Other True Stories of Animal Friendships. To be certain, the photograph on the cover of a dog nuzzling a tiny piglet swayed us. It’s Book Two in the series. It’s a story about a Ridgeback dog who takes in a tiny pot-bellied pig whose mother has abandoned him. Eventually the piglet is reunited with his mother, but whenever he sees the big brown dog, the piglet runs to nuzzle him. It’s a beautiful story.

The book is an easy read. Li’l Man can read it mostly by himself. The photographs are astonishing and add life to the stories. The pairing are incredible “lion and lamb” combinations that have you at first thinking, “no way!” and then it happens and it just melts you.

These chapter books each feature five true stores about animals friendships. Even without reading the story is there in the photographs and sometimes it’s fun to listen to my children looking at the pictures and making up their own stories about these two unlikely friends.

I love that beyond the story there is information that teaches my children. In The Dog and the Piglet we learn about Ridgeback dogs and where they originated and their purpose (hunting lions). There is also an Animal List that gives more information on each features animal in the book.

In Book One: The Monkey and the Dove Chapter Four shares the story about “The Dog and the Cat”. I love Holland’s words, “Everywhere the old dog went, Libby was there to guide him. NO one knows why Libby became Cashew’s seeing-eye cat. No one knows whether Libby actually understood that Cashew could no longer see. All that IS clear, is that Cashew was a very lucky dog to have such a loyal friend in Libby.”

To me that captures the beauty of all friendships, regardless of how likely. It is beautiful and shows the compassion of nature and hopefully gives insights to my children on the values of being a genuine friend and amazing person.

This series is incredible and should be summer reading for everyone…children and adults alike!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters Book #Review

I have children–girls and boys. Trust me when I tell you that raising boys is far easier than raising daughters. In Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters by Darlene Brock, practical advice is given to aid in building a great relationship between mother’s and daughters that will only grow through the years.

The book is easy to read and understand and it is filled with real-life examples and practical advice. There are anecdotes that make the journey of raising a daughter come to life.

Being a mom is wearing many hats all at once. Each of my children is unique and requires different talents from me. Some require my counseling more than others, some need more hands-on guidance. All have needed me to be their protector, their coach and night-time monster patrol. Some of my children clean their rooms without being asked, while others require more encouragement. This book, Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters is about these jobs we try to master as Mom.

It’s about taking our most valuable investments, our daughters, and taking on the most difficult job in the world. It can be done..and when our daughters are grown we will have great memories built along the way.

Darlene Brock writes with a style that makes the reader part of the action. It’s easy to see the situation, feel the various emotions and identify with your role as Mom.

I love the humor Brock shares in the adventures of raising daughters. She is honest and lends creative solutions. This book is a journey through thirteen jobs moms are workign to accomplish in the dynamic and sometimes challenging mother/daughter relationship. It’s about making a difference in our daughters’ lives.

In talking about her new project Darlene stated: “This book is about what I learned – about the jobs you need to master, the advice from other women that helped me, as well as some realities about the life and culture we live in that informed my perspective. You can take on the most difficult job in the world – raising daughters – and not only live to tell about it, but smile along the way.”

About the Author
While raising her two daughters, Darlene found time to produce award-winning music videos, manage recording artists, promote concerts throughout the US, and serve as the Chief Operating Officer of ForeFront Records. Yet, when reviewing her varied accomplishments and successful career, she proclaims her most important and fulfilling job is Mom.Since the publication of Help Wanted: moms raising daughters, Darlene Brock has appeared on the Fox & friends morning show, and been featured on CNN.com, TLC’s Parentables, CBN.com, Fox News.com, Beliefnet, Christian Post, Keepthefaith.com and many other radio programs and numerous blogs and websites for Women.This book is about what I learned – about the jobs you need to master, the advice from other women that helped me, as well as some realities about the life and culture we live in that informed my perspective. I want all mothers to believe they can take on the most difficult job in the world – raising daughters – and not only live to tell about it, but smile along the way.In Early 2011 Darlene with husband Dan, co-founded The Grit and Grace Project. The purpose of this organization is to assist women in reaching their full potential and find purpose as Individuals, Wives and Mothers.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.