Having Fun Blog Hop ~ #13

Welcome to the Having Fun Blog Hop! This hop has been created by A Mom Having Fun. Thank you, in advance, for joining my new weekly hop! I hope you have "fun"! :-)

<a href="http://amomhavingfun.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v628/j_horsley/FunBlogHop.jpg" /></a>

The rules are simple:

1. Follow A Mom Having Fun via Google Friend Connect.
2. Leave a comment if you are a new follower so I can follow back.
3. Link up your blog every week, and follow as many blogs as you want!

You don't have to post the above Having Fun Blog Hop button, but it would be greatly appreciated and would help spread the word about this hop.  :-)

Check out the post below to enroll in the 4-week online course Profitable Blogging for Beginners...for $5! The class is incredibly informative and very interactive.  Definitely worth more then the $5 fee. Plus one free year of web hosting on GoDaddy.com!

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Thursday Blog Hopin'!

It's Going To Be A Long Night ...

My daughter has a friend over for a sleep over, need I say any more?  They managed to scare themselves while they were chit chatting in bed.

After I got them calmed down from their scare they started talking again.  Now I think they are both tired but wired...over-tired.  I've been going up there to check on them rather frequently for them to go to sleep.

I know it's so fun to have a sleep-over - I honestly remember how fun I had!  But I don't want them to ruin it by not going to sleep and then being complete cranks tomorrow.

Ugh, just went to check on them and they are still giggling away.  Hopefully they will giggle themselves to sleep soon!

Love to all! ♥

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Absentee Blogger

Sorry for being so absent lately!  There have been some exciting things happening around here which has pulled me out of my blogging for a bit.

When the twins were first born I was finishing up on my Master's in Information Technology - Web Development.  Since then I've not been able to do a whole lot with my degree since they have been so demanding of my time.  Now that they are getting a little older - and I need to add more moola to our income stream - I am re-familiarizing myself with coding.

When I went through Blogelina's Profitable Blogging for Beginners a couple months ago part of the course included a free year of web hosting on Go Daddy.  That was my perfect opportunity to get back in to doing some coding for web development.  I've been doing some customization to change the theme and really revamp my other site - Helping Moms Work From Home which is already on Wordpress.  I will also be customizing a Wordpress theme to move this blog to Wordpress as well.  :-)

At the same time as all this we have new neighbors who are both graphic designers.  One of them is looking for help with a website - Wordpress - which I've offered to help with.  I am very excited to start moving into this area of work again.

Other then that, I'm still working my home business with Work At Home United and trying to keep up with blogging and reviews/giveaways.  Oh - and I started a new workout routine a few weeks ago which is going very well.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Love to all.  ♥

Winner!

Lucky Winner - Yoplait Kids Yogurt Giveaway:

Congratulations hiann88!

As always, a big thank you to everyone who entered this great giveaway! ♥

Having Fun Thursday Blog Hop ~ #12

Welcome to the Having Fun Blog Hop! This hop has been created by A Mom Having Fun. Thank you, in advance, for joining my new weekly hop! I hope you have "fun"! :-)

<a href="http://amomhavingfun.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v628/j_horsley/FunBlogHop.jpg" /></a>

The rules are simple:

1. Follow A Mom Having Fun via Google Friend Connect.
2. Leave a comment if you are a new follower so I can follow back.
3. Link up your blog every week, and follow as many blogs as you want!

You don't have to post the above Having Fun Blog Hop button, but it would be greatly appreciated and would help spread the word about this hop.  :-)

Check out the post below to enroll in the 4-week online course Profitable Blogging for Beginners...for $5! The class is incredibly informative and very interactive.  Definitely worth more then the $5 fee. Plus one free year of web hosting on GoDaddy.com!

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Thursday Blog Hopin'!

Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness by Ellen Sarver {Book Review}

Every woman goes through menopause in one way or the other - but yet it's a "hushed" topic.  The symptoms and the effects that it can have on each woman and their family can be so devastating.  "Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness" by Ellen Sarver Dolgen ,who goes by the pen name "E", brings this topic to the table in a format that is not only fun and easy-to-read but very informative.

At the age of 37, I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) - Early Menopause.  After just having had our first child the previous year, and about to try for another child - we were given this shocking news.  At the time, it was quite devastating.  I had been diagnosed with postpartum hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's disease), an autoimmune disease, which the doctor's feel is what ultimately caused the POF.

Given the circumstances, I can't honestly say I went through perimenopause and menopause the traditional route.  I have been very fortunate to have just had some mild symptoms of menopause.  But with my hormone's constantly in flux, that's not to say I can't and won't experience more of the profound effects of menopause.  I believe having read this book will make me more aware of what is going on in my body.

Shmirshky discusses some devastating real-life experiences women have gone through.  Also, it raises awareness of what are "normal" symptoms or what may be due to some other issue such as thyroid disease.  Finding a doctor who is well educated in perimenopause and menopause is highly recommended in order to get the right treatment for you, and not just a "cookie-cutter" type of treatment.

E's big motto throughout the book is "reaching out is in, suffering in silence is out."  I highly recommend this book to all women.  Not only will it give you insight as to what changes to expect, or are already experiencing with your body, but will help you to better understand what others may be going through.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. 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 Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Bright Beginnings – Now Even Easier To Access

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My babies are beyond the newborn stage, but having a 7 year old and 3 year old twins I genuinely remember how crazy busy the beginning is with how frequently they need to eat.  If you are using formula, Bright Beginnings – is an awesome product with a lot of different formula options.  They have now made themselves even more available to moms.

Bright Beginning is now being sold on Diapers.com.  They are selling several of their formula’s there.  If you are an Organic mom, they have an Organic formula.  For those with babies who have sensitive tummies there is also a Gentle formula.  They offer a Soy formula for those with milk allergies and the regular “Premium” formula.

For an even better savings, you can purchase each Bright Beginnings formula by the can or by 6 – pack!

Also, Bright Beginnings is now on Facebook.  You really should “Like” them and then you can stay up to date on product information from Bright Beginnings themselves.  Also, you then have direct access to them to get answers to your questions.  It’s great that you can get tidbits of information from them on their products in “real” time.

Having a high quality formula available to you is so important for your baby’s health.  It’s great to know that Bright Beginnings has made themselves so easily accessible to all!  Bright Beginnings - buy on diapers.com and Bright Beginnings on Facebook.

Starting An Exercise Program

I'm sure March Madness has nothing to do with it...but it seems the last few years in March I've put an exercise plan in to motion.  I usually start strong on it and then something happens to throw off my schedule and then I never make the time to fit it back in to the routine for a long time.

In the last few months, I believe my metabolism has come to a screeching halt. I weigh more now then ever and have just felt unhealthy. Plus I really have to start an exercise program and stick with it...not only for obvious reasons but I already have Osteoporosis.

I was diagnosed at the age of 37 (a little over a year after giving birth to our oldest - Megan) with Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) - early menopause. A few months after Megan was born I was diagnosed with postpartum Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's Disease). This particular form of Hypothyroidism is what they think caused my ovaries to come to stop functioning. Anti-thyroid antibodies also attacked my ovaries. We actually conceived our twins through the use of donor eggs.

I did try running last Fall, but after 2 weeks my knees hurt so bad that it took a couple weeks for them to feel better. I'm sure that was due in large part to my shoes. My in-laws then gave us their treadmill since they use their elliptical. I was doing good with that until Anna and Ethan changed their sleep routines. :-)

So, starting last week I am back on the treadmill ~ 3 times a week and started going to Curves for their Zumba class. My mom goes to this Curves and has been wanting me to check out their Zumba class. I loved it the class the moment it started.  I really like Curves since the do offer quick, effective workouts, it's close to home and they have weights which are weight resistant. I really need the weight resistance to help with the bone density.

The great thing is that my husbands health insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield) has a fitness aspect to it. So for a $29 registration fee and $29 a month I can go to any fitness center in their system (including Curves) and not have to pay anything else to go! Since we are on a very tight budget, this made it very cost effective. And since I could just crumble at any second to a pile of bones - it also made sense to my health!

I don't know why it is always so hard to get back on that horse once I've fallen off. I always feel so good physically and emotionally after I exercise, it should not take as much effort as it does to get motivated to start back up with a routine once I've stopped. So here's to this one sticking!

Have a great Saturday, and love to all. ♥

Having Fun Thursday Blog Hop ~ #11

Welcome to the Having Fun Blog Hop! This hop has been created by A Mom Having Fun. Thank you, in advance, for joining my new weekly hop! I hope you have "fun"! :-)

<a href="http://amomhavingfun.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v628/j_horsley/FunBlogHop.jpg" /></a>

The rules are simple:

1. Follow A Mom Having Fun via Google Friend Connect.
2. Leave a comment if you are a new follower so I can follow back.
3. Link up your blog every week, and follow as many blogs as you want!

You don't have to post the above Having Fun Blog Hop button, but it would be greatly appreciated and would help spread the word about this hop.  :-)

Check out the post below to enroll in the 4-week online course Profitable Blogging for Beginners...for $5! The class is incredibly informative and very interactive.  Definitely worth more then the $5 fee. Plus one free year of web hosting on GoDaddy.com!

While you are here...enter some giveaways!  


Yoplait Kids Yogurt - click here to enter!  {ends Monday, March 21st @ 12 pm CST}

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Thursday Blog Hopin'!

Wednesday

Winner!

Lucky Winner - ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror:

Congratulations Tina!

As always, a big thank you to everyone who entered this great giveaway! ♥

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Tuesday Blog Hops

Regret Free Parenting by Catherine Hickem {Review}

The core principle behind Regret Free Parenting: Raise Good Kids and Know You're Doing It Right is that of being an intentional mom.  Intentional meaning being present in your children's lives, adapting to their personalities and behaviors, and self development. You don't have to be a perfect mom - but by being intentional you will need to figure out what works best for your family and your children.  There are seven principles that Catherine Hickem has discovered to be intentional which are expanded upon within the book - understanding your purpose, knowing and affirming your child, being a vision keeper, developing emotional intelligence, maintaining your position, addressing your fears, being God-dependent.

I honestly loved this book.  I have read many parenting books, and generally there seems to be a common theme amongst them.  Also, I have found it difficult sometimes to get through parenting books.  I felt this book not only provided very insightful information on how being an intentional mom can build better relationships with your children, but also how to be a better Christian with your children.

I, for one, have found parenting to be very anxiety producing at times...especially since the arrival of our twins.  I have struggled with finding inner peace but have found Catherine's reminders throughout the book that God is really the one who we should look to for wisdom, hope and inspiration, as well as, rely on to take the burden of our struggles has brought me some peace of mind.  I love that each chapter ends with Faith Points (Bible verse with questions and actions) and the end of the book includes a Parenting Plan for you to fill out.  I highly recommend adding this book to your "must reads" list for parenting books.  I will be re-reading this book with my highlighter in hand!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

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Get amazing daily deals for Moms, Babies & Kids!  Click on the link above to check it out.  :-)

Having Fun Thursday Blog Hop ~ #10

Welcome to the Having Fun Blog Hop! This hop has been created by A Mom Having Fun. Thank you, in advance, for joining my new weekly hop! I hope you have "fun"! :-)

<a href="http://amomhavingfun.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v628/j_horsley/FunBlogHop.jpg" /></a>

The rules are simple:

1. Follow A Mom Having Fun via Google Friend Connect.
2. Leave a comment if you are a new follower so I can follow back.
3. Link up your blog every week, and follow as many blogs as you want!

You don't have to post the above Having Fun Blog Hop button, but it would be greatly appreciated and would help spread the word about this hop.  :-)

Check out the post below to enroll in the 4-week online course Profitable Blogging for Beginners...for $5! The class is incredibly informative and very interactive.  Definitely worth more then the $5 fee. Plus one free year of web hosting on GoDaddy.com!

While you are here...enter some giveaways!  


ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror - click here to enter!  {ends Friday (tomorrow), March 11th @ 12 pm CST}

Yoplait Kids Yogurt - click here to enter!  {ends Monday, March 21st @ 12 pm CST}

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Thursday Blog Hopin'!