Extraordinary Mothers

Great fitness products from Taylor Gifts

2010-08-28T18:28:00.001-07:00

I feel like the beginning of the fall and throughout the winter is when I always shoot to get into some sort of better shape. That way, when the spring rolls around and its time to get into the skimpier clothes, there isn't so much nervousness as to how you look in them. There are some awesome goodies that can be picked up at Taylor Gifts to help you get on track with looking great!

The Ab Flyer seems like it could be such a great asset for getting into shape! For those of us who aren't into high impact, the Ab Flyer is a low impact way to focus on strengthening your core. That mid-section that needs the most work can get its exercise all while minimizing the stress that ends up on the back, neck and shoulders. And of course, so awesome for us who are limited on space, it folds for storage and is lightweight!

Another way to aid in getting fit, is the Belly Burner. It increases your core temperature during normal activity and can also be worn during exercise. It says that its sauna like effect helps to chisel abs and tone the midriff!

For the moments that you need a bit of help but haven't gotten to the results you want yet, the Booty Pop is another way to boost the look of your rear! The Booty Pop briefs help accentuate the natural curves you have and make your tooshie look fabulous!

All items mentioned are available at Taylor Gifts, along with so much more!!

Thursday Roundup

2010-05-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

Let's get linkin'!! CaseyDeuce here from A Couch With A View! I wanted to get the Thursday Roundup running again so that you could check out some great giveaways that are going on at some of the Extraordinary Mothers blogs!!

Of course these aren't ALL the giveaways on the Extraordinary Mothers forum members blogs, but just a sampler to check out- make sure you hit up the individual sites to see the full selections!

A Couch With A View: Ring Pop giveaway: ends 6/2
Our Ordinary Life: SuperValu/Box Tops giveaway: ends 5/31
Eighty MPH Mom: iVillage Summer of Love giveaway: ends 6/7
Eighty MPH Mom: Swiffer/Tide giveaway: ends 6/5
Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven: Moody Mamas giveaway: ends 5/28
Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven: Hayneedle giveaway: ends 6/12
Lizzy Dear's Life: Oka B Shoes giveaway: ends 5/27
Lizzy Dear's Life: Idox giveaway: ends 5/30

Link up your giveaways here! Make sure you include the ending date!!

Thursday Roundup

2010-05-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

A Couch With A View: Things Remembered giveaway: ends 5/20
A Couch With A View: Marriott Rewards giveaway: ends 5/15
Our Ordinary Life: Epson PictureMate Show giveaway: ends 5/15
Our Ordinary Life: Bertolli Into The Heart Of Italy giveaway: ends 5/25
Eighty MPH Mom: General Mills $25 gift card: ends 5/22
Lizzy Dear's Life: Fruit Guys giveaway: ends 5/27
Lizzy Dear's Life: Wilton Cupcake Fun giveaway: ends 5/27

Don't forget to check out the Running Amok event going on at Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven too!!

Link your giveaways up here! Don't forget to include the ending date!!

Thursday Roundup

2010-05-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

First off, I must apologize, I've neglected the Thursday Roundup for a couple of weeks now and I'm so very sorry!!

Let's get linkin'!! CaseyDeuce here from A Couch With A View! I wanted to get the Thursday Roundup running again so that you could check out some great giveaways that are going on at some of the Extraordinary Mothers blogs!!

Of course these aren't ALL the giveaways on the Extraordinary Mothers forum members blogs, but just a sampler to check out- make sure you hit up the individual sites to see the full selections!

A Couch With A View: Marriott Rewards giveaway: ends 5/15
A Couch With A View: Things Remembered giveaway: ends 5/20
Our Ordinary Life: Safety 1st Carseat giveaway: ends 5/25
Our Ordinary Life: Western Union giveaway: ends 5/25
Eighty MPH Mom: Great American Bake Sale giveaway: ends 5/20
Outnumbered 3 to 1: Chicken Soup for the Soul giveaway: ends 5/20
Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven: Melitta Ready Set Joe giveaway: ends 5/13
Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven: Cascadian Farms prize pack giveaway: ends 5/11
Lizzy Dears Life: Clear Play System: ends 5/12

Don't forget to check out the Running Amok event going on at Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven too!!

Link up your giveaways here, don't forget to include the END DATE!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time again!! Link up your Wordless Wednesday pictures and be sure to make a few rounds, spreading the love. Find more Wordless Wednesday fun at 5 Minutes For Mom, the HUB, and of course here with the Extraordinary Mothers.

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted.

Thursday Roundup

2010-04-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

Our Ordinary Life: Kia Sorrento/Sephora Gift Card giveaway: ends 4/21
A Couch With A View: Verbatim Tuff-N-Tiny giveaway: ends 4/28
A Couch With A View: Seventh Generation Disinfecting prize pack: ends 4/17
Eighty MPH Mom: Littlest Pet Shop for Wii game giveaway: ends 4/22
Eighty MPH Mom: $50 1-800-Flowers gift card giveaway: ends 4/17
Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven: $75 Edens Bouquet gift card giveaway: ends 4/28

Link up your giveaways here! Please include the end date!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted. This linky will close Apr.9th

Thursday Roundup

2010-04-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

A Couch With A View: Tarte Cosmetics giveaway: ends 4/9
A Couch With A View: Zippity Doo's Kids Haircare giveaway: ends 4/14
Eighty MPH Mom: Eli's Cheesecake giveaway: ends 4/15
Eighty MPH Mom: Carolina Pad giveaway: ends 4/13
Our Ordinary Life: Kia Sorrento/Sephora Gift Card giveaway: ends 4/21
Our Ordinary Life: Betty Crocker's Sweet Treats giveaway: ends 4/11
Outnumbered 3 to 1: Pepperidge Farm giveaway: ends 4/13
Outnumbered 3 to 1: S2HReplay giveaway: ends 4/14

Link up your giveaways here!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted. This linky will close Apr. 2nd

Thursday Roundup

2010-03-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

A Couch With A View: $50 Dick's gift card: ends 3/27
A Couch With A View: Perricone MD skin care: ends 3/31
The Five Fish: YoBaby Organics giveaway: ends 3/27
Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven: 18 x 24 Poster Print: ends 3/27
Outnumbered 3 to 1: $200 Modern Wall Graphics gift code: ends 4/5
Outnumbered 3 to 1: The Popcorn Factory giveaway: ends 3/29
Catch The Drift: Bake Me A Wish giveaway: ends 3/29
Our Ordinary Life: $50 Chili's gift card: ends 4/7
Our Ordinary Life: Mirra Haircare products giveaway: ends 3/31

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted. This linky will close Mar. 26th

Extraordinary Tuesday: Two for Tuesday

2010-03-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome everyone to Two for Tuesday. I am Karie from The Five Fish and I post every Tuesday about parenting and life discussions and how we can balance out the role being a parent and being an individual as well as finding a balance with ourselves and with our children.

Pressures of being a mom surmount each and every day. The outside world, the inside world, the pressures from ourselves as we try to be the best mother, parent, woman we can be in our lives. We try to meet and exceed invisible standards of what would be the model of perfection for parents. Where exactly are these written laws and standards that we so desperately try to match?

Unfortunately society seems to set the standards for perfection in parenting. The norm would be to fall into these quoted perfections, seemingly unattainable but we shoot for them, ever so the result ends in personal discourage, resentment, and frustration. The second unfortunate event in the failing quest is what our children see, learn, feel, acknowledge based on our outward actions no matter how we attempt to shelter them.

As a parent and child I know the feelings of angst, pain, frustration of trying to be the best parent possible and model child to appease my parents. Providing for our children despite limited resources, doing what we think is best by them, and then as the child I see that parents are sometimes too preoccupied to see that children do not always want the material items, they do not always want what is best. Simple always seems to be best. A hug. A book reading. Recognizing pain in a child and listening to their feelings, the ails, the troubles, even just listening to how they talk about their day, no matter how mundane their day may seem to us as their day may have been extraordinary just based on what was served for lunch.

Watching my children I see that if they know I am happy just with watching their simple things, simple play, and simply extraordinary moments I feel like I am doing my best as perfect parent. No need to make me happy because I am happy at their sheer joy. But sometimes our children need to hear our happiness, our pleasure, our praise. A note in a lunch box to remind them how much we love them, simply saying how proud you are of them with no attachments or exceptions, spewing unconditional love and praising that they are good kids no matter what can be such a reinforcing tool to tell children they are perfect, with all of their imperfections. Maybe this is not taking kids on THE BEST vacation ever, or buying them the new iPod or the the best clothes, but sometimes the most simple gestures are what make us the perfect parents to our kids.

What are your challenges? Do you find you try to push your kids to hard? Do you push yourself too hard where you feel your child's actions are a reflection of your parenting skills?

Thursday Roundup

2010-03-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven: 18 x 24 Poster Print: ends 3/27
Outnumbered 3 to 1: $200 Modern Wall Graphics gift code: ends 4/5
Outnumbered 3 to 1: The Popcorn Factory giveaway: ends 3/29
Our Ordinary Life: The Princess & The Frog giveaway: ends 3/20
A Couch With A View: $50 Dick's gift card: ends 3/27
The Five Fish: YoBaby Organics giveaway: ends 3/27
The Five Fish: Beauty of Mirra giveaway: ends 3/23

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted. This linky will close Mar. 19th

Thursday Roundup

2010-03-11T07:24:00.000-08:00

A Couch With A View: $50 Dick's gift card: ends 3/27
A Couch With A View: $25 HairCoverings.com goodie box: ends 3/31
Outnumbered 3 to 1: Chicken Soup for the Teachers Soul: ends 3/24
The Five Fish: Satisfaction giveaway: ends 3/20
Eighty MPH Mom: $50 Chili's gift card: ends 3/27
Eighty MPH Mom: The Complete Idiots Guide to Eating Clean: ends 3/20
Our Ordinary Life: PartyLite giveaway: ends 3/21
Our Ordinary Life: $25 Kroger gift card: ends 3/20

Link up your giveaways here! Don't forget to include the end date!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-09T21:00:00.000-08:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted. This linky will close Mar. 12th

Extraordinary Tuesday: Two for Tuesday

2010-03-08T22:46:00.000-08:00

However, I devised a plan to be able to keep track of all the kids at the same time in the event one or more than one started to separate from our pack, I would dress them all in the same shirt and or same colors. I know this may sound crazy, but I actually consulted with a twin mom who said she puts her kids in obnoxious Hawaiian shirts in order to keep track of her kids. The plan actually worked and helped to keep my mind at ease while in the park.

Next, how would we manage the beach. Miles of open water and shores with three ever curious, obstinate, children who have their own agendas. I took the whole event as "we'll see when we get there." Am I ever glad I did. Rather than letting my fear of "what if" take over I rolled with the punches and acted like a kid myself and enjoyed the newness of the sand, the smell, the sounds. I let my excitement get the better of me and I too started to feel like a kid again seeing the ocean for the first time.

At that moment I knew that my children were playing off of my emotions more than ever. I knew I had to relax, enjoy the moment, guide them, but to take each moment as it came. They were reacting to my stresses and anxiety and when I began to relax and enjoy myself they enjoyed themselves more than their little minds could fathom.

What I learned with taking our first family vacation is that you cannot plan enough; stops, snacks, drinks, packing, clothing and events. I also learned that you can over plan and over analyze how you think your trip may turn out. When I realized I was worrying too much about what could go wrong I saw how much had gone right and how much I was missing or going to miss by worrying. As parents our job is to worry, but we often forget to enjoy ourselves as well.

With Spring Break shortly upon us what are your family plans? Do you have any? Have you thought about taking a trip but are apprehensive because of your children and the "what if's?" What do you do to overcome your fears?

Extraordinary Morsel Monday

2010-03-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

CaseyDeuce from A Couch With A View here bringing you an Extraordinary Morsel!!

This weeks yummy tidbit is super easy, Chicken Carbonara!

Chicken Carbonara
1/2 lb. spaghetti
8 slices, chopped bacon
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 cups chicken, already cooked and cut up
1/2 c. grated parm cheese
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream

Cook and drain spaghetti, cook bacon and then drain, save 1 tb. bacon grease. Cook onion and garlic in the reserved grease. Stir in spaghetti, chicken, cheese and cream, stirring well, and occasionally until heated through.

Share your yummy recipes each and every week in the Mcklinky!

Thursday Roundup

2010-03-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

A Couch With A View: $50 Dick's gift card: ends 3/27
A Couch With A View: Pampers DryMax/Liz Lange giveaway: ends 3/14
Our Ordinary Life: YMI Jeans giveaway: ends 3/20
Our Ordinary Life: The Princess and the Frog giveaway: ends 3/20
The Five Fish: General Mills Grains of Goodness giveaway: ends 3/6
Eighty MPH Mom: Partylite Candles giveaway: ends 3/10
Outnumbered 3 to 1: Fantastic Mr. Fox giveaway: ends 3/18

Link up your giveaways here! Don't forget to include the end date!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-02T21:00:00.000-08:00

Please note: All irrelevant links will be deleted. This linky will close Mar. 5th

Extraordinary Morsel Monday

2010-03-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

CaseyDeuce from A Couch With A View here bringing you an Extraordinary Morsel!!

This weeks yummy tidbit is fabulous Penne with Cauliflour!

Penne with Cauliflaur:
8 ounces penne pasta, uncooked
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup frozen chopped onion
1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (16-ounce) package frozen cauliflower
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried parsley
3 tablespoons bottled lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

Cook the penne normally, but save 1 cup of the pasta water. Melt butter or margerine in a skillet, add olive oil, onion and garlic. Cook about 7 minutes or so, add in the cauliflaur and red pepper. Cover and cook about 5 minutes. Add in about 3/4 of the pasta water and cook about 5 minutes. Add in the penne, parmesean, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and stir well. Cook til the cheese has melted and everything is heated through.

Link up your delicious dishes here to share!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-23T21:00:00.000-08:00