I've always liked to give, and I consider myself a generous person. But when it comes to charities and giving in a bigger way than just helping out a friend or "paying it forward", I've always been a little lost. We aren't part of a church, which would be my first priority as far as giving goes. So when The Clever Girls introduced me to Members Unite, I was intrigued. I checked out their website, and instantly knew that this was something I could get into.
With a small donation (or heck, you can even donate a lot if you have the means and the desire) you are able to view many different "projects" that are vying for funding each month. You can rate them and vote on which one you think is the most worthy cause. Then at the end of each month, one project is chosen to receive that month's donated money. I loved reading all about the month's potential projects, and really had a hard time deciding which would be most deserving! I also loved seeing how many people were pooling together and how much money we've all pitched in. It really makes me feel like a part of a team. I have never given in this sort of capacity before, and let me tell you.....it's already rewarding! I feel like I'm really a part of these projects that will receive this money.
I want Elliott to grow up knowing what giving and generosity look like. We don't have much, but we can be generous with what we do have. I learned that lesson a long time ago, and I try to practice it in my everyday life.....if I see a friend is having a rough day, I might buy them a warm drink to cheer them up. Or if the mom of four at the grocery store is visibly struggling, I might help wrangle her kids for her or at the very least hold the door open as she leaves. These are things that Elliott can see in our everyday life, and I hope that she learns from my example. This is why I hope to continue giving to Members Unite as Ellie grows. I can see us sitting down and voting for our favorite campaign together very soon! I think the time spent explaining the projects to her, showing her the pictures, and choosing our favorite will serve as both quality time and prime example-setting when it comes to giving. For now, Elliott loved looking at the main voting page of Members Unite, since I don't usually let her sit at the computer ;) It was a fun time of chatting, even if she's a little too young to fully grasp what we were doing. I love hearing her repeat words like "give" and "help", even if her small hands and tiny feet are a few years away from physically helping anyone. I would rather instill these ideals and principles in her now!
Do you want to start giving, but don't know where to start? I encourage you to check out Members Unite. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. For a limited time, Members Unite is offering my community a 50% off discount on the annual membership fee of $25! Use code “WELOVEMOMS” when you sign up!
If you do decide to give through Members Unite, I want to hear about it! Leave me a comment or send me a quick e-mail. I'd love to know who else I'm giving with ;)
Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com
Remember last week when I posted this little teaser about my Girl's Night In with some friends? Well, I'm here to tell you more about it! My friends from work have made this a sort of yearly tradition. Each year our Christmas gathering is slightly different, but two things remain the same from year to year: Christmas P.J.s and Cookies!
We started this fun, silly, Christmas-y tradition the year that I was pregnant (very, very pregnant), so I got out of wearing footie pajamas. Because everyone else? Has to wear them. I held on to the sock-monkey-Christmas-nightgown to wear because I feel just as silly in it as my friends feel in their footies, I'm sure.
Like I said, cookies are a big part of our little get-together. Most years, the hostess has cookies and all the fixin's to decorate them. So whether we watch movies, play games, or exchange gifts, our evening always includes cookie decorating.
It's such a simple, fun thing to do together and we each get to take some goodies home with us. This year, on top of decorating cookies, we also did a small cookie exchange.
Nothing formal......just a couple girls and a couple dozen cookies ;)
The timing was perfect for me, as I had just been selected to write this post!
I knew that my cookie contribution would involve Duncan Hines cake mix in some form or another. I didn't have to write about how I used their product, but I wanted to.
Because cookies made from cake mix?! They're so easy, delicious, and pretty much my new go-to Holiday treat!
I love Red Velvet and have been craving it lately, so I thought these cookies were perfect to bake and take to the party (and maybe I saved a few for myself, too.......can you blame me?!) And with the red color, I couldn't resist making them again for other Christmas gatherings!
I think the cookies were a hit, although any time spent with these girls is going to be fun! Even a night in, wearing silly pajamas ;)
Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective
Thanks to Plum Organics for sponsoring my post about tips for baby feeding magic. What if you let baby choose what's for dinner? Check out their cute "Quest for Yum!" video and see what happens!
Happy Monday, guys! I'm pretty excited about today's post!
If you've been around my blog for very long, then you already know that feeding my baby has been one of my biggest struggles in motherhood.
It seems like it should have been fairly simple.....I mean, Elliott has no food allergies and is all around healthy and happy. But from the day we brought her home with us, it has been an issue.
Feeding Elliott is usually always on my mind (and causes me a decent amount of worry), even at almost two years old.
Now I'm no expert, but I'm here to share some of the tips and tricks that I've learned along the way. Whether your kiddo loves to chow down, or has a more dainty appetite, I hope you find these tips to be useful.
1. RELAX.
Yes you, the one trying to shove food down your baby's throat. Just chill for a second.
Feeding my baby is something that gets me all worked up, and it's been that way since day one.
And just like being tense and stressed is counterproductive while you're trying to breastfeed your infant, it can also hinder feeding your older baby or toddler.
So my advice to you is to just relax.
Stressing out probably isn't going to get your kid to eat more, and it might just make them clamp that jaw shut and eat even less! So, take it from me. Chill out when it comes to food. Your baby will eat. Eventually. And if you have serious concerns, by all means, talk to your doctor.
But in the meantime, make mealtime as relaxed as possible, and don't let your child see your frustrations.
2. Keep Trying.
I can't tell you how many times Elliott's tastes have changed in the past 21 months.
For the most part, she enjoys healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. But, there have been times where the girl won't touch her brocolli with a ten foot pole! I tend to get angry and frustrated (especially after I buy the 5-pound bag of sweet peas at Costco......because she liked them last week!) when E's tastes change suddenly, but then I take a look at Tip #1: RELAX!! And I take a deep breath.
It's really not a big deal. Sure, I'd love for Ellie to have a balanced diet and to love the healthier food options, but in the end, I'll take what I can get! I continuously offer Ellie the healthiest choices, along with food I know think she'll eat, and I don't make a big deal about it.
The less I emphasize a certain food and casually sneak it onto her plate (over and over and over again), the more likely she is to pick it up and like it again.
Now if only my kiddo loved veggies as much as this adorable baby:
This brings me to my third and final tip:
3. Make it Fun!
Because feeding has been a stressor for my entire career as a mother so far, I'm now trying to make things more fun. It's not healthy for Elliott or I to stress out so much over food! And, she's still alive and thriving, so her eating habits must not be that bad.
With a toddler on my hands, I feel like the feeding department has arrived upon a whole new set of obstacles. But, we're tackling these obstacles with FUN! And, I think it's working ;)
Some days I make lunch time fun by serving many little items, and dishing them up in an ice cube tray.
Other times I simply throw caution to the wind and let Elliott pick what she wants to eat (of course, the oreos and twix are taken out of the pantry before I let her see her choices.....)
When we are out and about, I make sure to pack some healthy and familiar foods for Ellie, and sometimes I will piece together some side dishes off of the menu at a restaurant.
I usually keep a Plum Organics pouch in my purse or diaper bag. Ellie thinks they're fun to eat, and I like knowing that she is getting her fruits and veggies, even while we're on the go!
So, those are my tips for Baby Feeding Magic!
Do you have any tricks when it comes to feeding your babies/toddlers?
