I'm back on this blogging grind once again and I'm glad to be back. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving because I know I did. It was just a nice family get together that was the perfect size to me. It wasn't tooo crowded at all. I really can't enjoy myself when there's no place to sit or eat. Have you ever attended a Thanksgiving dinner where there's just to many people for the space the dinner is held at? I know I shouldn't be concerned about it being to crowded and just thankful for family and friends,but I can't help but feel smothered.

Well, anyway I just wanted to post something since I haven't posted anything for a while. I hope everyone had a wonderful time eating good food and being with family,I sure did.

-peace-

Shelly

Sorry

I recently did a post on my blog idol,Carrie Lauth and I didn't realize her website wasn't included. So,if you're interested check Carrie out at naturalmomstalkradio.com,you'll love it.

-peace-

My Blog Idol

There are many blogs that I enjoy and love,but there is only one blogger that I consider my blog idol. This blogger has inspired me as a mother of five to become a blogger myself. I have been an avivid reader of her blog for 4 1/2 years now,and love to tell as many people about her site that I can.

The blogger I speak of is Carrie Lauth of I remember finding her through a Wahm talk radio site.It was a site full of podcast shows all hosted by mothers,who all want the same thing,to be at home with their kids and make a living too. I remember going through the podcast line up and seeing a holistic,attachment parenting,homeschooling view and I thought,cool! Even though I'm not a homeschooling or attachment parent, I have always been into holistic medicine,green living,I teach my kids along with sending them to public school,and I'm a very frugal momma. Carrie's blog focused on a lot of these aspects and she has always encouraged women and mother's how to profit from blogging.

Some of the things that I love about the blog is: Carrie writes and talks about raising her large family(she has 4 kids)holistically an on a budget. She is an avivid reader and encourages her children to become avivid readers. Her blog and radio program is fresh unique,educational and just plain fun.Oh yeah, did I mention she's from Atlanta too!

Carrie is a hardworking,newly married wife and mother to four kids and stepmom to one. She has built an incredible internet business and helps other women realize they too,can build a business from the internet.

So, if I could have a blog idol, it would be,Carrie Lauth. Do you have a blog idol or just a blog you enjoy to read and why?

-peace-

Shelly

No Electronic Crack

Just recently,I decided to take away all electronically devices from my children. Now,we're not a family who has to have the latest gadgets and gizmo's,but my children do love video games,(they have the XBOX)along with my darling husband,who by the way introduced our children to this wonderful past time. Don't get me wrong,I've played my shared of games too and still do,but it's not my whole life. I have other things I enjoy to do also,like reading a book,gardening,writing,cooking,taking a walk and exploring.

I have spent the last five days watching my children literally go through withdrawal from not having the television,video games and computer(unless its school related). It hurts my heart to see them not knowing what to do with themselves. The first day I took everything away,I noticed how all five of my kids wanted to go to sleep. They just couldn't stand being in a house that didn't have fun at their finger tips(i.e.game system, t.v.) They kept asking,"When can we play with the game?" All of my kids had very short tempers too. They just blew up at each other over anything(this is why I took the game to begin with,did I make a mistake),and honestly I almost cracked,but I made it through.

We haven't always been a family that lacked creativity. I say lack because whenever you depend on something or someone else for entertainment on a regular basis then you lack creativity. In fact,when my three older children were younger,I would only allow television on every other day and only for an hour. I always thought that was reasonable for a 4 year old,a 2 year old and 1 year old at that age. Instead of plopping my children in front of the tube,we would spend our days in hours of imaginative play:building castles,tents and boats out of boxes,tables & chairs,and of course,the many layers of sheets and blankets. Our days were spent fighting imaginary villains,and saving the world.

Most days we would venture out to the playground for hours of uninterrupted "free" play.When the weather wouldn't permit,we would open a book and begin a new journey.We always laughed,we always talked,and sometimes we even fought,but we could never be to mad because we had so many thoughts of what to do next.

Those were the days when my children and I had endless amounts of creativity,joy and true peace. Our days weren't bombarded with countless commericals of sugary drinks and cheaply made over priced toys. My kids found what they wanted to do and did it. They never waited for someone to tell them,who they were and what they should be doing. They were just themselves,loving being free. T.V. and video games weren't as interesting as creating their own fun.

As my family has grown over the years,I continued to encourage a limited t.v. lifestyle,but I also began to allow a little more t.v. time as my oldest entered 5th grade. I thought what harm could come,if they could watch at least an hour of TV during the week.At first, no one really watched t.v. or played games,but after a few weeks all hell broke loose. The siblings started fighting over what to watch,the remote,where to sit and chores (no one wants to miss a show).

It's sad to see how game consoles,computer and television have had such a negative effect on my kids. My husband felt like,since their Honor students,I shouldn't take items away from them. But my point,isn't about if your a good student or not. It's about the bad behavior and having a lack of interest in hobbies that made them happy.

As I said before,it hurts to see your children wanting and craving something so bad. But it also hurts to see your children sit in front of a box like a zombie while all of their creative energy goes to waste.

Since we started this TV Free challenge(I don't know how long it will last),my kids are focusing on projects that they once enjoyed. Our household is back to normal,as normal as a household of seven can be,but it's not chaotic,thank the heavens.

-peace-

Shelly

U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry - Yahoo! News

Here is an interesting article,I think its utterly silly to argue over. We get a little education,a little more money and BAM!!! Everything we once grew up doing(that doesn't cause any harm)is suddenly low class and wrong. Why spend money unnecessarily. Just read the article for yourself and tell me what you think.

-peace-

U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry - Yahoo! News

Uniforms helpful or Not?

Do your kids attend a school that requires a uniform and how do you feel about that.
This school year all five of my kids have to wear uniforms. The middle school has decided to hop onto the bandwagon this year. Personally, I don't blame them for putting the uniform thing in place because some of these middle school girls (7th graders) have lost their minds,wearing scantily clad clothing. My daughter Kennedy told me that girls came to school wearing leggings and short tops,so I don't blame the school for wanting to enforce some kind of dress code. But do you think this uniform thing is helpful to parents,or does it keep kids from being creative and unique. I only ask this question because my nine year old daughter,Brooklyn loves being able to be different and unique with her clothing and I can see her point,but as a parent I like having a lower clothing bill for the school year.

-peace-

A Masterpiece

One of the many things that I love in this world is the artwork of a child,and I highly enjoy hearing little ones talk about their masterpiece. Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to find out the inspiration behind this work of art,but I do love the colors of this masterpiece.

-peace-

School Sucks!

I hate to say this,but I'm already tired of the school year. I'm tired of all the back to back social studies and science projects(that require me to buy supplies,remember we're in a recession/depression),the tons of homework,the endless request for fundraiser money everytime I turn around. I don't know,maybe I'm just being lazy and cheap right now,but winter break can't come fast enough for me right now.I'm literally counting day the days until break. Do you ever feel this way about the school year?
I'm one of those parents who loves spending time with their children and I honestly miss them. But for me this isn't about missing them,its about becoming completly drained out by the end of October. For me the school year doesn't bring freedom and relaxation,it means trying to stick to my daily routine,but at the same time working within the school's schedule. So basically,my life feels like its being controlled by the school system and I can't take it anymore! I Need a Break From My Children's Schools and I need it fast!

-peace-

Which Party are you?

I just want to pose a question for you,are you a Democrat,Republican,Independent,Green or other? Then tell why?

If you're wondering which one I am,I'm an Independent and proud of it.
I probably lean more Democratic because I do believe in social programs,but at the same time,I don't want government getting too big and sticking their nose in my life. I support the Troops,but not the Iraq war,but support the Afghan war.I believe in education reform.We must do away with No Child Left Behind,open more Charter Schools and I support homeschooling families.I most defintely don't believe in Universal preschool as the next step in education reform and I didn't like the idea of bailing out the banks. I know Obama didn't get us in this mess,but there is no such thing as to big to fail. Noone bailed the American people out of their troubles,but we can bail out greedy bankers and investors. Shame on President Bush and Obama for starting this TO BIG TO FAIL CRAP. I'm proud to be an Independent and proud to keep the politican on his or her toes.

-peace-

The guilty pleasure

I must admit, I the Real Housewives series is a real guilty pleasure of mine. I never thought the women of the O.C. could be topped,but the Housewives of Atlanta and New Jersey have proven me wrong. I've never gotten into the New York cast at all,but I need to go back and re-watch them,maybe I missed some juicy tidbits. There's just something about watching these rich women(looking fab,I might add) acting like narcissistic,catty,materialistic backstabbers and American people wonder what's wrong with the young people of our society today. Well, there's your answer America.....the parents! But like I said, this is my guilty pleasure and I get sneak peek into wealthy women's lives. Bravo, to the Bravo channel for this truly entertaining series. Do you have a guilty pleasure series you enjoy?

P.S. The housewives I could be friends with....
Kandi(Atl housewife)
Lisa Wu (Atl)
The older sister in the N.J. series
These women are classy,real and seem to truly care for others,not self.

-peace-