inspiration

TM Book Club: “The Beauty of Grace” Inspires

March 23, 2015 by The Motherhood

No matter who you are or what your situation, every one of us has moments when we need to hear, “You are loved,” “There is a plan,” and most of all, “You are enough.”

“The Beauty of Grace,” written by a longtime friend of The Motherhood, Dawn Camp, is an amazing reminder of these very things and so much more. With a compilation of stories that speak to purpose, perspective, surrendering and worship, this book is like a modern day devotional, made up of honest stories from everyday men and women.

Dawn’s photography pairs beautifully with the inspirational stories she’s compiled. For example:

Arianne Segerman candidly speaks to a feeling many of us struggle with — inadequacy. From Pinterest-perfect homes to Facebook-induced feelings of competition, she reminds us that for each of us there is a different plan. Instead of trying to keep up, work to refine your edges, those very edges that allow you to forget how truly blessed you are. And most importantly, remember your blessings don’t have to look like others’.

Shannon Lowe shares her Sunday morning with us, and her strategy for getting through the week — from a heartbroken kid or the mess in the bedroom to a friend struggling with divorce or the dog that throws up on the carpet — she anchors herself in His grace because she knows “…in Him all things hold together.”

Rachel Anne Ridge reminds us that when we’ve come to a personal “stop sign” on our path, it’s just that — a moment to pause and assess what’s ahead. It doesn’t mean you stop and stay, or turn around or quit. Rather, stop long enough to “gather wisdom, get the lay of the land, look around and move forward slowly.” The road ahead may present you with unexpected curves, but that’s why stopping to assess your situation can help you to stay on track throughout your journey.

Beauty of Grace Book Review — Photo Credit: http://myhomesweethomeonline.net/

Positioned as an invitation to “slow down, take a deep breath and know that you are loved,” this book will inspire, enlighten and comfort anyone who picks it up.

The Motherhood was provided with a copy of “The Beauty of Grace” for review. All opinions expressed are our own.

Game On: Recipe Inspiration for the Big Game on Sunday!

January 27, 2015 by The Motherhood

Did you know the Sunday of the Big Game (you know the one we’re talking about) is the second-largest food consumption day of the year behind Thanksgiving? Whether you’re hosting a party or bringing a dish to a Game Day potluck, it’s the perfect time to wow your guests with a new recipe!

We are partnering right now with a team of creative bloggers to whip up a host of mouthwatering, better-for-you Game Day recipes using Naturally Fresh® homemade-tasting dressings. Check out how they put their own spin on some classic favorites, and look for Naturally Fresh® at your local Kroger or Publix in the refrigerated section (no preservatives or artificial flavors or colors here!).

You can find more Naturally Fresh® recipes on our Pinterest board, too. Which recipe will you be making?

Cuban Sandwiches and Cuban Sliders (This Mama Cooks! On a Diet)

Quick and Easy Spinach Bleu Cheese Dip (Hines Sight)

Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs (Double Duty Mommy)

Naturally Fresh® Bleu Cheese Hot Wing Chicken Salad Sliders (My Little Space 4 Everything)

Easy Twice-Baked Potatoes (My Boys and Their Toys)

Bacon-Wrapped Cauliflower Bites (Sweet T Makes Three)

Regardless of whether you’re cheering the Patriots, the Seahawks or simply watching for the commercials, we hope you enjoy some tasty recipes and great company at your viewing party!

We Are Here With Alicia Keys

September 25, 2014 by The Motherhood

My girls and I have been playing We Are Here by Alicia Keys pretty much nonstop since she rocked the Social Good Summit on Sunday with her words, her news, her passion and her new song.

Picture this: Alicia Keys walking onstage wearing a jaunty fedora, black leather pants and a sheer black shirt covering her pregnant belly (baby due in December). On the screen behind her was this photo, several stories tall:

Alicia said, “The day I wrote the song We Are Here, a friend asked ‘Why are you here?’ Not why am I here, as in why did you come because I didn’t invite you to this place, but why are you here in the world, on earth? I couldn’t believe I’d never been asked that question before.”

“As I prepare to give birth to my new child, I can’t help but think about what world am I bringing the baby into,” said Alicia.

“Because it’s not about me, it’s about we,” she said.

Alicia said, “People want to do something. We all want to do something. So many of us want to do something, but what do we do, who do we go to, where do we find it, is it really the right thing, will something happen from it?”

“So I figured, if we can gather a group of really powerful organizations who are doing great work, how many people will want to be a part of that?”

“How many people don’t know what’s important to them, but want to be awakened?” asked Alicia.

And with that, Alicia announced that she’s committing $1 million to We Are Here, a new movement that according to the website will “raise awareness of issues around the world that cannot be solved in isolation.” We Are Here will support 12 groups, among them: CARE, Equal Justice Initiative, Keep A Child Alive, Girl Rising, and MomsRising.

Two organizations immediately matched her commitment so We Are Here launched on Sunday with $3 million.

After making her big announcement, Alicia invited leaders of five recipient organizations onstage for a rich, fast-paced conversation.

And then a piano was rolled to center stage and Alicia sat down to the keys and gave one of the most beautiful, moving performances I have ever heard, singing We Are Here. Here is the song on YouTube:

People were literally crying as she played, and the audience roared when she took her bow.

Topping off an incredible evening, backstage following the concert, my friend’s 12-year-old daughter said to Alicia, “Alicia, you’re my favorite activist.” And without missing a beat, Alicia replied, “Girl, soon you’re going to be mine.”

Please join us in supporting Alicia, and the We Are Here Movement.

The Motherhood has proudly been involved in the Social Good Summit since its founding five years ago and congratulates the United Nations Foundation, the 92^nd Street Y and Mashable on another incredible, groundbreaking event!

Treat Yourself to a Home Spa Day

July 24, 2012 by The Motherhood

The last time I had a spa day in an actual spa was when I was six months pregnant with my first child. I really enjoyed it; I have no idea why I haven’t been back since.

Yeah, right.

It’s indisputable that few people need spa days more than moms. It’s also indisputable that it’s much easier to find the time and money to go to the spa when the loves of your life aren’t consuming all your time and money.

But what mothers may lack in free time and discretionary funds, they make up for in resourcefulness and ingenuity. If mama can’t get to the spa, she can bring the spa right home to her–with the help of Angie of My Four Monkeys, who hosted The Motherhood’s talk on having yourself a home spa day. Angie was joined by guests Liz of A Nut in a Nutshell, Felicia of Go Graham Go, Xenia of Thanks, Mail Carrier, Bridgette of Experimental Mommy, Renee of What Mommies Need, and Jennifer of Mommy B Knows Best to discuss head to toe pampering without leaving the house.

Admittedly, it’s difficult to get a full spa day experience at home. For one thing, who has a full day? For another, it may be tough to train your four year old to drape you in fluffy snow white towels she’s rushed straight from the warm dryer. (You may have more success getting your seven year old to peer at you critically and ask if you’re sure you don’t want your lip waxed.) But if you can steal an hour or two after the kids are in bed, you can have yourself a peaceful, relaxing time.

Don’t forget that a spa experience is for all your senses. If you find candles relaxing, have some at hand in your spa area. Have some favorite music selected and ready to go. Don’t forget a beverage, and not necessarily an alcoholic one. A nice cup of tea, or some chilled water with a few thin slices of cucumber in it, are refreshing and contribute to the spa experience. Get some essential oils and use (sparingly–a little goes a long way) to scent your bath. Some favorites among our panelists were vanilla, coconut and lavender for relaxation. Peppermint and grapefruit are great choices for invigoration.

Once it’s quiet and feeling spa-like, what are your favorite ways to pamper? Many of our talk participants really enjoy a facial or a great skin scrub. Of course you can buy that stuff in a tube, but it smells and feels even better (and costs less) if you make it at home. Our panelists provided their favorites, and links to more:

Angie’s Honey Avocado Oatmeal Mask

(especially great for oily skin)
½ cup dry old-fashioned oatmeal
¼ avocado
1 tsp honey
1 Tbsp olive oil

1. In a bowl, mix the honey, olive oil, and avocado.
2. Add in the oatmeal and mix thoroughly.

If acne is a problem for you, Angie recommends this facial mask:

Chamomile and Mint Facial
1 tsp chopped fresh mint
1 Tblsp honey
1 egg

1. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl.
2. Apply the mixture to your face.
3. Let dry for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with tepid water.

Angie’s Honey Lip Scrub
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon baking soda
a few drops of olive oil

1. Mix the honey and baking soda till a smooth paste is formed.
2. Apply the mixture on your lips and leave it on for a few minutes, then gently rub the lips to remove dead skin.
3. Wash your lips with water, and apply olive oil to your lips to moisturize them.

If you like cinnamon, you’ll love this Cinnamon Sugar Lip Scrub Bridgette recommends, from Deliciously Organized.

For a more all-over skin scrub, Felicia offers her Brown Sugar Scrub. Angie also recommends Vanessa’s Chiquita Banana Sugar Scrub. (Angie points out that while many of these items make great gifts, ones using fresh perishable ingredients like bananas or avocados obviously do not, since they should be refrigerated and used within a few days.)

Essential oils can be used to scent and customize scrubs as well, such as this hand and body scrub offered by Angie:

½ cup brown sugar
2 Tblsp almond oil or olive oil
5 drops of honey
3 to 5 drops of your favorite essential oil

1. Mix ingredients thoroughly in a glass bowl.
2. Scrub can be used on the entire body, or just hands and feet (great for pedicures).

Angie says, “If you feel like splurging for a special occasion, here’s a scrub that uses papaya and smells like a beach getaway!”

Tropical Fruit and Sugar Scrub
½ cup white sugar
3 Tblsp coconut oil or coconut milk
3 Tblsp almond, jojoba oil, or olive oil
½ cup fresh pureed papaya

1. Mix the sugar and all the oils.
2. Add papaya to the mixture and stir.
3. Use on skin to rejuvenate, and remove dead skin.

When you create your own spa, you can do as much or as little as you like. Angie says,”I f you want to REALLY get into DIY pampering you can purchase supplies like beeswax, flavors, and coloring to create all kinds of products at home including lip balms, lip glosses, bath bombs, and more! Want to stick to recipes you probably already have the items to make? Look for scrub recipes, face masks, and bath salts.” She offers up this recipe for bath fizzies from Martha Stewart.

Sometimes the best part of a spa day is sharing it with someone else. But just because your spa is at home doesn’t mean that you can’t share it. In fact, it’s a great way to spend time with your daughters and create memories without spending a mint. Angie recommends Bonding Over Beauty by Erika Katz as a great source of pampering ideas and recipes for mothers and daughters to enjoy together.

Home spa days are also a relaxing and inexpensive way to get together with your friends. Jennifer did it for her bachelorette party, as did Liz’s daughter. Jennifer also suggests a spa day for a girl’s birthday party. Whether you have your spa day for a special occasion or no occasion at all, with your daughter, sister, friends or just yourself, relax and enjoy your pampering. If anyone has called you Mom, Mommy, Mother or Mama today, I promise you–you’ve earned it.

The Crowd-Sourced List of Places to Take Your Kids Before They Leave Home

July 17, 2012 by The Motherhood

In the book 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans, author Karl Pillemer distills wisdom from over a thousand elderly Americans into thirty practical lessons we can all use to be happier now. One of them was to travel as much as possible, if necessary sacrificing other things we spend money on to do so. Travel is that valuable an experience.

What better gift, then, could we give our kids? And what sweeter memories than to experience new places together? Today in The Motherhood, Jodi Grundig of Mom’s Favorite Stuff and Family Travel Magazine was joined by Leigh of Hines-Sight Blog, Corinne of Have Baby Will Travel, Deb of Just a Mom’s Take on Things, Maria of Very Busy Mama, Mel of Mama Buzz, and Sherry of Baby Pop to talk about traveling with your kids–especially where. The when? Is now.

Corinne pointed out that we really only get eighteen summers with each of our kids; we need to make the most of them. So how early do you start traveling with your kids? Jodi says that she started traveling when her daughter was seven months old. Mel started when her oldest was around four or five. It’s nice for them to remember the trips you take them on, of course. But as Corinne noted, “I don’t think it matters if they don’t remember things, because YOU will never forget.”

Traveling with kids sometimes feels a little more like a National Lampoon Vacation movie than a Norman Rockwell painting. As Deborah so aptly phrased it, “It’s a TRIP, not a vacation. If you realize this, you won’t be disappointed in the little bit of relaxation you actually get.” Keep your expectations reasonable or you and your kids will end up annoyed and frustrated. These are not the memories you wish to cultivate.

But there are things that can make travel with kids easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Leigh says, “A DVD player is a must with kids. I can’t believe we held out for as long as we did.” And Sherry says that for road trips, headphones for the kids’ entertainment are important “so you can have some quiet. It is your vacation too.” Deb recommends “lots of stops along the way–don’t try to be in a hurry, but try to enjoy the drive and what you’re seeing.” Mel summed up many people’s advice when she suggested, “Take lots of snacks; have things to do on hand. Be ready to stop and get out to see things, even just to get them out of the car for little bits at a time. Travel with an exploring, inquisitive attitude.”

If you’re flying to your destination, Erin has heard that the best (cheapest) time to book a flight is Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time. Jodi says, “I like using Bing’s fare predictor. It tells you if it’s a good time to buy or if you should wait. They purchased the technology from a small company based in MA and I’ve found it to be accurate.” The money you save on airfare can go toward enjoying your destination a little bit more.

How do you decide on a destination? For a lot of people, returning to the same place year after year is a tradition that builds layers of memories. Others want to keep covering new ground. Deb knows of a family whose family vacation each year focuses on a different part of the USA. They’ve driven through most of the states, flown to Hawaii and cruised to Alaska! Many of us are in-between: the annual long weekend at Grandma’s lake cottage, plus a trip somewhere else we’ve always wanted to see. Jodi says, “To be honest, we have a hard time going somewhere new – we like returning to our old favorites. So we try to do a mix.”

How many of the places on this list would you like to travel to with your family?

– Hawaii

– The Grand Canyon

– France

– Italy

– Fiji

– Ireland

– Route 66 (for some, the ultimate road trip)

– Prince Edward Island

– Alaska

– Switzerland

– South Africa

– London

– Washington, DC

– New York City

– Disneyland or Disney World

– California

– Quebec City

– Australia

– Greece

– Mt. Rushmore

– Asheville, NC

– Niagara Falls

– Jamaica

– Phoenix, AZ for baseball spring training

– The Great Smoky Mountains

If this list inspires you, check out Jodi’s Travel Bucket List…and get started on your own! Go to as many of them with your kids as you can. You’re not just taking them somewhere. You’re giving them memories that someday will take them back.

Book Party: Dare, Dream, Do

May 14, 2012 by The Motherhood

What is your dream? Do you have one?

If you said “no,” don’t feel bad – many people have trouble identifying and articulating their dreams, much less achieving them. According to Whitney Johnson, author of the new book Dare, Dream, Do, one of her motivations for writing the book came from women telling her they didn’t have any dreams.

“When I took a sabbatical from Wall Street in 2005, I was so excited to be talking to women about dreams,” she said. “But when I asked what their dream was, I’d often hear, I don’t have a dream, or I don’t know how to achieve my dream. That saddened me deeply.”

Whitney talked with a motivated group of women in The Motherhood this afternoon about her book, daring to dream and making things happen. She was joined by co-hosts Melanie of Modern Mami; Jenna of A Mom’s Balancing Act; Amanda of Parenting by Dummies; Amie of Mamma Loves; and Morra of Women Online.

On “Daring”

“In my experience, women are actually pretty good at the do, the executing of a dream, and even know what that secret place, is — it’s really the daring that is tremendously difficult, because we’ve forgotten it is our privilege to dream,” Whitney said.

“I think our daughters, especially, need to see us daring to do. So often, girls hold back on challenging themselves,” added Melanie of Modern Mami.

Several people noted that fear of failure held them back from daring to dream, but as Whitney pointed out, failure gives you information – not a bad thing. “It does seem that we learn from our mistakes and failures,” said Jenna of A Mom’s Balancing Act. “An important thing for us to understand and to help our children understand as well.”

On “Dreaming”

“Sometimes we can’t articulate a dream because we don’t know what it is… but more frequently, we are afraid to say what we really want for fear of the social cost,” Whitney revealed. “Anna Fels, a Cornell psychiatrist, discovered that women don’t lack ambition. But because we are only considered feminine when we are giving up resources, whether time, money, or praise, then we are in a double bind if we want to dream.”

“I think I am still trying to figure out what my dream is,” said Amanda of Parenting by Dummies, expressing a popular sentiment. “I have a good idea of where I want to be in my life, but not a lot of certainty about how I plan to get there. My birthday is tomorrow though so I’ve been doing a lot of that so-another-year-has-passed thinking lately!”

“Birthdays are great milestones to take stock, I find. You can set intentions for you next year- even little ones!” replied Morra of Women Online.

So how can you effectively discover your dream? Whitney suggests “mining your innate talents (what you do reflexively well), acquired competencies (you’re good at because you’ve practiced), feminine strengths (how do your relational skills and emotional attunement inform your dreams), and deeply-held beliefs (what do you believe about the world).”

“My favorite thing about the book, is that it provides a pattern to follow. That way, when we work and make dreams come true, we start again with the process,” said macyrobinson.

It never hurts to write it down, too. As thienkim said, “2012 is the first year I’ve made a list of things I want to do. Just writing it down puts it out there in the universe. It’s encouraged me to ASK (my word for the year) for things. I’ve accomplished many things from my list already.”

On “Doing”

“I think once you figure out what your dream is, figuring out the next steps on how to achieve it, is the hardest part,” said Melanie of Modern Mami.

Amie of Mamma Loves pointed out that it’s especially tough for moms “to balance our dreams and our responsibilities. There is that constant battle between doing what we can to provide for our children v. doing what we love.” And Amanda at Parenting by Dummies agreed, “I always am afraid of making a time commitment or a financial commitment b/c that takes away from my family.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t have dreams, as much as it was that I didn’t know how to go about reaching them,” agreed CGKoens. “They seemed so huge and the steps to get there were blurry. What I discovered was that sometimes, all it takes is encouragement from one person.”

And Becki pointed out, “I am willing to work harder and persist longer if I believe I have a chance of success. That’s why encouragement (not just empty praise) is so valuable.”

We wish you well in achieving your dreams and leave you with this beautiful sentiment Whitney expressed during the live chat:

“We dream so our children can dream. 1) By dreaming we model for our children how to dream; 2) By dreaming, we avoid foisting our own ambitions on our children because of our unlived life. Paraphrasing, psychologist Carl Jung said, ‘one of the largest influences on a child is the unlived life of a parent.’ When we dream our own dreams, we can let our children dream theirs, and simply bear witness to the lives they will live.”