I am a mom, teacher, and writer – mostly in that order, but it shifts from day to day. Raised Christian but drawn to Buddhism and yoga in college, I studied both seriously for many years, and have meditated daily since that time. I now teach meditation and spirituality within a non-denominational, or as I prefer to call it, ‘cross-denominational’, context. I believe that the mystic branches of every world religion – the branches that emphasize personal spiritual experience and our individual relationship to the divine – are each unique paths to the same universal truths and understanding.

And from what I saw the reviews and posts on her blog are as interesting how she describes herself. Here’s a snippet from my favorite post of the few I looked over:

If You Think You’re Enlightened, Have Kids

July 12, 2008
Spiritual teacher Ram Dass reportedly once said, ‘If you think you’re enlightened, spend a weekend with your parents.’ I would like to modify that to ‘have kids.’ Of course, having kids is a much bigger time commitment than spending a weekend with your parents. Instead, you get YEARS of weekends in which birthday parties, G-rated movies, and Chuckie Cheese’s qualify as high excitement. But that isn’t really what makes having kids such a spiritual reality check. The value is that you have a built in test of your ego and self-awareness on every front.

cont.

To read the rest and to check out Lisa’s blog click here to visit: Mommy Mystic.

Cross Cards

For more information visit their site here: Writing Mamas Salon

For information on starting a local chapter: Writing Mamas Salon Chapters

Write on Dawn!!

Here’s how you make a perfect Easter basket that will not break the bank and make a great impression on your terrific toddler:

1. Start with a basket you already have at home. Don’t buy that Easter basket at the grocery store that you will use once and then pitch into your garage to be lost forever. Can’t find a basket? Look for a small plastic storage bin, decorate a shoebox, or extra plastic wastebasket. Nix the cellophane wrap.

2. Skip the candy and load up on healthier treats instead. Your toddler’s favorite fruits or crackers will do just fine. Or try a new brand of cracker. If your toddler is asking for candy, just include one small chocolate egg or a few peeps. Remember the less your toddler is exposed to candy, the better!

3. Instead of filling plastic eggs with candy, fill them with beans instead. Tape them up with colorful electrical tape and you’ve got a new shaker instrument. You can also fill the eggs with small toys or stickers.

4. Include items you need to buy anyway: a toothbrush with one of your child’s favorite characters, nice socks, new character underwear or pajamas.

5. Great toys to include are inexpensive items like crayons, sidewalk chalk, coloring books, toy cars, stickers, play doh, rubber duckies and other toys for the bath.

6. Celebrate the coming of spring with some outdoor activity toys like a Frisbee, bubbles, or ball.

7. Write them a simple note that says “I love you” or “Happy Easter.” Encourage them to say each letter in your note.

Create your basket with your toddler in mind. Include some of his or her favorite things and you’ll be sure to have a hit! And it will cost you a lot less than $65.

Happy Easter,

Arlene

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Be sure to check out Arlene’s Websites at:

http://www.losingweightafterbaby.com or blog at http://losingweightafterbaby.wordpress.com

Here’s an excerpt from the news report on Breitbart:

Authorities have arrested a mother who was videotaped spraying her young daughter with a high-pressure water hose at a Florida car wash. Deputies arrested Niurka Ramirez in Orlando on Friday on a child abuse charge.

Ramirez says she was trying to discipline her 2-year-old daughter for throwing a temper tantrum.

She told authorities she did not use the high-pressure feature on the hose when spraying the child.

Ms. Ramirez was released from jail and the child had no injuries after being “whipped” by the high pressure water spray.

The video below is the local news story and a short clip of the scene showing the mom spraying her daughter.

Click here to watch the video

Why buy handmade you ask? You’ll enjoy supporting a fellow citizen with a name and perhaps a family of their own more then supporting WalMart or some other corporation. You’ll be giving a unique gift to a unique individual made be an equally unique person. How unique is that? And finally you’ll be taxing our environment far less then if you had purchased something made in China and distributed through a myriad of middlemen before it ever reaches you.

Why buy handmade video

In 2 months around the Christmas season the site collected over 10,000 pledges to buy handmade. Seems like the ideal timing to give a shout out for small craftspeople and artisans. Buy handmade.

Her handmade crafts blog is an excellent source for very affordable crafts you and the kids can do together at home instead of the TV (unless, of course, it’s Moms TV!)  or other mind numbing waste of time. Check it out at: Lil Handmades at Mamabliss.

She also has two other blogs including one especially for homeschoolers called ‘homeschooling fun’, and another about her life as the mother of her children, Mamabliss.

Here are five tips on how to lose weight quickly and safely:

1. Start with a mental attitude of “take no prisoners” for the natural tendency is for us to make excuses. This is not the time to play games with yourself. This is a war, against bad, old habits of over indulging yourself. If you don’t like the way that sounds, go look in the mirror. If you don’t like what you see, keep reading.
2. Examine everything you put into your mouth. Why am I eating this? Is this helping me meet my goals? A mental attitude is the beginning step here. Why are you eating everything in sight? Is it because you are hungry or could it be perhaps that you are using food as a consoler, to pamper yourself, to comfort yourself? If so, it is only a temporary fix and will wind up on your backside in about three to four days.
3. Ask yourself, is it worth it? Is it worth developing diabetes or losing my self-esteem each time I go to my closet to dress? The answer to that is no! Be kind to yourself and tell yourself that there is no food that tastes so good or that looks better than a smaller size pants or dress size or bathing suit when the warm weather rolls around. Be tough, but be wise and eat healthy.
4. Some think that it is smart to lose weight weight by starving. This is dead wrong. The only thing you lose by starving yourself is muscle, especially if you aren’t exercising. You can risk serious health issues and you won’t look good or healthy. Thin, saggy muscles are not your goal.
5. Eat healthy, eat often, and eat little meals or healthy snacks throughout the day. This is the key. This is the secret. Eat small, be small but eat raw, healthy vegetables and fruits and a good portion of protein from chicken, fish and some beef.

To find quality websites with more information about losing weight go to: http://www.momz.com/dir/diet-nutrition/

Mothers can be very baby centered and for good reason. After all, when God creates little babies, He makes them irresistible, maybe so mothers will endure the rigors of taking care of them.

Yet even during the first months of life with baby, it’s important to nurture your marriage. The stronger your bond is with your mate, the more secure and happy your baby will be. Dates don’t have to be elaborate, expensive or even outside of your own home. New parents have to be creative about spending quality time together, even if it is just for a few moments.

Here are ten free or almost free ideas to choose from:

1. Look through old photos from your dating days. Reminisce about your first date. What were you wearing? Where did you go? What was your first impression?

2. Share a scoop of ice cream together. Use one bowl and two spoons. Talk about the highlight and low light of your day.

3. Cuddle up and have a movie night for mom (chick flick). The next week, have a movie night for dad (action, drama or comedy).

4. List 5 things you love about your spouse. Exchange lists over a glass of sparkling cider.

5. Get a baby sitter and walk around the park hand in hand without the stroller. Kiss at the swings.

6. Heat up some massage oil and give your spouse a massage.

7. Have a candlelight dinner in your home or backyard.

8. Go to a coffee shop together. Talk about how you can meet one another’s needs better.

9. Take a hot bubble bath.

10. After the kids are asleep, take a blanket out to the backyard. Lie down and watch the stars together.

As you can see, you don’t need a lot of time or money to date your mate. Any of these things can be done even with a new baby. You just have to be intentional about planning special moments together. Don’t exchange romance for a diaper bag when you can have both. Just look your husband in the eye, hold hands, shut out the rest of the world from time to time, and date.

This article was submitted by Arlene Pellicane. For more great information visit her website at Losing Weight After Baby.

The owner of SurfacesWithPaint.com, Dawn Papandrea-Khan, was kind enough to put this fantastic article about wall murals together for us. We hope you enjoy it.

Many parents are exploring their options in decorating and design for their child’s room even before the child is born. A nursery is a great place to start. How wonderful for a little baby to discover a world of imagination right in their own bedroom or playroom.

Great themes for a nursery can be anything from jungle animals, nursery rhymes, stripes or different shapes, flowers and trees, clouds, and so much more. The possibilities are endless. Some great places to find creative ideas are to: look in children’s books at the library, search the internet, buy a book on decorating children’s rooms, magazines, or you can seek help from a professional.

When choosing a theme, think about how long you would like the mural to be in the child’s room. Some families have one nursery that they use for all their children, but some will use the same room and have to re-paint as the child gets older. If that is the case, it is important to choose a theme that can grow with your child.

If the child is older and you are considering a mural for them. a great way to choose a theme is to ask them what they would like painted on their walls. Show them pictures and try to bring out their interests. For instance, if a young girl is into horses, you could have a wonderful mural painted with that theme that she would love for years to come. If a boy loves a specific sports team, you can have the symbol painted above their bed. If a pre-teen girl loves bright colors, you can have all different geometric shapes painted on one wall. Again, the possibilities are endless.

In the end, be sure that you do the proper planning. If you are attempting to do it on your own, draw out your design and practice a bit with your paints. If you would rather have help with ideas. it is best to hire someone who can bring it all together for you.

A mural is really worth the investment when it comes to your child’s creativity and imagination.

Here are some samples of Dawn’s work.

The Cow jumped over the Moon

African Plains – Nursery Mural