Mother's Day Guide

I can't believe Mother's Day is on Sunday. It has been creeping up too fast! I do love flowers, but on Mother's Day, they are so expensive and only last for a few days. I prefer more creative gifts or sentiments to flowers, but that's just practical me.

I have been thinking of some affordable ideas for Mother's Day that I thought I would share.

For the reading Mom:
LDS author, Virginia Pierce's book Glimpses into the Life & Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley



Journalist, Cokie Robert's Founding Mothers

For the music lover Mom:
A fun and Jazzy CD that a Mom of any age would love. Thanks for the tip Steph. Amazing sax and drum playing on this CD. Getz/Gilberto



For the movie watching Mom:
Sleepless in Seattle

A gift card to a local movie theatre or tickets to a play or musical with you or with someone else.

For the cooking Mom:
I love my indoor grill pan. It would work for a "green" mom too as it has a unique teflon.

One of the "Flirty Aprons" from the University Mall (kiosk). I have a similar apron and any girl I know would love to have one. You really can't go wrong with pink and brown either.

For the jewelry loving Mom
Our local Shopko has 75% off 25K gold jewelry. I found some great earrings for $9.
You can never go wrong with a diamond stud earring or a classic, simple diamond solitaire necklace. They had some there in the $50 range as well.

Any Mom would love a new watch and Precision Time is having a Mother's Day sale. I like this one because it's simple and clean. Originally $575! Now $149.




Here's some more ideas:
A beautiful hanging basket to hang outside in the yard or deck.

A day spa gift certificate or massage. Get half price deals here

I love Sees chocolates. You can gift certificates at Costco to save around $10. If budget allows, Godiva is the best.

I am not a girl who likes things that are smelly such as lotions, soaps, candles, perfume etc. But, if your mom/wife likes these things, try Bath & Body Works. They have a lot of nice gift baskets and sets.

A lot of people are out of work right now... a beautiful hand written card with reasons why you love your mother/wife. A time in your life when your mother/wife made a difference. Maybe a honey-do coupon book is sometimes more thoughtful and better than any gift.

Good luck!

Stay at Home Moms

It's official, I just saw on Good Morning America that they studied how much work stay at home Moms do, and if they were paid, they would earn a salary of $122K. If they also work from home, add $76K. Therefore, I am clearly the bread winner around here. To be honest, I think I need a raise. I look like that lady in the picture most of the time. However, she is way better dressed than I usually am!

Great Date Restaurant

We recently went out to eat at Gloria's Little Italy in the center of Provo. The food and service was really good, and they had a live singer that was fabulous. All in all a great restaurant for a date. I'm loving this live in babysitter thing. Too bad for us she will have to get a job soon!

Marble Jars

I have had so many friends ask about the blue marbles we have on our counter and what we use them for, so I thought I'd do a post about their miraculous powers!

For the last couple years we have instituted a simple rewards program with our kids that works amazingly well. It helps us to remember and praise the good things they do and helps us with teaching them important principals.

We have some glass marbles (the kind you might put in a vase) and a small-ish votive candle holder for each child over 3 years old labeled with their names on it. When they do something willingly, a chore, or something nice for someone else, they get a marble in their "jar". If they do something naughty or don't obey, they get one taken out. I know it sounds easy and too good to be true, but it really works for us! When they fill up their jar, they get to choose a prize from the prize box on top of the fridge or they can have $1.

The most important thing is to be consistent and stick with it. It's pretty cool for them to see that they have done 50 good things in a week or a month. As a mom, it's hard to not use negative language all the time, I find myself always saying, don't do that, stop it, that's naughty, no, you can't, etc... but this is a good way to say they did great and to actually take a little time to give them positive feedback.

It's also very effective discipline for us to say, "Don't do that or you'll lose a marble." instead of time out or other forms of discipline. Many times they will cry because they don't want to lose one, but they are learning about consequences.

When we go to the store and they have, I want-itis. I say, you can have that Barbie, but you have to earn it and it will take you 10 full marble jars to get it. They say, psh... no thanks!

I hope this helps, try it out and let me know if it works as well for you as it does for us. Hmm... just wondering if it works for husbands too?

If I Could Keep Time in a Bottle...

Steve and I were on a "date" last night. Can you call it a date when you are already married?

Anyway, I expressed that I have been feeling a little spread thin lately. Previously, I had been thinking since selling the princess dress ups were going so well that I would probably stop doing photography because when fall rolls around, it will be too busy to be doing both with fall/early winter being the busiest season of the year for both of them.

However, after photographing this last wedding, I forgot how much I love the creativity of doing some type of art (I stink at drawing/painting, so no creative outlet there). I really enjoy being around people and children and being able to have a hobby that I get paid for. I love doing the photo editing as well. I feel that if I quit for a year, I will lose my "regular" clients that come to me every year.

But, with the kids getting older and getting into more activities and friends that play here at the house, I'm just spread too thin. I have been working 3 hours during nap time (thank you Matthew!) and after they go to bed for an hour or two, but it's burdensome sometimes, and with my current health problems I get really tired and worn out easily.

I know there will be a time in my life to do all of these things that I "wish" to do. Maybe when all of the kids are in school and my health has improved. I guess I just don't want to miss any of their innocent cuteness and want to be able to be more present (and awake!) while they are still young and totally adorable! What would you do if you were me?

Wedding Bells

I feel privileged to be able to attend and photograph the Sutton/Woodward reception. It was beautifully decorated (above you will see a picture of a tiered cupcake stand with beautiful black and white cupcakes) and the bride and groom were lovely. The family sure knew how to "party" too, it was very fun. I left at 10pm and the dancing was still going strong!



The bride's dress was gorgeous!

Shabby Apple

I was just going through my bookmarks and remembered this quirky online clothing shop that I thought was quite unique. Check it out: http://www.shabbyapple.com/. The price tags are pretty steep, but it's a fun site to look through. I really like the dress below, too bad it's wool. Maybe for fall...

They are also doing a little girl model search here. Maybe if I have time, I'll submit Megan and Kaylee.