What if you were abducted?

What would your kids miss most about you if you were abducted by aliens?
When we started first seeing the commercials for Disney's new movie, Mars Needs Moms, I wondered if my kids would even notice I was gone. Then, I really started getting curious about what it was they would notice that I did for them. I always tell them that I do way too much for them and they could never survive without me (my husband included).

We started to make a game out of it, by having the kids not come and ask me to help them with anything that they might come across during the day. Boy, by the end of the day, they really realized how much they would miss me if I was gone-I would hope that a simple, I miss you cause I love you would fall in the equation.

Funny, that Social Moms and Disney would have a contest to do with what kids would miss if their mom was abducted by aliens. They are asking for moms to list ten things that their kids would miss if THEY were abducted.

Here are our top ten things your kids would miss most about you if you were abducted by aliens:

1. Making them after school snacks-it's not like I don't put fruit and Little Debbies in our cupboard and fridge for easy access.
2. Finding lost toys and other items-this is a big problem in our house. If it's not right in front of their nose, they can't seem to open drawers or lift anything to see.
3. Reading games- The littlest one cant fully read her games, so mom to the rescue.
4. Taking them to the store-dad could do it, but won't.
5. Cuddle with them before bedtime-awwwww!
6. Keeping fights at bay-they would kill each other if I wasn't here.
7. Helping with homework-or, should I say, DOING homework.
8. Hugs- That one was definitely just Emily. Maybe Jordon would miss them-maybe.
9. Feed the dogs-they would miss the dogs if they starved to death.
10. Make the best desserts-They love my cupcakes.

Do I have you thinking what your kids would miss? Ask them and see what they come up with!
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Simple changes

This year I wanted to change some things in my family's life to help make it better. I felt like we live a fast paced life and not the most healthy one either. I knew I had to do something when my son went as far as to have a teacher print out what healthy foods kids should eat. Oh boy what an eye opener! I knew I really didn't pay attention to our health, but I didn't know that my kids wanted to be healthier as well.

When I heard about Social Moms and Simply Orange wanting to know what simple changes people have been making in their lives, I had to get on board!

I didn't really want to make these New Year's Resolutions, just changing our way of life. Here are simple changes we made in our lives.

1. Change what we eat for breakfast. All of us either skip breakfast, or grab something fast. Usually, that meant a doughnut or fast food. Now, I make it a point to send the kids off with something nutritious, like an orange or oatmeal in a container that they can take with. On weekends, it's eggs and wheat toast.

2. Sit down for meals. Dinner was eaten in the living room in front of the tv. Now, we sit at the table, which allows us to spend time together to find out what the kids did at school.

3. Exercise. Another simple change was adding family exercising. Taking a walk together a couple of times a week allows us to spend time together and get in shape too!

4. Going on a budget. This may seem hard, but it was quite simple. Now, we have more money to spend on family night!

5. Be nicer. This is the most simple change you can do in your life. Being positive to others in your life can bring positive into your life. I've been trying to stop and take a breath before lashing out if I am in a bad mood. Not taking it out on others keeps you from feeling guilty later.

What simple changes would you make in your life if you could? Or, what changes have you made already? I would love to hear from you, or you can join Social Moms and list your own to win $25 Target card.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Simply Orange® blogging program. If I am one of the first 65 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 Target gift card and a gift pack that includes a Simply Orange® cooler bag and logoed fleece."

Possibilites

I love this opportunity with Twittermom and Oprah!
Oprah wants to know what "your aspirations and plans for new possibilities in your life is". The Oprah Winfrey show is starting a new series called OWN. Oprah Winfrey Network is going to include specials on informing and inspiring people to live their best life they can. Its kind of like making a New Year's Resolution and doing it!
This is such good timing!
My aspirations and plans for new possibilities for the next year is going to be exciting! I am going to finally get brave enough to get serious with my photography business! I have been doing it on the side for two years now and never had the courage to branch out to do it full time. I love being an artist but never had the confidence to depend on my artistic ability to make a living. I hate what I do right now and have been depressed for some time, though my main business (daycare) has brought joy in the first coup[le of years of business. I had wanted to stay at home to be with my children, butI didn’t have the courage to take a chance doing something in the art field-my true desire. When I decided to do photography, I did it as a side business. That way, if I failed, I wouldn’t disappoint anyone (but myself) I had my ah ha moment and really just told myself that I'm going to do it. You only live once, after all!
I think this OWN will be such an inspiration for me and the fact it is starting the same time that I am is so cool. I feel the Oprah Winfrey Network will be holding my hand along the way. NOT to sound too dorky. Lol.
What would you do to change your life? Are you thinking about starting a new business? Getting married? Moving to your dream city? Let's all decide to take that scary but exciting step to change our lives for the best. Don't be afraid or negative anymore. I'm not and I'm very excited about it and by this time next year, I plan on having that successful photography business and all the perks that goes along with it, like being able to take time off to go to my kids schools for activities. I’m glad that I was able to write this post because I’ve been thinking about writing something about my plans for sometime now and this was the other little push to do it.Oprah Winfrey Network








The New Oprah Winfrey NetworkI wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network blogging program, for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”