So This Is What’s It’s Life to Be a Mother

I’m the type of mom that didn’t leave my baby girl’s side ever since she was born. When she started preschool, many people thought I would suffer a great deal, or she would as well for never experiencing anything without me. Surprisingly enough, she did awesome, and I did too. When Kindergarten came, my little girl did not find it as exciting as preschool. She had major separation anxiety, and it took her a long time to get to a point where she wouldn’t cry and cling to me. I think it was easier for me because I was too … Continue reading

Potty Training Our Son Part VIII

He was surprisingly upset that he peed in his underwear. I reassured him that it was okay and that sometimes accidents happen when we do not stop what we are doing, or watching in my son’s case, to use the potty. I got him into some dry underwear but he was still a little sad. We shared some milk and cookies and some hugs. He continued to use the bathroom for the rest of the day. The following day, we continued potty training. As soon as he awoke, he used the potty and we put him in underwear. It was … Continue reading

Star with Surprising Pasts

Everyone has a story or so Jon Favreau said in Swingers. Celebrities are no different, but some have pasts you may find hard to believe. In my last pop culture blog, I wrote about celebrities who tried to pass themselves off as Native Americans when they weren’t. Today, I am going to talk about celebrities that don’t try to hide from their past, but you just might find it interesting. First of all, there are the preacher’s kids. You might have heard that Katy Perry’s father is a preacher after there was a lot of press about both her parent’s … Continue reading

Post-Easter Sugar High… and Low

Classes may be out for spring break, but my second grader got schooled big time on Easter Sunday. Thanks to the extreme generosity of parents, grandparents, neighbors and the Easter Bunny, my daughter received not one, not two, not three, but six different chocolate rabbits. While her haul could have been the basis of many lessons, including self-control, charity, gratitude, and the dangers of excessive sugar consumption, she instead spent Easter learning the difference between “solid” and “hollow.” As in, just because you receive a two-foot tall chocolate bunny dressed in a top hat, blue bow tie, and a cummerbund … Continue reading

The Surprisingly Strict Disney Dress Code

Is Pluto properly groomed? Just about everyone has a dress code at work. Some are more lax than others, but few work places don’t have any requirements for dress or grooming. One of the few establishments I’d think of that wouldn’t have much in the way of a dress code would be an amusement park. I picture teenagers in t-shirts, baseball caps, and torn jeans when I think of amusement park employees. But the Disney Parks, as they are for many things, are an exception. The Disney Parks follow a dress code that originated in the 1950s. Its rules are … Continue reading

Tired, So Very Tired

I just read an article that said people spend and average of 673 hours per year doing housework. No wonder I’m so tired! If you break it down it doesn’t seem like that much. It’s about 13 hours per week or 1.85 hours a day. When you look at it that way, it’s easy to see where the time goes. When you come home from work the housekeeping begins, you check the mail, sort and deal with that, let the dogs out, start dinner, throw in a load of laundry, hang up the kids jackets, unload the dishwasher, help with … Continue reading

Landscape of Flavors

Given that its opening is coming (relatively) soon, it’s no surprise that the details keep pouring in about Disney World’s forthcoming Art of Animation resort. The latest Disney Parks blog post on the hotel focuses on its Landscape of Flavors food court. I love reading about food, so I’m excited to learn more. Of course the announcement of Landscape of Flavors is all a bit grand. It plays up the restaurant, making it seem like a unique and innovative new approach to dining. Perhaps it is for restaurants in Disney World hotels. All I know is it almost kind of … Continue reading

Pet Blessings and Ministries Spreading

Every year the county rescue for which I volunteer holds an Animal Fair. It’s a day in May down at the county fairgrounds where one can bring one’s pets on a leash (so mostly dogs, but you do see the rare cat or two) and partake in fun events to raise money for the rescue. There’s a parade, an owner/dog partnered pie-eating contest, demonstrations by the local K9 police force, and more. And there’s one thing that I’d never heard before: the blessing of the pets. I live in a very Catholic area; it’s the part of Maryland that was … Continue reading

Christian Women in Business: Vintage Handmade Soaps

At Vintage Handmade Soaps we strive to make quality soaps using natural oils consisting of Castor, Coconut, Olive, Palm, Sunflower, and Shea Butter; as well as Silk Milk for added moisturizing effects. We scent our soaps with both natural essential oils and fragrance oils. We will always state under each bar whether or not it has been scented with a natural or fragrance oil. ~Heather Knopp, Owner Heather is the owner of Vintage Handmade Soaps and author of the blog, Raising Mighty Arrows. She is a minister’s wife and mother and devoted woman of God. To fulfill the call on … Continue reading

More Teens Drink and Drive on New Year’s Eve Than Other Holidays

A recent study shows that teenagers are more likely to drink and drive on New Year’s Eve than on any other holiday. The study also showed that peers can influence their friends not to drink while under the influence. Even so, parents should talk to their teens about the dangers of driving drunk. A study was done by Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD. The acronym “SADD” stands for “Students Against Destructive Decisions”. It is a peer-to-peer youth education, prevention, and activism organization that is committed to empowering young people to lead initiatives in their schools and communities. Liberty Mutual Insurance … Continue reading