The Importance of Your Appearance at Home

The View From Childhood: The Importance of Your Appearance at Home

by Charlotte Siems

Girly. What does that word mean to you? Pink feather boas and flaming red high heels come to mind. Bling, sparkles and lace. Tea parties and coffee with girlfriends.

Somehow femininity has gotten a bad rap. Those who scoff and think it means weakness don’t understand the true strength of a woman who knows who she is and isn’t afraid to live it.

Busy women can get in a rut of “sensible” clothing and plain, serviceable shoes. Or worse yet, a daily uniform of t-shirt, jeans and flip flops. After all, we’re going to get fingerprinted with peanut butter and we’ve got that shower to scrub. Who cares what you wear at home, right?

Ahem. If your memorial service were held next week, what would be your family’s memories of you? What photos of you would show up in the slide show? “I remember Mom always wore that Eskimo Joe’s t-shirt and the jeans with the ripped back pocket.” (Sorry, I just attended a funeral and it got me to thinking).

What childhood impressions do you want to leave? It’s worth thinking about.

Do your young children know the swish of a skirt? Do they ever see you in a fresh color with pretty touches of lace? When you put on makeup and fix your hair do they ask where you’re going?

Yes, I know it’s not realistic to wear pearls and heels to do housework. But how about a cheerful apron and some earrings?

You are building memories every single day, memories for your marriage and your family. Those little touches do matter. For instance, fragrance: perfume, scented lotion, or clean soap smell. A pleasant whiff when Mom walks by. Our sense of smell is keenly tied to memory.

When’s the last time you bought something really girly? Something sparkly or lacy and definitely not practical. Whether you wear it in the kitchen or the bedroom, it might just put a spring in your step as you feel pretty and feminine.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What condition are your underthings in? Cotton underwear with stretched out elastic strings hanging down, or smooth microfiber unmentionables in a delicious color? Undergarments that used to be white but are now a grayish unknown color or a peachy-pink lace-trimmed little something? Maybe no one but you and your husband see them, but uh, I rest my case.

Don’t underestimate the effect of your clothing and grooming on your day. On the days when you fix your hair, put on makeup and dress pretty, you feel better about yourself. You know you do.

Just a friendly little neighborhood reminder that your family is watching you. Make the view a little more pleasant.

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things - I am tempted to think there are no little things.” ~ Bruce Barton

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This article was first published by This Lovely Place with Charlotte Siems. To receive Charlotte's "Secrets for Keeping Your Home Together When You Feel Like Your Life is Falling Apart," go to ThisLovelyPlace.com and claim your free guide NOW!

2011-2012 MOPS Year is about to BEGIN!!

Ladies! The 2011 year of MOPS will be starting Thursday, September 1st. Our monthly meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. The meetings are from 9:00am - 11:30am and held in the main auditorium of Faith Community Church on Kettleman Lane (by Target).

You are invited to a fun filled year with other Moms in the Lodi area. We are all going through the same things you are going through. It's a time to get together with friends, rejuvenate, take advantage of free childcare for 2 and a half hours and relax!

The MOPS Book Club is also starting back up. The next Book Club meeting will be Monday, August 22nd at 7:00pm at Panera Bread. The meetings will be held at the same time, same place, on the 4th Monday of every month. Not a good reader? No problem. You can come to hear about the book that was read and sit and chat with the other moms. ALL Moms are welcome!

Mom's Night Out will also be kicking back into gear on the 4th Thursday night of every month. The next one will be on Thursday, September 22nd at 7:00pm at Panera Bread. Come and kick up your feet, eat some yummy carbs, or just enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and revel in a night of female adult conversation!

For more MOPS 'get together' information, log on to our meetup site: www.meetup.com/mopslodi

We hope to see you there!

Tea and Testimony April 21st, 2011

Our next MOPS meeting is on Thursday, April 21st. This meeting is a special meeting. It is our 'Tea and Testimony' meeting. It's when we all get dressed up in our Special Spring Attire (whatever that means to you, it doesn't have to be a dress or a skirt) and have a grown-up Tea Party!!

The MOPS leadership team will be providing the food and refreshments. The table leaders will have their tables all decorated pretty. It is a time of fun and reflection. Debbie Didreckson will be giving her testimony and there will be other speakers and topics to lift our spirits and fill our souls. You will NOT want to miss this meeting!

We look forward to seeing you there. May God bless you this week.

Early Literacy Links

As promised, the links for the Early Literacy talk that Lisa Hillstrom gave today at MOPS are below. Please leave us a comment if you have any additional questions!

Helpful Literacy Links:

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/37100
(environmental print)

http://www.readingrockets.org/shows/launching/toddling
(30min video)

http://bcove.me/5nzrez8u
(early reading video 4:58)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1070_ready.sflb.ashx
(early reading pamphlet)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1071_support.sflb.ashx
(supporting your beginning reader)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1072_activities.sflb.ashx
(writing)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1073_want.sflb.ashx
(what kids like to read)

http://www.brighthub.com/education/early-childhood/articles/107362.aspx
(Writing phases)

Here comes Peter Cottontail...and all the colds and flus to go with him

It's that time of year again. Cold and flu season. Well, let's be honest, if you have a preschooler, it's cold and flu season all year long! Am I right? It's allergy season as well. And did you know, your allergies can lead to a cold or virus? Allergies drain your immune system when your body is trying to fight off all the allergens. And a compromised immune system means we are more susceptible to germs. It's true! Here are a few tips on how to help cut down on the germ-fest.

Hand Sanitizer - This is an easy option for when you are out and about and your little one has touched every surface possible. It's easier than having to find a bathroom to wash hands. Be sure to have plenty of this on you at all times. Remember to use it or have them wash their hands BEFORE eating and/or touching food. For the adventurous, I have posted a Homemade Sanitizer recipe at the bottom of this post.

Don't let them touch your face with dirty hands - It may sound like common sense, but our little ones touch our face all the time and we don't even think about it. Little Johnny touches your eyebrows and asks, "What is that?". Little Suzy grabs you by both of your cheeks and gets right in your face for that melt-your-heart, "I wuv you Mommy!". Be mindful of where they have been and when was the last time they were de-germed. Most of the germs which enter our body, do so through our eyes, nose or mouth. So to help keep a healthy Mommy...keep those little fingers away from your face as much as possible when they are dirty.

Eat a balanced diet - I know, I know...this is not the easiest thing to do. We are mother's of PRESCHOOLERS, are we not? We are lucky to remember to eat lunch! However, the better your nutrition level in the meals or snacks you do ingest, the better off your immune system will be. Your immune system is the back-up plan when the germs have entered your system, despite your best efforts. With a weak back-up plan...the ship is going down! Mommy will be ill in no time. So keep up the fresh fruits and veggies!

Wipe down those doorknobs and light switches regularly - Just another one of those fun little chores we mom's get to endure. But it will pay off it you keep it up. Let's face it, these are the surfaces most touched by everyone in the house and the surfaces cleaned the least. It's tedious, but it is not time consuming. Just a quick swipe will do wonders for the germ level in your home.

We at Lodi MOPS would like to wish you a happy and healthy Spring 2011!!


Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe

You will need the following:
* 1/3 cup of Aloe Vera gel (you can get this at most health food stores or at Wal-Greens, Walmart or Target)
* 2/3 cup of 99% rubbing alcohol
* 8-10 drops of essential oil (lavender, grapefruit, rosemary and tea tree oil have antibacterial properties)


* One small mixing bowl
* Spoon for stirring
* Small bottle with your choice of lid or you can recycle your old hand sanitizer container (you can buy the little plastic ones at Walmart or Target)
* Funnel

Mix all ingredients into your bowl and stir together well. Funnel into your bottle dispenser.

Done!!

Welcome!!

Hello ladies and welcome to the new and improved Lodi MOPS Blog!! I am so glad you stopped by. We are very excited about the new blog and it's multiple possibilities. Thanks to your input, we will have a multitude of topics we will be able to cover in hopes to keep you all interested and coming back for more!!

This first blog will be about some upcoming MOPS Events and a couple of 'Spring Cleaning' tips because, yep, it's that time of year!

April 18th - MOPS Book Club
Our MOPS chapter has a monthly book club which meets on the 3rd Monday night of each month at 7:00pm at Panera Bread on Lower Sac in Lodi. Any and all Moms are encouraged to come! You can eat dinner at the restaurant, just partake in some tea or coffee with a pastry or simply come for the fellowship with other Moms!! It's an open invitation. You may come and go as you please. We would LOVE to see you there!

April 21st - Tea and Testimony
Tea and Testimony happens during our regularly scheduled MOPS meeting. We all get to dress up in our new Spring gear and have a grown-up tea party! For this meeting, we will not need to bring any food. The MOPS leadership team will be providing the tea, other refreshments, brunch and dessert! It's sure to be DELICIOUS! Debbie Didreckson will be giving her testimony and there will be a couple other speakers as well to fill our minds and soothe our souls. We are so excited! We hope to see you there!

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks:

1. Keep it simple. Don't overwhelm yourself by thinking you have to clean your entire house in a day. Take it one room at a time.

2. Open up the windows and/or play some music. There is not much more likely to get us up and moving than some fresh air and good music! It lightens the spirit and makes your task seem not quite so daunting! (Especially in the bathrooms when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, an open window will help save brain cells!)

3. Start at the top and work your way down. There is little more frustrating that having cleaned an entire room only to notice the cobwebs or dust build up on the light fixture or ceiling fan. Once you knock down the nastiness, now you have to vacuum or sweep again!

4. Keep a damp rag with you at all times. When you see that dirty hand print on the door trim or that sticky something-or-other on the light switch, you will be prepared! The fewer trips you have to make to the pantry for cleaning supplies, the easier your task will ultimately be.

4. Leave a nice scent in the finished rooms. You can make a simple air freshener right in your own home. Use a small spray bottle and fill with 1 part water, 1 part rubbing alcohol (to help it evaporate faster) and a couple drops of your favorite essential oil. When you have completed a room, spray a little in the air to put the finishing touches on your hard work!!

Please be sure to stop by again soon for our next post! We hope you have a great week!

A fun link you've just gotta hear....

So, evidently tomorrow at the meeting we are gonna hear The Toy Packaging Song! It's good enough that everyone will want to share this with friends...so follow this link to http://saragroves.com/lyrics/o-holy-night/toypackaging/ Gotta love all the cool stuff we learn at MOPS!

MOPS Meeting December 16th, 2010

This coming MOPS meeting is sure to be cram packed with lots of fun! We have an Ornament Exchange for which we will be playing "Eskimo Bingo". If you would like to participate, bring a wrapped Christmas tree ornament $5.00 or under. It will be lots of fun!!!

Please remember that ALL tables are to bring food for this meeting. It's almost Christmas and we need to be ingesting as much yummy-ness as possible!! HA!

As always, please be sure to check out our Meetup site for meet ups with Moms in between MOPS meetings. The link is: meetup.com/mopslodi. We have many fun things going on like Mom's Night Out, Book Club Meetings, Playdates and much, much more. Check it out!!

Hope to see you next Thursday!

Holiday Bazaar at MOPS

For those of you who didn't get enough shopping done on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, we now have Thrifty Thursday for you! Ok, I don't know how thrifty it will be...but I couldn't think of anything else to go with it, unless we go with Bizarre-o MOPSday! Either way, it's going to be a fun shopping day! This may be the only day you and your friends can shop together without having to move heaven and earth to arrange it. MOPS moms, crafters, and other local businesses will be set up in the back room to show ya what they've got! Bring money for shopping and hopefully you'll be all finished prepping for Christmas when you go home on Thursday!

MOPS Meeting, October 21st

Yes, It's that time again! We are having our second meeting of this month on Thursday the 21st from 9 - 11:30! We will be having our Second Annual Clothing Exchange (OK, so its the first clothing exchange...last year we did the coats...so we expanded it a bit! Yea!) Please bring any clothing, coats, shoes, etc...that is in GOOD condition (We are not the dump!) Make sure everything is clean. You can bring adult, child, baby - whatever you want. We will have a rotation set up so it is fair for everyone to "shop" Anything left at the end of the day will be hauled off by the Lodi House Thrift Store. This is a win-win-win! YOU get rid of stuff that you don't want. YOU get to shop in a comfortable environment. We get to DONATE to a worthy cause when all is said and done! How awesome is that?!

Mom's Night Out!

Remember those teenage sleepovers with too many sweets and lots of laughter? Let's relive those glory days and have a Game Night at Aimee Ritchie's house! Bring your favorite game and snack to share and get ready to make some new memories! The fun starts at 7 on Thursday, October 28th! See the Lodi MOPS Meetup to RSVP and get the address!!

5 Things Every Smart House Needs!

1. A world map, posted on the wall for easy access. Name a country and see who can find it first.
2. A good dictionary. Choose an unusual word, have family make up definitions. Vote on the most convincing one!
3. A jigsaw puzzle table. Puzzles build visualization skills as well as memory and pattern recognition.
4. A brain-boosting library. Stock it with books of crossword puzzles, mazes, and brainteasers.
5. A domino set. Playing this game reinforces number skills and then create and knock-em-down to enhance creative thinking!

Impact Sports Playdate!

On Tuesday, October 26 at 10:00 a.m. we are having a MOPS playdate at Impact Sports in Lodi! The cost is $5 for children ages 3 and up. There is lots of room for them to run and play while mom's chat...or even join in with them! If you are looking for something to do to get ya out of the house, this might just be what you're looking for! Go to the Lodi MOPS Meetup to RSVP!

DID YOU KNOW....

...that in order to clean out your dishwasher, all you need is some baking soda and a little time? I just saw this somewhere (I have no idea where) but I tried it and it works! At the stores they are selling Dishwasher Cleaner that you put in your dishwasher and it cleans your dishwasher of all the icky stuff that can build up. Try This - turn on your empty dishwasher for like, 30 seconds. Dump in at least half a box of baking soda. I used the box I planned on replacing for baking. Let it sit overnite - or as in my case, all day. Run dishwasher. Go ahead and use the light wash setting, and turn off the dryer to save energy. There is nothing to dry. I was amazed at how clean it got it! I hope it makes a difference in how it runs!

Swap out Pricey Ingredients....

Have you ever looked at a recipe and chose not to make it because you didn't have that ONE ingrediant on hand? Here are some quick replacements to use in your cooking so you can experiment and not go broke buying items you just may not use again!

Use this.... Instead of this....
Red wine--- Pure cranberry juice
White wine--- White grape juice or apple juice
Mascarpone--- Cream cheese mixed with a bit of heavy cream
Buttermilk (1 cup)--- 1 cup milk plus 1 Tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar
Creme fraiche (1 cup)--- 1/2 cup sour cream mixed with 1/2 cup heavy cream
Maple syrup--- Brown sugar with a little water
Molasses--- Honey
Cake flour (1 cup)--- 1 cup minus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
Macadamia nuts--- Walnuts, almonds or cashews
Fresh herbs (1 Tbsp)--- Dried herbs (1 tsp)
Allspice (1 Tbsp)--- 1 tsp ea cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
Unsweetened chocolate (1 oz)--- 3 Tbsp cocoa + 1 Tbsp unsalted butter

Black Bean Burgers

These burgers are great served on whole wheat buns with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado added. Obviously you can add what you want, but for a "Meatless Monday" they are definately easy and economical (Like, $.70 each!)

1. Preheat oven to 375; Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up.

2. Warm 2 Tbsp. oil in a skillet over med-high heat. Add 1 stalk chopped celery and 1 yellow onion, finely chopped. Stir for 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1 clove minced garlic and saute 1 minute more. (*I added 1/2 red bell pepper, diced, to this saute - yummy!)

3. Drain 1 can black beans and rinse. In a bowl, mash beans into a thick paste. Add celery mixture, 1 large egg, 1 Tbsp. cumin, 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs, and season with salt and pepper.

4. Form into 4 patties and bake on baking sheet until firm and set...about 10 minutes on each side.

5. Put on buns with your favorite toppings and serve with green salad or french fries!

Our first official meeting of the 2010-2011 season is this Thursday, September 16th from 9 a.m. to 11:30! It's going to be a great year as we take on the theme.."Momology...the Art and Science of Mothering" It is a delicate balance between the two, but everyone has their own style and combination of Art and Science when it comes to our kids. If you know anything about science, you know that variables change all the time...and when those variables have personalities we have to change our methods in order to be successful! Some days are like a wildly painted Monet and others like a methodical Escher. If you want to find out your mothering "style" as it relates to this year's theme...follow this link and print out the test. You may be surprised with what you learn! www.personalityprofiles.com Be sure to bring your results with you to MOPS and we can share what we've learned! See Ya'll Thursday! ....and don't forget there is breakfast!

Are you prepared for the next phase of Mothering?

Peer pressure?

Stress & Anger? (Yours and Theirs!)

Character Development?

Do you need direction for yourself now that the kids are in school all day? Your need for community doesn't end when your children go to school! MOMSNext is an open, accepting place for all mother's of school-age kids (grades 1 - 12) to come, just as you are, to experience community, personal growth, practical help, and hope. MOMSnext will encourage, equip, and develop moms in the next phase of mothering.

MOMSnext meets one Monday night a month from September - May from 6:30 - 8:30.

(9/13, 10/11, 12/13, 1/10, 2/7, 3/7, 4/11, 5/9)

For more information contact Lisa Hillstrom @ 327-5370 or thillstrom@yahoo.com

MOPS Kick-Off/Registration Party!!!!

We are so excited that it is "that time of year" again! Thursday, September 2nd from 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. we are having the 2010-2011 MOPS Kick-Off Party at Katzakian Park. This is the one by Wine and Roses, on Turner Avenue. Bring the kids and bring your checkbook, if you haven't already registered for the year, in order to secure your spot! It will be a great time to catch up with friends you might not have seen over the summer, and a chance to reach out and make new ones...as we're always inviting mom's to MOPS! Who knows...maybe some poor, unsuspecting mom will wander into the park with her kids and we will all meet-n-greet her that way! What a story she'll have later when she's asked..."And how did you end up in the Lodi MOPS?!" Anyway...mark your calendars and see us there! It will be great to catch up!

If, by chance, you've gotta go to the dentist or something equally unpleasant, remember that our first official meeting is at Crossroads-Heartland Better Together on the 16th of September from 9 - 11:30. See ya there!!!

Save Your Money!!

School is starting soon and the kids need clothes. Bring your kids useable but unwanted clothes and swap them at a clothes swap!
Wednesday July 21st, 2010 from 9:30am – 11:30am
For Location and more info Contact:
Elsa Hillstrom 209-367-8799 casahillstrom@yahoo.com or
Autumn Frazier at jadyns_mommie@yahoo.com

Help out and Hand down..
*Please bring clothes clean and ready to put on sorted tables.
*All sizes of clothing welcome, including adults
*Everything will be donated that afternoon
*Kids are welcome to attend