Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Simple Tricks for Busy Mamas





Alright momistas, I hope you enjoyed part one of our time-saving tricks, because today I’m back with more life-simplifying ideas.


Here are four creative tricks to up the fun of your culinary routine:


1. Reuse that rubber band


culinary tricks
Stop a cut apple from browning in your little one’s lunchbox by securing it with a rubber band. No more “it looks icky” excuses!


2. Add some heart to your breakfast


culinary tricks
Entertain the kids at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial- too cute.

3. Reinvent the ice cream cone

culinary tricks
Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – it’s much more fun and easier for kids to eat. This would be perfect for a kids’ party.

4. Creative cookie bowls

culinary tricks
Here’s a fun twist- turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit, pudding, ice cream or whatever sweets you’re serving! Click here for a recipe.

http://www.torispelling.com 



Monday, February 20, 2012

5 Ways to Recover from a Divorce


It's quite astounding how Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook have changed our world over the last decade. Whether you follow the news or not, most are well aware of Facebook's initial public offering. The list continues to expand regarding who will soon become millionaires and billionaires. Many on this list, including Zuckerberg, are brilliant entrepreneurs.
It is widely recognized that people who strive for excellence and succeed share certain traits. Many are type A or have perfectionist personalities. Most have an ability to tolerate high stress and/or exist on little sleep. Some are off-the-charts gifted and highly creative. Many befriend fear and are risk takers. However, there is one important characteristic that most successful people share: the ability to remain extremely focused. ApparentlyZuckerberg's success can be partially attributed to this.
There are many excellent lessons I have learned from observing high achievers. When I am counseling folks on the mend from a breakup or divorce, I urge them to stay intensely focused on their recovery. Although this sounds completely logical, in actuality, it can be quite challenging. Most divorces are devastating, and during and after the dissolution of a marriage emotions are undulating in ways that can seem inconceivable and unpredictable. The stress associated with adjusting to a new life can feel insurmountable and unmanageable. And many make the classic (and normal) mistake of overly focusing on their ex instead of focusing on their own care.
Even with a divorce at hand, if you can focus on yourself, the benefits will be way worth it. So let's take a lesson from those who move mountains and commit to focusing your way to a complete recovery.
Five Ways to Focus on Your Recovery:
1. Focus on your healing. Healing from a divorce takes time and really shouldn't be rushed. Focus on taking excellent care of your physical health. Make sure you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Be careful not to over indulge with food and alcohol. Focus on taking care of your mental health. Be sure to process your emotions -- especially the more complicated ones such as anger, fear, and guilt.
2. Focus on building a support system. Support from a variety of sources will help you in many ways. It will combat loneliness and validate your experience as it provides an audience to talk through your story. Talking equals healing. Don't be shy and do reach out for support from friends, family, colleagues and professionals.
3. Focus on understanding why your relationship ended and what part you played in it. Make a point to comprehend why you picked your ex as your lover, how you behaved during the course of your relationship, and how you mourned your breakup. I call this vitally important exercise "Creating Your Personal Love Map." By doing so, you will acquire astounding information that will raise your emotional intelligence sky high and allow you to participate in healthier and improved relationships going forward.
4. Focus on being an excellent parent and co-parent. Children do best in environments where there is stability. Accept your fate, make peace with your ex, and learn how to co-parent effectively together.
5. Focus on letting go and moving on. Letting go is indisputably one of the hardest things to do after a relationship ends. We tend to hold onto many negative things such as old wounds, anger, and revenge fantasies. Many also hold on to unrealistic hopes of reunification. The sooner you let go of the past the better you will feel. Then you can focus on rebuilding a remarkable life for yourself. 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Mothers Can Use Free Scholarship And Grant Money to Return To School


President Obama has been on a mission to try several avenues in order to jumpstart the US economy. One of his initiates has been aimed at helping people to attain more stable employment or, in some cases, obtain any employment at all. One of the premier programs that he has developed is the “Mothers Go Back To School” grant program, which was initiated very shortly after President Obama took office in early 2009. Whether married or single, this college grant and scholarship program for mothers is a great way to make the leap into higher education.
Going back to school can seem like a daunting task to a mother who is already stretched to the limit by working and running a household. However, in order to get the best possible job and provide a stable financial picture for her entire family, most mothers need to obtain a college degree. With the scholarship and grant funds now made available by President Obama, the process for these mothers has just been made easier. With no guarantee regarding how long these scholarship and grant programs for mothers will be available, there is no time to wait.
It is important for mothers to remember that getting a college education no longer means leaving the home. There are many online universities today that are more convenient for a student who doesn’t have a lot of free time and who doesn’t always know when they will ever have an open schedule. Taking classes on the Internet means you generally don’t have to be “in class” at any particular time and mothers obtaining their college degree can therefore make their own schedule.
While Pell Grants have been around for a while the new program instituted by President Obama actually does two things: It raises the actual amount you can get for a Pell Grant and it increases approval rates for single mothers. If you’re interested in pursuing these funds, you should first choose a college or university. Make sure the school offers the degree program that you would like to pursue and is a good fit for your lifestyle. Then fill out and turn in a deferred FAFSA form to the Financial Aid Department of your chosen college.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Scholarship: For Single Moms



Balancing motherhood with your career can be overwhelming. Give yourself the tools you need to go back to school and become financially independent.
Call us TOLL-FREE to register now! 1-855-887-2734
Here's how to register.
  1. Complete the registration form on this page.
  2. You are now registered for our next Scholarship Drawing!
  3. You can, then, view information available from a variety of schools and if you like, request information or search for a student loan. You are not obligated to view or request information from any of our advertisers and doing so does not increase your chances of being awarded our Scholarship.
Note: Check your email; we'll send you a confirmation. Be sure to add us to your safe list for future drawing notifications.
TRUSTe online privacy certification Scholarships4Moms.net, Scholarships & Financial Aid, San Francisco, CA

Register Here

Deadline for registration isFEBRUARY 15TH, 2012
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Must be 18 years old or older to enter
Fields marked with * are required.
Thank you! I am the winner of the $10,000 drawing and I can now help my daughter pay for her first year in the University near our home! Plus I can pay for myself to go back to school!
- Terri Booth, Delaware

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Candy Cocktail Party


A Candy Cocktail Party

1

Hello there and Happy Halloween! Emma and I have created a fun candy cocktail table to share with you today! There are four different recipes that you can try. We love a cocktail party, and even moreso when there is candy involved.... Enjoy! 
2

First up, we used gumballs and malt balls to make candy bracelets! These are a cute little favor for guests and they were fun to make. Use a tapestry needle and embroidery thread to string them together! 
3

Lemon Drop Cocktail, makes 2
Needed: 4 ounces plain or citrus vodka, 8 ounces club soda, 4 tablespoons citrus simple syrup*, crushed lemon hard candies.
*First you will need to make your citrus simple syrup. Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small pot and boil on medium/high for 15-20 minutes until it reduces a little and becomes a little more syrup-y. Stir in juice from 2 lemons. You can keep this in a container in the refrigerator for up to a week to use in other cocktails or to flavor/sweeten water or tea. Garnish your martini glasses with simple syrup on and crushed lemon drop candy on the rim. Add a few whole lemon candies to the bottom of the glasses, just for fun! In a large jar or small pitcher combine ice cubes with the vodka, club soda and simple syrup. Stir it all up so it's well combined. Drain into martini glasses and serve.
4

Lollipop Cocktail, makes 2
Fill each glass with 6 ounces of champagne and 1/2 ounce cherry juice. Garnish with lollipops and serve.
5

Orange Soda Cocktail, makes 2
Needed: 4 ounces vodka, 2 ounces orange juice, 2 ounces club soda, 4 tablespoons citrus simple syrup.
In a large jar or small pitcher combine ice cubes with vodka, juice, club soda, and simple syrup. Stir it all up until it's well combined. Drain into martini glasses and garnish with ring pops on the stems!
6

Rock Candy Cocktail, makes 2
Needed: 12 ounces chilled champagne or prosecco, and 2 rock candies (any flavor).
Fill two flutes with champagne or prosecco, garnish with rock candy just before serving.
7

Have a very happy Halloween! xo, elsie + emma
PS. Don't drink? Remeber you can make any cocktail into a mocktail by replacing the alchohol with sparkling juice, club soda or ginger ale! ♥