back to school, families, mom mondays, multiples, parenting multiples, review, savings

Mom Mondays: Chaos 2 Calm is Helping Families to Stay Organized

When parents first learn of the news that they are expecting multiples, they are usually surprised, overjoyed, and then very puzzled. Having multiples is an experience that is different from giving birth to a singleton (one child) and/or raising children that are different ages. From high-risk pregnancies to caring for more than one newborn at a time, it truly is a radical lifestyle change from having just one child or no children at all. Bringing some household and parenting organization is Tonia Tomlin author of Chaos 2 Calm: The Moms-of-Multiples' Guide to an Organized Family.


Tonia Tomlin is one of the country's leading organization experts. Tomlin serves as founder and president of Texas-based Sorted Out organizing service, which offers a wide range of consulting and organizing services geared towards helping clients conquer disorganization. A sought-after media guest, Tomlin has been featured in numerous local, regional, and national media print and broadcast media outlets, including HGTV's "Mission Organization" program. Chaos 2 Calm is a guide for all moms of multiples and moms of multiples-to-be to prepare for and manage the important and daunting task of raising multiple babies.

As parents of multiples, time and essential information is quite important. Time is limited while caring for more than one child the same age and helpful information to assist in parenting is needed. Chaos 2 Calm is full of expert parenting and household advice for families.


Chaos 2 Calm: The Moms-of-Multiples' Guide to an Organized Family contains some of the following informative information:

• Bedrest tips and activities
• Creating a nursery with layout diagrams
• Household safety checklist
• Partnership Plan and Family Core Values to allow parents to have a documented plan for raising children and dividing household chores
• One-time expenses and monthly budget forms
• Useful food preparation and food storage tips
• Help with choosing childcare or daycare
• Routine for after multiples arrive, including feeding and sleeping schedules
• Parent's guide for traveling with multiples

Read the rest of the article including where to purchase Chaos 2 Calm: The Moms-of-Multiples' Guide to an Organized Family: HERE

brands, food, review

Easy Recipe: Slow-Cooker Lasagna

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
6 Lasagna noodles, uncooked

Cook

1. BROWN meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Mix ricotta, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan, egg and parsley.
2. SPOON 1 cup meat sauce into slow cooker; top with layers of half each of the noodles, broken to fit; and cheese mixture. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles, broken to fit; cheese mixture and meat sauce. Cover with lid.
3. COOK on LOW 4 to 6 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; let stand, covered, 10 min. or until melted. (For best results, do not cook on the HIGH heat setting.)

Is the slow-cooker used in your home? I would love to know your favorite slow-cooker recipes.

back to school, families, latinos, mom mondays

Mom Mondays: Thanking Your Parents

One of today's top headlines is the abduction and reappearance of Jaycee Lee Dugard. Jaycee--who was 11 when she was abducted from a South Lake Tahoe street in 1991--was kept behind a series of fences, sheds and tents, even giving birth to her abductor's children in a suburban backyard compound less than 200 miles from her childhood home. She was abducted as she walking to the bus stop on her way to school.
This story hit home for me because Jaycee and I are the same age. She is 29 years old now (as am I) and she was 11 years old in 1991 (so was I in 1991). I remember walking to school with my Dad and being driven to school by my Mom. My Dad would make me walk on the inside of the street--not the side of the street where the cars were passing by--so that I was walking safely away from the curbside. He would walk me either to the inside of the building or if were lining up outside in the playground, he would wait until the teacher came to get the class. My mother would drive me to school and would wait until I was inside the school or park the car & walk me physically inside the school building.

As a child I did not appreciate all the sacrifices my parents made for me to ensure my safety and protection. When I was younger, I wanted to ride the bus or walk to school by myself like many of the other kids.
I thought it was "unfair" that I had to be chaperoned or driven to school.

Jaycee was walking to the bus stop when she was abducted, her stepfather was watching her walk to the bus stop, when the abductor pulled up and grabbed her. Her stepfather ran and tried to chase the abductor, but he sped away in his car.

As children, you want to do what everyone else is doing--not being necessarily grateful to your parents for their hardwork, dedication, and love.

Now as I have children of my own, I realize on a daily basis, how wonderful my parents were and still are. Parenthood does not come with an instruction guide and its one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

brands, families, family outing, giveaways, review

Join The Fun! Disney On Ice Presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 Giveaway

Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 is hitting the ice in a live production skating into to the Amway Arena September 10-12!  Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 will be a fun family outing and a great back to school kickoff! 

This is a definitely an experience your family won't want to miss and now you won't have to with two great opportunities to see the magic live.  First, tickets are available at a special $11 ticket price for select performances: opening night, Friday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 P.M.; Saturday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 P.M.; and Sunday, Sept. 12 at 1 P.M. and 5 P.M. Simply visit the box office or ticketmaster.com and use promo code “MOM” at check out! (Note, this price isn’t good for rinkside or VIP seats, and a four-ticket minimum purchase is required.)

Second, as a special gift, you and your family could win four (4) ticket vouchers good for any performance time of Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 at Amway Arena September 10-12!

To Enter Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 Four Ticket Vouchers:

1. Visit Disney On Ice's website

2. Leave a comment below this post about your favorite Disney On Ice show AND/OR which show your family would want to see.

Additional Entries
1. "Like" the Disney On Ice Facebook Page and indicate on the wall you found the Disney On Ice FB page because of this posting

2. "Like" Mami & Multiples Facebok Page and indicate on the wall you found Mami & Multiples FB page because of this posting

3. Follow Mami & Multiples on Twitter

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter: "Join the fun! Enter to win 4 tickets to Disney On Ice presents Toy Story 3 #Giveway! http://www.mamiofmultiples.com @joscelynrc #disney"

5. Join Mami & Multiples through Google Connect, Email, or RSS.

families, multiples, wordless wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: Haircuts

bilingual, brands, families, latinos, mom mondays

Mom Mondays: Reaching Out to the Latino Market

Look around you--Latinos are everywhere. From entertainment to the Supreme Court, Latinos have made a significant impact on history and society.  With Latinos being the fastest growing (and soon to be) largest ethnic group in America, the Latino movement is something that can not be denied or ignored.

America's new cultural landscape changes not only aspects of culture, but business and commerce.  Latinos, as a whole, are in essence multi-cultural.  Living and working in the United States, but still keeping close ties to their Latino roots.  How do companies approach the Latino market?  Companies, businesses, and brands need to understand the Latino consumer. Latinos are very much connected to their background, and most importantly, their families. For example, 25% of Latino elderly live with their children or other relatives based in part because of the cultural expectancy of caring for older family members within the family.  Within a household--that has a Latino primary caregiver--a husband, wife, children, grandparents, and/or other relatives can be found living in the same home.  The purchasing power is multi-faceted for the needs of adults, children, and elderly living within the same home.

Hispanic women (Latinas) in the U.S. are one of the fastest-growing online demographics and Latina women consist of some of the key demographics for brands:

• women
• educated
• married
• single
• mothers
• working professionals within and outside the home
• household decision makers

The (largely) untapped Latino market holds a vast of wealth and opportunities for major brands and companies. The Latino market encompasses not only Latino products, but American based products that are being used within the Latino American communities everyday.  As the 2010 Census will show--many Latinos are second or third generation--being born and raised in the United States. These types of consumers are an extremely valuable resource for brands because not only are they part of the American shopping experience but are also incorporating Latino products (and traditions) into their daily lives. 

Latinos are online whether shopping, researching, or attaining information. They have created organizations and blogging communities that showcase a powerful network and strong online presence.  A premier example is LATISM Latinos in Social Media. 

LATISM is the largest organization of Social Media professionals of Hispanic origin. Their members are bloggers, twitters, social network group leaders, e-commerce owners, marketers, business professionals, and more. LATISM are creating national events, scholarships, educational, and business opportunities all while uniting Latinos via the social media realm. Many online Latinos and LATISM members can be found Thursdays at 9:00 P.M. EST on Twitter simply by using the hashtag of #latism at the end of a Twitter "tweet".  Conducted by Elianne Ramos, engaging conversations regarding Latino social media, culture, work, business, and family are available for all.

• Ana Roca Castro
• Louis Pagan
• Elianne Ramos
• Nancy Perez
• George Torres
• Juan Tornoe

Primary resources for businesses, companies, and brands wanting to connect directly to the Latino consumer are Latina Mami (Mommy in Spanish ) bloggers.  These educated Mamis come from a diverse professional background, including, marketing, public relations, communications, education, medical, information technology, and the federal government.  Mami bloggers have created lifestyle blogs that incorporate parenting, education, family, fashion, social media and technology issues for American and Latino families.  They are daily creating reviews of brand products; dispensing parenting, family, and household advice; and can make (or sway) the minds of the decision makers in the households across America & Latin America.

(Photo Courtesy of Manny Ruiz, Publisher, "Hispanic PR Blog" http://www.hispanicprblog.com/)

Mami bloggers have collaborated with major American & Latin American brands, because they can provide direct insight into the Latino American consumer.  Some of the most dynamic and knowledgeable Latina Mami bloggers are the following:

• Ahorros Para Mama
• Culture Mami
• Cuponeando
• Daytripping Mom
• Greenery In Mommyhood
• Independent Mami
• Latinaish
• Latina on a Mission
• Mama Contemporanea
• Mami2Mommy
• Mami of Multiples
• Mama Latina Tips
• Mami Talks
• Mami's Time Out
• Mamaxxi
• Mejorando mi Hogar
• Modern Mami
• My Big Fat Cuban Family
• SpanglishBaby
• Tiki Tiki Blog
• The Proud Mommy
• Thoughts of a Mommy
• Una Mama Con Hijas
• Unknown Mami

Additional resources to connect with Latina Mami bloggers are Blogs by Latinas and  The Top #100 Latina Bloggers where the above mentioned bloggers can also be found.

In the upcoming years, incorporating the Latino market into the business market will yield high results. Marketing, engaging, and collaborating with the Latino market is part of the future of American business.

back to school, bilingual, brands, families, latinos, mom mondays, multiples, parenting multiples

Chicas Chatting: The New BlogTalkRadio Show For All

families, multiples, parenting multiples, wordless wednesday

Wordless Wednesdays: The Boys (The Early Days)