Precious Love

"When you put faith, hope and love together, you can raise positive kids in a negative world."

As I was putting Little Chick to bed last night I watched her as her heavy eyes fought to stay open. She said, "I love you mommy. We had fun today." I just wanted to cry at how beautiful my daughter is. After a few minutes she fell asleep. I stayed a minute and just watched how peaceful she looked. How pure, innocent and full of love she is. She is my gift from Heaven above. I just kept wondering as I looked at this precious child of mine, how am I going to protect her from the mean stuff in the world? I am thirty-nine years old and still get hurt so easily by unkind insensitive people. I just want to protect her from the unnecessary hurtful actions of others. I know I won't always be able to and she will have to learn that this is unfortunately a part of life, but there is still a part of me that does not want to except that her journey in life will have to encounter such stuff. It must be one of the hardest things for a parent to have to deal with. I just hope that I will have the strength, knowledge and wisdom to know how to deal with these things as they come.

I want to say a big thank you for some fantastic awards I have just received! The first award, The Stylish Blogger Award, is from Drama Mama at The Scoop on Poop. The second, The Cherry on Top Award, is from Jessica at Mo Shiorghra. The third, The Versatile Blogger Award, is from Mommy at Twenty Little Toes. And last is the Sunshine Award from Montessori for Learning. Thank you so much ladies for thinking of Mama's Little Chick! I really appreciate these awards so much! The rules of the Cherry on Top Award is to thank the person who gave it to me. Thank you so much Jessica! Write three things about myself that I love. I love that I am a mommy! I love my strength and heart to get through things. I love my ability to dance! Now I must add a picture I love: I must now pass this award on to five other blogging friends: Mommy at Twenty Little Toes, Jinnia Low.com, The Drama Queens Housewife's Tale, Taking it All In, Adventures in Mommywood, A Little Cup of Comfort,The Bonnie 5, Knee Deep in Mommahood, Mommy of a Monster and Infant Twins, Underneath His wrapping, Stories from the Shoebox. I know that is more than five, but there are just so many great blogs!

Thank you Drama Mama for this fantastic Stylish Blogger Award! With this award I am supposed to tell five things about myself and then pass this award on to five blogs. First, I lived in Spain for a couple of months and love all Latin music! I loved Flamenco dancing when I lived in Manhattan for two years. I write poetry. I really like to bake with Little Chick.
I pass this Stylish Blogger Award to: Diane at Be Still a Minute, Wanda at At Last... We Are Family , Nicole at Destination Unknown, Jessica at Mo Shiorghra, Liz at A Belle, A Bean and a Chicago Dog.

Thanksgiving Thursday

Come and join me for Thanksgiving Thursday tomorrow! Grab my Thanksgiving Thursday button in the left sidebar, write five things you are grateful for and let me know so I can add your link!

I Get Bolder as I Get Older

"Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error." ~Andrew Jackson

I have noticed that since I have become a mom I have begun to emerge out of my shy shell more and more. I have always been rather shy, but as Little Chick gets bigger I have evolved into a more outgoing person. Since my daughter is an only child I feel that it is important to set up playdates and get her in different classes so she can be around other children. I have had to become more vocal and push myself to start up a conversation with other moms, where as before I was a parent I might not have been so bold.

This past week I had two instances where I felt the need to speak up. First, on Little Chick's last day of school a mom came up to me and said, "I don't know how to tell you this, but my son does not want to go to a girl's birthday party." I was flabbergasted that she would even say something like that. About a month ago I had volunteered a lot of my time and money to put together a huge project for the school, teachers and children. I am not sure why, but I think a little jealousy or who knows what formed an opinion in this woman's mind. I don't even know her. I am always very friendly and smiley with everyone I meet throughout the day. I am not sure why there are some people who just can't reciprocate the friendliness. Now I don't really care about myself, but when Little Chick is involved and this child will not join her for her party when she just celebrated his a couple of months ago, then I don't appreciate it. So I just said, "fine." It bothered me though as I went to the car.When I was pulling out of the parking lot I saw her walking to her car and rolled down my window. Yup, shy me was protecting my little baby and her feelings! I said in a friendly voice, "I am starting to take this personally." I told her that ever since I did the project she has not really been so friendly and that I have been really hurt by this. I couldn't believe I said it, but I found it hurtful to say her child does not want to go to my daughter's party. What child does not want to go to a fun bounce house for a party?

The next bold maneuver was over the weekend. I have a neighbor who never waves back to us. Now, Little Chick and I always wave to our neighbors as they pass by and when we go for walks down our street. When this neighbor does not wave back Little Chick always asks me why he doesn't. I tell her that maybe he didn't see us. On Saturday I was pulling out of my driveway and this gentleman passed by and I waved a huge wave! He did not acknowledge it. So instead of going to the store I turned down my street and stopped at his driveway where he was getting out. I said, have I done something to upset you, because you never wave to us? I mentioned how my daughter keeps asking why he won't wave back to her. He looked shocked! He said he didn't even realize it and with a huge smile he said that he would be more conscientious about reciprocating the kind gesture. And he waved a big wave as we drove away.

Where this neighbor simply was unaware of his actions and has now made every effort to put on a big smile and wave to us as he passes by, the mother at the school did not care about my hurt feelings and later emailed me about her son's aversion to going to a girl's party. I am a teacher and feel that every child should participate in class parties to help celebrate with one another. I e-mailed her back one of the friendliest e-mails I have ever written extending the invitation to her daughter, as well. There has been no response. I am finding that as a mom and as I get older I get bolder, but the hurt from insensitive people remains the same.

Cherished Moments Monday

"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."

For my first Cherished Moments Monday I wanted to go back in time a bit. This is a picture of my grandparents, mom and I in our backyard. My grandparents used to visit us from Germany every other summer for a few months. We would go to Germany in the alternating summers. These visits meant the world to me! My grandparents were super special and such a huge part of my life. In this picture my Omi is holding me. She was the sweetest woman ever! I remember that she would always wear an apron and clean the house (I bet my mom loved that). She would carry little German candies in her apron pocket. You know my sister and I loved that! My adorable Opi (grandfather) worked every day in the yard planting flowers, cutting down old branches, weeding and painting. In all of his eighty four years I never saw him sitting during the day. Both of my grandparents were hard workers their entire lives. When I was twenty-five my grandparent's age started to slow them down. I would work hard to save my money and visit them every few months. I did this up until their passing. It was devastating for me to lose them, but I feel so blessed for having had the most loving grandparents for so many years!

Come join me this week or next Monday for Cherished Moments Monday and share some of your most cherished moments! Just grab the button in my left sidebar and let me know so I can add your link.

Check out more people sharing Cherished Moments: Taking it all In, Twenty Little Toes & The Story of Us.

Smile Sunday

"A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home."

It is Smile Sunday and I hope to spread some smiles around! In April Little Chick, Grandma Hen and I painted some birdhouses to put up in the yard. A couple of weeks ago when we were outside playing I noticed a bit of commotion going on in Grandma Hen's house. A mama bird kept flying out to search for some food for her tiny babies. Every time she returned Little Chick and I could hear the babies sing "peep, peep, peep." It was so cute! The other day I was able to catch a picture of the mama bird bringing a worm to her young. Enjoy your day! Have a happy Smile Sunday!

More people spreading smiles: Ruth at Underneath His Wrapping, Supamom at Taking it all In, Judy's Handmade Creations and Adrienne at Stories from the Shoebox.

I am starting a new Cherished Moments Monday. Come and join me tomorrow and share some of you most cherished moments. Grab my Cherished Moments Monday button in the left sidebar and let me know so I can add your link.

We Got The Power!

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

Well, you really learn something about yourself when you have an uncomfortable situation. When we returned from Massachusetts on Thursday afternoon we discovered that we had lost power. Connecticut had been struck by a tornado and my area got hit hard! I have to say that we are very blessed to only lose power. It could always be worse! However, I started to get grumpy as time went on. It got hotter and hotter in my little cape style home. Poor Little Chick couldn't sleep. When she finally started sleeping she ended up waking up at around 10:30 from sweating so much. So I did what any other silly mom would do. I grabbed her out of bed, packed her up in the car and headed to the diner! Why not I thought?! It is vacation time. Now anyone that really knows me, knows that I am pretty strict about bedtime. Little Chick just does so much better when she is in bed early. But I was really hot and thought it would be fun to go to an air conditioned place and eat ice cream! We grabbed my mom who lives five minutes away and had no power also and off we went! Little Chick thought this was something else! We sure had fun! When we finally went home it had not cooled off a bit. We went to sleep only to wake up to the house still not having power! Ugh! As the day went on I got really cranky. I did not like being so uncomfortable and I learned a lot about myself. I appreciate electricity so much! I also was reminded in such a short time how blessed I am to have so much! When we returned from having dinner we saw the outside lights on. Little Chick and I squealed with such joy! We were dancing as we entered the house! I started singing about the power and Little Chick chimed in! With a little patience and time everything will get better!

Come join me tomorrow in my Smile Sunday! Grab the button in the left sidebar and let me know so I can add your link to my post!

Summer Has Officially Begun!

"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply,to think freely, to risk life, to be needed."

What a fun day Little Chick and I had yesterday! Summer vacation began on Wednesday when I picked her up at school and we scooped up Grandma Hen and headed to the beach for dinner and a whole lot of splashing around. Then when Little Chick woke up yesterday, I surprised her by saying we were going to Massachusetts to Six Flags! She hopped up and down with a huge smile saying, "We're going on a trip! We're going on a trip!" Her excitement was contagious and we packed up the car and headed North!

We had such a blast at Six Flags! Little Chick loved Thomas the train, Harold the helicopter, and the carousel, but most of all she loved the water park! It was the first time we went to the water park section and if was an incredible amount of fun! What a way to kick off the summer vacation! When we finally drove home we arrived to a house with no power. Yikes! If you don't see me commenting for a while, it is because my house still has no power and it is 10:30 AM on Friday. Little Chick and I are at the library staying cool and having fun! Have a great day!

Thanksgiving Thursday

"To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude."

It is Thanksgiving Thursday again and I have so many things to be grateful for! Lately life has thrown some challenging situations my way and I know if I can just focus on the many blessings that I am surrounded with daily and give thanks, everything will be alright.

I am thankful for:

1.) Little Chick and my family.
2.) having empathy! I am truly thankful for having the heart and the knowledge to know and understand when someone else is hurting in some way.
3.) for having had the most amazing grandparents growing up! They were like another set of parents to me! I miss them so much!
4.) for having parents who sheltered me from the icky stuff in the world. It was a shocker to see a lot of unkind things as an adult, but at least I had a childhood filled with laughter and lots of love!
5.) for coffee! Yup, coffee! I am really enjoying a nice iced coffee every day in this hot weather!

More friends giving thanks: Twenty Little Toes, Going Jane

I just received two more awards! I can't say how much I appreciate all of my followers! Thank you so much for these awards! First, I would like to say a huge thank you to Jessica at Mo Shiorghra for the Your Going Places Baby Award! The rules of this award is to tell where you see yourself in ten years and then pass it along! Well, in ten years I hope to have had another child - God willing - so Little Chick could have a little brother or sister. I hope to be ballroom dancing a lot and perhaps teaching again.
I pass this award on to Karli at The Bonnie 5, Twenty Little Toes, 3 Princes and a Princess 2, Ashley at Adventures in Mommywood, Chelsea at Adventures in Vandyland, Kami at Yellow Kisses, Wanda at At Last...We are Family, Adrienne at Stories from a Shoebox, Ruth at Underneath His Wrapping, and Neel at Being Zara and Zidan.

You ladies are so wonderful! You are going places!
Next I would like to say a big thank you to Crystal at 3 Princes and a Princess 2 for the Versatile Blogger Award! With this award I am supposed to tell 7 random things about myself and pass it on. 1.) I love Elvis Presley! My Dad and I used to play his tapes in the car all the time! 2.) Growing up I spent every other summer vacation in Germany with my grandparents, mom and sister. 3.) I used to do a lot of theater. I love to act! 4.) I did sixteen years of full contact karate. I'm feeling it now. Yikes! 5.) My favorite dances are Salsa, Hustle and Swing. 6.) I love romantic movies. 7.) I can Flamenco dance!

I pass this award on to Kami at Yellow Kisses, Ruth at Underneath His Wrapping and Adrienne at Adventures in a Shoebox.

You deserve it ladies!

Determination

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

What a wonderful day Little Chick and I had today! We spent the morning at the beach. I was so proud of her for getting into the water and trying to swim. She has always loved the water, but has been rather apprehensive about actually sitting down or going on her belly. Today she wanted to swim with such determination and swim was what she did! She kept kicking her feet, moving her arms and inching back a little deeper. I would say, "That is far enough." And her response was, "I am swimming mommy! I need more water." There was no stopping her! She wanted to swim like the big kids. My Dad was very determined. He set goals and did what it took to accomplish them. He had this quote in a frame above his desk in his office. I learned by watching him and his continuous inspiration and positive praise encouraged me to do the best that I can. I have never pushed Little Chick to do anything, but she must have watched my own determination with things and has taken on challenges with such gusto! I guess in this world today it is an important trait to have. It is so nice to know that she takes after her Grandaddy!

Come and join in Thanksgiving Thursday tomorrow.

Just grab the button in the left sidebar and let me know so I can add your link!

What is Empathy?

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

When I taught fourth grade I used to make vocabulary a huge part of our year. I always used GRE words and I told each child that they could learn the same words that college students were learning. They loved that I raised the bar really high for them, but most of all they liked and appreciated that I believed in them! It was really great to see college level vocabulary in their writing assignments and in their conversations. However, the first word they were given on day one of the school year was empathy. I find this word to be incredibly important. More than this, I find its meaning powerful and a necessity in life. Sadly, there are many who do not know this word and even worse, they don't always feel it!

What is empathy? The dictionary definition is:

Empathy - the action of understanding, being sensitive to, being aware of, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.

How many times have you experienced someone who judges you or speaks without even knowing what you may be going through? I have learned one valuable lesson in this life, and that is under no circumstances should I judge another person. I have not walked in their shoes and I have not felt what their heart has been through.

I have a beautiful couple in their eighties living next door to me. They have lived in this home for over sixty years. I have gotten to know them recently and I adore them. Their yard has really become overgrown and they have two of their old cars from long ago sitting in the driveway collecting leaves and outdoor debris as time passes. I don't notice these things or really care about it. I just enjoy their company immensely and talking to them about their fond memories. However, there is a neighborhood clique that has been calling this couple continually telling them to get their lawn done and to move the cars. Personally, I don't see the neighbors paying this couples taxes, but besides that, I can't believe the utter lack of empathy. The poor older gentleman has had two strokes within the past 12 months and has just been diagnosed with colon cancer. The wife explained this to the neighbor, and instead of maybe baking something for this couple, they continue to hound them about their yard. This to me is a perfect example of having absolutely no empathy. We all get old and not as agile or capable if we are blessed to live that long. Where is the empathy? I can't even fathom what is going on through someones mind as they conscientiously badger an elderly couple!

How often have you encountered a lack of empathy?

Family Day

"The happiest moments in my life have been the few

which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family."

~Thomas Jefferson

What a great day we had on Sunday! We started by spending the morning at the beach. I did not bring my camera so I could live "in the moment". I love taking pictures of every occasion and can end up with hundreds in a very short time. However, we made our way to the Lake for dinner and I just couldn't resist bringing it. So here are some fun pictures of Father's Day at the Lake and in the sprinkler park! (Don't ask me why Papa Rooster is in dress shoes at the lake. Gotta love it! After all it is his day!) I hope you had a wonderful day with your family!

Smile Sunday

"Anyone can be a father,

but it takes someone very special to be a daddy."

I love Smile Sunday because it is a day I can try to spread some smiles and cheer to others! I am going to dedicate this first Father's Day blog to my Daddy who passed away twelve years ago. He always radiated happiness and carried a smile that spread quickly to all who saw him. I miss him terribly, but his spirit lives on through Little Chick. She, too, carries this ability to make others smile when she walks in a room. I wish you all a very Happy Father's Day! Grab my Smile Sunday button and join in every Sunday to help spread smiles! Let me know and I will add your link!

Little Chick, Mama Hen and Papa Rooster!

Spreading Smiles: Underneath His Wrapping, Stories from the Shoebox

Proud Mama Hen

"The child must know that she is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like her."

It is amazing to me how young people are when they start realizing they accomplished something wonderful! Little Chick is only three and she just had her second gymnastics show. Today was the last class when all the parents and family could come and see what their children have learned. Little Chick talked about the medal she was going to get all the way in the car. She kept saying with a lit up face, "Mommy, you are coming in to watch my show?" Now I am always there watching through the window, but she knows it is pretty special when all the mommies can come in and watch. Every thing she did I clapped and cheered. In return she smiled from ear to ear! At the end all of the children were called up one by one to receive their medals and have their pictures taken.

Little Chick wore her medal around her neck with pride and was beaming in the car ride home. We talked about all of the fantastic forward rolls and backward flips she did and all of the other things she had accomplished. We talked about her special day right until she went to sleep. I made sure she knew how proud I was of her. As with anything kind, it doesn't take much to fill someone else up with joy and happiness. I try to praise Little Chick every chance I get. Today was a proud Mama Hen moment and Little Chick sure knew it!

Enter my Home Safe Home Giveaway! Scroll down.

Come join in Smile Sunday tomorrow! Grab my button in the left sidebar and let me know so I can add your link for others to see! Start spreading some smiles! :)

The Little Things

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”~Robert Brault

There are so many things that bring a smile to my face and brighten my heart. They are so simple. I have learned that I don't need much in life to fill me up with joy. I just take a look all around me and see that life is good. Don't get me wrong, I have my share of problems and worries which I will save for another post, but I contentiously try on a daily basis to find the things that make me happy. What I am learning is that it is all of the little things that can brighten our day.

To share a few of "the little things" I will start with "clean sheet day". I have always loved jumping into a freshly changed, still warm from the dryer, cozy fluffed up bed! Little Chick and I jump in and read lots of books. We both immediately say "I love clean sheet day!" It is so cute how Little Chick loves it now too. She puts her nose on the pillow and says, "Mmmmm! So clean and fresh!"

The next thing that I love is Little Chick's way of saying a couple of things. I find myself not in a hurry to correct her, because it is so cute! When she says a little bit, it comes out "a libble lit". I just want to give her a big hug every time she says it. The other one is "caully". This is how she has always said cozy. Now the entire family and close friends say "caully". I figure she has the rest of her life to speak like an adult. Why not keep some of the little things that make us smile!?!

Come and enter my Home Safe Home giveaway! Scroll down to see.

Thanksgiving Thursday

"Keep a grateful journal. every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change your perspective of your day and your life." ~Oprah Winfrey When I began my blog, not too long ago, I knew I wanted to do a Thanksgiving Thursday. I had started with this quote from Oprah Winfrey, which I am using again for all of my new readers. It is something very simple to do and even if you do it just one day a week, you will see that your conscientious thoughts about all the blessings in life stay embedded long enough to help ease all the "other stuff" that may be bothering us. There are so many things to be grateful for.

Now I am very happy to share my Thanksgiving Thursday button with anyone that wants to join along. I had lots of people ask if they could link to Mama's Little Chick for this day of blessings! Just grab it and my link (cut, paste, add link)! Let me know so I can visit you and add your blog below!

I am thankful for:

1.) Little Chick and my family.

2.) my husband having a job. My poor brother-in-law was out of work for quite some time. Very stressful!

3.) being able to buy the extras. (toys, Starbucks coffee, gymnastics classes for Little Chick, beach and lake passes, etc.)

4.) for having been able to travel and see many wonderful countries in my youth. For having parents that taught me to respect the multicultural differences of others.

5.) for my computer.

Have a great Thanksgiving Thursday!

Great bloggers giving thanks: Underneath His wrapping, Meant to be a Mom, Being Zara & Zidan

Make sure to enter my Home Safe Home giveaway! Scroll down for details.

Enjoy the Present

"Children have neither past nor future; they enjoy the present, which very few of us do."

~ Jean de la Bruyere

What a super quote this is! It is hard as an adult and parent not to get caught up in all of the "things" that need to get done! The list is endless and can truly get in the way of our inner child coming out enough, if at all. We not only have to get the daily tasks done, but we also have to plan for our family's future. In today's society it is so easy to find ourselves entangled in schedules and worries about finances now and in our future. It is exhausting and rather draining.

To be a child is to live for the moment. That is why they dart out the door in the morning to chase a butterfly and we look at our watches and tell them it is time to go. Even if we wanted to be more free and chase butterflies as they come, we still have to get them to school on time, get to work, and anywhere we are expected at a particular time. So I guess we have to try our best to have enough "time" in our days to simply be able to live for the moment, without thinking about the past or the future. To simply be.Don't forget to scroll down and enter my mommy's Home Safe Home giveaway!

Thank You!

And the flowers go to.....

Mommy!

I just received three wonderful awards from some amazing blogging women! The first award is the Sunshine Award from Jessica at Mo Shíorghrá . She is such a sweetheart with a really fun blog! The second award is the Outstanding Blogger Award from my bloggy pal, Ashlee, at Love Comma Ashlee. She has some wonderful giveaways so be sure and check her out! The third awards is The Beautiful Blogger award from my friend at The life of a Sippy Cup Mom. She has a great giveaway going on right now. Thank you so much to these wonderful ladies!

Thank you Jessica for this beautiful Sunshine Award!

I pass the Sunshine Award on to the following wonderful women:
The Bonnie 5, At Last... We Are Family,The Sanders Family, Being Zara and Zidan, Yellow Kisses
Thank you Ashlee for this wonderful Outstanding Blogger Award. With it I am supposed to tell seven things about myself, which I did below for the Beautiful Blogger Award.

I pass the Outstanding Blogger Award to: The Bonnie 5, Mommy's Life is in Raising.....Rida, Twenty Little Toes
The Beautiful Blogger Award has some rules: First you must thank whoever gave the award. A huge thank you goes out to my bloggy pal at The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom! Next I need to tell 7 things about myself you may not know.

1.) I like mixing popcorn with M&M's.

2.) My friend and I went kayaking years ago in November (not so bright) and he tipped over about a mile out and the current was too rough! I saved him and as we drove in the ambulance everyone called us Rose and Jack from the Titanic and began singing Celine Dion's song.

3.) I ran a full marathon after my Dad died.

4.) My favorite singer growing up was Rod Stewart. I went to about eight concerts when I was a teenager!

5.) I like to sing all the time!

6.) I love Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra!

7.) I really love playing Backgammon, but haven't had anyone to play with since my Dad died.

Now I must pass the award on to twelve new great blogs: The Suburban Princess Diaries, Adventures in Vandyland, The Single Mommy Diaries, Mummy's Busy World, The Lady is In, Neck Rolls and Toe Crust, Hush Mama, Adventures in Mommywood, Knee Deep in Mommahood, Mo Shiorghra, Artistically Amy and Dean and Tori: Inn Love.

Congratulations to all of you amazing bloggers! You deserve it!

Make sure and enter my giveaway for Home Safe Home!

Home Safe Home Giveaway

Mama Hen's first giveaway!

This is my first giveaway and it is a really good one! As I talked about last week, Debra Lynn Dadd has a wonderful website called Debra Lynn Dadd Nontoxic Products. When we were purchasing a home a couple of years ago I bought her book, Home Safe Home (Creating a Healthy Home Environment by reducing Exposure to Toxic Household Products). It covers a myriad of topics including: tap water and processed foods, home and garden pesticides, household cleaning and laundry products, babies and children, food, textiles, carpeting and furniture and so much more! Whether you buy it or try to win it, I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Buy Home Safe Home:

To buy Home Safe Home you can purchase it for $19.95 on Debra Lynn Dadd's website Debra Lynn Dadd Nontoxic Products.

Enter to Win Home Safe Home:

To win Home Safe Home you can enter by doing these 4 steps:

1.) Visit Debra Lynn Dadd's website and join her newsletter and come back and let me know you did. It is such a wonderful update on all of the things we need to know about unhealthy products today. You will love it!
2.) Grab my adorable button and put it on your blog sidebar and give me your link where I can find it.
3.) Become a follower on my blog (if you haven't already) and let me know.
4.) Leave me your e-mail so I can contact you if you win!

That seems super easy!

This giveaway will run until July 5th. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their giveaway prize after I e-mail them or another random winner will be chosen using the same method.
Good luck!

I was not compensated in any way for my review or doing this giveaway. I contacted Debra because I truly believe that the information on her website and in her book is so important and she graciously offered a book.

Smile Sunday

"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness,

making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles."

~Washington Irving

It is Smile Sunday again and I want to share pictures of what a wonderful day Little Chick and I had together yesterday. We went to the lake and brought dinner. We had fun splashing in the water and watching our friends, the ducks and swans, swim by. I hope you have a happy day filled with an abundance of smiles!

Watching the Sun Rise

"Be mindful of how you approach time.

Watching the clock is not the same as watching the sun rise."

I don't know about you, but this quote really strikes a chord within me! Tonight when I was putting Little Chick to bed she tossed and turned and talked and then the lawn guys came right when she was finally falling asleep (not sure why they were here at 7:00 PM). She sat right up and asked me about why they were here at night. I told her that I wished I knew that myself. This added another hour and fifteen minutes onto our bedtime routine. Tonight was one of those nights I was really pooped out and just wanted to get a little "me" time. As I heard the humming of the lawn mowers I kept looking at the clock thinking oh brother!

Right when Little Chick finally fell asleep I did not get that sense of now I have "me" time. I kind of wanted to turn back the clock and maybe read another book to her and wait until the mowing finally stopped. I tried not to show it, but I was aggravated with the lawn guys and I laid down next to her pretending I was asleep. I hoped that this would help her to go to sleep, but she just kept tossing and turning. I can't turn back the clock, but I can move forward and reflect in times like these. As much as the dishes, laundry and computer time was on my mind, I should have just taken the moment to turn it into something a little more special. So next Friday if they happen to show up at bedtime again, I will simply read a couple of more books and get more giggles out of it!

Inspired

"The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be."

~Horace Bushnell

My life has been somewhat of an uphill climb. To say it has been difficult at times would be an understatement. Everyone has their challenges in life and I don't compare myself to anyone else. But within my thirty-nine years I have felt a myriad of trying emotions due to the mountains I have been given to climb.

I write this post in the most positive light! My father was my inspiration (those of you who have been following might know this already). He, too, had been given very tough challenges to conquer while here on Earth. Yet he smiled every day! One would never know that he had been through something very stressful, because he carried on.

My sister asked me, not too long ago, how I handle all the difficulties I have been given throughout my life. She began listing all of them and I listened as if in a surreal state. Boy that was a lot of obstacles and pain she mentioned! Was that really my life? Yup! I told her that there is nothing else one can do in life but simply continue on. However, I have always been a "giver". It is with this that I "heal" myself through it all! By giving of myself to others I feel soothed and OK. Most of all I give to Little Chick! She is my greatest blessing and I have to stay strong no matter what for her.

This blog is meant to inspire and share happy things with my blogging friends. It is through my Father's gift of staying positive while climbing up hill that I, too, can stay positive and pass this on.