I understand and appreciate how busy moms are these days.  We not only work outside the home, but clean the home, schedule our children’s activities into our schedules, make dinner and take care of our aging parents.  All of these activities are worthwhile, but they all take a toll on us personally.  Before we know it, weeks have gone by where we have not taken any time for ourselves.  We have not taken the time to relax, or do anything for ourselves!  Here are some tips to ensure that you don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

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We all love them.  They are easy and convenient.  They make cleaning up slick, but they are so expensive and full of harsh chemicals.  So what can you do?  Make them yourself!

Homemade cleaning wipes are just as easy and convenient, but cost significantly less and contain only the cleaning compounds you select. These wipes are easy to make, and you can make them for a variety of cleaning causes.

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Babies need all kinds of gear as they grow. Many parents buy used baby products or borrow them from friends in order to save money on the items that will only be used a short period of time.  Are these practices safe?  They can be if you are a smart consumer and are aware of product recalls before you make these purchases or borrow items.

Some of the most popular used baby gear products are cribs, high chairs, strollers, baby carriers, baby swings, play yards and of course car seats.  These items tend to be quite expensive, and purchasing them used allows parents to spread their funds further.  First and foremost, we want your baby to be safe.   Protect your baby by being a smart consumer and following the tips below.

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I enjoy making these recipes with my children.  The recipes are straightforward, easy enough for even young children to make with a little help from mom (or dad).

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Don’t let the remaining pieces end up in a landfill, instead use them to make the craft projects below.

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Believe me I do understand how hard it is to fit exercise into the busy and hectic schedule of any mom.  As mom’s, sometimes we need to think outside the box when it comes to exercise.  Is it a written rule somewhere that exercise has to be at the gym, or taking a run for an hour?  Check out some of these fun and child friendly exercise ideas that also will not break the bank.

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Would you like to be more of a green mom?  I know I try to do my part to be easier on the environment and be as green as possible.  So I thought I’d gather together a few tips and tricks at limiting the amount of plastic in our lives, making our homes greener.

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My children love to help in my vegetable garden.  They find every part of gardening fun.  Working the soil in the spring is especially appealing to my children.  Any excuse to get down and dirty makes them happy.  They enjoy helping plan where all the vegetables will be planted and setting up all the rows.  They even enjoy sprinkling the seeds.  They care for them all summer long, watering when needed, pulling weeds, and of course enjoying the vegetables as they become ripe.  Gardening is such a great educational family friendly topic, families should learn to embrace it and show children how they too can help feed their own families.

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One of the hardest things to do after children is keeping that spark alive between husband and wife.  We sometimes get so wrapped up in raising the kids, worrying about money, stressing about making sure everything is just right, that we forget to kindle the spark that brought us together in the first place.  I have a few friends that swear date night with their husbands brings them closer.

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As parents, we have all heard our children pester for a pet of their own. This can be a big decision and depending on the ages of the children, one that should not be entered into lightly.  Children will say most anything to receive a pet of their own, but what you need to realize is that children, even those with the best intentions, will need your help in caring for the pet of your choice.  So think carefully about how much time and money you have available to care for this pet, before making the decision as well.

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