The IE Mommy is Moving.....

I have had the hardest time trying to decide which blog would be best for me. Either wordpress or blogger...both have some great qualities and some um, not so great attributes.

But I just don't have the time to duplicate each and every post and I don't have the imagination or vocabulary to create two different blogs so I have finally made a decision.



I will be switching to wordpress. I will still keep this blog open but any active blogs, contests, updates, giveaways, etc. will be posted at The IE Mommy at wordpress. The URL will be http://www.iemommy.wordpress.com/ so please bookmark it.



I'd love it if you'd sign up for the RSS feed or the email subscribtion so you won't get lost in the shuffle. Just click on the link below and it will take straight to The IE Mommy!

My God's Tale

When I first read about the S.W.A.K. Carnival ...I just knew I had to join! What better thing to do then "brag" on my husband!

As a little girl, growing up, I was read all the wonderful fairytales with a charming prince and a beautiful princess....and each story always ended... "and they lived happily ever after".

As a teenager, every romance novel had a rebel-type guy with a heart of gold underneath and the pure love for only one special girl.

I remember reading those books and dreaming of my prince charming but I really didn't give it a lot of thought because the real world was very different. I knew people that were divorced and separated. I saw people that had 2 sets of families. I knew there was just too much heartache in marriage....I believed it would be a step that I would just bypass. Afterall, it just wasn't my train of thought to think about marriage and ever afters...I was going to be an independent, career-minded woman!

Awww....but God has different plans...sometimes far different then what we ever imagined.

(Jeremiah 29:11) I know the plans I have for you sayeth the Lord, plans for good not for evil. To give you a future and a hope.

I met my husband when I was a teenager. The easiest way to explain the bigging of our relationship is "Ego, Ego, Ego". Albeit as much as I want to say it was all my husband's ego...it wasn't :(

But what an amazing thing God can do when we allow Him to be the one in control. We have been together for a few decades plus and I sit A-M-A-Z-E-D!

I look at my husband and with out a doubt know he is my Prince Charming. He is the rebel in my teenage romance books with a true love for only one girl and most importantly he is the one God created for me.

My husband is my hero, my mentor, my best-friend, my partner, the love of my life, my prankster, my thorn in my side, my bear hugs, my encourager, my cheering squad, my protector, my angel.....

Every relationship has ups and downs, every marriage has moments of passion and moments of complete irriation...but it is what you do, and think during those times that will equip you for the next time. In our relationship we have tried to remember that a cord of three is not easily broken.

(Ecclesiastes 4:12 - A peson standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.)

I know there is no such thing as a "Perfect" person but in my heart of hearts...I know that my husband and I are "Perfect" for each other. God created us for each other and there isn't another person who could fit that place.

After all these years, I still get butterflies when I see him. I still stare into those blue eyes and melt and I still quiver at his kisses.

There is no way that I could express to you or to my husband how grateful I am to the Lord Jesus to have been given such a wonderful husband, such an amazing life, such incredible children and blessings that are way too many to count.

All I can say is...to the world..."Keep your Fairy Tales...I have a God's Tale"... and it is way more then I could have every dreamed or hoped for.

1 Timothy 1:14
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:3
... God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

1 Peter 3:7
[ Husbands ] In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Ephesians 5:25
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her

S.W.A.K Carnival and ChicBud Giveaways!

*Prizes * Prizes *Prizes

Valentine's Giveaways!
Get your "honey" the perfect gift!
Click on the ChicBuds Button above and learn how to join the
S.W.A.K Carnival and the ChicBud Giveaway!

*Color may vary from picture shown

Wordless Wednesday

This is one my utmost, favorite pictures of all times. I love this shot. The colors are amazing and vibrant. Her pose is perfect....I can not say enough about this shot. Not because I took it or because it's my daughter...I just love it!

I had to share it on Wordless Wednesday. Swing by 5 Minutes for Mom to check out more photos and to join the fun!

Through the Eyes of A Child

Isn't it funny how you can receive the most amazing words of wisdom from a child? They have this uncanny ability to appreciate all there is in life and to enjoy it to the fullest.

One afternoon we were leaving a store when Skylar just stopped walking. I look back and she is seemingly staring off into space. When I asked her what she was doing. She said, "Didn't you see it, Mama? A little moth. He was amazing!"

I had to pause for a moment to realize that through her eyes what I would have just swatted away as a nuisance was to her some magical mid-air dance.

The next day as we were getting dressed Skylar asked for help zipping her jacket. She jumped on the bed so she could be my height and was looking out the window while I concentrated on her stuck zipper.

"Mama, did you see our neighbor's yard?" She asked.

"Yes, it's pretty messy isn't it? I replied with out looking.

"No, it beautiful!" She replied in a whisper.

"What?" I replied half-listening as I was still struggling with her zipper.

"Look at the flowers Mama" She urged with awe in her voice.

I knew the yard she was referring to and well...how can we put it.... it is "landscaping challenged". I could not imagine a flower garden there. I went to the window and looked….she was right; kind of…in the middle of their overgrown grass was a large cluster of beautiful orange wildflowers.

Through my grown up eyes I had only seen the mess and tall grass. I totally missed the flowers that were indeed God's beautiful creation while Skylar totally caught the beauty and missed the mess.

I have seen Skylar staring at the stars with a serene look in her eyes and I wonder what her little mind is thinking. I am proud of her sweet spirit and happy that she shares these discoveries with me.

I only hope I never forget what she has unknowingly reminded me of….there is beauty in everything; it just depends on how you look at it.

The Circle of Life = Motherhood

I began to think about all the wonderful women that I know who are embarking on the journey of motherhood… for some it will be a brand new experience and for others…they are seasoned veterans.

But the reality of it does not change. Being a mom is being all that you can possibly be at every possible minute. William Ross Wallace wrote "…For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world…"

For some women motherhood comes naturally. It is something that they have progressed toward all their lives. For others, (like me) it will be a bit of a journey.

I never grew up playing with baby dolls and strollers. I had them and I enjoyed them but I wanted to play with the "fashion dolls" and their super cars and planes. I loved the fancy clothes and each and every career that was imagined for them.

As a young adult….marriage and motherhood were far from my thoughts…but God had a different plan…one that leaves me in amazement each and every day. I haven't had an uninterrupted shower since my daughters were born, quiet time in the bathroom is like a mini-vacation, my hands have aged decades due to all the dishes. I have changed diapers that number in the 1000's and I can recite each and every character on the Backyardigans, Dora the Explorer, Miss Spider and Spongebob (just to name a few).

Yes, this is not the jet-set life I imagined…but it is so much more and so much better than any "dream" I could have ever had.

Only a mom knows the expression and joy on a waking child's face when they see you first thing in the morning. Only a mom knows the pride she feels when she holds her child's hand and hears them say "Thank you" and "Please". It is my name they call out in the middle of the night or when they are scared or sick. It is a Mom that can keep the boogeyman away and the dreams alive.

Moms are not only the first teachers but the first doctors, the first pastors, the first "everything!" They are the ones that know their children from the very depths of their souls.

Each mom is different, each mother has her own ways…but it really does not matter if you are a "Green" mom or a "Fast-food" mom. What matters is that you are "Mom" and to your little ones you will be the World!

W.R. Wallace was right. Through our little ones we shape the world. We form the world for them and for those they encounter in life….what an incredible blessing and responsibility.

I am so glad God had a different plan for me and I look forward to the plan He has for each of my dear friends…

Blast from the Past and Recycled Colds

Well...it happened. It was bound to happen. It was inevitable...I am sick. The twins have been sick for over a week. Our last trip to the doctor managed to get them a new, stronger antibiotic and an inhaler.

It appears that now I have whatever yuck they had....hopefully I'll recover quickly. I am pounding away with vitamins, humidifiers and everything else I can find..

So bear with me this week as we review some "Blast from the Past" blogs.....if you've read them before...I hope they still make you smile.

If you have never read them...Welcome to my world!

Sweet & Simple

As much as I strive to be the Proverbs 31 women...I do not have chef quality cooking skills. As I like to say my family gets fed I just don't enjoy it! What can I say cooking is not my gift. Which is why I love Kraft Foods.com. This is about as simple a receipe as you can find and it sounds yummy!

What You Need

• 1 can (16 oz.) pear slices, drained

• 8 NILLA Wafers, crushed

• 1/2 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

• 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

Make It

• SPOON pears into 4 dessert bowls.
  

• SPRINKLE with wafer crumbs.
  

• COMBINE COOL WHIP and cinnamon; spoon over desserts.

Too Old to Be Cool?

I grew up in the 80's. I'll wait for you to stop giggling....done? Good...now stroll with me to the land of big hair, Aquanet, hot pink lipstick, and high heels with bobby socks. For the record...I never, ever wore socks with my heels!

As every generation has ... we had terms that were only for the 80's. Does Rad, Tough, Awesome and Totally ring any bells? Sadly I still say "awesome" all the time. Not because of the 80's but really because I think so many things in life are "awesome" (do not read this with a valley-girl accent!). My husband never loses a chance to remind me that I am not in the 80's when I say that word. But never mind him. I know that I also use "amazing" quite often but I like it and I'm keeping it!

But try as I might there are words that just do not sound right coming out of my mouth. Words like "tight" or "BFF"...I am not sure when I became old but I feel completely uncool (omg, who even says "uncool" anymore) trying to say those words. I recently read that the newest slang word was "amajor" which is supposed to combine amazing and major. Since I use "amazing" so much I thought I'd give it a try.

I sounded like a geek, a dork, a dweeb.....quite frankly....like an old lady trying to be cool!

I'm sad! Really, I am .... because I am so cool that I should be able to say these words with out a problem. Yeah, right...mabye when I was 18.....I have to laugh because I have no idea when I became this old but here I am!

It's okay.....someday I sure that "rad" and "totally" will come back again and then I'll be the "it" girl once more....well....at least I will be in my geriatric ward!

Let Your Chest Speak For You

I found another fun contest and just had to share! Check out the fantastic offer from Inspiretees.com

Click on the button below to learn more about the contest and to enter!

The Professor of Protection

Ever wonder what you could do to safeguard checks that you write? The innocence of writing and "dropping" it in the mail with out a worry has long passed. Check out what the Professor of Protection teaches us on safeguarding our checks.

How Thieves Make $300 in Under 4 Minutes

How Quickly We Can Fade.....

I know that "everyone" has been so excited that the movie Fireproof is out. In fact, I blogged about Kirk Cameron recently. Because of this I wanted to share an amazing video that is from YouTube but I found it on Been there, Done that...

It had me crying!

I'm Trying to Remember....

Yesterday in my devotional, For Every Season Vol.3 by Greg Laurie...he spoke of how important it is to know God's word. 

I couldn't agree more. It is those same verses and words that the Holy Spirit will bring forth in our time of need. Maybe it is in a time when we are sharing our faith or perhaps teaching little ones at Sunday school. It may be a more intense time of a Spiritual battle or trial....but the promise that His word will never return void is one to take to the bank.

I don't have a problem remembering God's word but I do have difficulty in remembering chapter and verse. As much as I hate to admit it...I know that I am not alone in this struggle.

I wanted to take a moment to share a verse that I have memorized in my mind and heart and it won't leave...nor do I ever want it to. It is my life verse. I must remind myself consistently that Jesus Christ is at the beginning, middle and end of my journey wherever it may take me

Jeremiah 29:11

"I know the plans I have for you sayeth the Lord. Plans for good not for evil; to give you a future and a hope"

Praise God that His plans are much better for me then my greatest dreams. It is in His hands that I can find comfort, direction and guidance.

So...what about you? What is your life verse or verse that is speaking to you right now? 

Horsin' Around #52

I have sick children at home which is why I am blogging away. I have to stay near them and quite frankly can not sit through one more round of Pinky Dinky Doo or Miss Spider (regardless of how much I love Miss Spider).

So as they are content to watch cartoons sipping lemon with honey and wrapped in their blankies...I am keeping busy within the scope of the family room and the kitchen.

By the time they get well (it has been a week already)...I will have probably posted a zillion blogs, have a spotless floor, clean cupboards and not a dish in the sink....yeah...well...ok, reality...probably just the blogs will get done, lol.

Anyway...look what I found!

Swing on by 5 Minutes for Mom and sign up to enter your "Best" photo. The theme is "horsing around". I've signed up, linked my blog and now here is my photo. In case you are wondering which twin it is :::: drumroll:::: it 's Skylar!

Swing by and enter your best "horsing around" shot...tell them The IE Mommy sent ya!

Sex & Marriage? Yes, they go together!

Ladies, I have just found out about two super fun challenges going on in honor of Valentine's Day. Now as much as I love all you single women out there...these challenges are for the married ladies ONLY!

Check it out...could add a little spice to your "gift" this year!

Click on either button to learn more about the challenges. Remember ladies, these don't have to be done only for Valentine's day...what a great anniversary, birthday or just any time idea.

Wordless Wednesday

Love this idea! It was something I did back on the Mom Squad at Inland Empire Family Magazine. I ran across the idea again and thought I'd join the fun!

Wordless Wednesday....a day where we let a picture speak for us.

This is one of my current favorite pictures. Each year at Christmas we have a "White Elephant" gift exchange. This year, like last year, the twins were so excited about their "gift" that they didn't want to exchange them at all...in fact Skylar loved her hat so much she wore it the entire day AND had uncle (the one who brought that White Elephant gift) find another one for sister!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Spotlight on "The Sassy Chic Shop"

Every now and then you run across a business or person that is so extra ordinary that you really need to stand up and applaud them. I am 100% behind mom run businesses. Whether you have a store front, eBay site, on-line site or work from home. My hats off to you !

In this train of thought I'd like to present to you our first "Spotlight Site". In each spotlight I will provide you with an interview, site review and product review. I hope you'll join me in visiting these sites and supporting them with our business.



The Sassy Chic Shop is owned by Katie Newman. She is a fantastic person, with great taste for the unique, classy and different. I had the opportunity to ask Katie a couple of questions during a recent interview.

Katie, when did you start your business?
I started working from home on the internet several years ago but The Sassy Chic Shop is a new boutique that just opened.


What was the inspiration behind starting your business?
My inspiration for starting this shop was my love for all things girly and fun! I love unique jewelry, funky purses and other fabulous accessories

Tell us a little about yourself and your family?
I am happily married to a wonderful hubby. I have two beautiful children. One is about to become a teenager and the other one is six. We also have three dogs and we live in a suburb of Houston, Texas.

What is your favorite thing(s) about your business?
My favorite thing about my business is choosing the items to sell. I love seeking out unique pieces that I don't think you can find just anywhere. I also love being able to work at midnight if I want!

I hear you have a special promotion ONLY for IE Mommy readers?
Yes, IE Mommy readers can recieve a 15% discount on any purchase at Sassy Chic; just email me first.

SITE REVIEW:
When you first visit The Sassy Chic Shop you can not help but notice the adorable boutique style motif of the site. Visually, it has a very pleasant decor with a bit of spunk and style and a lot of class. You are not overwhelmed by flash when you first enter. You can find everything from pet supplies to jewelry and fashion. There is a lot to look at and to browse through. My favorite site page was the Sassy Chic Queen. Needless to say I fell in love with the Crown tote and the Sassy Queen broach. I found the site easy to manage, well organized and well formatted. The contact pager and the feedback page were an added bonus for the consumer. Overall Grade: A




PRODUCT REVIEW:
Silver Pray Stackable Bracelet
Price: $11.95 (Sale $7.95)
This bracelet was a great find. Silvertone strechable braclet engraved with the word "pray" around the entire bracelet and accented with a filigree style design. I favored this product because 1) it was affordable 2) it was stylish 3) It was stretchable to fit any size wrist and 4) It reminded of something valuable to do daily..."pray". It arrived sweetly packaged in a light pink organza bag. Perfect and ready for gift giving.
Overall Grade: A





IE MOMMY Says:
I would definitely keep this bracelet and The Sassy Chic Shop in mind the next time I need a birthday gift. The items were so unique and prices were very affordable. I spent some time browsing and dreaming while at her site. Plus the 15% off discount makes a lot of items v-e-r-y tempting. Swing by and enjoy shopping.





P.S. If you know of a mom-owned business that you'd like to see in the spotlight. Email me at theiemommy (at) gmail DOT com.

An Interview with Kirk Cameron of Fire Proof

The world was hit by an incredible bolt of lightening recently and unless you've been under a rock then you have heard about it. It was FIREPROOF starring Kirk Cameron.

To say that this movie is a regular story about marriage would be an understatement (in the very least). FireProof will speak to any one that is married or single. It is an amazing example of how easily we can forget what is truly important in life.

My husband and I are honored to be hosting a showing of Fireproof in our home in about a week...so I was very excited to find this interviewed podcast with Kirk Cameron. For those of you who aren't aware of the movie take a look at this trailer:




While Kirk Cameron grew up during his role as Mike Seaver in Growing Pains it as a man of God that he has truly found his calling. I have to admit I wasn't much a Growing Pains fan. At the time Growing Pains was aired I was a little too old to be interested in pubescent sitcoms. None the less I was aware of Kirk and his fame. But when I saw this movie with my husband I was blown away...there stood before a man that was truly demonstrating his convictions and relationship with Christ. I knew that he had accomplished great work with the Left Behind Series and The Way of the Master but I wasn't prepared for the impact this movie would have on myself or other viewers.

Since viewing the film I have since purchased the Love Dare book and Still Growing which is an autobiography written by Kirk Cameron. I was not disappointed in what I read. I truly believe this is a man and woman sold for Jesus. What a testimony for those of us who struggle to stand up for our faith in our own little world and for those of us who struggle within our marriage (and if you are honest, you probably have been both of those people at sometime in your life)

Take a moment to list to this interview from 5 Minutes for Mom. It is wonderful to hear his voice, heart and soul regarding the movie, his family and his Lord.

FireProof Interview with Kirk Cameron [8:43m]: Hide Player Play in Popup Download

The DVD was realeased on January 27th. As Kirk mentions it would be a perfect gift for someone you love at Valentine's Day.

Kurt Warner...

I don't know if you have ever heard this story but I thought it was most fitting consider he is playing in today's Super Bowl XLIII

and so the story goes....

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY & BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call.

As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA.

He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed.

Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary --- he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the hunt for a possible appearance in the Super Bowl. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

Yep, Kurt Warner is a Most Special Man...

Superbowl Sunday

Ok, I am not going to even pretend to know a thing about football. Yes, I know the basics but when refs start throwing colored flags and the quarterbacks and coaches call out plays...well, I'm lost! I don't know the difference between a first down or a first and ten.

But here is what I do know:

• I love my husband and if he wants to watch football today on Superbowl Sunday we are going to watch football (...I might be looking at a magazine...just a wee bit!)
  
  
• I know the Steelers are playing against the Cardinals
  
  
• I know "our" team is the Cardinals.
  
  
• I know Kurt Warner plays for the Cardinals and he is a Christian
  
  
• I know "they" thought Kurt was "dried up" as a player and he's proven them wrong (again)
  
  
• I know if you go to About.com you can learn all about football terminology.
  
  
• I know that if you go to the official NFL site...you could impress your man with some great trivia, highlights or information on the game.
  
  
• I know that it is Superbowl XLIII
  
  
• and most importantly I know that as a wife...this is a day I can give him without arguments, chores or fighting for the remote.
  
  So to my wonderful hubby....
  "Todd, enjoy it love...you deserve the day off"