The Best of the Mommy Blogs

It’s not your mother’s motherhood….
When you’re wide awake at 3 in the morning, convinced no baby has ever screamed as loud as yours, it’s good to know there’s another mom just a click away who has been there, survived that, and written a hilarious blog about it. The new book Sleep Is for the Weak, edited by Rita Arens of surrenderdorothyblog.com, excerpts some of the best of the so-called mommy blogs. More than 20 moms fess up about everything from parenting insecurities to taking your son along to your gyno appointment. “Blogging is a virtual support group if you allow yourself to be honest,” says Arens. Check out some of our favorite mom musings from the book

“After my daughter soaks her sheets, she stumbles sleepily into our bed and falls asleep. Near morning, as we’re all slumbering peacefully, she pees on us. Y’all, may I just say, I am tired of the pee.”
– Sheryl Patten, papernapkin.typepad.com

“My daughter doesn’t have to love me (though, yes, I know she does), but I do love her, and that is what matters. Her returning my feelings is a bonus, but it is not compulsory.”
– Tracey Gaughran-Perez, sweetney.com

“When I’m stressed out…I conjure up myself at age 55, and she tells me to relax. ‘One day,’ she whispers, ‘when you’re an empty nester and your life is predictable, quiet, and completely your own, you’ll miss this chaos. You’ll miss it terribly.'”
– Risa Green, mommytrackd.com

Click on the Amazon link above to order a copy of Sleep Is For The Weak.

If you are a blogger or just a blog reader.. Order your copy today! Take your bloggy reads with you while you sit in the car waiting to pick up the kids from school, sneak in a page or two while the kids are napping in the car ( I have a whole stash of magazines & books in my car and added this to my collection) or take along while you travel…this would make a fun plane ride read. The holidays are just around the corner…This book would make a perfect holiday gift for your favorite blogger.

Enjoy!

Blog Day- August 31st

Are you a blogger? Are you ready to be part of something big? Do you want to leave a mark on the face of the earth?

CELEBRATE THE 4th Annual Blog Day ON AUGUST 31st

What is Blog Day?
BlogDay was created with the belief that bloggers should have one day dedicated to getting to know other bloggers from other countries and areas of interest. On that day Bloggers will recommend other blogs to their blog visitors. With the goal in mind, on this day every blogger will post a recommendation of 5 new blogs. This way, all blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering new, previously unknown blogs.

What will happen on Blog Day?
one long moment on August 31st, bloggers from all over the world will post recommendations of 5 new Blogs, preferably Blogs that are different from their own culture, point of view and attitude. On this day, blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering new, unknown Blogs, celebrating the discovery of new people and new bloggers.

BlogDay posting instructions:
Find 5 new Blogs that you find interesting
Notify the 5 bloggers that you are recommending them as part of BlogDay 2008
Write a short description of the Blogs and place a link to the recommended Blogs
Post the BlogDay Post (on August 31st) and
Add the BlogDay tag using this link: http://technorati.com/tag/BlogDay2008and a link to the BlogDay web site at http://www.blogday.org/

Blog On!

Back to School Hair Bow Contest

Wow! We had such an amazing response to this contest that our friends from Fancy Schmancy Stuff have offered to give 3 bows away.

The lucky winners are… R.Hagan, C. Raysor, and M. Root!

Congratulations Ladies!

Plain Jane Labor Day Sale!

128 East Gay St.
West Chester, PA 19380
610.918.0230

25% OFF EVERYTHING!!!

That’s right! Plain Jane is offering 25% off their entire stock in honor of Labor Day! This promotion ends Sunday 8/31 Mention this Chester County Moms Blog for the sale!

Don’t forget that Wednesday night from 6-8PM Plain Jane is offering FREE mini-makeovers. Stop by, get all glammed up then hit the town for drinks & dinner. The perfect Moms Night Out!

Cheap School Supplies

Good Day Philadelphia on FOX 29 had a segment on this morning on where to find cheap school supplies. I found this information on their website and thought I would share these amazing deals. If you know of another back to school item on sale and not included on this list please leave a comment or email us at jenn@chestercountymoms and we will add it to the list.

1 pack of 24 count Crayola Crayons – 22 cents at Target
3 SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS – Found at Walmart for 5 cents each
(or COMPOSITION NOTEBOOKS – Found at Target for 50 cents each)
4 2-POCKET FOLDERS – Found at Staples for 15 cents each
1 DOZEN PENCILS – Found at Staples* for FREE!
1 LARGE PENCIL ERASER – Found at Target for 69 cents
1 BOX COLORED PENCILS – Found at Target for 89 cents
1 DOZEN PENS – Found at Dollar Store for $1 or at Staples – Two 8 packs for 50 cents each
2 GLUE STICKS – Three pack found at Dollar Store for $1
1 PLASTIC PENCIL CASE – Found at Staples for 50 cents
1 RULER – Found at Staples* for FREE!
1 3-RING LOOSE LEAF BINDER – Found at Staples for 25 cents
1 PACK LOOSE-LEAF PAPER – Found at Staples for 79 cents
1 BOX REINFORCEMENTS – Found at Walmart for $1.88
1 PACK OF DIVIDERS – Found at Target for 87 cents
FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA LIBRARY CARD – FREE!
1 TI34ii CALCULATOR – Found online at mediamegamall.com for $16.49
1 SCHOOL BAG – Found at Toys “R” Us for $9.99 and came with FREE lunchbox!

*Click here to view Staples weekly FREE Back to School promotion

L’il Darlins

Mother knows best and that’s exactly what the founders of L’il Darlins, LLC are banking on. They are revolutionizing the infant & toddler market with the coolest and most practical must-have accessories for any baby.

Leslie Smith teamed up with her mother, Jeanne Roth, to create this ground-breaking company that caters to the trendy moms and children of the world. Jeanne brings her many of years of business expertise and Leslie offers her knowledge as a school teacher. Both are creative and detail oriented-leading to their successful company. Plus, talking about keeping it in the family, this mother-daughter duo tests all their children’s specialty items on Leslie’s three daughters-who just happen to be Jeanne’s ‘Lil Darlins.’

L’il Darlins offers a one stop shop of fashionable and functional must-haves for moms and infants & toddlers. This precious online boutique, launched by the mother-daughter team, is now adding mommy essentials to its collection of pint-sized gear and goodies! L’il Darlins’ brand new Nurse Purse ™ gives breastfeeding moms on the go a convenient and discreet way to store their nursing gear-and look trendy at the same time!

For infants & toddlers, L’il Darlins’ full body Bib-A-Roo™ has your messy little eater covered from their chest to their ankles. The Bib-A-Roo™ prevents stains and protects those designer duds! Also part of L’il Darlins unique collection are their specially contoured, embroidered Burpee™ Cloths that never fall onto the floor because they’re curved to stay in place on mom or dad’s shoulder.

L’il Darlins has exclusively offered Chester County Moms blog readers a 15% discount on all their products! Enter CCMOM15 on their website when ordering. Happy Shopping!

Dancing With The Stars – New Cast Revealed…

– Kim Kardashian: Paris Hilton’s former BFF, this 27-year-old is now more well-known for her E! reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians — and her famous booty.
– Lance Bass: The former *NSYNC member, 29, came out of the closet in 2006. His autobiography, Out of Sync, was a New York Times bestseller.
– Cloris Leachman: The 82-year-old starred on the Facts of Life, which aired from 1979 to 1988, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Phyllis.
– Ted McGinley: The 50-year-old actor played neighbor Marcy D’Arcy’s husband on Married…With Children, and also starred on Hope & Faith from 2003 to 2006.
– Brooke Burke: Now a mother of four, Burke hosted E! party show Wild On from 1999 to 2002.
– Toni Braxton: The “Un-Break My Heart” singer, 41, has won six Grammy Awards, and sold over 40 million records.
– Misty May-Treanor: The 33-year-old won gold in beach volleyball (with partner Kerri Walsh) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
– Maurice Green: Green, 34, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter. He once held the world record for the 100m, with a time of 9.79 seconds.
– Jeffrey Ross: Dubbed the “Meanest Man in Comedy” by New York magazine, this stand-up comedian, 39, has hosted roasts for Donald Trump, Drew Carey and Hugh Hefner.
– Rocco DiSpirito: The former Manhattan chef, 41, became a household name thanks to his temper tantrums on 2003 show, The Restaurant.
– Warren Sapp: This defensive tackle, 35, played professional football for 13 years, both on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.
– Cody Linley: The 18-year-old played Miley Cyrus’ beau on Hannah Montana, and acted in kid’s movie Hoot. He’s the youngest contestant ever to appear on the show.
– Susan Lucci: The actress, 61, has played diva Erica Kane on soap opera All My Children for 38 years.

Shine up your dance shoes…The seventh season premieres September 22 at 8PM

C. Raysor Photography- Hot Deal!

Chrissie Raysor from C. Raysor Photography got in touch with us to let us know that she is offering a special sale just for the readers of the Chester County Mom’s blog! Contact her before Sept 15, 2008 to book a session, mention the Chester County Moms site, and you’ll get half off the session fee AND a $25 print credit to use with your order! Your session doesn’t have to happen by Sept 15, you just have to contact her by then! Email her at info@craysor.com to schedule a photo shoot!”

Back To School Tips

It’s that time of year again — back to school! If you’ve got a house full of moans and groans over the prospect, try using some of these great tips for making the transition for sleepy summers smooth.

Two weeks before school starts

• Get your child to open up about his expectations for school. Ask him if he feels excited, anxious, or a little bit of both. Talk with him about specific worries he has for the upcoming year.
• Explain the upcoming school routine in detail. Go over your child’s schedule, including the times by which he’ll need to wake up, eat breakfast, and be ready to leave the house. Have a couple practice runs beforehand.
• Make the transition from summer to school bedtimes by starting your kids going to bed fifteen minutes earlier each night about two weeks before school, with no more staying up until ten or eleven o’clock at night.
• With your child’s help, brainstorm and come up with a list of his favorite lunches and snacks to pack for school in order to make grocery shopping easier and for quick reference on school nights.

A Week Before School Starts

• Make sure your child feels comfortable with how he will be getting to school. Drive the bus route with him, walk with him to school the first week, or find an older child to walk with him. Review safety precautions regarding traffic and strangers.
• Make back-to-school shopping into a special outing that includes lunch for just the two of you.
• Store out-of-season and dress clothes where your child doesn’t see them to avoid fights over wearing a party dress to school or a bathing suit all day.
• Put away your child’s clothes in matching sets, and let him have the independence of choosing which set he’ll wear that day.
• Make sure your child is comfortable using the school’s bathrooms by himself, and choose school clothes that are easy for your child to pull on and off himself. Opt for elastic waists over zippers or snaps.

The Night Before/First Day of School

• Take pictures, and pick one spot to do this each year, such as the front porch or steps.
• Make a big family sit-down dinner the night before or after the first day. Talk through some of the highlights of the summer and state one goal for the coming school year.
• Pack all the items you and your child need for work, school, or day care and load the car. If that’s not feasible, place coats, bags, and lunch boxes by the door.
• Pack lunches and refrigerate sandwiches — sometimes this is easiest to do while making dinner. Put your car keys with the sandwiches if it helps your remember to add the sandwiches to lunch boxes in the morning, or put a note on the lunch box to remind you.
• Start the school year off right by making the first day something to celebrate. Have a big breakfast, decorate the kitchen, serve a favorite meal, and hand out new lunch boxes or school supplies.
• Bake your child a batch of his favorite cookies as something to look forward to after the stress of the first day.
• Pack something familiar in your child’s backpack to make him feel more comfortable, and something new to make him feel special.
• Make up a goodbye ritual. Don’t sneak away, even if you’re tempted to avoid a big teary scene. Give a hug, a kiss, and a warm but firm goodbye. Don’t ask for your child’s permission to leave, return after you’ve left if you hear your child cry, or bribe your child into letting you leave.
• Tape a picture of yourself and your partner near your child’s coat hook or cubby area. Your child will be able to take a peek at Mom and Dad whenever she likes.

It’s Cake Time!

I would like to give a big Thank You to Cake Time, for the delicious ice cream cake for my sons jungle themed first birthday.

What is Cake Time? Cake Time is a site developed for parents by parents to help ease the stress of planning and organizing parties and activities so that you can…

• Search for venues that can host your party!
• Have a cake delivered to any location — your home, your workplace or any party venue!
• Submit a review of places you’ve been to help build our party planning resource!

Click Here to be directed to Cake Time or visit them at http://www.caketime.com