Living
Daddy Comes Home Today, and Now Everyday! Her Prayers were Answered!
For many, many months my older daughter would always include one special request in her prayers at bedtime. She would ask that her Daddy work closer to home. Since February 2011 Tom (@SmartyPantsDada) has worked more than 2 hours away. For a few months he actually did the commute – back and forth – each […]
Maximizing Deals with Immediate Access to the Coupons You Need!
We all want a deal. We never want to pay full price… for anything. Deal seeking and coupon redeeming is a must for a Smart Mama who wants to save a dollar and keep her family on budget. I have found daily deal sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, DailyDeals, MyCotorra and the like, to be fantastic. […]
Find Your Fitness – Yes, Moms Run Marathons, Guest Post by Amanda Dufau
Today’s post is brought to us by Amanda Dufau, a first-generation Cuban-American, was was born and raised in Miami. Her blog, Brandon’s Puppy, chronicles life with her husband and two boys. She can also be reached via Twitter @MandersD22 I hope you are as inspired by her commitment to lead a healthier lifestyle! I am! Last Spring, […]
Be GREEN to make GREEN! A chance to win $1000 EBAY gift card, plus ways to earn dollars too!
The greenest product is one that already exists. A pre-owned find has history. By bringing it home, you extend its useful life, keep it out of the landfill, and prevent the environmental impact of producing something new. – EBAY Green Team (green.ebay.com) Had you realized how GREEN you can be by buying gently worn clothing? […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #13 – Support an Important Cause – Protesting SOPA
Today I write a short message to you as I hope you will quickly read and act! The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) forcing internet censorship is currently being reviewed by congress. This act, while with great intention of ending piracy, oversteps the government’s bounds. “Law-abiding U.S. internet companies would have to monitor everything users […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #12 – Checking In On Your Resolutions
The Hormel Extended Blogger Family program has inspired me to share my New Year’s resolution progress! I’m eager to hear about your’s! We are half way through the 1st month of the year. How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions!? Be honest! This is a fantastic time to reflect on your accomplishments and rework […]
#Smart MamaLUTION #11: Pinterest for Moms – Why Smart Mamas Use Pinterest
Smart Mamas use Pinterest because, well, they can’t remember it all. Pinterest mixes a Smart Mama’s desire for organization and creativity and throws in whole bunch of useful technology. Pinterest can be easily used by Smart Mamas. There is so much there to help them. Let’s start off with the basic… What is Pinterest? The best […]
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Shopping at BJ’s Wholesale
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Shopping at BJ’s Wholesale Knowing how to maximize savings at a wholesale club is your task today! Wholesale clubs, especially BJ’s, offer Smart Mamas a variety of “extras” that aren’t always seen at traditional grocery stores. A visit to a local BJ’s Wholesale last month, including a tour […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #9 – Get Something DONE!!! I did and it rocks!
Get out there and DO IT! I woke up this morning feeling determined. I wanted to get something done off my list. I have stared at a huge list in my Cozi calendar FOR-E-VER! This to-do list can’t even be called my New Year’s resolution list, but I have renamed it that for the sake […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #6: 3 Easy Ways to Maximize Every Last Drop of Detergent
#SmartMamaLUTION 6: 3 Easy Ways to Maximize Every Last Drop of Detergent Pour detergent into the cap. Pour detergent into washing machine. Now what do you do with the detergent that remains in the cap? I have 3 simple Smart Mama solutions that will help you maximize the liquid laundry detergent that remains in the […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #5: Fresh Start to the Playroom, Guest Post by Joanne Palumbo of Homestyling101
Guest Poster: Joanne Palumbo of Homestyling101! I am so excited to be a part of the SmartyMamaLUTION, partly because I love SmartyPantsMama and partly because I personally need a little motivation to get my own resolutions underway! Today I am going to help you tackle that dreaded playroom- which, if it is anything like my home, […]
DIY Family Dinner Menu Board
We all have a handful of recipes that we go to when making that decision. Great recipes, but with this New Year let’s broaden our recipe collection and even more importantly REMEMBER and REUSE the those healthier ones the kids seem to like! Make this DIY family dinner menu board to have variety in your […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #3 – Cleaning Your Microwave, WITHOUT Chemicals, Please!
Keep your home a Smart CLEAN Home this New Year! Microwaves are common household appliances and often get more use than a traditional oven. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 90% of American households have one! The appliance was invented in 1946 by Percy Spencer whose 1st “microwaved” food was melting chocolate! […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #2: DIY an Ornament Box Out of a Shirt Box
To be more organized is a common New Year’s resolution. Organization is a key component to Smart Mama-hood! Let’s take on this #SmartMamaLUTION by creating an inexpensive organizational container for the Christmas ornaments that will inevitably be put away within the next 10 days. This ornament box was inspired by a beautiful ornament box I […]
#SmartMamaLUTION #1: Remember 2012 & Beyond with an Easy, Quick DIY Memory Box
New Year’s #SmartMamaLUTION 1: You will be a Smart Mama by preserving memories with your family. We tend to remember the important days each year, like birthdays, holidays and even the 1st day of school. But do you remember what you did last year on March 3rd? or November 17? or the specific date your […]
Happy 1st Day of New Year’s Resolutions – Ok, I’m giving myself 1 more day!
Can you believe it’s already 2012? Excuses are being thrown out the window! We now need to take 2012 and make it the very best we can. What we put into it will have a direct effect on what we get out of it. Yes, time to throw away those remaining Christmas cookies if a […]
Goodbye 2011! New Year’s Eve – In or Out?
I cannot believe that tomorrow is New Year’s Eve! This year has been filled with all sorts of roller coaster twists, turns and a few loops. In 2011 we were faced with my father being diagnosed with cancer, my daughter Cecilia being born, my father beating cancer (with a heart attack thrown in there!) and […]
#SmartMamaLUTION – Take the Pledge to Be a Smarter Mom in 2012!
It’s just days away. The day that we promised that we would turn a new leaf and __________! There are about a million ways to end that sentence. From a promise to exercise more, read more, spend less time on the phone, take grandma out to lunch more, the resolutions are out there. Beginning January2nd, […]
I found $5.00 under my kitchen sink and my husband wanted me to throw it away!
Would you throw away a 5 dollar bill? I found one under my kitchen sink and my husband wanted me to throw it away. You see the bill was in the form of 2 unopened Brita water filters. We were cleaning out the cabinets under the kitchen sink and found all sorts of things, like […]
Warehouse Prices of Diapers & Wipes plus Coupons Bring HUGE Savings! See how and where!
Wa Wa Wa…the baby aisle makes me want to cry! Prices of diapers and wipes can drain a mom’s wallet in no time. Researching the prices is essential for a mom who wants to be smart and on budget! Last week I attended a blogger event at a local BJ’s Wholesale. Armed with the skepticism […]
Spiced Nuts – My Holiday Tradition! Pinterest-ing for packaging ideas!
Spiced nuts are in the oven! Each year I make about a million batches of a special spiced nuts recipe that a colleague shared with me over 10 years ago. They are delicious. They are addicting. These nuts are my gifts for teachers, friends and family. I find something touching about giving someone a gift […]
Homemade Baby Food – Simple & Healthy with Sage Spoonfuls!
Homemade Baby Food – Simple & Healthy with Sage Spoonfuls! I cannot believe my littlest one is already 7 months. Where has the time gone!? I still remember the 1st moments that I held her and when she opened her eyes with a bit of a smile. I instantly fell in love. Fast forward a […]
BJ’s Wholesale Offering Great Deals for Smart Mamas
As I await a blogger event here at a BJ’s in Miami, I am walking around the store and impressed with the deals I’m finding! Stay tuned for the next update!
Daddy Plays – Acoustic Music Collection That Isn’t Just for the Babies
Something simple, something soothing. That’s the best way to describe the beautiful sounds of Daddy Plays. I sat here at my computer listening to the acoustic song samples of the CDs found on DaddyPlaysOnline.com. I was instantly relaxed & wanted to hear more. The acoustic sounds of all three Daddy Plays CDs are remarkable. Your […]
eBay Lemonade Made by Tristan O’Brien – An eBay Money Maker Story w/giveaway
eBay Lemonade Made by Tristan O’Brien – An eBay Money Maker Story When all else fails, when you’ve lost your job, wife just gave birth and you’re essentially living in a new city with very limited support, what do you do? Tristan O’Brien, of Westfield, Indiana, took his HUGE bowl of lemons and made a […]
Cyber Monday Deals – Smart Saving for Smart Mamas!
Happy Cyber Monday! I will be updating this list as the offers come in so come back throughout the day! 1. Get $120 Off Amazon Kindle DX – Featuring Large 9.7” E Ink Display and Free 3G Wireless 2. 25% Off Sitewide (some exclusions apply) at Crocs.com! 3. Check out the Amazon Toy List – […]