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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #29

I can hardly believe that this little girl will be five on Thursday!
Amanda is so much fun and brings us lots of joy.
In these pictures she's enjoying an afternoon
stroll with our dog, Benny, and me. She brought
her My Little Ponies with.

If you linked last week and left me a message,
I will still follow those up. I didn't get as
far as I had hoped and these last few days have
been busy with birthday preparations.





Now on to my blog hop...



Amanda’s Books and More


Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)
or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me
(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!


If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!


If you're interested to be a guest co-host
on my Wednesday hop or my Saturday hop,
please send an email to:
morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com


I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect
and also on


Leave me a comment with a link and I will follow back!


Here are the easy rules:

  • Follow me. Please leave a comment so that I can follow back (as long as your blog is family friendly).
  • Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like. Make sure you let them know that you’re following through this P.P.P.L. hop, tell them how you are following them and add your URL to the message, so they can follow back.
  • Grab the button below and add it on your post or on your side-bar, so that we can spread the word and get more people to the party.
  • Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.


The Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More


This is a blog hop.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #26

Today I'm joining the Five Minute Friday writing prompt over at
Lisa-Jo Baker's blog. Today's topic was about our memories
growing up with our moms. That is why I refer to my mom in
the past tense. She is still alive and doing well.

Motherhood:

My mom and me in 2005
What I remember most about my mom is that she was always at home when we got home from school. Having Mom there made my world feel a little more secure. She would always listen to my retelling of my day and she always had time to hear me read my latest poem or story. I talked a lot when I was younger, so this was a true act of patience on her part.

My mom almost always did the cooking. We ate healthy balanced meals and hardly ever saw a TV dinner or fast food. Only much later did I find out she didn’t like cooking. We never truly know or understand the sacrifices mothers have to make on a daily basis until we become parents ourselves.

My mom was not a creative mom, she didn’t enjoy baking or making handmade things, but she kept her home neat and clean. We had a few pretty things in a cabinet and that made our home special.

Stop.

Now on to the blog hop...


Amanda’s Books and More

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!
Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.
All family friendly blogs are welcome!


If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!


If you would like to be a guest co-host
on my Wednesday hop or on my
Saturday hop, then contact me at:
morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com


I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect
and also on

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

  • Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
  • Link up your family friendly blog.
  • Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
  • Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
  • Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
  • Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More

This is a blog hop!


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #28

Amanda's playgroup celebrated its 4th birthday last Friday.
These photos were all taken on that day. The kids were at a
nearby nursery with playgrounds and lots of colorful koi fish
to look at. I try not to post the other children's faces
without prior permission from the parents.





















Linking with:




Now on to my blog hop...



Amanda’s Books and More


Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)
or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me
(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!


If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!


If you're interested to be a guest co-host
on my Wednesday hop or my Saturday hop,
please send an email to:
morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com


I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect
and also on


Leave me a comment with a link and I will follow back!


Here are the easy rules:

  • Follow me. Please leave a comment so that I can follow back (as long as your blog is family friendly).
  • Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like. Make sure you let them know that you’re following through this P.P.P.L. hop, tell them how you are following them and add your URL to the message, so they can follow back.
  • Grab the button below and add it on your post or on your side-bar, so that we can spread the word and get more people to the party.
  • Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.


The Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More


This is a blog hop.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is how our dining room table looked
last night after the kids had gone to bed.

Four hand-made cards for my four kids.

I got up early to make a special breakfast for everyone.

Hubby and I went out while the kids were at school.

Amanda with one of her Valentine's projects.

I've chosen three cute graphics just for you
to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!


Girly Comments & Graphics




Girly Comments & Graphics




Girly Comments & Graphics

What are you doing this Valentine's Day?


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #27

Welcome to another Wordless (or Not-So Wordless) Wednesday! Today I'm sharing photos of my three girls. This first picture I've shared before, but the rest are new. All the photos were taken on the same day. The special occasion was their brother's 16th birthday.

Samantha, Amanda and Jessica

Amanda
Photo by Jessica

Jessica

Amanda

Amanda

Samantha

Jessica and Samantha
Photo by Hubby

Amanda and Samantha

Amanda and Samantha in Black and White

Linking with:



Now on to my blog hop...



Amanda’s Books and More


Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)
or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me
(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!


If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!


If you're interested to be a guest co-host
on my Wednesday hop or my Saturday hop,
please send an email to:
morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com


I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect
and also on


Leave me a comment with a link and I will follow back!


Here are the easy rules:

  • Follow me. Please leave a comment so that I can follow back (as long as your blog is family friendly).
  • Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like. Make sure you let them know that you’re following through this P.P.P.L. hop, tell them how you are following them and add your URL to the message, so they can follow back.
  • Grab the button below and add it on your post or on your side-bar, so that we can spread the word and get more people to the party.
  • Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.


The Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More


This is a blog hop.

Monday, February 11, 2013

My Blog's 1st Birthday!


Girly Comments & Graphics

Today is my blog's 1st birthday!

Yesterday was the first time that
I posted a guest post. The topic
was a very important one on how
family and I highly recommend
that you check it out.

I'm sharing my stats on
Amanda's Books and More
to celebrate my first
milestone.

Number of Posts so far:
158

Number of GFC followers:
264

Number of Facebook likes:
179

Last month's Pageviews:
3,490

All time history Pageviews:
20,572 and counting

Largest Audience:
The U.S.A.

Most Popular Posts:
There's a list on my right-hand sidebar

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Guest Post - Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Guest post by Carolyn at Full-On Fit:
How You can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Your Family

Family Unit
This past November was American Diabetes Month, and it was a special time for me. See, my young cousin was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I didn't think it was something that could hit so close to home, especially because she is so young (only 13!) I thought the doctors must have been wrong, but after many doctor visits, I found out that Type 2 Diabetes, formally called adult-onset diabetes, is now affecting many young people. What’s even scarier is what Diabetes could lead to; according to St. Joseph’s Cardiac Hospital of Syracuse, if diabetes is left untreated, it can lead to such things as heart disease, neurological problems, and even amputation.

In order to be able to help my little cousin, and prevent my other family members from developing this disease, we decided as a family to learn more about the disease and what we could do to prevent/manage it. Here are some tips that you and your family can use as well:

Blood Test
Early detection
Something we did not do…It’s important to schedule frequent doctor visits to help detect early signs of Type 2 Diabetes. It can be hard for doctors to diagnose this condition in children because kids usually don't display any signs or symptoms, so doctors don't think to do the proper blood tests that can detect Type 2 Diabetes – so stay on them!!

Nutrition
For the most part, Type 2 Diabetes is directly correlated with obesity. Therefore, the healthier your diet is, better the chance you have of preventing Type 2. One thing that we noticed that was very helpful for us was to decide as a family to start eating healthier. Deciding to change our lifestyle habits as a unit made people more likely to accept it and stay with it for the long-term.

One of the first steps is to get the junk food and unhealthy foods out of the house. Clean out the cupboards and the refrigerator – donate the unused foods if you choose, but it’s important to get the bad stuff out of the house so it isn’t a temptation.

There are many great foods that can be eaten and cooked so that children can [grow to} like eating healthy. Here are some basic foods/principles my cousin has to stick to, and that our family is also sticking to as wells:

Mashed Cauliflower
- whole wheat products: bread, rice, pasta, etc.
- lean meats: chicken, turkey, salmon, and lean cuts of pork
- no white sugar or salty snacks
- baked meat and “French fires” instead of fried
- lots of fruits and vegetables

A few favorite recipes:
- low-carb chicken pizza
- Italian ranch turkey burger
- cauliflower mashed “potatoes”
- maple scrambled eggs with turkey-bacon

Exercise
Exercise is very important to help prevent diabetes. The great thing is that it’s still the beginning of the New Year, so what better time than now to make resolutions as a family to start exercising more?! You don't have to go to the gym and perform strenuous exercises with your kids; there are plenty of fun exercises you can do right in your own neighborhood! Here are a few of our favorite activities:

Toddler Yoga
- bike rides and nature hikes in the neighborhood and neighboring forest
- neighborhood games of soccer, kickball, tag, capture-the-flag, etc.
- swimming at the pool at the local college
- practicing Zumba and Yoga
- having silly dance competitions with my nieces
- going sledding, skiing and ice skating now that it’s snowing

More than ever before, it is extremely important to stay healthy as a family. Making healthy activities and foods a normal part of your family this year will ensure that your kids are less likely to develop Type 2, and are also being taught how to make healthy habits that can last them a lifetime!

Carolyn is a 20-something year old with a passion for life, fitness and overall well-being. She is an avid cycler, golfer and has been known to bust some serious moves on the dance floor. Check out Carolyn’s blog at Full-On Fit!