Momme's Guide to Great Christmas Gifts c/o Belle and June

 

 

The Lady.

 Lovely mirrored box with Swarovski crystals.

 

Large Deco Mirror Box

 Belle and June

 

 

 

 

 

The Gent.

An elegant bath collection.

 

Jensen Bathroom Accessories: Black

Belle and June

 

 

 

 

The Beau.

Robot Pendulum Clock

Belle and June

 

 

 

 

The Babe.

 

Octopus Cushion

Belle and June

 

 

 

The DO Nots of Special Needs children

Throughout our journey we have tried to reach out to family and few friends to talk about our experience and found that many people were ill informed about Autism, Asperger's and Mental Health as a whole. I've found the best person to talk to is my husband or any other parent who is living with ASD. I've actually found a group of mothers that I talk to now. They have inspired me to  come up with a list of the DO's and Don'ts of dealing with Special Needs children.

Here are the don'ts:

• Do Not stare.
• Do Not talk over the child.
• Do Not underestimate the child.
• Do Not pacify or patronize.  
• Do Not laugh at awkward situations (unless the child or parent laughs first; we define if it is a laughable or long-faced moment).
• Do Not spend 30minutes with my child and attempt to diagnose them (if I didn't let the licensed PHD do it, you and your school of Google education will not either!) 
• Do Not feel sorry for us. (Some families feel sorry enough for themselves and you don't need to add to that and others like us feel extremely blessed and fortunate to even be AWARE because now we can ACT)
• Do Not compare our child to yours or your third cousin so and so who is perfectly fine and has never seen a Dr. (This minimizes the Dx and besides our child is perfectly fine as well.)

My motto going forward is "Be aware and act". Now that we know and understand what is going on with our child now we can act on it. Now we can help. Now we know how to best help. There are unfortunately many children and adults with mental health problems who are not having their needs addressed (rather it be for lack of resources, will or knowledge). These children and adults may struggle daily or every once in a while. These children and adults may act out in school, have trouble concentrating, keeping a job, keeping healthy relationships with the people around them. They may turn to drugs, alcohol, promiscuity or other vices. They may go their whole lives wondering "what's wrong with me?". Depression, anxiety, over sleeping, over eating. The bottom line...when you know better, you do better. Our ultimate goal is to address any concerns we have with ourselves or our children so that each one of us can be happy and healthy.

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Momme's Christmas Wishlist c/o Zulily

Zulily has asked that I put together a Christmas wishlist.

 

As a mom we tend to make sure everyone else is covered and forget about ourselves at Christmas time(at least I do) so this blog post is especially exciting for me.
 

The first thing on my 'Momme's Christmas Wishlist' is...

this 'Deluxe Desktop Sewing Machine' for 39.99.  

I'm not trying to make a wardrobe or anything but I'd like to have a machine just enough to sew a hem, make a few fun projects or stitch my kids favorite things back together...you know.?

 

Anyway, I thought this machine was just the right speed, size and pricepoint for me. 

The next item on my wishlist is this sewing tote to store the

 machine in and keep it free from dust bunnies and kid fingers.

 I know I'm not the only one obsessed with bedding.

I think nice bedding has the ability to change our mood and

it gives our decor a different vibe.

 Thats why my next wishlist is this fabulous 'Tribal Garden' duvet cover.

 

 

The teal, the purple, the pattern. I'm in love.

 

Another thing about me...I'm always planning.

And packing things away for later.

That's why the next item on my wishlist is this beautiful

necklace from Zad.

 

I probably won't wear it for another six months but how beautiful would this necklace be with a flowing maxi dress next summer.

(on sale 16.99).

 

The last, but certainly not least
item on my wishlist...

shoes...

you can not go wrong with a nice pair of shoes,

in this case boots.
These stylish and and sensible beauties are Aerosoles and they retail for 49.99 on Zulily.com.

(If you like anything on my wishlist hurry up and grab it the picture takes you right to it.) 

 

 

 Find the perfect Holiday gift at zulily.com

 

Blogger-sation w/ Craftsy

Hi everyone.

As you all know the Holidays are just around the corner

and I for one have always wanted my gifts to be wrapped to perfection.

I just love the way the gift wrappers in some of the higher end department stores wrap gifts.

Even if my gift is homemade or from a discount store...

 I'd like to have it LOOK like a million bucks.

Well Craftsy has a class for that!
 

What's Craftsy you ask? 

Craftsy is an online craft tutorial service that offers crafting lessons.
 Craftsy has a class for EVERYTHING.

 Sewing, knitting, cake decorating, crochet...

you name it they teach it.
 

What I love is once you download your course videos and materials...it's yours!

The classes move at your pace.

 

My first course with Craftsy will be the Paper Arts course

with master gift wrapper Alton DuLaney.
 This course is 9.99 on their website.



If your interested please join Craftsy and me in the Paper Arts course conversation or
Blogger-sation from 6pm-8pm CST Tuesday, November5th.

  

Autumn Activities

I love Autumn, Fall. What ever you might call it...
I love it.
Doesn't that name just sound like something nice(say it)...Autumn.
LOL.

Living in the Midwest we get to experience all four seasons to the fullest and

Autumn has become one of, if not my very favorite season.

 

So...I thought I'd share our favorite Autumn activities or Fall festivities(for the Fall folks)...

 

1. taking walks

We don't just take walks, we take rolls.
Family rolls...

 Each member of our family gears up by bike, trike, stroller or skates and we roll...out.

I love it.

I love being able to walk once the 100 and 90 degree heat days are gone and the air is breathable again.

 

2. more home cooking & soul food
During the warm summer months I take a break from a lot of cooking and baking things in the oven.

Hubby loves to grill and since he has gotten his outdoor smoker
 we've been putting them both to good use.
 Besides, when the kids are home and keeping me uber busy during those warm summer months
I'd much rather whip up something easy like a burger and salad than turn on the oven every day.

 

Ohhhh...but come Fall, our taste buds start shouting for soulful dishes like baked mac n cheese, lasagna, dressing, pound cakes and of course homemade apple pies.

Which brings me to number...

 

3. going to the apple orchards

Yummmm.
I can smell and taste the cider now.

And those doughnuts tho..

We love visiting the apple orchards,

 whether it's a pick your own or not we love to get the fresh and hopefully organic

apples by the bushel.

Our favorite are the Honey Crisp and Golden Delicious.

We bring them home cut, slice, eat, peel, cook...my next mission...to can.

I'd love to learn how to make my own apple jelly or preserves.

In due time.  
 

4. Pumpkin patches,

 

 

'nuff said.

I mean how much fun for a kid to pick a pumpkin and then all the fun that comes thereafter.

Pumpkin pie(possibly), carving or creating something cool and of course pumpkin seeds.

Finally...

5.School

I know, I know...school has been in since summer.

 However, there once was a time when the school year began in the Fall.

Now it seems it starts earlier and earlier and some schools are even year-round.

But I still remember and still feel like the true start of the school year

is when the days are cooler and shorter.

When all the kids, parents and teachers

are busy Monday through Friday with nothing more than school, school work

and more school and school work.
I'm sure in the years to come the start of the school sporting season
will be added to the list but for now..

My children know that not many activities will be approved after summer break.

Right now, we are focusing on establishing that foundation...
a foundation rooted in the importance of education.
 

 They attend school and then attend HOME SCHOOL.

No, I'm not too tough at least I'm careful not to be.
We have a lot of fun in home school.

Learning about topics that interest them, topics talked about in school and

if we can a few additional topics I feel they need to study.

We even have art in home school.
 

  






 

Save 10% on your entire order at Shiekhshoes.com by using coupon code Shoes10 plus get Free Shipping on order $75 or more!
See the link below.

 

K5 Learning

  

 As you all may know as a Mother as well as an Educator I am BIG on education.

I love finding new resources that promote learning.

Over the next six weeks we will be trying a new online reading and math program from K5 Learning. K5 is an online curriculum based program designed to help build reading, math and study skills. Be sure to check back to see how it goes as well as to see if you'd like to give K5 a try for your little ones.

 

 

 

K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students.  I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program.  If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their  open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.

 

ALL about the Bandz!

 

My daughter and her friends have all been going bananas over this rubber band bracelet craze.

Now you and I may know where the OriGinal rubber band bracelets came from...

no, not those guys...smh...the postal workers. 

I remember our mail man, Bruce had about a hundred rubber bands on his arm.

I would ask him for them and make bracelets(with markers) and Chinese ropes.

Well, enough of my reminiscing.

 

Anyway, my daughter couldn't wait for hers to get here.

It almost didn't.

Apparently the sub mail lady left it on the wrong door step.

Thank God for honest neighbors.

 

There are a few different brands out there but DD had been watching

the Rainbow Loom YouTube videos so I ordered that kind.

 I'd have to say she really loves this thing.

 

 

After a few tries and a few tutorials she was making bracelets left and right.

Everyone in the house has one, well except the baby.

Even Dad has an all black bracelet with the ring to match.

 

The loom is easy to use and there are more than a few styles to choose from.

It comes with hundreds of colorful rubber bands to get the girls started

 as well as what looks like a tiny crochet needle and a mini-loom.

This style seems to be the favorite amongst the second grade girls,

probably because it's not too time consuming and they can make a

bunch of colors to mix, match and trade.

 

 

 

This is not a sponsored review and I am not affiliated with Rainbow Loom.

Just sharing our opinion and our experience for our blog.

But if you happen to make a purchase...tell her I sent you. ;)