5 Lessons Every Kid Should Learn

As parents we know that we have a responsibility to our children to teach them life lessons. There are so many things to teach them and as they grow we see the importance of each and every thing. My son is 2.5 years old and I feel like I am constantly teaching him another lesson. Whether it is preventative or disciplinary, we teach them because we love them.

If you had to make a list of 5 lessons that every kid should learn, which would be your top 5? Here is my list of 5 things that I have found I have already started teaching my little man.

1. Listen to your parents no matter what.
2. Look both ways before crossing the street while holding an adult's hand.
3. Share your things, don't be selfish.
4. Save your money.
5. Say please and thank you.

In the comments below, tell me how old your little one(s) is and what your 5 lessons would be for that age group.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Nanny McPhee Returns blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

EcoMom Giveaway

Here is another great giveaway hosted by Closet of Free Samples for a $15 EcoMom Gift Card. There are so many ways to enter this giveaway so go and check it out! You have until September 1st to get your entries in.

Beat the Heat, Homemade Popsicles

It has been awefully hard to beat the heat around here lately! There are some easy ways to make popsicles that are healthy and delicious for your little ones and yourself for that matter! Today my mom and little guy and I went to Eckert's which is a local orchard that you can pick your own fruits. Right now peaches and blackberries are ripe. We picked a basket of peaches and were then too hot to pick blackberries.

Here is what I did with some of the peaches. First I washed the loose fuzz off the peaches. As you probably now peaches are very fuzzy. It is definitely okay to eat the fuzz but washing off the loose stuff is best. I took about 6 peaches, washed them and cut them into big slices.

The first 3 I blended as is and put the puree into ice trays. This will be a great treat to add to Sprite, lemonade, water or a spritzer. You can even use these puree cubes for homemade baby food. It will stay good in a deep freeze for about 6 months only 3 months in a fridge freezer.

The second 3 I blended up and added a cup of water. If you have yogurt, add 1/2 cup on yogurt and 1/2 cup of water to make it creamier. I then poured this puree into popsicle trays for a delicious frozen treat in a couple days. Mine made 12 popsicles. My little guy won't eat peaches but he may eat a frozen peach popsicle. We'll see!

Do you have any other ideas or recipes for fresh fruit frozen treats. The things I listed can be done with any fresh fruit. Most fresh fruit mixes are delicious too!

Another Great Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

Head on over to Home Grown Families and enter for your chance to win one of these cloth diapers from Green Acre Designs.

There are several ways to enter so do as many as you would like!

Fluff Envy

Are you on Facebook? If so, would you like the chance to win a Knickernappie cloth diaper? All you have to do is visit Fluff Envy's Facebook page and "Like" them. When they have 1500 "Likes" they are going to offer a giveaway! You can then watch their page and when they post details about the giveaway, enter to win.

Want a chance to win Seventh Generation products?

If you would like the chance to win free products from Seventh Generation, be sure to become a Nation Member. Sign up at their website and enter the giveaways that they post on occasion.

Right now they are giving away Disinfectant Spray Cleansers or Wipes if you answer a simple question. Check it out and enter for your chance to win!

Smartipants Giveaway at Mom Most Traveled!

If you are interested in cloth diapering, you may want to head over to Mom Most Traveled and enter her giveaway for Smartipants!

I try to enter every cloth diaper giveaway I can find and have yet to win. Maybe this will be my lucky contest. How about you? Win any cloth diapers or still crossing your fingers?

FREE Advertising Here!

If you look to my right side bar, you will see a box that says Your Ad Here. This is set up by Project Wonderful. All you have to do to get FREE advertising right here on my blog is to set up an account with them (FREE) and bid on my ad space (search for Mommy & Me, Naturally!). If you are first to place a bid, your bid will be FREE. If you are not first, it will be very inexpensive. Try it!

My 1st Giveaway EVER!

In honor of opening my Etsy shop, I would like to offer a set of cloth nursing pads up to one of my readers. The nursing pads you will receive will not be the ones pictures but they will look like these.

These nursing pads are handmade from fleece, cotton and decorative material. The fleece side goes against your skin for absorbency and the design is on the outside. They have a waterproof lining just inside the decorative material that prevents leakage onto your clothing. They can be machine washed in cool/lukewarm water and must be dried flat. DO NOT machine dry them, it will break down the waterproof lining and cause them to leak. If you accidentally dry them once, they should be fine but the lining will break down if they are continually exposed to the dryer.

If you are a breastfeeding mommy, you have or will experience sore nipples from time to time. If this happens to you, place a pair in the freezer after you have washed them. After a few hours, they will work as a wonderful cooling agent for your nipples. They are also great to use this way as a gentle teething pad for your little one. My little guy loved to teeth on frozen cloth and the softness of the fleece and cold were a perfect combination.

It is mandatory for you to be a Google follower of this blog to enter the giveaway. Fill out the form below and you are entered.

Congratulations to Donna who won this giveaway. Thanks to all who entered!

Where have you been?

I know, it has been a while since I have posted anything here. Life has just been so busy! Since I posted last, I have gotten pregnant (4.5 months now) and opened an Etsy shop. I have been extremely busy making products to sell in my shop.

I opened a shop because I have decided to not go back to work when I have this baby. I feel it will be better for my family and I if I focus all my time and energy on my growing family. We know that God will provide though finances may be tough at first.

I am excited to have more time to do house chores, teach my son and watch my soon to come baby grow. Have you had to make the decision between work and stay-at-home mom? What was your conclusion? How is your decision working out for you. I'm sure there are other moms besides me out there wondering. Please share with us!