About.com Stay-at-Home Moms

Good News for Cookie Magazine Subscribers

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:35:01 +0000

First came the disappointment that Conde Nast was ceasing publication of Cookie Magazine. Then readers wondered what would happen to the money they paid for a subscription.

I renewed my subscription for 2-years just weeks before I heard the bad news about Cookie. I began what would become a month-long quest to find out about the money I spent for a magazine that wouldn't be arriving anymore.

After 2 unanswered emails to separate addresses and 2 calls to different phone numbers, I finally got in touch with someone who could help. The good news is, a customer service representative told me I could switch my subscription to another Conde Nast publication or receive a prorated refund on the remaining issues my subscription period would've covered.

She also said Cookie will be sending out a notice to subscribers with this same offer. If you prefer not to wait, call 877-402-6654 to transfer your subscription or request a prorated refund.

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Good News for Cookie Magazine Subscribers originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 17:35:01.

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Mom Blogger of the Week: Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Momma

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:08:01 +0000

Like her blog title says, Tania is a twenty-something momma. Two months after she married her husband at age 19, she got her first positive pregnancy test and became a mom when she was 20. By 22, Tania's family expanded to include two sons.

Image Courtesy Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Momma

She started Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Momma after she ran into roadblocks within mom circles because of her age. But this twenty-something momma is a mature momma who knows how to speak to mothers of all ages.

"Don't be afraid to make mistakes and, most importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Lots of young moms (myself included) feel like they have to prove their worth as mothers and want to do everything on their own," she said in the Family Photo Feature. "While it's definitely possible, it's much less stressful to ask for a hand from people we know and trust - other moms, church members, our own parents. After all, if momma ain't happy, nobody's happy!"

Through Tania's blog, you can see the love she has for her kids and the passion she has for being with them for every little moment. She says she's not perfect but you can't read her beautiful posts about her family life without thinking she's pretty close to it. This makes her "perfectly" suited to be the Mom Blogger of the Week.

Are you a SAHM with a blog? Submit your blog to be featured on the About.com Stay-at-Home Moms site. You could be the next Mom Blogger of the Week.

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Mom Blogger of the Week: Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Momma originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 23:08:01.

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Thrifty Thursday: 8 Coupons to Make Thanksgiving Cheaper

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:33 +0000

Penny-pinching families have an extra reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving, even before taking advantage of coupon deals. The American Farm Bureau's annual price survey discovered the cost of Thanksgiving favorites, such as turkey, stuffing, cranberries and rolls, has dropped 4% this year.

Photo � CarbonNYC / Flickr

Turkey is 3 cents less a pound. Milk is the winner for shoppers because it's 92 cents cheaper per gallon than this time last year. Add the typical family's Thanksgiving grocery bill and this year's meal will be about $1.70 less before coupons.

The price decrease won't fatten your wallet but there are other ways to save on top of the already lower prices. Besides clipping coupons out of the newspaper, you can find online coupons and search the store papers for special Thanksgiving bargains to save your family big money.

Here's a manufacturer's coupon roundup to make your Thanksgiving dinner cost even less: Read more...

Thrifty Thursday: 8 Coupons to Make Thanksgiving Cheaper originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 05:00:33.

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Create a Turkey Handprint Keepsake

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:15 +0000

Walk around my house and you'll think you're in a handprint art museum. I love crafts that capture those little hands and toes forever.

Photo � Apryl Duncan

Last year, I decided we need to make turkeys out of righty and lefty. With some brown paint and a toddler more than willing to get his hands dirty, we had instant turkeys on the page. We gave the turkeys grass, clouds and a sun. That moment instantly started a family tradition.

We've already completed our turkey handprint for this year. My, how those hands have grown!

Now I want to share this fun project with you and your family. I've also added a second version so your turkey hands can have feathers if you want. They are both adorable so you can't go wrong with either choice.

I would love to see how your version of the turkey handprint turned out. Send me a picture!

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Create a Turkey Handprint Keepsake originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 11:00:15.

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Mom Blogger of the Week: Through the Looking Glass

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:36:29 +0000

Annika began her blog the same year Kelly Clarkson won American Idol, the first season of The Osbournes took over MTV and President George W. Bush formed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She wrote her first blog post in August 2002 while she was dating her future husband and years before she would become a mom.

Image Courtesy Through the Looking Glass

Since that first blog post, readers have watched Annika turn into a wife and first-time mom. Now everyone's watching as she chases her 3-year-old son while waiting for her second child to arrive in January 2010.

Get inside Annika's head Through the Looking Glass. Not only does she write about life as a mom, she covers everything that's on her mind...and makes it interesting too.

Are you a SAHM with a blog? Submit your blog to be featured on the About.com Stay-at-Home Moms site. You could be the next Mom Blogger of the Week.

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Mom Blogger of the Week: Through the Looking Glass originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 19:36:29.

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Thrifty Thursday: Plan Now, Black Friday Deals Already Circulating

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:58 +0000

You haven't even cleaned the house for the in-laws to come celebrate Thanksgiving and it's already time to start thinking about the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. Retailers are giving customers a sneak peek into the big deals they'll be offering the day after Thanksgiving.

Photo � Getty Images

From $249 laptops to $3 toasters, stores are getting aggressive with their prices, especially with newly released statistics showing a 26-year high unemployment rate. CNN reports bad sales numbers over the past 10 months have given many retailers no reason to overstock shelves. They have less merchandise to move this year, which means customers who wait close to Christmas to buy that must-have item may be out of luck.

To get shoppers and their money ready, here are some of the Black Friday deals stores are circulating: Read more...

Thrifty Thursday: Plan Now, Black Friday Deals Already Circulating originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 05:00:58.

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Recession Forces Stay-at-Home Moms Back to Work

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:10 +0000

Many stay-at-home moms who prefer to be at home with their kids are heading back to the workforce. The recession is sending dads home with a pink slip and moms out to job interviews.

Why the role reversal? New numbers for October 2009 show unemployment is the highest its been since April 1983, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The unemployment rate in October for men was 10.7% and 8.1% for women. The gap may not seem significant but the BLS numbers show male-dominated industries such as construction, manufacturing and retail trade were the hardest hit over the past month. FOX News says 72% of people laid off since the recession started have been men.

More than 35% of the unemployed have been looking for jobs for more than 6 months, which is about 5.6 million people. While some moms are taking part-time jobs to supplement the family's income while dad looks for work, a lot of moms are having to turn those part-time jobs into full-time careers. Read more...

Recession Forces Stay-at-Home Moms Back to Work originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 11:00:10.

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Get Rid of Time Wasters, Start With KIDS

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:24 +0000

This is the time of year moms start to feel the crush of every second. There's too much to do before the new year begins.

School parties. Shopping. Traveling. Full days with the kids when school lets out.

Father Time has no mercy on your busy schedule. But there's a way to gain more minutes into your day without going into full-blown time management planning mode.

It all starts with something every mom can relate to: KIDS.

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Get Rid of Time Wasters, Start With KIDS originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 09:00:24.

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Mom Blogger of the Week: City Chic on a Farm

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:12 +0000

Sherry describes herself as a "basic run-of-the-mill stay-at-home mom," but she's anything but basic. She's a creative, caring person whose days center around three boys, a husband and their life raising pigs and Black Angus cows.

Image Courtesy City Chic on a Farm

She blogs as a City Chic on a Farm but she's also committed to writing about charity work, cooking and saving money. She shares beautiful pictures from her family's farm that will make you wish she'd invite you over for country cooking and lemonade ... as long as you don't have to get up before sunrise to help with the cattle or clean pigpens.

Are you a SAHM with a blog? Submit your blog to be featured on the About.com Stay-at-Home Moms site. You could be the next Mom Blogger of the Week.

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Mom Blogger of the Week: City Chic on a Farm originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 12:00:12.

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Thrifty Thursday: Throw a House Party to Get Free Goodies

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:47 +0000

Get free stuff just for hosting a party. Manufacturers look for people willing to throw a party to check out new products with their friends. One way to get connected is through HouseParty.com.

Members of our playgroup have been chosen to host parties for toys, food and TV show sneak peeks. When you host, you get free products or samples to keep and share with your friends.

For our playgroup's first party, one of our members received a box full of brand new toys from a major manufacturer. At first, the hostess only offered a few RSVPs so every child could leave with a toy. But the response of moms who just wanted to come check out the new toys was so great, the hostess let everyone come over. At the end of the party, she held a random drawing for the toys.

While you wait to be selected as a hostess, get in the habit of throwing parties to exchange your own stuff. A toy exchange or clothing swap are fun ways to get rid of the old in your house so you can get something new to you.

More Thrifty Thursday Tips from About.com Parenting Guides:

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Thrifty Thursday: Throw a House Party to Get Free Goodies originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Moms on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 05:00:47.

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