Happy Memorial Day!!

A sneak peek at our 4th of July tees and onsies...

For love of country they accepted death…
- James A. Garfield

Important News!!
Eli's Lids is switching from blogger to wordpress.
What does that mean for you??
For the next couple of weeks I'll be posting here and at our new Eli's Lids blog... then ONLY at the other blog.
If you subscribe to the RSS feed or follow the blog be sure to follow the new blog ASAP!
The new blog is a work in progress so if you have any suggestions or notice something that isn't working PLEASE let me know and my IT guy (Hot Hubby) will fix it.

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

I read a couple of books a month. 
One with my awesome-going-strong-for-3-years friends' book club and usually one for fun.
We don't have TV (hence the 3 kiddos in 4 years) and I'm an insomniac! When I can't sleep I read till my eyes roll.
Now I'm adding the SV Moms Book Club to my list of reads. My first read with them is I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced.

If you are wondering what this book is about - look no further than the title...
Nujood, one of 16 children from Yemen, is married off by her father at age 9 to a man in his 30s. (UG!!!) She is also the first child bride in Yemen to be granted a divorce! (Yay!) If you're thinking this tale took place in the 50's, think again! Nujood was divorced in 2008 and was named a Glamour Woman of the Year the same year.
The story follows her through her "happy" childhood in the country, moving to the city where her father can't hold a job and her siblings are forced to sell gum to tourists, her marriage & divorce, and ends up with her moving back in with her family.
(Nujood with her lawyer Shada Nassar on the night of the Glamour awards)
Instead of recapping the whole story. I'm just going to share my thoughts. Then you read the book and come back here and we can discuss!
My thoughts...
I'm a lover of happy endings. Honestly, I wanted the story to end with a modern Yemen family whisking Nujood away so she could be away from her khat addicted father and brainwashed dysfunctional family. Nujood is so brave for seeking out a divorce but I think her choosing to live with her family again shows that she is still under the thumb of her father and brothers. She wants to continue school and become a lawyer to help other child brides but without the support of her family I believe she will never accomplish that goal. i.e. the epilogue states that she has already dropped out of her school.
Is anyone else VERY disturbed by the tribal proverb in Yemen? "To guarantee a happy marriage, marry a nine-year-old."
Should you read the book...?
Yes! It's a quick read (I read it during nap time), the story is inspiring and will spark great conversations with your book club! 
Note: I'm very sensitive when it comes to child abuse (what mom isn't?) and I was worried Nujood's treatment by her husband would be too graphic. It wasn't. Though you know what happens and your heart just breaks. 

(Nujood and Nassar in Yemen)

Is Yemen the only place 9-year-olds are on display?
Nope, you don't have to look much farther than Orange County...

Read my post over at the Orange County Moms Blog!
Welcome to the strip club

Pirate Birthday Party...

If you bake a cake, you should have a party.
For anyone.
Even pirates have birthdays... right?

Go all out!
Invite the whole neighborhood... I've heard they don't eat much!

A real candle to make it official...

Pirates are pretty rude so he might not send hand written Thank You notes.
But a verbal "thank you" should suffice!

Check out more Wordless Wednesdays at Angry Julie Monday and here.

MOMday Morning Winner!!

I'm just giddy about announcing our MOMday Morning winner!!

The winner of...

 $75 cash-o-la

a Blessed Nest Nesting Pillow

a B.Y.O.G. Labor and Delivery Gown

an Eli's Lids Snowboarder Lid

an Eli's Lids Trucker Lid

and an Eli's Lids Tee

is...

Maggie from Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy!!

 Maggie is 5 months preggers and has a 2-year-old boy! She needs our awesome products ASAP!!
A bit about her blog:  

Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy is a place where eco-minded Mothers and wanna-be green Mamas come to find a wealth of information from cleaning green to raising a baby green.

She has some great giveaways going right now:

~Episencial Skincare Giveaway

~Safety 1st Nature Next Bamboo Baby Gate

~Seventh Generation environmentally responsible household solutions

Thanks to all who entered!! 

You'll have a chance to win the next MOMday Morning (Monday, 6/7/10) over at Blessed Nest Perch!

Good Luck!!

Boy or Girl???

We aren't finding out the gender of the little bun in my oven.
It's kind of strange not knowing... we found out with Eli and Cora Jane.
The a gender specific outfits are ready and washed for the trip home from the hospital...

Our 1st sonogram I think the technician slipped and said "his."
Our 2nd sonogram I think the technician slipped and said "she."
Our 3rd sonogram I think the technician slipped and said "he."
Hot Hubby thinks I'm trying too hard to hear between what they are saying.
Duh!!! 
Just because I don't want to know doesn't mean I don't really want to know.

What do you think?

Boy or Girl??

Box Tops 4 Education

Everyone has a junk drawer!
Even the most organized of families.
Admit it. 
You have one!
Just so you don't feel so bad, I'll show you mine...

The junk drawer is the home of tape, rubber bands, and a catch-all for... well... everything.
In our humble abode the junk drawer is also the place where I put all our Box Tops 4 Education.
What!?!?! You don't know about Box Tops 4 Education??? Well, let me tell ya...
Cereal boxes, hamburger helper (not that any of us would cook something so high in fat...um...yeah), cake mixes, frosting, diapers and more have this lil' label somewhere on the packaging:

You cut those suckers out (don't send them in ripped because parent volunteers have to spend hours cutting them straight) and send them in to the school of your choice and they get money! 
YES MONEY!! See all the Box Tops FAQs.
If your child is in grade school there might already be a program in place, but if there isn't then you should start one. I mean, it's free money!
My kiddos aren't in school yet but I just couldn't throw out free money. So I started saving them about 3 years ago. I send them to an Elementary School near the neighborhood I grew up. I knew they could use the extra help!
You can donate to them too, just send your tops to:

Rio Vista Elementary School

310 N. Rio Vista

Anaheim, CA 92806

c/o BOX TOPS

I'm hoping as my kiddos enter elementary school they will forgo their own school Box Top Program and choose to donate to a school that needs it more. We'll see!
Not all schools have a program so check the Box Tops site and call the school to make sure you are sending them to the correct person.
For the cost of a stamp (or a trip to the school you are donating to) you can make a huge difference in a lower income school.
REALLY!!!
The Box Tops site also has a handy printable coupon section for products you use all the time!

Side Note: Notice the envelope that says "Box Tops" with my initials on it? My mom clips Box Tops and other things she thinks I'll enjoy and fills an envelop to give me the next time she sees me. How cute is that??

Another Side Note: I didn't rearrange my junk drawer before I took the picture. There it is in all it's glory!

Magnetic Fishing set = Summer Bordem Buster

Want to learn how to make this awesome fabric fishing set?

I designed this sucker myself :)

Head on over to Blissfully Domestic for my How-To post!

Visit me today at the Swapper!!

Hi Folks!

I'll be at the swapper (aka The OC Marketplace) today with my friend Cheri at Sweet Lily Tutus!

She has some new Birthday stuff for girls you will L-O-V-E!!

We'll also have the Baby Dazyed Journal... perfect gift for new moms! (I'll be using one in about 7 weeks)

Visit me.

PLEASE!!

The Eli's Lids SALE is almost over so get em' while they last!!

I'll give you a hug at the booth!!

Check my tweets or the Eli's Lids Facebook Fan page to find out what booth we'll be in.

Admission is only $2 (kiddos under 12 FREE)!

at the OC Fairs & Events Center

88 Fair Drive - Orange County Fairgrounds

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Peace Out!!

Throw-up & Inland Empire Family giveaway

That just may be the most random title I have ever written!!
Check out my defining moment as a mom at the Orange County Moms Blog
Motherhood = Throw-up

Do you want to win a free family photoshoot with Elizabeth Luna Photography!?!?

Enter to win at my post on Inland Empire Family!

(The shoot must take place in Riverside County)

Kris Kross will make you Jump Jump

Eli put on his own clothes today...

Look familiar???

It made me want to JUMP JUMP!!

I sung him that song all day and solidified my status as embarrassing mommy!

But we all had a great time jumping!!

Don't forget to enter our MOMday Morning scran-tastic giveaway worth $325!!!

More Wordless Wednesday fun go to Angry Julie Monday and 5 Minutes for Mom.

MOMday Morning!

How exciting is this!?!?

Just to summarize the video for those of you who didn't watch it... (tsk tsk)

The 1st MOMday (Monday) Morning of EVERY month Blessed Nest, B.Y.O.G. & Eli's Lids will be hosting a giveaway.

But not just any giveaway...
The prizes are our awesome products:
one B.Y.O.G. Labor and Delivery Gown, one Blessed Nest Nesting pillow, one Eli's Lids Trucker Lid, one Eli's Lids Snowboarder Lid and one Eli's Lids tee!!
AND $75!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES, you read that correctly.

$75 of Cold Hard Cash!

(Is a VISA gift card "cold" and "hard"... maybe more like room temperature pliable plastic?)

 Why?!?!? (you ask)

Because we love you.

REALLY!!

We are so proud to be part of this amazing Community of Moms and Bloggers and we want to give back to Y-O-U! 

In an effort to reach out and connect everybody with everybody,
(too lofty of a goal?... I don't think so)
every month we will be featuring a Mom Blogging Community/Forum AND a Mom Blogger.

We created MOMday Morning to serve, love & nurture mom bloggers, the women/men who support them, & their readers. 

Because we all need something to look forward to on Monday... um... I mean MOMday, right??

Don't you love it!?!?

I knew you would!

You don't have to be a mom or write a blog to enter.

You just have to be you... which I think YOU do so well! ;)

This month we are highlighting... 

Blissfully Domestic  

The Smart Girl's Guide to Life

Blissfully Domestic is just packed with loads of fun things for everybody! From recipes to crafts to green living to giveaways to blogging tips! They even host a lil' shindig you may have heard of called BlissDom. They are a one stop shop for all things to make you... well... Blissfully Domestic!

Check them out and it won't disappoint. (FYI - I write for Blissful Creating, Arts and Crafts section.)

 Our featured blogger this month is none other than the founder of Blissfully Domestic,  Allison Worthington! 

She started a personal blog, Mrs. Fussypants, in 2007 and things have really snowballed for this lovely Mom Blogger! She is the co-founder of the oh-so-popular BlissDom Conference, and the author of the digital book, The Smart Girls' Guide to Twitter. If that doesn't keep her busy enough she has 5 sons and a step daughter to boot!! A recent post I love of hers is about choosing to keep a personal blog public. 
(Thx for your input Allison! We really appreciate you. Smooches, The MOMday Morning Gals)

Allison lives just outside of Nashville Tennessee amidst all the tragic flooding! Check out her moving post about the Nashville floods (complete with loads of pictures) and her thorough list of ways to help folks effected by the floods!
Wanna help right away?
Donate to Hands on Nashville. 

 How to win... (open to all US residents)

Main entry (mandatory): Leave a comment telling us how you make MOMday (Monday) fun in your house. (My favorite tip just may get a lil' something in the mail too!)

So you want extra entries??

I don't blame you! 

These prizes kick a&$!!

~Follow Blessed Nest, B.Y.O.G. & Eli's Lids on Twitter or let us know you already do. (1 entry each)

~Tweet the following about MOMday Morning! (1 entry every day!)

Be refreshed for MOMday Morning http://bit.ly/bTg6vM Enter to win awesome prizes AND $75 cash from @BlessedNest @BYOG & @ElisLids

~Become a fan of Blessed Nest, B.Y.O.G. & Eli's Lids on Facebook or let us know you already are. (1 entry each)

~Add the MOMday Morning button to your sidebar. Code below. (1 entry)

<a target="_blank" href="http://elislids.blogspot.com/2010/05/momday-morning.html"><img border="0" width="176" alt="MOMday Morning" src="http://www.elislids.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/momdaybutton.jpg" height="175"/></a>

For every extra entry, be sure to leave a separate comment on this post! i.e. If you follow Blessed Nest, B.Y.O.G. & Eli's Lids on twitter leave 3 separate comments!

For more detailed rules go here.

***Giveaway open 2 weeks! Ends MOMday (Monday) May 24th 9:00pm PST***

Thank you for serving, loving & nurturing us throughout the years.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day 2006 - fetus Eli gave me a snoogle...

Mother's Day 2007 - We started our tradition of a Mother's Day picnic after church...
I'm not a huge gift gal and I thought that a beach day/picnic tradition will carry on through their teen years. They can surf (with daddy) and scope out for hotties (do people still say that?) while I get my beach reading on!
(found out I was preggers with Cora Jane 3 weeks later!!)

Mother's Day 2008 - Hanging with Mommy friends at church. Can you find Eli and 3 month old Cora Jane?? I'm sure we went to the beach for a picnic but we must have forgotten our camera...

 Mother's Day 2009 - A walk and a picnic at the lake.

Mother's Day 2010 - We went to church then expected a hot afternoon for the beach picnic. But it was freezing!! Thank goodness I'm always ready with Lids in the car!!

We hit up Cafe Rio for lunch then went to get Cora Jane's first hair cut... because if you can't go to the beach you get your hair cut... right?? Very random... but I loved every second :) I'm thinking I have a date with the laundry pile this evening!

Being a mom rocks!! Whether you are soaking up the sun or doing laundry today, I'm sending you blessings!

Check back tomorrow, as we extend the MOM's Day fun with a big surprise!

$5 $10 $15 SALE

In honor of our new Summer Lid...

There shall be a sale...

Don't forget the Summer Lid is available in black or red...

How do you like them apples???

Bird's Nest - Wordless Wednesday

Remember the cute tree I clipped the flower bows on?
Eli brought me the bird and told me the bird needed a nest.
I told him we would make one... thinking it would be a fun craft.
This is what I found on the tree later that day...

He made his own nest with the blocks!!

Don't forget to check back on Monday for the big reveal of our Top Secret Mom Project!

Check out Angry Julie Monday and 5 Minutes for Mom for more Wordless Wednesday links!

Whew... an Easter Review!

I can't believe I never did an Easter Review!
I mean, it's my favorite holiday!!
Oddly enough it's also the only holiday Hot Hubby and I always exchange gifts!!!
Weird, huh?
You already saw our Eggs and our early morning.
The kiddos adored their Easter Baskets. Their favorite items were the capes from Stringbean Company...

Hot Hubby got new Rainbows and I got loads of candy and new Bare Essentials foundation. (Oh how I love a practical gift... I was just about out!!)

We headed over to my parents house for the usual home smoked tri-tip and all the fixins'! The tri-tip is the best. You should come next year and try it!
My parents throw the best Easter Egg Hunt. Some eggs are designated "big kid" eggs... as in they aren't filled with candy or stickers like the lil' kid eggs... they are filled with cash-o-la!! 

 This year, instead of one grand prize with $200 in it... OK... $20 :) There were 2 eggs with $10! Wouldn't you know it, one of the little ones got one of the $10 eggs. She threw the useless "paper" on the ground and took the candy out! HA!! We let her keep it... I mean, look how cute she is...

Here's our group shot! 

I love these folks. 

As I look at this picture the thing that strikes me most is only my parents and grandmom are blood related to me. (Not counting my children of the fetus, of course!)

I often wonder about family dynamics and relationships. 

Is there actually something about being "blood" related that makes you closer?

Is there something more powerful about the relationships that aren't blood? You know, the kind you choose!!

What makes a family?

I would love your thoughts!!

As the day wore on, it stated to get a bit chilly. Good thing we had our Lids!!

Navy Snowboarder

Pink Snowboarder

Now I'm off to the dentist to get a filling fixed. Because we wouldn't want to put Hot Hubby's bonus toward anything fun. Wahh wahhh wahhh...

PS
I've been working on something REALLY REALLY REALLY awesome with Blessed Nest and BYOG. 
One hint... 
On the first Monday of every month our three businesses will be helping you. 

Yes, Y-O-U!!

The actual debut will be Monday, May 10th! (in honor of Mother's Day)
Check back here on the 10th. I promise it won't disappoint!!
REALLY!!