http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/community/feeds/defaultThe latest discussions from the Craft Ideas, Parenting Tips, B Community - powered by BlogFrog(c) 2009, BlogFrog, INC. All rights reserved.5 Hey, it’s Rita! I’m desperate and need your help. Spam isn’t something I enjoy; therefore, I hope you feel this is more personal than that. After having three children, I need to shed about 75 pounds. Where I live gets into the triple digits - there are days where it’s just not an option to take our baby out in this heat. Right now, I’m one of 20 finalists to win a Smooth Fitness treadmill. This contest ends tonight (Sunday). It’s super easy to vote for me. It only takes these three easy clicks: Visit this blog post: http://www.mamavation.com/2010/07/top-20-smooth-fitness-nominees-go-vote.html Locate & check the box next to my name, @lovelyritaann, on the voting poll Click Vote (*Please Note: You can vote from any & every device that has internet access – computers, laptops, phones, iPods, iPads, Nintendo DSi’s, etc.*) It’s absolutely that simple. I’m a little behind; however, with amazing friends like you behind me, I could have a chance at winning this awesome prize that would change my life! It would be appreciated if you voted for me & shared this information in any way you can. My apologies on the short notice. I’m also hosting a giveaway for a $50 gift card on my blog for my voters, if I am to win. My giveaway was pre-approved by the contest creator before I posted it. Feel free to enter yourself & share this information! You can find my giveaway by visiting my blog post here:http://lovelyritaann.com/2010/07/26/vote-for-me-win-a-50-gift-card/ If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me! http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/43919/i-desperately-need-your-help.htmlSun, 01 Aug 2010 19:06:15 GMT hi! i am really curious (if anyone would be willing to share)...what are your thoughts about 'deciding' how many children to have...my husband and I keep flip-flopping about whether or not to have a surgery...we cant seem to get on the same page...any thoughts about making this decision? http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/41903/family-planning.htmlSat, 24 Jul 2010 03:57:31 GMT OK. I'll let you guys go first. Because with 1400 words in that post I think I did enough talking. What's your initial response? a http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/40647/have-a-new-kid-by-friday-day-one-monday.htmlMon, 19 Jul 2010 11:00:57 GMT Who wants to win a $50 gift card to a store or restaurant of your choice? All you have to do is visit this Facebook Page wall post and like Robert V. Nava's wall post. (You must "like" the actual page first before it will allow you to "like" his wall post) If Robert WINS, all of those who voted on his entry (by liking his post) will be entered into a giveaway where TWO winners will win a $50 gift card to a store or restaurant of their choice! What are you waiting for? Tell your friends! He needs the votes to win that way you have a chance of winning too!! Thanks so much! *to be eligible you must vote before June 11, 2010 at 5pm PST* http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/33317/win-a-$50-gift-card-ends-6-11-at-5pm-pst.htmlThu, 10 Jun 2010 22:28:04 GMTso i would love to hear some input...i only seem to be able to keep up with one thing ... if i keep up with housework (and at that only dishes , laundry, cooking mostly)...or spend time with my kids... and i feel awful no matter which i choose...and it seems whenever i take some time to devote only to my daughter (middle child age 3)...it only makes things worse as far as her needing my attention...like today i made muffins with her and then started to tackle dishes...and the whole time im trying to wash she is chomping at the bit... and forget the 'mama's on the phone' rule (you would think it never existed)...how do you keep your home from being a tornado zone and still spend quality time with your kids? (mine are 6, 3 and 8 months)http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/27608/finding-balance.htmlMon, 17 May 2010 16:29:42 GMTSo, how was Mother's Day?I had lunch with my mom (and aunt, sister-in-law and more) then made dinner for my mother-in-law. Lydia made me a card and then we at chocolate chip cookies.And any day that ends with chocolate chip cookies is a good day.What did you do?http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/25998/what-did-you-do-on-mothers-day.htmlMon, 10 May 2010 16:56:27 GMTCurrent Giveaways EcoMom Organic Baby/Tot Food Ends 5/20 Marble Racers Ends 5/23 http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/25786/current-giveaways-on-my-blog-.htmlSun, 09 May 2010 19:06:51 GMTI am wondering how you foster respect for adults (parents included) in your children?http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/20230/respect.htmlThu, 15 Apr 2010 19:09:31 GMTIt's official. I'm currently having my first giveaway and it's for a 20x24 custom wall sticker. There are so many things you can do with this wall sticker. I would love to have lots of entries that way I can continue to do them! Because it is my first giveaway, I have provided my readers with MANY ways to enter. So hurry on over to my blog and enter - this giveaway ends on April 25th! Thank you! I look forward to seeing your entries! Lovely Rita http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/20085/my-first-giveaway.htmlThu, 15 Apr 2010 05:16:08 GMTHello Ladies...and Gents, if there are any? *smile* What do you do to instill a vision and passion for family? Since all of you have had such great insight and wisdom for me in past posts... i thought i would ask you all to give me a little insight to YOUR Family Vision. Any and all answers are welcome. i have been married for 6 years and my hubby and i have made our Family Vision a priority - however, as the kids get older i am need of some new ideas with wisdom for the future. Kid are now (2&3) i am interested in particular at what you(your family) does that you LOVE(never forgets), and maybe a few things you wish you would have done earlier/different...i hope that makes sense?! i have soooo many ideas, i feel a little overwhelmed with what i should do next. i need a little direction and guidance. i want to be sure i focus on the important values. i am grateful for anything you have to share, rather than re-invent the wheel, i thought i would ask you all first?!? THANK YOU in advance. sg http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/19844/family-vision.htmlWed, 14 Apr 2010 19:54:36 GMTSunday was such a fun day! Both of our parents live in town so we had to split the day---lunch at the park w/my family and dinner at my il's house. YUM. The kids got new outfits this year---they have NOTHING that fits them! I even got to teach the lesson at church for our 4 year olds. It was so fun to tell them the best story ever! (Here's a more detailed account & a pic of Asa on my personal blog: http://ohamanda.com)But what I really wanted to show you was the cool thing Lydia and I did---a totally spur of the moment thing that worked out SO COOL.On Friday I was looking thru Lydia's Clubhouse Jr magazine (review coming soon!) and saw a cute craft: a pie plate filled with potting soil, a potato w/the bottom cut off and a little doorway carved in it (think tomb), then surrounded by construction paper flowers w/a sign that said "he is risen!". It was an adorable garden w/an empty tomb! (Kinda like that one I linked to on Saturday.)So, we decided to make this. But by the time I got to thinking about cutting out construction paper flowers, I said, "Let's go outside and get some plants. We used moss, leaves and rocks. (We don't have many flowers yet.)And it turned out SO CUTE. I was surprised at how adorable it was! The next day it started looking a little brown...the dandelions totally died. So, I got a brilliant idea!I went out and bought a $10 bouquet of spring flowers at the grocery store but hid them from Lydia. On Sunday morning before she woke up, I took off all the dead greenery and covered it with new flowers: How cute is that?!So, that morning she woke up kind of early and I said, "Lydia, do you remember what today is? Why is this day special?" She had the right answer! She said, "Jesus came back to life!" or something equally brilliant. ;) I told her, "Remember early on Sunday morning, the women went to Jesus' tomb to wrap his body. Were they happy or sad?" I continued until we got to her garden. And when she saw it she was SO SURPRISED! She loved it and we got to talk about how the women were surprised and Jesus had new life like the flowers, etc. etc.I also made her a corsage from the flowers and she wore it to church that day. I LOVED this and hope it made a big impression on her!So, what fun things did you do on Easter? Egg hunts? Yummy food? Church? I'd love to hear all about it!ahttp://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/17735/what-did-you-do-for-easter.htmlMon, 05 Apr 2010 15:16:01 GMTAfter some comments on this week's Resurrection post, I think I'm going to do a post on kids Bibles & storybooks. I have quite a few that I've read and liked (and disliked, actually). But I want to do a little more research. Do you have any you like? Dislike? Talk to me!ahttp://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/17553/what-kids-bible-do-you-use-like-hate.htmlSat, 03 Apr 2010 15:14:15 GMTDo you let your kids spend the night with family and friends? I used to think I wouldn't care if my kids did. Now I know I am going to be VERY strict about it.My daughter has only spent the night w/my parents, my il's and my brother/sil/niece. She's 4. We were going to have my niece from MX spend the night tonight but she got too scared. Lydia was so sad! Maybe they are just too young.What's your spend-the-night policy? Do your kids go other places? Do you let others spend the night? What ages?ahttp://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/16508/spending-the-night.htmlWed, 24 Mar 2010 22:20:26 GMTAfter my post about the obedience books (Grandma's Attic, Don't Do That Dexter, May I Hug the Fish), "familyofthree" from NoTimeForTV.blogspot.com asked about devotionals for kids. I really don't know any---that I like.Can you suggest one?ahttp://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/14936/devotional-books-for-kids.htmlWed, 10 Mar 2010 03:15:31 GMTI am so moved by the stories coming from the Compassion International bloggers in Kenya. Have you been following along? SO GOOD.And did you hear my news? I'm going on a blogging trip with World Vision! I'll be in the Dominican Republic in May. I'm so excited!My question is: do you sponsor a child? Thru which organization? Tell me all about it!ahttp://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/14812/do-you-sponsor-a-child.htmlTue, 09 Mar 2010 00:03:47 GMTSo, Amanda - I know you noticed my Obey/Disobey chart for Elias that we did last week. It did not go over so well. He was very interested in it, but he did not change his behavior. In fact, on Saturday, when we were going to decide it he deserved his reward for more obedience by going for ice cream, he was completely characterized by disobedience. So no reward....Today we started a new chart, Phil 2:14: Do everything without complaining or arguing. At the top is his name and the verse, and then each column has a heart - one has a happy face and the other has a angry/arguing face. He signed it again (ironic that he argued and complained about writing his name!?) - and it's up. I'm really praying that this will help him change his heart about obeying...http://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/13953/charts-for-behavior.htmlMon, 01 Mar 2010 14:28:57 GMTSo, do you like discussion? Messageboards? Interacting with other like minded parents? I do!I wouldn't have made it my first year as a mother without the motherhood messageboards I was a part of! Those people are still some of my greatest friends!So, let's get talkin'. Have a question? Need some help? Want some advice? Let's surround ourselves and work together to impress our kids!To start it off, let's introduce ourselves...who are you? how many kids? what's your favorite ice cream? book? tv show? whatever! just say hi!:)ahttp://theblogfrog.com/1349834/forum/13648/hey,-hey-(an-introduction).htmlFri, 26 Feb 2010 23:52:21 GMT