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Hearts At Home Conference

Marci — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:55:34 +0000

For moms, it’s easy to focus on what’s next instead of what’s now. But, what if moms took a step back and learned how to enjoy the unique stage of life they are experiencing right now? What if they learned to live in the MOMent?

Moms in all seasons of their mothering journey and from all circumstances will be coming together at Hearts at Home conferences in 2012 to learn how to focus on the bigger picture and stop sweating the small stuff.

Expert advice from women representing diverse facets of motherhood, including Michelle Duggar, wife, mother, New York Times Best Selling author and star of the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting; and Dr. Juli Slattery wife, mother, author, and family psychologist at Focus on the Family, will give moms the rare chance to gain a fresh perspective, regardless of the age or stage of motherhood they are in. Along with workshop speaker Marla Cilley, aka “The FlyLady,” who is a bestselling author, and founder and host of the popular website www.flylady.net, more than 28 workshops provide moms the unique opportunity to design their day around their own needs. “Encouragement for Overworked Working Moms,” “Confessions of an Imperfect Mother,” “Thriving as a Single Parent,” and “Get a Grip on Your Finances,” are just a few of the workshops where practical advice and encouragement await.

In the MOMent, the 2012 Hearts at Home National Conference is coming to the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, IL, March 16th-17th, 2012. Moms are encouraged to grab some friends and come and learn to delight in an ordinary day. Slow down. Be refreshed. And livefully in the beauty of the moment they are in.

For more information about the conference and to register, visit www.heartsathome.org. Register before February 15th for Best Value Pricing.

I’ll be there! Let me know if you are going. I’d love to meet you in person!

Sisters In Bloom

Marci — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:33:57 +0000

Here’s a little peak into something new I’m so excited to be apart of. Launching tomorrow.

Sisters In Bloom Is Coming Soon from Denise Thompson on Vimeo.

Snow Day Fun!!

Marci — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:35:08 +0000

After a 56 degree sunny day on Wednesday, we got 3-5 inches of snow on Thursday with blustery winds and a high of 19 degrees. Quite the change. The kids are thrilled that winter is finally here. Me…not so much.

Today, the temperatures are still in the teens with a dangerously low windchill. The kids are all excited to go out and play. I think they better wait until the wind chills won’t freeze flesh in a matter of seconds!! We could spend the whole day inside doing school and cleaning house, but I think we should declare a SNOW DAY!!

What to do on a snow day? Inspired by Wednesday’s post “Stop Pinterest Procrastination”, I’m checking out some of my previous pins and seeing what creative ideas I can come up with.

We could make fingerpaints.

We could make a lego catapult like this one from quirkymomma.com

We could play balloon ping pong (from theweekendhomemaker.com)

or we could just make a treat (marthastewart.com)

What would you do on a snow day?

A Little Quiet Around Here

Marci — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:18:02 +0000

Things will be quiet around here for a few days. My grandfather passed away this weekend and I’ll be traveling home to be with my family.

Have a wonderful week preparing for Christmas! We’ll chat when I return.

Changing Lives In Haiti

Marci — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:29:40 +0000

Here is the typical home in Haiti. Barely protection from the elements. Barely there. All that the poverty stricken Haitians can afford.

New Haitian home constructed with help from Welcome Home Haiti and volunteers.

My friend, Cherie, from Heart And Soul Reflections, is in Haiti right now with a group from her church. They are partnering with Welcome Home Haiti and Haitian Christian Ministries to build a home like this for a family and to serve the people of Haiti for one week. Will you pray for Cherie and the rest of the team as they travel, work and serve?

Visit Welcome Home Haiti and Haitian Christian Ministries and see how you can partner with these ministries that are changing lives for the glory of God.

You can visit Welcome Home Haiti’s facebook page to see pictures of the work they are doing in Haiti.

#ShopSmall – Stitches By Sara

Marci — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:12:48 +0000

Thanks for joining Stef of Educating Layton and Eryn of Mama Hall for our #ShopSmall series! If you missed last week’s intro post, you can read it HERE.

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This week, I’m highlighting Stitches By Sara.

I got to know Sara personally last year at the Relevant Conference. She is an awesome, funny girl! As well as having a super cute Etsy shop, Sara blogs at HappyBrownHouse.com. If you read her blog, you know that her family is raising money to fund the adoption of a child from Ethiopia. Profits from her Etsy shop Stitches By Sara help that effort. The shop is full of adorable handmade treasures.

I have one of her coffee cozies. I keep it in my car and use it all the time. Much better than using the cardboard insulators from the coffee shop.

What little girl wouldn’t want one of these? These custom name pillows would make a fab Christmas or baby shower gift!

All little ones need a crayon roll for traveling!

Stop by Stitches By Sara to check out her other items, to support a small business and help change the life of a child!

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Are you promoting a small business this week?

#Shopsmall Black Friday Deals

Marci — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 07:00:51 +0000

If you are looking to support small businesses this Christmas, I’ve got some deals for you.

One of my favorite products is Miss Selby’s Soap. The bar soap will make you a believer in bar soap again and the bath bombs are…well, the bomb! Head on over to Miss Selby’s. Use the promo code BLACKFRIDAY and get 15% off your purchase. Great gift and personal use idea!!

Personally, I am loving the new scarves from Dallas Designs. I’ve been wearing mine all over town. Find jersey scarves and handmade jewelry for women and girls at Dallas Designs. Shop Thanksgiving through 11/26 and take advantage of sales and FREE SHIPPING!!

I have just been introduced to the Straddle Creek Soap Shop. They carry natural soaps, milk baths, body oils, and lip balms – something for everyone! Straddle Creek is giving a FREE mini-bar of soap with every order and FREE shipping on orders over $25.

In Every Thing Give Thanks

Marci — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:00:28 +0000

Giving thanks today and everyday for our blessings and for the One who blesses us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Top Ten Reasons To Support Small Businesses This Christmas

Marci — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:33:34 +0000

With Black Friday looming on the horizon, my inbox and mailbox are full of ads and catalogs vying for my business. It seems my only job is to match up my gift list with the box store ad of my choice and join the minions wrestling in the aisles for the last latest thing. Then, I can stand in line with an angry mob until it is my turn to throw some money at a grumpy hourly employee that will be put into the coffers of some far off corporate entity. Merry Christmas.

This year, I choose to do something different. I am going to support small businesses both in my local community and in my social online community. It’s my way of spending my money where I can be the biggest blessing. The more I looked into it, there are lots of other great reasons to support small businesses.

Small businesses offer better customer service.
Small businesses offer unique gifts. No more worrying if the recipient will get one just like it.
Small businesses are good for the local economy. Small businesses return more of every dollar back into the local economy that large chain stores.
Small businesses keep America working. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses employ about half of all private sector employees and have generated 65% of the new jobs created in the past 17 years.
Small businesses offer quality over quantity. Small businesses are more apt to have quality handcrafted items than mass produced plastic junk.
Small businesses are more connected to their customers. Most times, customers deal directly with the owners of small businesses. The owners can adapt and offer what their customers want.
Small businesses are less crowded than chains or are online.
Shopping small businesses support people that we know.
Shopping small businesses saves time.
Shopping small businesses supports the creativity and rewards the ingenuity and risks of the owners.

Small businesses can be mom and pop storefronts, home-based distributorships, home-based artisans, restaurants… They are all over. We all know them. Look at my sponsor ads on the side of my blog. They are small businesses. (Really incredible small businesses, at that.) They are certainly worthy of your support.

I encourage you to support small businesses this Christmas season. My friends Stef at StefLayton.com and Eryn at Mama Hall agree. Head to their sites where they are showing their support for small businesses today, too. We will all be spotlighting small businesses each Tuesday until Christmas. Want to join us? Link up a post about a small business you plan to support this Christmas!

*linking up to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda!