Just sent this to my lists and wanted to pass it along to you too!

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A Thanksgiving They’ll Love - Free Report for You & Your Readers

Hi there,

I’m gearing up for Thanksgiving this week. We’re hosting the holiday
meal at our house this year, so I’m running around a bit like a
chicken with my head missing, trying to wrap up some work, keep the
house clean (I just thank goodness my in-laws love me..lol), and
stay sane. If you’re a mom, you know EXACTLY what I mean.

Because I know you’re busy, I’ll make this short and sweet.

I’ve got a short (9 page) PDF report that I’d like to give you that
will help you have a Thanksgiving the whole family will love.

Our good friends at Menu Planning Central have put together this
report and I wanted to pass it on to you and your readers as well.

A Thanksgiving the Whole Family Will Love

Feel free to send others to that link too.

Ok, off to get some sleep before I get up and do it all again
tomorrow. My 4:30AM comes early!

Have a great night!

Arika Lewis
YummyPLR.com

P.S. If you’re an affiliate for Menu Planning Central, you can brand
the report with your affiliate link before you pass it on. It only
takes a few seconds to add your unique affiliate link. Go here to
find out how http://partnerupdates.com/Thanksgiving-mpc/

Ok, if you’ve been around here for awhile you’ll know that one of my favorite blogs is 5MinutesforMom.com. I love the site because it’s fun to follow the twins and their mom as they grow this site and give us a glimpse into what it’s like to be twin WAHMs.

I love the fact that their mom works with them too. Of course I’m a bit partial to mom/daughter working relationships! For those who don’t know my mom works with me too. As a matter of fact, she’s also a fellow wahmmy here. She’s our recipe wahmmy, LeaAnn.

I just had a thought, how many people can actually say they have worked with both of their parents in different businesses? I worked with my Dad for a few years off and on in his landscaping business. Things weren’t quite as fun with his line of work as they are with mom though and we live 800 miles apart - isn’t the Internet amazing? Then again, if you had to choose would you choose mowing lawns, shoveling gravel, weedeating and that kind of thing over working at home and watching your kids grow too? Nah…I didn’t think so.

Now, back to the topic at hand. Janice & Susan started 5 Minutes for Mom and it has grown into this humongous site full of great information and giveaways and even greater causes. This year they get my vote for the Grand Wahmmy of all Christmas Giveaways in the blogosphere. Be sure to check out all the awesome prizes and contests!

I just entered one to win a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I loved the Harry Potter series and was so sad that I wouldn’t have a new book to read anymore after the last one was released and I gobbled it up in like 5 days.

The one thing I love more than the giveaways at 5 Minutes for Mom is their Under the Tree program this year. They are helping to make sure that kids whose families can’t afford Christmas will not miss out on the magic of the holiday.

No kid should go without experiencing the sheer joy of Christmas. Unfortunately it happens far more than I even like to think about personally and the gals have partnered with tons of companies who have graciously donated toys and other items to see that as many kiddos as possible won’t have to go without. Head on over here to find out about the program.

If you know someone who could use a hand in giving their little ones a Christmas this year, you can nominate them.

and that’s just fine with her!

Ask any mom how becoming a mother feels and she’ll tell you it is the greatest experience of her life. Nothing can top motherhood!

Ask her again after a few months of little to no sleep, when her 2 year old has ransacked the entire house or her teenager has just started driving. She may give you an overwhelmed look and let out a heavy sigh, but her reply will remain the same.She wouldn’t trade the title Mom for the world, even on her child’s worst day.

Just take a look at some of these real-life examples to see what we mean.

One mom of two, ages 4 and 5, had this to say when asked what she finds the hardest, yet most rewarding part of being a mom.

I find disciplining them really hard. Sometimes you just want to give in and make peace, but when you hold out, they really start to get it and become better people. I also love answering their questions, but find them challenging at times. They ask me what certain words mean or why something is a certain way. Often, they’re asking about things no 4 or 5 year old should be concerned with. Not that they’re taboo things or anything, just complex things that are tough to explain.

Here’s what another mom of 2, ages 9 and 1, feels makes it all worthwhile.

The other day my 21 month old was testing every thing with Mom. Getting into things he knew he shouldn’t be, throwing tantrums and refusing to take his nap. You name it he was trying his hardest to see how far he could get with me. Needless to say, no work got done that day, the house was a disaster and this mama needed a break!

I was almost ready to give up and say “Oh go ahead and tear all the DVDs off the shelf and have fun! Then, he came running up to me with the biggest smile on his face and his arms outstretched and gave me a big hug, patted my back and puckered his lips for a kiss! My heart melted.  I smiled back, gave him a kiss and told him I loved him while all the stress and built up frustration of the day melted away!

Being a mother is the toughest job any woman will ever have, but it also takes top honors as the most satisfying. There is nothing else in life that can make a woman ready to pull her hair out and scream, while evoking an extreme feeling of love at the exact same moment in time.

Moms invest so much in their children, most of which goes unnoticed until they are older. She gets tired, but never gives up because she knows the rewards for her perseverance will be awesome.

A mother’s work is never complete. Even when her children are grown and have children of their own she wouldn’t want it any other way. Find family friendly product reviews, information and support from a variety of different moms from all walks of life at Mom’s Talk News.

Join us, it’s Free!

If you have teenagers then you have probably dealt with the issue of “greediness” or “selfishness” during the Holidays. When my kids were younger, and I wasn’t a Christian, I thought my kids “needed” to have a certain number of presents under the tree. I was under the impression and influence of our society’s idea that Christmas was about giving and getting gifts.  I also made sure my 4 kids had the exact same number of gifts to open. Plus, to be honest, I loved the way the tree looked when it was brimming with all the beautifully wrapped gifts.

Now that I am a Christian and understand the true meaning of Christmas, I am trying to instill that in my teens. This Christmas we are going to do things much differently in the past; not only for spiritual reasons, but also for financial reasons.  There is no reason why we can’t teach our kids, no matter what age they are, the true meaning of Christmas and how to keep Christ in Christmas. One of the ways I’m going to do this is by giving them only 3 gifts each. Three represents Jesus in so many ways, like the trinity, the gifts of the three wisemen and that Jesus rose on the third day.

I’m also going to have my kids create coupons and certificates offering acts of service or kindness. I will have them use their God-given artistic abilities to draw and create nice cards and envelopes to give. I, on the other hand, will use my God-given computer skills to create my cards, coupons and certificates! J

If you think you’re going to have a difficult time passing these ideas on to your teen or pre-teen, just give it a shot.  Our kids know our financial situation, know we are on a budget and are trying to get out of debt. When I told my 16 year old daughter that she may be getting an iTunes gift card, socks and underwear, she was totally fine with it.  She accepted it and understood. I also explained that we can make gifts and give gifts of service to our loved ones, and she already started naming some things she is going to do for others.

These are some ideas you can use in your home too. Not only will it save you money, but it will also help your teen learn what Christmas is all about-Jesus and giving from our heart.

In the Stress Free Holiday Entertaining e-book, author Sandra Jensen mentions the importance of establishing your Holiday budget. This has always been important, but with this year’s economy, Sandra says she can’t emphasize this enough!

In an unstable economy, it is dangerous and foolish to acquire debt. Especially now we should be managing our incomes as carefully as we can, and we should be saving for emergencies.

If these things concern you, or if you spent too much money on Christmas last year and don’t want that burden hanging over your head again next year, now is the time to change that!

• Plan where and how you’ll celebrate the Holidays.
• Determine to pay your November, December and January bills on time.
• Make your menus and grocery lists.
• Make your gift lists.
• Be realistic with how many people you can bless.
• Be realistic as to how much you’ll spend on each gift.
• Announce to your family and friends any changes you’re making this year.
• NEVER go into debt for gifts!

Be thoughtful and get creative with your gift-giving:

• Shop for bargains.
• Shop e-bay and other on-line discount places.
• Try making some of your own gifts.
• Give coupons for gifts of your time or talents.
• Remember, and teach your children the true meaning of Christmas.
• Practice selflessness, and stop selfishness.

Thanksgiving should be a great time of reflecting on the many things we have to be thankful for!

Christmas should be a beautiful time of remembering the gift God gave us, His Son, Jesus Christ.

New Year’s should be a fun time of recalling triumphs of last year, and making plans for the new year.

These should be happy, peaceful times, not stressful or dreaded. The burden of debt is a real joy-stealer. Decide now not to let debt rob you of your Holiday joy!

Be sure to pick up your copy of Stress Free Holiday Entertaining for some tips to help you breeze through the Holidays and enjoy your family and friends!

Swap for it!

As a work at home mom, I’ve swapped/bartered for many things that I need. With the economy in the state it is and Christmas right around the corner, now is the perfect time to barter for services or products that you need for your business or even personal things.

Kelly over at Wahm 2.0 has more to say on the subject of bartering and has even started a post where we work at home mamas can post barters for things we have to offer and things we need. There’s some great connections happening there and I myself am going to be offering up some of my services in exchange for some things. Just have to figure out what it is I need the most!

So, if you’re in need of help with your business or are looking to save some money on Christmas gifts and have a skill or product you can offer in exchange, head over and check it out!

Wahms Swapping Services & Products

Keeping it Real & Having Fun too!
Arika

If you’re like me and tons of other moms, you’re beginning to feel a little panic as you look at the calendar and realize there are only a few days until Thanksgiving and then a few more until Christmas! Anxiety comes as your mind reviews the many tasks (and few hours) that lie ahead. More apprehension settles in if you’re concerned about having enough money to do all the things you’d like, and still be able to keep up with the bills!

Well, don’t panic! I’m a practical person who operates well with lists, so grab a pen and paper and let’s make a plan.

12 things you can do to ease the stress of the holidays!

1. First, write the dates on your calendar of every event, program, party and family gathering you expect to attend. If you plan to bring food or gifts, write those down too.
2. Write in when your bills are due, and promise to pay them on time.
3. Determine your holiday budget and promise not to go one penny over it.
4. Make a list of who you will give gifts to, and what you’d like to give them.
5. Plan your menus now.
6. Do as much grocery shopping now as you can. Cook and bake ahead as much as you can. It’s not too early to start!
7. Buy or make as many gifts ahead as you can, get them wrapped, labeled and hidden.
8. Buy, make, write or print out any Christmas cards you want to send.
9. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, go through your Christmas decorations to purge, add or revive.
10. Get a copy of the new e-book Stress Free Holiday Entertaining to help you with all the details.
11. Remember to keep things simple.
12. Plan now to enjoy the holidays!

That last one is the key…ENJOY YOURSELF THIS YEAR LADIES!