Happy Halloween from The Mommies Network!

We hope you have a fun and safe Halloween,
and that your holiday is filled with lots of TREATS and no TRICKS!

Need some last minute Halloween ideas?Check out our posts from this week!
Ideas for a Fun & Safe Halloween
Homemade Ghost Craft
DIY Halloween Decor
Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe
DIY Halloween Costumes

Our Final Nominees and a Bit About Voting

Here are the final two nominations for our Plaza Appliance Mart Dishwasher Giveaway. 

Mommy_015

This mommy has two young kids. She spends her days with the kids while her husband works, but she also takes on side jobs to get the bills paid each month. She is always willing to help other mommies (and daddies) by watching their kids, taking family photos, or even dog-sitting for them. Their dishwasher has been broken for more than three months now! It was already getting up there — maybe 10 years old. Although she's been babysitting some, every time she makes some extra money, something else comes up that they need to use the money for. Another thing that stinks about it being broken is that she doesn't want to cook with raw meat because she doesn't have a dishwasher to put the contaminated dishes into afterward. They are a hardworking family, living paycheck to paycheck, and they just need a new dishwasher.

Mommy_016

This member is a mother to five children. She is a full-time graduate student, and she volunteers as a manager for her local chapter and within her church. They are currently trying to buy their rental house. The dishwasher in the house is old, does not wash well, and has a broken bottom arm. Their family runs two loads of dishes a day (and one of the kids has the chore at least one of those times). If the dishes aren't prewashed well, they come out with the food stuck on and even harder to get off. A new dishwasher would ease the battles of the chore with the child, lessen the dishwashing load for the family, and make another child's job of setting the table (with clean dishes) easier. If for some reason the home purchase falls through (they'll know before voting ends), this nomination is withdrawn.

Please stay tuned to your Mommy Forum for information about how to vote for the story that has most moved your heart. Voting will run Monday, Oct. 31 through Monday, Nov. 14. Thank you to Plaza Appliance Mart for making this giveaway possible!

More about this giveaway...

Who is eligible?
Any member of CentralPiedmontMommies, CharlotteMommies, LakeNormanMommies, UnionCountyMommies, or YorkCountyMommies who has a minimum of 25 posts on and has been a member of their chapter for at least 30 days (must have joined prior to Sept. 14, 2011) may be nominated.

How do I nominate a member?
Please email the following information to CLTDishwasherGiveaway@themommiesnetwork.org:
1) The member's name
2) The member's username
3) A short story about the member and why you believe they deserve a new dishwasher
Please note that the nominee's personal information (name and username) will be protected and not released to the public or the chapter membership. This information is for reference and internal tracking purposes only.
The last day to nominate a member is Oct. 28 at midnight.

How is a winner chosen?
The members will decide! The Mommies Network will publish the stories as they are received on the chapter and national blogs. On Oct. 31, the stories will be published in a post in the Mommy Forum on each chapter, along with a poll. Members will have until Nov. 14 to vote for which story they believe is most deserving.

Two More Deserving Mommies

Two more nominees for the dishwasher giveaway...

Mommy_013

I am a single mom of two beautiful babies. It seems that lately nothing can go right in my life. I am unemployed and have been searching for work since september of 2010 with no job offers. I am living with my mother and our dishwasher is about 11 years old and about to go out. My car was broken for two years and recently my mother repaired it (for more than i would like to admit) as my christmas present.

Mommy_014

This mommy has been helping out at a local pregnancy center and buying things for needy families (she will spend her last dime to help someone that needs something), and she helps out at her daughters preschool with fundraisers and other activities.

She and her husband are trying to save their home. They both lost their jobs in racing and the company she worked for dropped her insurance just before her first daughter was born. Like a lot of people they live day to day.

Now, a little about her home. They built their home, but they were never home when they were building because of traveling the Nascar circuit. The builders took every shortcut they could and used the cheapest things they could put in the house. They already had to have the heating and cooling system replaced, bathtub fixtures replaced (they could not get the water to turn off), had to replace the garbage disposal, and now the dishwasher. Since day one it has not cleaned or dried the dishes and it makes loud noises. They have had parts replaced on it twice.

She cooks a lot for her neighbors who are getting older, the wife is diabetic and has a hard time getting around. She makes them meals and spends time with them as much as possible. Now the neighbor's husband is going in for surgery the end of the month so she will be cooking every meal for them during his recovery. She goes through a lot of dishes and pots and pans and all that good stuff. As the holidays and cold weather near, there will be even more cooking for families that do not have hot meals. Last year she would drive around and take meals and coffee to people she saw on the street.

So has you can see she really needs a brand new dishwasher to help her help others.

More about this giveaway...

Who is eligible?
Any member of CentralPiedmontMommies, CharlotteMommies, LakeNormanMommies, UnionCountyMommies, or YorkCountyMommies who has a minimum of 25 posts on and has been a member of their chapter for at least 30 days (must have joined prior to Sept. 14, 2011) may be nominated.

How do I nominate a member?
Please email the following information to CLTDishwasherGiveaway@themommiesnetwork.org:
1) The member's name
2) The member's username
3) A short story about the member and why you believe they deserve a new dishwasher
Please note that the nominee's personal information (name and username) will be protected and not released to the public or the chapter membership. This information is for reference and internal tracking purposes only.
The last day to nominate a member is Oct. 28 at midnight.

How is a winner chosen?
The members will decide! The Mommies Network will publish the stories as they are received on the chapter and national blogs. On Oct. 31, the stories will be published in a post in the Mommy Forum on each chapter, along with a poll. Members will have until Nov. 14 to vote for which story they believe is most deserving.

A Fun and Safe Halloween

Halloween has always been a favorite of mine. I don't know if it was the candy, the dressing up, the neighborhood involvement, or the general feeling of happiness that everyone, old and young, felt. I think I went trick-or-treating longer then any of my friends and was always the one trying to talk my other 18-year-old friends into going with me. If I wasn't trick-or-treating, I was throwing a Halloween party. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was going to celebrate one way or another. I love Halloween so much; I even brought my oldest child trick-or-treating three days after giving birth to her younger sister. Nothing was going to keep me from sharing with her something that I grew up to love so much.

Unfortunately, times have changed since I was a young child walking the streets for candy and fun. Special care must be taken to be sure the excitement of Halloween doesn't turn into disaster.

The National Safety Council offers some great advise for parents and children to be sure to enjoy the special night safely. "There is no "trick" to making Halloween a real treat for the entire family." Before planning your night of fun, check to see if your community has an assigned time for trick-or-treating and go over these safety tips as they pertain to your children

Halloween Safety Tips from the NSC

Both children and adults need to think about safety on this annual day of make-believe.

MOTORISTS

The National Safety Council urges motorists to be especially alert on Halloween.

* Watch for children darting out from between parked cars

• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.

• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

PARENTS

Before children start out on their "trick or treat" rounds, parents should:

• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.

• Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children's companions.

• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.

• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well lit and never to enter a stranger's home.

• Establish a return time.

• Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.

• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.

• Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.

COSTUME DESIGN

• Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.

• Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.

• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)

• If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

                                                     FACE DESIGN

• Masks can obstruct a child's vision. Use facial make-up instead.

• When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics," or "Non-Toxic." Follow manufacturer's instruction for application.

• If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eyeholes.

ACCESSORIES

• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.

• Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.

• Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

ON THE WAY

Children should understand and follow these rules:

• Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.

• Walk, do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards

• Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.

• Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.

TREATS

To ensure a safe trick-or-treat outing, parents are urged to:

• Give children an early meal before going out.

• Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.

• Wash fruit and slice into small pieces.

• When in doubt, throw it out.

HALLOWEEN PARTY THEMES

Whether you decide to go trick-or-treating or hold a Halloween party for your friends and family or even invite your whole neighborhood, here are some fun party ideas that can easily and inexpensively be put together. Use your imagination and add to these party themes with some of your own ideas. Remember to ask your neighbors for their help and candy donations.

Barnyard Bash

Invitations: Cut out animal shapes on construction paper and write the party information on these. Hand deliver to your guests.

Decorations: bales of hay, bunches of dried cornstalks, autumn leaves, pumpkins, gourds, dried corncobs.

Serve food in western bandannas attached to sticks. Be sure to make a scarecrow. Carved out pumpkins make great serving dishes or chip bowls.

Witches, Wizards and Goblins

Invitations: Buy several cheap plastic magic wants. Print out invitations on white paper with important information. Scroll up around want. Tie with orange and black ribbon. Hand deliver to guests.

Decorations: String Christmas lights around the entrance way. Hang silver and gold stars through out the party area. Mylar gold and silver balloons can also be hung. Cut out ghost shapes in Mylar and hang. Glow-in-the-dark tape attached to walls, doors, lamps etc. is nice when lights are low. Grave markers can be made from Styrofoam sheets - use felt-tip markers to make inscription.

Cats and Bats

Invitations: Cut out the shape of cats or bats in construction paper. Write important party info on these. Hand deliver to invited guests.

Decorations: Have guests enter through a cat door (place a dark blanket over half the doorway and let guests crawl through). Hang black crepe paper and cobwebs everywhere. Hang black silhouettes of cats and bats throughout the house. Black balloons are a nice touch.

Monster Mash

Invitations: Buy inexpensive eye masks at party store. Write important party information on mask and hand deliver to guests.

Decorations: Bats hung everywhere! Make a coffin out of cardboard and leave at entrance way for kids jackets etc. to be placed inside. Hang black and green crepe paper or streamers.

Nightmare at Haunted House

Invitations: Cut out tombstone shapes on construction paper. Write party info in the form of an epitaph. Hand deliver to guests.

Decorations: Hang spider webs, plastic insects, phony tombstones, ghosts, balloons, witches and bats. Use back and white candles (out of reach of children). Hang ghosts made from white pillowcases. Use white balloons with black eyes drawn on them with markers. Ask florist to save dead flowers and wreaths that would be thrown away. Create a headless heathen by stuffing old clothes with newspaper and prop up at front door. Dry ice makes a special affect at these parties. (*Please be sure to use the dealers safety recommendations for the handling of dry ice-NEVER allow children to handle dry ice)

Post originally submitted to AshevilleMommies Blog on October 14, 2011 by Natalie

Even More Deserving Mommies!

Don't forget, Oct. 28 at midnight is the deadline for nominating members for the Plaza Appliance Mart Dishwasher Giveaway!

Here are some of our nominees...

Mommy_003

This mommy is a full-time mom with no dishwasher. she babysits three days a week and is always doing something with her kids as well as mine. She is so focused on kids — any that she is around. She is the wonderful, fun, great mother I wish I would have been when my son was younger. She is so loving and kind. She is a true inspiration to everyone she associates with. She is so very deserving of a dishwasher because that would just give her more time to spend with her kids. Please consider her for your dishwasher. It would mean so much to her.

Mommy_004 

This member is a mommy is a devoted mom of two kids and 24 feathered/furbabies. She has dishes piled up, and the dishwasher only works sometimes. She has little to no time to wash dishes by hand.

Mommy_005

This mommy's dishwasher doesn't work! She is a devoted mom of three, one of which is a newborn. She was depending on Santa for a new dishwasher, but Santa's sleigh may not be big enough.

Mommy_006

This mommy's house was struck by lightning in Mayish, and her dishwasher (not to mention all of the other electronic appliances in the house) hasn't worked since.

Mommy_007

This single mommy of two and grandmother of one has never  had a dishwasher. She is a hard-working lady who deserves a little pampering from time to time.

Mommy_008

This mommy's dishwasher is on its last legs. It sounds like it's going to stop any minute and it has never cleaned very well.

Mommy_009

Thank you for this amazing offer for a new dishwasher. This is exactly what my husband, myself, and our four children need. We moved into our new home in November 2005. At the time, my husband was a mortgage loan officer who still has his license but is now working as a freight broker due to the drastic decline in the mortgage industry. I was a stay at home mom to our three oldest children and loved spending time with them.

Once the mortgage industry went to complete rock-bottom I was forced to return to work and to place our child into childcare. My current position is approx a 45-minute to 1-hour commute from our home in Lake Wylie, South Carolina to North Charlotte.

In September 2008, I became pregnant with our fourth child. Our pregnancy went perfect except for a few questions regarding the Down Syndrome markers on the testing I elected to have done. I declined this with all of my previous children but felt it was necessary with this pregnancy due to my age. After two series of bloodwork, both confirmed high numbers, indicating possible Down Syndrome. So we were sent for an amniocentesis. I received the call about two weeks later stating everything came back normal with 46 chromosomes, and we would be having our third daughter.

Over the months, I continued to gain weight at a rapid speed, and the doctors thought I would be having another large baby girl since both of my other girl pregnancies were born on the larger size. So an induction date was set for June 14, 2009 to avoid a 10-plus-pound baby. Our daughter entered the world at 10:25 p.m. weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 18 inches, far from what the doctors or we expected.

After various tests were run, we found out she was born with a rare birth defect: tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia. She was born with the most common type: C. The top part of her esophagus, which forms around 4 weeks gestation, ended in a blind spot, and the lower portion connected to her trachea. This caused her to not have the ability to swallow amniotic fluid prior to birth, which is the main source of nutrition for a growing fetus. Her esophagus was repaired at 3 days old, but while repairing the birth defect, nerves were damaged, which causes very limited to no mobility in her esophagus, along with her entire digestive system.
She is now 95 percent tube-fed and 5 percent mouth-fed with Stage 1 baby food. She isn’t allowed to attend childcare or to be around school age children to avoid any infections, which will easily land her in the hospital with pneumonia or other respiratory issues. She also has an extra chromosome, which causes her to be very small. She is the weight of an 8 month old and the height of a 13 month old at 28.5 months. She also has hypotonic muscles, causing her to be weak. She didn’t crawl until around 1 year and didn’t walk until around 21-plus months. She has AFOs (foot/leg braces) to help support her ankles. We are blessed beyond words to have been chosen by God to be her parents, but our family has truly since her birth, had outrageous medical bills and medical equipment expenses.

We would love to have the opportunity to possibly win the new dishwasher. We have needed a new one for the past few years for various reasons:
    1.    For the safety and sanity of our child's feeding/medical supplies.
    2.    We have well water (and a water softener that doesn’t help), which causes hard-water buildup in our dishwasher.
    3.    The top rack is bent.
    4.    The dishes appear dirty even after being run on the heavy-soiled cycle. So after equipment and supplies are run through the dishwasher, we also have to boil them in hot water on the stove.

Mommy_010

This mommy deserves a new dishwasher because she is still using the same dishwasher from six years ago, when her home was built. She is a stay-at-home mom to her three children and is part of a family of five, so you can imagine all the dishes her family can go through in a day. On average, she does two full loads of dishes daily, if not more. Another reason this mommy could use a new dishwasher is because she has to wash the dishes more than one cycle due to residue being left behind, leaving her more loads until the dishes are actually clean. A new dishwasher would save her not only money, but time, which we all know is very valuable. So please consider helping this mommy spend less on water, electricity, and chores, which will give her more time with her family.

Mommy_011

The reason why I would love to win this is because I, like all Mommies seem to run ragged. We had never had a dishwasher throughout college and our first year of marriage. On our first anniversary, my husband bought me one. It lasted about three years before it bit the dust. We have been without a dishwasher for the last two years. As a mom who works full-time, volunteers in the community and at church, and helps out on the farm, daily dishes sometimes take a backseat. I feel that I spend all my extra time in the kitchen cleaning instead of playing with my son. I know that a dishwasher doesn’t solve everything, but it would create some time in my schedule and help our kitchen stay cleaner!

Mommy_012

This mommy is a devoted stay-at-home mom to two wonderful children. She is having to have knee surgery and has been on a waiting pattern because the donor cartridge keeps coming back as testing positive for something. She and her family are very deserving of this for many reasons. Despite her knees constantly hurting, she still participates in events and is an active member of our chapter, keeping our boards humming with new topics.

More about this giveaway...

Who is eligible?
Any member of CentralPiedmontMommies, CharlotteMommies, LakeNormanMommies, UnionCountyMommies, or YorkCountyMommies who has a minimum of 25 posts on and has been a member of their chapter for at least 30 days (must have joined prior to Sept. 14, 2011) may be nominated.

How do I nominate a member?
Please email the following information to CLTDishwasherGiveaway@themommiesnetwork.org:
1) The member's name
2) The member's username
3) A short story about the member and why you believe they deserve a new dishwasher
Please note that the nominee's personal information (name and username) will be protected and not released to the public or the chapter membership. This information is for reference and internal tracking purposes only.
The last day to nominate a member is Oct. 28 at midnight.

How is a winner chosen?
The members will decide! The Mommies Network will publish the stories as they are received on the chapter and national blogs. On Oct. 31, the stories will be published in a post in the Mommy Forum on each chapter, along with a poll. Members will have until Nov. 14 to vote for which story they believe is most deserving.

Craft: Homemade Ghost

Halloween is my favorite time of the year. I enjoy the start of fall. I love seeing all the decorations going up. The kids are always excited to pick their costumes and get bags of candy. Now that I have my own house, I have been wanting to decorate inside and outside. But with my budget, I have to be a little creative. So I decided to make my own ghost. It was very simple and really quick. 


Supplies:

White garbage bag White wire hangerPair of socks Scissors Tape Clear string ( I used Stretch Magic jewelry string ) Permanent marker



 Directions: 

 1. First, take your garbage bag, and lay your hanger up in the corner to make sure it is the same width.

2. Second, cut the yellow drawstring side off if you have it on your garbage bag, and cut the opposite side off, as well.

3. Third, ball up your pair of socks, and stick them on the top of your hanger.

4. Next, lay the garbage bag over the hanger. Make sure to line up the edges of the garbage bag with the hanger. Then take the clear string, and tie a knot at the bottom of your sock ball. This will form the face of the ghost.

5. With the permanent marker, draw a face on the ghost. Then cut a small hole at the top of the head, and insert the clear string though the hole. I placed tape around the hole just to make it stronger and so it (hopefully) won't tear when hung outside.

6. Last, find the perfect spot to hang your ghost. I picked our front porch and used the flower basket hook to hang him on. In total, I spent zero dollars on this project. I was able to use items that were already in my house. 

Hope you all have a spooky good time this Halloween!

Post submitted by Kathy from CentralPiedmontMomies.com

Originally submitted to CentralPiedmontMommies Blog on October 7, 2011

DIY Halloween Decor

Got Halloween spirit? Spread it easily by using these common household items to transform your home into a truly spooktacular setting!

Ghostly Lanterns

Place these homemade lanterns down your driveway or displayed on the porch as a spooky way to greet your visitors!

You will need the following:

• as many empty juice or milk gallons as you’d like
• black permanent marker
• tea lights
• small stones (for weight)

Draw various types of faces on one side of each empty (rinsed) jug. Cut a hole in the back under each handle. Place several small stones around a tea light on the bottom of the jug. Light and delight!

Pimp My Pumpkin

Tired of carving pumpkins this year? Jazz up the front porch with some Halloween bling!

You will need the following:

• pumpkins
• school glue
• glitter (any color will work)

Draw the desired shape onto your pumpkin with the glue. Sprinkle with glitter, shake off the excess, and watch your pimped-out pumpkin take on a personality of its own!

Golfing Ghosts

Dress up your golf balls in ghost costumes!

You will need the following:

• three or more golf balls and as many paper towels
• orange string or ribbon
• black marker

Place each golf ball in the center of the paper towel; wrap around the ball, and secure with ribbon or string. Draw a face on each ghost head, and prop up on the table using a tea light or flat votive candle.

Jack o’ Candles

Add a fun, spooky feel to your dining table centerpiece. Paired with the golfing ghosts, these candles add an eerie, festive ambiance.

You will need the following:

• two or more glass votive candle holders
• as many votive candles (preferably orange)
• black construction paper

Create jack o’ lantern faces by cutting shapes out of construction paper, and tape them onto each votive glass. Light the candles inside, and watch your lanterns glow!

Creepy Cutouts 
 

These easy cutouts will add some flair to your haunted mansion.

You will need:

• black and white construction paper
• floss

Draw and cut out several bat and ghost shapes. Tape a loop of floss to the back of each, and hang wherever your heart desires.

Post submitted by Alisa from CharlotteMommies.com

Pumpkin Cupcakes

The weather is finally starting to feel like fall. The leaves are slowly starting to change colors. This is the time of year that I love most. So to get into the fall spirit, Virginia and I decided to make pumpkin cupcakes. I ran across this recipe last week on Pinterest.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup vegetable or canola oil until blended.

Add three eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a separate bowl, combine 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and one package instant vanilla pudding mix.

 Add flour mix to egg mixture alternately with one can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree, beating well after each addition.

Fill lined cupcake pan three-quarters full, and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove from pan, and cool completely.

For me, 25 minutes was the perfect amount of time. I also recommend using an ice cream scoop to fill your cupcake liners. It makes it easy to fill each cupcake liner with the same amount of mixture. I have also seen a huge improvement in the look of my cupcakes since I have been using my ice cream scoop. 

Glaze:

Whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until desired consistency. I used about 6 to 7 tablespoons of milk.

Dip warm cupcakes into glaze to coat, then enjoy some warm pumpkin cupcakes.

Post submitted by Kathy from CentralPiedmontMomies.com
Originally submitted to CentralPiedmontMommies Blog on October 5, 2011

DIY Halloween Costumes: Fast, Easy, and Almost Free!

The following almost free costumes can be fashioned for both kids and adults!

Gift Costume

Got a few largeish cardboard boxes shoved in the corner of your garage (maybe left over from last Christmas, or piled up in the to-be-recycled stack?) Make quick and easy Halloween use of one by creating a gift costume!

(Make sure said box is free of rodents, spiders, and the like.)

1. Wrap the box in your favorite holiday paper.
2. Cut a hole in the top for your head.
3. Cut a hole in the bottom large enough to climb into.
4. Cut holes on each side for arms.

Dress in neutral clothes underneath. Once you're in the box, attach a giant gift bow to the top of your head, and grab a holiday gift bag with which to collect candy!

Mummy

Ah, the easiest costume in the book. It may not last longer than one night, but it certainly will turn heads!

1. Dress in light-colored long-sleeve shirt and long pants.
2. Starting at one shoulder, tuck the end of a roll of toilet paper into the top of the shirt, and wrap (lightly) around the neck, continuing down the chest and torso, making sure to overlap the layers.
3. Tuck another end into a section under each arm, and wrap arms to wrists; tuck the ends into long sleeves.
4. Wrap the pants separately, from bottom to top: Tuck one end into the cuff of one pant leg, and wrap upward toward the top of pants. Continue wrapping around waist area, then continue down other leg, and tuck end into other leg cuff.
5. Ends can also be secured with tape or a glue gun.
6. Finish off by wrapping head and face, if desired!

Bunch o' Grapes
Feeling "Fruit of the Loom" this Halloween? This simple costume will pop in a crowd! (Literally. Just be careful.)

1. Blow up at least 20 balloons to different sizes — purple or green, whichever you prefer.
2. Get dressed (use green or purple long-sleeved shirt and pants)
3. Pin the knotted end of each balloon to the clothes. Pin the largest balloons to the arms and shoulders; pin the smallest to the lower torso, so you create a "bunch" shape.
4. Top with a grapevine hat: hot glue the ends of a large green square of felt together (making a cone shape). Twist the top to make a "vine." (secure the vine shape by using rubber bands or hot glue).
   

Family Ideas
With a little luck by scouring craigslist, visiting Goodwill, and utilizing your inner homemade craftiness, these family-themed costumes will be a hit!

Pirate Ship
Ahoy, mateys! The pirate is an easy costume to create with household items. You'll have a ship full of scallywags in no time!

Each person will need the following:

• sweatpants with elastic ankles
• long socks
• a loose white (or horizontal-striped) shirt
• a scarf or sash in any color
• a bandana
• an eye patch, a pirate hat, a hook, or other pirate accessory

Pull the sweatpants up to the knees. Tuck the shirt into the pants, and wrap the scarf or sash around your waist several times, knotting at the side. Wrap the bandana on your head; add your accessories, a pair of black shoes or boots, and voila! Instant pirate family.

SuperFamily
If you've always dreamed of being a superhero family, here's your chance to make it happen. Just choose a central color scheme, and go from there!

Each person will need the following:

• a cape (make one out of old sheets, using a safety pin or clothespin to fasten)
• a T-shirt with your super logo transferred on (e.g., SM for SuperMom, SK for SuperKid)
• leggings (or sweats for the guys, unless they like wearing tights)
• running shoes; superheroes are fast.
• eye masks in your central color

Put everything on, and presto — SuperFamily to the rescue!

Post submitted by Alisa from CharlotteMommies.com

Another Nominee!

Plaza Appliance Mart is giving away a Frigidaire Professional 24-inch Built-In Dishwasher to a deserving member of The Mommies Network in the Charlotte area! 

We have another deserving mommy nomination!
Mommy_002

This mommy has been laid off twice in 2 years and her husband has just left his job to return to school full-time. She is working hard to pay all of her bills without adding any more to her debts, even without income. Her dishwasher is 10 years old and doesn't run as well it once did. She must often run it twice to get clean which is raising the power and water bill. She does not have the money to fix the siding of her house let alone get a new dishwasher, but doesn't complain because she is supporting her husband for him to fulfill his dream. She wants to stay at home with their son, but to support the family she is looking for work until they can save enough money to adopt a second child.

Who is eligible?
Any member of CentralPiedmontMommies, CharlotteMommies, LakeNormanMommies, UnionCountyMommies, or YorkCountyMommies who has a minimum of 25 posts on and has been a member of their chapter for at least 30 days (must have joined prior to Sept. 14, 2011) may be nominated.

How do I nominate a member?
Please email the following information to CLTDishwasherGiveaway@themommiesnetwork.org:
1) The member's name
2) The member's username
3) A short story about the member and why you believe they deserve a new dishwasher
Please note that the nominee's personal information (name and username) will be protected and not released to the public or the chapter membership. This information is for reference and internal tracking purposes only.
The last day to nominate a member is Oct. 28 at midnight.

How is a winner chosen?
The members will decide! The Mommies Network will publish the stories as they are received on the chapter and national blogs. On Oct. 31, the stories will be published in a post in the Mommy Forum on each chapter, along with a poll. Members will have until Nov. 14 to vote for which story they believe is most deserving.

Help Wanted: The Mommies Network Blog Contributors!

We are looking for the following additions to our blog team!

Content Team Writers
If you have an interest in writing or blogging about Mom-related topics and stories, we'd love to have you join our team! The Content Team is a fun, interactive group of ladies who write articles that cover all kinds of topics, so no matter your specialty - we want to hear from you! Your words will be published within our fast-growing network of blogs and social media, reaching thousands of mothers from all walks of life! Our only requirement is that you are able to submit a minimum of one article per week for the team.

Cartoonists
Whether your medium is pen, paper and a scanner, Photoshop, Microsoft Paint, or any other tool for that matter - we'd love it if you'd consider submitting your art for use in our Sunday Momics column! We're looking for mom-centered funnies, and would like to receive submissions bi-weekly or weekly. To see some examples of our previously submitted cartoons, click here.


If you'd like to join our team, please email us at hr@themommiesnetwork.org and request an application!

Our First Nominee!

Plaza Appliance Mart is giving away a Frigidaire Professional 24-inch Built-In Dishwasher to a deserving member of The Mommies Network in the Charlotte area! 

Here is our first nominee for this coveted prize!
Mommy_001

She was a single mom of three kids for quite some time. She worked hard at her job, volunteered for our site's management and helped with the site, and all the while was an amazing mom. Her kids were happy and led full lives which included school and sports. She is even a part of her children's PTA.

Like most single moms, she had to overcome a lot with her ex, all the while tending to her children's medical needs (as they each have several).

She is now married and has one more beautiful child (so four total). Her youngest child is less than a year old and adorable. He has therapy a few times a week adding to what would normally stress most parents out.

The economy has taken it's toll on them, like so many of us. She is trying to start her own business, and her husband works two jobs right now while she is doing this to both support her and her family.

This woman is the essence of what every mother should be. She is so involved in her children's lives. She is a part of the PTA and still finds time to help other moms on our site. She is no stranger to struggle. But she has never let it get the best of her. I know this new dishwasher would bless her family of six greatly. I know they need one. And I can't think of a better candidate for it.

Who is eligible?
Any member of CentralPiedmontMommies, CharlotteMommies, LakeNormanMommies, UnionCountyMommies, or YorkCountyMommies who has a minimum of 25 posts on and has been a member of their chapter for at least 30 days (must have joined prior to Sept. 14, 2011) may be nominated.

How do I nominate a member?
Please email the following information to CLTDishwasherGiveaway@themommiesnetwork.org:
1) The member's name
2) The member's username
3) A short story about the member and why you believe they deserve a new dishwasher
Please note that the nominee's personal information (name and username) will be protected and not released to the public or the chapter membership. This information is for reference and internal tracking purposes only.
The last day to nominate a member is Oct. 28 at midnight.

How is a winner chosen?
The members will decide! The Mommies Network will publish the stories as they are received on the chapter and national blogs. On Oct. 31, the stories will be published in a post in the Mommy Forum on each chapter, along with a poll. Members will have until Nov. 14 to vote for which story they believe is most deserving.

Volunteer with The Mommies Network!

TMN Manager, Human Resources
Would you like to become more involved with the site that helps make your chapter tick? Are you a team player with excellent written communication skills? Consider applying for a position in The Mommies Network's Human Resources department. Due to an influx in applicants for several national-level positions, we need to fill four TMN Manager, Human Resources, positions with organized, friendly, reliable moms. Could one of them be you?

In this volunteer position, your duties would include responding to inquiries for position vacancies in four areas of TMN, as well as processing applications to submit to the Senior Manager, Human Resources. Ideal candidates must be able to access email and log into TMN daily to process applications and receive new information.

For details and to apply for a TMN Manager, Human Resources, position, email hr@themommiesnetwork.org. Good luck!


TMN Manager, Administration
Are you a current or former Chapter Manager or Assistant Chapter Manager who would like to take the next step? Do you enjoy team building and helping others reach their goals?

Consider applying for a TMN Manager position in our Administration division. In this role, you'll assist chapters by supporting their leadership teams to become the best resources they can be for area moms. Duties include providing encouragement and praise to Chapter Manager teams; ensuring that chapter events are planned, promoted, and followed through; and sharing insight during Chapter Manager hiring.

If you're an organized, friendly, reliable leader with at least six months of CM or ACM experience, we want to hear from you. For details and to apply for a TMN Manager, Administration, position, email hr@themommiesnetwork.org. Good luck!

Charlotte Area Dishwasher Giveaway

Plaza Appliance Mart is giving away a Frigidaire Professional 24-inch Built-In Dishwasher to a deserving member of The Mommies Network in the Charlotte area! 

Who is eligible?
Any member of CentralPiedmontMommies, CharlotteMommies, LakeNormanMommies, UnionCountyMommies, or YorkCountyMommies who has a minimum of 25 posts on and has been a member of their chapter for at least 30 days (must have joined prior to September 14, 2011) may be nominated.

How do I nominate a member?
Please email the following information to CLTDishwasherGiveaway@themommiesnetwork.org:
1) The member's name
2) The member's username
3) A short story about the member and why you believe they deserve a new dishwasher
Please note that the nominee's personal information (name and username) will be protected and not released to the public or the chapter membership. This information is for reference and internal tracking purposes only.
The last day to nominate a member is Oct. 28 at midnight.

How is a winner chosen?
The members will decide! The Mommies Network will publish the stories as they are received on the chapter and national blogs. On Oct. 31, the stories will be published in a post in the Mommy Forum on each chapter, along with a poll. Members will have until Nov. 14 to vote for which story they believe is most deserving.

Fall Family Fun To Do List

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year!

You'd think, growing up in the Northeast, I would cling to Summer for dear life, but I'm usually happy to see it go. I suppose living in North Carolina for five years soured me - I'm so not a 100 degree girl! Dealing with it day, after day, after day got extremely old, extremely quickly. I pretty much did my hibernating in the summer, only venturing outdoors when the temps dipped into the 70's. I've always loved the beauty of the season - but my Charlotte experience made me all but obsessed.

I love that having kids gives me an excuse to do all the ridiculously fun fall things I want to do without looking like a crazy woman. Time flies with little ones, though - so I often find myself at Thanksgiving without completing everything I wanted to do. Not this year! I made a list to help us keep track, and I'm sharing mine with you!







1. Pack some fall foods and have a fall picnic in a woodsy setting (park? back yard?)
2. Take a Nature Walk
3. Fall/Nature scavenger hunt in the yard with Luke (draw little pictures for his checklist so he can follow it himself)
4. Leaf collecting & rubbings
5. Make a Halloween paper chain countdown
6. Have a backyard campfire meal (spider dogs, smores, etc)
7. Check out Fall kids books from the library
8. Write names (or maybe initials) out of leaves & take pictures
9. Take a fall trip to the Farmer's Market
10. Make Ghost pancakes
11. Watch Halloweentown (if Disney shows it this year!)
12. Have a leafy photo session in the yard with the boys
13. Make pumpkin cupcakes
14. Crochet something
15. Buy more pumpkins
16. Make hand turkeys
17. Make a Thanksgiving paper chain countdown
18. Eat chowder
19. Carve pumpkins (maybe paint some, too!)
20. Go to BuffaloMommies' Trunk or Treat
21. Make a Halloween banner with Luke
22. Go trick or treating!

Things we've already completed:

23. Apple Picking
24. Hay Ride
25. Picked a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch
26. Visited the farm
27. Had apple cider
28. Decorated the house for fall
29. Matt brewed a pumpkin ale
30. Made apple crisp, applesauce, apple butter and apple pancakes

What else do you plan to do this fall?






Post submitted by Jenn, National Blog Manager for The Mommies Network and quirky stay-at-home-mom who blogs at The Rych Life. Originally submitted to The Rych Life blog on October 12, 2011.

To Die for Blueberry Muffins

I am not a morning person at all. When my daughter screams, "Mommy!" in the morning, all I want to do is hide under the covers for a few more minutes. So usually, I am not in the mood to make a huge breakfast, either. I like something that is good and quick.

Lately, Virginia has been on a blueberry kick. She loves her some blueberry waffles. When I was at the grocery store, I grabbed some fresh blueberries for her. Well, don't you know, my silly goose turned up her nose at the blueberries. I don't like to waste food, so I decided to make blueberry muffins. I usually use the store-bought muffin packs, but I ran across this To Die for Blueberry Muffin recipe on AllRecipes and decided to give it a shot.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups, or line with muffin liners. I always like to put two liners in one muffin spot. Like my mother, I tell my family that the one that gets the double liner is going to have a lucky day. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, and baking powder.

Measure 1 cup of vegetable oil; add egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture.

Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups to the top, and sprinkle with crumb-topping mixture.

To make crumb topping: Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven or until done.

Post originally submitted by Kathy (absolutelykathy) to the CentralPiedmontMommies blog on Sept. 8, 2011.