Experience Life In Another Culture and Get Free Concert Tickets! Have you ever wondered what life is really like in other parts of the world? Have you ever wondered how to explain to your kids that they have it pretty good compared to some kids who live in other countries? What if you could see daily life on another continent — and give your kids an experience they won’t forget — without getting on an airplane?

 At Change the Story: The Compassion Experience, you can do just that. Your destination? Uganda. India. Bolivia. Your tour guide? A child who lives there, waiting to give you an inside look into their world — how they live, the streets they walk, and why their stories will never be the same.

 This one-of-a-kind event is made up of 3,100 square feet of exhibit space that will immerse you and your family into the environment of the developing world. You’ll step inside homes, walk through markets and see schools. You’ll experience first hand the challenges that a life in poverty presents, but will also experience each child’s special story of hope.

It’s an amazing opportunity to see a different world that is usually only experienced by traveling overseas. It’s also a chance to not just tell your kids about poverty, but to let them experience it — all in a safe and controlled environment. Hear what Dove award winning recording artist Matthew West had to say about bringing his family to The Compassion Experience:

Matthew West Testimonial from Compassion International on Vimeo.

The Compassion Experience is coming to Costa Mesa this week — it will be at Vanguard University (55 Fair Dr. - Costa Mesa, CA 92626) March 13-17. It’s a complimentary event, brought to you by Compassion International, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, and 95.9 The Fish radio. It takes about 20 minutes to complete the tour. You’ll also receive free tickets for you and your family to attend a free concert withMoriah Peters and Tim Timmons . 

Walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are recommended to avoid waiting in line. Click here to reserve your spot now  or visit Compassion.com/change  for more information.

 Share this event on Facebook Connect on Twitter

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Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 26 of the world's poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children—enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Compassion has been awarded eleven consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

Don't get caught on the Naughty List because you forgot to order customized Santa Letters for all your favorite kids!

For just $6 for the first letter and 10% off for each thereafter with the discount code SANTA, you can send the magic of Christmas to any child. A unique letter that you personalize will arrive from North Pole Station in Alaska in time for Christmas. Choose from a variety of themes including The Reason for the Season and School Days templates. Each one is special- just like the children.

Act now before Santa gets too busy making toys and packing his sleigh! Ordering is open through Tuesday, November 20.

Proceeds benefit The Mommies Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

Santa Claus letters are coming to town!

This year share the magic of the holidays with your favorite children by ordering personalized letters for each one. Each unique letter will be mailed from North Pole Station in Alaska in time for Christmas. For just $6 for the first letter and 10% off for each thereafter with the discount code SANTA, choose from one of our eight templates to customize the perfect letter for each child on your Nice List. Whether it be Baby's First Christmas or encouraging an older kid to Keep Believing, we've got the right message for Santa to send!

Santa gets very busy this time of year, so place your order by Tuesday, November 20. All proceeds benefit The Mommies Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

Place your order today by clicking on our Santa Letter campaign here, on our forums, or through our facebook event that you can share with all your friends and family.

Just Between Friend San Diego (North) Provides Financial Relief to Local Parents!


Hi, my name is Randi Smee, organizer of Just Between Friends San Diego (north). As a mother of three, living in San Diego, I know how costly it is to raise a family in Southern California. I also know how important it is get the most out of your budget. The economic downturn has been difficult on all of us and Just Between Friends is stepping up to help. Just Between Friends is a children’s and maternity consignment sales event where you can SHOP, SELL, OR SAVE!

Our spring sale will be held March 23rd – 25th at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real Mall in Carlsbad. Consignor/Sellers can earn up to 70% on their gently used items. Consignors simply sell the items they no longer need as their children grow and then purchase what they DO need at great savings. Our average consignor earned $200 and our top consignor earned over $1000 at our fall sale. We also provide a free online tagging system (www.myjbftags.com) where you can easily create your own tags! We host an exclusive presale for volunteers, consignors, military families, 1st time parents, and teachers. New this year we have a “Prime Time” shopping pass available for $10 dollars. This is a special opportunity for shoppers to gain access to the presale without consigning or volunteering.

Shoppers can expect well-organized venues with quality merchandise where they can find all they need for their family at substantial savings--usually 50 to 90% off retail prices. It's a savings cycle that has helped thousands of families across the country make the most of every budget dollar. Just Between Friends is glad to serve families with their savings events. This season our admission fees and donations will go to our local partner, the San Diego YWCA.


Schedule:
March 22nd – Presale (entry times posted online)
March 23rd – 10am – 8pm Open to the Public
March 24th- 10am – 4pm Open to the Public
March 25 – 10am – 4pm Half Price Sale!


Check out this YouTube video to see what a JBF event looks like (this is one of the largest events)!

Website: www.JBFSale.com (click on the San Diego North event)

Facebook: Just Between Friends San Diego North

This blog was created and is actively maintained by The Mommies Network, Inc. (TMN) Any and all information published is for informational and/or promotional use only. TMN receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product and/or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content will always be identified. Third party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this blog. Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the advertising opt-out page(http://www.google.com/privacy/ads/). Any questions regarding this blog can be directed to The Mommies Network at blogs@themommiesnetwork.org.

OceansideMommies' fabulous Flower Power fundraiser is drawing to a close, so if you haven't placed your order yet, now is the time! It's never too early to plan to improve your curb appeal or beautify your backyard. From begonias to tiger lilies and everything in between, Flower Power is the place for quality flower bulbs with a 100 percent money guarantee. This fundraiser runs until March 20, 2012, and your bulbs will arrive in April and May, just in time for beautiful summer blooms. Time is running out! Save time, money, and gas by planning your perfect garden from the comfort of your computer. Spring over to http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/240230/ZtJA5pzZ0QBx, and check out the wide array of lovely lilies and pretty peonies, among other bulbs. As a bonus, if you spend $40 or more, Flower Power will send you a free bag of 10 Twilight gladiolus, a $10 value. So what are you waiting for? Don't delay: Grow with us today! Profits made through our fundraising link go toward our chapter's operating expenses.

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Bonjour! Ciao! Hola! Have you been checking the National Chapter and participating in Cultural Awareness Month? In our Multicultural Mommies forum, we’re talking about foreign languages and discovering fun facts about different cultures. Join the celebration, and add some new words and phrases to your linguistic repertoire!

Do you have something to add to the conversation? Share your knowledge with other moms who are learning a language with their children. Go global with TMN as we highlight the many languages and cultures that make our world wonderful!

We chat online in a private forum — discussing everything from the best photographers to the worst temper tantrums and all that lies between — and meet up regularly at member-driven events around town. Whether it's a late-night commiseration about a crying baby (there are 4 a.m. posts to prove it) or a Moms' Night Out, OceansideMommies provides what our members need, when and how they need it.

Click here to go directly to our calendar, and stay up-to-date on all of our events scheduled for this week.

We chat online in a private forum — discussing everything from the best photographers to the worst temper tantrums and all that lies between — and meet up regularly at member-driven events around town. Whether it's a late-night commiseration about a crying baby (there are 4 a.m. posts to prove it) or a Moms' Night Out, OceansideMommies provides what our members need, when and how they need it.

Click here to go directly to our calendar, and stay up-to-date on all of our events scheduled for this week.

February is Cultural Awareness Month at The Mommies Network, and we're thinking globally! Share a love for foreign language and different cultures with your child in our Multicultural Mommies forum on our National Chapter. Each week, we'll feature several languages and cultural tidbits. You may also participate and strengthen your language lingo in a special webinar. Additionally, our sponsor will provide information on how you can continue your language-learning experience after the month is over.

According to Associated Content, brain research shows that children are at an optimal age for language learning. Although language study is effective at any age, some studies suggest that the human brain is more open to learning a foreign ­­­­­language ­­­from birth to preadolescence. Fortunately, researchers have not found an age in which the language window closes completely, especially in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

Take advantage of this opportunity to think globally, and join us as we learn about foreign languages and different ways of life during Cultural Awareness Month at TMN!

We chat online in a private forum — discussing everything from the best photographers to the worst temper tantrums and all that lies between — and meet up regularly at member-driven events around town. Whether it's a late-night commiseration about a crying baby (there are 4 a.m. posts to prove it) or a Moms' Night Out, OceansideMommies provides what our members need, when and how they need it.

Click here to go directly to our calendar, and stay up-to-date on all of our events scheduled for this week.

Friendships are often one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling parts of our lives. Not only do they provide us with company to engage in enjoyable activities, but they enrich our lives through shared meaning. Support systems have been linked to higher levels of happiness and improved overall health. While some friendships may only last for certain periods of time, others extend over a lifetime, and most of us recognize these relationships as some of the most important we will have. Even for people who generally feel they don't have trouble making friends, there are stages in life when this task may seem more difficult, leaving us feeling lonely or doubting our abilities to connect to others. If this feels like it is true for you, or you've noticed that this might be the case for your child, here are some ideas that might help in this process.

Children
With all the exciting activities that occur at this age, children may feel overwhelmed with the task of fitting in with their peers. Although you want their education to come first, making friends is most likely to be at the top of their agenda, and is also important to their development. Here are a few ways you can help your children establish relationships with their peers:

1. Teach your child important social skills that are essential to establishing and maintaining friendships such as sharing, listening, following rules, and playing fair. Allow your child to participate in events and activities that enable them to practice and implement these social skills. You can reinforce positive social interactions through verbal praise and, if this is something that is a real challenge for your child, through a structured reward system.

2. Provide opportunities for your child to play and socialize with other children their age such as play dates, sleepovers, car pooling, and extra-curricular activities. They should interact with their peers from school and in your neighborhood.

3. Read books with your children that teaches them about friendships and social skills.

4. It isn't uncommon for children to be timid or anxious about making friends. Be attentive to any red flags that your child may display that could indicate he or she is having trouble such as throwing tantrums, withdrawal from you more than is normal for them, or other changes in behavior or emotions.

Teenagers
During the teenage years, your son or daughter will encounter many possibilities to make friends such as participating in athletics, attending school events, and participating in extracurricular school activities. This is also a time when 'fitting in' and feeling connected to peers seems the most important to them, so not feeling part of a group or connected to people can feel especially difficult during these years. Here are some ways to help your teen navigate their social world:

1. Let your teen see how you interact with your friends. Because they are entering the young adult phase, it is important for them to see examples of mature, adult interactions. This can also help your teen better understand how positive friendships in adulthood look. If they are willing to go, take your teen to lunch with you and a friend.

2. Encourage your teen to partake in social activities that would enable him or her to meet other teens. This can include going to the movies, attending a dance, or eating dinner with a group of their peers. You can use your home as a 'safe' location for teens to hang out, yet still have adult supervision, by giving them a private area or room to spend time.

3. Talk to your teen about the meaning and importance of friendships. Discuss what makes someone a "good friend" and how to resolve conflicts and/or manage meaningful friendships they may have with others.

4. Monitor how your teen interacts with their friends. If you feel he or she is in an unhealthy relationship with one of their peers, attempt to provide guidance.

Post college-graduates
The college years provide young adults with numerous opportunities to meet new people as well as gain unique experiences. However, upon graduating, many people find it difficult or overwhelming with having to "start over" and meet new people, especially when relocating to a new town or city. Here are some ways that might help you connect to others after college:

1. Get involved in your local community. Join clubs, teams, or other extra-curricular and/or service based groups that allow you to meet and interact with others on a weekly basis. Working with others to reach a common goal is a great way to connect, and takes some of the pressure off this process, as you already share a common interest.

2. Invite people to engage in some sort of activity such as going to lunch, getting coffee or a drink, or hanging out at your place.

3. If you're shy or lacking in confidence, don't be discouraged because these feelings are not uncommon. Talk to someone else who has dealt with this stage of life, too.

Adulthood
As we enter adulthood, we often feel settled into patterns of making and maintaining friendships. However, many people feel dissatisfied with their outlets for social connection or the number of people to whom they truly feel close. When we are set in our ways, we can lack imagination regarding ways and places to connect to others. Here are some ideas about how to connect to new friends as adults:

1. Attend functions in your community that cater to something you are interested in but may not have tried before. This enables you to interact with people who you will begin to see on a regular basis. This could be joining a local charity with regular volunteer hours, or taking classes at a community center.

2. Join a group that involves doing something you enjoy yet keeps you active such as a yoga class or a golf club. This allows you to meet people with common interests, providing conversation starters that help take the pressure off the anxiety provoking introduction and connection process.

3. Invite family over for dinner. You can consider choosing members you feel most close or comfortable with or those who you want to get to know better, and set a theme for a dinner party. If you are in a relationship, consider having favorite members of both yours and your partner's family over together. This can deepen pre-existing relationships and lead to more regular family events and connections.

If you find your child or yourself having a little more difficulty making friends than you would like, speaking with a psychologist may help identify barriers and provide ideas for help moving past them.

Are you looking for some curb appeal? Do you need to beautify your backyard? Spring planting season may be a few months away, but there's no better time than now to grow with OceansideMommies! We've partnered with Flower Power to bring you a fabulous fundraiser to help you plan the garden of your dreams. Flower Power sells quality flower bulbs with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Gorgeous geraniums, tantalizing tiger lilies, and beautiful begonias are just a few of the many bulbs available and ready to be shipped to your door. This fundraiser runs Jan. 22–March 20, 2012, and your bulbs will arrive in April and May, just in time for beautiful summer blooms. So save some gas and the trip to your local nursery or big-box store, and plan your perfect garden from the comfort of your computer. Visit http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/240230/ZtJA5pzZ0QBx to view the enormous array of flower bulbs, and spring into Flower Power and OceansideMommies' fabulous fundraiser! Special bonus: Spend $40 or more to receive a free bag of 10 Twilight gladiolus, a $10 value. Grow with us! Profits made through our fundraising link go toward our chapter's operating expenses.

The New Year's parties may have ended, but our sponsorship promotion hasn't! We're still ringing in the New Year at The Mommies Network with an incredible deal that will have you reaching for your noisemakers. Moms may have the greatest buying power, sharing business experiences and trends with one another. And since women make more than 80 percent of all purchasing decisions and control two thirds of the nation’s disposable income, targeting this group benefits your company. Resolve to reach this influential portion of the population by taking advantage of this limited-time promotion. With all new/renewed sponsorship agreements, your business will receive a complimentary blog feature (advertorial to include logo/product image and 500 words). Prepaid agreements receive a 5 percent discount and a complimentary two months on one sponsorship listing. Sponsors also receive 20 percent off event sponsorships. Offer expires Jan. 31, 2012. The end of the month is just around the corner, so what are you waiting for? Celebrate with TMN by taking advantage of this amazing deal. For more details on how your business can ring in the New Year with moms across the nation, please contact Jessica Van Dyke at Jessica.VanDyke@TheMommiesNetwork.org.

We chat online in a private forum — discussing everything from the best photographers to the worst temper tantrums and all that lies between — and meet up regularly at member-driven events around town. Whether it's a late-night commiseration about a crying baby (there are 4 a.m. posts to prove it) or a Moms' Night Out, OceansideMommies provides what our members need, when and how they need it.

Click here to go directly to our calendar, and stay up-to-date on all of our events scheduled for this week.

Mondays can be great or one of those Mondays. For me today was one of those Mondays. My daughter decided to show everyone in BlockBuster what kind of demon crawled up in her by screaming and throwing her bag of M&Ms every where. She didn't stop screaming til we got to the car.


So I knew today was a good day to do some cake therapy. A good cake can take care of any problems. As soon as my daughter took her nap I hit the kitchen to make Rainbow Cake.






Rainbow Cake in Jar

Place the jars in a shallow baking dish, add about 1/4″ in water in the baking dish. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Note: The cake will mushroom over the top. I used extra batter which caused the volcano effect.