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Disneyland Deals Book

You may have noticed I haven’t been blogging as much as usual.  I have been having a reoccurrence of some health issues from years past and it’s been a rough winter.  Here’s to a better Spring!

Spring also has brought a new edition of the book I wrote called, “The Cheap Family’s Guide to Disneyland; How to Save $1,000 & Still Have Fun”.

Are you wondering how to save money at Disneyland?  If so, in this new edition, I’ve added more dates, more resources, and more ideas for saving quite a lot of money.  I hope you will check it out and let me know what you think!

I’d love ideas for the 2016 version, so if there is anything you would like me to add, please let me know via the comment section!

Happy Traveling!

Continue reading]]> I had the privilege of reviewing the brand Purely Elizabeth and it was a delight.  I found the ingredients to be very high quality as well as delicious. In fact, I had to stop eating so I could do the review and still have some left to show you guys!  As you know, I am gluten and dairy free and all of the items they sent me fit that criteria.  I like that everything they sent me is made from healthy, real food – including ancient grains.  I try to avoid GMO’s and so does Purely Elizabeth, thankfully.

I have 2 criteria for granola:

1. That it’s not too sweet

2. That it has lots of clumps

I am pleased to say that Purely Elizabeth fills those requirements beautifully.

I am happy to say my baby and 10 year old love to eat the granola and the oatmeal as well.

I can’t wait to try the Blueberry Hemp granola next!

Here is the video review if you want to see the granola and oatmeal in person!

Continue reading]]> We all know the simple basics that a baby needs when they are first born:  A place to sleep (we chose a crib, but you could also have your baby sleep in a bassinet or a pack & play or even co-sleep with you), diapers, wipes, changing table food, and clothes.  We chose to get our crib used, we purchased natural diapers because our other children had chlorine allergies.  If you are interested in using cloth diapers (see our post here).  At our baby shower we were given many of our baby clothes as gifts and purchased the rest used. If you are a minimalist like me, here are my ideas of the ONLY other things you will need for your newborn up to 6 months.  These are my own personal opinions on baby products and I have not been paid, given free products, or rewarded in any way to list the items below.  These are all things our family really uses.

Number 5

Fold Up Baby Bathtub and Bathing Essentials

I like having a fold up tub because it fits nicely under the kitchen sink for storage.  We actually have this one only in a different color and it has lasted 12 years and through all 4 of our kids.  At about 6 months, our babies graduate to the regular tub when they can sit up on their own.

I use this soap and this lotion.  Do not ever use scented bath products on babies (even ones that say they are made for babies)… ever!  They are so bad for the skin and can cause lifelong problems for your child. I used mildly scented products on my first baby and she has lifelong excema.

When your baby gets out of the bath, he will be freezing and will get chilled very easily.  To help him stay warm, a very thick towel or a You can place a heating pad under his hooded towel if you wish.  If you have any history of skin problems in your family, I would suggest organic cotton towels and washcloths for your baby.  We use organic baby wipes to wash him in the bath and after he eats solid foods (at about 6 months).

We bathe our babies once to twice per week.  For some reason, bathing them more often plays into their dry skin.  So, we limit baths to when they really need it.

Number 4

Bottles & Feeding Essentials

The Dr. Brown’s bottles are by far the best bottles to keep harmful plastics away from your baby and to ensure they don’t get air when they eat. It’s always nice to have a couple bottles around even if you are nursing.  They are handy to have around if you pump your breast milk or if you are away and your spouse needs to feed your baby.  I have had issues with breastfeeding.  Even though I desperately wanted to breastfeed, it never worked out, so I bottle fed exclusively.  Here’s the formula we use.  Three bottles should be enough if you breast feed exclusively.  If you bottle feed exclusively, plan on your baby eating about 8 times per day when he or she is first born.  He will use the 4 oz bottles for a couple months and then move on to 8 oz. bottles.  We have three 4 oz bottles and about nine 8 oz bottles and we run the dishwasher every other day now, but when he was first born, we ran it every day.  If you prefer glass, they also make glass bottles in the 4 oz and 8 oz size.

We use these organic cotton burp cloths. They are pricey and my husband hates them (they are not the most absorbent) and I love them (because they are soft and small and easy to carry around).  If you need something more absorbent, we also use the tri-fold baby diapers as well for spit up messes.

If you plan to use a pacifier, we have really liked these ones that fold up when they get dropped.   These ones are fun too and are supposed to help baby be able to grab and find his paci earlier.

At about 4 months, you may want to start your baby on solids.  You will need a chair, a bib, and a set of spoons (safe plastic) and bowls.  The links are the ones we use and find to be very effective.  We have never used a highchair because our kitchen is small.  We have never missed it and the baby feels a part of things when he is on our level.  Best of all, we can easily transport his feeding booster seat when we go to family’s house, etc.

Number 3

Soak Proof Pads

We have these everywhere for the first year of life because there are so many messes and it’s a lot easier to wash the pad than it is to wash sheets, bedding, changing table covers etc. They are nice to have your baby sit on when he is on your lap if he is prone to blow-outs.

Number 2

Blankets and Sleeping

At first your baby will want to be swaddled.  Aden & Anais are my very favorite blankets to use.  They are lightweight, easy to pack around, soft for the baby, and they make it easy to swaddle your baby and stay put because they are so large!  They get even better after they are washed.  I use these during the day.  At night, when I don’t want to have to worry about the blanket coming undone, I use a swaddler or a wearable blanket when they get older. Wearable blankets can be purchased at Walmart for under $10 and they have sleeves which I really like.  I use the swaddler for the first couple months, and then the wearable blanket until about 6 months, then the baby graduates to a “normal” blanket (but not a quilt).

This next item is an important foundational item for sleep training and it should be used from the very first day that your baby sleeps at night.  It’s a white noise sound maker.   I use the “rain” sound for my kids and they have all slept through the night at 6 weeks or sooner.  My current baby (who is 6 months now), slept through the night at 5 weeks and it only took 1 day to train him.  My other kids took a couple weeks.  I plan to do a post on how to get your newborn to sleep through the night.

Number 1

Baby Travel

This is the carseat I have and this is the stroller I borrowed from my sister in law. The carseat snaps right into the stroller shell which is really handy. I feel like a travel system is pretty important to help you feel like you can get around town easily and still have a life even if you have a new baby.  We chose the Graco Snugride Classic carrier because it was rated highly on Consumer Reports.  We also use this carseat cover to keep our baby warm and free from over stimulation.  It could also double as a blanket in a pinch or as a nursing cover.

As you may have noticed, all of my baby clothes have the mittens on them.  Newborns constantly scratch themselves (and you), hit themselves in the face, hit you in the face, and get their fingers confused for food.  These mitten cuff jammies and onesies are really nice to have them wear for the first couple of months.

IF YOU PURCHASE ALL OF THE ITEMS MENTIONED YOU WOULD SPEND ABOUT: $550 (not counting formula)

IF YOU ADD A USED CRIB, USED CHANGING TABLE, & CLOTHES YOU WOULD SPEND AN ADDITIONAL: $500 (approx. not counting diapers).

Not too shabby!  Especially since many of the items recommended are organic.

Here are a couple “how to take care of a newborn” videos I have done this year.  If this is your first baby, you might want to take a looksie.

Continue reading]]> Hands free baby carrying is a must at our house.  With 4 kids and a busy schedule, I need both hands free for cleaning up the house, preparing meals, and playing with my other kiddos.  My baby adores baby wearing and so do I because we can be close to each other while I get things done.

When I first had him, I tried out a bunch of different carriers and went to a babywearing class because I just couldn’t find one that was comfortable for me.  I am 5’3″ and about 120 pounds and many of the carriers were just too big for me.  I narrowed down my list to 6 that I liked best.  You will notice I left out the wrap carriers and ring slings.  I had one of those with a previous child and it was really hot to wear and I always felt like the baby was falling out (she wasn’t, I just felt that way).  There is too much “give” in the fabric and I personally prefer more structure.  There is a lot of user error with the wraps and Consumer Reports suggests not using them at all because it’s more likely your child will be injured because you might use it wrong or the fabric will stretch and give and make the carrier unsafe.  I know a lot of babywearing Moms will have my hide for saying this, but I think it’s a valid concern.

Here’s a list of my top 6in order from my favorite to least favorite.

Boba Organic

Pros:

• soft, organic fabric is gentle on baby’s skin
• distributes weight evenly so no one area gets sore
• has a detachable hood that is also size adjustable to protect baby from sun or over stimulation
• straps adjust easily while wearing
• shoulder strap adjusts up and down
• straps can be wrapped up and secured to be tidy
• machine washable
• 3 wearing positions (front facing in newborn, front facing in 12+ pounds – legs around belly, and back facing in)
• built in neck support for newborns (snaps), no infant insert needed.  Higher rise to support infant necks.
• accessories available (diaper bag that snaps on, carrying sack, etc)
• can be adjusted for different sizes and heights (i.e. men & women)
• the bottom of the carrier snaps up for infants who are shorter and keep their legs tucked up under their belly
• has foot straps for older babies (keeps hips in better alignment)
• storage pockets for phone/keys etc
• adjustable sides so baby can be pressed up against your chest or not, you control the distance

Cons:

• only 3 wearing positions (no hip carry)

• price ($160), non organic ($120)
• you can’t easily breastfeed in it
• it gets hot after wearing it for long periods of time, it is not made of mesh fabric

Baby K’tan Organic

Pros:

• lightweight and soft
• no straps to adjust
• you can breastfeed in it
• several different positions (facing in, facing out, on the hip,
• comes with waist strap for added support and a carrying bag (attached to waist strap)
• very compact and easy to carry around / fit in the diaper bag
• price ($60 organic, $50 non organic)
• gigantic warning label

Cons:

• learning curve: takes a while to learn how to wrap it correctly
• unsettling feeling that the baby might fall out (for me anyway) and that I wrapped it wrong
• fabric is stretchy so the shoulders tend to get sore
• not adjustable in terms of strap length: baby is pressed up against your chest (your baby may like this, but mine doesn’t)
• you may need a different size than your husband or other caregiver

Infantino Flip Front 2 Back

Pros:

• inexpensive ($30)
• comfortable for baby
• padded interior
• velcro bib inside is included
• shoulder strap adjusts up and down
• breathable mesh
• can be carried 3 ways (facing in, facing out, on your back facing in)
• machine Washable
• can be used with any size of person (adjustable)

Cons:

• straps are hard to adjust while wearing (but ok to adjust while not wearing)
• waist strap doesn’t give much support
• shoulders hurt after about an hour of carrying
• straps don’t have an elastic band to roll up and keep them tidy

Infantino Mei Tai
Pros:

• Cost ($32)
• Hybrid that falls between a wrap and a structured baby carrier
• Can by used with any size of person (adjustable)
• 3 ways to tie: facing in, hip hugging, backpack (baby facing in and on your back)
• comes with a hood to protect baby from sun and overstimulation
• machine washable

Cons:

• girly design that my husband wouldn’t be caught dead in
• it’s hard to get the straps tight enough to hold up the baby and not be digging into your shoulders
• It’s hard to untie things behind my back
• It has to be adjusted every time you put it on, you can’t just put the straps on a setting

Pros

• soft, organic material
• ample storage pouch for keys, wallet
• straps can be kept tidy and rolled up
• multiple position carry (front facing in, back facing in, hip)
• machine washable
• comes with a hood to protect baby from sun or overstimulation

Cons:

• price ($165)
• very hot to wear
• thick and bulky (feels like an overnight backpacking adventure when put on!)
• my baby hated the infant insert and I had a hard time getting him in the carrier with the insert on
• shoulder buckles that go on the top of your back are hard to move up and down

Note: Watch out for carriers that are considered “crotch danglers” (Baby B’jorn) and don’t have support or a strap around the parent’s waist.  These carriers are bad for babies leg and hip development and are not comfortable for Mom either.  Some people suggest never carrying baby facing out for this reason as well.

I have created a NEW POST with more baby carriers and new videos!  See the post here.

I hope these baby carrier reviews were helpful for you.  Please post a comment if you have any questions.

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Now that my kids are all in school, it’s time for a new(er) hobby.  I’ve decided to take up sewing just because I’m not very good at it and I would really like to improve.  I have never used a pattern, and have only sewed very basic things.  I find sewing relaxing and it satisfies my creativeness.  I just found a new sewing table and chair at an antique store for around $70, and it’s perfect for me and I enjoy using it!

I used to have a basic Brother sewing machine for about 15 years that I used infrequently.  It had 2 stitches and it served me well for as long as I had it.  I never knew you were supposed to clean it regularly and it was never cleaned and still kept going anyway.  I believe it was around $50 to buy and I felt like it was well worth it.  However, I plan to take a sewing class at a local university and I needed the capability to do button holes and a few other stitches, so I decided to do a little research and find a different one that would fit my needs better.

First, I went to my local Joann’s store so I could look at some in person and talk to someone who knows about sewing machines.  It seemed like their sewing machines were for more advanced users ($2K all the way up to $9K).  They had a couple cheaper models ($200+)  but they looked like they were really bad quality.  Even the salesperson didn’t recommend them at all.  I found they weren’t much different or better than what I already had.

Next, I went to Consumer Reports.  I wasn’t aware of this, but Brother Sewing Machines rate very high on quality and ease of use.  I like ease of use and quality, so it was a fit!  Amazon has their highest rated machine but the cost was around $400 (Project Runway Limited Edition).  I wasn’t ready for that much of an investment yet, so I headed on down to my local Walmart Store and saw this beauty pictured above.  It had all the features of the $400 model as far as I could tell, and it had 20 more stitch choices.  I was convinced and I purchased the Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine for around $150!  I bought it with the caveat in mind that I would return it within 90 days if it was too hard to use.  The sale price that I’ve linked to on Amazon is the same price that I bought it for at Walmart and at Amazon you will save the sales tax.

Here’s my review of Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine

Please note this is my own personal review, I have not been compensated in any way by Brother.

I got the machine out of the box and figured out how to thread the needle and bobbin without reading the instructions and I sewed the curtains pictured above.  These 2 things are very easy and have pictures on the sewing machine to help.

The machine sews very easily and I like the tension of the foot pedal. It’s good for very slow, or very fast or in between.  I have used thick and thin fabrics and I’m very pleased with the quality and the ease of use.

Next, I really wanted to try the decorative stitches, but you have to change the presser foot for that.  I was really worried that it would a pain in the neck to change the presser foot, but once I figured it out, it is EXTREMELY easy and only requires two steps.  Pop off the old presser foot and pop on the new one.  It takes less than 30 seconds, so no need to be worried about that.

Last, I’d like to review the decorative stitches on the Brother CS6000i sewing machine.  Selecting the stitches is very easy to do, just by pushing a + or – button on the machine.  The stitches are beautiful and there are enough choices for just about any sewing project I can think of.  BUT, I find it very hard to make an even stitch on the decorative stitch (not the straight stitch).  When you pull or guide the fabric at all, the decorative stitches get out of whack, crooked and misshapen, and on very thick fabric, it sometimes gets stuck.  On thinner fabric it has never been stuck, but it is hard to control the misshapen stitches.  I’m pretty sure this is a lack of practice and experience on my part, and I still love the machine, but that element of it will take some practice for you.

For my first few projects, I have been teaching myself how to use a pattern and do different things (like a dart).  I have a few friends who are having babies and I enjoy making baby projects, so I decided to buy this book called Simple Sewing for Baby.  I have really, really enjoyed this book.  It is very easy to use and perfect for the first pattern projects you ever do.  My first project was this baby snuggler.  Once I figured out what to do, it was very simple and I’d like to make another one. I love making the matching rattle (pictured) with each project. I made this on the new machine and the fabric and everything needed was around $6 and I still have remnants left over.

Next I sewed a few taggie blankets.  I found the cutest cat fabric at Walmart in the fat quarters (prepackaged) section for .97 cents.  I backed it with coordinating lovely baby soft velvety fabric with nubs on it on the back and then sewed in pieces of ribbon that I already had on hand.  To complete the project, I added a vintage button found at Planted Earth, a local antique shop (the button must be sewed on very well so as not to be a choking hazard). I sewed a matching giraffe rattle with each item I made and believe it or not, the taggie blanket and rattle only cost about $1 because I could make 4 or so out of each cut of fabric.  I think the button was the most expensive part.  My friends have been thrilled with their gifts!  I made my taggie smaller than what the pattern called for, just because I thought it was quite large.  I did a decorative stitch around the edge.  Well, because I could with my new sewing machine!  The whole project took about 1 hour.

Have you ever seen a scarf person?  Someone who wears a different scarf nearly every day?  Well, I’m a scarf person.  I love scarves and I have quite the collection.  I have spent more than $30 on a scarf but most of my scarves are probably in the $15 range.  When I went to Joann’s I had a 60% off a cut of fabric so I found this lovely turquoise and cream colored fabric that I just loved.  I got 2 yards and it was $6 for the cut with the coupon.  I made one scarf out of the fabric but I can make 3-4 more, making the scarf around $2 to make (including the buttons which are .50 cents each).  It took about 30 minutes to cut, iron, and sew the vintage buttons on (there’s 3 orange buttons, you just can’t see them all from the photo).  Not bad!  I got a ton of compliments on it when I wore it to church. I sewed it into an eternity scarf  (circle scarf).  Because of the fabric, it was a bit warm to wear.  It would be better in winter maybe.

Because the above scarf was so easy to sew and so inexpensive for the quality, I decided to look at sheer fabrics at my local Walmart store.  I found many pretty sheer colors for around $2-$4 a yard.  Sheer fabrics are much harder to cut and work with, but the sewing machine handled the stitching well.  This was my first time ever sewing sheer fabric and this scarf took about an hour and has a decorative stitch on the bottom edge of the scarf.  It’s a normal scarf, but can be made into an eternity scarf by tying the ends behind your neck and wrapping the scarf around your head.   it could even be used as a belt or hair tie.  I think it was around .50 cents to make and the color choices are endless.  This one is black and gray.  Sorry for the terrible photo.  I was trying to take a picture of myself wearing it!

I will post a tutorial later on how to sew a scarf with step by step instructions so stay tuned!

This last photo is just another taggie blanket that I made and gave to a friend.  They take about an hour to make from start to finish.

Disclaimer:

**All content provided by Positively Mommy is for informational purposes only. Positively Mommy makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found on this site or found by following any link on this site. Positively Mommy will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. Positively Mommy will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at anytime.

Continue reading]]> This awesome Gluten Free bread machine is a well-used appliance in our kitchen. We’ve had it for a couple years now and  it has been worth it’s weight in gold since we use at least a loaf of bread each week.

When we buy gluten free bread at the local health food store, it generally costs $6.50 + tax for a 1 pound loaf.  We can make a 2 pound loaf for around $4 which also gives us control over what we put in it.

Sometimes I put in chia seeds, ground flax seed, or apples and raisins.  I have tried many mixes in this machine, but I find Bob’s Gluten Free Bread Mix is the best tasting.  I add 2 eggs instead of one for a fluffier texture and use vanilla almond milk to make it dairy free.

Here’s what the bread looks like when it comes out of the bread machine.  It’s moist and tender and doesn’t taste gluten free until day 2 when it’s a little more stale.  Now, we live in Utah where it is high altitude and I have problems with the bread machine’s ability to make the middle of the bread not mushy (is that a word?).  Well, I turn the oven on 350 when the bread is done in the bread maker and cook it for 5 more minutes.  I think there’s a way to make it do that in the bread machine, but I lost the manual.  I gave this loaf as a gift to my daughter’s friend who is also GF and she said it was the best bread she had ever had.  Patted myself on the back with that one!

Here’s the settings on the bread machine.  You can see it has a gluten free setting.  There are other machine’s that are double the price that have gluten free settings as well, but they make smaller loaves.  I felt like for the price, this one was the best for us.  It’s a little on the large size for an appliance, but since we use it so much, I feel like it’s worth it.  It does take up valuable counter space, so you will need to keep that in mind.  If you’re like me and crave soft chewey bread, it will be worth it to you, trust me!  And to be honest, my kids prefer this bread to non-gf bread, so that’s saying something!  If you have any good bread recipes, please share them with us in the comments.

**Positively Mommy occasionally provides recipes and other information about food preparation. Please keep in mind that it is the reader’s responsibility to determine the value of these recipes, nutritional and otherwise. It is also the reader’s responsibility to determine the safety of the preparation instructions. Recipes are prepared “at your own risk.” We assume no liability, obligation, or warranty with respect to these recipes. Positively Mommy is not responsible for any damage, medically or otherwise, that could result from preparation of these recipes. Visitors must take care to check the instructions provided and determine their value and any possible medical condition that may arise from the preparation instructions and consumption of the ingredients listed in this site’s recipes.

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Table Talk Family

GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED!

I love the concept of engaging in meaningful conversation at the dinner table.  We are a pretty traditional family and eat dinner together at the family table every night.  Sometimes we don’t have much conversation going on though and just have our noses in our food!  I think this product would be great to get to know each other better and get all the kids talking (even the ones that are a bit more shy and quiet).  We give everyone a turn to answer.  So one of our favorite parenting products is Table Topics Family ($25 on Amazon).

I gave my husband the couples edition of Food for Thought for an anniversary gift.  I think it’s meant for the dinner table, but there are some questions that are personal and we wouldn’t want to talk about them in front of our kids.  So, we use it sometimes when we go to bed.  We choose a couple different cards.  It has helped a lot to get dialogue going on and to help strengthen our marriage (which makes us better parents!).  I think this would make the perfect wedding shower gift as well (click on the photo for more information).

**All parenting advice and information on Positively Mommy is provided for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise noted, the site content is not written by doctors, psychologists, or other health care professionals. The staff at Positively Mommy do not have psychiatric degrees or any other therapeutic training. The majority of our advice is drawn from personal experience and thus represents personal opinion. It is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any reliance on the information Positively Mommy provides is solely at the risk of the user. Positively Mommy does not assume any responsibility for damage or injury to persons or property that may arise from the use of the advice and information Positively Mommy provides.

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Toilet Training in Less Than a Day

This book, Toilet Training in Less Than a Day makes it easy to toilet train your child and it really does work.  It’s method is not new (my mother in law used it on her kids), but it has consistently worked in less than one day with each of my 3 children.  I have trained all my kids at about age 2 1/2 or 3.  I have had unsuccessful attempts any earlier than 2 1/2. On the potty training day, you send your other kids and distractions away while you focus the day on your child and give her lots of praise and adoration for her accomplishment.

When she has an accident, she will practice 6 times getting to the potty.  My kids HATED practicing so they learned in a couple hours.  The book will tell you all about this.

You will need:

• Lots of salty snacks (that will induce thirst)
• Tons of drinks such as water, juice, soda, kool-aid or anything they like to drink
• a potty seat that has a removable seat and bowl (trust me on this!).  We have one similar to the one on the link.  We also have these permanent child seats on all of our toilets so when our kids are first training they can feel confident about not falling in but adults can still use the toilet without having to remove the gross baby toilet seat that often has pee all over it.
• Potty Books.  This one is for boys and this is the one my daughter is reading in the picture.  I like this one for boys as well because the illustrations are really great.  You can also check out some potty books from your local library.  We start reading the potty books in advance of the training.
• We did a sticker chart for our kids when they went potty, but it’s not necessary.  We just wanted to give them lots of praise.

If you have a little boy, here’s a tip for you that took me a long time to figure out.

TIP:  Teach boys to lean forward and point their penis gently downward into the toilet!  Since they sit on the potty when they are first learning, their little fountains can be unpredictable!  We had pee all over the shower curtain when our boy was sitting on the toilet.  I still can’t figure out how that happened!  On the bright side, when your boy needs to do a urine sample for his kindergarten doctor exam, peeing in a cup is a lot easier than with girls.

I didn’t find potty training my boy to be any harder than my girls.  In fact, I was sick on the day my son potty trained and my older girls did most of the work!

Potty Training a Boy

We do our set up in front of Dora to give us something to do.  The book says you’re not supposed to do that, but we have had success with having some “sitting down” activities to do while keeping the kid contained to a small area.

Another Tip:  keep a towel under the potty just in case there are any drips and there always are!

**All parenting advice and information on Positively Mommy is provided for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise noted, the site content is not written by doctors, psychologists, or other health care professionals. The staff at Positively Mommy do not have psychiatric degrees or any other therapeutic training. The majority of our advice is drawn from personal experience and thus represents personal opinion. It is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any reliance on the information Positively Mommy provides is solely at the risk of the user. Positively Mommy does not assume any responsibility for damage or injury to persons or property that may arise from the use of the advice and information Positively Mommy provides.

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Heaven is Here Book - Signed

I have been reading an autobiography Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson.  It is written by the creator of the popular blog Nie Nie Dialogues. You have probably seen her on any number of daytime TV shows.  She inspired me when I saw her on the Oprah Show a few years ago.  Her outright faith, passion, and love for her family (and for everyone) literally shined through her down to earth personality.

The book is the true story of a family touched by a terrible tragedy and how they overcame almost insurmountable odds.  Stephanie is such a positive person and is one of those people you just want to be like.  She has been a great example to me about the kind of mother I would like keep working toward.  She has a very honest writing style and her story is so interesting.  I have stayed up until after midnight on several occasions just telling myself I’ll only read one more page, several chapters later I have to force myself to put it down and go to sleep!

Reading this book will change your life.  Guaranteed.  For the better.

I happen to have a signed copy of this book in April and got to meet Stephanie and her husband Christian in person.  I took my 11 year old daughter with me to meet her.  My daughter was a little apprehensive at first, but Stephanie was really warm with her and you could see the connection she has with children.  The line to meet her was literally out the door and she was in the very back of a large bookstore.  She greeted each person as if they really mattered.  I’m thankful to have read her story and that I could meet her in person.

You can purchase the book for around $15 on Amazon.com.  It’s well worth it!

**All content provided by Positively Mommy is for informational purposes only. Positively Mommy makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found on this site or found by following any link on this site. Positively Mommy will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. Positively Mommy will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at anytime.