Do you have an idea, tradition, or tip that has helped your child to be more independent?  If so, we would love to learn about it by video or email.  We will choose one submission at random to receive a Myself Belt/book gift pack!   Please email all submissions to customerservice@myselfbelts.com.

 And…an early Happy Mother’s Day!  Enjoy 10% savings on all products at www.myselfbelts.com using the code MOTHER.  This code is valid through 5/16/10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_vIulPL8BE

 

For daily “practical and inspired tips” be sure to check out www.mymommymanual.com!

We had the best time with our January photo contest!  Customers sent incredible pictures of their kids in their Myself Belts.  Some serious, some funny, some clever, and some just downright adorable, we loved them all.  Our winner was selected at random, and won a Myself Belt of their choice.  For now, you can see many of the entries on the Myself Belts facebook page Look soon for our redesigned website with a page devoted to kids wearing their Myself Belts!  We had such a great time seeing Myself Belts in action, that there will definitely be more contests in the future.  Thank you for participating!

Happy February!

Talia and Danielle

Happy New Year!  We are excited that 2010 has arrived and feel energized for what the new year will bring.  Vacation and holidays gave us the rest and change of pace that we needed after a hectic fall.   We all need downtime, sleep, and a change of pace to remind us of our goals and where we want to focus our energies.  This holiday season really did that for us and we are ready and eager for what is to come in this New Year.  It was fun to see that our kids had the same looks on their faces as they headed to school on this blustery morning- excited for what was to come.  We wish you all a fulfilling 2010!

All the best,

Talia and Danielle

I just got back from our first holiday road trip and it was a success!  8 hours each way in the car and we arrived home with smiles.  I never would have imagined that it would have gone by so quickly and that we would be eagerly awaiting the next time.

I had talked about a game plan with lots of experienced friends and stocked up on the essentials.. lots of food(fruit, goldfish, chocolate, chips), new activity books, magnet books, movies, music but still worried if I had enough to entertain my 3 kids.  Shockingly, the DVD player was barely used as the kids preferred singing, playing the license plate game, and just looking out the window.  My 4 yr old fell asleep for a couple of hours so that was a treat for us all.  No one fought or argued, and somehow we all were happy in our space in the car.  The most requested song was “I gotta feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas.

I hadn’t thought about how nice it would be to have some time with my hubby where we could just be and talk about whatever popped into our heads without the usual interruptions of life outside of the car.  Quality family time can take place anywhere, and doesn’t always have to be at a dinner table looking each other in the eye.  Driving on an endless highway can also provide meaningful memories and a chance to just “be” together.

Maybe there is a road trip in your future this holiday season.  If so, make sure to pack lots of food and some good tunes!

Talia

For some parents, it is emotional and hard to separate from their preschoolers for the school day as we then look in the mirror and think “are they okay?” “do they need me anymore?” “who are we?” during these hours and “what do we do?” and simply “I miss them!” For others there is a feeling of success at having gotten our kids this far and having successfully meandered our way through the baby/toddler/sleepless/ and often overwhelming stages of early parenthood. Knowing that your kids are happy and safe in their new school is essential to a positive adjustment. Meeting teachers, parents, and hearing about your kids’ day help everyone to feel a part of the same school story.

We are enjoying the shift from our tiring summer fun, to some quiet moments not as moms, but just as people- where work can be done without guilt, a quick trip to the grocery store can be made(alone!), relationships with friends can be nurtured, and then we get to feel that excitement at 3:30 to pick up everyone and see their smiling faces and hear about everything that we missed!

Enjoy your back to school adventures!
Talia and Danielle

With the arrival of summer we have being doing one of our favorite things, going through hand-me-downs! As moms with more than one child, hand-me-down clothing is one of our biggest saviors. Whether clothing gets handed down from friends, family members, or older siblings, hand-me-downs can be a wonderful time and money saver. Sharing with friends and family is a fun way to see our favorite clothes live on. I love seeing one of my child’s favorite things on a family friend as it brings up great memories of remembering the clothing on my own kids. It’s crazy as they grow up to remember them so small. It’s also amazing how a t-shirt or pair of pants can elicit so many memories.

While some pieces of clothing may not hold up as well over time, we’ve found that well-made pieces can stand up to many washes and wearings. We find that it’s necessary to go through the bags of clothing we’ve accumulated every season, pass on what doesn’t fit, and take out what now does. Make sure to have your kids try on everything and not assume that a size 6 is still a size 6 (several washing/dryings can change the shape and size of clothing significantly). We have even heard from friends about Myself Belts being passed on to them in a hand me down bag- we love hearing that the belts have stood the test of time!

If you find yourself with a bunch of clothing and nobody to hand it down to, don’t throw it away! Find your local Goodwill and donate it there. There is sure to be someone else who can use it.

-Danielle and Talia

We both know how frustrating it can be getting your kids dressed in the morning! Whether your child wants to wear everything in their closet all at once, the same t-shirt everyday, or stripes with polka dots with plaid, the daily fighting over what to wear can be difficult and tiring.

My (Talia’s) youngest daughter (aged almost 4) is at the stage where she needs several choices in the morning. I find that laying out several options for her is the easiest way to have a calm morning. If I give her only one choice, she won’t want to wear it. But if I let her choose from several choices, she’s always happy. My older daughter (aged 6) is beginning to choose her own clothes without my help. Though this can end up in an interesting outfit of striped pants and a flower-patterned shirt, the pride she gets from choosing her own outfits is worth it!

Do you all have any strategies for helping your kids get dressed in the morning? Share them in the comments section!

-Danielle and Talia

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying the spirit of the holiday season. No matter what holiday you and your family celebrate, the holidays are a great time of year to spend extra time with your loved ones. As working moms with busy kids, we know it can get difficult to have family dinners and family activities.

We’ve thought of some fun things we do with our families that you might enjoy too.

If you live in a cold place that gets a lot of snow, go sledding or ice skating! Not only are these activities good exercise, they are fun and get your kids out of the house during the winter months.

If it’s simply too cold for you and your family to be happy outside, spend a day at your favorite museum. See if there are any new exhibits that your family may enjoy. Kid-friendly museums are a great idea when the cold weather hits.

Make dinner together as a family – everyone can make their favorite dish and share it with each other. A cookbook for kids that we loves is Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual by Klutz. The book has great kid-friendly recipes and even comes with a set of tablespoons for your aspiring chef.

Tell your family that the half hour after dinner is officially “Game Time.” Have your kids pick their favorite board game or even make up a game to play!

Decorate your home. No matter what holiday you celebrate, having a decorated home is festive and adds to the holiday spirit. Have your kids make the decorations themselves with construction paper, glue, glitter, and markers.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

-Danielle and Talia

Here at Myself Belts we’re all about loving life as a mom, and we’re constantly trying to find other websites embracing the same thought. One of our favorite mom-themed sites is PeaceLoveMom. PeaceLoveMom has great t-shirts, thermals, and tanks decorated with sentiments such as “Happy Mom” and “Lucky Mom.” The shirts come in great colors with fun designs and also come in styles for kids and babies.

-Danielle and Talia