guest post - Stuff Parents Need

Try This: DIY Valentine’s Day Fabric Door Wreath

January 29, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

I am tickled pink to be bringing you guys an awesome crafty post today! I don’t have a crafty bone in my body, but fellow blogger Elisebet from My Life: A Work in Progress does, and she has put together this awesome tutorial for you. Enjoy!!!

I have a newfound love for holiday door wreaths. To be honest, I never cared about holiday decorations (especially on the OUTSIDE of the house) until I started staying at home with my son. The home is my domain. Yes, it’s usually a messy domain, 🙁 but my recent domestication has me embracing sewing and crafts as my new hobbies. One thing I learned very quickly, you can usually make something much cheaper yourself, rather than buying it.

See this cute door wreath? It cost me about $7 to make.

Valentine’s Day Fabric Door Wreath:

Supplies-

1/4 yard of red fleece
1/4 yard of pink fleece
1/4 yard of white fleece
18″ wreath
ornament of your choice (optional)
3 hair pins (or ornament hooks or paper clips)
yarn, extra fabric, or rope (at least a 15’5″ strip)

Notes: I purchased a straw wreath on sale for less than $2.50 from a local craft store. The fleece was 50% off from a fabric store. Fleece is an appropriate fabric for this project, because it does not unravel when cut, so it doesn’t need to be serged or zig zagged stitched on the edges like other fabrics.

Step 1- You need a long thin strip of fabric or rope or yarn to be the base of the garland (approximately 15′ 5″). If you don’t have anything long enough, you can tie strips together.

I started with a 5′ strip from an old fleece blanket. When I came to the end of it, I just cut more and tied the strips together. Whatever you decide to use, make sure you tie the end into a knot, so your fleece “bows” don’t slip off.

What I started with.

Step 2- Cut your fleece fabric into thin 6″ strips…about 1/2″ wide.

12″ strips Cut the 12″ strips in half, ending with 6″ strips.

Step 3- Tie your 6″ strips one by one around your garland base. I did one red strip followed by a white strip and then a pink strip. I recommend tying the strip loosely first; push the knot down against the previous bows; then tighten.

Tie loose knot Push knot down against other bows, then pull tight.

Step 4- Continue until you’ve used up your fleece strips. Your garland needs to be somewhere around 15 1/2′ to cover an 18″ wreath. If you purchase a larger wreath, buy 1/2 yard of fleece instead of 1/4 yard.

Make sure you knot the end of your garland.

Knot the end of the garland.

Finished fabric garland

Step 5- Wrap garland around wreath. Use hairpins to secure both ends of the wreath to the garland.

(I left the plastic on my straw wreath. I’ll use it again for a spring wreath in a couple of months.)

Use hairpin to secure fabric garland to wreath.

Push hairpin in all the way.

Step 6- Attach ornament to bottom of wreath with hairpin (optional).

Secure ornament to bottom of wreath with hairpin (optional).

Step 7- Tie a piece of fabric, yarn, or rope around the top of the wreath. Use that to secure your wreath to door hook or wreath hanger.

Step 8- Hang, fluff, and admire!

A note about this DIY Valentine’s Day door wreath: Yes, it’s time-consuming (but easy!) to make the fabric garland for the wreath, but well worth it in the end (I think!). I suggest spreading out this project over a couple or few days. If you have a favorite TV show in the evenings, you could work on the garland then. I found it strangely therapeutic to tie my little fabric “bows.” As well, you can remove the garland to store until next year and then reuse the wreath for another holiday. The fabric garland is also washable (provided the knots are tight) on the gentle cycle, hang to dry. There are a lot of possibilities for this fabric wreath, making your money and time well spent!

About the author:

Elisebet is an Army reservist, Navy wife, former English teacher, and mommy to a squirmy, mobile 8-month old baby boy. With a background in writing, journalism, and public affairs, she now enjoys blogging at My Life: A Work in Progress about parenting, motherhood, baby, family, food, life, cloth diapers, eco-friendly products, product reviews, giveaways, and more.

Children’s Birthday Parties: Try Something Creative!

October 10, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I hope you enjoy this guest post brought to you by Banana Moon. As someone who recently planned her first children’s birthday party, I can identify with the stress of it! The post also reminds me of my baby shower for Darah, where guests stenciled onesies. They are some of my most cherished items of clothing for my girls!

Planning your child’s birthday party can become an arduous task, especially when you have to think of new and different ideas each year. The pressure to spend a lot of money is always there, but that isn’t always a viable option. The stress that can come as a result of planning a party can make you feel like it’s more trouble than it’s worth – not a great feeling when you just want to make sure your child has a lovely birthday. However, there are lots of fun and inexpensive ideas that you can put together to make a great party. All it needs is a little forward thinking and imagination and you’ll give your child a party to remember.

Creative activities are always a great option for parties as it keeps the children entertained whilst they are socializing together. Do something different that will also give the kids a memento of the day; for example, personalizing a t-shirt or hoodie using arts and crafts is a great way of doing both these things. This is an excellent way to keep the kids occupied whilst you prepare other party activities (the food and birthday cake are obviously top priorities!). This sort of activity will help stimulate their imagination, without it sounding too much like school work – always a bonus!

To prepare for the activity you would just need to purchase some plain clothing in a light color, some fabric pens or paint and maybe some plain paper so the kids can work on their designs before transferring it onto the clothes. Pens will probably be better for younger children in order to minimize the amount of mess made. You should be able to get these items from craft shops, and it might be worth investing in some stencils as some kids will be more artistic than others. You could mention in the party invitation for all the kids to bring an overall with them so they don’t get their party outfits messy (their parents are sure to thank you for that reminder!) You can get everything set up before the guests arrive, leaving you with ample time to make any last minute adjustments.

By the end of the party everyone will be wearing their new designs and it will be a great keepsake from the day. The fabric paint and pens will be a great investment for a rainy day, especially if your children love to draw. You could even encourage your children to create some new designs for their old clothes; teaching them the values of recycling in the process! So if your child’s birthday is coming up, maybe think about going down the more creative route and see what designs they come up with.

Fun Activities in the Garden with Kids

October 3, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I got some great ideas from this guest post about ways to have fun outside this fall with Darah! I hope it gives you some good ideas, too!

Fall Activities in the Garden

Fall presents a wonderful opportunity for children to learn through play in the garden and outdoors. Although summer is over, the blustery colorful change in season in no deterrent to fully take advantage to play alfresco.

Numerous creative activities can be combined with clearing the garden after the summer months in preparation for winter and putting it to bed. Depending on the child’s age and learning level the garden provides a perfect space for promoting color recognition, social play, fine motor skills, mathematical concepts, sharing with friends and imaginative play. There is also scope for the use of natural materials combining learning about the garden with other development skills.

Children can help with all the garden tasks converting them into a fun activity rather than a cumbersome chore. All the necessary jobs to prepare the garden to get through the winter ready for the following spring such as weeding, trimming the borders, dead-heading, plant protection and preparing the lawn can become a fun challenge for a child. Counting how many plants you need to dead-head, what color leaves have fallen onto the lawn, what the leaves feel like, the noise they make when they are scrunched up, how many borders need trimming, everything can be turned into a tool for learning.

Weekends can be occupied with fun educational activities for children. Packing up the garden is the perfect time to teach a child all about different garden tools and their uses, where they are stored in different garden sheds and how one should take care of them. Naturally a child may not be able to handle actual tools at they could be potentially dangerous but they can practise on their mini imitation tools!

If you have a wooden garden shed you may wish to spend a day cleaning it out, painting a protective layer over it, dusting and sweeping, reorganising and making space for potted plants that have finished bringing in the tubs. A child could be in charge of cleaning all the pots and planting bulbs that will last through the winter. The bulbs that they plant they can be in charge of monitoring, learning how to care for new life and observing things grow at the same time, both fantastic educative opportunities.

A great idea is to allot a child their own section in the garden for them to care for, decorate as they wish with pebbles and stones and watch life grow once the winter is over.

Not only does fall present obvious tasks in preparation for winter which can be made into learning experience for children, wonderful imaginative, creative games can take place. Fallen leaves provide a perfect supply of material for numerous craft activities such as leaf collages, leaf stencils and home-made cards. Scavenger hunts are exciting; children can be given a set of words and a bag and sent out to the garden to find all the objects (leaves, feathers, acorns, conkers, bark etc).

All the sticks, twigs and foliage that is cleared from the garden provide resources for imaginative play, building tepees, reconstructing imaginary villages, for dressing up, the possibilities are endless for children to explore and play expanding and learning all the while. The fall season is a great opportunity to take advantage of different dimensions for learning through play.

This guest post was brought to you by Tiger Sheds.

The Queen on Leave: 5 Dream Vacation Ideas for Hardworking Moms

September 7, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I hope you enjoy this fun guest post! Isn’t it nice to dream?!

One of the most demanding yet fulfilling job a woman can ever have is that of a mother. Being a mother means you are responsible for another human being who is dependent on you for almost everything. This is a job that calls for you beyond the work hours—even the most stressful job cannot be at par.

Yes, motherhood is a never ending job for a typical hardworking mom. All mothers would gladly have an extra pair of hands in order to perform all the duties in the house.

Regardless whether mom has a day job or is just your regular homemaker, it cannot be denied that she needs to take a break from her routine so she can keep up with her responsibilities to her husband and children. Most moms work hard to earn a living or take care of her growing brood full time. Chores at home is never-ending that’s why it is just fitting to reward her with a luxury vacation she must have dreamt of all her life. A thoughtful and generous husband should give his wife a luxury vacation as a birthday or anniversary gift.

Now put that ladle down, toss that apron, and gear up for a dream vacation you’ll never forget.

Sing like Gwyneth Paltrow at a Cruise Ship Vacation
Is it your deepest desire to imitate Rose DeWitt Bukater in the world-class, blockbuster film, Titanic? Set forth on a cruise ship vacation! Going on a cruise ship is actually on top of the bucket list for some mothers. After all, who would not want to sail from port to port and have the time of their lives relaxing and taking a break from her usual routines? Depending on what her dream destination is, she could go for a Mediterranean or a Caribbean cruise and go on board famous cruise ships such as the Queen Mary 2, Allure of the Seas, Norwegian Epic and Carnival Magic.

Go Wild on an African Safari Getaway
The activities that mothers embarking on an African Safari can do are numerous. She can conquer her fear of the “King of the Jungle” and feed the lions up close in a Tanzania safari. She can also join activities held at game reserves. Other activities she can enjoy: boarding a hot air ballooning and riding horseback.

Feel like a Kid at Disneyland
Admit it; as a little girl, you once dreamt to become that beautiful princess, waiting for her prince to come and save her from the evil clutches of her stepmother. Relive the dream and feel like a kid once more when you come visit a Disneyland near you. Disneyland, as the happiest place on earth, can only give pleasant memories. A lot of mothers would prefer Disneyland as she can bring her whole family with her. Some of the activities that moms can enjoy with their kids include: the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, and Splash Mountain, to name a few. There is no need to cramp as many activities in one day as there are several hotels nearby where she can rest with her family and enjoy Disneyland at a much more leisurely pace.

New Snow Destination: Antarctica
Say goodbye to France, Austria and Canada. There’s a new skiing spot in… Wait. Antarctica? Yes! Ever since the 1960’s, there’s an increasing count of tourists coming from all over the world in Antarctica. It’s a different adventure experience; more than often, cruise ships offer travels to Antarctica for a week or two. There are just so many activities that you can do in Antarctica like getting cozy with thousands of penguins, kayaking, camping, going on a Zodiac cruise and swimming in Deception Bay.

Tropical Getaway in the Philippines
Last but not the least— if you’re planning to get a tan, where else would you find white sands and the most affordable accommodations than that in the Philippines? The Philippines boasts a tremendous lineage of beaches and other tourist spots. Having 7,107 islands could only mean one thing —miles and miles of pristine white beaches— so choosing one beach destination would be very difficult as one option tends to be as good as the next one.
If you want to relax and party at the same time, you can go to Boracay and enjoy what that tiny island has to offer. They deserve to edge out on the Santorini and Bali, named as the 2012 World’s Best Island by Travel + Leisure magazine. Been to that island already? You can always visit Palawan and its wondrous underground river which has been included in the list of New 7 Wonders Of The World. If surfing is on the agenda, she can always go to Siargao. Other noteworthy tropical getaways that must be considered are Camiguin, Bantayan, Malapascua and Sarangani Bay.

The kind of vacation selected doesn’t really matter. What is important is that the “queen” is having the time of her life. The purpose of this vacation is for her to de-stress and unwind from her daily responsibilities. But the best thing that family members can do to their mothers is to help with her regular work load so she doesn’t get stressed out and instead have enough time to spend on other things with their family.

This is a guest post by Ruth Mendez, an outreach manager for www.andbeyondafrica.com. If you are planning for an African safari escape, then visit our website today! Or Follow me on twitter @fruthfulness

Guest Post: Baby Shower Gifts That Make a Difference for Mama

August 25, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Please enjoy this guest post brought to you by our friends at ASOS. These are fantastic baby shower gift ideas that might not be on your radar!

After a baby shower, the expectant mom is surrounded by so many goodies for the baby – from cute booties to a top of the range stroller, a baby shower can really help you get prepared for a little one’s arrival. However, carrying a baby for nine months can take its toll on the mom, so it might be nice to get some gifts for her too. In particular, if it’s her first baby she’s going to go from having lots of time for herself to being dedicated 24/7 to a new little person. So why not get her some gifts to help her indulge herself in the last couple of months? Here are some gift ideas for expectant moms everywhere.

A new dress

Buying maternity clothes can often be an expensive pursuit, but are a good investment as they are cut to fit pregnant women – if you just buy bigger sized clothing, they won’t always fit properly. So why not get your friend a pretty maternity dress to help her feel fashionable and comfortable? There’s so much choice out there now, and it will be something she can treasure forever and she’ll be able to feel great amidst the swollen ankles and back pain!

Luxury pamper kit

Create her a pamper kit with all the essentials you need to indulge in some serious TLC. Get her some luxury bath oils along with a loofah, body moisturizer, a new fluffy towel and a new bathrobe. She will then be able to relax and rest with some long soaks in the tub – definitely what you need when you’re aching all over! The towels and robe will also be handy to take with her if she is giving birth in a hospital and needs to take a bag with her with all her essentials.

A good book and a selection of films

When you near the end of pregnancy, lots of rest is required. But even the thought of sitting bored stiff for hours on end is enough to drive most people crazy, so why not get something to occupy your expectant mom friend? Stock her up with some great books and the latest film releases to make sure she doesn’t go stir crazy! It will help take her mind off any pain she’s having in those last few weeks – and it may be the last time for a while that she’ll have any time to read books and watch films that don’t contain cartoon characters!

Even if your friend only gets a couple of things that are for her rather than the baby, I imagine she’ll still really appreciate it! She’s about to undertake a crazy, wonderful journey with her baby, which is one of the most exciting things you can do in life. But getting a chance in the last few months of pregnancy to take some time for herself will be a much needed relief in the long run.

Guest Post: 7 Free Games On The Android For Your Kids

August 7, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Looking for a few more ideas to keep the kids entertained during the final days of summer? This post brought to you by the Cartoon Network offers some suggestions!

There are many different free games for kids available on Android phones and tablets. These games range from educational tools through to programs that are simply fun and easy to use, and might even provide parents with some lasting entertainment. Downloaded and checked for security, these free games have gained popularity as more widely marketed family friendly apps, or as ones that have been more specifically targeted at children. From iStory Books to perennial favourite Angry Birds, and including games like Deep Trip and Airport Mania, the following list represents some of the best free online games for kids currently available, all of which can be downloaded for Android:

1 – iStory Books

A good educational app that is also entertaining, iStory Books takes well loved fairy tales and other stories, and puts them into an easy to read format that is ideal for younger stories. Voice narration, and the chance to listen to stories in different languages, also means that iStory Books are great for multilingual children, or those starting to learn another language.

2 – Angry Birds

Popular the world over, Angry Birds does have some educational value in terms of its physics, but is mostly about the simple fun of firing birds with a slingshot. Easy to use, and accessible to a number of platforms, Angry Birds is suitable for all. The game can also be found in a number of different versions, which include Angry Birds In Space.

3 – Solo Lite

A virtual guitar player, Solo Lite is available as a free demo version. The virtual acoustic and electric guitars on the app allow children to play music and experiment with different songs and composing techniques. The demo version is enough to keep children entertained.

4 – Basketball Lite

A simple basketball game for all ages, Basketball Lite is designed around a number of levels, all using variations on a hoop dunking and dribbling game. Different levels and difficulty settings make this a good game for older children.

5 – How to Make Paper Airplanes

An ideal complement to different crafts projects, How to Make Paper Airplane is an app that teaches children the steps to put together paper airplanes. Best suited for older children, the step by step guides are tailored for different ability levels, with planes including Concorde and the Space Shuttle.

6 – Deep Trip

A game that allows the player to control an eel as he ascends through a number of obstacles to the surface, Deep Trip is similar to many other games with the same basic format – dodge targets and use skill to steer your character to the end of the game. A good way to pass the time for different age groups.

7 – Airport Mania

A useful game for children interested in playing organisational apps, Airport Mania allows you to take control of a mini airport, with the responsibility of making sure that airplanes leave and arrive at the airport on time. With its simple graphics and gameplay, Airport Mania is best for younger children.

Author Bio: Liam Ohm is a regular blogger on tech and app websites. If your kids love apps and gaming as much as mine do then check out online games for kids at the Cartoon Network website, you might find you enjoy the games just as much as them!

Guest Post: Tips for a Boy’s Bedroom Makeover

July 29, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Since I only have girls, I thought it might be fun to bring in a guest post that highlights tips for re-decorating a boy’s room! Enjoy!
Keeping the Child’s Choice in Mind
A child’s room is a reflection of their likes and interests and is their little piece of personal space. A bedroom makeover can be an exciting time for any child but it is important to note that when deciding on a bedroom make over for boys, listen to what they want. If they do not have an idea in mind try a theme for younger boys, like space or animals. The transition from toddler to young boy may seem abrupt and they may start to want a “big kid” room. For older boys it may be better to go with a certain colour scheme rather than a juvenile theme. Make a list with the child of what they would want and how you can work together to get it done.

Picking a Theme
Young toddlers and kids will love a themed bedroom that is fun and reflects their interests. If their favorite activity is going to the beach, an ocean theme would work well. For kids that love animals try a zoo theme. Kids older than 6 may not want a themed room as it would seem too “babyish” for them. However, a room for a boy can have a theme without being childish. For example, if their hobbies include baseball, try adding décor that reflects that interest. Use a baseball wallpaper border or paint baseball designs on the walls. Paint a giant scoreboard on the wall and use chalkboard paint for the score spaces. For a sophisticated and simple boy’s room, stick to only a few colour choices. Use accents of colour around the room and hang prints and artwork as well as family photos. Chalkboard paint works well for younger children and can be a fun way for him to write on the walls with no mess! Painting a mural on the wall is a great way to bond and have fun while decorating the room. Draw out the picture first in pencil before laying the paintbrush to the wall.

Choosing the Right Colour:
Choosing the right colour can be a daunting task. After all, there are thousands and thousands of colours out there. When painting a boy’s room, the first thing to take into consideration is their favorite colour. Stay away from colours that are too bold. While bold colours are lively and give a room a new energy, they can also be detrimental for sleeping or relaxing. Try choosing one bold colour with a few, understated accent colours like orange with brown and white accents. Yellow and orange are not assigned to any gender so they are perfect for boys of all ages. Neutral colours are great too because you can add a splash of colour. For example, paint the walls a light beige but add a red accent wall or paint the furniture bright blue.

The Bottom Line:
Choosing to redo a boy’s bedroom can be a great family activity. The new bedroom should reflect the personality and interests of the child. Make sure you listen to the child’s ideas and come up with a game plan together. For inspiration, look online at home decorating blogs and for a furniture website visit here. Many room makeovers can be done for very little money if you reuse things from around the house.

Disclosure: Special thanks to Shop4Furniture.net and Lisa Jolan for sponsoring this post.

8 Top iPhone Apps for Monitoring Your Spending

July 7, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Please enjoy this guest post brought to you by We Know Money. As an iphone user, it gave me some really good ideas for apps I need to get!

iPhones give users a unified platform to handle many of their day-to-day tasks. For those who wish to track their expenses, the iPhone has several options that allow users to quickly and easily store records of their spending. Some of these apps offer advanced features, helping users to gauge the big picture of their spending habits. This collection of apps from We Know Money will reduce the amount of time users have to spent manually calculating their expenses and may help users discover areas in which they can save money.

1) ExpenseTracker

ExpenseTracker, which costs $2.99, offers an easy-to-use app for managing one’s personal finances. Its simple interface allows users to input new expenses and even allows users to add income with the same interface. ExpenseTracker features informative and attractive bar graphs and pie charts that allow users to visualise their spending habits.

2) DebtMinder

The DebtMinder debt tracker, costing $1.99, is a tool to help users manage the task of paying off their debt. Its interface allows users to enter several types of debt categories, such as car loans, student loans and credit cards and charts their progress as these debts are paid. Advanced planning tools make it easy for users to judge their progress, and a tool calculates how much interest the user has avoided with their progress.

3) CashFlow Free

CashFlow Free, a free app, is a comprehensive personal finance app that tracks both spending and assets. Its interface is focused on providing instant updates to its user’s financial assets, and the interface shows the user’s balance at the bottom of the screen at all times. With analysis tools including a pie chart that shows how much the user spends on various categories of expenses, CashFlow can help users determine if their spending habits are appropriate or excessive.

4) DebtTracker Pro

DebtTracker Pro, which costs $1.99, is designed to help users track their progress in paying off multiple lines of debt. An overview screen shows users their total debt, and the ability to sort by debt amounts helps users prioritise their payments. Another screen displays how much of a particular line of credit is available and provides calculations of the monthly interest that credit lines will accrue.

5) Balance

Balance, a free app, is an expense tracking app that tracks its user’s cash, checking account balance and savings account balance. Its interface is designed to resemble a traditional, paper chequebook register, allowing users who are used to managing their balance the old-fashioned way to easily adapt. Balance is a great app for helping friends or family members who are reluctant to use newer technologies change their financial tracking activities to a digital device.

6) Spend Free

Spend Free, a free app, allows user to budget their available funds for various categories of spending. Colour-coding gives users a quick-to-read screen showing how much money is available for categories such as food, gadgets, gas and movies. As the funds are depleted, the green background becomes yellow as that particular budget shrinks and red if the user has overspent in that category. Another screen tracks spending by day, week and month and gives users a graphical representation of their changing spending habits.

7) Mint.com Personal Finance

Mint.com Personal Finance, a free iPhone and iPad app, may be the most popular personal finance app on Apple devices. With the ability to track incoming money and spending, Mint.com allows users to track their budgets with a clean, attractive interface. Mint.com can automatically login to banks and other financing websites, giving users automatic updates to their financial reserves. Mint.com allows the budgeting and tracking of several categories of spending, such as DVD rentals, fast food purchases and groceries. The app can also provide low balance alerts and financial budgeting tips.

8) Pageonce

Pageonce, a free app for the iPhone and iPad, is a personal finance app targeting bill payments and other expenses. Pageonce tracks its user’s balance, upcoming bills and spending while providing alerts about upcoming due dates. Its interface tracks when the bill was last paid and the user’s overall debt and investments. Pageonce even has a feature to track the user’s credit rating over time. With a thirty-cent upgrade, users can use Pageonce to automatically pay their bills from an account of their choosing.

How to Eat Fresh, Healthy Foods on a Budget! GIVEAWAY!!!

June 30, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 14 Comments

Please enjoy this guest post from a mom-owned business that happens to be founded by a former housemate of mine! Lisa Peterson rocks! 🙂 Don’t miss the great giveaway at the end!

It is easy for us all to make excuses or hide behind unanswered questions to avoid making the lifestyle changes which would truly improve our health, our relationship with the world around us, and our bottom line. A revolutionary approach is necessary to give us all the concrete strategies and resources necessary to reach real success with our food dollars.
For Lantern Financial Founder and President, Lisa J.B. Peterson, healthy eating was never a priority, but she started to think more about it upon the arrival of her daughter Alice in May 2009. Lisa is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ and started Lantern Financial to help young professionals and families set financial goals and work toward achieving them. Obviously she had always been very conscientious of her budget when she trekked out to do the grocery shopping, but felt that eating healthy and sustainably required visiting “trendy”, upscale markets and that simply did not work with her budget.

She began to wonder… She knew there must be a way to feed her family fresh, healthy, sustainable foods but not break her piggy bank to do it. She was hearing the same concerns from the young families she was counseling. Everybody wanted to be healthy, but they either could not fit into their budget, or chose to make extreme sacrifices to do so. That’s where her research started.

Lisa connected with Annie Carlson , a sustainable farmer, mother of three, and Executive Director of FARRMS. Annie was able to provide amazing insight into making earth-friendly, tummy-friendly choices about food. Lisa incorporated her knowledge of financial planning and living in an urban area…
And Voilà! A webinar was born!

“Lettuce Save You Some Cabbage- Preserving the World, Your Tummy, and Your Wallet” will answer all of the questions you have about eating healthy on a budget (Where can I buy local, sustainable food? What is important to buy organic, anyway? Where do I even start at the farmer’s market?). You will be able to ask your specific questions before “Lettuce Save You Some Cabbage” goes live. The $29 registration fee includes live participation and unlimited views of the recorded material.

The webinar goes like July 19th, 2012 at 1:00pm EST. You can register at http://www.lantern-financial.com/webinar .

Win it!: Lucky for all of you mommies, Tiffany is giving away a free ticket to the webinar! You can enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I am receiving nothing but good karma for this post. I personally know Lisa. She’s one seriously savvy lady and I believe in her business. I would recommend her services to anyone, which is why I’m proud to feature her on my site!