Pictured here are my two precious babies! I am so proud of them and of myself for being able to capture the two of them together.

I wanted to share with you all my Mother’s Day story. I wrote this shortly after having our son and hope that you can enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it! I wish all of you a wonderful & joyful Mother’s Day!

Blessings,
Amy

Happy Mother’s Day
By Amy Allen Clark

Isn’t it great that one day out of the year our role as mothers is being celebrated? I look around at all of the advertisements and displays offering special Mother’s Day cards, books, and of course the traditional heart locket and shake my head. It is amazing how a day to celebrate our motherhood has now been turned into a commercial venture instead of a true celebration.

So instead of sending all of my dear friends a card in the mail on this one special day, I salute mothers around the world for all that you do each and every day.

I salute those of you who are bone-tired from being up every night with a sleepless baby and yet still manage to have a smile on your face because you are filled with pride for your new child. I salute the mother who is bone-tired because she stayed up all night not with her child, but instead stayed up trying to get her chores done around the house because she was too busy playing with her child to notice. And I am honored to share the company with the mother who has been up all night with her child who is not wearing a smile on her face and wants to share her night of hell with me over a cup of coffee.

I recognize the mothers who go to work each and every day to help provide for their family as their hearts quietly break when they think of the time they cannot spend with their child. I salute the mother who gave up her career just to know that they will be the ultimate giver of care twenty-four hours a day while their heart silently breaks with longing for the career that they wish they had. And I salute the woman who is happy with her role and doesn’t look back, but straight ahead at the face of their child.

I stand amazed at the mothers with seemingly superhuman powers, conquering their bills, the family laundry, and dinner, all while balancing their beautiful babies on their hip. I bow to the woman who opens her home and heart to her family and friends even when the bill aren’t done, the family laundry is laying in a mountain on their floor, and they have chosen to eat take-out all while balancing their beautiful babies on their hip. And I acknowledge with grace the woman who decides she just can’t do it all and hires someone to help her so that she can get all of these things done while balancing beautiful babies on her hip.

I feel my heart swelling with pride when I see a woman walking in a store with six children in tow, never understanding how they have done it financially or emotionally. My heart fills with joy at the site of a mother with just one child holding hands with complete looks of contentment on each of their faces. And I rejoice when women achieve their much deserved pregnancies after going through numerous miscarriages and complications.

As I shout all of your praises, I look back upon my life before the birth of my child and realize how little I knew. You see, when I became a mother, I understood that I would have to make sacrifices for my child. I knew that I would love them unconditionally and that I would do anything for them…and yet I did not know. I remember as my mother touched my pregnant belly she had said, “You will finally understand how much I loved you,” and I had nodded my head…I did not know. I nodded my head, but I could not feel yet the power of motherhood.

I feel the power now as I am holding my son in my arms filled with a love that only a mother knows. And I know that someday when my son has his own child I will look to him and say, “Now you will know how much I loved you,” and see him nod too, but never really understand until he becomes a parent.

So in honor of each and every mother I praise you- not through a card or through gifts, but through this little crayon drawing that I am sketching for you that simply says, “I love you, mom!”

I raise my glass to mothers everywhere in honor of your motherhood, not on just this commercialized day, but every single day- cheers to us!

****This writing may not be used without the author’s permission****

Be sure to visit last week’s sales and it is the final day to take our Sunday Poll.

FoodSaver is having a spring sale that can’t be beat! Their Foodsaver Vac 1075 has been marked down from a whopping $129.99 to $69.99. That saves you 60 bucks!

1-800 Contacts has a sale going on how where they are offering $40-80 rebates on all of their top brands of contacts. $50 or over spent will land you free shipping too!

Entertainment Book free! If you reserve yourself a copy of the 2007 book, you can get the 2006 book for free. There are lots of great coupons for all of your dining, shopping, and travel needs. These make a wonderful gift too.

Saturday Snack: I make these every couple of weeks or so. It is a very versatile recipe because you can substitute the chocolate chips for anything you like (dried fruits, peanut butter chips, nuts, etc..). Recently I substituted one cup of the oatmeal for one cup of Rice Krispies and that made the perfect combination for our family. If you like a healthier granola bar, then stick with just the oats. If you are in a pinch, you can substitute the honey with lite corn syrup (equal amounts).

Chewy Granola Bars

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease on 9×13” pan. In a large mixing bowl, mix together all of the ingredients (minus the chocolate chips). Stir in chocolate chips. Press into pan & bake for 18-22 minutes. Let cool for ten minutes, and then cut into bars.

I am jumping on the blog wagon and participating in a little thing called the Thursday Thirteen. Everyone blogs about thirteen things that they would like to share with their readers. This week, I am going to share thirteen things that you may (or may not) know about me & my family. Each week I will choose something different to share on so please visit us next week for another fun installment.

Thirteen Things You Don’t Know About Amy

1. I married my high school sweetheart. We met when he was fifteen (just turning sixteen) and I was seventeen. We dated all through high school, college, and then decided to get hitched after that!
2. I didn’t get my license until I was eighteen years old because I HATE driving. This has never changed and I get a little freaked about driving still. Don’t ask me to back up too far, park anywhere difficult, or make me drive in high traffic areas because I will have a severe panic attack.
3. I have held jobs as a babysitter, cashier, waitress, administrative assistant, & insurance agent. I enjoyed all of them except the administrative assistant because I am not fond of being told what to do. Oh, and that hasn’t changed either!
4. I did tons of theatre and when the kids get older, I plan to return to it. I returned to theatre after we got married, but after I had my first child, it just became too difficult to do. I did my final play when I was five months pregnant with Ethan. Luckily, it was, “The Christmas Carol” and all of the dresses were empire waist so it discreetly camouflaged my little baby bump.
5. I was not good in school…I have never been a scholar. I have poor concentration and don’t like being told what to do (did I already mention that?) I was, however, a social butterfly and phrases like, “she doesn’t listen, but she loves to talk!” always appeared in the comments section of my report card.
6. I have a sister (five years younger than me) and a brother (eight years younger than me). I am close to both of them and love them both to death!
7. I am a TiVo addict. We have a season pass to about eighty different shows and I try to keep up as much as I can. Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, American Idol, Nip/Tuck, & 8th & Ocean are my current favorites.
8. I like rap music- um, a lot! Unfortunately, my son is at the age now where he is repeating things so I can’t really listen to it anymore, but I am a huge hip hop fan. I know it doesn’t fit with my persona, but it is true!
9. I love board games especially Scrabble & Upwords. I can kick my husband’s butt in those games! I am a poor loser though so I don’t enjoy playing Monopoly with my husband because I have been known to cry because he is really mean with taking over the properties.
10. When I go to the library, I leave with more books than I will ever read. I leave with the books because I can’t stand someone else having the book so I horde the book at my house so no one else can have it.
11. I love stupid smutty magazines like Star & OK Magazine. These have become my escape from the reality of my life.
12. I once sold Avon- and that didn’t go so well! I was afraid to bother people and was worried that they would be mad that I left them catalogs. I would leave late at night and drop them off after it was dark so no one knew it was me. Then I was scared to take products to people because I wasn’t sure what kind of people they would be. I discovered that I am not good at selling!
13. I love being a mom. I feel like that is exactly what God wanted for me! I may not be good at it all of the time, but I do love it!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I am not new to the world of frugality, but I am new to the Festival of Frugality, which is featured each week on a different blogger’s site. The Festival of Frugality showcases the best blog entries of the week on how we all can learn to save even more money.

I found out about the festival and will get an opportunity to host it on August 22nd. I am looking forward to the opportunity to showcase all of these great blogs in such a fun & unique way.

Clutter2Cash is hosting this week’s Festival of Frugality #22. There are tons of great entries, but my favorite is The Family CEO’s and how she spent $5.26 to save $25. This is a good way to learn how to save even more money on common items that you buy all of the time.

Our Play It Again, Momma! was also featured in this week’s festival. I shared some great ways you can land yourself some free magazines. Be sure to check that reading out too!

Just one more reminder to take our Grocery Budget Poll this week! If you can, please click the comment button and let us know how many people are in your family and the amount that you spend. I am looking forward to sharing on more ways you can save on your grocery budget.

I also wanted to let people know that my One Month of Slow Cooking article is UP!! It contains thirty great recipes (tried and trues only!) and the nutritional information for each of them. It also includes side dish ideas & ways to save more time & money in the kitchen. Slow cookers are a wonderful tool right now so you aren’t stuck indoors cooking. This can be a nice alternative to grilling and you don’t even have to turn your oven on! Be sure to print it out for your shopping this week.

Well, my very first tip is for the dude who stole our website design- pull the owner’s information out of your code before you post it, otherwise we will find you! I know, I know, imitation is the best kind of flattery, but do us a favor and don’t flatter us anymore. Does this design look familiar to any of you? My Turkish is a bit rough, but I think it says something about thanking the web designer of MomAdvice.com for all of their hard work in making such a lovely site for him…something, something about paying us and blah, blah, blah. Or it could say something about being frugal and not paying anyone just like I instruct everyone to do. Good Lord, people! Don’t take me so literally.

Moving on to our real tips:

Tuesday’s Tip:

This comes from one of our wonderful readers. She had a great recipe that she would like to share with all of you! Please free to keep your tips coming to me- these tips can be on organizing, saving money, recipes, or neat parenting ideas! Please include your name, city/state, and your url (only if you have one).

A simple recipe my kids love for your website:

Cheese-filled pizza breadsticks

1 can refrigerated canned breadstick dough
8 individual mozzarella string cheese sticks
1 jar of spaghetti or pizza sauce, for dipping

Preheat oven according to directions on breadstick dough can. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Unroll breadstick dough, separate dough into 8sticks, and cut each stick in half, creating 16 sticks, each about 3 inches long. Cut each of the 8 pieces of string cheese in half, creating 16 sticks, each about 2.5 inches long. Wrap 1 piece of breadstick dough diagonally (like a candy-cane stripe) 1 each piece of string cheese, and then pat the dough together to thoroughly cover and enclose the cheese. Place on baking sheet. Repeat to create a total of 16 cheese-filled breadsticks. Bake per directions on breadstick dough can, watching carefully and removing early if necessary to avoid over browning. Breadsticks are done when the dough is golden brown on the outside. Serve with warm spaghetti or pizza sauce in individual dipping cups, to avoid any issues with “double dipping.” Leftovers keep and even freeze well.

Reader: Patricia Coury
Taken From: The Dinner Doctor Book by Anne Byrn (this came HIGHLY recommended from her!)

Inspirational Reading Material: This website has an A-Z listing of household recipes, cleaners & detergents, pest removal, air fresheners, laundry stain removers, and much more. Everything you ever wanted to know how to make is contained in this article.

MomAdvice Reading Material: Everything you ever wanted to know about wholesale clubs is located in this article. The article covers all of the wholesale clubs and the pros & cons of each one.

Here are this week’s picks for the latest money news….

Stay At Home Mom Would Be a High Paying Job

A full-time stay-at-home mother would earn $134,121 a year if paid for all her work, an amount similar to a top U.S. ad executive, a marketing director or a judge, according to a study released on Wednesday…Read More

Gas Rebate Credit Cards- Do They Pay Off?

Some gas cards give five percent rebates … but you have to spend a certain amount of money. Even with credit cards not tied to gas … you might not be getting your full rebate…Read More

AOL’s AIM Phoneline’ Offers Free Local Phone Number

AOL is close to unveiling a voice-over-Internet service, based on its AIM instant messenger, that would give any AIM user a local phone number for free. Dubbed AIM Phoneline, the free number would only allow for incoming calls from any phone…Read More

Post office Wants 3-Cent Boost to Stamp Prices

Not just diamonds are forever. Add stamps to the list. The post office is planning a “forever” stamp for letters, good no matter how many times postal rates increase…Read More

Use Your Cell Phone to Comparison Shop

Imagine if you could go into a store and look at a product on the shelf and know whether you are getting the best deal. Now you can, thanks to new technology for your cell phone…Read More

Beat Price Shock at the Gas Pump This Summer

With summer driving season just around the corner, gas prices are climbing. According to the short-term energy outlook released this month by the Energy Information Administration, this summer consumers will pay an average $2.62 per gallon for regular gasoline, 25 cents more than last year…Read More

We would like to congratulate Juli Hood on being chosen as our Monday WAHM for MomAdvice.com. We wish her much success in her business and with her family.

If you are interested in being featured, we will be selecting a mom for each Monday of my blog. You can read more and apply. Email confirmations are sent to each mom if they are chosen. Please remember to do your own research on these companies. If there are obvious red flags on BBB, I do not post them. Check my scam article to find out more about the potential dangers of work-at-home businesses.

Just a quick reminder to take this week’s poll on Grocery Budgets. The results will be discussed at the end of the week!

Name: Juli Hood

City/State: Elkhart, IN

Name of Company: Discovery Toys, Inc..

Website Name: http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/jhood

Two or Three Sentences About Your Company:
Discovery Toys is an educational company that believes children learn through play. We encourage parents to play with their children so that they will learn and still have fun at the same time. Play is a child’s work…give them the correct tools to do the job. Finding time to have a home business and playing with your children can be hard- Discovery Toys gives you the luxury of both. I can have my business and play with my kids at the same time!

Two Tips for Moms Trying to Work-At-Home (these tips can be how you stay organized, how to be successful, how to get started- anything that you feel would help someone just starting out):

1. Utilize nap time (or quiet time as we call it). With your kids quiet you can get on the computer to place orders or get on the phone to make those much needed phone calls!

2. Don’t be afraid to ask! If you don’t know the person and they say no- well they probably won’t remember you, but if they say yes- Score a point for you!!

Snapfish Deals: Use the following coupon codes for additional savings on your pictures…

5 Extra Prints Free
Code: MAYAFF59906
Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06

20% Off All Memory Books For Mother’s Day
Code: MAYAFF52006
Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06

Apply a $.99 Shipping Credit to your Order
Code: MAYAFF59906
Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06

$2 Off Order Over $10
Code: MAYAFF5206
Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06

Free Shipping on 5 Prints
Code: MAYAFF59906
Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06

CreateForLess is offering a full month’s sale in honor of National Scrapbooking Day. Save on all of your scrapbooking supplies this May.

Drugstore.com is currently running a Spring Into Summer sale. You can save up to 50% on summer essentials such as skin care, insect repellant, allergy care and more until June 2, 2006. They have some top brands in this sale, including Dove, Neutrogena, Pampers and philosophy. During the first week of the month, GNC Gold Card members receive 20% off their GNC purchases at drugstore.com.

Walmart.com is offering a great deal on roses for Mother’s Day (drop hints to your hubby now!) You can get two dozen long stem roses for $29.97- now that is a steal!

It is all about baby today! Make sure to sign up for these great freebies for you & your little one. Next Friday I will share even more freebies for that sweet baby in your life.

MomAdvice Diaper Bag Checklist
Never get caught without a wipe when out running errands again. This handy diaper bag checklist serves as the perfect reminder to make sure you have everything before venturing out.

Very Best Baby Magazine
Every free issue is tailored to your stage of pregnancy or to your baby’s age and packed with lively articles on topics of interest to moms-to-be and new moms. Plus, you’ll receive valuable checks for savings on infant nutrition products!

Welcome Addition Club from Enfamil
Become a Similac Welcome Addition Club member today! Membership is free and offers you up to $450* in offers and savings. Register now with our 3-easy-steps and you can start enjoying your benefits right away.

Growing Up Gerber Club
Become a member of Growing Up Gerber and get a personalized Web site, newsletters, free samples and coupons.

Heinz Baby
Choose the “Home Mailing” option. Our Mailings are delivered every couple of months starting when your baby is about four months old. Our Mailings include valuable coupons, detailed information about our wide variety of jarred foods and cereals, feeding suggestions and guides, and tips on what to expect as your little one gets older. Also, you’ll receive samples and additional special offers right to your front door.

Huggies
Choose the option for you and then click “Sign Up” for coupons & free samples.

Pampers
This was my favorite club when we had our son. They had a great site that explains how your child is growing & their developments and sent me tons of diaper coupons. We are cloth diapering this one so I didn’t sign up this time, but if you are using disposable, this a great club!

Orajel
In order to help us provide the best Orajel products we can, please take a few minutes to complete the following survey. Your time is appreciated and we will thank you by sending you coupons for your favorite Orajel products. Please allow 4 weeks for processing.

American Baby
Get a free subscription to this great magazine! Every issue is loaded with vital parenting information from the experts

Beech-Nut bowl and coupon
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletters, and we’ll send you information tailored to your baby’s age, helpful tips, money-saving offers, plus this FREE bowl.

MomAdvice Reading Material:

Preparing for Your New Arrival

Diaper Bag Essentials

Finding a Mom’s Group