Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

I love this cute idea sent in from one of our Tiny Oranges readers!  When I first read the subject, I thought it was going to be an idea about having a date night with your husband.   Then, I read the idea and it is just the cutest, most special idea ever!  Pam writes:

“We just started a new tradition at our house that is a hit! Once a month my husband takes our 3 ½ year old daughter on a special date – just the two of them. She picks the place and they get “dressed up” for the big night out (for my daughter that means pink sparkly shoes and whatever other “fancy” thing she wants to wear that night). My daughter is beaming all day in anticipation for her special night out and counting down the minutes until daddy comes in from work. Picking the restaurant without having to negotiate with her brother is also a special treat. The current faves are Chili’s and Macaroni Grill and of course Golden Spoon for (a pink) dessert. I know it’s very special for both of them to be together without the siblings, or even mom, butting in on the conversation and hopefully it will help the father-daughter bond to remain strong, even through the teen years! ” – Pam, Mother of 3, Aliso Viejo

Do you have a fun idea to share?   Email me at info@tinyoranges.com and yours might be the next one featured as our guest blog!!   I love these ideas, please keep them coming! 

I am excited to introduce a new series of guest blogs, where real moms (like you!) write in with things they want to share. I know this blog will probably strike a chord with you amazing moms that are working hard both inside AND outside of the home.  Annika writes:

Over the recent holiday break, my husband and I had a Date Night (thank you Grandma and Grandpa!) and we went to see “Marley and Me.” Dog lover or not, a truly heartwarming film that’s about a lot more than just a naughty dog…it’s also about the choices we make as we morph from a couple to a family and the joy and pain and growth we experience. One line in the film, however, did sting a little. Jennifer Aniston’s character says: “I don’t want to be one of those moms who only sees her kids for an hour each night.” Ouch. I am one of those moms.

My beautiful son Adam is 20 months old. I adore him and his father (“my boys”) and would do absolutely anything for my family. I went back to work when Adam was 3 months old. I knew going into it that I would need to be a working mom, but no one told me for how hard it actually is to try and do it all. It didn’t seem fair. I have a great job, doing marketing for a place and a product that I love, and I have worked so hard in my career to get to where I am. I was even promoted when I was 7 months pregnant! How crazy is that?!? And now that I was a mom, how could I just quit? I am not a quitter! But my baby needs me! What am I going to do??? I have never felt so torn in my life.

Soon after I went back to work, I started down this “whoa is me” path (geez…as if I was the only working mom struggling with these issues. Gimmie a break…I am among millions of smart, talented moms who are doing this every day!) But I couldn’t help it. It was a difficult adjustment.

And then I had an idea. What if I started my own business, doing something that would offer me more flexibility than a corporate job? Surely I could figure that out. And soon after that I had one of those moments with a newborn where I was looking for a product that didn’t yet exist: a burp cloth that does not fall off your shoulder. So I invented the BurpieBlocker and continued with my day job but with a new sense of power. I was making the choice to work but I had an exit strategy…maybe not an immediate fix (still need to pay the mortgage) but definitely a long term solution.

It’s all about choices. That empowering shift in thinking set me free. Once I could embrace the choices I was making, I regained the upper hand. I was in control of my destiny. Nobody was forcing me to do anything. So whether you choose to stay at home, work full time or something in between, it’s your choice! You have the power to do whatever is best for you and your family.

And while the practical realities of paying our mortgage and car payments, insurance bills and utilities do keep me motivated to work there is something else: pride. I am proud of the work I do outside of the home. Not as proud as the work I do at home for my family, but pretty darn proud.

And even though I am one of those moms who only sees her son for an hour each night, I gotta say, it’s the best hour of the day.

Annika is the Director of Domestic Marketing for Disneyland Resort and the mompreneur behind BurpieBlocker, the burp cloth that does not fall off your shoulder. She lives in Orange County, CA with her son Adam and husband Chris.

BurpieBlocker is offering Tiny Oranges readers 10% off their entire order!  Use coupon code Tiny10 when checking out!

Have something you would like to share?   Email me at info@tinyoranges.com, your email might be the next guest blog featured on “The Scoop!  Real Moms Dish”
 

I know many of us (if not most of us) have been touched by someone affected by breast cancer.  Self Magazine  wants to hear your personal story on who has inspired you to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer in the “Who’s Your Suzy?” essay contest going on this month. Click here to enter!  You just might end up winning a donation in their name to the Komen Foundation and a fabulous vacation.  I myself am incredibly inspired by Nancy, the sister of Susan Komen, who started the foundation as a promise to her dying sister to do what she could to fight this disease. Can you believe the difference ONE woman will a mission has accomplished?    

One of my very dear friends was just diagnosed with breast cancer this past month.  She is moving forward with a double mastectomy in a few weeks.   Fortunately they caught it early, which we all know is super important.    I just can’t  imagine how hard this time has been for her.  Through it all, she has been so strong and positive and has been an inspiration to me.   She now wants to dedicate herself to bringing awareness of the importance on getting an ultrasound or MRI in addition to a mammogram for women with dense (lumpy) breasts.   The MRI is what detected her cancer.  She stressed to me that if you have been told you have dense or lumpy breasts (of if you know from doing self-exams that you do), it is important to talk to your doctor about getting an ultrasound or MRI in addition to your regular mammograms.  Did anyone see Christina Applegate on Oprah recently talking about her battle with breast cancer?  She too is fighting to give woman more access to MRI’s and genetic testing.   Obviously, the most important thing is to talk to your doctor, and find out the screening options that are right for you.  Be proactive and an advocate for your own health!

So, let’s all do something for ourselves today in honor of all those amazing women that have been affected by breast cancer.  I know we have all heard about the importance of doing monthly self-exams, but do you know the correct way to do one?   I found this amazing instructional video on the Komen website.  I have to admit after watching it,  I really had no clue on the correct way to do a self-exam.  It is worth taking 10 minutes of your time today to watch this potentially life-saving video.          

One last thing!   I just learned about this organization and signed myself up and I want to spread the word!  The Army of Women is an organization with a goal to recruit one million women to sign up to be volunteers in research studies to identify what causes breast cancer so it can be STOPPED for good.   They need women of all sizes, shapes, ethnicities, ages, with or without kids, risk factor levels,  women with kids, without kids, with breast cancer and without,  basically, they need ALL women and they need YOU!   Signing up is easy, then they email with research opportunities in your area.  When emailed, there is no obligation to participate.  Click here to register. 

Please help spread the word!  Have a great day, everyone.  See you back tomorrow!

Hey Mamas!  I have a question for you!   Do you have a favorite shop, outing, class, boutique, website, party idea, easy recipe, gift idea, green tip, beauty tip, shortcut that makes your life easier, book, toy, service, mompreneur you know, fitness idea, product you swear by, restaurant that tolerates busy toddlers, charity that benefits families, health tip, museum, free place to go or something you can’t live without? ? ?   If yes, please drop us an email at info@tinyoranges.com and include your name and city and let us know what it is and why you love it!!  Then check back often to see if your tip is our main post!  This blog is a forum to share our ideas just like you would with your girlfriends.  So, let’s start dishing!    

This was one of the best ideas I have ever heard!  I was recently perusing the American Baby magazine and there was a section on “Pregnancy Pick-Me-Ups” where moms wrote in with their ideas.   One mom set up an email account for her baby-on-the-way and would write emails to her throughout her pregnancy about how she was feeling and what was going on in their lives to get ready for her arrival.   As her kids were born, she kept writing to them as they grew up with stories or just quick notes to express her feelings about them.

I have wanted to be more diligent about recording my daughter’s development during these early years, but often times life has gotten so hectic, I have not done the best job.   However, writing emails is something to me that is easy!  I am setting up an account for my daughter, and am planning on writing her often about what she is doing and things I will want to remember…funny things she has said, little milestones, special moments, etc.   I was super excited about this idea and wanted to share!