Is there such a thing as Thursday Surf? :) Because I have some GREAT new reads for you!

Most recent post by Sparkle Mama is an incredible post about her and her families journey to financial freedom and inherent inability to feel stable in the moment. Following a financial program, they have ceased paying their mortgage and are paying off all their other debt. They are awaiting a short sale or foreclosure, and are now feeling like temporary guests in their own home, until they have a more concrete plan.

I can relate to that in-between feeling having experienced a foreclosure, as well as my 8 moves in 5 years! Ugh! , I hate it. The stress it causes makes me anxious, and NOT a happy person to be around. So what has Sparkle Mama done in order to feel more like she has a plan? She's pregnant!! :) Yayyyy!

Congratulations Sparkle Mama! 

Natural Parents Network just posted an ironic post (given my recent discussion on my preschooler), on Parenting the Spirited Preschooler. I LOVE LOVE LOVE, did I say LOVE?, the suggestions of checking diet, keeping to a schedule, toddler-wearing, and relating to your preschooler as ways to help with the 'spirited' behavior of a crazy toddler!

I, too, struggle with the discipline and "control" of my preschooler at home and in public when his energy takes over :) I am lucky in that my toddler is typically respectful and overall a good listener, but I was SO glad (and relieved that I wasn't the only one) to read this article!

What were your favorite reads this week?

NNM NEWS: Guest Posts and Giveaways!

Check out the latest info from NurturingtheNaturalMama:

Upcoming Guest Posts:

* May 12, 2011: Newborn Parenting via Mama Eve: Your Natural Parenting Resource

* TBD: MYO Babyfood via Instinctual Mamas

Product Reviews and GIVEAWAY:

NEXT WEEK Review of the organic millet hull pillow from The Clean Bedroom

followed by a *GIVEAWAY* also sponsored by The Clean Bedroom

so stay tuned :)

Twitter Update:

NNM is now one of your official tweeters for Natural Parents Network 

so come FOLLOW US on Twitter!

(be sure to already be following NNM, of course)   :)

Where would YOU like to see NNM next?

Sunday Surf

There were so many great articles this week, I'm not even sure where to start. After a week that went quite awry for our family, this weekend has been a nice refreshing way to re start.

The first piece I found incredibly eye opening, and making me long for an organic mattress, was this post by The Clean Bedroom

Your Chemical Mattress describes how the albeit helpful, flame retardants in our mattress make any conventional mattress a square chemical plant. While I find my mattress incredibly comfortable, it never occurred to me as green as we try to be as a family, that our mattresses were probably the worst offender! Although I am embarrassed to admit it, we have a hand me down crib mattress that we used for my son AND baby A, my little Spiderman does have a new twin mattress that my parents were able to get him for his birthday last year, my stepdaughter has a futon with one of those foam egg crates over the futon mattress, and my hubby and I share a glorious new queen size mattress that we got an amazing deal- but now, we can see why. 

Naturally Organic, photo courtesy of The Clean Bedroom

I also wouldn't have thought that organic mattresses would have even been an option for our family financially. But perusing the website, they have organic crib mattresses that start at only $259 and come with a  FREE crib sheet (organic crib sheets can run upwards of $19.99/each at other locations. They also have kids mattresses for as low as $599!

You also have the option of checking out their Showroom Floor Models Clearance for incredible as-is deals! So all in all, a great post that made it so that this family is saving up for our new mattress purchases! :)

My next post of the week totally WARMED my heart! Across the Hall featured in Natural Parents Network confirmed my belief that you can be an attached parent/natural parent, regardless of how 'strictly' you follow the principles. I have mentioned on multiple occasions that my children both, like the child in this article, showed me when they were ready to no longer co sleep. They too, became fussy and restless until laid in their own cribs. So in my case, I am still an attached parent even from the next room. :)

UGH! and someone had an amazing post on alternatives to teething gels, etc. and can I find it right now??! no. and in fact, my teething infant is screaming in the background- so I better call it quits. If you know which article I'm talking about- please post the link below in comments for all to view! THANK YOU <3


Feel free to share your fave finds of the week below as well!

Sunday Surf- A Day Early! I couldn't resist!

LOTS going on this week, with some awesome posts by other bloggers! My favorite this week was a recent post by Cotton Babies which I shared in an earlier post, I liked it so much! :)

How do Diaper your Baby for Almost-FREE
Almost-FREE Diapers was an excellent post describing 'old-fashioned' ways to make diapers out of household products for those of us who struggle to afford diapers and other necessities. Like the author, I know what it is like to decide between diapers and food. This was just one of the reasons we switched to cloth diapers, but had a good friend not given us (as hand-me-downs) her HUGE lot of g diapers, I'm not sure we would have been able to afford the upfront costs associated with cloth diapering.

There was also a great post by the Natural Parents Network called Babywearing: More than just the Logical Choice

I loved it because I could identify with Kristen in that I too, had received a carrier but failed to use it with my first born. And he too, would only sleep on my chest. We would use it for hiking, but that was about the extent of it. Retrospectively I think we both would have had a far better experience and got a whole lot more done had we shared the 'wearing' experience.

It wasn't until baby A, my colicky/needy/cranky/sensitive (depending on what you want to call it ) :) baby- that I truly discovered the art (and necessity) of babywearing. And let me tell you what.... if I NEVER have to lug around that stupid carseat again- it will be too soon!

My personal fave carrier, the Moby wrap (www.mobywrap.com)

and last thing, NEW website find! You MUST check out Mama Knows Best. She also has a blog and a Facebook page.

Enjoy!