It seems like every year there are one or two toys that fly off of the shelves at Christmas time.  Do you remember the popularity of Tickle Me Elmo a few years back? It seems as if both parents and kids everywhere tend to become instant retail victims during this time of year.  Even when I was a kid, there was one Christmas were a Cabbage Patch Kid doll could not be found in any store.  It was crazy.

I think a movie may have been made on this subject, Jingle All the Way.  It was all about a dad’s search for a certain toy for his son. 

Okay, so you may be wondering where I am going with this.  But I cannot figure out the “it” toy this year, and I thought every year had at least one really popular children’s item during the holidays.  I ask my friends on MOMS and they had a few ideas, but there didn’t seem like there is one toy that is the must have.

It was at that point that my curiosity got the best of me.  According to Ty’s Toy Box Blog the “it” toy is Bakugan.  What the heck is that? A freelance writer for Suite 101 thinks the must have toys are video games and video game consoles, and the Best Learning Toys blog has their own ideas.

Well, I guess as a mom I should be thankful.  Maybe there are no hard to find toys this year.  But maybe there are, I don’t know.  What do you think?

Before I became a part of MOMS I dreaded the idea of visiting the mailbox each day. It felt like all I ever received in the mail were bills and the frequent credit card or loan offer. I never got anything fun. I used to ask myself, is everything virtual now? Doesn’t anyone write letters or send treats in the mail anymore? Does anyone even use “snail mail” in today’s society?

When I joined MOMS I found the answer to these questions, because some people do send mail to each other and at MOMS we call these fun little transactions swaps. I love swaps! From our Secret Sister swap to random fun swaps and holiday swaps, they are a wonderful way to spread goodwill amongst members.

Right now I am a part of the Secret Sister swap. Check out the picture, those fun items are what my Secret Sister sent me in October! She is so sweet! The Secret Sister Swap is one of our favorites at MOMS. The round we are in the middle of right now lasts until the end of the year, and it is so much fun! The best part is that we try to buy from each other, so people are sending Greeting Cakes or customized items from stores like A Gracious Plenty and Little Painted Polka Dots. After all we love to help WAHMs, especially other members on MOMS!

So come join us on the site and take some time to let the community get to know you. Before long you will be able to participate in our swaps! I guarantee that a fun treat is a much more exciting piece of mail than a bill or credit card offer, just wait and see!

I love this time of year, when the seasons change from summer to fall. Fall brings with it the sounds of leaves crunching under your feet and the smells of apples and pumpkins. I think that is why October is always the month that I want to take to my kitchen and start to bake. From cookies and pies to cakes, the chilly weather is a perfect pair to any sweet comfort food. And when I run out of tasty recipes the girls on MOMS always have a new one for me to try. After all, everyone loves some kind of sweet homemade treat.

Which is exactly why I have started my latest WAHM venture, a little treat to pair with my freelance writing career: greeting cakes. I am now an independent distributor for The Greeting Cake Company. I am selling this cute little microwave cakes, and oh my goodness they are so yummy, seriously.  And thanks to my friends on MOMS I sold my first few cakes in a flash! I love you girls!

So whether you are a well seasoned work at home mom or new comers to the WAHM world, the girls on MOMS are sure to be supportive of your work.  So stop on in and share your store link in the WAHM section of the forum. Or if you love baking like I do, chat in the food and recipes section – we can’t wait to meet you!

As a first time mom I am always amazed at what I never knew about motherhood, the list just keeps getting larger.

Sleep

I am amazed by how much I don’t sleep! And I still seem to function fairly well each day.  It’s crazy! Yet I will admit that I do miss sleeping. If I ever get eight hours in a row again I will be shocked.

Baby’s Firsts

As a first time mom I am clueless on milestones. I mean I know when they should occur, but I would of never thought that I would be confused about them. For example, when my daughter was four months old she said, “No.” I swear she did and it was at just the right time.  And when she said, “Mama” for the first time, it was perfect timing as well.

Were these instances all coincidence or real firsts? There should be a first time mom handbook somewhere.

Well, at least I am not alone in the world of mommyhood. I have my friends at MOMS to bounce ideas off of and they are great because MOMS members are both seasoned mamas and first time moms – so I get both sets of opinions. But there are also other blogging first time moms on the Internet. I love reading the First Time Mommy blog and the GH Mom Blog. Both ladies make me feel like I am not the only first time mom out there!

The holidays are around the corner and I have finally compiled my shopping list. All it took was a few hours searching on M.O.M.S.  The products that are showcased in the WAHM sections of the M.O.M.S. are great; I easily found something for everyone on my list.  I am so excited to buy everything I need. It is going to be so quick and easy.

Here are the fun gifts that I am considering for my family, let’s start with the girls. I know my mom will love the photography available at Six Sixteen Designs or maybe a custom apron from Get Moxy. For my sister, I found the cutest silver charms at Little Painted Polka Dots and a unique martini glass that I know she will be excited to receive.  Finally, I found the sweetest gifts for my daughter! Check out the adorable crochet critters at Jody’s Designs, the cute rag dolls at Blind Stitch Boutique and a great selection of books at Usborne Books! I am thrilled to get her gifts and put them under our tree.

The men in my life were a bit more difficult to shop for, I will admit, but I still found some great WAHM products for both of them. For my dad I am thinking a personalized stamp from Letters By Design will be perfect, or maybe some soap or lotion from Face of the Wave for his dry skin.

I found the best WAHM products for my husband. He is going to love a personalized flask from A Gracious Plenty, or a great photograph from Small Moments.

I am so thankful for all of the talent WAHMs on Moms of Multiple Styles! My Christmas shopping is almost done! Have you started yours?

My little one is eight months old and she is breastfed. I plan on breastfeeding her until she is at least one year old. Sure she has solid food as well, but she barely ever has a bottle. And when she does it is expressed breast milk. I feel it is the best thing for her. I am a breastfeeding mother.

There I said it; now feel free to tell me your opinion. No, really, I mean it. Tell me your opinion. Just don’t yell at me, or tell me that I should give my child a bottle. Don’t tell me that formula won’t hurt her. I am not stupid; I know that formula won’t hurt her. I just choose not to give it to her.  It is my decision. After all I am her mother and I have that right. I feel lucky that I can breastfed her. Not all women are blessed with that gift to give their children.

Breastfeeding is not easy; in fact it is very difficult. I had a hard time the first few months. There was pain, soreness and cracked nipples. I was a wreck, but my baby and I made it through with help and support. Support can come in all shapes and sizes. For me the best support was and still is stories, personal stories and experiences that other moms take the time to share with me. Like the stories that are shared at breastfeedingblog.com or thelactivist.blogspot.com – both sites offer personal stories and news stories from real breastfeeding moms. What amazing women!  

And of course, there are the wonderful ladies on MOMS. Anytime I have a frustration or concern they are always there to talk it out with me. With an online community like that, a girl like me can share opinions on everything, not just breast feeding. Next up on my list: potty training. Yikes, I might need help with that one. Where are the MOMS at?

Not a member of MOMS? We would love to chat with you! Check us out at www.momsoms.com

I am going to be an Auntie, again! My sister broke the news to me a few days ago. I am so excited about her new pregnancy. It took two positive pregnancy tests for her to believe the good news. I guess she didn’t really notice the early signs of pregnancy, which is funny, because for me they were hard to miss.

I think I knew the exact day when I got pregnant, I just felt different. I couldn’t wait to break the news to my husband, family, and friends. I told everyone about my pregnancy right away, and I was nervous my entire first trimester. A healthy baby was so important to me, and thankfully my husband I were blessed with a beautiful, healthy, and happy baby girl.

My sister’s big news has recently got me thinking. How do other moms handle announcing the impending life changing event? To find out I posted the question for the members on MOMS and there were some great answers! Check them out on our site, www.momsoms.com. We can’t wait to meet you!

This morning on the news I watched a story about moms who blog. Apparently mom blogs are all the rage. In fact, they are creating a new generation of work at home moms or WAHMs. Each of these girls log onto the Internet each day to write about their husband, their children, and the things that happen in their everyday lives. Two of the blogs that were featured were www.wouldashoulda.com and www.svmoms.com. Both of these sites are run by WAHMs.

Lots of companies are taking notice of these mompreneurs, and they are not alone. Many WAHMs are making money off of their blogs just by placing advertisements and endorsing product that they use and love. These WAHMs who blog are not usually professional writers, they are stay at home moms, working moms, and moms that have left their old professions for a position as an up and coming mom who blogs.

As A WAHM myself, I know how difficult it can be to juggle mommy work and professional assignments. Any WAHM needs support and encouragement, and many moms are finding it online through their daily blog. But what if you do not have a daily blog? I don’t have a personal blog, but I do have Moms of Multiple Styles.

Are you interested in becoming a WAHM? At www.momsoms.com we have an entire section of our forum that is dedicated to WAHMs, their business, and their lives. Now, I can tell you one thing from personal experience, that there are amazing women at M.O.M.S. If you are not already a WAHM but you want to become one, come and visit our forums. Our community will give you ideas and help you along the way as you start up your business and become the best WAHM that you can be.

My husband laughs at me because I always tell him about MOMS when he comes home. He likes to refer to the people on MOMS as my co-workers. But it is true! As a WAHM I do not have any office buddies, and the WAHMs, SAHMS, Working Moms, and other moms that I have met on www.momsoms.com are great friends to chat with during the day. I actually have people to bounce ideas and thoughts off of and a place to get valid and useful opinions. As a professional writer, I can’t imagine a better place to chat. I am so happy to have found such a great support system, and a fun community of moms and WAHMs. Come and check out our forums and see what I mean! I will talk to you there!

MOMS is an acronym for: Moms of Multiple Styles, and it is a website community and forum that was created for moms just like you! Our group is growing everyday and includes many types of moms. We have stay at home moms, work at home moms, working moms, soccer moms, and expecting moms. M.O.M.S is a fun and festive Website where a group of mothers of all styles have gathered together to chat about life, love, and mommy-hood.

The MOMs team is excited to begin the official MOMS blog.  Remember to come by frequently as our MOMS blogger offers a variety of articles that Moms of Multiple Styles are sure to enjoy.  We will be covering every mom related topic that we can think of, including: children, babies, expecting moms, relationships,homemaking, and these are just the beginning!

We hope that you also come by and visit us at www.momsoms.com! We would love to have you join our group of moms! Do you know a few moms that would enjoy our site? Let them know about us! Registration at MOMS is free and easy! So, come and join the conversations in our forum. We can’t wait to meet you!