Priceless Moments by Melia

A Not so Perfect Mother's Day Portrait

If you didn't get to read my quick post on Facebook, here are some images of me and my kids.  I wanted a nice portrait of me with the kiddos.  Let's just say they were being a little crazy.  The first two are what really a mother's life seems to feel like most of the time even if it is not what most people see.  I think this is what motherhood really is about the not so perfect moments when life is crazy and not in order...

Well, now you understand why I didn't post these on facebook!  Here's to the reason I wake up every morning...

Thanks to my little ones!!  They really do bring me TRUE JOY!!!  Happy Mother's Day!!

Help me TEST this video on YouTube!

TEST!! I am trying to figure out how this whole YouTube world works. I am about to post the "Living Beyond Breast Cancer" video, but I want to make sure that it is posted to be most visible. Can you please play the video below even if you do not watch the whole thing so I can see what happens. I want to make sure that YouTube will count the hits when embedded on facebook. Thanks!!

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Today, our studio is spotlighting one of our brightest stars!  This little sweetie has been coming to our studio since she was born.  She is truely a precious little girl.  She was made for the camera!!  Here is a flashback from her first year on earth.  Happy Birthday little one!

 

Tri-County for a Cure

 Another day in Pottstown takes us to the Pottstown Mercury and other businesses to bring awareness to Breast Cancer and Pottstown itself.  It has been a very high energy and amazing project to work on.  Can't wait to finish it up and let you see what it is all about.  Here is what was featured in "Pottstown Mercury."

 

March Madness

Only 28 Days left to take advantage of these fantastic GIFTS!!!!!

My Monday Morning Madness Minutes - Week 12

A Typical Afternoon -  Picking up my kids from school.  Asking my son to start his homework about a dozen times.  Finding little hands in the pantry.  Starting to think about dinner.  So, I open the frig and stare at what's inside hoping that something would just pop out at me and say "eat me!"  Okay, well, can I just say that cooking dinner doesn't make my Top 10 things that I enjoy during my everyday life.  I don't think it actually makes any list. I don't know how many times I go to start making something that I think might work at the moment and not finding all the ingredients.  One day I had to change the recipe 5 times until I found a recipe that had ingredients that I had in my pantry.  Hence, the need for a little planning and organizing.  So, I thought I'd use that for my week 12 organization project, tackle dinner time. 

I am not sure about you, but just around the time I need to prepare dinner the kids are going nuts which then drives me nuts.  Maybe if I can just plan ahead my evening time might go smoother.  I don't mind throwing together something in the crock pot in the morning when I have energy and just let the dinner cook all day.  In fact, one day it was "that time" again and I just didn't know what I would make when I started to smell something good.  I had forgotten that I had started dinner that morning.  Wow!  What a nice surprise!  I guess you can say us moms have a little bit on our plates if we forgot what we did just a few hours ago.

So, here is the task.  I would like to have my whole month planned out for meals.  Each day of the month have something different.  I thought instead of giving you all my ideas this time, I'd ask for your help.  Just one more thing for you to do in your busy day.  Here goes...

I need you to post on this site your favorite recipe.  Here is what I am looking for: something simple, not a ton of ingredients, kid friendly, not too time consuming... well I think you get the point. 

As a thank you for all of your fantastic recipes, I will put together a fun cookbook with all the recipes that are submitted.  You will be able to print it out right from this site.

Oh... one more thing of course we must giveaway something!  Who doesn't like to get something free and since we are talking about food (don't get me wrong, I love to EAT just not to COOK, I know I should read the story "The Little Red Hen.") here are the prizes...

Best Recipe Winner will receive - Tastefully Simple Nana's Apple Cake Mix, Creamy Wild Rice Soup Mix and Corn, Black Bean Salsa

 

Most Liked Recipe on Facebook will receive -Tastefully Simple Key Lime Cheese Ball Mix and Seasoned Salt

 
Here's what you need to do: 

FIRST: Post your Complete Recipe here.  Keep in mind that I will be including your recipe into my book to post again as explained above.  I will, of course, credit you or your Great Aunt Sue. Ü

SECOND: **MOST IMPORTANT** Post on Priceless Moments Fan Page Wall the title of your recipe with a brief description, picture or whatever else that will entice fans to vote for you!  Then Share the comment on your Wall and let your friends know to Vote for you by commenting or "Like" your post.

BONUS: EARN 1 EXTRA VOTE when you Become a "Follower" of this blog.

NOTE: (1) The winner of Best Recipe will be chosen by ME.  I plan to cook each meal for dinner during the month of February and I will pick my favorite based not only on what it taste-like but also what I (mentioned above). (2) Most Liked Recipe will be chosen by you and your facebook friends, whoever gets the most likes WINS!! (3) You must be a Fan of Priceless Moments Facebook Page in order to qualify to enter contest. (4) Post your Recipe between Now and next Monday the 31st of January 2011 and Vote until February 7th at 10pm EST.

P.S. Just a fun reminder of why it is we do what we do... Images of my munchkins at about the same age enjoying their dinner.  Can you tell who is who?

 

Does the Slipper Fit? Sweepstakes

     

Enter by May 28th, 2011.  Must be a resident of the Greater Delaware Valley Area to win.  Read additional Rules for more details.

                          Official Rules                       Enter Sweepstakes

My Monday Morning Madness Minutes - Week 11

Good thing I started this Weekly Blog.  It has helped me to keep on track.  I think with the cold and the snow coming my energy level for organizing has frozen too!  Yikes!  So thanks for keeping me in-line.  It isn't fun building in the garage right now since it is below 20 out there. 

I started to work last week on my 72 Hour Emergency Kit.  Okay, you might not think that falls under organizing, but it really does.  When an emergency might happen you don't have time to put things together in a crisis so it must be organized together and prepared.  I started googling online about what to have in an Emergency situation and the opinions were all over the place from basic food, clothing, toiletries to tents, first aid and stuff I've never even knew existed.  I started with the basics and I'll go from there.  I went shopping at the grocery store for the food supplies.  After coming home, I spread everything out on the counter and armed with Large Zip-lock bags made each person their own food supply.  I picked up some backpacks at Sears awhile back when they were really cheap so that I could use them when I eventually got around to working on my 72 hour kits.  So far I have clothes for the kids in their own backpacks as well as their food, personal supplies (like toothpaste, tooth brush, etc.) and water. 

I was just at Target this past week and they had a lot of their camping stuff on sale for 50% off.  (I guess people don't like to go camping in the snow. Ü)  I picked up a camping stove, sink thing, some backpack water hydration thing...  Okay so can you tell I am a little new at this whole camping business.  Anyways, if it was on sale and looked useful I bought it.  Hey, I figured I can always take it back if it is useless. 

So, now I am working on putting together my first aid kits and finishing it up.  Wow, a 72 hour kit takes a lot of work! 

It has been suggested that you rotate the food as well as check clothing to make sure it still fits about every 6 months.  All the food I purchased is good for at least a year, so the other day I was thinking that it might be fun to take a family camping trip in the summer and just grabbing our 72 hour kit and use it up.  This will also help us to see what we might need to add and make sure we know how to use everything! Ü

Well, next week I'll take a picture of my kits since they are in progress.  Here is a list of some stuff to put in your kits.  I'll post another, more extensive list next week as well.

By the way, my son was asking me about all the food and stuff on the counter and said, "Are we going somewhere?"  I explained that it was for an emergency like a fire or something.  Joseph said, "Well, if there was a fire wouldn't the backpacks burn up?"  Good point, I told him we better pray that God watches over our emergency kits!

My Monday Morning Madness Minutes - Week 10

I have to say that I enjoyed my vacation with my family even if most of it was with someone new waking up and being sick.  It is always fun to have family over to visit.  Since I was taking a break from my blog world, I thought today that I would start the New Year off and try explain where my love for building began...

My father is an amazing builder.  He can build anything.  He built a boat that our family has enjoyed skiing behind, rebuilt an MG car, built furniture, cabinets, koi ponds, decks... you name it and he could 99% be able to build it.  I definitely got my love for working with wood and the idea of creating from him.  I remember helping him remodel the bathroom and many other projects around the house.  I look back and wish I would of helped him more so that I could of understood and gained the skills necessary to do more than I know how now. 

As a 13 year old girl, I was a little different then most.  Christmas was around the corner and the one thing that I REALLY wanted was... a jigsaw.  Okay, I know that sounds weird, but I love making things out of wood.  So, my great parents (I am sure sacrificed) so that on Christmas morning in 1991, I woke up and found a Craftsman Jigsaw for me!!  I was so excited, I remember crying (as you can see the evidence from this picture below.)  I still have the saw and have since added many other power tools as needed throughout the years. 

Just remember Ladies, it is never to late to learn and women can be just has handy as men.  Good luck this year as we continue to organize our home, family and life.  I know it will be a great NEW YEAR!!

Here is one with me and my Dad.

My Monday Morning Madness Minutes - Week 9

This past week, I have done nothing but organizing and cleaning since my sister and her family will be visiting.  I think I'll skip the update and save it for next time and share with you a fun video that my kids made.  My sister from California wanted to surprise their kids with a trip to Philly.  They just told them on Sunday and I sent them this video announcing the surprise.  I hope you enjoy it, we had fun making it.  I LOVE it, but they are my cute munchkins!  Enjoy!