Craft of the Day

This turkey centerpiece was made from three linen napkins -- two for the fan of tail feathers and one for the head and breast (which is stiffened with aluminum foil). The discernible beak results from the white napkin's red border.

Fancy or otherwise, napkins did not appear in Europe until the seventeenth century; in the Middle Ages, a long cloth known in French as a longiere was attached to the side of the tablecloth for communal use.

Turkey How-To
1. Fold a napkin in half diagonally, and press; press all folds as you go. Open napkin. Fold in the top two sides to meet at center crease. To make the turkey's breast and head, shape a folded piece of aluminum foil into a triangle; fit it into napkin as shown. The height of the foil triangle should allow for a bend at the bottom to keep napkin upright (about 3/4 length of napkin measured diagonally between opposite corners). This elegantly simple fold looks appropriate at either an informal meal or a formal one.

Craft of the Day

Make handwritten notes even more special with cards you create yourself. Print our clip-art deer designs onto card stock, apply glue using a fine-tipped bottle, and cover with glitter. Use a limited palette to yield an elegant look.

Sources
24-piece Essential Colors glitter set, by Martha Stewart Crafts, available at marthastewartcrafts.com and Michaels

Glittering glue (craft glue) with fine-tip applicator, by Martha Stewart Crafts, from Michaels

Baking cups (to hold glue), from wilton.com

Dust-off XL disposable duster, by Falcon, from Staples

Matte cover card stock, from paperpresentation.com

Personal Growth Quote of the Day

Know that there's enough room for everyone to be passionate, creative, and successful. In fact, there's more than room for everyone; there's a need for everyone.

Marianne Williamson

I Run For Life - Pinktober Hardrock

Hardrock and Pinktober

Melissa Etheridge on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Oct 14 & 16)
Melissa will be a phone-in guest on two SIRIUS Satellite Radio shows: Tune in on Wed, Oct 14 at 1:00pm ET to Dr Radio: Oncology Show

Updated Pink Page - Photos, videos & more info on recent Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness events.

I Run For Life

http://www.hardrock.com/promo/pinktober09/
http://www.melissaetheridge.com/pink/

Followers

Thank you followers.

I'm always so excited when someone follows me. As a "thank you", please print these forms to keep track of your websites,passwords for Facebook, Twitter and blogs. http://jannierebusinesssolutions.com/forms.aspx

Learn Friendship

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.

Muhammad Ali

Friendship

A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.

Pam Brown

Life Friendship

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.

Thomas Jefferson

Eunice Kennedy Schriver - Special Olympics

When Eunice Shriver was growing up — the middle child in her famous family — she developed a passion for competition and sports.

"I was always trying to find my brothers, not my sisters," she says. "I wanted to play football, and I was very good. I was always the quarterback."

Those football-playing brothers included Jack and Bobby Kennedy. Shriver's love of sports led her to later start the Special Olympics, which gave people with mental retardation the opportunity for athletic competition.

We must say Thank You Eunice! Your efforts made a difference!

Work At Home Moms Choices - WAHM Choices

Holiday Crafts

Festive Patriotic Crafts
Show off your stars and stripes spirit with this easy crop of crafts

By Woman's Day Posted June 12, 2009 from WomansDay.com








Uncle Sam Vase
Celebrate the holiday in style with this festive flower vase.


Add some florals to your 4th of July holiday decor with this extra tall flower vase boasting America's famous stars and stripes!

Supplies

4" x 5 1/2" coffee can
5"-diam terra-cotta flowerpot and saucer
6 wooden stars (3 each 1" and 13/4" by Walnut Hollow)
1 1/2 yd 20-gauge florist’s wire
Acrylic paints for metal (Delta No Primer Metal Colors Red, White, Bright Blue)
Acrylic paints (Ceramcoat Medium Flesh, White, Persimmon, Bright Yellow, Black)
Fine sandpaper; 3/4"-wide masking tape
Clear finish
Glue gun; GOOP adhesive
1" stencil brush
Flat paintbrushes

Directions

1. SAND outside of can. Wash and dry. PAINT can white. Let dry. With tape mask 3/4"-wide vertical stripes spaced 3/4" apart. Paint stripes red, letting each coat dry.

2. PAINT saucer blue. Paint flowerpot flesh color with white rim. Let dry. With pot upside down, lightly outline face in pencil. Paint black-dot eyes. Paint round persimmon cheeks with stencil brush. When dry, paint white brows, mustache, eye highlights (with tip of handle) and pink mouth. Paint wooden stars yellow. Let paint dry.

3. GLUE saucer upside down to bottom of flowerpot (top of head) using Goop. Glue can right side up to saucer. Let dry.

4. APPLY 2 coats finish, letting each dry.

5. COIL wire around a pencil. Stretch to fit around can and form hooks at ends. Hot-glue stars to wire; hook wire around can.

Work At Home Moms Choices - Patrioctic Crafts, Holiday Crafts


Stars and Stripes Cap

Celebrate the holiday with this fun and easy craft decorationBy Woman's Day Posted June 12, 2009 from WomansDay.com Photo: © Woman's Day





Craft this stars and stripes cap to celebrate the coming holiday!

Supplies:

White cotton baseball cap
Large potato, washed and dried
Fabric paints (Delta Brush-On True Red, Dark Blue); 1/2"–1" flat paintbrush
Masking tape (optional); sharp knife
Paper towel; tracing paper

Directions:

1. THIN red paint with a few drops of water. Starting at center, outline with pencil (and tape if desired) red stripes 1" apart lengthwise on top of cap brim; paint. Let dry. Continue stripes on underside of brim. Let dry. Paint crown button red.

2. DRAW small blue stars

3. CUT potato in half. Draw star on flesh, then cut away surrounding potato at least 1/4" deep. Blot with paper towel.

4. BRUSH a thin, even coat of blue paint onto star stamp. With one hand inside cap, press stamp on outside and hand from inside to help paint adhere. Lift stamp. Repeat until crown is covered with stars. Touch up if needed. Let dry 24 hours. Set paint as directed on label.

Work At Home Moms Choices - Patrioctic Crafts, Holiday Crafts


Let Freedom Ring Towel
This star-spangled craft is simple enough for kids to make

Ring in the holiday with this fun and festive towel--perfect for the post-pool dip.



Supplies

Palm-size star stickers on self-stick paper
Sponge brush
Red fabric paint
Blue fabric paint
Plain white towel

Directions

1. CUT out palm-sized stars from self-stick paper and place all over a plain white towel.

2. NEXT, use a sponge brush to apply blue fabric paint to one of your child’s hands, and red paint to the other.

3. STAMP painted palms over self-stick stars, pressing down firmly to make handprints.

4. REPEATuntil all stars are covered, reapplying paint as needed.

5. DRY overnight, then peel off self-stick paper.

Work At Home Moms Choices - Patrioctic Crafts, Holiday Crafts

Leaf Bottles Bring The OutDoors In

Leaf Bottles
Turn nature into art


Materials:
Leaves
Newspaper
3M Super 77 spray adhesive
Glass bottles
Scissors
White tissue paper
1" foam brush
Mod Podge Decoupage Medium

Instructions:
1. Working in a well-ventilated area, place leaves on newspaper and apply spray adhesive to their backs. Lift leaves off newspaper. Position onto bottles and press into place with fingertips.

2. Cut tissue paper into small rectangles large enough to cover leaves. Apply a light coat of decoupage medium. Place coated side down over leaf on bottle. With fingertips, smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles.

Kids Craft Ideas

Summer Crafts

Make Your Own Fern Stencil and Painting
Learn how to create beautiful nature-inspired artwork

By Woman's Day Staff Posted

March 16, 2009 from Woman's Day; April 14, 2009
Photo: © Dan Duchars

Bring the outdoors in with artwork inspired by nature. Follow these easy how-to steps for creating fern leaf paintings.


Supplies
Newspaper
Stretched Canvas
Clear Acetate, large enough to cover the canvas
Several sheets of plain paper, large enough to cover the canvas
Pencil
Black Sharpie Marker
X-acto Knife with a new, sharp blade
3M Spray Mount Artist's Adhesive
Protective backing (Either a self-healing board or a piece of wood)
Stencil Paint
Stencil Brush
Paper Plate
Masking Tape

Instructions
1. Set up a work area on a flat surface and cover it with newspaper.
2. Using a pencil, practice drawing a fern on a piece of plain paper.
3. When satisfied with the drawing, tape the clear acetate on top. Then, trace the fern drawing on to the acetate with your Sharpie.
4. Tape this new drawing to your protective surface, and carefully cut the fern shape out using an X-acto knife.
5. In a well-ventilated room (or outside), spray the back of your stencil with spray adhesive. Make sure to hold the can 10-12 inches away from the surface, or else it will get too wet.
6. Allow the adhesive to dry for a few minutes, then, carefully place it on the blank canvas.
7. Pour some stencil paint on your paper plate.
8. Working from the inside out, use a tapping motion to paint on the first coat.
9. Let dry for a half hour, then, add a second coat.
10. Allow the paint to fully dry. Then, carefully remove the stencil to reveal your fern painting.

Work At Home Moms Choices Kids Crafts and Summer Crafts

Tough Love

Tough Love and the Strength to Do it

Author: Marcia Chumbley

Tough love and the strength to do it can be hard. As a parent or grandparent raising teens today, it can be difficult to know when to hold on tightly and when to let go and allow them to make their own mistakes. Tough love has been a hot topic in the media lately – the idea of loving your children, but allowing them to make their mistakes and learn from them, without bailing them out or saving them from the consequences. The idea behind this is that saving your teenager from the consequences of his or her actions only encourages further bad behavior in the future.



Tough love is not a path for everyone. It requires strength and determination on the part of the caregiver – a commitment on the part of all parties involved that the teen will have to deal with the consequences of their behavior. That means that if he gets arrested, he may have to spend a night in jail. If she gets pregnant, she’ll have to learn how to be a mom and go to school at the same time. You will have to stand by and watch as your child struggles to learn new skills. It truly is a lesson from the school of hard knocks, but for some individuals, tough love is the only way to learn.


As a caregiver or parent, you can provide advice, encouragement, and support while loving your teen through their poor choices – tough love is not about abandonment. It is, however, about not giving in, and not bailing them out. They have made their choices in life, and now they are dealing with their actions. Tough love is not an easy path for the caregiver or the teen, and is often chosen as a last resort, after many other possibilities have been tried and failed. You must be strong, and stand your ground.


If your teen is involved in drugs or alcohol, this path may be especially difficult. You will have to refrain from giving them money, as it may be used to buy drugs. Tough love is often harder on the caregiver than it is on the child, as they are constantly put on the spot. You will constantly be the “bad guy”, and have to refuse your child’s demands.


Most importantly, tough love is a learning experience. After teens or young adults have failed to learn through instruction, praise, reinforcement, or punishment while growing up, tough love allows them to learn from the most difficult instructor – life itself. Allowing your children or grandchildren to make their own choices and then requiring them to stick with those choices will make them strong, independent people. It will also test your strength, patience, and endurance. They don’t call it “tough” love for nothing! It’s emotionally demanding, and incredibly difficult for all parties involved. However, if this is the path you’ve chosen, stick with it! The rewards will be well worth the investment, in the end.

About the Author:

Marcia Chumbley is a work at home mom and grandmother in Minnesota. She is the owner of a Christian Work From Home Moms and Grandparents web site at http://www.faithfulgrannies.com and Work At Home Moms and Divas Online http://www.workathomedivasonline.com. Bringing generations of Christian Work From Home Moms, Grandmothers, Parents, Boomers and Families together while providing FREE Advertising Networking and Resources, while balancing the work at home experience.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tough Love and the Strength to Do it

Tough Love

Tough Love and the Strength to Do it

Author: Marcia Chumbley

Tough love and the strength to do it can be hard. As a parent or grandparent raising teens today, it can be difficult to know when to hold on tightly and when to let go and allow them to make their own mistakes. Tough love has been a hot topic in the media lately – the idea of loving your children, but allowing them to make their mistakes and learn from them, without bailing them out or saving them from the consequences. The idea behind this is that saving your teenager from the consequences of his or her actions only encourages further bad behavior in the future.


Tough love is not a path for everyone. It requires strength and determination on the part of the caregiver – a commitment on the part of all parties involved that the teen will have to deal with the consequences of their behavior. That means that if he gets arrested, he may have to spend a night in jail. If she gets pregnant, she’ll have to learn how to be a mom and go to school at the same time. You will have to stand by and watch as your child struggles to learn new skills. It truly is a lesson from the school of hard knocks, but for some individuals, tough love is the only way to learn.


As a caregiver or parent, you can provide advice, encouragement, and support while loving your teen through their poor choices – tough love is not about abandonment. It is, however, about not giving in, and not bailing them out. They have made their choices in life, and now they are dealing with their actions. Tough love is not an easy path for the caregiver or the teen, and is often chosen as a last resort, after many other possibilities have been tried and failed. You must be strong, and stand your ground.


If your teen is involved in drugs or alcohol, this path may be especially difficult. You will have to refrain from giving them money, as it may be used to buy drugs. Tough love is often harder on the caregiver than it is on the child, as they are constantly put on the spot. You will constantly be the “bad guy”, and have to refuse your child’s demands.


Most importantly, tough love is a learning experience. After teens or young adults have failed to learn through instruction, praise, reinforcement, or punishment while growing up, tough love allows them to learn from the most difficult instructor – life itself. Allowing your children or grandchildren to make their own choices and then requiring them to stick with those choices will make them strong, independent people. It will also test your strength, patience, and endurance. They don’t call it “tough” love for nothing! It’s emotionally demanding, and incredibly difficult for all parties involved. However, if this is the path you’ve chosen, stick with it! The rewards will be well worth the investment, in the end.

About the Author:

Marcia Chumbley is a work at home mom and grandmother in Minnesota. She is the owner of a Christian Work From Home Moms and Grandparents web site at http://www.faithfulgrannies.com and Work At Home Moms and Divas Online http://www.workathomedivasonline.com. Bringing generations of Christian Work From Home Moms, Grandmothers, Parents, Boomers and Families together while providing FREE Advertising Networking and Resources, while balancing the work at home experience.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tough Love and the Strength to Do it

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited . . .
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.

Work At Home Moms Choicecs WAHM Choices

Resession More Moms Go Back To School

Recession Inspiring More Mothers to Go Back to School


– Earning a degree has long been a dream of many working mothers. While it might seem the recession would put that dream even further out of reach for most, many working and single mothers are actually drawing inspiration from the economy to pursue their dream of getting a higher education.



“We are seeing an increase in the number of women returning to school,” says Adena E. Johnston, campus dean of DeVry University’s Philadelphia campus. “Degree completion programs are very popular for those who have not finished their education, but we’re also seeing more questions about the bachelor’s programs with an entrepreneurship specialty. Women seem to want to learn more about starting their own businesses or having more flexibility and control over their movement in and out of the workforce.”



There’s no arguing that an advanced degree can help mothers improve their employment situation, judging by Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The higher an individual’s level of education, the less likely she or he is to be unemployed, according to the bureau. The unemployment rate in 2007 (the latest year for which data is available) for women 25 and older lacking a high school diploma was 8.2 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau. For those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the unemployment rate drops to about 2 percent.



Many working mothers, it seems, now perceive a return to school as not just a dream but a necessity. In an increasingly competitive job market, they recognize they can no longer afford to remain in low-paying jobs, or to be the only competitors in the field without a degree.



“In 1968, my father advised me I didn’t need a college education. He said all I needed was to get married and take up homemaking,” says Chris Dulaigh-Bates, a 56-year-old medical transcriptionist and mother of two. “I have worked out of my home for the last 17 years, but over the course of the last five years, technology and world trade have eroded away the job security I once enjoyed.”



“My future needs a new ending,” she says. “I’m going to school to help rewrite the ending to my story.”



Dulaigh-Bates is a DeVry University student who was awarded a full-ride scholarship in 2008 through a special “Project Working Mom” scholarship program for working mothers who wanted to return to school through an online program.  For many working mothers, the online nature of the scholarship means they will be able to better fit their education into their busy lives, which already revolve around their children, family and jobs.



The flexibility of online learning may be contributing to the growing interest among mothers to return to pursuing higher education, Johnston points out. The ability to fit online class schedules into already busy lives means many mothers will be able to better balance work, family and educational obligations.



“Online education is the best route for me because sometimes my children with disabilities or special conditions require extensive involvement,” says Sandy Decker, a home daycare provider who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting from DeVry University. “This ability to attend school online will prove critical to my success as a student and allow me the flexibility I need as a mother.”



Johnston says schools are seeing an increase in the number of women seeking information, scholarships and degrees in areas deemed recession-proof, like accounting. “Accounting concentrations for undergrad and graduate students are popular as more and more want to be able to have portable skills,” she says.



“Working mothers looking to earn a degree should begin to identify their transferable skills, or those skills they bring with them as older adults who have significant life experience,” Johnston advises. “These students are usually motivated and just need encouragement as they move forward with their education.”



To learn more about DeVry University and its online degree programs that can help mothers achieve their educational goals while still fulfilling personal and work obligations, visit www.DeVry.edu.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Challange For This Weekend

WAHMChoices Have a great weekend. Make it memorable to someone & make a difference in someones life. I Challange Everyone to a Ramdon Act of Kindness!

Baby Memories at Every Milestone

Capture precious baby memories at every milestone


- As a proud new parent, you want to make sure that you capture every precious moment of your new baby’s life. It’s tempting to hit the nearest photography studio for a quick professional session, but in these tough times, that can be costly and time-consuming. For families on a budget, learning how to take great photography at home can be easy and fun.



“Taking beautiful pictures of your new baby is a great way to preserve life-long memories. By following a few simple steps, anyone can learn to take baby photos that they can be proud of,” says Jodie Otte, the photographer behind the Similac Advance EarlyShield advertising campaign.



Here, Otte reveals her tips on how to take and archive the best shots of your newborn and protect your memories.  



* Get natural: When taking a picture of your newborn, you want the “soft glow” to emanate. The best way to achieve that is through natural lighting. Place your baby in a spot that is exposed to a lot of bright, indirect light void of shadows. Do not use a flash and raise your ISO speed to about 400.  



* Practice patience: Infants are fueled by curiosity. Everything captures their attention. Try to get them to focus on one object throughout the shoot. Also, it’s a great idea to take a few test shots to ensure you have the perfect light and that your baby is comfortable. Once you have the best shot possible, snap away.  



* Go black and white: Although color prints are vibrant and fun, make sure to print an array of photos in black and white. Not only are these photos classic and timeless, but they’re also the best option when trying to attain that professional look.



* Sharing is caring: Once you have the perfect shot of your new tot, make sure to share with friends and family. Cutting and pasting baby photos into an album is a thing of the past. To save time and cash, upload photos to free Web sites such as Shutterfly.com and create a personalized baby photo book. Need to add more photos? No problem -- simply insert another page in your virtual baby book.



* Store safely:  After countless captured memories, be sure to have hard copies as well and archive photos with care. Choose albums that are acid- and lignin-free in order to prevent photos from yellowing or becoming damaged. Look for plain pages without adhesives and always make sure to use page protectors and pocket corners.  Store photo albums in a cool, dry, dark place that does not have dramatic temperature fluctuations.



Learning how to take professional baby photos has never been easier with these simple steps. Make sure you don’t miss another opportunity to capture a memory with your baby. For more baby tips and information, visit www.earlyshield.com.



Courtesy of ARAcontent



Work At Home Moms Choices WAHM Choices

Succes Is Yours

You feel like success is yours.

Well, then, start right now to dress up for success, walk like a successful person , shake hands with confidence, smile like some one that had their first big success: from cheek to cheek.
And success will come your way.


Work At Home Moms Choices - WAHM Choices.com

Sharpened Your Axe

Have You Sharpened Your Axe Lately?
By Suzanne Richardson

"I just can't make the training seminar tomorrow," Amy announced to the team during a recent meeting. "I'm so busy, it's going to kill my productivity this week!"

Amy expected Charlie to excuse her from the seminar. Instead, Charlie asked, "Have you heard that old allegory about the two lumberjacks?"

"Lumberjack A never takes time to sharpen his axe because he's so busy chopping down trees. But Lumberjack B sharpens his axe every week, no matter what. Guess who cuts down more trees? Lumberjack B with his super-sharp axe."

If you're like most folks, you are constantly busy. There are a hundred things on your low-priority to-do list that you just never get to. So why would you take time you don't have to go to seminars on marketing... or workshops about growing your contact list... or the May Launch?

Charlie's allegory says it all: Taking time to "sharpen your axe" can actually save you time

Are you stressed?

Stressed?

What are your excuses for not doing something about your stress?

What IF you don't have the time? We're all busy and as long as we believe stress reduction requires time, we continue to reserve it for Saturday morning in the garden or 9:00 pm in the bath tub or late August in Maui! The truth is stress doesn't wait until you have time to 'manage' it. You need something that works 24/7, QUICK! It takes less than a minute to stop the stressful feeling with HeartMath's basic Quick Coherence® technique: Heart focus; heart breathing; heart feeling. Five times a day takes less than five minutes!

AND nothing's going to change anyway. Don't expect life to suddenly transform around you every time you shift into coherence. Do it for your own sake. Don’t ignore the impact you can have on others when you are more balanced or calm.

YEAH BUT it's not working. Be patient. Like learning any new skill, this takes practice. And simply thinking about it won't have the same benefit. You need to focus on and engage the heart; shift how you feel.

Anytime you learn something new, the least line of resistance has the tendency to win out. The time it takes to find an excuse can be better spent to:
Recharge your batteries. Make a shift before you feel stressed. Pause for 15-30 seconds and find something in your life to appreciate. Each time you do this, you boost your whole system.

Have fun with your practice. If you approach your practice too seriously, it will feel like a chore and create even more stress. Find ways to build coherence into your daily routines.

Finally, recognize your stressful feelings one more time today than you did yesterday and then do something about it. Just one extra shift to coherence a day can save wear and tear on your body.

It's time to get a handle on your stress, once and for all.

Source: Work at Home Moms Choices -WAHMChoices.com

A native of the Midwest farm country in Iowa, Marcia Chumbley has lived in a number of locations. She has resided in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota., Living in rural and metropolitan areas taught Marcia to always look for the best opportunities each community could offer. She now lives in a rural area of Minnesota that has a small city flare and closeness to the land. Marcia’s work experiences outside the home include over 30 years in the medical and insurance field in manager, investigator and administrative roles. She has also worked as a contract administrator for a world wide security company. Marcia has work in the corporate world outside of her home and has various home based businesses over the years. She holds a degree in business management and is CMOM certified.Marcia is the founder and publisher of " Christian Work From Moms and Grandparents" web site, Faithful Grannies.com "Work At Home Divas Online for Boomers, Crafters and Stay At Home Moms, www.workathomedivasonline.com and Work At Home Moms Choices www.wahmchoices.com She is a well known published and featured author through out the internet.

Mothers

Love You Mother

I Love You Mother
You are so special and kind
And I love you so
You helped to build my mind
And I want you to know.
The thought of you by me
Just makes me smile.
We are so close
Forever and not just a while.
I appreciate you mother
And I love all your style.

by Nicole Ruddock

May Day

Dancing around the Maypole, the pageantry, the floral wish...
strange are the celebrations of May Day. But how did they come to stay with us?
And what do they mean?


May Day is a time to celebrate the onset of May, the month that sees the Earth reaching
itself ready to burgeon to its maximum capacity. Since the ancient days in England there prevailed a custom of "bringing in the May" on MayDay. This was why people would go to the woods in the early dawn. There they picked flowers and lopped off tender branches to bring them in and decorate the houses.

May Day and flowers:
It has always been strongly associated with flowers. Partly may be because of their availability in abundance. But that is not all. There are other reasons as well. For instance, the May Garland and beggar girls.

Making garland is one of those ancient May Day customs that has survived still today. May garlands, is meant for the coming of summer. May garlands were also used while begging by the kids from door to door. At other times of the year begging would have been an offence. But if it was done at May time with a garland. This is why groups of small girls, crowned with leaves and flowers, went from door to door singing and begging.

Maypole dance:
On the first day of May, English villagers woke up at daybreak to roam the countryside gathering blossoming flowers and branches. A towering maypole was set up on the village green. This pole, usually made of the trunk of a tall birch tree, was decorated with bright field flowers. The villagers then danced and sang around the maypole, accompanied by a piper.
May Queen:
Also part of the celebration was the crowning of a May Queen. When the sun rose, the maypole was decked with leaves, flowers and ribbons while dancing and singing went on around it. The Queen was chosen from the pretty girls of the village to reign over the May Day festivities. Crowned on a flower-covered throne, she was drawn in a decorated cart by young men or her maids of honor to the village green. She would be crowned there right on the green spot. She was set in an arbor of flowers and often the dancing was performed around her, rather than around the Maypole.

Morris Dance:
Another colorful feature of the this celebration was the energetic Morris dance. Groups of men dance together in costumes of traditional characters, often animal-men, in ceremonial folk dances. The central figure of the dances, usually an animal-man, varies considerably in importance. The name Morris is also associated with the horn dance held each year at Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, England. This dance-procession includes six animal-men bearing deer antlers, three white and three black sets; a man-woman, or Maid Marian, and a fool.
These dances are still performed in England. And also survive in various parts of Europe, Asia, and, America. One such comparable surviving animal custom is the May Day procession of a man-horse, notably at Padstow, Cornwall. There, the central figure, "Oss Oss," is a witch doctor disguised as a horse and wearing a medicine mask. The dancers are attendants who sing the May Day song, beat drums, and in turn act the horse or dance in attendance. The name Morris is also associated with groups of mummers who act, rather than dance, the death-and-survival rite at the turn of the year.

Throughout history, the Morris seems to have been common. It was imported from village festivities into popular entertainment after the invention of the court masque by Henry VIII. The word Morris apparently derived from "morisco," meaning "Moorish." Cecil Sharp, whose collecting of Morris dances preserved many from extinction, suggested that it might have arisen from the dancers' blacking their faces as part of the necessary ritual disguise. The name Morris dance is sometimes loosely applied to sword dances in which a group of men weave their swords into intricate patterns.

Facewashing in May Dew:
Washing the face with May dew was yet another custom. There was a belief among the women in Great Britain and other parts of Europe those days that May Day dew has the power to restore beauty. This why in the Ozark Mountains, a cradle of American folklore, girls used to nurture a belief that having their faces washed with the early dawn dews on the May Day would help to be married to the man of her choice.

How to be the best in your field

To make this year the year you successfully start a profitable business (or make the business you have already started more profitable than ever), resolve to be the smartest person you know about the business you are in.

It’s a bold objective, but it is possible. Here’s how to do it:

1. Read the business press voraciously but efficiently. You don’t need to spend more than 30 minutes a day on this. Be selective about your reading. Focus on books, articles, and essays that pertain to your industry - primarily the “how-to” pieces. Give preference to authors who’ve done it themselves as opposed to academics and/or journalists.

2. Supplement your reading by going to seminars and attending conferences. Person-to-person contact is invaluable.

3. Take meaningful correspondence courses. When you find a good home-study program that pertains to your field, don’t hesitate to invest some time and money in it.

4. Seek the advice of experts in your business.

5. Study the people and groups that are growing. If someone is doing well, you can assume he knows at least one important thing about your business that you don’t. Do whatever it takes to learn his secret.

6. Network. The more people you know, the better chance you will have to find someone to solve every one of your problems. A big network is also a steady source of opportunity.

7. Be generous with your colleagues and your competitors. When people learn that they do well whenever they work with you, they will be more willing to come to you with opportunities.

There is no limit to the number of new businesses the Internet, with its worldwide reach, can absorb. If you have a product or service that is needed (or simply wanted), you can be successful - and you will be successful if you commit yourself to learning.

Source: www.WAHMChoices.com

A native of the Midwest farm country in Iowa, Marcia Chumbley has lived in a number of locations. She has resided in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota., Living in rural and metropolitan areas taught Marcia to always look for the best opportunities each community could offer. She now lives in a rural area of Minnesota that has a small city flare and closeness to the land. Marcia’s work experiences outside the home include over 30 years in the medical and insurance field in manager, investigator and administrative roles. She has also worked as a contract administrator for a world wide security company. Marcia has work in the corporate world outside of her home and has various home based businesses over the years. She holds a degree in business management and is CMOM certified.Marcia is the founder and publisher of " Christian Work From Moms and Grandparents" web site, Faithful Grannies.com "Work At Home Divas Online for Boomers, Crafters and Stay At Home Moms, www.workathomedivasonline.com and Work At Home Moms Choices www.wahmchoices.com She is a well known published and featured author through out the internet.

WAHM and SAHM of The Month for 2009

Great honor. I was chossen Mom of the 1st quarter of 2009 by Stay At Home Moms Online. You may read more at WAHM and SAHM Online.

http://stayathomemomsonline.com/momofmonth.html

Resurrection

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt

Easter Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Makes: about 42
Prep: 45 minutes
Bake: 7 minutes


1/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash salt
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Milk
Desired food coloring
Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl beat the shortening and butter or margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed about 30 seconds or until softened. Add about half of the flour. Then add the granulated sugar, egg, milk, baking powder, the 1 teaspoon vanilla, and salt.

2. Beat until thoroughly combined, scraping the sides of bowl occasionally. Beat or stir in the remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 3 hours or until dough is easy to handle. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half of the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 2-1/2-inch cutters, cut dough into desired shapes.

3. Place 1-inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 7 to 8 minutes or until the bottoms are very lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for 1 minute. Remove cookies and cool on wire racks. If desired, decorate cookies with Powdered Sugar Icing. In a small mixing bowl stir together sifted powdered sugar,1/4 teaspoon vanilla, and enough milk (about 1 tablespoon) to make a drizzling or piping consistency. If desired, color with food coloring. Makes about 42.

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe about 42 Calories 62, Total Fat (g) 3, Saturated Fat (g) 1, Cholesterol (mg) 5, Sodium (mg) 28, Carbohydrate (g) 8, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet