The author, Patricia Mendez, has created an easy to use guide to help those of us who simply cannot do it on our own. She has several party ideas ranging from holidays to family entertaining to a simple girlfriends tea.

The book also comes with 13 complete menus that are sure to dazzle even the blandest of palates! She even includes yummy photos of some of the recipes.

Easy Entertaining for BEGINNERS is a MUST for any busy Mom who wants to entertain more, but quite frankly has no more creativity to spare on a dinner party. She can sit back and let Patricia’s ideas dazzle her friends and family!

Now to some AWESOME news…I am giving away a FREE autographed copy of Easy Entertaining for BEGINNERS to one of Moms of Faith’s wonderful readers!

It could be you!

HOW Can you Win a FREE copy of this must have for busy Mommas??

Simple.

Just leave a comment below telling me why YOU are the Mom in need of this most!

Winner will be chosen by me based on humor, pizazz and just plain awesomeness of post! LOL!

Oh, and I may be a little partial to pick you if you help spread the news about this awesome give a way on Twitter or your site…Just make sure you LET ME KNOW by LEAVING a COMMENT and LINK to the extra credits you did!

Oh, and if you just can’t wait to see if you win, you can buy it NOW through Amazon…

Related Topics:

1. Book Review and Give a Way! (the coffee mom’s devotional)
2. Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mother’s of Today – Win a Copy!

Spring cleaning can be simple, below are some tips to keep in mind as you begin.

Have a Goal
Think about what you want to accomplish. Maybe it isn’t cleaning the entire house from top to bottom. You may want to focus on the one area in your house that has been a thorn in your side for the past three years. Focusing on a goal for your home helps you target exactly what you want to attain and keeps you from getting overwhelmed.

Create a List
Never underestimate the power of a list. Lists are a great way to stay organized, while keeping your goals and to do list on task. If you plan on cleaning all the rooms in your house make a list for each room. Write down what you want to accomplish in each room, be specific, and keep track of your progress. If your kids are spring cleaning their room, give them a list this will eliminate misunderstanding and they’ll know exactly what you expect of them and you can track their progress.

Have the Supplies Ready
Before you sweep up those cobwebs make sure you have all the cleaning supplies, storage boxes, and any other resources you need. Nothing throws you off your cleaning groove more than running out of window cleaner or paper towels. Create a separate list of all the supplies you need and purchase them in advance. Save money by going to the dollar store for sponges or paper towels.

Create Reasonable Expectations
Life is busy! Moms are running in a million different directions so don’t place too much pressure on yourself. If you expect to thoroughly clean your house from top to bottom in two days and you have three children, a dog, and other obligations most likely it isn’t going to happen. Think about your daily responsibilities and fit it in where it fits. Set your expectations to meet your lifestyle. Don’t neglect to set expectations because then nothing will get done, but be realistic.

Think Outside the Box
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be exclusive to cleaning. It can include rearranging the furniture, changing the color of a room, or adding new pieces to a once dreary nook in the house. Spring conjures up a sense of renewal so while a thorough cleaning is a great detox for your home so is switching it up and adding something new! Also with all the tragedies occurring around the world donating home goods or clothes is a wonderful way to help out those in need. Check with local and international charities to find out donation procedures.

Don’t Do it Alone
The beauty of a family is that you aren’t alone. Too often moms take on the role of superwoman which only makes them frustrated, overworked, and exhausted. Involve your family from the youngest to the oldest and make it a family project. Kids want to be included and should be. You are part of a unit so make sure you work together as a team. Assign each family member a chore and hold them to it!

Don’t Give Up
It is easy to become overwhelmed, but don’t give up. Keep going and stick to your original goal. If you procrastinate the task only becomes bigger the next year and the stuff keeps on accumulating making the next time you decide to return to it worse. Once you finish you’ll feel relieved, uncluttered, and you’ll love the results.

Open the windows, put a fresh vase of flowers on the table, plant some seedlings and enjoy the spring time! Make spring cleaning satisfying and manageable. Take time to smell the roses while clearing out the old to make room for a new season!

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Spring Cleaning the Family Budget
2. The 15 Minute Cleanup
3. Make your Guest Room Feel like Home to Your Guests

When I first decided that I wanted to be green, I was not swimming in the green…if ya know what I mean. LOL! However, I had a desire to be a better steward of the planet and I started to brainstorm. It helps me be more creative and I am forced to come up with cheap and free ways to be an environmentally minded person.

Yep, that’s all it takes, people. Willingness and effort.

Eco Tips to Get Your Started on the Greener…Cheaper Path

Recycle. most states have recycling programs and they provide the bins and pick up service for minimal cost. It is actually a part of your garbage bill…at least it is in my town. this ONE act can do a world of good for the environment!

Reuse. start thinking about ways that you can reuse the items you use every day.

Limit paper use. stop overusing paper towels and paper products like they are going out of style. make the most of everything and use it more then once. we have many paper tips here.

Stop wasting. waste is something anyone and everyone can stop doing. it is free and simply requires willingness.

These are just a few simple changes to get you started. If you implement even one of them, you are already making a difference!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

No related topics.

Tips to Create a frugal spa day at home

• Plan a date. If you have boys in the house, send them out for the day with Dad.
• Place scented candles around your house to create a relaxing ambiance.
• Homemade Facials. Here are a few recipes…

Mix together 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal, 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, and 5 drops liquid honey in a bowl. Apply to your face and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes. Finish off by rinsing with warm water followed by a moisturizer.

With the following ingredients (oatmeal, warm water, yogurt, honey, and one egg white), make a thin mud type mixture and apply it thinly to your face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, or until you feel a tightening, then rinse with warm water.

This decadent chocolate mask is actually an excellent moisturizer. I found this one at spaindex.com. Mix following ingredients until smooth; 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tblsp. heavy cream, 2 tsp. cottage cheese, 1 cup of honey, 3 tsp. oatmeal powder. Relax for ten 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Watch a chick flick while waiting for your facials to absorb.

• Give each other a manicure and pedicure. Put on some of your daughter’s favorite music while doing mani/pedis. Yes, HER favorites.
• Ask her how her day was. Try and learn more about her.
• Share some spiritual insights without seeming preachy.

The point is to spend quality time with your daughter and build a strong bond. Start young and you will stay connected even through the coming years of puberty. If you are getting a late start, no worries…it is NEVER too late to love your daughter and get to know who she is!

Enjoy your girls, Moms!

Copyright © Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Guarding Our Home and Keeping it Godly
2. Save Money, Skip the Gym & Work Out at Home
3. Make your Guest Room Feel like Home to Your Guests

Christmas Decorating Ideas

Table Centerpieces

Centerpieces are an inexpensive way to add holiday cheer to a room. Get a decorative bowl (gold, silver, etc.) and put colorful Christmas bulbs inside. I did this with a gold holiday bowl and filled it with red bulbs, it looks great and festive. Try adding pine cones in the bowl they also work well.

Candles

Candles add tremendous warmth to any room. Place them on your tables, in the hallway, on mantles, and add some green garland around them for a decorative touch. Place pillar candles on different sized candle holders and put lots of votive candles all over the house. Dress up the candle by putting a pretty ribbon around it.

Jars and Vases

You can do wonders with clear jars and vases! If you have little jars or canisters line them up on the kitchen counter and fill them with red and white candy, such as peppermints or candy canes. I have a few of the small thin vases and I have been able to use them in a couple ways. First, I bought a cheap string of red garland beads for about $1.99 and placed them into the clear vase, they look great! Those stray branches that you have to cut off your tree can be recycled and used for decorating. I cut the evergreen sprigs off and placed them in clear vases and put them on the window sills.

Ornaments

Ornaments aren’t only for the tree. If you have an ornament that has a message, for example an ornament with the word peace on it, hang it on a door knob of one of your rooms. Another idea is get a ribbon and string a number of bulbs on it and hang it above an entrance way.

Cypress Trees and Cinnamon Brooms

I bought a small cypress tree that I adore. These trees cost around $3.00-$4.00, they are small but they make a big impact in your room. Line three up on the window sill or put them on a coffee table with a festive Christmas ribbon tied around it and you have a great decoration.

The cinnamon broom is a new addition in my home that will become a fixture every year. Hang the broom up and it gives off the most wonderful scent. Mix that scent with the smell of pine and it is pure bliss. They also look rustic and charming.

Decorate the Kid’s Room

If you have little kids go back to your childhood and dig out your crafty side. Get some construction paper and make snowflakes. Hang them from the ceiling in their bedroom create a little winter wonderland. Put a small tree in their room, whether artificial or real and let them decorate it with unbreakable ornaments. Let them go wild with the tinsel and add a few lights, they’ll love it.

Print out stencils to trace their favorite Christmas characters to decorate and hang on their wall. Create a Christmas wall filled with snow, snowmen, Santa, candy canes, etc.

Nativity Scenes

No Christmas would be complete without a nativity scene. Nativity scenes can be expensive but you can also make your own. Many drugstores such as CVS or Rite Aids have Christmas decorations that are 50% off. Many of them have angels, Mary and Joseph and even small nativity sets that you can buy inexpensively. Whether it is a corner with a nativity scene or a table with spiritual literature and a comfortable chair that you can sit quietly around and pray and reflect on Jesus Christ, create a corner in your home that is dedicated to honoring the birth of Jesus Christ.

Have fun with the holidays. Think of creative ways to dress up your home with the warmth and coziness of the season. It doesn’t have to be an $80.00 strand of garland, it can be homemade or inexpensive items that add Christmas cheer to your surroundings. As moms we create the family traditions and memories that children will associate with the holidays. Make those memories precious and warm and always add a lot of love to everything you do.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Decorating Your Home For Fall
2. 10 Creative Ways to Spark Christmas Tradition
3. Celebrating Christ at Christmas

Thanksgiving Countdown

Three Weeks Before Thanksgiving

• Finalize the Guest List – I urge you to get a count of the number of people who plan on attending dinner. The sooner you know the sooner you can start preparing. Ask your guests if they have any food aversions this can help avoid an uncomfortable situation.
• Check Magazines for Ideas – There are a number of magazines and internet sites that have creative ideas for decorating for the holiday. Check them out for new recipes for dinner and desert and try something different this year.
• Prepare Your Menu – Take a half an hour out of your day, sit down and plan your dinner menu. Create a list of all the food, drinks, deserts, and ingredients required to prepare your meal. This may seem like a no brainer, but I have run to the store the hour before guests arrived many of times because I didn’t plan carefully. If you are cooking a new dish this year, you may want to have a trial run with your family. Many grocery stores will have great discounts, make sure you take advantage of them and start clipping those coupons now.

Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving

• Finish Decorating - If you decorated for the fall season than skip this step. Decorations can be simple, a nice fall wreath, warm candles, some pumpkins, acorns or squash arranged in a bowl for a centerpiece, and even some fun crafts from the kids. Make it simple but cozy.
• Prepare the Guestroom - If you have guests who are staying the night, start preparing their room and keep it off limits to everyone else. Change the linen, clean under the beds and in the closet, lay out the towels, and add any other small touches that will make them feel at home.
• Take Inventory of Your Dinnerware - Make sure you have enough dishes, silverware, glasses, serving trays, pots, pans, and utensils for your meal and your guests. Think about how you want your table to look, and the little details such as, if you will use linen or cloth napkins, do you want a casual or formal dinner, will you have a kids table, or are there seating arrangements, these are all details you want to decide before the holiday.
• Grocery Shop – Grocery shopping depends on your schedule. Some people rather wait until the week of Thanksgiving in hopes of taking advantage of bigger bargains. Personally, I find the last week to be too hectic and the stores too frantic. Choose a day that you won’t be rushed. Be armed with your list and a plan. You may want to bring your children depending on their age to share in the experience of preparing for the meal.

Thanksgiving Week

• Touch Base with Your Guests - Take time out of your busy schedule to confirm with your guests that they are coming and what time to expect dinner.
• Clean the House - If you clean the house earlier chances are it won’t stay that way. There are certain chores you can do before the third week, such as tidying up the yard, or cleaning out the hall closet to make space for coats, whatever you can do before countdown, by all means do it. I do a thorough cleaning of one room at a time. I find that if I jump around I get less accomplished. I suggest assigning the whole family specific chores to get the housecleaning finished quicker.
• Meal Preparation - Have everything you need for your meal at your fingertips. Chop vegetables a couple days ahead and store them in Ziploc bags in the refrigerator and place cans and ingredients out the night before. Anything you can do before the actual day will save you a ton of time.

Most importantly don’t neglect yourself. Take time to relax before your guests arrive. It isn’t uncommon for exhaustion to settle in, making you cranky and stressed. Take a long bath, have some quiet time, and don’t lose sight of the real meaning of the holiday. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make everything perfect that we miss out on just having fun and enjoying our family, friends, and reflecting on God’s many blessings.

Also don’t be superwoman! Allow your family to help with the cooking, baking, and preparations. Holidays are a time for families to bond and create traditions, and this is the perfect time to share in the festivities. Sure we want our house to be clean, and the turkey to be golden, but people really remember the laughs, hugs, and good conversations that holiday memories are made of. Enjoy the holidays without all the stress.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Thanksgiving Projects for Kids
2. Tuesdays Mommy Tip: Thanksgiving Traditions
3. Dinner Parties Fun and Simple

However, cleaning is part of my every day routine. I have discovered that breaking your chores into quick 15-20 minute segments, makes cleaning less stressful and overwhelming. Another way to break up the segments is to have designated days for each room. Washing dishes and taking out the trash are usually an everyday chore, so they would not be included, but there are many cleaning chores that are.

Fifteen minute Clean Up: Rook by Room

Kitchen

Beside washing dishes and wiping down counters, take 15 minutes to sweep the floor, rid the refrigerator of any expired food, and wipe the inside, outside and top of the refrigerator. On another day take that time and arrange the inside of your cabinets.

Living Room/Family Room

The living room and family room gets a lot of use and it shows. In 15 minutes you can dust and polish your coffee tables and furniture, pick up magazines or books, and vacuum under the pillows of your couch.

Bathroom

I love using the organic all natural purpose cleaner from Seventh Generation. It smells great and it isn’t filled with toxic chemicals. I squirt this on my sink, toilet, and handles in the bathroom and in 15 minutes my bathroom not only smells good but looks great.

Bedrooms

This may seem like a no brainer but fixing your bed automatically makes your bedroom seem cleaner. Sweep the floor and don’t neglect dusting headboards, you would be surprised how much dust they gather. With the cold weather ushering in take 15 minutes to clear your drawers from any summer clothes you won’t be using until next year. If you need to switch out the clothes for your children, assign a day for each bedroom and give yourself a time limit to clean them out.

General Chores

There are certain general chores that you can fit in your 15 minute schedule.

15 minute General Cleaning Tips:

• Sweeping
• Emptying all the trash in the house
• Choose two rooms a day and clean the baseboards in your house
• Throw a load of laundry in the washer and fold another
• Wipe down the windowsills in each room
• Arrange and clean the cabinets in the bottom of the sink
• Dust above the archways in your home, which are commonly overlooked
• Plan meals for the week
• Create a grocery list
• Clean the books shelves
• Sort through magazine and either donate old issues to doctor offices or recycle them
• Separate your bills and mail and file them appropriately

Fifteen minutes may not seem like much time, but there numerous chores we can get done that really help us throughout the week. Even spending 15 minutes in each room can make your house look great. Stick to the time limit, you may even want to set an alarm so that you don’t get carried away. Breaking down these tasks gives you more time to spend with God, your family, and yourself.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Make your Guest Room Feel like Home to Your Guests
2. Welcome Spring Cleaning with These Easy Tips
3. Household Chores for All Ages

One challenge I face as a single mother is doing it all alone. To my pleasant surprise I have found a helper, who is enthusiastic and a great worker! It is not Merry Maids, no it is Anya my daughter! I have discovered that she is more than willing to help me around the house, and she is really a great help! If you have preschoolers that are home with you during the day or even on the weekend my advice is to get them involved. Kids love feeling useful and when at that young age you are less likely to hear the complaining that you would from a teenager.

Ideas to get your preschool child involved in the household chores:

Laundry
Although laundry may be our Achilles’ hill, little ones love laundry. On laundry day have your child help you separate the clothes by color. This is a great way to teach them about separating and colors. Once you pour the detergent let them dump it in the washer. When the clothes are finished, take them out and hand them the smaller items of clothes to throw in the dryer. When they are dry let them put them in the bushel. You can even let them put their clothes in their dresser under your supervision.

Dusting
You may not be able to give them the furniture polish, but you can give them a damp cloth and let them wipe railings, reachable window sills, and even baseboards.

Cleaning Their Room
I firmly believe that children will accomplish what you expect of them. If you are always picking up their room, then you can be certain when they are a teenager this trend will continue. Start with something simple such as organizing their toys. For example, my daughter has many organizational boxes; however there are four that she has easy access to since she plays with these toys most frequently. When the toys are out, she is responsible for putting the dolls in the doll box, the doll accessories in the accessory box, the crafts in the craft box, and so on. Again, this is great for practicing sorting, learning about organizing, and she gets to enjoy playtime because she can easily locate her toys.

Gardening
Children love playing outdoors, so this is the opportune time to have them to help around the yard. With fall approaching and the leaves falling you will certainly need their help. Buy some age appropriate garden tools, such as rakes and gloves. Get out there and rake the leaves with the help of your little one. Make a game of it and collect interesting leaves or acorns. Afterward, sit together and enjoy a book and a treat after all their hard work.

There are so many creative ways to get your children involved in the household chores. All chores should be age and time appropriate, but with the right encouragement this is a great way to introduce them to responsibility, working together as a family, and to set good patterns for when they get older. Doing chores together is also a wonderful way to sneak in some quality bonding time. Get creative and have your kids at all ages participate in making your home a sanctuary for the whole family.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Fellowship is Vital For All Ages
2. Making Laundry Manageable
3. Get Prepared and Spend Quality Time With Your Family

Do you have a great tip for Moms? They can be about anything (family friendly, of course) that pertains to a Mom’s life, including; beauty, kitchen, health, parenting, and so much more! Click Here to find out how YOU can join Moms of Faith’s Tuesday’s Mommy Tips!

NOTE: PLEASE read the rules. We have a few who are not posting to the ACTUAL TIP post on their blog. I need you to post your link to the actual TIP POST…NOT the main page of your site. THANK YOU!!

OK, on to this week’s Mommy tip…

Save All Year

Recently, my husband and I implemented a strict budget to help us be better stewards of our money. It is also the only way we will be able to survive and meet our bills. While looking at the budget, I was dismayed to see we do not have much if any extra most weeks. It made me think about Christmas and not having any money…again…So, we have decided to do what some close friends of ours does…They puts a few dollars a week away…every week…they put it in a “Christmas” box. It can not be used for ANYTHING except Christmas. It just does not exist for any other reason. Period.

When Christmas rolls around, they already have their money and no need to scrape it up…or worry about if they will have any! YEAH! Anyway, we have decided to do it as well and I am looking forward to not having that feeling of lack or wondering if my kids will have a Christmas hanging over my head. LOL!

We will be starting it next month, so, this year will not really benefit from it…BUT…next year will…God willing we have another year on this planet!

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Tuesday’s Mommy Tip – Sneak in the Veggies
2. Tuesday’s Mommy Tip: Burn Extra Calories
3. Tuesday’ s Mommy Tip – Gravy

Ideas to make fall decorating fun at your house

Incorporate Colors of the Fall Season

The color pallet of the season is incredible with its rich deep reds, burnt oranges, gold, and yellows which are wonderful colors to incorporate into your home. Depending on the color scheme in your house you may want to swap a few of your pillows for those that have fall colors. Add a soft chenille throw to a couch, chair, or even at the end of your bed to keep you warm on those chilly evenings.

Bring the Outside Inside

Some of the best fall decorations are free. That’s right, free and in your own back yard or nearby parks. Look for fallen branches and place them in decorative or clear vases on your mantels or window sills. The leaves this time of year are breathtaking and look great displayed in picture frames. Pick an afternoon, pack a lunch and go leaf picking with your kids. This is a great activity especially, for younger children. Get creative with the camera and take pictures of your kids leaf picking and frame them. Change the tint of the pictures to sepia or black and white to add character.

Fall Themed Centerpieces

Make your dinner table a treat for the eyes by adding a simple centerpiece. Try placing a pretty bowl filled with red, green or yellow apples in the middle of your table. Different color squashes, small pumpkins, acorns, or pinecones in a bowl or tall glass vases are another eye catcher that looks great and is inexpensive. Brighten a room by adding a floral arrangements t such as sunflowers or mums.

Pleasure to the Senses

Do you remember how your home smelled when you were a child? What smells make you think of home? I love bringing all those great fall smells into my house. Candles are the most common way to get a house smelling delicious and with all the different scented smelling candles available it is a simple way to get the smell of pumpkins, or apples floating in your home.

If you have a fireplace throw in some logs when the weather gets cooler and enjoy the warmth and smell of a fire burning, while saving some money on your electric bill. Another simple way to have your house smelling great is to place ginger and cinnamon sticks in a pot of boiling water, the aroma is wonderful!

Doors and Entryways

Welcome your family and guests with a fall wreath on the door. Put a few decorated or undecorated pumpkins outside the door, not only will they add color they scream fall time. If you are feeling extra crafty you may even want to add a scarecrow or two!

Decorating for autumn can be fun and creative. Check your local stores for discounts on fall decorations, do crafts with your kids, and look in your own backyard for free resources. Celebrate fall by having a family game of football, raking leaves on a lazy Sunday, or drinking some apple cider by a fire. Get cozy with your family and your home while enjoying the new season. Don’t forget to thank God for the fall season and all the beauty that he has created for us to enjoy!

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Recreate Your Home – Quick and Cheap Decorating Tips for Busy Moms
2. Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas
3. Preparing Your Home for the Thanksgiving Countdown