Bonjour! Ciao! Hola! Have you been checking the National Chapter and participating in Cultural Awareness Month? In our Multicultural Mommies forum, we’re talking about foreign languages and discovering fun facts about different cultures. Join the celebration, and add some new words and phrases to your linguistic repertoire!

Do you have something to add to the conversation? Share your knowledge with other moms who are learning a language with their children. Go global with TMN as we highlight the many languages and cultures that make our world wonderful!

For this to be a successful shopping trip, I needed to do it sans kids. As I walked through the store, I entered the regular prices for future reference. If I can note what the regular prices are at each store, then I can determine which store will be the most cost effective.

I noticed something new with Grocery IQ, as I was using it... when you tick off each item into the shopping cart, it calculates how much you are spending. That feature probably was there since we downloaded the app, but I never really noticed it before. Even so, it's not really helpful if you don't enter the cost of the items. So, I did have to stop and calculate the cost of the items with the coupons, but I was ok with that. I wanted to know. I wanted to know so that I was sure to stay within my budget. When I did calculate the cost, I did not calculate for any coupons doubling. I was ok with that. If some or all of the coupons doubled, that would be better for me at the register. The trip took me about 2 1/2 hours to walk out with 2 carts of groceries.

So, with 2 1/2 hours and a $500 budget, the grocery bill came to about $460... before club card and coupons. After the discounts, I only paid about $270! I save about $190!!! 40% off the actual cost! Not too shabby! It still leaves me with enough to pick up those few items from the other stores. It's not like the savings on Extreme Couponing, but I'm ok with that. Just knowing I saved our family money and stayed within our budget made me super happy!!!



We put it a bit of work to make this happen. Now, we have to figure out how to work smarter. Next to explore: finding a coupon clipping service. Let's see what I can find! :)


Check out Hazel's blog at http://crazy-expensive-offspring.blogspot.com/

1) How does it feel to be voted the first Diva of the Month in 2012?

i am so excited. It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy knowing that i have so many people that appreciate me for me. I have learned from past experience that i need to be myself. because trying to be someone you are not wont get you anywhere. Thank you everyone for believing in me and not giving up hope.

2) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Well my name is Kim but everyone calls me Shorty since i am soooo short being 4'11". i am a fun and shy SAHM of a wonderful 3 year old Son named Austin. I have 2 dogs. and have been married to my wonderful and loving husband for the past 10 years. I come from a divorced family. so i have one sister, one half sister and 3 half brothers. all my half sibllings are younger than myself. I have a niece and nephew. I am getting my son ready for preschool this year. a little scary for me since i have had him 24/7 but i cant wait for him to go. He is so excited.

3) What has been your favorite FM event so far?

My favorite event so far would have to be Pump It Up. it was a great place to have Austin run around like crazy and not have to worry of him running away or getting into trouble. plus it was a good work out for me.. LOL

4) Since you are the Lighter Side Diva, give us a great joke.

An eldery patient gets hearing aids from a doctor. After short time, he meets the doctor again.

Doctor, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased."

Patient, "Oh, I am in a funny situation now. I haven't told my family yet. I just sit and listen to their conversations. In a month, I've changed my will three times!"

In the month of February, we celebrate many things, not just Valentine's Day. Here are three:

National Children's Dental Month



"Rock Your Smile" this month and show your kids how important good dental health is! Schedule an appointment with the dentist for both you and your child, swap out those toothbrushes for new ones, and try to eat your apples and drink your milk! Click the kids for a .pdf file of activities and information.

American Heart Month



Heart disease is still the #1 killer of women, 8 times as many deaths than breast cancer, and more deaths than all cancers combined. Yet more and more women KNOW that heart disease is the #1 killer and it remains at the top of the list. And heart disease doesn't only affect us and our families with death. Once you are struck with heart disease, your daily life is impacted. Click the banner above to go to a page hosted by the NHLBI full of facts, information, questions for your doctor, heart healthy recipes, and more!

Black History Month



African Americans were first celebrated during a week in February, 1926, and 50 years later, in 1976, the celebration was expanded to the whole month of February. We celebrate the accomplishments and creations of African Americans, as well as the importance of remembering them throughout the history of our nation. This year's theme is "Black Women in American Culture and History", honoring the contributions of black women and the roles they have played in our history. Click the ladies to be taken to a website with more information on the history and events of the month.

1) How does it feel to be the first Moderator of the Month 2012?

Absolutely Amazing... I can't wait to get started on promoting world peace and lobbying for a cure for The Terrible Twos.. No in all seriousness I am very happy that my efforts have been rewarded and I just want to say that with a team like ours at the moment it makes you want to be involved. We love our playgroup and getting to take tours and meet for lunch and go to Gymnastics. I want to work to make this site as much fun as we can make it! Now if only I could find that bling again I would be set!!

2) Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a mother, a daughter, a wife, a friend, a dancer, a singer, a performer and a lover. I love life and I want to raise my children to enjoy the world and I only hope I can give them the same experiences I have had. Being a horse show brat as a kid I grew up all over. I was in and out of schools and had tutors and worked in trailers at shows with my peers. I was able to show in 49 states and 15 countries and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Unfortunately now that would cost me about 3 billion dollars so we may stick to local shows and visits to mommies friends over seas for a while. I love to dance and worked professionally with Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Richmond and Greensboro ballets. I teach dance, I choreograph for local theater departments in DC and performed with them as well for 5 years before moving to Frederick. I love to ride my horses and to take my son to play in the dirt and I try to live each day like it may all end soon because you only get one chance to do anything so take it.

3) What has been your favorite FM event so far?

I don't know that I can decide and I think that is the best part of FM every event (even our weekly playdate) is new and fun and different from the last. I love the spice you all add to our lives. I think for Stone it would be our weekly playdate, then anything at Flips Gymnastics, and then possibly a tie between Baby Sign and Pump it Up. Now if we could do baby sign at pump it up he may just not be able to stand it! I also love that we have gone from 4 kids at our first playdate here at my house in October to 10 kids here last week. I can't believe I have only been around since October sometimes!

4) Since you were nominated as a Frederick County Moderator, name your top 3 favorite places in Frederick County.

Ok so this one is a toughie for me because we have only just moved here. I would say that we love going to our friends houses, we also love our new house, and I would say that the park that we go to in Ballenger is pretty cool. You will have to get back to me on this one when the weather has gotten warmer and I have actually gone outside. As many of you know I don't do the cold!

WOW! Looking at the FrederickMommies calendar just makes me smile. Do you know why it makes me smile? It’s because February is another busy month around FrederickMommies! We have an activity planned for just about everyday during the month of February… sometimes multiple activities on one day. Do you want to know what is happening on FrederickMommies?

Are you a member? Then check out the calendar to see what is happening.

Wait, did you say you weren’t a member? That is ok, I will give you a special sneak-peak as to what we are offering… but remember, this is only a sneak-peak! If you like what you see, then come join us. We are great group and we would love to have you be apart of it!

Sneak-Peak Events on Frederick Mommies:

Playdates:
All-Ages Playdate
Little Squirts/Rascals (12-24mo/2-3yo) will have FOUR this month!
Preschool kids will have THREE playdates!
There 2-crafting playdates (Make a Valentine and a LeapYear)
Rollers and Crawlers has a playdate (0-12mo)
Family-Friendly/All Ages/New Member playdate on a Saturday!

Fieldtrips/Visits:
Visiting a Dentist Office
Firestation Visit
Nursing home Visit

Activities just for Mommy:
MNI and MNO (Mom’s Night In and Mom’s Night Out)
Young Mommies Night – Going out to dinner
Craft/Sewing (B*tch & St*tch)

New Member Events:
I will be hosting THREE in February!

Community Involvement:
Frederick Rescue Mission – come help us serve lunch

This is just the icing on the cake of events we are having around Frederick Mommies in February. Come join us for some fun!

Betty
Co-Coordinator Little Squirts
Hospitality Manager

February is Cultural Awareness Month at The Mommies Network, and we're thinking globally! Share a love for foreign language and different cultures with your child in our Multicultural Mommies forum on our National Chapter. Each week, we'll feature several languages and cultural tidbits. You may also participate and strengthen your language lingo in a special webinar. Additionally, our sponsor will provide information on how you can continue your language-learning experience after the month is over.

According to Associated Content, brain research shows that children are at an optimal age for language learning. Although language study is effective at any age, some studies suggest that the human brain is more open to learning a foreign ­­­­­language ­­­from birth to preadolescence. Fortunately, researchers have not found an age in which the language window closes completely, especially in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

Take advantage of this opportunity to think globally, and join us as we learn about foreign languages and different ways of life during Cultural Awareness Month at TMN!