Michelle blogs about life, her kids and her love of caffeinated drinks at ememby.com.

Everyone has had that moment… you know, the moment when your kid blatantly stares at someone or says something embarrassing in public. I’m no different, my kids have said and done things I’d rather they hadn’t but little by little I believe we’re at the very least teaching them the right way to approach people who are different. This is important to me because my youngest was born with symbrachydactyly, which means his left hand wasn’t fully developed and along with a smaller than normal thumb, he’s missing his fingers on that hand. We definitely notice others checking out his hand while we are in public, it’s only normal since it is different. I see those opportunities as a chance to help educate others about limb differences (our particular brand of difference but you get the same kind of looks whether you are missing a hand, in a wheelchair or wear a patch over your eye).

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By Rebecca Keenan from Playground Confidential

There are many reasons to cloth diaper a baby. There’s the environmental impact and the feeling of soft cotton against your baby’s skin. Cloth diapers will make it easier for your baby to feel wet and might facilitate easier toilet training. Or maybe you have a deep, subconscious yearning to fold squares of cloth just so, fostered by years of setting napkins out in fine dining restaurants. Ahem. But I digress.

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By Angella from Dutch Blitz

Back when I was on maternity leave, and then working from home, getting good (and good for you) meals on the table was pretty simple. I was here at some point in the day, if not all day long, so I had time to prepare and cooks meals, and even dash to the grocery store for any last-minute ingredients. Now that I am working outside of the house full-time, as is my husband, we had to overhaul our meal-planning strategy.

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By Deanna from Money Saving Frugal Mom

With the new episodes of TLC Extreme Couponing airing weekly the buzz about couponing and saving in general has exploded!  Now, we have to remember that the show is airing Extreme saving scenarios.  I want to show you some effective ways to coupon and find great deals that are more realistic.

Coupons-Where to find them

Coupon inserts in your newspaper are a great place to start, especially the Sunday paper.  You can also try to write, call or email companies who manufacture products you use often and inquire about coupons.

I try to organize my coupons at night after the kids are in bed and I only cut out the coupons I am going to use.   Extra coupons are saved in a file folder and either traded or I give them to friends who will use them.  Sometimes I will get things for free with coupons and donate it if it is an item I do not use or need.

When I started couponing I used a check sized file folder.  Once I really got into couponing I found that the file folder was no longer efficient.  I upgraded to a coupon binder and I love it!  I purchased a Case It! binder and baseball card plastic binder inserts.  My coupons are tidy and easy to access.

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This is a great early spring dinner, and the delicate flavors of the ginger and the lemon don’t overpower the sweetness of the shrimp in the slightest.  Plus, as noted, everyone loves food on a stick.  You can marinate the shrimp for as long as your schedule allows, and if you don’t have time to marinate them in the refrigerator, you can let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour, then skewer them up. Serve this with plenty of hot rice and a salad.

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 pounds peeled extra large or jumbo raw shrimp
• 14 6-inch wooden skewers
• 6 cups hot rice to serve
• Freshly chopped parsley for sprinkling (optional)

1. In a gallon-sized zipper top bag, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, and salt and pepper. Squish all around to combine, then add the shrimp, seal the bag, and flip around so the shrimp is completely coated with the marinade.  Refrigerate for 4 to 12 hours.
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By Angella of Committed: The Ties That Bond and DutchBlitz.net

I returned to full-time employment in an office last January and while I was a bit of a blubbering mess for the first month (or five), I soon got into the swing of things. There are hiccups along the way, for sure, but there are a few things I do in order to make my mornings (and week) less hectic and stressful.

1. Make lunches the night before. For EVERYONE.

My husband and I have three kids in school and the two of us are working full-time. Anyone who has ever made lunches for their family knows that it it takes time. We always make lunches for our kids the night before (to cut down on morning stress) but occasionally we’ll stop there and say we’ll make our own lunches in the morning. This sees me running around at 6 a.m., before the sleep lines have even faded from my face, and my day only seems to go downhill from there. ALL lunches need to be made the night before.

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Many of us don’t think of scallops and kids on the same breath.  But really — like chicken –  scallops are such a nice blank canvas for all sorts of flavors, from mild to intense, that there’s no reason not to give it a shot. And the texture is pleasingly firm.

This is the simplest of kebabs, and as we all know, food on a stick gets given more of a chance than food not on a stick, so skewering up something new may earn it a place on your menu of dinner options.  Try to find dry scallops, as opposed to wet, at the fish counter.  Wet scallops are commonly treated with preservatives, and they have absorbed water making them weigh more (and consequently costing you more) and also preventing them from searing up nicely. Dry scallops are not soaked in stuff, and caramelize beautifully during cooking.  Serve these with rice or orzo.
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By Laura Radniecki of www.lauraradnieckiimages.com and www.lauraradniecki.blogspot.com

1. Lighting = #1. Background = #2.

I used to think that the background of a photo was the most important factor when choosing a location. I would pick a location and then try to make whatever lighting was there work for me. It wasn’t until recently that I realized the lighting is actually the most important piece of the puzzle. Great lighting will make a photo with a decent background look awesome, while a photo with a great background and bad lighting will be a disaster. It was one of those big ‘Aha!’ moments for me. This is what happened.

I was photographing a family at their cabin on a lake. The sky was overcast, so we had the luxury of taking photos anyplace we wanted, without having to worry about shadows or squinting. The family suggested using the lake as the backdrop. I agreed and we went down to the water’s edge. I quickly realized that the photos were not good. The background was so bright that you couldn’t even see the water or the shoreline, and all of the green grass was giving the picture a weird greenish-orange color cast.

I suggested that we switch places. I moved the family over about 8 feet so they were standing in front of a wooded area, with their faces toward the lake. It took one snap of my camera to see that the photos were 200% better. The light was now bouncing off of the lake and into their faces, resulting in natural-colored, smooth portraits. The background wasn’t the lake, but it was still a nice, natural blur of green and yellow from the woods.

2. Watch for Catchlights.

Catchlights is a fancy word for the little reflections of light in someone’s eyes. Basically, it means that you have done #1 correctly - you have light bouncing back into your subject’s face, and this usually means that you will get nice, creamy skin in the pictures. Catchlights can come from a wide variety of sources: artificial lights, the sun, bright objects etc. Look for them, and if you see them, snap away!

When I take photos, if I don’t see them in my subject’s eyes, all I usually have to do is have them face a different direction, and I’ll usually find some!

3. Utilize Different Perspectives.

Instead of always shooting level with your subjects, try to spice it up with different perspectives.

Get low to the ground. This particularly works great with children, even babies.

Try shooting down on your subject. One of my favorite perspectives for children is to have them look up at me. This usually gives me great catchlights [yay #2!] and results in a more interesting and flattering photo than if I was shooting them straight on.

Keep in mind the Rule of Thirds and other rules of composition. Don’t shoot with your subject dead the center of your frame. Spice it up, tilt the camera a little [be careful - avoid overdoing the tilt], get in close with your subjects. Try different things.

4. Keep Clicking.

The beauty of digital photography is that there’s no harm in taking 500 or 5000 photos. You only have to print 10 if you want to. With adults who like to blink a lot, or kids who run around at 324 miles an hour, it often takes several tries to get a good one. There is no harm in that - even the best of the pros take many bloopers to get a keeper.

The other benefit of this is that with each photo you take, you get a little bit better!

5. Utilize Available Editing Tools.

If you want to be able to take photos and print them without editing them on a computer, there are options for you built into most cameras. Point and Shoots and DSLRs alike have settings like Vivid for jpeg photos. This means that when you take a picture, the camera applies a Vivid setting, pumping up the color, adding a little contrast to it, and resulting in a photo that is edited in-camera! No need to do anything else to it after you bring it from camera to computer or camera to a photo kiosk.

If you want to edit your photos on your computer, there are an endless number of programs to choose from - many are free! iPhoto comes with any Mac computer, and Windows Photo Gallery comes with all PC’s. There are many other free downloadable programs like Picasa that have the basic tools to photo editing. 75% of my editing is done with sliders for White Balance [Color Temperature], Exposure, and Contrast. These very simple editing tools can have big impacts!

Thanks for reading, and happy shooting!

So simple,and so easy to take advantage of the produce of the moment.  This is barely a step above raw veggies, which many kids seem to prefer, and you can use this glazey method for any vegetables, and have quick and happy results.

Ingredients
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By Rhiannon from Rhi In Pink

My name is Rhiannon and in four months I’m getting married. Do you know what I’m not doing right now? I’m not freaking out. Nope, I’m cool as a cucumber. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m busy. I have a demanding job that keeps me out of the house 11 hours a day and speaking of my house…I just moved and am living out of boxes. But, I’m proud to say that I’m keeping my wedding-related stress level relatively low.

Here are some tools to help you plan a stress-free affair:

1. Hire an expert.

About 3 months ago, I found myself awake at 3 a.m. three nights (um, mornings?) in a row freaking out over wedding related tasks. Who was going to get the gifts from the venue to our house? How would I know when it was time for the first dance After the third sleepless night, my fiancé and I decided to hire ourselves a planner. Now we have someone to handle little details such as room blocks for out of town guests, the rehearsal dinner and overall event design and I’m sleeping through the night again. Hurray!

2. Utilize free planning tools.

Many wedding sites offer free tools to aide in wedding planning. TheKnot.com has the mother of all wedding checklists as well as a handy-dandy budgeting tool. When I first got engaged I had no clue how many little tasks there were leading up to the big day and I also didn’t know how much things were supposed to cost. Tip: pour yourself a giant glass of wine before looking at the checklist. It’s a doozy.

3. DO NOT, AND I REPEAT, DO NOT VISIT WEDDING MESSAGE BOARDS.

Other brides will stress you out. One bride on her own is fine, but I firmly believe that when one bride gets together with one or two other brides? Craziness ensues. Do not get into a wedding competition. Avoid the message boards at all costs.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

People love weddings and they will offer to help you plan. Do not turn them down. Also, put the groom to work! Wasn’t the wedding his idea in the first place? My fiancé and I both worked on our save the dates (over cocktails) and we got them done in no time at all.

5. But, don’t be afraid to tell someone if they’re offering too much help.

One of the most annoying things about planning a wedding is that everyone has an opinion to offer you. If someone is not being helpful (or nice) in their “advice,” it’s okay to say something. You’ll be glad you did.

6. Take advantage of “registry events” at local stores.

Many stores, such as Macy’s and Crate and Barrel offer special registry events. They’ll close the store off and have experts there to help you decide just how many place settings you need and how many gifts you’ll need to register for. Product representatives are also on hand to help you decide just which food processor or toaster oven is best for you. And, as a bonus, they have food and drink as well as a parting gift.

7. Take time for yourself.

Lastly, be sure to take care of yourself. If you’re well rested and relaxed leading up to the big day, it will show. Also, don’t forget that this is a stressful time for your fiancé, too. Be sure to set aside alone time for the two of you.

So, there you have it. There are a lot of moving parts involved in wedding planning, but you can totally handle it. And, just think…when the wedding is over, you get to jet off with your sweetie for a fantastic honeymoon.

If you have any tips of your own to share, please share them!