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Theta Mom®

Redefining Motherhood

Designs by Jessie Review and Giveaway

***This contest is now closed. Congratulations Kathy P! An email has been sent.***

Designs by Jessie is owned by Jessie, a busy mother of three boys who has been crafting for years. She’s been knitting, crocheting, digital scrapbooking and even photo editing. She began her shop Designs by Jessie as an outlet to share her talent and spark her creative side while doing something she truly loves. She is always creating new things for the store and playing with different fabrics along the way. She creates everything from camera straps to iphone pockets. I reviewed the Big Circle Butterfly CD Visor:

I was excited about reviewing this product because I am the queen of keeping the CD’s in the wrong case so when I open a CD to play it, it’s never the one I want. There is total easy access with this product since there is no need for cases! This CD visor is made with 100% designer fabric that does not scratch the CD’s and holds up to 12 CD’s or even DVD’s! There is an elastic band at the back of the visor so it secures to the car visor perfectly.

I have to be honest and tell you that although I had every intention of keeping the CD visor in my car, my daughter has tons of CD’s and DVD’s that are all over the place in her room. This visor was the perfect answer with its adorable fabric that coordinates with her pink room décor. So I actually hung the visor up on her wall! Can you say multifunctional? Maybe at some point I will bring it back into the car, but for now it looks too cute in her room and is performing the same job by keeping the CD’s and DVD’s in its place safely. You can follow Jessie on Twitter and be sure to check out her shop for all things creative! I just adore her camera straps which you can shop here. 

You can purchase The Big Circle Butterfly CD Visor here or you can enter to win because Designs by Jessie is giving one lucky Theta Mom reader the chance to win $30 to shop at Designs by Jessie {and check out those camera straps, they are so awesome}!

How to Enter The Designs by Jessie Giveaway:

****Required Entry: Follow my blog publicly and tell me you are AND visit Designs by Jessie and tell me how you would spend the $30.

Extra Entries: (You must leave a separate entry for each extra entry to count and extra entries won’t count unless the required entry is done)


1. Follow Theta Mom on Twitter here and leave me your twitter name. (1 entry)

2. Become a “Like” of Theta Mom on Facebook here and leave me your FB name. (1 entry)

3. Subscribe to Theta Mom via email. You must activate the subscription for this entry to count. (2 entries)

4. Subscribe to Theta Mom any other way. (1 entry)

5. Grab one of my cute buttons and add it to your website. (2 entries per button)

6. Vote for Theta Mom as ‘Most Inspiring Blog’  at the Blogluxe awards by clicking the banner. (1  entry)

7. Tweet this giveaway! Just copy/paste the following: Need an iphone or ipod pocket? Enter to win $30 to shop at @DesignsByJessie #giveaway @ThetaMom http://bit.ly/aPxzz2 Please RT (1 entry per daily tweet)

8. Post about this giveaway on your blog and link back to me. Leave me your link to show the post. (2 entries)

9. Add Theta Mom to your blogroll. (2 entries)

Giveaway Rules:

This giveaway is open to US residents only. It begins on July 5, 2010 and will end on July 15, 2010 at 8 pm. One winner with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. The winner will be announced and must respond with a current email address within 48 hours to claim. Otherwise, another eligible entry will be chosen. Enter as many extra entries as you would like Theta Moms and good luck!

I was provided The Big Circle Butterfly CD Visor. I was not compensated for this review. These are my own honest opinions and experience with the product.

Happy Weekend

I just wanted to take a moment to thank every blogger that participated in my blogoversary by linking up so many amazing, thought-provoking and emotional ‘Proud Theta Mom’ posts. I will be taking the next few days to ensure that I read and commented on every single post entered. If you want to catch up on these authentic and simply fantastic posts, click here. I will be publishing some of the highlights from these entries as well as announcing the winner of this special anniversary next week…

Also, a very special thank you is certainly in order to Modern Bird Studios, a brand that I fully endorse. Not only have I worked with Gregg and Megan previously and can speak so highly of their work but I want every reader to know how much I appreciate their sponsorship for this very special milestone for Theta Mom. They truly helped to make this an event to remember.

Finally, I need your help. You many have noticed that cute little new addition on the right sidebar:

Vote for Theta Mom at the Blogluxe Lounge Awards!

I would be thrilled if you voted for Theta Mom at the Blogluxe Awards! You can vote daily for the next two weeks so any votes you could spare would be greatly appreciated. Theta Mom is up for Most Inspiring Blog. As always, I really appreciate your support.

And enjoy some quality time with your family and loved ones! Wishing you a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!!!

Featured TMC Blogger: Alabaster Cow

TMC welcomes Ericka, author of the blog Alabaster Cow. I actually found Ericka through TMC and I have to tell you this girl is hilarious! Every single time I visit her blog I laugh, smile or both. She is a straight shooter and tells you like it is. She’s an amazing blogger that mixes humor with some fantastic writing and she does it all on her own terms. Still not sure what “Alabaster Cow” means? Be sure to check out her blog to find out! Here is how Ericka describes her blog in her own words:

“When I first started Alabaster Cow I copy and pasted my bad poetry, published a couple of posts and sat back and waited for my million dollar book deal.  I am still waiting.

Obviously, offering the trial and tribulations I had with cellulite (cottage cheese please) or my thoughts on infidelity (a major “boo” to that one) were getting me nowhere without a game plan so I quickly changed gears (and by quickly I mean took a good six months because I was really holding out for some sort of contract based on my enthusiastic use of the word “ennui” in several of my poems.  Ha).

Because I smartened up and learned to connect with incredible bloggers like Heather who have insight and purpose for their work, I reestablished Alabaster Cow and created the blog it is today.  So what will you find in my particular corner of the blogosphere?  Here’s a quick sampling:

•        Chihuahua feces.  You can never have enough, apparently.

•        Babies who act like monkeys.

•        My mother and her bad news fridge.

•        My father and his “jackassness.”  I learned from the best.

•        My husband and his pretty princess eyes.

•        My behind that is now cellulite free.  Thank you veganism!

•        Not at all horrifying photos of me from the fifth grade.

•        A lust love for gin.

•        An update on my writing.  No worries – I’ve banished the “ennui” for good.

I do get serious from time to time and share a little bit about my depression and a lot about my struggles with motherhood but all in all my blog is about seeing the positive side of things. And the gin.  Always the gin. Shots anyone?”

Be sure to check out the blog and follow her on Twitter!

New to TMC? Join us! We LOVE new members!

The 8 Rules of Blogging

One year ago today I clicked the word publish on this blog. At that very moment Theta Mom was born but never did I imagine how this Mission would resonate with so many and how a true Community would form with the same principles.

Today, I am sharing some posts that directly relate to my blogging experience over the last twelve months. I hope you gain some insight and find inspiration as you read through them. I certainly don’t have all of the answers as I am still learning and navigating my way through this thing called blogging, but what I can offer is what I have learned thus far.

So here are my ‘8 Rules of Blogging’ I’ve come to live by:

1. Set some blog standards. Make some privacy decisions that are right for YOU. Decide whether to share names, other personal information, photos, etc. and make sure it is at your discretion and comfort level. Forget what everyone else is doing – it’s YOUR blog. You call the shots so make your own rules that work for you and live by them.

2. Focus on writing compelling content, creating a clean blog design and integrating social media to get return blog followers. Many followers will come and go but you want to build a readership that will stick around for the long haul.

3. Build your following through the power of social media. Get yourself out there! You could have the most gorgeous blog design and amazing content but if nobody knows you exist, the blog following will not be established. Get active and stay active through various social media platforms that work for you. Network, engage in conversation and continuously put yourself out there.

4. Blogging takes a lot of time, dedication and hard work. You need to balance blogging with the rest of your life or you will quickly land in bloggy burnout. I was on this very road and if I didn’t put my blogging in check I most certainly would have burnt out. Forget the guilt, stress and pressure ‘to keep up’ and remember why you started blogging in the first place.

5. If you choose to perform reviews and giveaways on your blog be sure you know who you are working with. Do your homework on each company and don’t accept every pitch that comes your way. By being very selective with whom you work with will actually make you more marketable.

6. Don’t measure your blog worth in numbers because that’s all they are – a bunch of numbers. Measure your success in rich content and the connections that you make along the way. When you write a post you are most proud of, that is true validation.

7. No matter how successful you are at blogging you will receive some negative comments and not everyone will like you. In fact, some will continue to carry on conversations about you elsewhere. Don’t ever let this get you down. It’s their issue NOT yours. Be confident in what you do and continue to rise above the nonsense because in the end that’s all the negativity is – nonsense.

8. Above all else, blog with a purpose. Find your niche, know who you are and blog to your heart’s content. As long as you stay true to yourself and maintain authenticity in this process your readers couldn’t ask for anything more.

And to my readers, a very special thank you – for making my first full year in the blogosphere such an amazing experience. This blog wouldn’t be all that it is without the support of this readership. I adore each and every comment, subscription, tweet and email.

More than you know.

I am Proud to be a Theta Mom

Motherhood – this road has not been easy but may just be one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet. It’s the most absolutely underpaid gig around and a challenge at every moment but certainly worth the hard work and sacrifices made on a daily basis.

When I found out I was going to be a mother life suddenly looked different. I now had someone else to think about other than myself; someone else to love, care for, worry about endlessly and protect.

In an instant I was a brand new mom and had all of those “new mom” worries, the same kind of fears pregnant moms have when they are preggers for the first time – I know this may sound silly but for me, one of them was feeling a bit nervous to take the baby out for the very first time. Our first outing together (with my less-than-week-old-son at the time) was to the bank and CVS. I carried him around in that little car seat bucket and I was apprehensive to be out with the baby all by myself. What if he cried? What if he pooped? What if I couldn’t calm him down and how would I be able to handle it alone?

Little did I know I would face so many more ‘real’ challenges ahead such as dealing with his shaky health. My son was a very sick baby and for over a year not one specialist could tell us what was wrong with him. Especially as a new parents, it was one of the most difficult experiences we had to face but it certainly aligned our priorities in a heartbeat.

Now when I think back to that first outing with him as an infant, I laugh at how I ‘worried’ so much about the smallest things – I remember thinking how people seemed to be driving too fast and I felt as though they needed to slow down because I had my baby in the car. Didn’t they know? Didn’t they realize? I had an infant in the car and how dare they drive so recklessly! That’s right. Just one outing with my less-than-week-old-son and the world as I knew it had changed on so many levels. Forever.

I began this blog to begin the dialogue of what it means to be a Theta Mom. I wrote a Mission that has been supported by many – and this Mission continues to touch the lives of thousands of readers.

Why?

Because the idea of redefining the role of motherhood resonates with you. You get it. YOU are authentic. You know that this motherhood gig is not always easy and certainly not glamorous – but at the same time you know it is one of the best jobs you will ever have.

I make tons of sacrifices.

I fight with pure abandonment.

I protect without hesitation.

I honor with all my heart.

I love and support unconditionally.

I worry. And worry some more.

I’ve encountered tons of sleepless nights, midnight feedings and 8,259 diaper changes.

I wipe noses, butts, faces and countertops.

The.wiping.never.ends.

I juggle 5,000 things all.the.time.

I balance family, work and life.

I somehow manage to make this all work. Somehow.

I strive to nurture my inner self.

Motherhood is a wonderful extension of who I already am.

I will never lose sight of what is important to me.

I know who I am.

I know what I value.

I know what I want to teach my children.

I continue to dream big dreams for myself and I work at being a role model to my kids.

I make mistakes, many mistakes.

I am far from perfect.

I try and learn from those mistakes and become a better parent in the process.

I want to raise intelligent, mindful, well articulated, caring human beings.

I want them to make a difference in this world.

I want them to chase every single dream no matter how big or small.

I want them to love unconditionally.

I hope that when they leave this Earth, they can say that they lived a full and blessed life.

I hope they know how much their mother loved them, cared for them and honored them.

I hope they fulfill their wildest dreams…every single one and I hope I am alive to witness them all.

I wish nothing but health, happiness and prosperity – every day of their lives.

Yes, motherhood has changed my life.

I have been forever changed – for the better. 

I am proud to be a Theta Mom and I am so glad you are on this journey with me.

If you wrote a “Proud Theta Mom” post be sure to link up and visit other bloggers! The Linky will be up live through Friday so be sure to participate for your chance to win the Modern Bird Studios giveaway! And thank you to everyone who has joined me for this special milestone and to all of the readers who continue to read and support this blog.

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