You know those moments where your plate is so full that if someone put one more thing on it, you would throw it across the room it would tip over?  Well, for me, I had one last week.  I texted Lindsay something to the tune of "I am tuning out before I loose my mind.  I can't blog, facebook, email, or do anything Earth Monkey related.  My kids, my husband and my house need me.  I am fried"  And after she pulled out some more of her own hair (without telling me of course) she graciously and lovingly "gave me the week off".  I'm sure that none of you noticed I was MIA or even missed me for that matter, but like it or not, I am back!  So now that Lindsay is completely fried from caring the burden of single handedly entertaining millions, she came up with a great idea.  So here it is...

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.  Charles R. Swindoll

From moms who feed the homeless on the weekend like Kim from Saucy Sisters, to raising 8 kids as a single mom... like our friend and guest blogger Delores, Earth Monkeys has been blessed to know some truly amazing moms. It seems like sometimes in our chaos we forget to thank and recognize people/women/moms who do out standing things... Well no more. Once a month we want to recognize a mom who has gone above and beyond the crazy call of motherhood and reached out to help others in her community... There are so many moms who simply amaze me, It's honestly all I can do just to survive with my three monkeys, and while I wish I could volunteer more and help others in my community sometimes it feels impossible. We thought a great way to end a week of "MOTY Moments" would be to recognize a mom (who has actually posted a flippen hilarious MOTY moment on Monday's post BTW) for all of her efforts outside of the home. Our first Earth Monkey Mom of the Month is a mom who's helped hundreds of families while raising three boys of her own... one of which experiences autism... Some of you have met her before here on EMM... Emilie Sampson!



I met Emilie almost 5 years ago... She's taught me how to fight and be an advocate for my boys even when it feels hopeless. But I'm not the only one she's been there for, she's started (and currently runs) two non-profits, Parent to Parent and Families for Community, that serve families with kids who experience disability. She also moonlights with Sparrow Clubs (another children's charity her husband runs) and in her spare time ahahahahaha she sells "Thirty-One"... She encourages and empowers so many ... we wanted to take this opportunity to give a little sumpin sumpin back to her. And all that we got is this here not so fancy blog... hehe... poor girl:) Anywhooo Emilie wrote a post thinking we were hosting a blog party for 31... and that's just what we're going to do! We love you Em and we appreciate your heart and passion for serving the overlooked in your community!!





Hello, my name is Emilie and I am a purse and bag addict. And not just bags, but wallets and totes as well. It is not healthy. But last summer I found a company that changed my life (or something slightly less dramatic). It is called Thirty-One and it was filled with product that I could stand behind and get excited about! The company was founded by Cindy Monroe on the belief that we are all put here on this earth for a reason, and that each of us has a unique purpose. Her concept is that each of these products will help to make your life easier and more positive, and that each of them has several purposes. (Amen, sister!)



Our faithful EMM leaders, Linz and Gena asked me to introduce you to Thirty-One and so I tried to think of the best way to do that. First I thought, I would invite you all to one of their houses…but I still wanted them to love me. ;) So since I can’t have you all over, I decided what is better than a blog party - COMPLETE WITH PRIZES.



So grab your beverage of choice and shop with me for purses and bags, which have never yet been puked or peed on.



Let me introduce you to a few of my favorites:



WRISTLET WALLET:

This is HANDS DOWN my MOST POPULAR ITEM. Perfect for the mom on the run, with monkeys in her arms. This wallet has a large pocket on the opposite side, perfectly sized for my iPhone. Just clip my keys on the strap and I can run into the store hands free! LOVE IT!



ORGANIZING UTILITY TOTE:

If I had another baby, this would be my diaper bag of choice. I love pockets. I am of the belief that the more pockets, the more organized I can be (wishful thinking perhaps). This Organizing Utility Tote comes in 8 different prints and has 5 outside pockets and one pocket on each side. Even though I am passed the “diaper bag” stage, I am still in the “I-carry-a-lot-of-junk-for-a-day-out-with-the-boys” stage, and this is my go to bag. Sippy cups, water bottles, or sunscreen fit perfectly in the outer pockets and make me look WAY more organized than I really am.





POP CROSSBODY PURSE:

I am in LOVE with this purse. Fashion forward, yet totally functional for the mom who needs both hands available when out and about. What this picture doesn’t show you is that the bottom unzips (with the coordinating fabric) to expand.



So, this is how this will work:



Check out the catalog and tell me what your favorite item is, and you will be entered to win a ZIPPER POUCH in ONYX MEDALLION

-OR-

Place an order on the EMM party HERE (or message me with your order) and you will be entered to win a THERMAL TOTE in FLORAL CELEBRATION

{click “Direct Ship” and have the products sent directly to you}



The EMM BLOG PARTY will close FRIDAY, MARCH 4th at midnight and the winners will be chosen then!

If you want to nominate a mom doing something great in her community for next month's feature, please e-mail me at lindsay@earthmonkeys.com!! We would love to help you say thanks!!

It's time once again to make you feel better about yourself as mothers! We do our best to corrupt you with our true sometimes icky confessions so you won't feel like you have to pretend to  have it all together. It's just an added perk of following our little blog:) hehe... Today we'd like to introduce the first of what's sure to be a long term series of posts... "You Might Be An Earth Monkey Mom If..." So sit back and bask in the glamorous life that a true Monkey Mom leads!

1. Your sink is not only full of dishes, but also a ball, a toy car and color crayons...


2. You think you brushed your teeth this morning...wait, was that yesterday?


3. You can't remember your name, but your pretty sure it's not , mommy, mommy, MOMMY!!!


4. Every time you reach into a pocket it contains a used snotty tissue.


5. Your idea of exercise is showering with a toddler on your hip.


6. Your favorite extra curricular activity is sleep!


7. Your favorite accessory is a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.


8. You consider going to the grocery store alone better than a day at the spa!


9. The artwork on your wall looks like a 5 year old did it; wait, a 5 year old did do it!


10. You don't remember the color of your fridge, carpet or couch and we don't have to explain why...


11. You have a sign in your entry that reads "I cleaned my house 5 minutes ago; sorry you missed it!"


12. You pick out your outfit for the day from what's laying on the ground beside your bed and you may or may not have had to scrap the kid crusties off before wearing it... 


13. You have to use a spatula to scrape your counters off before you can wipe them down.


14. You've ben wearing the same toenail polish since October and just keeping painting layers over the chips.


15. Not even Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and fingernail polish remover can get the permanent marker of your wall and fridge.


16. You know what a "mommy tuck" is. (See this link if you are skinny and don't know what that means like flippen Gena!)


17. You've ever said, "Ugghh!! Who just pooped on the floor?"


18. You and your kids have had a "pajama day" for two or more days in a row.


19. You've re-worn the same make-up two days in a row... (Don't judge me...)


20. You're car smells like McDonald's French Fries and spoiled milk.


21. You've ever found an older dirty diaper in your purse, trunk or dirty clothes hamper.


22. When you clean your house your family asks "Why?" or "Is someone is coming over?"


23. You're husband has to ask you to "please shave your legs."


24. Your children ask when you are going to be "nice mommy again"


25. And Finally YOU MIGHT BE AN EARTH MONKEY MOM if your child has ever yelled the unsavory word/phrase in public that you said in the car right before you took them into a very busy store... (you'd think I'd learn after 2 or 3 times... noop)

So here is how it works.  Think of your best MOTY moment (please not the one that would make Child Protective Services show up at your doorstep!)  and post it in a comment below.  And don't forget to have your friends join in so we can laugh at them too!  We will pick the winner at the end of the week based on which one makes us pee our pants the most and you will get to pick out a set of your fav. Earth Monkey products!  Cool!

   With March fastly approaching we Saucy Sisters are gearing up to what we think, and hope will be our biggest market season yet!  Why you ask?  Well, this year in addition to the Thursday Market in Medford we are adding Tuesdays in Ashland...and Ashland will be big!



     I know many of you have not yet had the Saucy experience. During the off season we have sold a good number of products out of the restaurant (Redrock Italian Eatery) but come market season we expect to make 70-100 of each product weekly. So it is nearly time for these sisters to get back to work, dust off our Saucy Wagon (bring it home for the husband to fix), and get this valley Saucy!



Today I am giving you a super simple Saucy recipe that even Lindsay can do!

(editors note: thats rough Kim...Lindsay can mess up  follow a recipe just fine!)

And the best part is you only need 2 things:

1 bag of frozen or fresh cheese tortelini

1 tub of Saucy Sisters Creamy Pesto ….mmmmmmmmm

Cook the tortellini as directed, and Linz that means boil water and let the little guys float. (little guys, now that is something Lindsay knows about!) Strain them, and run them under cold water until they are cooled down. Add them to a bowl, scoop in some Creamy Pesto, toss together and Wa-la! A super easy pasta salad that the whole family will eat. Now if you want to get adventurous you could add some diced bell pepper, broccoli, or even chopped chicken….whatever you like!





So remember you can get our products every day at Redrock Italian Eatery (after 4pm), Starting March 15, Tuesdays at the Ashland growers market and Thursdays at the Medford growers market!

     Valentines day.  What a special day it is!  It's that one amazing day a year when your man is forced into being romantic; and never disappoints (pffffff....thats a "ya right" kind of sound) the day your children walk around thanking you for your love, your kindness, your thoughtfulness and then proceed to clean your house and rub your feet.  The flower delivery van never passes by your house on this day, and even the dog sits at your feet and stares at you with longing in his heart! (or maybe that is because his food bowl has been empty for 3 days??)

     Today we wanted to share with you some of the things that  Earth Monkey moms love.  We all know that a page could easily be filled with talking about the love for our kids, our hunky men, our families or even having the best business partner in the world!  (that is from Gena) But today, we want to draw you into a deeper love, the type that can only come from the joys of motherhood!!!

• When it only takes me 3 trips to get all of the garbage out of my car (for real!)


• The exercise I get when I walk circles around my house picking up, time and time and time again


• Anyone that replaces empty toilet paper or paper-towel rolls


• The light in my bathroom that turns on by itself when I get up in the middle of the night


• Shorts that reach my knees


• Long t-shirts...wait, sensing a theme...


• crock pot meals! No last minute rushing or intense clean up


• Garlic, coconut oil and chia seeds! {Umm this is obviously from Gena... I have no clue What a flippen "Chia Seed" is..L:)}


• Considering its not just an urban legend; I love the bottom of my laundry bin!


• Nap time, bed time, or any other time that is defined by kids being asleep.


• An empty sink (again, only if this is not another urban legend!)


• Finding a tissue in my pocket and realizing its not full of boogers.


• Lysol wipes, lysol spray, lysol cleaner, lysol air freshener.  {Note: we are both potty training boys!}


• Underwear that don't ride up, and that my husband just might want to see me in! {Editors Note:if you find any of these, please let us know what they are!}


• Coffee at 6:00 am...Americano at 2:00 pm...wine at 6:00 pm


• Toms shoes!  This is a for real LOVE!!! Seriously, no mom should be without a pair...or ten!


• The mini vacation that I get when I go to my drier and I have to add 20 more minutes before I have to fold it.


• Shampoo with a pump


• Kleenex that actually pops up when you pull one out


• Clean sheets (pfffff...that't the "ya right" sound again!)


• The two times a year my windows are clean for 3 minutes so I can enjoy our view. {Warning: don't move into a house with floor to ceiling windows and three young boys... it will drive you to drink}


• Nap time... sweet unadulterated nap-time!


• When my pants actually fit and I don't have to do the "mommy tuck" everytime I sit down. {Oh what's that ? You don't know what a "mommy tuck" is? It's a term my friend Lauren coined for adjusting our flabby guts over our too tight jeans when we sit}  {Note added onto the note: this is obviously from Lindsay because I have no idea what a "mommy tuck is!  HEHEHEHE!...G} {NOTE added to Note added to Note... Gena shut your skinny trap... that does not endear you to our readers... it makes them want to break your twig legs!}


• Anything dipped in batter and deep fried... hence having to do the "Mommy Tuck".


• When my two year old actually makes it to the toilet and doesn't just stare at me while he takes care of bidness on the living room floor!


• The sound of kids laughing, singing, or saying "I wub you sooo much!"