Fall brings a great variety of limited-edition foods with a pumpkin twist!

Below are a few examples – there is even pumpkin flavored dog treats – lol!

What is your favorite seasonal Pumpkin item?

Before my son was born last year, we spent time not only preparing a baby room, but a man cave for my husband. Our finished attic became his domain. My space had always been the sunroom which is now called “the toy room.”

This momma needs her own space! Over the next few months I will be working to find a creative way to make a “Mommy Man-Cave.”

I am looking for ideas on how other moms have created their own space in the house. Did you plant yourself in the laundry room? Or did the guest room have to go in order to have a home office? Let me know!

Mommy Cave Desperately Yours,
Valerie

As a mom who works full-time, the highlight of my day is the time in the evening that I get to spend with my son. In the small amount of time that we have to spend together (where we are not getting dinner, eating or going through our betime ritual) I like to take some of the playtime to work on verbal skills, colors, numbers, etc.

Case in point: Tonight we were going through our colors book and as we would learn about a color, I would try to get him to find an object in the room that was the same color. Unfortunately he did not seem very interested in the activity and was looking for anything else laying around to keep him entertained. Example: Instead of noting that the light up pumpkin was orange, he would rather try to unplug it from the outlet.

Other moms have kids who can say words like “button” and “shoe”. Meanwhile, my little guy is more content to try to figure out how to latch the buckles on his high chair. Is this normal 14th month old behavior for a boy or am I just being an overanxious mom when it comes to “teachable moments”?

Please share your thoughts and advice!

Living eco-nomically, isn’t always economical when you are trying to manage all the things that we moms try to manage, but here are some economical ways to help you and your family live a greener lifestyle:

Countertop Compost Bins

Save time and trips outside by using these compost bins that you can keep inside and then take all of your compost goodies to your outside pile once a week. These come in a variety of styles and starting at just 12.95. Fancier ones run as much as $60 and up. Not only does it save time, but you will be rewarded with great topsoil this spring!

Crafty Recycling
This winter, when the kids are clamoring for something “fun” to do, you’ll be glad that you saved those popsicle sticks from summer. Keep a box with cleaned items that you have saved which would otherwise have been easily discarded.

Beyond the Popsicle Sticks:

• Egg Cartons
• Waterbottles
• Milk Jugs
• Baby Wipes Containers
• Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Rolls
• Magazines (for cutting out pictures and letters from ads)

Possibilities are as wide as your child’s imagination!

Save on Wrapping Paper

• Keep the comics from Sunday’s papers to wrap gifts – comics fit shirt boxes perfect!
• Have your child decorate a box with their own creativity by gluing, pictures, old buttons, wall paper, bows, etc to create a one of a kind decorated box.
• Use a scarf or extra sewing fabric to wrap boxes instead of regular disposable paper. There are several online retailers who also sell fabric wrapping (See image below)

The day that my son was born, I could not imagine my life without him.

As a mother, it is in my instinct to give him all the opportunities life has to offer and protect him whenever possible.However, as much as I don’t want to think about it, I know that I will not be able to do so forever, as children eventually go on to pursue their own paths in life as they are supposed to do.

Sometimes those paths lead them into wars and conflicts to fight, so that we can continue to rise and sleep under a blanket of freedom. And while their children may be across the globe, these mothers, just like their children, live in uncertainty and worry as to what each day may bring.

This Memorial Day weekend, as we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, let us also remember the military mothers and fathers, who helped make their children the strong individuals they became. Let us especially remember the parents have who have lost their sons and daughters, so that we may continue to enjoy the freedoms their children have so nobely have gifted to us.

Kleenex’s current campaign of “Get Mommed”, while one of their most creative campaigns in recently history, is also one of the worst marketing tactics they have attempted.

First off, the “Get Mommed” tagline sounds negative…the phrase “Get Mugged” goes through my head whenever I hear”Get Mommed”.

For those that don’t know about this campaign, let me give you some background.

Kleenex has taken and developed 8 stereotypical “Moms”. We, the consumers, then can go online and take a quiz to find out which of their “Moms” fits us the best.

The idea behind this is logical. When we are sick – we want to have the luxury of having our mom to take care of us, the correlation between mom taking care of us and Kleenex’s “taking care of us” is a cute analogy.

The problem is…who are they trying to target?

Other moms? That doesn’t quite make sense..

Most likely they are trying to reach out to younger consumers, who may be out on their own and missing the comforts of home. Moreover, if you take the quiz, it is definately a very female focus. Will this campaign cause them a huge loss of dollars? Granted, they may see some of its return as these young individuals develop brand allegiance early on. But studies have shown that the brand loyalty of the youngs consumer is sketchy as best.

In the meantime, with Kleenex’s focus off of core clients, real moms, will there core demographics go elsewhere? Possibly to generic brands or the 5-letter P-word the Kleenex manufacturers do not speak of? Maybe… and it’s a risk that they are apparently willing to take.

The lesson here…

Its okay to try to go after sub-target markets with fancy marketing tricks. But don’t let your core consumers disappear in the process.

As this year’s cold and flu season is coming to an end, I encourage the creative team at Kleenex’s agency, to get back to basics and instead of “momming” the consumers, how about going after the real moms who are your consumers.

Hopefully they will have enough time to get something together before hayfever season begins…

If this article has you curious to find your ideal “Mom Match” click here