~ affiliates ~

If you follow mommy is coocoo regularly, you may have noticed   several new advertisement type pictures  placed throughout my site and a new section on the right-hand side entitled:  ~ contribute to the insanity ~ buy your stuff here

This coocoo momma now has affiliate links!  What does this mean?  Well, if you are visiting mommy is coocoo and click on a picture you like and end up buying something the sale is linked to this blog and I get a small commission (on average 7%). 

For example, one of my new affiliates is Layla Grayce.

If you are in the market for stuff that looks like this...

this...

or this...

and click on one of the pictures and buy something I receive a commission

(helllllllllllo ~ mommy gets paid!). 

Make sense?

Affiliate links are a way for bloggers to make money.  Mr. coocoo keeps me in the lap of luxury but I like to have a secret stash of my own money contribute.  When I told Mr. coocoo I made my first commission ($8.70 - after having these ads up for weeks and this blog for months) he was very excited for me (thanks Honey!). 

I won't have ads on mommy is coocoo for things I don't personally like.

~ Here are some of my favorites at the moment! ~

Sweet Stripes Personalized Journal

How to Make Fabric Rosette Headbands

Hello Readers of Mommy is CooCoo! My name is Mandie (with an ie) and I am the owner of Millie Morgan Media, a photography & graphic design company. When Mandy (with a y)  asked if I wanted to do a guest post on her blog, I couldn't resist! At my blog you will find my most recent photography sessions, graphic design projects, do it yourself projects as well as some insight into my life. So please take a moment to check out my blog here. 

As requested by Mandy, Today I will be showing you all how to make a simple rosette headband for your little girls (or big) girls in your life. These headbands are so easy & perfect for those summer days. {and trust me, I am not the only person making these out there, there are a lot of great tutorials out there if you do not find mind helpful} 

and a big thank you again to mandy for letting me share one of my easy do it yourself projects on her blog. if you enjoyed this tutorial and want to see more, make sure you check out my blog at Millie Morgan Media! 

Antique Door with Beveled Mirror ~ my most recent upcycle

 Antique Door with Beveled Mirror

10 Questions Mr. coocoo would ask me

A few months ago I shared 10 questions Mr. coocoo would never ask me which makes him A-W-E-S-O-M-E!  Read those questions here.  However, because I believe in transparency (Mr. coocoo's word), I'd like to share with you some questions Mr. coocoo has asked me (in the last couple of days) that really. bug. me.

1.Where were you? 

...as in JoeJoe fell off his big wheel today "Oh, really!  Where were you?" Mr. coocoo would say.

 2. I see you bought some wine today. Did you have a chance to go to the grocery store?

 3. What do you do with the (pay) checks you get from Serendipity Market?

 4. When are you getting the boys hair cut?

 5. Have you read to the kids today?

 6. Where are the diapers/pajamas/wipes...?

 7. When is the last time you gave the kids a bath?

 8. How much did that _____ cost?

 9. Didn't we just paint this room?

10. Did you know the car/back door/chemical cabinet was unlocked?

~ Annoying?  Yes!  Still awesome?  Most Definitely! ~

What's the most annoying thing your spouse has asked you recently?

If your kids are brats,

I feel for you but I probably won't have you over to play.  My own coocoo children annoy and frustrate me but I am legally obligated  to spend time with them I love them and they are the only brats I want to be around.  I like to have wine drinking moms with mostly well-behaved children over to play and there are lots of them around.

I have learned a lot about discipline from watching Shantel Caprice.  Her children are mostly well-behaved {mostly well-behaved is GREAT. If you are expecting perfection, you'll frequently be disappointed and you should start saving for your kids therapy bills right now.  Also, you are coocoo and you should seek therapy immediately}. I enjoy spending time with Shantel Caprice's children. They are kind, respectful people both intelligent and interesting. They take care of each other and they self-regulate (Mr. coocoo thinks the self-regulating part in particular is awesome!!!).

Shantel Caprice's oldest child {my little namesake} is five years older than my oldest and I figure I'll have a good amount of time to change my methods should her kids  drop out of school, spend time in juvy, start stealing cigarettes from the local convenient store start misbehaving.  I believe Shantel Caprice will completely support  this strategy.

One of the greatest things I have learned from watching Shantel Caprice is the art of teaching my children to repent.  Simply, feeling remorse for bad choices they have made.  Mr. coocoo and I discipline our children but we also make sure they apologize.  Even our Sweet Pearl (20 months old) will sit in time out beyond one minute because she refuses to say, "I sorry" and give gentle touches (she'll hit just about anybody when they aren't doing what she wants them to do).

So, if your kids are brats, truly, I do sympathize with you.  I see the frustration, exhaustion, and sometimes anger on your face.  I don't know what kind of discipline is best for your family but I do know it is possible to mostly enjoy your children.  Mr. coocoo and I employ a variety of methods to discipline our children.  Since Mr. coocoo thinks I am the shiznit when it comes to mothering I am the primary caregiver and our kids are mostly well-behaved Mr. coocoo generally agrees with my methods. 

If you aren't really enjoying your bratty kids, and you're trying to figure out what to do this coocoo momma says DON'T read another book!  DON'T spend all your time with moms who are just like you!  DO find yourself a Shantel Caprice and have her for wine and her kids over to play.

Do you know any bratty children? 

Do those children call you momma?

What's the best mothering thing you have learned from a friend?

 

*Please visit my not so coocoo affiliates for finds for your family and home:

all your stationary needs tiny prints
if your having a baby or have small children you will definitely want to shop layla grayce
you can find awesome clothes for your baby and kids at tea collection
designer housewares up to 70% of Joss & Main
boutique style jewelry and accessories Stella & Dot
all kinds of unique personalized gifts for kids can be found at Frecklebox
outdoor products Outdoor Living

How to Start a Book Club

Are you going to see The Hunger Games this week?

My book club just finished the series. 

  

Needless to say, we loved it.

As I mentioned here I am in a book club.  I have been asked several times how I got involved in this book club and the answer is simple, I started it. If you are interested in being a part of a book club, I highly recommend it.  You can make new friends and you'll read all kinds of books you may never have read. 

Here are some ideas to help you start a  book club :

• You don't need a lot of people! 
• Invite a couple of your friends who like to read and have them invite a couple of their friends.  Voila!  You have 6-8 people!

• Meet at someones home on a weekend night
• Restaurants are too loud and even if you are having a great time you probably don't want to occupy some poor servers table for five hours. 
• Drinking wine eating out is expensive.
• Everyone will have more fun it they can relax.

• Take turns hosting

• The hostess cooks dinner everyone else brings wine 

• Duh, have wine!

• Try to meet about once a month
• Decide who is going to host the next book club and the date before you leave.

• Children are never allowed at Book Club
• Nursing babies are the only exception.  Breast pumps ALWAYS welcome.

• Let the hostess pick the book
• My book club has arrived at this through trial and error.  Let me save you all the trouble!  It is so much easier to allow one person to choose the book.  However, this can be difficult before you really know people.  So you could...
• Bring some information about three different books to book club and vote for the next selection.
• Email three or so different selections and get every one's input.
• Google popular book club books and agree to read the first 5
• You can figure it out!  You love to read.  You can't be that dumb.

• Read the book
• Maybe this isn't important to you but it is to me.  If I've made an effort to read a book I didn't want to read and then I go to book club and someone else only read the first chapter and decided it wasn't for them I am going to be pissed {I'm crazy like that}.
• There are rare exceptions to this.  Everyone has busy/difficult times and sometimes you just can't read or finish the book.  Do your best.

• Don't invite new people to book club without asking the original members
• Can you say drama!  I can.  I've been through it.  Once you've been meeting for awhile ask the other members of your group before you invite any one.

~ My Book Club ~

(unfortunately this picture is missing Heather)

~ Here are some of our favorite books ~
(in no particular order)

  

Are you in a book club?  Have I missed anything?

What is your favorite book?

Congratulations Mom!

~ You have a 36 year old ~
{that mean's I've lived half my life in your house & half in my own. boo. hoo.}

~ things are going great ~

~ you must have done something right did a lot of good things ~

~I won't discuss the brussels sprout/I hate you incident ~
~ or, the spanking for shaving my legs ~

It's my birthday and I'm happy!

my momma sent me a package of things just perfect for ME:

• red swedish fish from Dean & Deluca
• a comfort grip for all my spray paint projects
• an apron (because I enjoy displaying pretty aprons in my kitchen)
• an Anthropologie gift card (which I'll spend when my moms visiting next week)

Both my boys wished my happy birthday 

(after they were prompted from signs Mr. coocoo left around the house) 

Thanks Honey!

Coffee with my BFF Shantel Caprice! 

And, the guy in front of us in the drive thru PAID FOR OUR COFFEE.

~ The card my son made for me! ~

My son had me read the message on several different stickers and then he selected "You're absolutely PURR-FECT" 

Wow! 

I'm a SO grateful for my all time favorite gifts ~ my sweet kids.

{Thank you Billy Bob Mr.coocoo)

I had my greatest birthday laugh when I dropped my boys off at school and they announced to their teachers, "It's my mom's birthday!"   When the teacher asked if they were going to make me a cake my oldest son replied, "Nope, my mom doesn't like cake!  She likes blue cheese and steak!" {I was grateful he didn't mention martinis, which I also LOVE!}

I had a lovely day.  Thank you for all the Happy Birthday wishes!

*Please visit my not so coocoo affiliates for finds for your family and home: