This coming week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Tell your teachers how great they are with one (or more) of these ideas:

1. Suprise the teacher with a bouquet: children can make paper tissue flowers in a decorated glass jar, or go for the real flowers, a balloon bouquet, or a candy bouquet.
2. Provide some in-house pampering for the teachers during lunch break. Parents can volunteer for massage, manicures, etc.
3. Provide a daily treat for the teacher, such as cookies in her mailbox on Monday, a pack of new chalk on Tuesday, a book for her library on Wednesday, etc.
4. Have an email card shower, asking parents and students to shower the teachers with emails thanking them for a job well done.
5. If your school has an intercom, have a child announce something special about a different teacher each day.
6. Make one card or a scrap book of cards from the children, complete with pictures if you have them! Young children can try these coloring pages.
7. Decorate an empty can to become a pencil holder, fill with much needed school supplies for the teacher, and maybe even a gift card to Staples or a teacher supply store.
8. Ask parents to bring some baked goods to school and surprise the teachers with some yummy snacks in their break room.
9. Collect money and surprise the teachers with lunch! Have a buffet-style meal of take out from restaurants ready for the teachers to enjoy.
10. Make a “You’re Great!” jar with your child or the whole class if possible. Decorate an empty glass jar to say “you’re great” or “A+ Teacher.” Have the children write down reasons why they like their teacher on a little strip of paper. When your teacher is having a rough day, she can get some encourgement from her students’ words.

Filed under: OH! Says, OH!s Top Ten by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

It’s important to teach our children to be financially responsible. Many parents believe an allowance is an effective way to do this while others say it negates the first and most important lesson children should learn about money: no one just gives it to you. From there, it only gets more confusing. If you give an allowance, at what age do you start? How much do you give? Is it contingent upon good grades and completed chores? If you don’t give an allowance, how do you handle your child’s spending? Take our poll and tell us what you think in the comments.

Filed under: OH! Says, OH! Wants To Know by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner Amanda Housholder!

The love she experienced changed her life, the man she followed changed the world.

The film, “Magdalena: Through Her Eyes,” is the true story of Jesus seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene – a story of tenderness, freedom and purpose. “Magdalena” reveals what can happen when women refuse to live in defeat and choose to discover their real value.

For the first time, this remarkable film – created by women for women – gives a voice to one of the most complex and often misunderstood women of our past. Through Mary Magdalene’s eyes, we experience much more than just her own transformation by Jesus’ redemptive love.

As you watch, the woman at the well realizes that Jesus is the Messiah, the woman caught in adultery walks away in forgiveness, and the woman healed of bleeding is restored to health, physically and spiritually. These Biblical stories bring into clear focus how much Jesus values and affirms women. Then and now, Jesus reaches out to women in the midst of their struggles and sin.

Visit the Magdalena website.
View the Magdalena trailer.

“A marvelously made, biblically accurate portrayal of Jesus’ life and ministry to women while here on earth, and the hope and healing He continues to offer to ALL those who choose to accept Him. Magdalena is the perfect prelude to the upcoming Easter celebration season. Highly recommended!” – My OH! Momma reviewer Brenda Owen.

We’re very excited to offer one lucky reader a free “Magdalena” DVD this Easter. Simply complete the form below to be entered for a chance to win.

Once you’ve entered, you can earn additional entries by reviewing any OH! Go, OH! Knows or OH! Baby listing on our site.

A few giveaway items to note:

• Entries will be received until April 24tht at 11:59 p.m.
• The winner will be selected at random and the prize promptly sent to the address given via the entry form.
• Our entry form is entirely private. Your information will not be shared for any purpose other than awarding your prize. Should you win, the name you provided on your entry form will be shown when we post the results.
• Disclosure of Material Connection: We received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that we would mention it on our blog. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner Amanda Housholder!

Filed under: OH! Wow by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

There are a whole lot of reasons for families to share meals together according to the 30 Day Cafe. Here are three: 1) It’s good for the body. Families who eat together tend to eat healthier and are less likely to be overweight. 2) It’s good for the brain. Kids from families who eat together get better grades, have better language skills, and are less likely to use drugs, smoke, and drink alcoholic drinks. 3) It’s good for family bonding. Dinnertime provides an excellent opportunity for families to connect and communicate. Awesome! Right? But not always practical when one parent is working late, the other is driving and dropping kids at soccer, dance and piano lessons, oh, and don’t forget, there’s homework to do, too.

How often does your family eat dinner together? Is it a priority? Are there other ways you spend quality family time together? Take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments.

Filed under: OH! Says, OH! Wants To Know by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

Everyone loves a good Easter egg hunt and a basket full of goodies. But there is even more to love at Easter! Try adding one of our Top Ten Fun Easter Traditions to your families holiday festivities!

1. Surprise neighbors or friends, or even a local youth charity, with an Easter egg hunt! The night before Easter, fill plastic Easter eggs with trinkets and candy and hide them in someone else’s yard. Leave a letter at the door saying the Easter Bunny had visited and has left eggs in the grass. Your family will love sharing the joys of Easter with others!
2. Leave an Easter bunny trail for your child’s bed to wherever their Easter basket is hidden. Your bunny could leave a trail of chewed carrots, tail fluff and bunny footprints made from baby powder from the front door, to their beds, to the Easter baskets. Children will follow the trail with amazement!
3. Decorate for Easter like you would for Christmas. Snap plastic eggs on yarn and string around the house. Make an Easter tree by placing a branch in a pot and hanging hollowed out eggs that your children have dyed and decorated.
4. Celebrate the true meaning of Easter with Resurrection eggs, a cute way to combine the fun of opening Easter eggs with the story of Jesus. You can purchase them here.
5. Plan ahead for that hunt by crafting a cute set of bunny ears for your little one (try this one http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/m-ears.htm ) and draw some whiskers on her face. Make the hunt even trickier by having the bunnies search for eggs while bunny hopping in a pillowcase.
6. Hot Cross Buns are a traditional symbol of Good Friday. Bake a double batch and enjoy throughout the weekend.
7. Put a twist on your usual Easter egg hunt to spice things up a bit, especially for older kids. Consider filling the eggs with low numbers instead of little toys, and allow the kids to “shop” from a selection of prizes based on how high their number is (a la Chuck E. Cheese).
8. Fancy up those colored eggs by trying some new techniques. Try rolling finished egg in glue and covering with glitter; blow the eggs empty and thread a string through to hang; color with crayon first and then dip in dye for neat patterns; cover with thin layers of damp tissue paper; the possibilities are endless!
9. Yarn Hunt: Tie a different color yarn to each of your child’s basket and unroll as you tangle and loop around the house. Children will have to untangle the mess to follow the trail to their basket!
10. Bake some Easter cookies, a neat way to learn about the real Easter story. Each step of the baking process relates to a part of Jesus’ life. Check out this link for how to do it.

Filed under: OH! Says, OH!s Top Ten by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

Peeps are yummy, but these are yummier. And cuter.

It only takes about 30 seconds to make one bunny. And about 2 seconds to eat it.

Step One: Get a bag of large marshmallows. Try not to eat them all so you can make it to Step Two.

Step Two: Get one marshmallow and some kitchen scissors. Cut two thin circles off of one side, like this:

Step Three: Take one of the skinny circles and make a V-shaped cut in the middle. That will be the ears. You can eat the part you cut out. Then make another V cut on the fat marshmallow. Don’t eat that part! The fat part will be the legs and the cut out will be the tail.

Here are your pieces so far:

Step Four: Put the ears on the bunny, then cover with the face. Stick the tail on the back. Draw a face with icing, or sprinkles, or an edible pen.

Hoppy Easter!

Filed under: OH! Dont Ya Know, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

When I was growing up, I knew my parents didn’t have the money to pay for my college education outright. But I also knew they expected me to go regardless. I took on much of the financial responsibility for my own education through scholarships, work study and loans. I didn’t think any less of my parents because they didn’t just fork over the cash for college. In fact, I’m thankful for the scholarship I had to maintain a 3.3 GPA or higher to keep and the work study I had to show up for each week – it helped me stay on track. Still, when it comes to my kids, I stress quite a bit about paying for their college education. And I certainly expect them to go. What about you? Do you expect your kids to go to college? Are you saving up to pay for it? Take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments.

Filed under: OH! Says, OH! Wants To Know by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

1. Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Spring Fling
   When: Sat, April 9, 6pm – 7pm
   Where: Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary, Dover
   Description: Get your reservations now by calling 330-339-3125. Cost is only $15 per person.
2. FX: Family Xperience
   When: Sun, April 10, 3pm – 6pm
   Where: NewPointe Community Church, Dover
   Description: What is FX? First, let us tell you what it’s not . . . BORING!! FX is an open, casual, come when you can and leave when you want experience designed to fuel the nuclear family. Runs from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month (Sept – May) and features two KidStuf family productions @ 4:10 & 5:10 p.m. for K – 5th Graders & their families. The Playland & Cafe will be open also. There will be monthly special activities in the “Big Room” and, of course, the show before the show in the KidStuf theater. You and your family will leave energized, challenged, and excited to come back!
3. The Easter Bunny’s Hoppin’ Egg Hunt
   When: Sat, April 16, 10am – 11am
   Where: Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre 1994 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia,
   Description: Hop on down the bunny trail with Peter Cottontail to find the Easter Bunny who will signal the beginning of the egg hunt. Each egg contains a surprise and every child is guaranteed candy and a special gift. The child finding the most eggs will receive a special grand prize. Easter snacks provided for children. 10:00 A.M. at the Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre Tickets – $5 per child 1-10 Tickets for all events on sale now. Call 330-364-5111
4. The Wizard of Oz
   When: End of April, early May
   Where: Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County, New Philadelphia
   Description: Box Office: 330-343-4012
5. Pissocra Mathias Easter Egg Hunt
   When: Sat, April 16, 11:00am – 11:30am
   Where: Tuscora Park
   Description: For kids up to 5th grade. Bring your own basket!
6. El Dia de Los Ninos at the Tuscarawas County Main Library
   When: Sat, April 30, 12pm – 3pm
   Where: Tuscarawas County Main Library, 121 Fair Avenue NW, New Philadelphia
   Description: EL DIA DE LOS NINOS / EL DIA DE LOS LIBROS All ages. Join us on Sturday, April 30th from 12:00pm until 3:00pm for a celebration of children and books. Stop in for facepainting, balloons, a free book for each child, and more. No tickets required.
7. Justin Bieber Impersonator Concert for the Cure!
   When: Fri, April 29, 6pm – 8pm
   Where: Newcomerstown Middle School, 325 West State Street, Newcomerstown
   Description: VIP Tickets are $12 (while supplies last) and Regular Seating is only $7! VIP Seating will have early entry into the event, have select seating, gets FREE popcorn, & an event lanyard. Concert complete with “our” Justin singing, dancing, serenading one lucky girl, a Fan Stand, Concessions, & more. Call Cindy for tickets at 330.340.7825 anytime!
8. Easter Bunny visit at the Tuscarawas County Main Library
   When: Tue, April 19, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
   Where: Tuscarawas County Main Library, 121 Fair Avenue NW, New Philadelphia
   Description: All Ages. Bring your camera and get a picture of your child with the Easter Bunny. There will be a story program as we wait for the Easter Bunny to vist. Tickets available on 4/11.
9. Workshop: Make and Take It Bluebird Boxes
   When: Sat, April 16, 9am – 12pm
   Where: Norma Johnson Center
   Description: At Yellow Pole Barn located on SR39 Make and take it Blueboxes. Participants will be given the supplies to make and then instructed on how to build a bluebird box. Cost is $15/box. Must register.
10. Wolf Birthday Party
    When: Sun, April 17, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
    Where: Wolf Timbers, Bolivar Ohio (map)
    Admission: Adults $5.00, Students (12-17) $4, Children (6-11) $1.00, Children 5 and Under Free

Filed under: OH! Says, OH!s Top Ten by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

Materials:

• Empty plastic water bottle, cap not needed
• Small clean deli container or plastic container (small margarine tub, for example)
• Hammer and large nail
• Scissors
• Wire or string for hanging
• Decorations (hummingbirds like red!)

To Make The Feeder:

1. Using scissors or an X-acto knife, cut an X in the middle of the deli container lid about the size of the plastic water bottle opening.
2. Using the hammer and nail, make small 4 holes on the lid of the deli container for feeding stations.
3. Decorate water bottle and deli container.
4. Fill water bottle with nectar (boil 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, let cool)
5. Gently put the top of the water bottle into the X shaped hole.
6. Tie wire around the water bottle and hang.

Filed under: OH! Kids Grow, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner Kenda Humphries!

So, your kiddo is a HUGE Justin Beiber fan. And admit it – even you have caught yourself singing, “Baby baby baby oh!” when you’re alone in the car. Am I right? Well, put a gold star on the calendar for April 29th and start dailing 330.340.7825 to grab up some tickets to the Justin Beiber Impersonator Concert for the Cure!

Cindy Staggs of the Building Bridges for a Cure fundraising team says, “Impersonator Aaron Bolek will be singing, dancing, as well as interacting with the audience. One lucky girl will get the royal Justin Bieber experience…to be front and center on stage with ‘our’ Justin, he will serenade her to “One Less Lonely Girl”, give her a bouquet of flowers and a special gift. Tickets will be on sale at the event for your chance to be this Lucky Lady! Don’t miss out on a chance to be in Bieber Heaven for the evening! ‘Our’ Justin will sing several songs through out the night, along with ‘our’ Jaden Smith! That’s right…it will be a night that the girls will remember for some time!”

Where: Newcomerstown Middle School

When: Friday, April 29th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Why: To raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

V.I.P. Tickets are $12.00 per person. V.I.P. seating will be in Rows 1 through 5. V.I.P. ticket holders will also receive (1) ticket for the “One & Only Girl” contest, (1) Free popcorn, and (1) V.I.P. Lanyard! Doors open for V.I.P. ticket holders 15 minutes prior to normal seating.

Regular Tickets are $7.00 per person. These seats will be open to ticket holders 30 minutes prior to show time. Regular seats will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

There will also be a Candy Stand, 50/50 for the parents, Glow Sticks, and Free Raffles for everyone. Get your tickets now for a NIGHT OF ABSOLUTE FUN for a great cause! Just call Cindy at 330.340.7825 anytime. And be sure to complete the entry form below for a chance to win a FREE (2) pack of regular seating tickets to the Justin Bieber Impersonator Concert for the Cure and a concession stand voucher!

Once you’ve entered, you can earn additional entries by reviewing any OH! Go, OH! Knows or OH! Baby listing on our site.

A few giveaway items to note:

• Entries will be received until April 24th at 11:59 p.m.
• The winner will be selected at random and the prize promptly sent to the address given via the entry form.
• Our entry form is entirely private. Your information will not be shared for any purpose other than awarding your prize. Should you win, the name you provided on your entry form will be shown when we post the results.
• We received this prize for free to give away to our readers. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe our readers would enjoy. No other monetary compensation took place.

Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner Kenda Humphries!

Filed under: OH! Wow by My OH! Momma
No Comments »