By: Maurene Merritt, RN

Tanya, my dental hygienist says of her recent birth experience to her 3-month-old baby boy, "I was fully present for the moments I wanted to be fully present for."  Of course I reflected on her statement and pondered, "What are the moments that we want to be fully present for?  For me, I wanted to be as fully present for the entire experience as I could because in my mind, it would bring me closer to my baby.  This may sound irrational, but I've long felt that love is not about what is rational but rather what one is willing to risk for the sake of truth, connection, and happiness.

Consider that in labor, unlike most of life's moments when our vision rules most of our perceptions, it will be what you hear that will help to heighten your awareness to the experience.  

Begin now, in your pregnancy.  Take a safe, comfortable seated or lying posture.  Bring your attention to
your breathing and as you exhale, feel how the eyes so naturally want to close. Keep your attention focused lightly on your breathe, and let yourself be drawn to the gentle sound of the breathe moving out of your body.  Gradually, let the sound of your exhalations become louder, so that you begin to make a soft humming
sound. With every exhalation, like a gentle flowing water fall, let your awareness be drawn to the sound inside.  What do you notice?  Can you feel how the sound of your breathing helps to quiet and soothe your mind?

I am reminded of a very endearing story about how quickly sound travels through water.  The story teller was in our circle,  pregnant with her first child.  She said "when I was younger I'd go and visit my grandmother who lived on the lake. My grandmother warned me, don't share your secrets on the beach unless you want our neighbors across the lake to hear you."   So the gentle humming on your exhalations will certainly be subtly felt by your baby.  We can use our mindful, more audible sounds to help make a stronger connection in pregnancy. For example, as you sound, direct the energy to the space that your baby holds in your body, or imagine him/her in your mind.

In labor, we can apply the same principles. The gentling humming, infused with thoughts of holding your 
baby in your arms, or usurps from your diary that bid farewell to a most cherish confinement  help to deepen our connections.

The sound of birth.  When your baby slips out of your body, most likely it will not be what you will see that will tether your moment, but rather what you will hear.  Consider that the actual moment of birth is so intense for most women that they are unable to clearly see their babies.

Too, the release of rectal pressure often forces the spine into extension causing the head to be gently thrusted back so that your eyes initially will be directed up, towards the ceiling.  So for several seconds, it will be what you hear that keeps you more connected to the moment. The now empty, hollow space that once held the reassuring sounds of your baby's thumbing, beating heart beat will quickly acquise to the sounds of your baby's first gasps for new life, and your care providers gleeful shares of joyful celebration.

Of course, your eyes will certainly devour the first sight of your newborn. But until then, practice
stilling the mind with the sounds of your breathe to help yourself be fully present for these precious, short lived moments.

Let yourself make a strong connection between the sound of your breathe, your mind, and connection with your baby.  Who knows, you just may find yourself so mesmerized by what you hear in labor that you'll want to live more of your life tuned into every moment.

Together, forever, in our hearts,
Maurene  
*reprinted with full permission from http://www.birthblessingsyoga.blogspot.com/

By: Gary M. DellaPosta, CPA

Although the 2012 tax season is officially over, tax scams unfortunately are not, which is why the IRS issues an annual "Dirty Dozen" list that includes common tax scams affecting taxpayers.

Taxpayers should be aware of these tax scams so they can protect themselves against claims that sound too good to be true, and because taxpayers who buy into illegal tax scams can end up facing significant penalties and interest and even criminal prosecution. 

Here are the tax scams that made the IRS "Dirty Dozen" list this filing season: 

1. Identity Theft. Tax fraud through the use of identity theft tops this year's "Dirty Dozen" list. Combating identity theft and refund fraud is a top priority for the IRS. The IRS's ID theft strategy focuses on prevention,
detection and victim assistance. During 2012, the IRS protected $20 billion of fraudulent refunds, including those related to identity theft. This compares to $14 billion in 2011. Taxpayers who believe they are at risk of identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information should immediately contact the IRS so the agency can take action to secure their tax account. If you have received a notice from the IRS, call the phone number on the notice. 

2. Phishing. Phishing typically involves an unsolicited email or a fake website that seems legitimate but lures victims into providing personal and financial information. Once scammers obtain that information, they can commit identity theft or financial theft. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. If you receive an unsolicited email that appears to be from the IRS, send it to phishing@irs.gov.

3. Return Preparer Fraud. Although most return preparers are reputable and provide good service, you should choose carefully when hiring someone to prepare your tax return. Only use a preparer who signs the return they prepare for you and enters their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).  

4. Hiding Income Offshore. One form of tax evasion is hiding income in offshore accounts. This includes using debit cards, credit cards or wire transfers to access those funds. While there are legitimate reasons for
maintaining financial accounts abroad, there are reporting requirements taxpayers need to fulfill. Failing to comply can lead to penalties or criminal prosecution.

 5. "Free Money" from the IRS & Tax Scams Involving Social Security. Beware of scammers who prey on people with low income, the elderly and church members around the country. Scammers use flyers and ads with bogus promises of refunds that don't exist. The schemes target people who have little or no income and normally don't have to file a tax return. In some cases, a victim may be due a legitimate tax credit or refund but scammers fraudulently inflate income or use other false information to file a return to obtain a
larger refund. By the time people find out the IRS has rejected their claim, the promoters are long gone.

 6. Impersonation of Charitable Organizations. Following major disasters, it's common for scam artists to impersonate charities to get money or personal information from well-intentioned people. They may even directly contact disaster victims and claim to be working for or on behalf of the IRS to help the victims file casualty loss claims and get tax refunds. Taxpayers need to be sure they donate to recognized charities.

 7. False/Inflated Income and Expenses. Falsely claiming income you did not earn or expenses you did not pay in order to get larger refundable tax credits is tax fraud. This includes false claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit. In many cases the taxpayer ends up repaying the refund, including penalties and interest. In some cases the taxpayer faces criminal prosecution. In one particular scam, taxpayers file excessive claims for the fuel tax credit. Fraud involving the fuel tax credit is a frivolous claim and can result in a penalty of $5,000.

8. False Form 1099 Refund Claims. In this scam, the perpetrator files a fake information return, such as a Form 1099-OID, to justify a false refund claim.

 9. Frivolous Arguments. Promoters of frivolous schemes advise taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish claims to avoid paying the taxes they owe. These are false arguments that the courts have consistently thrown out. While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in court, no one has the right to disobey the law.

 10. Falsely Claiming Zero Wages. Filing a phony information return is an illegal way to lower the amount of taxes an individual owes. Typically, scammers use a Form 4852 (Substitute Form W-2) or a "corrected" Form 1099 to improperly reduce taxable income to zero. Filing this type of return can result in a $5,000 penalty.

 11. Disguised Corporate Ownership. Scammers improperly use third parties form corporations that hide the true ownership of the business. They help dishonest individuals underreport income, claim fake deductions and avoid filing tax returns. They also facilitate money laundering and other financial crimes.

12. Misuse of Trusts. There are legitimate uses of trusts in tax and estate planning. But some questionable transactions promise to reduce the amount of income that is subject to tax, offer deductions for personal expenses and reduced estate or gift taxes. Such trusts rarely deliver the promised tax benefits.

Cape Cod Mommies is excited to add once again to our Board of Advisors!  Join us in Welcoming: Emily Accrocco ~ Doula

Emily grew up in Barnstable, Cape Cod and after graduation, attended University of  North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and  Women's Studies. In 2010, she gave birth to her daughter Lena Rose with the  assistance of a doula. She had never considered or been educated about natural childbirth or hiring a doula. Emily had an amazing experience and it motivated her to become a doula herself. Her dream was to work with teen girls and as a labor and delivery nurse, but found doula-ing satisfies both passions. Emily believes in the transitive powers of childbirth on women and believes that every  woman should have doula support to have the most fulfilling birth and most  positive experience. Childbirth is so empowering and humbling at the same time,  that to be a part of another's special moment means so much to the doula. Birthing is a spiritual event and women can take back the personal power and  innate strength to give birth without excessive and unnecessary medical interventions. Emily  works as a mental health counselor for children and adolescents. She draws on her experiences in social work and birth work to be successful in both fields. She is currently a
midwifery student and  has dreams of opening a pregnancy and birth services center on Cape Cod. 

Contact Info
774-212-6485
http://bellyswelldoula.wix.com/bellyswelldoula
bellyswelldoula@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wix
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wix

By: Coach Pam Wills

For many of us, confidence is kind of like the Holy Grail. Like most people, I struggle with confidence issues once in awhile. Am I good enough issues. Do they like me issues. Can I do this / is this possible / am I crazy issues. You know, the usual.But sometimes, instead of those issues appearing as fleeting doubts that we combat and vanquish fairly quickly, if we let them take over, they can and WILL affect everything we do. I know this firsthand because a few years back, my confidence hovered at a very low point. It was a painful place to hang out, but it definitely taught me that I was the only person in charge of my Self — AND my self-confidence.

For instance, if your confidence level is low, you might end up letting opportunities pass you by on a regular basis. You might unwittingly let friends, family members or your spouse tell you what to do. You might find that your business is suffering because you don’t put your Self out there to speak and network.

Guess what — I wasn’t born confident, either. I went through these scenarios my Self. Since then, I have done a lot of work, a lot of studying and a lot of practicing. The result: I figured out how to raise my confidence level through the roof! Now, I get up and speak with confidence all the time. And I LOVE it!

So how can YOU lift the heavy weight of low confidence off your shoulders and step forward into being fully YOU? I will be honest with you — I would not recommend doing it alone like I did. My advice? Ask for help! Hire a coach to lean on. Trust me, an experienced coach’s objectivity and action-oriented guidance are the best gifts you could ever give your Self. I wish I had done it years ago!

Meanwhile, until you gather your courage to reach out, here are a few steps you can practice daily to jumpstart your confidence:

1) Replace the negative chatter in your head with positive Self talk.***
Practice makes perfect. Diligence doesn’t hurt, either. Every time you catch your Self saying something mean about You, stop! Take a breath. Rewind. Now replay it, but this time, be nicer to your Self. For
instance, instead of saying, “I’m so stupid!” say something like, “Okay, I made a mistake, so now how can I learn from this mistake ***If you do nothing else, DO THIS!!! Every day. All the time. Without fail. No
matter what anyone else says to you. It WORKS.

 2) Tell yourself 10 Good Things.
Every night before you go to sleep, maybe while you’re brushing your teeth, repeat after me: I am strong. (That’s one.) I am smart. (That’s two.) I am confident. (That’s three. See how easy it is?) And keep going! What other good things can you say about your Self? Are you a good parent? Are you a reliable friend? Do you have great hair?? The first time you try this, it will feel weird. You might only make it up to six Good Things. But keep practicing. Eventually, you will not want to stop at 10! Trust me on this one. It WORKS.

 3) Make an “I AM” Scrapbook or Vision Board.
This might be a bit more advanced, but it is also quite relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. Kind of like yoga! Whenever you have some alone time, cut out pictures and words from magazines that reflect who you really want to be. It’s never too late to be the person you’ve always wanted to be, don’t you agree?

You can draw and write words directly in your book or on your poster board. Any book, notebook, scrap cardboard or corkboard will do. Make this an ongoing project if you like. Once you’ve finished, put it where you can see it or take it out and look at it regularly to reinforce that calm yet exhilarating feeling of I AM. Yeah. This WORKS.

Confidence CAN be yours. If I can do it, you can TOTALLY do it, too!

To help you get the ball rolling, contact me for a quick chat.  Usually, I charge over $150 per hour for private coaching sessions on the telephone. But I am so sure that I can kick your confidence up a notch or two RIGHT AWAY that I am willing to give you 30 minutes of my time, no charge.

 What have you got to lose?

By: Meghan

I remember when my eldest daughter turned three, I was so happy and relieved – “Wow, the terrible twos are over and they weren’t even awful. Things will be so easy from now on!” I thought smugly as she blew out  her candles. The twos were actually a very sweet, snuggly time. There were some tantrums but nothing I, Super Mama, couldn’t handle. Then the reality of three started settling in. And the universe laughed at me and my smug birthday smile. 
 
I didn’t know this at the time, but apparently when a child turns three their brain connections go hay wire. They turn into insane dictators that expect you to telepathically understand their crazy world views (which change by the minute) and then anticipate their unspoken and unexplainable needs, desires, and judgments and act accordingly. Woe betides the parent unable to do this, or who dares, DARES, to set boundaries, rules, or go against the wishes of the tiny dictators. Hell hath no fury like a three year old scorned. 

After living through this once, you would think I would be well prepared for my youngest’s recent transition from two to three. However, much like childbirth, my brain expunged most of this traumatic time period. It’s all coming back to me now, the crazy demands, the hysteria, the epic tantrums, the rush of adrenaline I experience when her crazy kicks in and so does my fight or flight defense. Seriously, sometimes I think, maybe I should just go along with her crazy idea just so I don’t have to deal with the inevitable freak out. But really, there’s no avoiding it, the freak out is coming. So now, I’m just trying to ride the crazy wave, like the surfers at Coast Guard  Beach, and hope eventually we’ll land in calm waters again. 

Here is a short list of tonight’s freak outs, occurring in the small time period between dinner and bedtime: 
 
1)      She wasn’t able to slurp her spaghetti in exactly the same way as her sister. 
2)      She didn’t look beautiful in her pajamas. 
 3)     I wiped her after she went potty. 

What in the hell is a mama to do? We are living in crazy town and I know we’ll be here for at least a year. However,  there are moments that make our residence there worthwhile. When she asked her daddy upon his return home this evening “How was your day Daddy?” and really wanted to know. When she asked me today to buy red tights to wear with my red dress, just like she does, so we can match and be the “red girls.” The sweetness can make my heart ache and burst, especially when it’s in stark relief to the terror the rest of the day. It makes me see where we’re headed and it looks like a nice place. Now, we just need to get through the reign of the tiny insane empress!

Tell me your strategies to get through the Terrorizing Threes? What craziness has your three year old brought forth recently? Tell me your stories so I know I’m not alone!

By: Michelle Donaghy, Pediatric Sleep Consultant – Certified Gentle Sleep Coach

I often hear from parents that once the children start sleeping, they find it hard to sleep!
 
Thankfully, there are some easy tips to get your sleep (and your family's) back on track  after so many months of sleep deprivation.

 These  simple changes will make a world of difference:
 
Get some exercise - just 30min a day will help relieve stress which will help you sleep better. This applies to adults and children.
 
Ensure  your mattress is comfortable!  You won't feel rested if your back is aching during the night.  This
is one of those things in life that is worth the expense.  
 
Have some  wind-down time - a bedtime routine is important for children and adults alike.  It will help your brain and body decompress before sleep.
 
​No  electronics 30min before you go to sleep - All of those electronics (TV, iPad, smart phone) tell your brain it is time to be awake.  So turn them all off 30-60 minutes before bed.
 
It takes 20 minutes - most people don't know that the average person needs 20 minutes to fall asleep. Also, a side note for children - if it takes them less than 5 minutes to  fall asleep they were either overtired or too drowsy when you put them to bed.
 
If you’d like to read more about how get better sleep, you can read the original article here: How to Get Better Sleep and Prevent Insomnia Without Medication.

By: Gary M. DellaPosta, CPA

Children who receive investment income are subject to special tax rules that affect how parents must report a child's investment income. Some parents can include their child's investment income on their tax return, while other children may have to file their own tax return. If a child cannot file his or her own tax return for any reason, such as age, the child's parent or guardian is responsible for filing a return on the child's behalf.  Here's what you need to know about tax liability and your child's investment income. 

1. Investment income normally includes interest, dividends, capital gains and other unearned income, such as from a trust. 

 2. Special rules apply if your child's total investment income is more than $2,000 ($1,900 in 2012). The parent's tax rate may apply to part of that income instead of the child's tax rate. 

3. If your child's total interest and dividend income is less than $10,000 ($9,500 in 2012), then you may be able to include the income on your tax return. If you make this choice, the child does not file a return. Instead, you file Form 8814, Parents' Election to Report Child's Interest and Dividends, with your tax return. 

4. If your child received investment income of $10,000 or more in 2013 ($9,500 or more in 2012), then he or she will be required to file Form 8615, Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More Than $2,000, with the child's federal tax return for tax year 2013. 

If you have any questions about tax rules for your child's investment income in 2013, don't hesitate to send us an email or give us a call.   

By: Naomi
Pt. 3
*** This blog is part of a series. If you missed the first post and want to catch up, please click here.
     
I’m a crier.  Not like a town crier…hear ye, hear ye; but an emotional crier.  I cry at everything and anything.  Movies, books, tv commercials. I cried when Ol Yeller was shot, when Ariel said “good bye” to her daddy in The Little Mermaid, and yes, when
Bambi’s mother was killed. Ask my daughter what I was like by the final act of Godspell at her college last spring!  Each episode of  A Baby Story has me blubbering by the end.  I guess you could say I am an “emotional mess.”  
      
That being said, you can imagine what I was like the actual day Riley was born. It was a long day, but at 5:05 pm, when her tiny head poked out, I was sobbing. “She’s beautiful” I kept telling the nurses and the Douala, “Look at those perfect little lips.” “Yes…” they said smiling. In their heads I’m sure they were thinking “Now get out of my way so that I can do my job!” I stood just mesmerized by this tiny person who had just entered the world.  I touched her tiny fingers and tiny toes counting each one. I looked her up and down and marveled at her perfect construction. I was convinced she was the most beautiful baby that had ever been born at Heywood Hospital!
      
As of now, Riley has been living with me for a little over 5 months. I haven’t counted how many diapers I have changed or bottles I have made. We’ve been to the doctor for check-ups and immunizations, ear infections and tummy troubles. We’ve visited WIC for formula and A Baby Center in Hyannis for diapers and wipes.  So many people I know have given us clothes and toys, a highchair and an exersaucer, and I have received many positive responses to my blog.  Riley and I are grateful to have been blessed with so many friends. And even with all the positives that have occurred, I have shed many tears.  

Having a baby at 50 was not on my bucket list.  My daughter is about to graduate from college this month and is engaged to be married in the near future. I was an
“empty nester,” yet all of a sudden I have the responsibility again of an innocent being. Gone are the impromptu dinners out with my boyfriend. Or getting in the car with my daughter and driving around playing “tourist”, just because we can.  Going out to dinner now  requires planning. Packing a diaper bag and being sure to be home early enough  to put Riley to bed and get to bed myself. My sleeping hours became shorter, since Riley is usually up by 5:30 each morning. (I’ve always said that if sleep  were an Olympic event, I could probably place, getting the gold medal!) Lack of  sleep has always caused me to cry. 

Since I work during the week and so does my boyfriend, who would watch Riley? For those that don’t personally know this story or me, I have to tell you now, that I have the most awesome boyfriend on earth!
From the day Riley came to live with me, he stayed home with her so I could go to work each day. I would get home in the afternoon, and he would go in to work. This was the norm until just recently when I was able to get her into daycare…first part time in a private home and then full time when a spot became available  at a daycare center.  Yes I cried because I had to put her in daycare (I would have loved to be able to stay home with her like I did my own children when they were infants), but more so from guilt. This was my granddaughter yet he was willing to sacrifice his time to help us. I’m pretty sure that not many guys would have stuck around. (He deserves a medal for just putting up with me!)
      
But behind the tears, I would never have chosen a different path.  Having this baby in my home is simply
amazing. Watching her grow and change from day to day is such a rewarding experience. (Have I mentioned that she’s crawling now?!) 
 
To know that I am, for the time being, responsible for molding Riley into who she is going to grow up to be is such an enormous task.  I can only hope the job I am doing so far is my best.

***Stay tuned.... comment below and share your thoughts with Naomi!

By: Maurene Merritt, RN

I direct Meghan's attention inside herself and give instructions to make the connection between her and her unborn baby.  Meghan is due with her first baby at the end of October.  She doesn't know if she is having a
boy or girl, so she calls her baby "Candy Corn", coined by her older sister.

 I love the name because it is another blending of the power inherent in 3 for me. The stripes of yellow, orange and white stack neatly together like that of family, season, and the festive time of Holiday.  Of course, too I think of my own beloved daughter, Candyce.  Although we never called her Candy, she was the sweet that first drew me inside.



To better connect with her baby,  I suggest  to Meghan that she recall the "special hearing pathway" that we revisit often that was created to help affirm the special connection that mothers have with their unborn
babies. We then chant the sound "o-u-m" for 90 seconds, the time of one contraction during transition, considered to be for many women the most intense part of labor.  I asked Meghan of her experience. She said, "I could easily imagine my baby, but not myself."   The following week we engaged with the same exercise and Meghan described having a very different experience.

She said she imagined herself to be pure, white light, like how on an overcast
day the light burst through a cluster of gray, thick clouds.  It's important to mention that there was no discussion or mention of "light" prior to her experience.  In other words, I did not cue her to imagine herself to be such a form.  Meghan imagined this on her own, guided by threads of her breath, sound, and deep connection with unborn child.

For many pregnant women, communicating with their unborn baby is ongoing, and is as natural and normal as the often contented, peaceful, endless days of the second trimester.  At Birth Blessings Yoga we take this connection to another level by providing a framework that affirms and honors the power of our love to make this amazing, magical connection. The three pillars of our frame our intention, imagination, and attention. Together, they enliven 3 specific, highly concentrated, energetic areas of our subtle body known in yoga as Chakras.

 It's the 6th Chakra called, Ajna that is located at the brow, in the middle of the head, in the same space that we imagine, that enables us to be a transmitter for telepathic communication. In scripture, it points to our ability to connect with our teacher or Guru for transformation which is really at the heart of our yoga practice. But it can be any extraordinary connection, and to me, there are few greater than that of a mother and her unborn child. Indeed, in my case, I believe it was in fact my absolute certainty that in pregnancy my baby heard every word of my gracious bubbling heart that a decade later helped me to connect with my Guru.

The 5th Chakra,Vishuddha is located at the throat and it is responsible
for helping us to speak truth. Our speaking isn't necessarily verbalized
but rather words infused with raw feeling that holds power to manifest. One of my favorite aphorisms that reflects this knowledge is from Patanjali, a great yogic expounder, when he said that, "words, meaning a feeling are interwoven. As words are eternal, so are meaning and feeling." 

The 4th Chakra, Anahata is located at the heart. It's here that we begin to know the power of intention behind our ability to touch. Touching not in a physical sense, but rather touching what is elusive, the formless. It's a first for many of us, to be so enraptured with the invisible.

When we allow ourselves the full expression of how we are feeling about carrying a baby coupled with the power of affirmation, our awareness quite naturally will be drawn to lighter, more subtle forms of ourselves.  Then we can more readily experience the full power of our connection. And who knows, it just may be the very impetus that keeps heaven's gates open to more experiences that our as sweet as Meghan's with her candy corn!

Happy Mother's Day,
Maurene

*reprinted with full permission from http://www.birthblessingsyoga.blogspot.com/

We are huge fans of Local Moms who are super creative!  Many of you have heard us mention one of our favorite Mom Shops before and even seen her blog listed in the Cape Cod Times article as a wonderful and entertaining blog!  We wanted to give you more background on the famous Bzzyfingers so you could understand why we love this shop and why we love Melissa so much!  We are also featuring a FABULOUS Giveaway from Bzzyfingers, read through this post to find out more!

A lifelong Cape Cod native, Melissa Oliveira is a mostly stay at home mom to three children (ages 2, 3 1/2 and 16) and lives with her husband and puggle named Belle. Mornings are spent attempting to tire the littles in hopes that nap time will afford her some quality crafting time at the kitchen table.

Also a long time multi-crafter, her interests have stemmed from jewelry making as a teen to scrapbooking and paper crafting, spending time working at a local scrapbook store and instructing classes as well as spending four years as a design team member for a major cardstock company. Her interest in sewing and crochet blossomed in her early twenties and has evolved to a small home based business.

Melissa's "bzzyfingers" career began as an email address, then blog and Etsy shop, and finally a facebook fan page. Many of the products offered through her etsy shop and facebook page are inspired by her needs as a mother of little girls; pacifier clips, diaper clutches, burp cloths, diaper changing mats, bibs and hair clips as well as embellished shirts, skirts and dresses. You can find the most recent sneak peeks of her latest creations and custom orders posted regularly on www.facebook.com/bzzyfingers.

Melissa shares "I find inspiration all around me. I love browsing
publications like "Artful Blogging" and "Mollie Makes", keeping up
with my favorite crafting and style blogs as well as sites like Pinterest and Etsy. Walking into a fabric store makes my heart beat a little faster and pairing the perfect color and prints together gets the creative juices flowing with an unstoppable urge to cut and sew."

Follow Bzzyfingers in these ways:
blog: http://www.bzzyfingers.typepad.com
etsy: http://www.bzzyfingers.etsy.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bzzyfingers

Melissa is offering a custom Super Hero Cape to TWO lucky Cape Cod Mommies readers! All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter Form below!

As an added bonus, she is offering 20% off any order from her etsy shop through May 23rd, 2013 using coupon code "CCMOM20" upon check out.