Real Moms

Bubble Bottle (6 months and up)

2011-02-27T16:22:00.000-08:00

In one of my weekly e-mails from BabyCenter they included the following activity for fun. It's like a mock-up lava lamp.

Bubble Bottle by Babycenter.com

Remember the hypnotic effect of watching a lava lamp? Here's a toy that will have the same impact with your baby, and you can make it yourself for pennies. It's sure to become a favorite around the house.

Appropriate for: 6 months and up
Skills developed: Dexterity, familiarity with colors
What you'll need: A clear plastic bottle with a tightly fitting screw-on lid; food coloring; vegetable oil, water, an Alka-Seltzer tablet

Fill a large, clear plastic bottle, such as a soda pop or water bottle, three-quarters full of vegetable oil. (It's helpful to have a funnel for this step, though not necessary.) Fill the rest of the bottle almost to the top with water. Add ten to 12 drops of food coloring. Then break the Alka-Seltzer into small pieces and drop one into the bottle. Put the cap on and watch it start bubbling! When it stops, you can add more Alka-Seltzer to start the bubbling all over again.

Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace, so if yours isn't quite ready for this week's activities, don't worry — just try them again in a few weeks.

An Easter Card Quickie

2010-04-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

I pulled out my supplies and set out to make simple but time-consuming Easter cards. I used Martha Stewart's template. I cut out the first egg (I didn't have an exacto knife) and it took me a long time. Looking at our list of 16 cards to make I improvised. I used the original template and also scaled it down when I printed which left me with two egg sizes. I used already made cards which sped up the process.

What I liked most about the project:
- Even my 3 year old boy could do it.
- I wasn't the only one cutting out eggs
- Most of the creative decorating of the cards was done by my children.
- They were simple to make, but I imagined if I were the one receiving them, they would definitely touch my heart.

P.S. I liked how simple/cute Martha Stewart's cards were, but I was limited on time. So here is my version. It took us about 2 hours to make 16 cards.

Supplies Needed:

Martha Stewart template
scissors
markers/crayons/colored sharpie marker(s)
scrapbook paper
already made cards or and paper stock you can fold to make a card
envelopes
(optional) stickers/glitter/etc...

1. Print out the template to the scale of egg you would like.
2. Cut out the template. Around the border and then cut the egg out of the center.
3. Find the scrapbook paper you'd like to use to make the egg. Place the template on top and trace the template onto the paper. I used a sharpie which helped my 6 year old cut it out.
4. Now place your template and place it on the card you would like to place the egg. Trace the egg template onto the cover or inside of your card. I used a sharpie. Coordinating the color of the sharpie with the color of the paper you are using (1) helps younger children place the egg easier, (2) Can add a nice effect to the card.
5. Have your child glue the egg in place on the card.
6. Give the child creative license to decorate the card.
7. We signed all the cards with the family name.
7. On the back of the card we put, "Made with love by: ________" (insert child's name)

This was a great coordination project, it helped my younger kids stay in between the lines when gluing the eggs. You could skip outlining where the eggs go.

I did this project with a 9 year old, 6 year old and a 3 year old. They all equally enjoyed making the cards. The three year old was patient enough to make one card. You should have seen his proud face as he finished!

We made these for family (lots of Aunt's and Uncle's). THey had fun picking and choosing who they were making a card for.

Here is how our cards turned out!

This one was by me!

If you made Easter cards/crafts/projects and posted it on your blog, please share with us! Happy Easter!

My New Favorite Site

2010-02-16T13:38:00.001-08:00

Anyone interested in food storage might adore this site I found a few months ago!

Fun With Food Storage

It is a network of blogs to help plan, buy and eat your food storage. The site I use most right now is the:

Food Storage BabySteps

Along with links and tools, you can sign up on their e-mail list and they will send you their Baby Steps checklists that help you plan your food storage as well as other prepare other items like your emergency plan and 72 hour kits in manageable steps.

Let me know what you think and please share your ideas on how you are preparing for you/your family. :)

UP & UP

2009-09-29T21:53:00.001-07:00

I've never been attached to buying one brand of diapers for my kids. However, I would stick to either Pampers or Huggies, and buy whichever one was on sale.
A few months ago, we had about 2 diapers left at home, so we needed to make a trip to the store. Unfortunately, it was during a week of many bills we had to pay, and so we had to use an old Target gift card with a leftover balance of about $8 to buy the diapers we needed.
I knew we'd have to buy just a small package to last until the next pay day, but neither Pampers or Huggies had any packages of diapers that would fit our budget.
I had to make a choice between Luvs or the new Target brand, Up & Up. I tried buying the old Target brand diapers and Luvs before to save a little money, and I wasn't satisfied with either brand. So, I decided to go with the Up & Up brand. I figured it was just a small pack anyway and our little guy pees so much that he'd go through all the diapers in less than a week for sure, then I'd buy the big pack of Pampers from Sam's Club.

Well, I never bought those Pampers from Sam's Club, because these generic diapers work just as well, if not better, than those other name brand diapers.

*Plus, I compared prices, and they're even cheaper than buying the diapers from Sam's Club. (At least at the one here. I don't know about Costco... you could always check for yourself!)

Try them! I'm sure every kid is different, and they might not be great for your little ones, but they work really well on my son who used to leak through all of his diapers if we didn't change him at least every hour! I think it's worth the try, considering that they're almost half as much as the name brands!

Their wipes are great too! I think they're better than the old Target brand wipes! I'm so glad that they've improved with this new Up & Up stuff!

Also, baby wipes work really well at getting off make up... even waterproof mascara! My eyes are really sensitive and would burn whenever I used eye make up removers and wipes. Try using your baby wipes next time to take off your make up! It's something you most likely already have at your house!

Have you tried either of these products? What did you think?

Why we love the library (and you should too)

2009-06-04T05:38:00.000-07:00

Books introduce your children to a world of excitment and learning. They entertain, teach, and fill your child with wonder and creativity. So a building full of free books is a wonderful place indeed! Whether you have your own collection of books or not, you're always going to find something new and engaging at the library. Here's a few things you should know are available at your library:

1. Board Books- Although our current library has very few, your library should have bins or a small bookshelf with board books to check out for your toddlers who are still pretty hard on books. These are the only library books I leave out, the paper-paged books are hidden in the closet so my toddler won't tear them. Great way to introduce your baby to the wonderful world of books!

2. Storytime- Your library probably has a storytime available at least weekly. Some libraries even have several for different age groups. A librarian picks a weekly storytime theme, reads stories, sings songs with the kids and does fingerplays, and provides an activity/craft at the end. Our librarian is fabulous and goes all out with decorations, dresses up and gets the kids participating with a smile! Call your library or go on their website to find out when yours is. Or if you have several libraries in your area, check all of them to find the day that works best for you. Your library may offer special events during storytime too like puppet or magic shows or holiday specials like an egg hunt for Easter. Check for a calendar or e-mail sign-up.

3. Movies- We never rent movies anymore. The library has lots of kids, family, and grown-up movies to check out. They offer a lot of educational movies too like the "Signing Time" videos my daughter loved or videos taht taught Spanish. We've checked out popular Disney movies, classics, new releases, exercise videos, and TV series at our library.

4. Music, Read-Alongs, and Books on tape/CD- Unforunately we have a small library now and our CD and read-along selection is very limited but when we were in Vegas we used to check out a few kids CD's every week and listen to them driving around in the car. At home I'd pop in a read-along (book with tape) for my kids when I was too busy to read to them myself. Lately I've been getting story tapes and CD's for my kids to listen to when they go to bed. Fun quiet activity and great way to boost your child's reading comprehension. You can also find these items for adults too. Get your cleaning done while someone reads to you or try some new music.

4. Miscellaneous- Depending on the size of your library you may have other materials for check out. Our last library had Leap Pad books and cartridges along with Leap Pad systems to check out seperately and Hooked on Phonics games. Tour your library, ask the librarian, or check online to see what's available at your local library.

5. Reserving Items- Ask your librarian for an online PIN number for your library card. You can use this PIN number on the library's website to place items on hold for yourself. So from your computer at home you can search for your favorite story titles or movies from not only the library you visit but all the libraries in the area, put in a request for that item, and they will send it to your library and you just have to pick it up at the front desk. This way you have more materials available to you and have to spend less time finding them. I use this to get books appropriate for my duaghter's reading level and to find the most loved titles. Find a reading list from the library website or other source that will give you the best titles and/or splits them into reading levels and put these titles into your searches.

6. Summer Reading Programs- Libraries offer summer reading programs that offer prizes for reading, fun activities and special events. Register at your library to get a reading log and list of events. This isn't just for readers, they count kids who are read to as well.

Hope this is helpful! Reading really is a great activity for your children and it's never too early to get them excited about it. How many of you use the library (or plan to after reading this)? Is there something about your library that you've enjoyed? Any other tips I've left out here?

A Day for You

2009-05-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

The most important thing she learned over the years was that there is no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a great one. -Jill Churchill

May your children be angels,
may your house stay clean,
and may you know that motherhood
is the most important and rewarding job in the world!
Happy Mother's Day!

Gardening

2009-05-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

These are my tomatoes. I GREW TOMATOES! I've never been so proud, so don't tell me about gardeners who grow a full array of vegetables to supply food for their entire family, unless you have all their secrets.

Now that we're in the south with the rain and better soil and lots of yard space I've been feeling a need to get a garden going. I had great success with tomatoes last year and want to expand but feel completely lost on how to do this gardening thing right. I went to a gardening workshop but walked out feeling overwhelmed. I'm worried I'm going to spend all this time and money only to end up killing everything so I'm trying to learn what I can and make the best of it.

We have an excellent Preparedness Specialist in our ward who sends us e-mails often. He sent me this gardening link from the church. I'm hoping I can access the television series from BYU Broadcasting on the internet.

Has anyone done gardening? I would love to hear any tips or words of encouragement on the subject! I'm really interested in hearing how to simplify and use supplies you have on hand (e.g. plastic bottles and egg cartons for seed starters, leaves for mulching, newspaper as weed barrier- you know Myrtle stuff). I'm going to a free composting workshop to find out how to put to good use all the tons of leaves, grass clippings and food scraps I have. I would also love you forever if you can link me to a site (especially a blog) that explains gardening to you in simple steps.

I lined the almost ripe tomatoes on my windowsill to finish ripening. It made me feel so good everytime I'd look up from my dishes to see all these fresh tomatoes I'd grown. Tomatoes are a great place to start and are very encouraging in your gardening efforts.

Opinion Outpost

2009-04-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

Are you a SAHM looking to earn a little (by little I mean little) extra cash? I know there are a million and one "businesses" out there targeting SAHMs. Most, if not all, are bunk. I mean, really, whose going to pay us $1000/wk to stuff envelopes while we watch our 2 or 5 or 8 kids? Not going to happen.

For the past little while, I have been a member of the Opinion Outpost panel. It's a survey research panel that sends you surveys via email and then rewards you with cash for taking them. Some statistics from my experience as a member:

I receive 3-4 surveys per day (but I very rarely qualify for all of them)
Surveys usually take anywhere between 10 and 25 minutes to take
Surveys generally pay anywhere from $1 to $3
It has taken me 9 months, but I just reached the $100 mark!

I assure you...there is no reason to be leery of the legitamacy of this company. How do I know? Because Opinion Outpost is run by Western Wats, a Utah based company that both my husband and I worked at while we were living there. It's run by a bunch of honest (mostly LDS) people.

The thing I love about Opinion Outpost is that I can wait till the kids are asleep and then take the surveys while I'm watching TV. It really isn't an inconvenience at all.

The downside is that I don't qualify for most of the surveys for one reason or another. You have to get through screener questions and sometimes I spend up to 5 minutes answering screener questions only to find out I don't qualify to take the survey after all. It's a little frustrating, but eventually I get through one and earn some cash! Like I said before, it isn't much money and it takes awhile to build it up. But...I am $100 richer now!

Anyway, just wanted to pass along my little money making secret in case any of you want to give it a go. The website is opinionoutpost.com and you can just click on the "Join" button. Let me know if you have any questions!

Potty Training

2009-04-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

I have not one but, two boys (ages 2 & 3) to potty train. Though I am not required to train the second boy, I figured it might be good to train two boys at the same time. Boys are naturally competetive and it may work well...I hope. So, potty training is on my mind and I thought I might take a minute to blog about it.

I believe in waiting until a child expresses that they are ready to potty train. I still introduce the idea of potty training to lead them to the desire to do it. I found with my girls (now 8 and 5) that when I waited until they had less accidents. In fact, I think each of them had less than 5 total!

With my first daughter we found she liked to read. We put a small bookshelf next to the toilet. Since she loved to read she made progress quickly.

With my second daughter she did not fully potty train until she was 3.5 years. Uggghhh! But I knew it would be worth not cleaning up accidents. She loved Chuck E. Cheese. If she made it to the bathroom 10 times in a row, that was her reward. We used a sticker chart so she could see her progress. It worked and she was fully potty trained by then.

I had no idea with boys. Upon asking one of my friends who has three boys of her own) she quickly said, "turn them backwards!" Whoa, I never thought of that, but it makes complete sense. No mess!!!

Now some Mom's or Dad's may choose that for a boy it is only appropriate to teach them standing. To each his own. Since I'm the one cleaning up the mess (if there is one), I'm sticking with teaching them to sit down first!

I found some free printable potty training charts I thought you might like to try:

Dinsey Cars Chart

Disney Princess Chart

Others Charts

A few things I do/don't do to potty train:

- I do not use pull-ups, I think they are a waste of money and could encourage a child to put off fully potty training. If diapers are needed I use regular ones. It is only a small inconvenience to me.

- I don't ask, I just take them to the bathroom. Most of the time they will say no if you ask. But if you do not ask, you just perform the action they are likely to have or create positive feelings over going to the bathroom and they sooner realize it is a necessity, not really a choice.

- I do not use small potty's. I don't need to clean another toilet. I like them learning on a real one (personal preference).

- I encourage them the whole way. I let them call Daddy or Grandma/Grandpa when they have had a successful bathroom trip. It creates hype and gives them positive feedback. I even make up songs about using the potty. Here's one for boys: (to the Spiderman jingle)

Spiderman, Spiderman

goes to the bathroom

whenever he can!

I also say things like:

You went potty like a big boy.

You went potty like a lady. (big girl just doesn't seem right ;)

- I think the most important part of potty training is to make it a positive experience for yourself and the child.

What are your potty training tips???

Myrtle Saves the World- Paper and scraps

2009-04-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

I realize earth Day has come and gone but since I missed a post I'll give you my last random ideas on recycling:

Growing up, my mom had a scratch paper drawer. Any paper with a blank side went into the drawer. Then, whenever we wanted to draw, make a list, etc. we'd grab from the drawer. You can also make a scratch paper box out of a large cereal box like the one above (sorry it's so darn ugly but I thought I better give a picture).

Think of new ways to use old furniture-

i loved barbies when I was little. One Christmas my mom and brothers (okay, maybe just Jesse) made me a barbie house out of scrap wood. It was probably my favorite present ever! I made this Barbie house from an old changing table/dresser we had. I just made a roof and top back wall out of cardboard to make the right shape. I painted it with leftover paint we had. I went to a carpet store and asked for leftovers that they gave me for free (ask for discontinued samples or leftovers- also good for individual carpet squares for Nursery or home). We had leftover tile in our shed for the kitchen and bathroom. I made the bed, couch, cabinets, counters, and armoir out of boxes and covered them with paper or fabric (and made mini pillows). I used plastic battery boxes for the microwave, oven and dishwasher (painted black). I printed pictures of our backyard to put in small picture frames for windows (draw lines or cut paper strips for the panes). The table is a candlestick with a round piece of cardboard on it. That strange thing in the bottom right corner is an angled picture frame that I later added a fireplace picture to for a fancy fireplace and mantle. I added a wall clock by cutting out a picture of a watch from a sales ad. The closet is a jewelry box. I spray painted a plastic basket to make a crib and covered a sponge in fabric to make the mattress. I used toilet paper rolls to make the toilet and put half a plastic egg in the top to make the toilet bowl (same thing fot the bathroom sink). I still need to make the shower curtain (add eyelets to the top of a piece of fabric). I also need to make chairs for the table. Any ideas?

As you can see I had way too much fun with this. It's fun to create things.

Share your own recycling creativity or other crafty cleverness!

Myrtle Saves the World- Plasticware

2009-04-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Reuse plastic containers as tupperware (yogurt or cottage cheese containers, etc.). Put a piece of masking tape on the container to label it before storing it in the fridge. My mom used to do this to send home leftovers from Sunday dinners. I also love the Gerber "Lil' Entree" trays. They have two compartments and last through the dishwasher and microwave. I've washed and saved several of these and use them for my kids' meals. They're great for kids who can't have their different foods touching each other or can't scoop up their peas without plowing through their mac n' cheese.

Another great thing to reuse is plastic baby food containers. They're stackable and work great for kids' snacks, dipping sauces and portable salad dressing (save the lids as well), or any time a small bowl would come in handy.

Myrtle Saves the World- Scrapbooking

2009-04-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

I enjoy scrapbooking even though I haven't done it in ages (not a single page done for my 19-month-old). Scrapbooking, however, can be a rather expensive little hobby these days. But as always I cut my corners and find my stingy little ways to make pages that even tightwads can justify in their budget. Now granted they're not as clean and cute as the professional expensive ones and I hesitated to share these because of the low quality of work but for anyone who has avoided scrapbooking because of a money issue, here's a few ideas to make it work into your budget:

1. Use pictures, words, and other elements from cards. Save those cards from your bridal shower, birthday party, and baby shower for your scrapbook. The pictures are fun, the words are perfect and you could even leave the signatures on to make the scrapbook page more personal.

2. Use the maps from your trips as part of the background. Collect maps on your vacations to use in your scrapbook. It makes for cheaper paper and better memories. It's also nice to have ticket stubs, business cards (hotels) and other memoribila (you know the scraps of the scrapbook).

2009-04-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

3. Save anything with names or pictures of places visited to use in your scrapbook. This page was made from the gift bag my postcard came in, much easier and cheaper than using stickers or chipboard for the lettering.

4. Use Magazine or newspaper clippings for lettering or other elements on your page.

5. Use stamps, stencils, or other reusable materials for lettering. I can't bring myself to buy stickers, chipboard and other fancy and expensive products for lettering. You use it once and then you have to buy it again. It just causes too much guilt for my practical, cheap lil' self. But I hate my handwriting so I bought some cheap letter stamps that I use frequently for my page titles and such. Stencils or typing on the computer are other cheap options I've used.

6. Collect scraps- tags, parts of cards, stickers, parts of gift bags, etc. It seems a shame that clothing tags are so cute and just get ripped off and tossed in the garbage. Save any tidbits that might have cute pictures, relevant words, pretty pieces of ribbon, whatever. Think outside the box and look for things you could use. Even the size/age tags on clothes could be useful in a baby book. And there's a kids clothing brand called "Emma's Garden" that I collect tags from to use in my daughter's scrapbook. Here's some examples of things I've saved in my scrapbox:

By the way these collections are great for card-making too. Collect cute pieces from different cards to make an original cute card of your own (maybe I shouldn't be admitting this to the people I receive and give cards to but I do put time and some of my own materials into them).

Well, that's just a few ideas I've come up with but I'd love to hear others. One thing I need to do is add more journaling to my pages. Any ideas on how to do that on old pages (keeping in mind my handwriting is not presentable)? What tricks do you use for making cute but inexpensive pages or cards? Or what's your alternative to scrapbooking ( I think blogging is part of the reason I've cut back)?

Trim Your Laundry Budget

2009-04-19T19:26:00.001-07:00

So, I finally have something worthy of Myrtle to post (Jesse's the frugal one, not me). I went to my friend Joanna's house Thursday, where she taught me to make my own liquid laundry soap. A 170 fluid-ounce container of Tide costs around $25, and will do 110 loads. The do-it-yourself version costs just a few dollars to make enough to do the same number of loads. (Thanks to Jesse for the cost analysis.) Joanna was actually using a recipe she had found online, so I googled one myself to share:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/make-your-own-laundry-soap.html

The linked recipe calls for 2 cups of everything, but we used 1 complete bar of soap, 1 cup each of borax and washing soda, and added water until it filled my container. Joanna provided the borax and washing soda, but they are each under five dollars and will last through two or three soap-making expeditions. I used a bar of Ivory soap, which I already had on my shelf; Joanna has also made her soap with a bar of Dove. You should probably use a white bar of soap that is not heavily perfumed. Joanna says her soap usually lasts about three months (she is married with two children).

Happy soap-making!

Myrtle Saves the World- Board Books

2009-04-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Turn old board books into mini scrapbooks or baby books of your own. You can make books for your baby with pictures and things they are interested in or make memory books about your babies. You could include pictures of extended family to help your toddler get to know them. You could also make a texture book or get gospel-related pictures for a good sacrament book.

You can order blank board books from stores like Oriental Trading or Romp, but this is Myrtle talking about recycling so I'm showing you how to recycle old board books (or rather referring you to someone who can show you). You can use ones your baby's outgrown or go to a second-hand store and find the cheap ones. Click here for the full tutorial. Share your ideas on what books to make or tips if you've done a craft like this? If you've got pictures send them to me or do a post.

Myrtle Saves the World- Clothing

2009-04-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

Here's some ideas for recycling old clothing items

(besides giving them to the next kid):

Note: Sorry, I tried to be all cool like Shayla and have my pictures rotating sides but I just don't have those skill so they are down the middle again and probably always will be.

Jeans are great to recycle. Make jean pants into jean shorts. Jeans make cute purses and fun quilts, especially rag quilts. Or remove the pocket(s) and sew/glue/staple it onto bags, the front of a child's T-shirt, a jumper, a notebook, a bulletin board, whatever you can imagine.

Turn old ties into snakes using this craft idea.

Slip a mismatched or holy sock onto your child's hand and let them do some dusting.

Turn old shirts into pillow cases. This was a shirt that just was not fitting me right so I made it into a pillow case (the buttons were part of the shirt). Go to TJMax, Marshalls, or thrift stores and find pillows that are ugly but the right shape and get them for really cheap. Holiday left-overs are priced right.

Okay, this isn't actually clothes, but while we're on the subject of pillow make-overs. This pillow (and it's twin and some curtains) was made from a sheet. Sometimes you can find sheets (TjMax/Marshalls again) cheaper than you can buy fabric and you can buy two sets and make pillows that match your bed. And since you're only covering a pillow, it's really easy to make. You can add ribbon, buttons, and cord to make it more stylish and add variety if you're making multiple pillows.

Other ideas:

1. Make adult belts into child-size belts. Just cut it the right length (same curvy shape as original end), sew the edge on the new end, and make holes with a knife or scissors.

2. Cut old T-shirts into rags for cleaning or car washing or spit-up.

3. Newborn clothes can be reused as doll clothes (especially if you've got preemie stuff like me).

4. If you're really great around a sewing machine and brave (I'm neither), I have a friend who used her wedding dress to make her daughters' blessing dresses. My talented mother made adjustments (and Oxi-Clean) on her old wedding dress to make my temple dress which I wore for my sealing and as a regular temple dress. I suppose if you don't have the skills but like the sentiment you could hire someone to do these for you.

Myrtle saves the world- Cardboard boxes

2009-04-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

Here's some ideas on what to do with your cardboard boxes:

Use an exacto knife to cut out letters. I got lucky and found a white box so I didn't have to paint. I printed letter outlines off the computer (just on Microsoft Word), taped the paper on the cardboard and cut through both the paper and the cardboard.

Cover a piece of cardboard with fabric (or paint) to make a bulletin board. Then just whip out the stapler and put up anything you want. This is my daughter's Preschool board.

Cover a box with fabric for more stylish storage (compared to the box itself). Hot glue works great for this and is super easy. I have a few of these for easy boardbook clean-up. I also keep an uncovered box by the potty for books. You could throw a clean yogurt cup in there for crayons too.

I covered this piece of cardboard with fabric and secured some ribbon and buttons to make a memo board for my baby's room. I just used a stapler to secure the ribbon on the back and sewed on the buttons.

Myrtle Saves the World- plastic bottles

2009-04-15T18:54:00.001-07:00

Use your empty soda bottles as bowling pins (add water or shredded newspaper for extra weight). Hardwood hallways make great bowling alleys. Or sterilize your plastic bottles (any size) to store water for your emergency preparedness stash. Heck, a game of soda bottle bowling may be a great distraction if you're stuck in your house living on food storage. Or cut the bottom off the bottle to make a planter for starting some seeds. For other cool uses visit this site. Pick one to make with your child for a great Earth Day craft activity.

This photo is a test to see who's as big a follower as us.

Bonus points -Do you know what lies in the shadow of the statue?

Myrtle saves the world -Part 1

2009-04-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

With Earth Day coming up, I thought I'd post a few recycling ideas. Two things that excite me are saving money and being creative, so finding ways to turn trash into something useful just makes my day(I know, I'm weird). I'd like to say I'm just this saintly , save-the-earth gal, but it's really more about being lazy and cheap. It's easier to use something in my house than go to the store and spend money on a new thing. But, it makes me feel extra good to think I'm reducing trash. So, here's to saving the planet while being frugal! Maybe by the end of the week you'll be seeing your trash in a whole new way. Feel free to share any of your own ideas (and make my day)!
So to kick things off, here's an idea for recycling grocery bags and toilet paper rolls:

Keep one of these grocery bag-stuffed toilet paper rolls in your purse ,diaper bag, or car to dispose of diapers (or anything else) when you're out in public. You could also do this to reuse your bags at the grocery store but I never have any left for that. At home, I also use my empty bread and produce bags for diaper disposal because we really go through diapers.

What do stay-home moms do all day?

2009-04-12T14:19:00.000-07:00

The reason for the holiday

2009-04-11T19:22:00.001-07:00

Okay, I haven't had time to work out the details on how to do this, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there before it's too late. We had a primary activity today and my friend did this activity that taught the Easter story using Easter eggs. Each egg had an item inside that helped tell the story: mini donkey, leaf, nail, praying hands, whip, etc. The last egg was empty to represent the empty tomb. She bought the set but I thought you could probably just improvise with stuff in your own home. I'll probably re-read the story from the Bible and rummage through my house to throw this together but I wanted to toss this idea to anyone who can get their creativity in gear in time to present this for Easter. I've been big on trying to emphasize the religious aspect of holidays for my children. Got any ideas on what items to use or other ways to help kids remember their Savior on this day filled with sugar and fighting for the prize egg :) ?

Art Gallery

2009-04-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

My older kids have really gotten into coloring and drawing. Every work is, of course, a masterpiece but my fridge does not have that much room. So instead I came up with a way to rotate their "art." I made cardstock frames and glued page protectors on, then strung them up between some pushpins so we could display their work on the wall of the playroom. This way they can pick their best work to display and decide when and what to rotate.

This is the method I thought worked best:
Use a standard 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper to shape your frame around and glue the pieces together. I found it best to use 12X12 sheet protectors (scrapbook size) so there's enough overlap for gluing but you could use a standard size protector and make a backing on your frame to hold it in. For the 12X12 use hot glue to glue the edges of the frame to the protector (careful the side for inserting doesn't get melted shut). On the side with the holes, I only glued between the holes so I could use the holes to help me string up the frame. Cut off the extra paper and sheet protector. Decorate frame. Hole punch the corners of frame (I used eyelets). Use yarn or other string to string through the frames and use pushpins to attach to the wall. It helps to roll some tape around the end of your yarn to make the yarn easier to insert in the holes.

OR for a much easier gallery you could string up yarn between pushpins and use clothespins to attach the art. You can use buttons, ribbon, and paper to decorate your clothespins. Or just write your child's name on the pins.

Another way I de-clutter on artwork in our house is art archiving. When my children make something I write any explanation (Emma usually has a story for her art), the child's name and the date on the picture. Then I take a picture and load it onto my computer. You can have a file of artwork for each child. This also makes it easy to send art to family. I e-mail pictures, cards, and letters to grandparents (easier and cheaper than the envelope and stamp deal). Then I can throw away the paper (don't tell my children).

What displaying and archiving methods do you use for your child's art?

Myrtle's Buns of Garlic

2009-04-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

Got left-over hot dog or hamburger buns? You can have a meltdown in the grocery store like George Banks (name that movie) or you can rejoice at the idea of too many buns and turn them into breadsticks. Just spread on some butter, sprinkle on some garlic salt, parsley, paprika; whatever you like, pop it in the oven, and you've got an easy and delicious side for your pasta dinner. And if you have hot dogs and spaghetti in the same week you know you're saving money.

Kids and Conference

2009-04-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

It's always a challenge to listen to all of conference and feel the spirit with kids and the noise and distractions they create. I was hoping we could share our ideas on how to get more out of conference. I realize this should have been posted at least a week ago and probably won't be read for at least another week, but conference comes every six months so even if you don't read this by tomorrow, you can still use it and contribute.

1. Read the article in the Ensign about preparing children for conference.

2. I decided to have a Conference Bowl this session and make Super Bowl-type snacks for everyone to enjoy while they watch. Plan ahead and have things ready when everyone sits down so you can enjoy it with your family. I felt guilty finishing the cookies while the first speaker talked about the evils of giving into our food addictions, but felt better about the popcorn I gave my kids that had no butter or salt.

3. I grabbed a laundry basket and filled it with quiet toys and activities for the kids (puzzles, coloring, Magnadoodle, K'nex).

4. I have some conference activity packets for kids. If you want a copy to print, e-mail me and I'll send it to you (Blogger needs an attachment option). It's outdated though with the new apostles but still fun and for astute children, finding the new apostles can be an added challenge.

5. Play conference Bingo. Put words or pictures on your board for kids to listen for.

6. Conference comes on here at 12 and 4pm, which makes dinner preparation and timing difficult. I finely wised up and planned a crockpot meal to throw together before conference so I don't have to be cooking during the later session. You can put one together the night before and start it first thing in the morning if conference interferes with lunch or dinner or just do lunch meats or something simple.

What does your family do to make this a more enjoyable and spiritual experience?

Silk-Tyed Eggs

2009-03-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is an awesome Easter craft so I had to share. Thanks Emily for unknowingly allowing me to stalk blogs through your blog.

My husband complains that his children destroyed all his good ties. I have three children who were all bad spitters as babies, apparently my milk had a bad aftertaste. But with Easter around the corner and this craft idea, I've got plans for those ties he never wears anymore. Way cool! Find out how here.

Saving on Utility Bills

2009-03-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a few ideas for cutting back on those ever-increasing utility bills:

1. Open your windows (including the shades) during the day and let the natural light light your home (and maybe give the windows a good shine first)

2. Use energy saver bulbs. Look for big packs on sale at Sam's Club/Costco. On lights that use multiple bulbs (i.e. fans, bathroom) use the minimum amount of bulbs needed. I find one bulb is sufficient enough to light our bathrooms and most the fans (especially when the blinds are up). I even took some of the long, flourescent bulbs out of the lights in the basement.

3. Run your dishwasher while you do your nightly activities (make sure it's full) without the heat drying option then pull out the racks and let the dishes air dry overnight.

4. Turn off the shower water while lathering shampoo and soap (same with hand-washing in sinks). I admit I don't do this in the winter, too cold without the water.

5. Instead of filling up a dirty pot with water to soak, just stick it in the sink and let it catch the run-off from other things you're rinsing and from hand-washing.

6. I keep some large buckets out by my garden to catch water when it rains and use the water for the garden (of course it rains quite a bit here and the weather's agreeable enough for a garden).

7. Turn off lights you don't need. I'm the light nazi and get on my kids about turing off the light in the bathroom and playroom and hall when they're not there. During the day I pull the light cord on the fan so the kids can't turn on the playroom light because the sunlight through the window gives the room plenty of light. In fact during the day, we really don't use any lights.

8. Unplug toasters and other appliances when not in use.

9. My mom used to airdry our jeans on the chairs out on the patio. Toss them in the dryer at the end of a load to get rid of the stiffness. I live in Georgia where it rains frequently and it's humid, so this method doesn't work for me.

10. Run full loads in your washers. With little kids around, it doens't lake long to fill these.

What do you do to conserve and save on your utility bills?

Organization: Remembering Box

2009-03-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Remember...Remember...Remember....

My Mission: Pack 3 children and myself for two separate destinations by next Friday.

Impossible? Each trip I take I have forgotten minor and major items, but I survived. The thing that bothers me is that I am a good list maker, but not always a good list checker, lol.

I came up with an idea I wanted to share. I've used it before in a different setting, but never thought to use it for travel, until now...

I call it The Remembering Box. I'm sure you have already realized what it is. Fantastic!

Step 1 - Find a box, basket, bin, etc. Use the size that will suit your current needs. If you use a collapsible bin, you can bring it with you on your trip. So, when those wonderful mom-caretaker thoughts enter in you can take immediate action knowing there is a home away from home :). Like when you see a stray sock and think, "oh, I need to remember to..." Hah, it's remembered!
Step 2 - Keep your ongoing pack list/remembering list in this box along with a pen.
Step 3 - Each time you remember an item needed for your trip, grab the item and put it in your box. Or if the time is premature, write the item on your list. This would be a great place to hold your travel itinerary and airline tickets, etc.
Step 4 - Before you depart, check your list. Then, take the items out of the bin and move them to your suitcase.

I've used this same idea for moving. Each time I moved, a box was designated to hold essential and needed items like scissors, markers, tape, labels, phone numbers, utility info (turn on/off info.), etc.

Wish me luck on my packing adventure!!! Please share how you prepare for a trip!

Gina's Tired and True

2009-03-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but post my own tried and true items. I wrote a comment on Shayla's but I'm a visual person so I wanted to show pics and give a fuller review, because there are downsides I wanted to mention before you get mad after buying for yourself.

1. Grandma Ginger Stories- My mom has been attending Ginger Yule's institute class for years. Ginger has 25 grandchildren that she tells stories to so she made CDs with these stories. She has two CDs with "stories that make you think" and two Bible stories CDs. My five-year-old loves these and quotes them all the time. I'm glad Emma knows her bible stories but of course the bible is a little violent and gets into heavy issues that create weird thoughts in a five-year-olds mind (like playing your drowning babies like the Egyptians). But it also has my daughter reminding that the Lord can interpret dreams (not Joseph of Egypt).
2. Leapfrog's Fridge Words- My mother-in-law gave this to us for Christmas. Emma's spelling list has totally taken off and she is a great reader that loves to find new words she can spell and read. I attribute this largely to this remarkable toy, although she's moved past three-letter-words. The toy has three settings: one that tells you letter names and sounds, one that allows you to make your own words, and one that gives you words to spell (and helps you along the way). So even, my little boys can get something out of it. I also appreciate that they use lower case letters because that's what kids actually use when they read and write. The only downside I can think of is finding the letter magnets on the floor all the time (which is why I keep mine on the metal file cabinet in the corner instead of the fridge). 3.Eureka Optima Leightweight-This vacuum is leightweight but powerful. Small and light, so I am more inclined to pull it out several times a day to clean up after all these kids. I love that it works on my hardwood floors too and the setting is just an extra flip of the power switch at the top of the vacuum (instead of adjusting the wheel at the base). It also has a hose with a couple of attachments. The handle's height is adjustable so it's easier to store and I can make it short enough for the kids to vacuum (and since it's leighweight they can handle it). It's bagless and easy to open but the filter on the top of the canister gets yucky and is a pain to clean. My other issue is that the cord is too short so I have to keep switching outlets, but I guess less cord means less to wind up and more compact. Oh, it is kind of loud too but hey, it's a vacuum. Overall, I like this little machine.

tried and true

2009-03-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

There are some things around my house that have proven to be worth every penny I've spent on them. I know some of these things may not be relevant to some of you with older children, but I thought I'd share some "tried and true" products that I've been ever so grateful to have at my disposal!

1. Aquaphor -- my first son had a pretty good case of eczema the first year or so of his life (he still gets dry scaly patches every now and then). We tried many different lotions, expensive oils, and even prescription steroids. Nothing works as well as a good slathering of greasy Aquaphor.

2. The Boppy Chair -- The Boppy nursing pillow is great, but I wasn't able to put it to use (I can't nurse). But this Boppy chair has gotten so much use from both my boys. They love(d) it. Not only does it cradle them, it can play music and vibrate on demand. If only they made one of these my size!

3. Cloth Diapers -- no, I don't use cloth diapers on my babies' butts. Don't have the stomach for that. I use them as burp rags and they do an exceptional job. So soft and so absorbent and just the right size (the prefolded ones). Can't live without 'em.

4. Munchkin Formula Dispenser -- soooooo much easier to carry around in the diaper bag than a size 10 can of powdered formula! I have the 3 compartment one and it's as handy as mudflaps on a speedboat (sorry, saw that saying on a t-shirt once).

5. Munchkin Inflatable Duck Bath -- I love this as an intermediate bathtub. My son did as well. It's fun, it uses less water, makes duck noises, is cushy, has one of those "too hot" indicators. And it has little suction cups so that you can hang it on the shower wall to dry. Oh, and it only costs $10 at Target! I even used it once as a holder for drinks at a baby shower. Love this thing.

6. Miss Spider Books -- I only have one of these (Miss Spider's New Car) that I was lucky enough to pick up at Deseret Industries. I hadn't heard of Miss Spider before this, but boy was I in for a treat! It has such bold, bright pictures and such fun, rhyming text. My son loves looking at the pictures by himself and I really enjoy reading the funny story to him. I hope to invest in more Miss Spider adventures one day!

7. The Little Series Music CDs -- We have the box set of these that I picked up at a Christian book store. Included are Smile a Little (well-known kid songs like Old McDonald), Dream a Little (lullabies for bedtime), Play a Little (religious songs like This Little Light of Mine), and Laugh a Little (more well-known songs). I really like this particular set because not only are there are a lot of songs on each cd, it's actual kids who sing the songs. We also own a Little Series Christmas cd that is super cool as well.

8. Corn Popper Ride-On -- We gave this to our son on his first birthday. He didn't sit on it right away, but he LOVED pushing it around the house. This is still one of his favorite toys even now that he's two. He loves giving his monkey and various other "friends" rides on it. Mostly he just loves to see how much noise he can make with it. Especially when little brother is sleeping. So it seems anyway...

9. Little People Zoo Train -- Little People are cool. Small chunky people and small chunky animals can occupy my child for minutes at a time (yes, only minutes, but still). His particular favorite is this musical zoo train. Perhaps if he owned a Thomas train or some other wooden variety, he would lose interest in this one. But for now, this is one toy that he goes back to quite often.

10. Swimways 60" Spring Pool -- I love love love this pool. We purchased it last summer and got a lot of use out of it. Can't wait to break it out again in a couple months. What makes it so great is: a) you don't have to inflate the whole thing (just a ring around the top), b) it folds back up and is easily portable (we took it with us on a trip to Idaho), c) my big body can fit in there too.

What are some of your "tried and trues"?

Share the Moment

2009-02-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

I finally got a picture on the blog header! I shamelessly displayed my daughter who I adore in a picture that always brings me warm fuzzies. I wanted to share one of those motherhood moments that bring me joy. I want to invite the other authors to do the same. Insert one of your own warm fuzzy pictures into the header and share the joy. It can be silly or sweet or whatever tickles your fancy. I edited mine and added text using Picasa if you want to try that. If you need more detailed directions on adding a header pic, e-mail me. Not an author? E-mail me your pic or author request and I'll see what I can do.

Jello Playdough

2009-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt2
Tbsp cream of tartar
2 Tbsp vegetable oil1 cup
warm water
1 3 oz package of Jell-O (any flavor)

Combine ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it thickens and pulls away from the sides of pot and becomes dull. Mold and knead with the wooden spoon until cool enough to touch. Turn it out onto a table and continue kneading until cool enough for little hands to play with it. Store in a closed plastic bag.Rookie's Notes: Keep the heat at medium. This stuff burns really easy. You can eat it if you really want, but it tastes terrible.

I stole this off of Rookie Cookie

Myrtle's Juice Tip

2009-02-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

Myrtle's Mingy Methods

Buy frozen juice concentrate instead of juice in a bottle. You'll pay almost a third the price, it takes up less space to store, it's healthier than juice blends (when you get 100%juice), and it will be cold. Also works great in a lot of recipes. Watch for store brand sales and stock up.

Happy Birthday to me!

2009-02-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

What? So what if my birthday was in November! I celebrated it for weeks before and after the big day. About a month before my birthday, I signed up for some restaurant birthday clubs and e-mail newsletters, and in turn those places gave me free food for my birthday! Yep, FREE! Here are just some of the places I enjoyed this:

Red Robin: Free gourmet burger and ice cream sundae - My two little boys and I split this and still had some leftover because those burgers are huge.
Rubios: The coupon was for $7 towards any entree, but I got lucky with a nice lady at the register and she gave me a free drink too, so I paid nothing for my lunch!
Tony Romas: ANY entree for FREE - I got a full rack of ribs with two sides and took my leftovers (which was way more than half) down the street to my husband to eat for lunch at work. A delicious $20 meal for free? Who wouldn't pass that up?
Firehouse Subs: Free medium sandwich

These are coupons I haven't used yet or they expired already:
Black Angus: Free steak dinner with any purchase
Baskin Robbins: Free scoop
Marie Calendars: $5 off any entree, plus a free slice of pie
Chuck E. Cheese: Free tokens *This is actually for my son's birthday.
Sonic: Free Wacky Pack kids meal *For my son again

I feel like I'm forgetting something, and I know there were some that I thought about signing up for but didn't. You can go to http://www.freebirthdaytreats.com/ and pick the state you live in and it'll list all the places that you can get free stuff on your birthday from. Also, check out the websites of your favorite restaurants and such to see if they have some kind of e-mail club too that might not have been listed on that website. I know even McDonald's has a birthday club!

Note: At the sit-down restaurants I gave a tip that was 15% or more of the original price before my free meal. I like free things, but I'm not that cheap.
I don't know if it's a rumor or it only applies in certain states, but the tax for your food is deducted from the servers paycheck, which is why tipping is important. Does anyone else know if this is true?

So GO! NOW! Sign up your whole family! If you don't like getting a bunch of e-mails, just remember that even after your birthday they send you free things. I have gotten two coupons from Rubios for a free taco and a free drink already. If you don't want them, it's not that hard to hit the delete button or unsubscribe after you've received your free things.

Oh, and by the way... Hi! I'm a new contributer. Yay! I actually put this post on my family's blog a few months ago and Gina asked me to put it on here too.

Book it Online

2009-02-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

For Adults...especially Mother's who love to read:
Goodreads.com is one of my online hangouts because I love to read and I like to see what others are reading. After registering, a painless process and well worth it, you can have your very own digital library that tracks what you have read, what you are currently reading and what you would like to-read. One of my favorite things is receiving the optional e-mail that notifies me of my friends book updates (what they have read, their reviews, what they have marked to-read, etc). It is a good way for me to find "good books"! There are many other features to enjoy such as letting others know you have books to lend as well as searching your friends borrow list and you can form an online book club which can be made public or private.

For Children/Teaching Children:
I've been searching for some kid friendly sites. I found one I'd like to pass along that makes reading books online fun. SillyBooks.net has music, animated books, games and much more all online! It is free and you do not have to register to use these tools!

Let me know what you think about these sites...and pass on any "book" sites for children or adults that you love!

Seeing the town on a budget

2009-02-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

Myrtle's Mingy Methods

GoCityKids is a great place to go to find out about the goings on in your city and find great deals. They have a calendar of events and activities offered in your area along with tips and deals. I've signed up for their newsletter so they send me a weekly e-mail to let me know the top picks for the week. I go through the calendar and look for the word free and there's actually quite a bit. This month for example, Callaway Gardens has free admission so we're heading out for a family activity. I also know that every Thursday after 1pm, families can visit the Center for Puppetry Arts Museum for free, the second Tuesday of every month you can get into The Children's Museum of Altanta for free, and Centennial Olympic Park is always free (although parking in Atlanta never is). They also provide directions, information, and reviews for the different places to go. Last weekend we planned to go to the Botanical Gardens and/or the Fernbank Museum of Natural History (first weekend of each month you can get into both free with your Bank of America card) and then head to a jugglers and yoyoists competition/show that was free and in the same neighborhood. The weather was perfect for an outing but I ended up with a sick husband and kids so we stayed home instead. Oh well, maybe we'll get to them next month. My little finds are probably not useful to my Vegas friends (unless you want to come visit us) but it gives you an idea of what's available and you can go onto the site to find the deals in you area. Just choose your city and hit the town.

Myrtle's Long Lost Sister

2009-02-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

Here I am -- Myrtle's Long Lost Sister of Thrift (sorry Gina that you had to BEG to get me to finally post). I hardly buy anything unless it is on sale (groceries included)!! I LOVE bargains and always have. Here is the thrift tip of the day...

When I go grocery shopping I always stick to a set budget. In order to not go over I write down the price of every item that goes into my cart and then add the total to my groceries before I get to the register. This might seem time consuming to some people, but it really isn't. I can't tell you how many times the cashier has accidentally overcharged me or scanned something twice. Not only can you catch cashier mistakes, but you will never go over the amount that you planned on spending that day at the store.

Kid 2 Kid

2009-02-05T18:43:00.000-08:00

Myrtle's Mingy Methods

If you like clean, name-brand kids clothes but don't want to rummage through the wall of clothing at Goodwill to find the one good shirt, try shopping at Kid 2 Kid. They buy and sell nice kids stuff. I admit I do most my shopping at the cheapy second-hand stores and come home with a big bag of kids clothes for the season for $25 dollars because I'm just that cheap and willing to dig. But when I need a particular item (shoes, church clothes, jeans) I head to Kid 2 Kid. Good place for strollers, carseats, toys and other products you wouldn't find or trust at other second-hand stores. By the way, they also have maternity clothes. Be sure to sign up for their e-mails so you can get coupons and find out about their sales. This week they're having their big sale so I got the boys some new shoes, two pairs barely worn for $7. I'm assuming the Vegas branch is doing their sale this weekend so good time to check them out. As I mentioned, they also buy gently used kids clothing and products but call ahead to find out what season they're taking and boxing/folding instructions. Not a great return but maybe enough to buy that pair of shoes your kid needs.

Note to authors: I don't want to see this picture three posts in a row, so if you want regular Myrtle tips, you gotta post :) Thanks Shay

totlol.com

2009-02-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

"totlol.com is a video website designed specifically for children. It is community moderated. It is constantly growing. It is powered by YouTube. All videos were submitted, screened and rated by parents."

I really like this site. My son likes it even more. It's fun just to browse the videos, or you can search by subject (my toddler is really into letters right now so we watch a lot of those ones). Granted, it's not as good as sitting and reading a book with your child...but hey, if totlol.com gets my toddler to sit on my lap and snuggle with me for a few minutes, it is a friend of mine! Here are a couple of our current favorites:

ABC Cookie Monster
Car Blocks
Western Spaghetti

Myrtle's TP tip

2009-02-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

Myrtle's Tips & Tricks

Flatten your toilet paper roll before putting it on the dispenser. This will slow down the rolling so less squares are used each time. This is especially good for toddlers learning to wipe who tend to use half a roll every time they sit (even if they didn't do any business).

My Alter Ego

2009-02-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

I had my brother take this picture of me by this sign at the botanical gardens because it fits me all too well. Just call me Myrtle. I'm a penny-pincher. It has been both a blessing and a curse to my dear husband. But now that frugality is in style, I thought maybe I'd share some of my little tricks with ya'll. If you like the idea let me know and I can make this a regular thing. Feel free to post your own tips and tricks. Authors, you can even steal the pic if you want (come on Deborah and Megan, I know you've got something to say). If I'm the only one cutting corners, I won't embarrass myself (or my husband) by publishing my stinginess.

Myrtle's Tip of the Day:

I buy 5 pound blocks of cheese at Sam's Club, cut them up, seal, and freeze the bags.

I do the same thing with grated cheese. I'm lucky enough to have a food sealer for the job (although I don't vaccum seal the grated cheese) but you can use zip-locks.

Note: Author reserves the right to be lazy and uncreative and not post a daily tip. The word "day" is for catchy title purposes only.

Valentine Crafts

2009-02-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

These are cute craft ideas I stole off Parents.com

Wrap large candy bars and tag or wrap decorated small pieces of paper to tape around mini bars for a gift.

Click on the image below to find out how to make a stamp. Good recycling craft.

Paint a ceramic pot for flowers or make flower pens. You coould also plant some seeds now and hopefully start seeing something by Valentines. You could go to this site and order the tickleme plant that moves when you tickle it http://www.ticklemeplant.com/

Use cardstock, buttons, and ribbons to make your own cards

Use thumb prints to make hearts

Paint wooden hearts and glue magnets on back

Print your Valentine cards at home

2009-02-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here's some free downloads for Valentines. Click on the image to get to the download page.

Mini cards to give your kids

Print on a full sheet label to make stickers

Cards for your kids

Free Valentine's Cards!

2009-01-28T12:45:00.000-08:00

Stories By Everyone is giving away FREE Valentine Cards online.

If you have multiple children you can make multiple accounts to get additional sets of cards.

Offer Expires February 1^st.

What to do:

Choose Box of 6
Qty 1
Coupon= Valentine (type in the box at the bottom of Screen)
Recalculate and the Subtotal is 0!
Checkout (You don't need to put your credit card info)
Next
Place Order
Free Valentine Cards for your Family!!

Family Home Evening Challenge

2009-01-27T19:21:00.000-08:00

We've been getting pretty good at having Family Home Evening every week but I've gotten quite boring and it's turning into a chore. I'm in the primary presidency so months I do sharing time I just reteach the lesson for FHE. I got tired of me doing all the talking and demanding the kids sit down and listen so I decided to do something fun but still gospel-centered. I'll share my idea if you share yours. Well, it doesn't have to be yours, but please share a FHE idea via comment or post!!!

The Creation

We had our neighbors over and created yummy, miniature earths. We read from Genesis 1 about the creation and stopped at the appropriate points to add the element mentioned. Here's what we used:

Blue jello for the water

Cardstock for the day/night wheel (tape brad to bowl then poke through cardstock)

Crushed oreos for dry land (graham crackers good for lighter color)

Coconut dyed green for grass

Flower sprinkles

tree cut out

Animal crackers

swedish fish (poke into jello)

star stickers and cut-out sun -forgot moon :(

male and female figurines

Some of Weston's fish are headless. He had a hard time waiting for his treat.

They were pleased with their creations.

And they saw every thing that they had made, and, behold, it was very good.

Sorry I'm slow

2009-01-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, we're done with Christmas. Sorry we still have a Christmas background, but thecutestblogontheblock website is temporarily down for remodeling :(. Don't tell my daughter though, she was disappointed in me for not getting the Christmas decorations down until this week . We got home from our Chirstmas trip and it wasn't on the top of my list. Those with administrative priviledges are welcome to change the background and colors if they feel so inclined.

The Gamma Seal Lid

2009-01-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

As a follow up to the food storage post from Brianna (Thanks Bri), I thought I'd share an awesome invention. My mom gave me a couple of these lids for Christmas. I believe she picked them up at the cannery in Las Vegas but I know you can also order them at various sites online. They are awesome! The outer lid fits onto the bucket and the inner lid screws on and off so you can easily access your items and keep them in rotation while still keeping your food safely sealed. My mom has several of these to keep kitchen essentials in like flour, sugar, and rice. When you run out you put your lid on a full bucket and start over. This is also a great way to store those Costco and Sam's Club 5 lb bags of food.

Family Home Storage - Simply Begin

2009-01-09T17:28:00.000-08:00

Food prices are going up and so is the cost of everything else. That is enough to restore my thoughts to "being prepared."

I am a Food Storage novice. Some of you may be sailing in that same boat. Below are some quick and easy steps to steer your coarse to preparedness island. Believe me, in the days coming forth, to those looking from the outside in...it will seem as though they wished they were on that island. Few will be prepared.

Start slow. Take a week to do each of the steps or take more than that. This is not meant to overwhelm. It is meant to prepare us so we are not overwhelmed and in need.

Where do I begin?

1. Know Your Family/Individual Needs
A great resource for knowing how to determine your needs is this free pamphlet (available online) created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:
All Is Safely Gathered In

Here is another helpful tool:
Food Storage Calculator

2. Budget for Preparedness
Now that you know the amount of food you will need, it is time to prepare a budget.
$5/week is a decent and simple way to begin. Now, with the rising costs of food you may need to up that amount. But I say keep your goal simple. It is quite overwhelming to think you have so much to buy.

3. Where Can I Store It?

This is something I considered while making changes to my track home when we purchased it. The powder bathroom had the option to become a full bath if I made the office into a bedroom. Instead I opted to keep it an office (no closet, but I can always add one) and the space where they would have installed a shower in my powder bathroom is now a large closet that I use for food storage.
Do not use your garage unless you plan on stacking your food storage on 2 x 4's and installing a swamp cooler (or something similar). All of your hard-earned money will go to waste because your food may likely spoil in extreme temperatures.
If your storage is minimal, find products that would be easy to store in the area you designate. Know what your limit is. There is no point in living in a home where your food takes over all of your living space. Set limits and reach for them.

Storage Options to Consider:

Under the Bed
Re-purpose a Closet
Storage Room (add-on to your home or convert a bedroom)
Book shelves (these should be very sturdy and anchored)
Add an air conditioned shed/unit to your backyard
Attic (for non-perishables like diapers, toilet paper, etc.)
Convert any empty/unused Space
Pantry or cupbaords (if you can spare them)

Recommended Temperatures

3. Where Will I Buy?
There are many ways to purchase food storage. If you are a Latter Day Saint you have a Food Storage Specialist in your Ward. They are there to educate you and provide you with upcoming lists of items that are prepared at the LDS Cannery (now called Family Home Storage Centers). Some Relief Society Enrichment activities include food storage classes, taste testing and demonstrations. If they do not you can request such a class to begin from your Enrichment Counselor/Food Storage Specialist.
**posted 1/13/09** I failed to mention that Costco & Sam's Club now sells these Emergency Food Supplies like this one (I have also seen them for sale inside the store). The price is reasonable for what you get. And it is comforting to know I have a good start.
Buying Schedule: Write out a schedule of what you will buy. You can sit down weekly/monthly or even yearly to plan. It may take extra time but will be well worth it if you already have a plan. Remember to keep track of what you do buy and what the expiration date is. Enter it into your Food Storage Tracker*.

The best thing to do is just start! As with anything we strive for, begin with small accomplishments. A one week/one month supply is better than nothing. See you on preparedness island!

Some Helpful Resources:
www.providentliving.org
www.internet-grocer.net

*If you are interested in a free Food Storage Tracker Excel Workbook to track of your food storage progress please e-mail me, galaxceee@gmail.com . The program is amazing and was made by an LDS stake in California. Please do not sell this program. It is intended to be a help to those serious about tracking their food storage, it is not for sale.

Please add your comments below. What tips do you have for food storage?

Free Classes

2009-01-05T20:34:00.001-08:00

I was just on the Whole Foods website and noticed they offer classes, most of which are free! Here's an example of one at my store:

"Saturday, January 10th

KIDS CLASS with Heidi: Fun Snacks the Kids Can Make for the Big Game

Noon FREE

Kids love to cheer their favorite team on with the family on game day, and they especially love the snacks! Join Heidi for a fun Kid's Class where they can learn to make fun snacks for game day that are also good for them (but you don't have to tell them that part!) The class is free and take home recipes are included."

Just type in your zip code to find a store near you!

KidZui

2008-12-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

Check this out!!

Taken from the Lifehacker site:
"KidZui is a child-safe internet front end that calls upon an enormous whitelist of websites, pictures, videos, and games that have all been reviewed by a group of volunteers composed of parents and educators."

Read more about it and how to enjoy it here.

Children's Music Review: Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs

2008-12-12T14:21:00.001-08:00

I randomly picked this out at the library. After reading about Dr. Jean on her website it is clear that she is well qualified in the area of teaching children but I couldn't help but notice she had no achievements in the area of singing. Sadly, it is evident on her CD "Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs".

There are several catchy and adorable songs on the disc like Katalina Matalina, The Moon at Night, and Pepperoni Pizza. My 2 year-old asked to have these songs repeated, and they are quite fun to sing. If you find these songs sung by someone else it would be worth checking them out.

Pros: A couple catchy songs, kids like it
Cons: May be annoying for adults to listen to

Indoor fun!

2008-12-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

I was going to title this "Winter Activities" until I remembered that a number of those reading this live in Vegas or other warm-weather areas where winter is the time to go outside! I, however, live in the midwest, or the "heartland", but it might as well be the arctic as far as getting my kids outside to run around is concerned. So, I've tried to get creative with ways I can have fun with two active boys while staying indoors. I'll post my favorite from this week and look forward to your comments with more great ideas.

Bathtub Fingerpaints

1/3 cup clear liquid soap

+

1 Tbsp cornstarch

+

food coloring

=

40 minutes of harmonious playtime in the bathtub Because this is made mostly of soap it washes off kids, the tub, and the ice cube trays perfectly. A great indoor pastime...and your kids get clean!

Too Much TV?

2008-12-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

"The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television or videos for children under the age of two (and no more than two hours per day of educational and nonviolent programs for older children)".

I can't tell you how many times I have read this statement (or something very similar). But what I can tell you is that I feel a degree of guilt every time I do! You see, I introduced my first son to Baby Einstein when he was very young (2 months maybe?). I was working from home at the time and found that these convenient little dvds allowed me small windows of time to send necessary emails and other things that couldn't wait until naptime. Then I wasn't working anymore. But by this time, I had my son doing the "hot dog dance" with Mickey Mouse and patting his legs to give Rocket power. My son doesn't even reach the AAP's recommended age of two until next month, but I continue to turn on the TV more days than not. Sometimes we watch Disney in the morning, but mostly he asks to watch a "moo-nie" (Disney or Pixar or his current favorite: How the Grinch Stole Christmas).

Now my purpose in posting this is not rat on myself. Nor is it to justify my actions. Nor is it to tell you you're wrong. Or that you're right! I'm merely curious as to how much TV/movies other "real moms" let their kids watch (okay, I am kinda sorta secretly hoping I'm not the only TV-allowing mom. Wait, it's not a secret anymore). Also, I'm interested in any comments you might have on the subject. Perhaps your take on the statement by the AAP? Or alternatives you've found to buy you some time around the house? Or how to say no? Or why you don't say no? Any thoughts you have, please share! And take my poll. Responses are anonymous.

NOTE: If you get an error after submitting your responses, try refreshing the page. You should then be able to see the results.

It's Not Thanksgiving Without . . . (Revised)

2008-11-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

Cranberry Relish. Along with my grandmother's fabulous stuffing and her perfect pie crusts, this fruit salad completes Thanksgiving; the holiday is not the same without it. You can eat it as a side, as a dessert, or in place of gravy on your turkey breast (my favorite). This is also a perfect "make-ahead recipe" that can wait in the refrigerator until you need it.

Note: My grandmother is notorious for writing down recipes using terms like "a pinch of this" and "add to taste" insted of more exact measurements like 1/4 teaspoon, so taste along the way if you try this recipe.

1 large* package jello (I use cherry or strawberry, something that will not overpower the taste of the fruit; if I can find it, cranberry-flavored jello is the best.)

2 cups boiling water

Mix in a large bowl.

1 lb. fresh cranberries

2-3 oranges

2-3 apples

1-2 cups chopped nuts (We've always used walnuts.)

Chop the fruit (I don't peel the oranges) and nuts using a food processor. Add fruit to the jello in the large bowl. Mix well while adding 3 cups sugar. (Yes, that is a lot of sugar, but remember that cranberries and oranges are tart fruits and you need to make the salad palatable. If you are concerned, start with half the amount and add sugar a half-cup at a time until it tastes good to you.) Chill in the refrigerator.

*Now, this recipe fed my grandmother's family which included up to five adult children and their families. You could try using a small package of jello instead; just use 1 cup boiling water instead, and add less fruit to the mix.
**I apologize for the formatting of this post - I have been having trouble with it lately and I don't know how to correct it. It seems that Blogger can have a mind of its own sometimes.

Real Mom Authors

2008-11-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

If you scroll down to the end of the sidebar on this page you will notice that the author list is expanding! Yup, that's right, you get to hear from other moms now! I'm so excited for this, not just because I won't feel so obligated to post frequently but because these moms are awesome and I can't wait to hear their ideas or at least hear that they have the same dilemmas that I do! We're in this together right?! So, stay tuned for great things to come! And thanks again to my friends for taking pity on me and agreeing to contribute!

P.S. NEVER type in "moms" for a google image search. Seriously, the results were appauling! Type in something more specific, not so much to get what you're looking for, but to not get what you're not looking for. So we are going pictureless for this post.

Alternatives to Babysitters

2008-11-18T06:20:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned in the last post, getting out for dates becomes expensive with kids but in a lot of ways it's even more important. I hate to put the Beehives out of business, but here's some alternatives to paying for a babysitter:

1. Group Date Exchange- Form a group of couples to go out with. Each couple takes a turn being the babysitters while the other couples go out together. You can do this sporadically or on a regular schedule (once a week/month).

2. Temple Playgroup- It's hard to get to the temple when you have kids, especially together. I know the youth are encouraged to babysit for free for couples going to the temple, but I don't feel comfortable asking someone to come babysit without pay. In our ward we have temple playgroup. Twice a month we meet at someone's house and half of the moms will go to the temple and half will watch the kids. That way the kids get to play together, the babysitters get to socialize and moms go to the temple. We do it on a weekday morning for the ladies but you could do it in the evening if you wanted to make it a couple outing.

3. Couple Exchanges- Whether it's for the temple or just a date. Find a couple that will swap babysitting with you.

4. Babysitting Co-op- In my last ward (our church group) we did this and it's the most detailed system but the most fair. Participating moms get tickets to exchange for babysitting (everyone starts with 20). Each ticket is worth one hour of babysitting for one child. Each month everyone in the group picks at least two, three-hour slots when they will do babysitting in their home (morning, afternoon, or evening). Then everyone gets a calendar of the days and times people signed up for. If you need someone during their time call them and bring your kids over. Then pay them with your tickets (depending on how long and how many kids you brought). The more times you babysit the more tickets you earn. This system was a life-saver when my husband moved out to Georgia before us and I was alone with three small children for three months. I had collected a lot of tickets the months prior to the birth of my third child and when he was 6 weeks and my husband was gone and I needed to pack I cashed in on my babysitting. Anyone interested that would like more details on this system, e-mail me and I'll send you more info.

Date Night

2008-11-18T05:42:00.000-08:00

When you have kids, getting out for a date not only gets harder to find time for but gets more expensive too. I'm far too cheap to get a babysitter so we try to find things we can do at home after the kids go to bed. Here's just a few:

1. Movie night at home- Pop in a movie and pop some popcorn after your kids go to bed or if you have two tvs you could put the kids in another room with their own movie). Not a new idea but there's a few ways to do this. You can always watch a movie from your own collection but you can also swap movies with friends. I also like getting movies from the library. They're free (but ony a week so watch those late fees) and depending on your library there's usually a pretty good selection of shows. I've even been able to find new releases. You could also pull up tv episodes online to watch together or subscribe to Netflix.

2. Adult Dinner Night- So when you have kids your menus often become limited to their tastes. So plan a night where you cook a grown-up meal together to enjoy (after the kids go to bed)! It's nice to have your husband help with the cooking and not have little kids pulling at your legs while you prepare. You can use this as a time to try out new recipes too.

3. Game Night- Pull out your games and invite some friends if possible.

4. Projects- Make a homemade Christmas gift for your kid(s) or someone else. Or have another project or hobby to do together.

Alright, I'm out of ideas. As you can see, I'm not very good at this so what ideas do you have?

Seasons, Soups, and Service

2008-11-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

I love Fall, especially now that we have trees to change color! But one thing that makes Autumn so grand is the reintroduction of soups to my menu! Mmmm! The one pictured above is my mom's potatoe soup that is creamy and yum! Okay, so my mom didn't invent the recipe but it was one of my favorite meals growing up. I say meal because she always made this scrumptious cornbread to go with it. This is not the southern crumbly, stiff, real corn cornbread. This one's moist and sweet (especially if you drizzle on honey)! My kids devour this stuff! I was trying to decide today if this meal is as good as my mind has made it or if it's good for sentimental reasons. This meal makes me think of my mom and family and cool Vegas evenings of winter and service. Yes service, this is the meal my mom made when she was taking a meal to someone, which was often because my mom's great that way. I remember holding the warm pot on my lap and breathing in the scent of soupy goodness while my mom drove to someone's house to bring them a much-needed meal. It felt good, it smelt good. I remember one night my mom was making a huge pot of soup and told me she just wanted to take some dinner to some friends she thought needed it. Nothing says you care like a pot of mom's yummy soup! So here's the recipe. It makes a bunch, I half it and still have leftovers (which is fine by me). But maybe you can make the whole thing and give half to someone who could use it, I think it tastes better that way!

Cream of Potato Soup

boil until pot. done:

12 chicken boullion cubes

3 quarts water

1 heaping tbsp. parsley flake

1 heaping tbsp minced onions (or I just use a little onion powder)

1-2 large carrots (add a little later, cooks faster than potatoes)

6-10 potatoes

2 cans condensed milk or 1 qt half & half

Roux:

Mix and melt in pan

2 cubes butter

1 1/2 c flour

Skim some soup into roux and beat with whisk then add to soup. Simmer 5 minutes (not too long, milk separates).

Jacquee's Cornbread

Mix:

2 c Bisquick

1/2 c sugar

1/4 c cornmeal

1/2 t bake soda

Stir in:

1 c milk

2 eggs

1 1/2 cubes melted butter

Pour into 9x13 pan and bake 20-25 min. at 350.

Serve warm with honey.

Got a favorite soup recipe? Everyone should! Share yours as a comment or e-mail me!

Learning about bones

2008-11-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

A friend of ours broke his wrist and my daughter became very worried she might brake a bone. So we talked about our bones and did this fun activity I did while student teaching:

My
Bones

Find a picture of a skeleton (I have a couple good ones, e-mail me and I'll send it as an attachment)
Lay a piece of paper on top of the skeleton sketch and trace the body to fit around it
Give your child the traced body to color to look like them (light colors).
Staple the coloring on top of the skeleton, align bones into body again, and staple.
If you have a light box use it as an "x-ray viewer" or just hold the papers up to the light. What's inside?
Sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and "Hinges"
Talk about how strong your bones are and food that will help make your bones strong.
Use a piece of cardboard and straws to make a "skeleton hand." Show them a glove and talk about how floppy it is on it's own (like our skin). Then insert the "bones" and talk about how our bones give us shape and support.

Gratitude

2008-11-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

My family is starting a new tradition this year I thought I'd share for anyone that wants to try it or share their own tradition! Starting November first we've been doing "Days of Thanksgiving." Every evening we all say one thing we are grateful for and write it on a paper chain (or you could use a leaf garland). This chain will be displayed for our Thanksgiving dinner (the table if it fits). I'm also writing a post each day for my blessing. I'm thinking this might be a good lead in for some Thanksgiving or December service, "because I have been given much I too must give." Simple idea but I'm all excited! What are some Thanksgiving traditions your family does or ways to inspire an attitute of gratitude?

Online Halloween Fun

2008-10-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

Now your little one can "carve" their pumpkin without losing a finger (or you spending any money or cleaning up)! You can pick your eyes, nose, and mouth or carve free-hand.

Or enjoy some Halloween cat bowling

Homemade Cleaners

2008-10-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a booklet on Make-It-Yourself Household Cleaning Products

Helping Big Sister/Brother Transition

2008-10-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

With your first pregnancy you wonder how you're going to be able to handle a crying, pooping needy baby. With your second pregnancy, you wonder how your first child is going to handle being "replaced" by a crying, pooping, needy baby. My daughter ruled the roost back in the day. Not just being spoiled by her loving parents but she had both sets of grandparents and several aunts and uncles in town to dote over her with no other grandkids to compete. Spoiled doesn't even begin to describe Queen Emma! Needless to say I was more than a little concerned how Emma would handle us adding another child to her perfect little kingdom.

The big day came and Emma was taken to Grandma's while we went off to change Emma's life forever. Emma came to the hospital with the family but was sleeping when she arrived so I laid her on my bed. When she finally awoke she was a little disoriented and I tried to slowly ease her into her environment, talking to her, offering her some food. All of a sudden we heard a baby cry. Emma sat up and warily asked, "baby?" My husband and I smiled reassuringly and told her there was someone we wanted her to meet. I went over and picked the little bundle out of his bassinet and started to carry him to Emma. Emma cried out, "Momma, noooo!" and ran out of the room crying. She felt betrayed as she realized what Mom was talking about all those months as she snuggled Momma's belly and talked about having a baby. Her Nana caught her in the hallway and calmed her back down. It wasn't exactly the magical moment we were hoping for. But you know what, it worked out. She allowed him to come home with us and didn't have to go in for counseling. She turned out to be a pretty loving big sister and didn't get overly jealous. Sorry I can't calm your fears of baby #2 by telling you Emma was instantly in love but just know that people adjust. Yeah, it could be a little ugly for awhile but you adjust, your kids adjust and soon you can't imagine life without two kids. I will say however that when #3 came along #2 was 18 months and he handled it quite well.

So here's a few things you might consider doing to help your child through what might be a hard time for them (most of which I'm sure you've heard but I'll repeat for anyone that hasn't):

1. Talk about the perks of being a big kid. Think of all the great things they get to do now that they couldn't do before-like the foods they can eat, the games they can play, etc. Talk about the unique qualities and important milestones your child has reached. They'll have lots of great experience to share and teach.

2. Get excited about being the big sister/brother. This is one I feel you have to be careful about though. If you talk about how fun it will be to play with their new sibling you may set them up for disappoint when they get the baby and all he does is sleep and eat. Be realistic when you talk about what they're going to do with a new baby. Also, be careful selling the whole "Momma's big helper" bit. Not that encouraging them to be a helper is bad but don't put the label of "Baby's servant" on if they're already feeling cut out. Remember the goal is to put the focus on your child and their contributions.

3. Encourage more independence. Early in my pregnancy with my third I started teaching my son (who was still a baby himself) to do more things on his own. I didn't want him to feel that he was being forced to grow up because of this baby (or mom's belly). I moved him out of his crib early, let him walk everywhere (before I got too uncomfortable to carry him), and taught him how to climb the stairs to our condo with just a hand to hold. I felt I did it early and slowly enough that he never viewed it as neglect or connected it to the baby.

4. Baby gifts- When the baby comes they need to "give" a gift to their older sibling. A "thank you for letting me join your family" gift if you will. This can be an awesome toy that will distract them from feeling neglected for awhile, but preferrably not a noisy one that will cause the baby to cry. For my daughter I got a child-sized rocking chair for her to rock her baby while I rocked mine. I like the idea of making this gift one that will help them be a good sister/brother. Maybe a sock puppet to entertain, or a Baby Einstein movie they can watch together.

5. Baby time is toddler time first. When discussing an activity for the baby mention what's in it for your toddler first. "Let's read a story while baby eats (nurses)." "Weston gets a snack while Andrew gets a diaper change." "You get to color while I put the baby in bed." Keep some books on the couch so you can have your child sit next to you and read while you nurse.

6. Allow ownership and interaction. When Weston was new I was very wary of my daughter getting too close. I was worried about her poking out his eyes or stroking too forcefully. I felt it my duty as his mother to protect him from rambunctious toddlers. When Andrew was born I realized what that may have done to the relationship. I allowed Weston to gently explore the baby and to stroke and love in his own appropriate ways. Remind them to be gentle but do it in ways that are positive and non-judmental. So, instead of "Make sure you're nice to the baby," say something like, "Oh, are you going to soft the baby? You're such a nice brother!" or "Andrew loves his big brother. Look how nice you're being." Point out how much the baby loves and appreciates their big brother and pretend that every smile and contented sigh is just for them. They need to know that this is their baby too and that families are about loving each other and that goes both ways. That's the beauty of babies: they don't love you because you do everything right, they love you because you're theirs.

Anyone else have a good story or advice to share? Or even "if I were going to do it over again..."

Cute Painted Pumpkins

2008-10-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

I'm not ready to give my two-year-old a knife to carve a pumpkin and I'm too cheap to buy the big pumpkins so I bought my kids the mini pumpkins and told them we'd paint them. I thought this would be the perfect way to dress up our little pumpkins! Isn't he cute!?
Here's a different idea for the modern, artsy types!

Just for laughs

2008-10-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

Need to smile today? This is just cute! Check out the giggling quadruplets

Choo-choo Trains

2008-10-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

My little guy is in love with trains and has learned about Thomas. I have other costume ideas for his Halloween get-up but I think I just might make him one of these for fun around the house or maybe his next birthday party.
Time to make: Approx eight hours, spread out over three nights
Stuff you have: Cardboard boxes, empty paper towel tubes, oatmeal container, paint brushes, clip suspenders (or ribbon), paper plates, masking tape
Stuff you need: Blue, red, and yellow paint, oak tag
How to make it: Cut the flaps off the bottom of the box. Cut halfway through the flap on the top of box, and use the remaining part of the flap to create the back of the train, using the photo as a guide. Toilet paper tubes can be used to make the whistles, and an oatmeal container stuffed with newspaper can make the blue dome. Use paper plates and/or oak tag (a hard card stock that's easier to cut than cardboard) for wheels and face. Paint, and attach ribbon or suspenders (clip them to the front and back) so that the costume will sit on your child's shoulders. Place weights behind face to keep the costume from riding up (Donna used a bag of change). Dress your child in overalls underneath, and add a engineer cap if you own one -- perfect for your little Thomas fanatic.

Do-It-Yourself
* Back-to-back red duct tape makes sturdy straps.
* Use painted boxes trimmed with colored electrical and duct tape for the main part of the train.
* Recycle oatmeal canisters for the smokestack and headlight.
* Create wheels out of round lids from coffee containers and black electrical tape.

Pippi Longstocking Costume

2008-10-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

Remember this funny girl? This brings me back to my childhood and would be an easy costume to throw together.

Time to make: One hour for the costume, 30 minutes for the hair
Stuff you have: Mismatched knee socks, an old dress in a solid color, a stuffed monkey, a wool scarf, a wire hanger, needle and thread, and clog-like shoes
Stuff you need: Fabric scraps
How to make it: Cut squares out of the fabric scraps, and sew onto to the old dress so it resembles patchwork.
Open up a wire hanger and bend it so there's a semicircle "headband" in the middle and sticks out straight on either side. Put it on your daughter's head and secure with bobby pins. Then braid hair around the wires so it sticks straight out.
Accessorize with mismatched knee socks, stuffed monkey, wool scarf, and clogs.
Lightbulb moment: "We wanted straight-out pigtails that would look authentic without being uncomfortable. Once we got them in place, the best part about the costume was watching Chloe navigate the busy Brooklyn streets, turning sideways to let people pass, because her hair was so wide."

To see other easy, home-made costumes visit: This Parents page

Tootsie Pop Spiders

2008-10-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Supplies: 20 small googly eyes, 10 small neon-colored pom-poms, craft glue, 20 black pipe cleaners, neon-colored pony beads, 10 bright-colored Tootsie Pops.
How-To: Glue two eyes onto each pom-pom. Cut pipe cleaners in half, and group together by fours. Wrap each group of four pipe cleaners around a Tootsie Pop just below the candy to create eight legs. Press a pony bead into the end of each pipe cleaner to make feet. Glue a pom-pom spider face onto the pipe cleaners at the base of the pop.

Picasa

2008-10-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

So we all know that Google is awesome! Great e-mail, blogs, web browser, etc. Did you know they also have a great photo editing program? It's called Picasa, it's free and it's pretty cool! I don't take great pictures but I can make them look pretty good using their editing. You can crop, striaghten, sharpen, change to sepia or black and white, highlight, lighten, etc. You can also create a web album to share with your friends, e-mail pics., or upload them directly to your blog! It's user-friendly and fun to play around with. Check it out.

Create sepia photos and decide the shade

Brighten pics.

Crop and make black and white

Tint pics. to create a different color

Sharpen images

Personalized Frame Gift

2008-10-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

I feel guilty I've been a lousy blogger, so here's a craft for ya! This is a frame we made my mom for Mother's Day. There's supposed to be a heart in the middle so it says "We [heart] Nana" but the heart fell off during it's trip and wasn't glued back on in time for the pic. We have pictures, handprints and name stickers for each of the grandkids (the "Happy Mother's Day" slot was filled with my nephew's pic that had to be mailed seperately). This would make a fun Christmas or Birthday present for a mom or a grandma! If you only have a couple kids you could do full-sized pics. in some slots and foot/handprints in others.

New Baby Set-up

2008-10-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

When my son was born I came up with a newborn bed system that worked great so I thought I'd share. I had a playpen that I set up by my bed when he first came home from the hospital. I put the newborn netting and mattress insert on and used the space underneath for extra diaper bags and clothes he was too small for. On one half of the bed I stored extra blankets, diapers, wipes, Desitin, "nose-plungers", gas drops, spit rags, breast pads, extra pjs (whatever you need during the night or for diaper changes, etc.). I put the changing table insert over the supplies (my playpen had one but you can use your bed if the playpen's right by it). I put my Boppy (nursing pillow) on top of the changing table. I'd usually open up some diapers and lined them up along the edge of the playpen too for extra quick changes. The other half of the playpen mattress was left empty for the baby to sleep on (width of bed instead of length). Then when the baby woke at night I could grab my boppy for quick feedings and/or if he needed diaper changes I could quickly change him right there by his bed with little interruption so he didn't fully awake and I could get him to sleep faster. Then neither of us was awake long and we both slept better!

Girly Styles

2008-10-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

I love cute little girly hairstyles but I'm lacking ideas and time most days so a lot of days we're just lucky to get a comb through it, which lucky enough my daughter's hair's so thin and straight that it doesn't matter. But days we try something cute, it's just fun to see my girl all prettied up! So here's one thing I made up one morning. I'll call it the "Double Twist." Pull a small amount of hair back and tie it. Loosen the tie a little and poke a hole through the middle of the ponytail (above the tie). Take the ponytail and pull it throught the hole (from the top of the hole to the bottom). Tighten the tie. Pull back a little more hair to tie and do the same with that ponytail.

Share your styles!!! E-mail me (realmomsrule@gmail.com) your pictures and directions and I'll post them on the blog to share with everyone. Step-by-step pictures would be a good thing if possible.

Car Pockets

2008-09-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

I got tired of all the stuff on the floor in the car and was feeling a need for a more organized and clean car. So I made these pockets to go on the back of the seats. I made four and each one has different size pockets. They are great for cartrips too. I stash toys and books and movies in them. They are easy to make (I am no seamstress). You just need to make loops at the top for the headrest (measure everything first) and a "loop" across the bottom to add a drawstring. Then tie the drawstring around the seat and pin up the top corners.

This one holds an umbrella, diapers, and wipes (now I can stop carrying diapers in my purse everywhere).

Better When it's Free

2008-09-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

If you are a Bank of America cardholder you can get into museums free the first weekend of every month. Go here to find participating museums. If your state's not there at least keep it in mind for traveling (plan your vacation the first week of the month). If you visit the websites for attractions you can often find free and discounted days. That's how I got into the puppet museum and kids' museums free.
Know of any other freebies or hot deals? Share!

Music Spotlight

2008-08-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful musical a student introduced to me! It's a Broadway musical based on the popular children's books. It's clever and adorable and goes right along with the stories! Both adults and kids will enjoy the jazzy vaudeville-style music and funny lyrics. Makes a great gift too!

What music does your family enjoy listening to? Have a favorite kid or family CD to recommend?

Mommy Exercise

2008-08-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

Kids add plenty of changes and challenges to the lifestyle you knew before motherhood, and your health is no exception. Not only do they change your body with pregnancy and leave you with extra pounds but life with a child makes exercise difficult. I remember when my third child was born my mom was pushing me to go walking. I laughed in my head as I thought, "Walk? I don't have time to walk! I'm too busy running around to stop and walk!" I've tried to pass off my many trips up and down the basement stairs, chasing kids, and lifting baby and toddler as my exercise. And to some extent yes, but then some muscles are getting tired and others go unused. And I feel like I need a real workout so I can have the energy I need to be a better mom. So, any ideas out there? Whether it's losing baby fat or just shooting for a healthier lifestyle what do you do (or attempt to do) to keep fit?

Frosting Fun

2008-08-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun way to teach kids primary and secondary colors from a lesson I taught while student teaching years ago:

Divide white frosting into three bowls
Add food coloring to each bowl to make yellow, blue, and red frosting
Give each child a spoonful of each color (in a triangle on paper plate to leave room for mixing between colors)
Talk about Primary colors ("starter" colors)
Take equal parts of two colors (i.e. red and blue) and mix with a plastic knife on the clean space between the two colors. Have your child guess what color they'll make.
After all secondary colors are made (and any other combinations-yellow and 2x blue) spread frosting on graham crackers for treat.

Got a fun craft, activity, or lesson? Share the fun! Leave a comment or send me an e-mail (with pics. if possible).

Lunch Makeover

2008-08-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

Tired of the peanut butter sandwich and mac n' cheese lunch rotation? My problem with lunch is I don't really want to do much cooking or spend much money but I still want to keep it healthy. Here's a few simple lunches/snacks I do:

cracker sandwiches (and ants on a log & fruit)
leftovers (even when you have a little dinner left, it's often enough for kids)
quesadillas
peanut butter and raisin sandwich (and/or bananas)
applesauce and graham crackers
yogurt and granola (or other cereal)
pb graham crackers
goldfish/pretzel/raisin (or craisin) mix
mac n cheese with hot dogs (yes, cook the hot dogs in the mnc-kids love it)
grilled cheese and tomato soup
Waffles with applesauce and fruit topping (When I make waffles I make a large batch and freeze the leftovers to toast later)
Parents magazine had some good ones too: homemade lunches, sandwiches, power snacks

What do you do for lunch and snacks? Even your rut may be someone else's fresh idea.

Great Websites

2008-07-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law recommended this great website to us: http://www.storylineonline.net/
It has videos of famous actors reading fun books. My daughter loves it and keeps requesting the "stripe story" featured above. She just watched it a minute ago so I could go put the baby down for a nap. Go check it out.
Got a site to recommend (for the kids or the moms)?

Making Clean-Up Less of a Chore

2008-07-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Even very young children can help out with clean-up. The truth is it's easier for you to just do it yourself, but it helps them feel independent and proud to have helped and learning to contribute is important. These pictures represent one way I've found to make clean-up time a lot easier. I have crates and plastic drawers with pictures on them so every set of toys has a place and it's easy to put away. You can also cover cardboard boxes with fabric or construction paper. Even my two-year-old knows where everything goes and can clean up quickly. I also like it because when other kids come over to play they can put toys away too. I also put up a peg board to hang dresses and purses. Clean-ups at our house are so much faster now. Another thing I do to keep messes to a minimum is to have them clean up the toys before moving on to a new activity. If they want to go in the yard, have a snack, watch a movie, get a game, I tell them to clean up the basement first (the playroom where we keep the toys). So they clean up several times a day, but it helps keep the mess from becoming too overwhelming (usually) and teaches them responsibility.

What are your clean-up tricks? Got a great organizing tip, game, or rule that helps your kids pitch in? Share your ideas in the comment section! Or if it's better explained with a picture, send it to my e-mail and I'll include it on the post.

Best Sleep Advice

2008-07-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

You love every minute of sleep you can get so it's hard to understand why your little one is so resistent to it. I realize eveyone has their own rules when it comes to what they will and won't do when it comes to their children's sleep, so I'm going to stick to the expert's advice that has helped me. I found this article years ago that really made sense to me and I still refer to it often (mostly the sleeping chart). I used this method with my son and he is a great sleeper! Keep in mind that the lady who wrote this article has a 10-month-old and is consulting an expert, so this is geared toward her 10-month-old but most of it can work for younger babes (and should be introduced much earlier). Here are the highlights:

-"If a child doesn't go to sleep at the physiologically appointed time, his brain will say, 'Fine stay up then,' and secrete a chemical called cortisol to help keep him awake. As result, it takes him longer to go to sleep when you finally get him to bed and thanks to residual cortisol in his brain, he'll wake up earlier than usual the next day, be overtired, and have trouble napping. It's a downward spiral. Sleep deprivation is cumulative-the less you sleep, the less you sleep."

-"Why can't I get my baby to sleep or back to sleeping through the night? The answer is simple: I'm not supposed to be getting him to go to sleep-he should be putting himself to sleep. All that nursing and rocking and back rubbing is not only useless, it's also detrimental. Putting yourself to sleep is a learned skill."

Babies should:
1. take naps in their cribs, not the carseat (this is hard for me). This teaches them that cribs are a place to sleep

2. be drowsy but awake when put down, fall asleep on their own, and if they wake up during the night, be able to drift back off without help

Babies need:
1. a room of their own while learning to sleep. Then teach siblings good "sleep manners" if they're moved back in.

2. room-darkening shades and insulation from household noises (white-noise machine or fan) are helpful

3. one true lovey (security object)-a blanket, doll, or stuffed toy to make the transition to sleeptime. Have an intended object of affection on hand while nursing and encourage baby to squeeze it instead of you. (for my boys this is their "woobies" little knit blankets my mom made. They snuggle them and wrap their fingers through the holes. For my duaghter it's "Sam Bear")

4. a consistent routine that will cue their brain that it's time to go to bed. Have the same series of things before every nap and at bedtime. The entire nursing and bedtime routine need to take place in one spot/room. Do not let them fall asleep while nursing; if they start to drift off , it's time to put them down.

Here's the steps the author took:
Days 1-3: After reading and nursing, put him in crib and sit right next to it while he cries for however long it takes to go to sleep. You can talk to him and pat him through the slats, but you can't pick him up.
Days 4-6: Move chair halfway between the crib and door and reassure him verbally from there.
Days 7-8: Sit right by the door and talk to him
Day 9: Leave the room as soon as you put him in crib.
(me personally, it's easier to leave the room right away from day 1, than to torture him by sitting in there not holding him, but I understand why that's hard on some people)

How much sleep does your child need?

age *night sleep hrs. #day sleep hours ^daily total
1 week *8 1/2 #8 (4 naps) ^16 1/2
1 month *8 1/2 #7 (3 naps) ^15 1/2
3 months *10 #5 (3 naps) ^15
6 months *11 #3 1/4 (2 naps) ^14 1/4
9 months *11 #3 (2 naps) ^14
12 months *11 1/4 #2 1/2 (2 naps) ^13 3/4
18 months *11 1/4 #2 1/4 (1 nap) ^13 1/2
2 years *11 #2 (1 nap) ^13
3 years *10 1/2 #1 1/2 (1 nap) ^12
4 years *11 1/4 #0 ^11 1/4
5 years *11 #0 ^11

Hope you find this helpful. I didn't follow this religiously, I had to adapt things for our house and family circumstances. As I mentioned, this writer started this when she was struggling with her 10-month-old but it is recommended that you start much earlier than that. Newborns can't be spoiled. They need to eat at night and take awhile to learn when it's nighttime. But once they turn 3 months they have the memory to be spoiled and know how to work mom. This is a good time to start teaching them how to sleep before they start developing bad habits you'll have to break. If you wait until they can stand up in bed it becomes even more difficult for them to learn to sleep on their own (you lose the advantage that they're already laying down). It may sound mean, but they'll learn much quicker earlier and it will be a lot less stressful and healthier for both of you! Feel free to enter a testimonial or completely disagree with this.

P.S. I had this lined up nicely but it decided to center on it's own and I can't do anything to change it's mind. Sorry. If you would like the nice-looking chart e-mail me and I'll send it to you, then I won't feel bad I took the time to make it only to find it wouldn't post.

Stuck at Home

2008-07-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

My first post on this blog was about what to do in the summer. I talked about fun and free places to take your kids. One reader however brought up a good point: What if you can't go places and have to entertain your kids at home? If you're a one car family and it's too hot outside to go anywhere, the day's can get long and mundane. Her situation can be particularly boring at times because she only has one child (no playmates but mom). I know, I've been there. We have one car and my husband's work is about 45 minutes away, so not like I can just drive him there. So what do you do to keep your sanity when you're caged up?

(I'll post my ideas as a comment, you do the same)

Being Pregnant with a Toddler

2008-07-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this isn't really about women who are carrying toddlers in their bellies, but it feels that way sometimes so I left the title. I'm talking about carrying two babies, one on the hip and one in the belly. I remember being pregnant with my daughter and loving pregnancy! Felt great, got rest, didn't get too big, ate when I needed to, didn't push myself (much), and didn't feel any contractions until an hour after my water broke. Then comes the second pregnancy and you've got this toddler in addition to the baby you're growing and pregnancy is a whole new story. You know, what I'm talking about, most of you are there right now or have been recently. So how do you balance the needs of your toddler and those of your unborn child? Toddlers need to be held, hugged, changed, carried and sometimes dragged just as much but as a big pregnant lady it's exhausting and strenuous. Tantrums become an especially difficult challenge during this time too. Not so easy to pick them up and take them away. So short of sending your toddler to live with Grandma for 9 months, what can you do to take care of your babies and yourself? Well, I'll mention a few things I did but I really want to hear your thoughts because God has a kind way of making you forget your pregnancy and labor trials.

1. Stay Home- This may sound like a joke but for me it's serious. I didn't go out more than I needed to. For my second and third pregnancies we were living in a second-story condo so trying to get my tired, pregnant self and 1-2 kids to and from the car was tiring enough just to think about. I spent time at home getting things ready for baby and getting in my last one-on-one time with my current baby. Then if there was a tantrum I could just walk out of the room and not be publicly embarrassed.

2. Preventative Measures- I'm all about planning and preparing in advance (see my "Saturday.." post). If you are going out bring what you anticipate you and your toddler needing-snacks (for both of you), sippy cup, toy, diapers, anything to lower the risk of stress and fits. Don't go during nap times or other cranky times. Know what type of things upset your toddler and avoid when possible.

3. Take it Slow- Toddlers move (and pregnant ladies for that matter) at their own pace and don't like to be rushed. Schedule yourself accordingly. Don't pack your schedule, it'll wear you and your toddler out.

4. Structue/Routine- Don't pack your schedule but do have one, and make it routine. Toddlers need structure and routine. Naps should be about the same time and length every day and bed time routine the same. Okay, so you don't have to pencil in coloring time , but the things that are done daily need to be the same. This will help relieve stress for both of you and help a ton when baby comes.

5. Don't give into Tantrums- I once heard that you don't need to explain your children to anyone-anyone that has children already understands, and anyone who doesn't won't understand. If your kid throws a tantrum they're looking for attention (even negative). You can wait or just walk away if necessary (okay don't leave them in a store but you can peek around the corner from the next aisle).

6. Hire Daddy- I use to wait until my husband got home to do my shopping (or sent him). My child got Daddy time and I got quiet time at the store. Sometimes I'd wait until after their bedtime so I didn't feel bad for my husband.

7. Lots of Love- In addition to gearing them up for baby, show your toddler how much they mean to you and will always mean to you. This is a rough time for them too and they need lots of hugs, kisses, and time from you. Find things you can do with them that you think you'll still be able to do with them when baby comes. Stories are a great way to spend toddler time while nursing.

Well, you probably knew all that already, so what has helped you during the pregnant/toddler stage?

Our Favorite Stories

2008-07-14T07:03:00.001-07:00

This is Alfie and Sam Bear. They are my kids' bears they named after their favorite stories (the one shown and Green Eggs and Ham). My kids love books! In fact, this post is made possible because my kids are in their room reading stories to each other. I taught elementary school and have a great love for children's literature (it's about my attention span :0) ). I love hitting thrift stores and finding great titles in good shape for 10 cents a piece. But libraries introduce your kids to a world of stories and we keep a library box by our couch to make them easy to return. I noticed a "Top 100 Children's Books" poster at our library and think we'll make that our summer reading list. Here are some of our favorite titles right now:

Pinkalicious; Good Night Alfie Bear; Hooray for Grandma Jo; Where the Wild Things Are (my two-year-olds absolute favorite); Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; Lilly and the Purple Plastic Purse (and other Kevin Henkes books); Bernstein Bears; David Shannon books; If You Give a Pig a Pancake; Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type; Goodnight Moon

Parents magazine "Best Children's Books by Age"
Got a book (or list) to recommend? Leave a comment and share the joy of reading!

Frugal Shopper

2008-07-14T06:38:00.000-07:00

This post was submitted (at my request) by my friend Megan. She has two kids and her husband's a teacher so they are pros at budgeting and value shopping. If you want to learn more ask through the comments or I can forward her through my e-mail. Thanks Megan!

I like to think that I have three jobs. I'm a stay-at-home mom; I teach voice lessons two to three hours a day and third I buy healthy food for my family at DIRT CHEAP prices. I cringe when the person in front of me at the grocery check-out pays twice as much for their small pile of groceries than I do for my over-stuffed cart. Just the other day a lady was in front of me who paid around $200.00 for a cart that was about ¾ full of food. I only paid $125.00 for my two over-stuffed carts (my husband was there to help push the second). My third job makes me feel like I am saving my family tons of money (which makes my husband and I very happy), but it is a job and it does take time and if you are willing to sacrifice a little to save a lot then here are my suggestions for getting started.

1. Create a monthly grocery budget and don't go over it!! My husband and I buy all of our groceries, diapers, house supplies, and food storage on a budget of $150.00 every two weeks. To stay true to your budget write down all the prices of what you put into your cart as you are shopping. Then add up your total BEFORE you get to the register. It never fails if I am lazy and don't add up my total before I purchase my groceries then I almost always go over.

2. Create a menu for the days you will be shopping. I go shopping every two weeks so I plan for two weeks of Dinners, Lunches, Breakfasts and Snacks. I then post the menu up on the fridge so if my family wants a snack or to fix their own breakfast they know what is available to them.

3. PRICE MATCHING!!! This is a HUGE key for saving money. I could probably write a whole blog just on price matching and how it works so I will be as brief as possible in this section. I have not bought any of my meats, cheeses or fruits full-price for over a year now because I live by this principle. Every week the local grocery ads magically show up in your mail box. DO NOT THROW THEM AWAY! THEY ARE YOUR NEW FRIENDS!

a. Look through them and make a list of the sales that fit your needs.

b. Compare different store ads then find the cheapest sales

(a lot of the stores will have the same items on sale at the same time)

c. FIND A STORE IN YOUR AREA THAT WILL PRICE MATCH WITH OTHER

STORES. If you don't have a store like this sorry you will have to drive a little

more to get the deals. For those of you in the Las Vegas area the Wal-mart

Neighborhood Market on Warm Springs and Eastern will match ALL store

ads INCLUDING the Hispanic Market ads that always have dirt cheap prices

on their meats, vegetables and fruits (i.e. I just bought 8 lbs. of oranges for $.99

original price at Wal-Mart was $.64 an orange. I also bought these ribs originally

priced at $10.54 for $3.50). You don't ever have to buy your meats or

produce again for regular price!! (Megan has also told me to make a list of your price matches to read to the checker and bring the ads if they want to see them)

4. Look out for HUGE SALES! If you live in Utah or Nevada around every General Conference Smith's has Case Lot sales that are perfect for buying canned goods for your food storage at extremely low prices. Some stores will have 8 hour sales that are to die for as well. Check out selfreliantsisters.blogspot.com for more ideas on saving money at the grocery store or elsewhere. If you have any other questions you can leave a comment or have an e-mail forwarded through realmomsrule@gmail.com.

Baby Food Solutions

2008-07-09T20:57:00.000-07:00

With five in our family to feed I hate going to the baby aisle and buying the baby his own specialized food at higher prices so I do what I can to incorporate our food into his diet. Here's a few things I do:

1. Buy large jars of no sugar added applesauce (not baby food jars). Great for breakfast mixed with baby oatmeal or other homemade foods. My older kids like applesauce too so we keep this stocked.

2. My wonderful mother-in-law bought me a food processor one Christmas. A gift I never knew I needed but LOVE! Not only does it help make meals quickly but I use it all the time for making baby food. I buy the plastic, stackable baby food containers (Parents Choice-Walmart now has some) and then wash them after they've been used. Throw some canned veggies (no sugar or salt added) into the food processor and fill up 3-4 containers and refrigerate. I also buy the large bags of baby carrots at Sam's Club (Costco), great snacks for the rest of us. I cook some, throw them in the food processor with some applesauce (for taste and texture) and he loves it.

3. Mash ripe bananas with water. Good way to get baby use to texture. Mix in some rice cereal or oatmeal to thicken.

4. Munchkin brand sells a "fresh food feeder" with a mesh pocket to allow babies to eat whole foods on their own. It can be a pain to wash but when you're desperate for hands-free time and your baby's craving independent feeding, it can be a life-saver. When my baby's crying for food and I'm trying to make dinner I toss him in the highchair with this contraption. Bananas are easy (killer clean-up though). I also like baking a sweet potato and cutting off chunks to throw in the feeder (if you bake instead of boil, the skin peels right off).

5. Make your own Zwieback Toast by toasting bread until crispy and slicing into strips. When my daughter refuses her crust, I just hand it to the baby (as long as it doesn't have honey, pb, or strawberries on it).

6. Cut fruit, cooked veggies, and hard cheese into tiny pieces for baby to self-feed. My 9-month-old wants real food now and has little patience for the spoon anymore, so this is how we compromise right now, while he eats his tidbits I sneak bites of baby food in (when he opens his mouth for his fistful I stick the spoon in).

7. If I'm trying to get baby to eat a food he doesn't care for (or something new) I give it to him with something I know he loves. So if he has pured turkey I'll serve it with peaches. I alternate bites so he keeps his mouth open in hopes for the peaches. Or I scoop up a little turkey then peaches in the front of the spoon.

What's your baby-feeding secrets? Got a favorite "recipe" or trick?

Picky! Picky! Picky!

2008-07-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

Kids are funny about what they choose to put in their mouths. They have no problem sampling dirt or Play-doh but won't touch the delicious casserole you spent an hour preparing. My daughter's favorite food was chicken pot pie for a couple weeks and now she won't even take a bite. My boys are great eaters and will eat just about anything you put in front of them (or steal it from you if it wasn't put in front of them). My daughter, on the other hand, is very particular about what she'll eat. And of course her preferences change week to week. So what's a mom to do? There has to be some balance between making their favorites and putting your foot down. On one hand I think, "Deal with it, kid. You eat this or you skip dinner." Then I think, "wait a minute, as an adult there are foods I don't like and don't eat. Shouldn't she be allowed to have some choice." So, here's "Dealing with picky eaters according to Gina- random thoughts on kids eating habits."

One thing to consider when it comes to eating is that it's not just about taste, it's about texture. Maybe it isn't really the taste that offends your child, but the texture. I love yogurt but I can't handle strawberry or blueberry chunks in my creamy snack. I do love the flavor though if I can find smooth and creamy versions. Kids can be quite finicky about how something feels. Maybe the spaghetti sauce is too chunky, the squash too slimy, the onions too squishy. Try preparing things different or throwing a portion into the blender/food processor for a more consistent texture. Temperature plays a role too and may need to be adapted for younger eaters.

One big obstacle is finding ways to get your kids to eat their veggies. Carrot sticks and "ants on a log" (celery with pb and raisins) are great snacks. As a kid I loved frozen peas (just run them under hot water til separated). I use to thaw some frozen peas and carrots to give to my son. We would talk about the shapes and bounce the "balls" into his mouth. Tell your child to pretend to be a giant and eat the "trees" (broccoli). Try adding vegetables to their favorite dishes. My daughter loves alfredo sauce with peas and corn. Or food process the veggies and add to a sauce (hee hee, they'll never know). My mom adds spinach to her delicious smoothies.

Encourage them to keep trying new foods. Even if they didn't like it before they may grow into it. I've started a rule that you have to try at least one bite of everything on your plate and you can't whine and say it's yucky. I also give my kids small portions of everything and they have to clean their plate before they can have more of anything. You can take your child grocery shopping with you and let them pick out a new food to try from the produce section.

Give them healthy choices. If you have good food available and let them choose they'll learn good habits. Talk about "sometimes" (cookies) and "anytime" food (apple). If you're like me you may have to remind yourself of this often.

You can make it a fun, learning experience by talking about shapes, colors, counting, grouping, etc. My sister-in-law recommended talking about eating a variety of colors and reviewing what colors they've eaten. Read "Pinkalicious" to talk about what happens when you eat too much of one color.

Post your comment to tell us what you do to help your kids eat better! Don't be modest, if you have a good idea, share. And remember, even small and simple thoughts can help.

Kitchen Tips

2008-07-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

Moms are busy but know that homecooked meals are good for the family and the budget, so shortcuts and tricks are a treasure! This is probably my favorite subject to collect ideas on. I love finding the boxes on the sidelines of cookbooks that give you helpful hints. So, I'm hoping for some comments here, but here's a few I've picked up:
1. Line measuring cups with saran wrap before filling with peanut butter or shortening- I hate the impossible to clean mess that these foods leave behind and was so excited to find this tip!
2. Leave a chopstick in your flour to level the top of your measuring cup
3. Cut up raw chicken into cubes and cook, then seal in baggies and freeze (I have a food sealer that is great). This way you'll have cooked chicken ready for quick recipes.
4. Cook ground beef, spread on cookie sheet and freeze. When frozen, remove the beef from sheet and store in bags.
5. Double the recipe when you make cookies and freeze the extras (individually) on cookie sheet, then store in bags. Then you can have warm cookies another day without the dirty bowls to wash (great for last minute visiting teaching). Note: Adjust the oven temp. and time when cooking frozen cookies. Crosshatch pb cookies before freezing.
6. Buy bags of frozen chopped onions for easy (tear-free) cooking- great discovery because I can't handle chopping onions
7. Wash Gerber 'lil Entree bowls and reuse for toddlers- normally my cheap self wouldn't pay for a namebrand product I can make myself but the plastic bowls have 2 compartments and are great for adding a side to meals.
8. Bibs with sleeves and ties- my toddler (like most) is a mess and pulls off velcro bibs. So I bought him one with sleeves and a tie so his whole shirt is covered and he leaves it on.
9. Those thin plastic cutting boards also work great as placemats for messy children and clean up easily.
10. Use a pizza cutter to cut bite-size pieces of anything (like waffles, pancakes, and noodles). So much faster.
11. Keep your plastic cups, bowls, and plates in a bottom cabinet so your kids can get their own stuff and help set the table.
12. Spray tupperware with non-stick spray before adding red sauce
13. After getting home from the store, wash and cut up celery and store in tupperware or bags for easy snacking. I also wash my grapes and pull them from the vine to store.

What tricks do you use to make your kitchen more effective and simplify your meals? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Saturday is a Special Day

2008-06-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

Confession: I'm not an expert on the subjects I've been posting, I just post a few ideas I've picked up over the years in hopes that you may find them helpful and want to contribute to the discussion. This topic, however, I have more experience with and have claimed some authority on. When we moved from Las Vegas to Georgia my husband had to come out three months earlier for work while I stayed in Vegas with our three small children to sell our home. My youngest was only six weeks old and my other son barely old enough for nursery (20 months). So the idea of getting ready for, getting to , and staying through 3 hours of church alone with my three children was terrifying. But I learned great wisdom in the primary song that says, "Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday." I used to think that song was about doing your physical labors on Saturday so Sunday was a day of rest, but now I understand that it's a day of preparation. Preparing your physical needs, so that you can be open to the spirit. Saturdays I would give my kids baths, lay out their church clothes (complete with shoes and socks), put rollers in my daughter's hair, shave my legs, touch-up my nail polish, lay out my clothes (and do any ironing), pack the diaper bag (diapers, wipes, toys, snacks, and cups), and prepare anything I needed for a lesson. Then when Sunday came things ran more smoothly and we would be on time for church without the chaotic rush that can drive away the spirit. Okay, so the first week the baby spit up on my blouse as we were leaving the house, but for the most part things ran pretty well. This weekend my husband's out of town but I'm trained now and we made it to church 15 minutes early for our 9 o'clock sacrament meeting, giving me enough time to get my kids settled in and prepared for the meeting. This is not to say that this is always the case but whenever I commit myself to it, it works. I use the same philosophy for other outings that we need to be on time for. If I have a doctor appointment in the morning, I get everything ready the night before.

Share your secrets for getting out the door. How do you help your kids and yourself be ready on time for church, school, or any outing?

Placemat Settings

2008-06-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

Here's an easy and fun way to teach your kids how to set the table (and keep the table clean). I bought extra large sheets of construction paper for the placemats. Then I used our own plate, cup, and silverware to trace and cut (a necessity for OCD kids like my daughter who need it to fit just right). After gluing, I laminated the placemats. Learning is Fun had the best deal in Las Vegas for laminating because you do it yourself (very easy). Some places only laminate 8 1/2 x 12 paper so call and check before going. The laminating will allow you to wipe the mats with a sponge, but don't submerge in water.

Note: Seeing this is the Real Moms' blog I decided it was okay to have some crumbs on the table and toys and clothes in the background for my picture. Oh, and my daughter's hair is starting to fall out of her ponytail. Yeah, that's real life. I'm not perfect, I'm a mom :-)

Food Storage

2008-06-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

What do you do when life gives you flour? Make waffles. Food storage isn't just for emergencies when you are desperate and a meal of Spam and dried apples is acceptable. You should be storing things that you'll actually eat and use regularly. For me, peanut butter is a great food storage solution. I have no problem rotating this item. Other staples I try to keep up: honey, corn, diced tomatoes, tomatoe sauce, mac n' cheese, peas, powdered milk oats, flour, sugar, graham crackers, cereal, Goldfish, Ramen, cream of chicken, pasta, and canned chicken. I also throw canned veggies into my food processor for baby food. I'm slowly building up my supply and always looking for good recipes to use my items. Here's a couple I like:

Whole-Grain Waffle Mix
I love the hearty, homemade flavor of these and make them for dinner often. I put out spiced pears, applesauce, bannanas, strawberries, jelly, whip cream, yogurt, butter, and syrup for topping selections. I use my pizza cutter to cut up bite-size pieces for the kids. I love that I don't have to worry about adding fresh buttermilk. I put the mix in a ziplock bag and use a permanent marker to write the remaining ingredients.

4 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup toasted wheat germ
1 cup toasted oat bran
1 cup buttermilk blend powder (next to powdered milk in grocery store)
3 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons honey
Combine the first eight ingredients. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Yield: 8 1/2 cups mix (about 4 batches)
To prepare waffles: Combine eggs, water, oil and honey; stir in 2 cups waffle mix just until moistened.
Yield: 5 waffles (about 6 inches) per batch.

Spiced Pears (serve on top of waffles or as a side)
1 (15 ounce) can pear halves or slices with syrup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Drain syrup from pears into saucepan. Combine with brown sugar and spices and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 10 min. Stir frequently. Add pears and simmer another 5 minutes or until heated through.

Taco Soup
This soup is very easy and yummy. I cook a few pounds of beef all at once, spread it on a cookie sheet and freeze, then store in freezer bags. I keep the cans and seasoning in stock and fall back on this meal on busy days.
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
2 cans (15 1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, undrained
2 cans (15 ounces each) ranch-style or chili beans, undrained
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheddar cheese
In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seaoning, corn, beans and tomatoes, Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Top with cheese and chips.

Share your food storage solutions! You could also include finding storage space, best prices on items, ways to store, items we never thought of, meals only from food storage, best way to rotate, or other helpful ideas and suggestions.

Potty Time

2008-06-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

What kind of parent site would this be without a potty training discussion? Every kid has to go through it and most parents fear it even (and sometimes especially) when they've already trained a child. I've trained my daughter but now I have to venture into new territory, training a boy. This brings up new fears and technicalities I'm not sure I'm prepared for. So, here's what I've read and tried in this great obstacle of childhood:
1. Every expert will tell you to wait until they're ready. Unfortunately kids don't hit milestones on our schedule, as convenient as it may be. Training will be faster and less painful for everyone if you take your child's lead.
2. Don't start before a major change in your child's life (ie new baby, move) Every pregnant mom dreams of having her toddler out of diapers before baby comes along (who wants to change two bums), but for the most part any progress you may have will likely be out the window when baby comes (baby gets lots of attention with all those diaper changes). However if your child is the one who decides it's time to train, then you may live the dream.
3. Reading books will both help prepare your child for the potty and provide an activity to encourage longer sitting on the toilet. If you have space in your bathroom consider putting a small shelf or box by the toilet to put books in/on. You can find a lot of great books at the library but may want to buy your own because potty books are read on the potty (see comments for a list of books).
4. For my daughter we talked up being a "Potty Princess." You can even decorate your potty and make a crown (add a jewel for each success). I also painted her toenails while she sat.
5. Some people love mini M&Ms for rewards. To cut back on sugar, I poured real juice into ice cube trays and stuck toothpicks in each cube for mini pops.
6. Sticker charts are fun visuals for some and you can give a reward after completing a row. You can also decorate your child with stickers so they can show Daddy how many stickers they got that day.
7. I've heard several people (including myself) attest that skipping pull-ups and going straight to underwear really got the message across. Pull-ups feel too much like diapers but underwear makes them feel big and are more uncomfortable when messy. Let them pick out their own underwear. Keep the pull-ups for outings and bedtime though to begin with. In fact when you first start, try to stay home a few days and strip your child down to the bare essentials for real success. Summer's a great time to train, less layers to deal with.
8. For boys, toss some Cheerios in the toilet and play "sink the Cheerio" for target practice. My mom trained 4 boys and said this game made her boys easier to train than the girls.
9. Put a couple of drops of blue food coloring in the toilet bowl and watch it turn to green when your child "adds the yellow." You can also use a blue marker to make a spot on a tp square to float in the bowl.
10. To teach good hand washing skills sing a favorite song to be sure they wash long enough.

Oh what do you do in the Summertime

2008-06-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

Now that all the kids are home all day long, the days seem extra long (especially with the sun going down late)! If you have young kids, they are not interested in the lazy days of summer, they need entertainment.
Let me first recommend visiting the Go City Kids site. You can put in your city and they'll tell you all the events and attractions for your area. They'll give you ratings, maps, and calendars and if your a cheapskate like me you can dig up all the free things available.
Some movie theaters will offer free summer kids movies in the morning. Not only are they free but you don't have to worry about your child disturbing the peace, they're all kids. And if you ultimately have to leave, you don't feel you've wasted your money. Great way to test your child's theater stamina.
Find a fountain/splash park in your area. Some public parks have a sprinkler area with rainbow fountains, mushroom misters, etc for kids to run through and "beat the heat." With three little ones, including a baby I choose this over the dangerous depths of a pool any day. Bring a picnic and eat on the grass.
Water balloons and squirt guns are always winners no matter what the age group. For older kids start a game of water balloon volleyball with stretched towels or use boxes on a tennis court for Battleship.
What do you do with your summer? Please enter comments to share your ideas.