"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~Albert Einstein
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
So much to vacuum, so little time...
If you work outside the home you are acutely aware of how much (or how little) time you are able to spend with your children. But there are also household things that must be completed during those precious few moments a day you are home - even when the kiddos are there with you.
No one wants a dirty house including me! With four dogs regular vacuuming is a must. When my children were younger I would vacuum when they were asleep so I could get that chore completed as efficiently as possible. Then my now three year old discovered the vacuum and his love of helping mommy.
Suddenly if I switched on the vacuum when he was asleep he would wake up immediately and cry - not because he was scared but because he wanted to vacuum too. We've all read about how beneficial it is to foster helpfulness in your child so who was I to not allow him to help? Did I want my child to turn out unhelpful to others because I failed to allow him to help me vacuum at 18 months?
At first my compromise to enable me to efficiently vacuum and him to help me was to purchase a toy vacuum. Initially that was fun for him to push his vacuum alongside me (and I would be lying if I said it wasn't fun for me too)!
Then one day he realized his toy vacuum didn't really do the job of a real vacuum and he wanted to use my vacuum. I was able to convince him that if he utilized the attachments while I used the "big part" of the vacuum he was truly performing help to me and actually sucking things up...and that lasted about a week. Then he insisted on using the "big vacuum" to actually vacuum.
If you have ever had a "helpful" toddler you know that while valuable for the toddler and a moment where you get to take pride in the wonderful child you are raising - when toddlers are helping it typically takes 10 times as long to complete a task.
As a mommy who works outside the home, vacuuming went from taking 20 minutes to a couple of hours. The novelty of my son helping was wearing off for me, my patience was beginning to run a little thin and honestly I do not want nor do I have hours to spend running the vacuum.
The solution I have discovered to end what had become a painful experience - a real sweeper for my son to utilize.
I purchased a small sweeper/dust buster with an adjustable handle for my son to vacuum with. It is bag less and has no spinning brush for him to harm himself - it picks up dog hair from our linoleum wonderfully and best of all - my son can actually vacuum!
This may sound like a bizarre purchase to make but at around $50 it has saved me countless hours of "wasted" vacuum time and I still have clean floors! My son couldn't be more pleased and he will often ask me if he can vacuum.
If you are looking for a way to maximize your time when vacuuming - whether you work outside the home or not, if you child is dissatisfied with the toy vacuum - I highly recommend a sweeper. It has helped us find a balance in the best of both worlds!
No one wants a dirty house including me! With four dogs regular vacuuming is a must. When my children were younger I would vacuum when they were asleep so I could get that chore completed as efficiently as possible. Then my now three year old discovered the vacuum and his love of helping mommy.
Suddenly if I switched on the vacuum when he was asleep he would wake up immediately and cry - not because he was scared but because he wanted to vacuum too. We've all read about how beneficial it is to foster helpfulness in your child so who was I to not allow him to help? Did I want my child to turn out unhelpful to others because I failed to allow him to help me vacuum at 18 months?
At first my compromise to enable me to efficiently vacuum and him to help me was to purchase a toy vacuum. Initially that was fun for him to push his vacuum alongside me (and I would be lying if I said it wasn't fun for me too)!
Then one day he realized his toy vacuum didn't really do the job of a real vacuum and he wanted to use my vacuum. I was able to convince him that if he utilized the attachments while I used the "big part" of the vacuum he was truly performing help to me and actually sucking things up...and that lasted about a week. Then he insisted on using the "big vacuum" to actually vacuum.
If you have ever had a "helpful" toddler you know that while valuable for the toddler and a moment where you get to take pride in the wonderful child you are raising - when toddlers are helping it typically takes 10 times as long to complete a task.
As a mommy who works outside the home, vacuuming went from taking 20 minutes to a couple of hours. The novelty of my son helping was wearing off for me, my patience was beginning to run a little thin and honestly I do not want nor do I have hours to spend running the vacuum.
The solution I have discovered to end what had become a painful experience - a real sweeper for my son to utilize.
I purchased a small sweeper/dust buster with an adjustable handle for my son to vacuum with. It is bag less and has no spinning brush for him to harm himself - it picks up dog hair from our linoleum wonderfully and best of all - my son can actually vacuum!
This may sound like a bizarre purchase to make but at around $50 it has saved me countless hours of "wasted" vacuum time and I still have clean floors! My son couldn't be more pleased and he will often ask me if he can vacuum.
If you are looking for a way to maximize your time when vacuuming - whether you work outside the home or not, if you child is dissatisfied with the toy vacuum - I highly recommend a sweeper. It has helped us find a balance in the best of both worlds!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Wisdom Wednesday
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
~Mahatma Gandhi
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Wisdom Wednesday
"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
~Nelson Mandela
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Best Kept Cleaning Secret
In searching for something to take off baked on grease on a waffle maker I stumbled upon a post on the Internet (and honestly I cannot locate the post again) that recommended Dawn Power Dissolver. I had never heard of this product before but decided I would try to locate what I thought was Dawn Dish Soap.
In searching for the Dawn Power Dissolver I discovered it was a spray foam rather than a traditional dish soap. I determined it was worth the $3 for the spray to see if it actually works...
To my surprise this product exceeded my wildest expectations! My greasy waffle maker came out so clean decided to give it a try on the bottom of the outside of my pots and pans. I had completely forgotten what the my pots and pans looked like when they came out of the package a dozen or so years ago.
Dawn Power Dissolver worked so well I began using it on nearly everything in my kitchen - you know those dried up drippings from a spoon that are on the stove if you don't wipe them up right away - one spray and 15 minutes later with no elbow grease it wiped right away.
I raved about this product to my husband and my family members. My husband decided to try it to clean grease off of his lawn mower - his buddy (who works on mowers for a living) was so impressed with the results and ease of use that he began using this product in his work.
My mother had tried every trick in the book to remove a stubborn stain on a piece of children's clothing. Pretty much resigned to the stain being permanent - she grab the Dawn Power Dissolver thinking she had nothing to lose. To her delight the laundered clothing was stain free and like new again!
This is my go to product for anything that needs cleaning and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you are looking to remove any dirt that is mildly stubborn I would reach for the Dawn Power Dissolver.
In searching for the Dawn Power Dissolver I discovered it was a spray foam rather than a traditional dish soap. I determined it was worth the $3 for the spray to see if it actually works...
To my surprise this product exceeded my wildest expectations! My greasy waffle maker came out so clean decided to give it a try on the bottom of the outside of my pots and pans. I had completely forgotten what the my pots and pans looked like when they came out of the package a dozen or so years ago.
Dawn Power Dissolver worked so well I began using it on nearly everything in my kitchen - you know those dried up drippings from a spoon that are on the stove if you don't wipe them up right away - one spray and 15 minutes later with no elbow grease it wiped right away.
I raved about this product to my husband and my family members. My husband decided to try it to clean grease off of his lawn mower - his buddy (who works on mowers for a living) was so impressed with the results and ease of use that he began using this product in his work.
My mother had tried every trick in the book to remove a stubborn stain on a piece of children's clothing. Pretty much resigned to the stain being permanent - she grab the Dawn Power Dissolver thinking she had nothing to lose. To her delight the laundered clothing was stain free and like new again!
This is my go to product for anything that needs cleaning and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you are looking to remove any dirt that is mildly stubborn I would reach for the Dawn Power Dissolver.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wisdom Wednesday
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Sunday, January 27, 2013
C-sections and Alternatives in Louisville KY
As a mother of two, my first birthing experience was less than ideal and resulted in a c-section.
When I became pregnant with my second child I desperately wanted to give birth vaginally. I encountered trouble finding good information on my options.
While I did plan for a vaginal birth my second child was also delivered via c-section.
If you are looking for alternatives in Louisville, KY I encourage you to read the article linked below and connect with the resources listed within it.
http://m.louisville.com/content/kentucky-limits-birthing-options-healthy-women-its-cesarean-rate-exceeds-national-average-fi
The desired outcome is always a healthy baby and mommy but it is also important to trust your body and make the choices best for you. The good news for me is that both of my children are healthy - and while my body still experiences c-section related oddities, I am also healthy.
Remember although your choices may be limited you do have choices and I encourage you to empower yourself with all the available information!
When I became pregnant with my second child I desperately wanted to give birth vaginally. I encountered trouble finding good information on my options.
While I did plan for a vaginal birth my second child was also delivered via c-section.
If you are looking for alternatives in Louisville, KY I encourage you to read the article linked below and connect with the resources listed within it.
http://m.louisville.com/content/kentucky-limits-birthing-options-healthy-women-its-cesarean-rate-exceeds-national-average-fi
The desired outcome is always a healthy baby and mommy but it is also important to trust your body and make the choices best for you. The good news for me is that both of my children are healthy - and while my body still experiences c-section related oddities, I am also healthy.
Remember although your choices may be limited you do have choices and I encourage you to empower yourself with all the available information!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Word to the Wise
How many times have you been out with your children and distracted. Distracted by one child yelling while the other is running away from you...
Not that your children generally misbehave but they are curious and adventurous - I completely understand and have been there many, many times.
The other day I was on my lunch break and unfortunately someone stole my wallet. My driver's lisence, my credit cards, my health insurance cards, keepsakes...all gone in just moments. Fortunately we are not responsible for the $4,000 the theives racked up in merely 45 minutes. And it is fortuitous that my credit card company called me and we were able to shut all my cards down.
This experience was frustrating and overwhelming and this happened while I was not particularly distracted while I was dining. As I have reflected on this experience over the past few days I have thought about how lucky I have been in the past.
There have been many occasions where I have been out with my children towing a diaper bag, purse - the children running in two different directions - distracted beyond belief and I have never been robbed.
I realize this could have happened to me any time or any where but I can't help feeling I should have been able to prevent this theft. What I now realize is that I should recognize this as an opportunity. I now have the opportunity to take greater precautions for the safety of my posessions, especially when I am out. I also recognize this as an opportunity to scale back on what I carry around with me approaching things from a more minimalist perspective.
Take heed and consider minimalizing the things you "tow around". And above all, keep yourself and your children safe!
Not that your children generally misbehave but they are curious and adventurous - I completely understand and have been there many, many times.
The other day I was on my lunch break and unfortunately someone stole my wallet. My driver's lisence, my credit cards, my health insurance cards, keepsakes...all gone in just moments. Fortunately we are not responsible for the $4,000 the theives racked up in merely 45 minutes. And it is fortuitous that my credit card company called me and we were able to shut all my cards down.
This experience was frustrating and overwhelming and this happened while I was not particularly distracted while I was dining. As I have reflected on this experience over the past few days I have thought about how lucky I have been in the past.
There have been many occasions where I have been out with my children towing a diaper bag, purse - the children running in two different directions - distracted beyond belief and I have never been robbed.
I realize this could have happened to me any time or any where but I can't help feeling I should have been able to prevent this theft. What I now realize is that I should recognize this as an opportunity. I now have the opportunity to take greater precautions for the safety of my posessions, especially when I am out. I also recognize this as an opportunity to scale back on what I carry around with me approaching things from a more minimalist perspective.
Take heed and consider minimalizing the things you "tow around". And above all, keep yourself and your children safe!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Lead by Example
I am a big believer in leading by example - in life and in parenting.
My children probably come by their stubbornness honestly - I can be very stubborn. When something doesn't work for them or happen as easily as they think it should, my children can become very frustrated and have a temper tantrum meltdown.
I try to explain to them that it's not the end of the world and help them understand how to express their frustration healthily - understanding that 3 year olds and 15 month olds have a limited understanding of healthy frustration expression.
As we grow, unfortunately we are not able to completely eliminate frustration in our lives - so learning to handle frustration is an important life skill. Since we are all human, even the best of us are unable to handle frustration healthily 100% of the time.
In addition, there are people in everyone's lives who don't handle frustration with the highest level of emotional intelligence.
I believe that children learn what they see and practice what they see most often. Therefore, I try even harder to handle my frustration in a manner that I would want my children to emulate.
Some of the tactics I use to keep my cool in the face of frustrating moments include: reminding myself that it is not likely that anyone will actually catch on fire if something doesn't work out, counting to 10, breathing deeply, asking myself if this is a battle worth fighting, and remembering what the important things in life are. When something isn't working how I believe it should, I try to ask myself if the thing I am frustrated by will matter in 10 minutes, days, hours, months, years...if the answer is no then I am typically able to curb my frustration and look at the situation in a new light.
Am I able to succeed in modeling good habits for my children all the time? No! But I believe children learn from mistakes they see too. And when my children see me trying to model healthy behavior, even when I am not a successful model, they see a mom who cares enough to try and that will ultimately give them the confidence they will need to take risks, experience successes and failures and face frustrating circumstances with the healthy tools they need.
My children probably come by their stubbornness honestly - I can be very stubborn. When something doesn't work for them or happen as easily as they think it should, my children can become very frustrated and have a temper tantrum meltdown.
I try to explain to them that it's not the end of the world and help them understand how to express their frustration healthily - understanding that 3 year olds and 15 month olds have a limited understanding of healthy frustration expression.
As we grow, unfortunately we are not able to completely eliminate frustration in our lives - so learning to handle frustration is an important life skill. Since we are all human, even the best of us are unable to handle frustration healthily 100% of the time.
In addition, there are people in everyone's lives who don't handle frustration with the highest level of emotional intelligence.
I believe that children learn what they see and practice what they see most often. Therefore, I try even harder to handle my frustration in a manner that I would want my children to emulate.
Some of the tactics I use to keep my cool in the face of frustrating moments include: reminding myself that it is not likely that anyone will actually catch on fire if something doesn't work out, counting to 10, breathing deeply, asking myself if this is a battle worth fighting, and remembering what the important things in life are. When something isn't working how I believe it should, I try to ask myself if the thing I am frustrated by will matter in 10 minutes, days, hours, months, years...if the answer is no then I am typically able to curb my frustration and look at the situation in a new light.
Am I able to succeed in modeling good habits for my children all the time? No! But I believe children learn from mistakes they see too. And when my children see me trying to model healthy behavior, even when I am not a successful model, they see a mom who cares enough to try and that will ultimately give them the confidence they will need to take risks, experience successes and failures and face frustrating circumstances with the healthy tools they need.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Homemade Infant Rice Cereal
This is a recipe I used for both of my children when it was time to begin supplementing their exclusive breast milk5 diet.
The biggest selling point to commercially produced Infant Rice Cereal is the added iron - a supply reserve that begins to drop when an infant is around 6 months of age.
To curb the concern around the iron added to commercially produced Infant Rice Cereal, I utilized Iron Fortified infant formula when making my cereal. While this is a little bit of up front work - I highly recommend making your own Infant Rice Cereal for your baby!
The biggest selling point to commercially produced Infant Rice Cereal is the added iron - a supply reserve that begins to drop when an infant is around 6 months of age.
To curb the concern around the iron added to commercially produced Infant Rice Cereal, I utilized Iron Fortified infant formula when making my cereal. While this is a little bit of up front work - I highly recommend making your own Infant Rice Cereal for your baby!
Homemade Infant Rice Cereal
Ingredients:
2 Cups of Brown Rice (not instant)
10 2/3 Cups of Water
4 Cups of Breast Milk or Iron Fortified Infant Formula
Directions:
In a saucepan, mix the water and the brown rice. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring continuously. The rice should have thickened significantly.
Stir in breast or formula milk and continue to cook. Stir continuously for an additional 10 minutes. Add more milk if the mixture becomes too thick.
Remove from heat and let cool. Place rice into blender (magic bullet) and puree until desired consistency.
Pour into ice cube trays and cover with plastic wrap. Place trays in the freezer.
Once frozen, remove cereal from trays and place in a freezer bag. Label with date and contents.
Thaw appropriate amount as needed for baby. Add breast milk or formula or water to thin and create desired consistency/thickness.
I always made sure I used the rice cereal within 30 days to prevent spoiling.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Wisdom Wednesday
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
~Walt Disney
How many times have you gotten up, dressed and fed the kids, gotten the kids to school and yourself to work ... and the day just began?
As working parents, we do the impossible everyday - we squeeze more into five minutes than we ever imagined. Sometimes it's a challenge but worth every minute of it.
Keep doing the impossible!
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