Laundry Tips From a Mom Who Knows

I would like you to all understand that this is not a practical tip entry.  This is an entry on all of the things that I hate about laundry and tips to make those things better.  I will not teach you how to remove stains or teach you how to avoid laundry from piling up.  To be quite frank with you…. I have no idea how to make there things happen.  Here is what I do know about laundry:

1. No matter what I do it will never be done.  I know some very nice people say if you do a load a day it will all be manageable.  Either way you still have to do a load a day.
2. For some reason my almost 3 year old still wears at least 3 outfits a day plus jammies.  This is a huge issue…  I could just let her be dirty all day.   I just do not think that is a good solution to my laundry woes.
3. My 9 year old is STINKY and CANNOT wear outfits more than once.  I just do not know what else to do about the stink her clothing is bringing to my laundry!  We already have deodorant, sprays and soap.  What else could there be.
4. Why is it that so few people in my house know how to wipe?  It AMAZES me.  I know it is a lesson we went over 1 billion times!  So why is it that it has not caught on.
5. There are times that I think that the pile is taller then I am.  I know that this is not too too hard being that I am only 4′11″ but still… this is not good.
6. I seem to be the only person capable of carrying the laundry up and down two flights to be washed.
7. God forbid you ask someone to help in any way.  It is like the sky has opened and we are all headed for eternal damnation.
8. Why is it that my clothing is never done?  I fold and wash and fold and wash and fold and wash but so few of the articles are mine.  How is this possible?
9. How hard could it be for one to open a drawer, stuff an already folded of clothing and and then shut the drawer be?  One would think that this is an easy task… right?  So why am I the only one who has mastered it?
10. WHY DOES EVERYONE LEAVE IT ALL UP TO ME?

I am seriously thinking about making disposable clothing.  I think that my tip for today is to quit trying and when they all find that there are no outfits to be had perhaps they will help more.

Becca

Related articles by Zemanta

• Keeping up with my most-hated chore, the laundry (organisingtips.blogspot.com)
• Tired, Tired, Tired (alwaysbcmom.com)
• How-To: Sewn Laundry Bag (craftzine.com)

Weight Loss: Day 4

I had another wonderful day on my weight loss journey again.  I am sure that you are all getting a little tired of hearing about it but it went quite well.  I was serious about exercise today and walked outside in the 15 degree weather again.  I took the older two girls with me and we had a nice time.  We walked a little more then a mile together.  In addition to that I did the Wii fit for 45 minutes today and burned 385 calories.  I had a shake and 1/2 of a grapefruit for breakfast, a chicken salad for lunch and the most delisious Honey-Mustard chicken for dinner with some rice and a

salad.  I am not sure if I ate enough today but I only ate when I was hungry.  I am sure it will all catch up with me tomorrow.

All in all I am feeling pretty great.  I guess that in a lot of ways I am feeling proud of myself.  I am believing in myself.  It is something I have not felt in a long time.  I have still not weighed myself.  I will weigh in on Saturday when we hit one week in.  I am hoping for good things to happen.  If the scale disappointed me with no weight loss, I will know that it is not because I have not worked hard this week.  I have agreed to be patient with myself.  I did not gain all of this weight in a week and I will not loose it in a day.

I also started a facebook group where anyone is welcome for support, recipe ideas, exercise routines.  It is a place where we can all come together and loose.  The group is Becca’s Belly Busters.

Becca

The honey-mustard chicken was wonderful so I posted the recipe click here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Dinner Diary: Veggies and Other Good Things (dailywd.womansday.com)
• Cooking Without a Kitchen: Stir-Fry Chicken in the Crock-Pot (suddenlyfrugal.com)

Weight Watchers Honey-Mustard Chicken

Makes 4 servings:

1/4 cup Dijon-style mustard
2 Tbsp. + 2tsp. honey
2Tbsp. Apple Cider
Four 6-ounce Chicken Drum Sticks; Skinned
1/3 cup +2 tsp. plain dried bread crumbs
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground ginger

1. Preheat over to 375 F.  Line large baking sheet with foil; spray with non stick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl combine dijon mustard, honey and Cider, remove and set aside 1/4 cup of the mixture.  To remaining mixture, add chicken tossing well to coat thoroughly.
3. In gallon-sized sealable plastic bag , combine bread crumbs, dry mustard, salt and ginger; seal bag and shake to blend.  Add 1 drumstick; seal the bag and shake to coat.  repeat using remaining drumsticks.
4. Bake Chicken 20 minutes; turn carefully.  Bake 10-15 minutes longer, until cooked through and juices run clear.  Serve reserved mustard mixture for dip.

Each serving provides:  3 protein, 1/2 bread; 45 optional calories.

One the Weight Watcher Point System the calories, fat and fiber calculate to 6 points per serving.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Grilled lemon chicken and courgettes (thefrugalcook.blogspot.com)
• Roast chicken & cornbread = love (getsomehairapy.wordpress.com)

Weight Loss: Day three

Well here we are with the third day down.  It seems as if this has all been too easy.  I am usually much more obsessive by now.  I have usually weighed myslef about a million times by now.  I have usually eaten some chocolate by now.  As I stated yesterday, this seems different.  It is not motivation that I have.  It is just that I know I need this.  It is that it feels right.  So here is how the day went

I went for a walk with Abigail and our new dog.  It was better then I had expected.  I lived through it and because of my new shoes my foot that hurts ALL of the time.  It all went so well that I chose to walk again this evening.  I will be waking up again tomorrow to repeat my walk.

As far as eating today I did wonderfully.  I had a shake for breakfast, a chicken sandwich for lunch with fruit and pretzels and tuna caserole with salad and broccoli for dinner.   I think that all in all that is a wonderful day.

Tomorrow is day 4.  I am proud to say that I have my meals all planned out and that I am ready.  I hope you are all doing as well as I am.

Becca

Related articles by Zemanta

• Walking (tangocorazon.wordpress.com)
• “Humor Me” Tip #6 (monicaricci.typepad.com)
• How to Get Your Children to Enjoy Walking (treehugger.com)

Time Out: Does it Work? Parenting Tips

Time out is one of those parenting tips that everyone throws around.  It is something that is supposed to work.  I think that it all depends on the kid.  I have found that there are some things that you have to make sure happen when you do time out.  They have worked for my oldest, my middle daughter and even my two year old gets the idea.  The trouble is that even I forget that time out can work because from time to time I get too emotional.

Yes it is true that I tend not to keep my cool.  I yell and yell and yell a little more.  Then I throw them in time out while screaming some more.  I yell most of the time they are in time out.  If they stay in time out that is.

Then there are those other days when I do time out right.  Here are the steps that you are supposed to take with time out.  I have found time and time again that when I follow them time out is much more effective.

1. Have an area in your house that is the time out spot.  This can be a step, a time out chair, a mat on the floor, or even a large stuffed toy
2. Do not make your time out spot in a child’s bedroom.  This is where all of their toys and things that they love are.  If they are told to stay there where is the punishment?
3. Only place your child in time out for 1 minute per year.  So if your child is 6 then they should remain in time out for 6 minutes.  This is because your child’s attention spans grow with the child.  You cannot expect a 2 year old to sit in time out for 10 minutes.  they just do not have it in them.
4. When you are placing your child in time out remain calm.  This is so that the message is not lost.  If you remember way back when you were a child I think that you will remember that you stopped listening once people were yelling at you.   Kids are no different right now.
5. Tell your child why you are placing them in time out.  Say, “Abby, I you need a time out because we do not speak that way in this house.”  This makes it clear to the child what they have done.
6. Set the timer and walk away.  It is important not to engage your child when they are in time out.  If they get out of time out, place them back and restart the timer.  DO NOT TALK TO THEM.  This feeds into the game that they want you to play.
7. When time out is over tell your child again why they were placed in time out.
8. Do not force your child to say that they are sorry.  This is my own personal belief.  All you are doing is forcing the child to lie.   If they are sorry they will say so on their own.  I think that you should never tell a child to say sorry when they are not.  Many times the child is not sorry.  You are not looking for sorrow.  You are looking for an understanding of what they did and that it was not acceptable in your home.

Sounds easy right.  If you look at Nanny Jo on Supper Nanny she will even make you think that it is simple.  For those of you who know me you know that I am not a sugar coat it kind of person.  IT IS HARD.  It takes a lot of work and you have to be dedicated.

One more note… It is alright that you take a time out if you need one.  I have done it before and it works.  Sometimes it is not the kids but the adult who needs a break.

Do not handle time out like my favorite episode of Lucky Louise.  He did it all wrong!

Becca

Related articles by Zemanta

• I need kid advice. (secret-agent-josephine.com)
• Time Out Pad: The Timer Is In Charge Here! (celebrity-babies.com)
• How would you rate your parenting on a scale from 1 to 10? (parenting-success.com)

10 Happiest Countries: Not the USA

I read the following article about the 10 happiest nations to live in.  I was in no way to see that the great United States of America ddid NOT make the list.  I think that it falls back to the great American dream.  It is in Americans blood to work too hard, for too many hours.  I think that it started with our ansestors that came here from all of the various other nations.  They came here to live a dream.  Many of them failed but the ones who really made it worked and worked hard.

So here we are a nation of unhappy people so that we can struggle to live the dream.  The trouble becomes that as we are trying to reach the dream we forget to enjoy where we are.  We do not look around us and just think that we are blessed.  We tend to want more and more.  Perhaps it is because we are a society driven by money.  Perhaps because all of us who work so hard see the people who are profiting off of our work and think that we could achieve such greatness.  The trouble often becomes that we are just the worker bees.  We forget that we are here with other purposes.

I know that there are so many of us who want the new car, the house, 2.5 kids and a dog.  The trouble comes in that none of these things are making us happy.  We do not have any time to enjoy any of it because we are struggling to hold on to it all.  I think that it is really a sad day when we cannot enjoy our lives.  I know that many people are currently out of work and feel so depressed.  We as Americans have tied our entire worth as a person to our current job and the salary that comes with it.  This makes it life shattering when that job is taken away!

I also think that it makes it hard as a stay at home parent.   I know that each day I look at what purpose I have.  I think that my children have had some benefits to my staying home.  The trouble comes when people talk to me about what I do.  I am judged based on my lack of making money and my lack of working.  There are people who look down on me.  There are people who think that they are better then me because they have a job.  It is a constant struggle for me to stay at home.  It means that Rob has to work 2 jobs to make ends meet.  The trouble comes with my identity in this society.  I am viewed as less.  I am viewed as uneducated.  I am viewed as lazy.  The trouble is that I am rather educated.  I even finished college in the amount of years that you are supposed to!  I am not less and I would love to have a lazy day!

I know I am babbling but perhaps this is why we as Americans are not able to be happier.  I am not happy because I know that others think badly of me.  The people working their tails off are not happy because they are too tired to know what happy is and the people who are now jobless and homeless are feeling like there is nothing to be happy about.

The thing is that happiness comes from within.  I think that the more we act happy and really think about being happy the happier we will be.  Trust me I am not one of thos happy go luck people.  I have actually struggled with unhappiness many times in my life.  I just think perhaps the greatest nation in the world would be much happier if we all tried a little harder and worked a little less.

Becca

Related articles by Zemanta

• Human Rights for ALL people – regardless of skin color (thepetitionsite.com)
• First Swine Flu Death Reported In Costa Rica (news.sky.com)

Birthday Quandry: Birthday Party For Three

So here is the question for today…

My nephew, my neice and Analiese all have May birthdays all within two weeks of one another.  Each year we do a family and friends party for each kid.  This year we thought that perhaps we should combine all three of them and do one family party.  This means that family will only have to come to one party.  This means that it will be one day in the full month of May to have to donate to these birthdays.

So here is the problem.  Rob thinks that it is wrong.  He thinks that then friends and family will be strapped having to buy three presents all at once.  He thinks that it is just wrong and has told me to back out of the idea.  The trouble is that it was my idea and I still think that it is a nice one.  The other problem is that we have already mentioned it to people and how do we cancel now.  I am not worried about gifts.  Analiese is turning 2 and already has all of the clothing, toys and stuff that any two year old could need.

I want to know what you think?  Is this party a bad idea?

Becca

Related articles by Zemanta

• Surprise! (momblognetwork.com)

Spring Break Survival

Oh my… I woke up this morning and remembered something.  IT IS SPRING BREAK.  Now, the words that are to follow are meant with the most love and affection.   I hate Spring Break.  It is not like Winter Break where we all get involved in Christmas.  This Spring Break thing stinks unless you are going away which we of course are not this year!  I remember back in high school and college when I went away with friends.  We had a blast.  One year was Ocean City another year was Disney.  Now I am home with restless kids, a house to unpack and no plan!  So what is a stay at home mom to do with three kids for eleven days?  I am compiling a survival guide in order to make it though.  I need you help though.  Here are a few questions to get started with:

1. What is there to do that is free?
2. What can I do with no car?
3. Is there any activity that you can think of that a 1 year old, a 5 year old, and an 8 year old?  I am drawing a blank!
4. Is there a magic potion to give children that makes them not whine?
5. How much is it a mother can drink without it being a problem?
6. How can I avoid hearing, “I am bored there is nothing to do.”
7. What fun things can you think of to make the kids tired enough to still go to bed on time?  Oh and I have to be able to do it with my not healed correctly broken foot!

I will spend the day developing a survival guide.  I hope that it works!  Today, I am just going to wing it.  So far we have had 5 fights, Abigail has bitten Emma, Emma has scratched Abigail and the baby is a whining mess!  HELP!

Becca

Related articles by Zemanta

• Easter Traditions (askbecca.com)
• Too Many Toys… (askbecca.com)

Spring Family Fun

Spring is a time to awaken again.  Just as the trees are budding and the flowers are sprouting it is a time for us to be active again.  I tend to stay home in the Winter and am very under motivated.  Now that it is Spring I have been thinking a lot about all of the fun things we do as a family in the Spring months.

• Hiking:  Typically we start hiking in the Spring.  It is a great time to go out and hit the trails with the kids.  I love showing them all of the new life sprouting all around us.  The kids love hiking as well.  It is so fun and exciting and it is good for them.
• Letterboxing: Letterboxing is a fun adventure that the entire family can enjoy.  We went a few times last Summer and the kids LOVED it.  It was like a treasure hunt.  I know that there are many different letterboxes all over the world.  We visit letterboxing.org for box locations.
• Gardening:  Last spring was the first time that we had a garden and the kids were really into it.  They loved watching all of our plants grow into veggies.  It was something that we could spend about 15 minutes an evening.  It was a nice time that we had with the kids weeding and watering the garden.  The kids each had a basket to place their ripe treasures.
• Spring Clean Up:  This is the best.  It is when we rake all of the dead grass away, much the garden and prepare for the summer months.  We get all of our Spring out.  It should be fun!

I would love to hear all of the fun things that you do with your families in the Spring.  I think that this year it is important that our family keep Spring family fun lo in cost.  I know that with the economy we have tightened our belts some.  I also know that we are not alone!

Becca

Related articles by Zemanta

• Gardening Green with your children (jerichooncbs.blogspot.com)
• Spring Fever (askbecca.com)

Killer Flu!

Earlier this week I had written about a friends daughter who died suddenly last Saturday.    It turned out that she had the flu which caused her to pass way before her time.  I am floored by this.  This is, thank God, the first year that all of my kids had a flu shot.  I am thanking my lucky stars now.  This strain of the flu is aggressive.  She had not felt well the evening before and died 24 hours later!

In wake of this I hear that the schools will be undergoing massive cleanings this weekend.  The department of health is also offering free flu vaccines tomorrow!  It makes me think though.  I cannot tell you how many times I let my kids be sick.  I am not one to rush to the Dr. the second they get a fever.  I let them work through for a day or two.  Runny noses are never a second though.   I assume that it is a cold and move on.  I know that there are a lot of other parents out there like me.  I know that I am not alone.

This also makes me think about the flu.  Why is this strain of the flu so strong that it is killing people within 24 hours.  I heard about a week before this happen that there were two other girls who died on Long Island.  The day that this child died another girl on Staten Island died of the flu as well.  Why are the strains of the flu suddenly so strong?  Perhaps the flu is becoming stronger because we keep fighting it with vaccines?  Is it possible that in the long run we are doing more harm then good?

I am not a scientist so who knows.   All I know is that I am now a little worried about my kids.  Will the same fate fall upon my babies?  How do we know how much longer we will have with anyone we love?  I am again thinking about how I want to make each day count.  I want them to know that they were loved and have a happy home!

Becca

Related articles

Swine Flu Symptoms
U.S. chooses flu vaccine for 2009-2010 (cbc.ca)
Goodbye to Yearly Flu Shots? (abcnews.go.com)

Next Page »