Tuesday Tips: Decorating

Today's stress-free holiday tips are just a few ideas to help you decorate your home without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Get creative so you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Use candy canes on your tree. Use natural décor. For example, grap some twigs from your backyard, tie them together with festive ribbon and add a couple sprigs of holly or mini ornaments. Place on a mantle or bookshelf. Have your kids create some holiday art work. Frame it and hang for seasonal art. Store it with your Christmas decorations and you’ll have keepsake art that can be reused for years.
2. Stay organized. Keep ornament boxes or buy an ornament container with dividers for breakable pieces. If you take down any everyday décor, store it in the containers where you keep your holiday décor. When you take your Christmas decorations down, you can put the usual stuff right back up.
3. Choose a color. Pick one holiday color to use throughout your home. Decorate the tree with red ball ornaments. Fill a glass vase with the same ornaments. Buy everyday red towels instead of splurging on holiday towels. Use red ribbon on glass candleholders to make them look more festive.

Tuesday Tips: Stress Free Holidays

I decided to make Tuesday Tips a series for the month of December. I know you don't have time to read long blogs. Well, I don't have time write long blogs, either. So, every Tuesday will be just a few tips to help make the holidays less stressful.
Today’s Tips are about Shopping:
1. Try to go on weekdays when there are less crowds. Parking will be easier to find. Salespeople will be friendlier. New inventory usually comes in during the week, not on the weekends.
2. Look for coupons or discounts. Especially if you have a list, you can search for coupons or online discounts for products you want to buy.
3. Stick to your budget. It may seem easy to pull out your credit card to pay for gifts, but this will only create a very stressful January and maybe even February. It’s just not worth it.
4. If shopping online, look for free shipping or shop on websites where you can buy several gifts for one shipping cost.
Have a safe and stress-free shopping experience.

Tuesday Tips: Stress Free Holidays

I decided to make Tuesday Tips a series for the month of December. I know you don't have time to read long blogs. Well, I don't have time write long blogs, either. So, every Tuesday will be just a few tips to help make the holidays less stressful.

With only 30 days til Christmas, now is the time to start thinking about your holiday activities, gifts, and traditions. Today's tips are all about what you can do now in November.
1. Plan ahead. This sounds obvious, but how many times do we actually take the time to plan the little things that need to get done? Write a list of all the things you want to do for the holidays: bake, make cards, have a party, take family pictures, make/buy gifts for your kids' teachers, shop for Christmas outfit, pick up stocking stuffers...the list goes on. Grab your calendar or print out a December calendar and start writing in dates to get those things done. Post it somewhere you'll look often so you can keep organized and know ahead of time what supplies you need or when you'll need a babysitter.
2. Bake ahead. If you're planning on giving gifts of cookies or other baked good, consider baking ahead of time and freezing your cookies. This way, you can bake up your baking list over different days rather than trying to devote an entire day or weekend to just baking. I know this is something I have to do this year. There's no way I can spend an entire day or 2 baking and still take care of 2 babies, all while trying to keep L away from the oven!
3. Make a photo list.
So many different holiday memories will be made and you'll want to remember those moments with pictures. Whether you've got the newest DSLR camera or a disposable plastic camera, you can capture special photos if you think ahead and anticipate when you'll need your camera. Include in your list any festivities like parties, school performances, church events, and other special or tradional events. Then add activities you might do like driving through neighborhoods to see lights, baking cookies with your kids, decorating the tree, wrapping and openning presents, etc. Now, add special items or moments that are unique or special to you and your family. Maybe you have a star for the tree or ornament you've had since you got married...plan to take a picture of someone placing it on the tree. Capture your child's excitement when they wake up Christmas morning. Take a picture of your child reading a Christmas storybook or eating a candy cane. If you plan ahead, you'll have your camera ready when those special moments happen.

Tuesday Tips: Looking Slimmer

• Pull your hair up and away from your shoulders. Try sweeping your hair into a high ponytail and you'll be surprised at how much slimmer your face looks.
• Wear the right size. Oversized clothing doesn't hide problem areas. Excess fabric only makes you look bulkier. And wearing clothing that’s too tight …well that’s obvious.
• Choose fabrics very carefully. Avoid clingy or shiny textures. Avoid large patterned prints.
• Balance. Accentuate your best parts and don’t draw attention to your problem areas. Accessorize to create balance and bring focus to areas that are slimmer.
• Elongate your body. Wear pants that make your legs look longer. Avoid wide cuffs. Try boot cut or flare jeans to balance out curvy hips.

Tuesday Tips: iPhone

Sharin' some iPhone tips for those of you who have recently gotten one.
1. When using the calculator, turn in sideways to make it a scientific calculator.
2. When reading a text message, touch the status bar to scroll up to the top (to call the person).
3. When recording a video, use the camera in landscape (sideways) to make it look better when uploading to youtube.
4. If you mess up what you're typing, shake your iPhone and it will give you the option to undo typing.
5. To take a screenshot, press the home button and the lock/power button at the same time. Your iPhone will take a picture of whatever you are viewing and save it in the camera roll.

Enjoy your iPhone!

Tuesday Tips: Alternative Trick-or-Treat Ideas for Little Ones

Today’s Tips aren’t really tips, but more like ideas. My kids are really young. *L* isn’t 2 yet and *S* is only 6 months. So, traditional Trick-or-Treating won’t really work for us. However, I love the idea of dressing up my kids and taking tons of pictures. So, here are some ideas for others with little kids like mine.
1. Find a church event or Fall Festival where you can take your kids in costume. Most of my childhood and actually most of life since I still go…our church has had an alternative to Halloween. I don’t dress up anymore, but I love seeing all the little kids dressed up. You'll get a chance to dress up your kids and yet be in a safe and fun environment.
2. If you live in a neighborhood with lots of little kids, take them on a parade. Let them walk through the neighborhood in costume.
3. Have a party at home. Invite a few of your/their friends over and celebrate at home.
4. Dress up your toddler and let them help you pass out candy to trick-or-treaters stopping at your house.
5. Go trick-or-treating to special houses. Visit grandparents, aunts & uncles, and close friends just to show off your kids in their cute costumes and let everyone take pictures. Last year, we took L to both grandparents’ houses and then she went trick-or-treating to a few houses with her cousin. We had fun showing her off and MiMi and Granny took lots of pictures!

Whatever you decide to do, have a safe and fun Halloween.

Tuesday Tips

Okay, so today isn't really about practical tips. It's more of a reminder that we can't always be super-mom and sometimes we just gotta take a break and laugh at ourselves. (inspired by the hilarious Helene! All moms need to read her blog.)

Tips to Losing Your Mind:
1. Wake up late despite having 2 alarm clocks and a baby that wakes up crying at 4:50am for you to give him his pacifier every 30 minutes for the next 2 hours.
2. Walk out of the room while your toddler feeds herself yogurt. Yes, she will enjoy it. And you will clean up the mess.
3. Give your 1 year old a cup with a straw and expect her to drink it like a big kid while you pay no attention. She will do fine while you watch her. Once you turn away, she will dump the cup upside down and again...you will clean up the mess.
4. While packing your child's lunch, rip packaging you didn't mean to rip. Then, just when you think you're getting things together, spill peaches all over the floor. What's one more mess to clean up?
5. Grab all your bags and everything you need for the day and wait for your toddler to poop. Put everything down and change her so she doesn't start her first day of pre-school as the stinky kid.
6. Leave the house at 9:05am when you're supposed to be at your child's new school at 8:50am.
7. And if you really want to lose your mind...the day before doing tips #1-6, crash into a post and wreck your brand new 2009 minivan.

As you can see, I've had a rough couple of days. But life is good. My kids are happy and someday I will laugh at how crazy I was with 2 little ones! I might as well start laughing now cuz I have a feeling this is how the next few years will be.

Tuesday Tips: Grocery Shopping

I’m not an expert on saving money at all. I go through stages where I’m somewhat frugal with grocery shopping and then I go through stages where I just buy whatever without trying to save money. So, here are some ideas that I need to take with me when I go shopping.

-Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. Everything looks delicious on an empty stomach.
-Don’t buy more than you can eat before it goes bad. I have this problem when it comes to fruit. I’ll buy 6 plums and only eat 2 before the rest go bad. That’s a waste of money.
-Use coupons. Cut coupons out of the paper, print e-coupons, check product websites for printable coupons.
-Read your coupon. Don’t just look at the picture. Many times, a manufacturer’s higher priced item will be pictured on the coupon when the coupon can really be used for any product. I’ve noticed this a lot with diapers.
-Check the “per ounce” price. Our grocery store (HEB) shows the per ounce price. Bigger isn’t always better, so this helps me figure out if the bigger package is a better deal. Of course, don’t use this as a reason to buy more than you need!
-Watch out for “2 for” deals. Even if the price reads “2/$3” you don’t always have to buy 2 items. Many times, you’ll get the special price ($1.50) even just for 1 item.
-Don’t be a sucker for sales. Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean you need to buy it. If it wasn’t something you planned on buying before you saw the sale sign, you don’t need it.
-Plan ahead. I’ve been telling myself I’m gonna meal plan for the longest time. I still haven’t started. This is why I don’t cook much. I buy random things that don’t make a complete meal or forget to thaw out chicken…I just don’t prepare. So this is one of my new goals!

I hope this helps you save a little bit the next time you go grocery shopping!

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Tuesday Tips: Traveling with Kids

As I am flying to San Diego today, I thought today’s Tips should be about traveling. Although I’m not flying with my kids on this trip, I’ve read a lot about traveling with little ones. Moms who’ve done it always give the best advice. I’ve only taken my daughter on one flight, but in November, the whole family will be flying to see Great Grandma. So, here are some tips to help make your flight a little easier.
1. Ear Pressure
If your baby is bottle-fed or breastfeeding, give them the bottle or breast for take-off & landing. It's the best things for their ears and they will also be relaxed. If your child is older, carry cotton or earplugs. This helps the kids tremendously if they don't know how to pop their ears. You can also try chewing gum. *You are allowed to take water for mixing formula, RTF formula, or breast milk with you on the plane. They will just want to make sure it’s a reasonable amount for your travel time.
2. Change of clothes
Pack a change of clothes for your child in your carry-on bag. You might want to pack an extra shirt for yourself, especially if traveling with an infant. Don’t forget hand wipes for quick cleanups.
3. Entertainment
Pack books, coloring books, crayons, and small toys to keep your child entertained. Before your trip, visit a dollar store and pick up some small toys. Wrap them and keep them hidden until you give them to your child, one at a time. For an older child, you might want to take a portable DVD player, DS, or whatever item your child enjoys. If you’ve got an iphone or ipod, download a movie for your child. And don’t forget earplugs for the sake of passengers around you. Just remember, there will be a time after take-off and before landing when electronic items will not be allowed.
4. Stroller
Check-in your stroller at the gate. This way, you have it in the airport and don’t have to carry your tot from gate to gate, while trying to carry your carry-on bag too. Place it in a bag or keep together with bungee cord. I prefer to place it in a bag to protect it from wear & tear. You can ask for a plastic bag at the airport check-in if you forget. That’s what happened to me!


5. Preparation
Prepare your child for the trip. Explain what you will be doing and how the process works. Let them know that it is illegal to make jokes about bombs in the airport. Tell them ahead of time that they will need to remove their shoes and walk through the metal detector.
6. Diapers
Pack a diaper, wipes, changing pad, diaper cream, and disposable bag in a Ziploc bag or small bag so that you do not have to take your entire diaper bag or carry-on into the tiny bathroom with you. Squeeze this small bag into the seat pocket in front of you so that you have it when you need it. Place the dirty diaper in the disposable bag before throwing in the trash bin.
7. Relax
Be patient. Plan in advance that things will take longer with a child. Go with the flow.

Note: I chose not to discuss whether or not you should purchase a seat for your child under 2 because many people feel differently about this. Every parent has to make the decision that is best for them. If you do purchase a seat for your child or they are over 2 years old and require a seat, take your car seat or use an adjustable belt. If you don’t purchase a seat, consider using a travel vest, carrier, or sling during the flight. You will not be able to use these during take-off and landing.

Have a safe and happy trip!