I went missing again

The last week or so has been a whirlwind of excitment. We recieved an offer on our house that we accepted so now we start packing. I am very happy that we have till August 31st to close so that I can have time to pack. I have never moved before so this is a new and scary concept for me.

I also want to apologize for the lack in consistent posts lately. Our modem got fried from an electrical storm on Monday and it just barely got fixed today. I have some wonderful posts coming up soon so keep checking back.

Interview with a 3 year old

I asked my 3 year old these questions and these are his real answers. I thought they were really funny. I wrote exactly what he said. If an answer doesn't make sense, well thats what you get when you talk to a 3 year old.


1. What's something I always say to you? Don't jump on the bed

2. What makes me happy? when I be good

3. What makes me sad? spankins

4. How do I make you laugh? like ha ha ha ha ha ha

5. What do you think I was like as a child? you was like a spankin

6. How old am I? 3-0-50

7. How tall am I? Big

8. What is my favorite thing to do? jump on the bed

9. What do I do when you are not around? um...be sad

10. What am I really good at? getting grocery shopping

11. What am I not really good at? doing spankins

12. What is my job? checking your wells

13. What is my favorite food? salad

14. What makes you proud of me? just when you eat your food, that makes me tired

15. What do you and I play together? rock and roll and spaceship

16. How are we the same? your the same and I'm the same

17. Different? your different and i'm different

18. If I were a cartoon character who would I be? Tosha

19. How do you know I love you? cause you can't give me spankins

20. Where is my favorite place? the hotel

My Productivity Schedule

I have been working around the house and trying to get stuff done on the computer and I definatly was having some issues in keeping up with the laundry, keeping up with the clutter etc. I would get in front of my laptop and start working and before I know it 2 hours have gone by and I haven't gotten a single thing done around the house. I figured out how to keep my self productive. I have been doing this for a few weeks now and I love it. I am keeping up on my chores and the computer.

Heres my strategy:

Get a egg timer that you leave in a central room, away from you. Set it for 20 minutes and do chores. When it goes off, get up and turn it off. Set it for another 20 minutes and this time you can sit down and get on the computer, read, etc. When it goes off set if for another 20 mintues and do some more chores. Keep this routine up and you would be suprised how much you get done. 20 mintues isn't that long but when you are constantly working you can really get a bunch done.

Well my timer just went off so I better get to cleaning something. Take care!

I'm still alive.... Don't Worry

I first want to start off by saying, sorry readers I am still alive, I have not been abducted by aliens, fallen off the face of the earth or got lost in the forest somewhere. I have been crazy busy. My baby girl got really sick last week, I mean really sick. She was running a high fever and was really lethargic and just not herself. I took her to the dr only to be referred to the ER. We were there till 11 at night, a total of 4 hours. It was crazy, they took her temperature (the inhumane and abnormal way if you know what I mean) 4 times!! They also thought it might be a UTI so they hooked her up to a catheter and tested her urine, which it was negative. Everything was negative. They couldn't find a dang thing wrong wither her other than the fever. We went home and a few days later the fever broke and the next day she got a rash. That was the answer and the diagnosis, roseola. I did some research and found out that with roseola there is a chance of seizure, meningitis and other serious conditions. Needless to say I was freaked out but she's fine now and other than all the zits I have on my chin now from stress so am I.

My boy started swimming lessons. The first 3 days were awesome. He was the youngest in the class by far, he is 3 and the closest to him was another 4 year old little boy and the rest of the class was a bunch of older girls. He did really good until the teacher thoroughly FREAKED him out. He was fine, safe as can be but she let go of the noodle he was floating on and I swear for the 10 seconds that he was on the noodle by himself, I think he thought he was swimmin by himself in the middle of the ocean surrounded by a bunch of sharks. Did I mention he was fine. Ever since this tramatic event he has decided he doesn't like his swimming teacher. Its not the lessons, the water or the concept of swimming. Its his teacher. The kid is a natural fish, he is just afraid his teacher is going to abandon him again. Whenever she tries to hold him and help him kick with the noodle or kick board he starts screaming and wanting out. Today was better but that is just because I bribbed him with an ice cream cone afterwords. We only have 2 more days of lessons left and I can't tell you how excited I am for that to come. It really puts a kink into our day and I am in a funk. I can't seem to get my junk together and stay in a routine. Lessons are right in the middle of the day so neither the morning or afternoon is normal. Oh well, 2 more days.

Other than that, we are still trying to sell our house. It has sat for 3 weeks without showing. Monday morning I decided I would call my realtor and complain that she wasn't doing enough to market the house. I mean if it was showing and not selling I would know that something was wrong with the house and that it was something we could fix but it wasn't even showing. So I was gonna talk to her. Well, I am so nonconfrontational it isn't funny. I texted her instead. Weak I know. Well it was taken well. And then the house showed that afternoon and twice today. I guess all I needed to do was nag. I told her if it gets in a slump again, I will just nag her and that should help out. I really hope it sells soon and doesn't get a chance to get into a slump.

I got some ideas for some more posts so keep checking back, again sorry I has been so long!

Pepperoni Quesadilla

I know that this sounds really weird but trust me my little boy loves them. My sister in law invented this recipe when she was looking for something for her daughter to eat for lunch. She called it a peperoni burrito but its not really a burrito and when I told my son it was a burrito he told me, "No it isn't a burrito mom!" You see, we are from New Mexico and my 3 year old son is already versed in all things Mexican food. My sister in law is a Texan and to her calling it a burrito was fine but not to my 3 year old New Mexican son. Side note, this is not by any means a mexican dish but oh well, he eats it and eats every bite of it so who cares. Any parent of a 3 year old pick eater can understand that theory.


Take a fajita sized tortilla and sprinkle a little bit of mozerella cheese on half of it. Next, layer pepperoni on the cheese and follow it up with a little bit more cheese. Now fold the tortilla in half to make a quesadilla. Microwave for 15 seconds and then flip it over and microwave for 15 seconds more. Serve with pizza sauce to dip with, if your child has a dipping fixation like most kids.

***I put cheese on both sides of the pepperoni so that the tortilla has something to hold it together when it is folded into half. If you only put cheese down once the tortilla won't stay shut. To keep it from getting too cheesy just put a little cheese down at a time.

I'm telling you, my son loves this meal. Serve it with kid friendly fruit (mandarin oranges) and a vegetable and it makes a really good meal. Plus for mommy, its freaking easy and takes like a whole 2 minutes to make.

"The Mommy Wars" Round 3: Co-sleeping or not?

As I have been writing on "The Mommy Wars," I kept having a thought come to me. Why are we as mothers so mean to each other? We aren't usually blatently mean to each other but we are definatly each others hardest critics. If we see a mom giving her baby a bottle, breastfeeding mothers probably have an opinion about it, whether they voice it or not. If we know our friend is letting their baby sleep with them and we make our baby sleep in their own room, then we have an opinion on it. I really think that we just want to do the best for our kids and when we make a decision we think its the best so when we see somebody doing something else, they are automatically doing it wrong. We never take into account that maybe, just maybe, that mother made the decision that is best for her child.

Another topic of heated debate in the mommy world is co-sleeping. There are lots of theories out there that co-sleeping is beneficial for the baby and mother. Some of the theories suggest that there is a closer bond between mother and child. It is also a lot easier for those wonderful 2 AM feeding for breastfeeding moms. She wouldn't have to hop out of bed when the baby is hungry, she can just whip it out (come on girls, you know what I'm talking about).

There are also studies showing that the rish of SIDS is greatly reduced when babies do not share beds with their parents. Its also hard, and even dangerous to share a bed when a parent is an especially deep sleeper or obese.

As far as me, I can't bed share with my kids. I cannot sleep when they are sleeping in bed with me. I am to paranoid. I am afraid if I put them in the middle my hubby will roll over and smoosh them and if I put them on the side I am afraid they are going to roll off the bed. I had my son sleep in our bed a few nights after he was really sick and it was the hardest thing ever to get him back in the basinet next to our bed. Everytime I would snore or roll over or whatever he would wake up and think he needed to be next to me. When we tried to move him to his room it was aweful, aweful, aweful. I felt like such a horrible mother by making him sleep a whole 30 feet away from me. Getting him to sleep in his room took like 2 monthes.

When we had our daughter we made a goal to not let her sleep in our bed. We got one of those armreach co-sleepers and I LOVE IT. We hooked the little bed on my side of the bed and she was right nxe to me all night but not really in my bed. I was able to roll over and put my hand on her chest (I am way paranoid) and check on her like 6 times a night without having to get up. When she got older and would wake up when I would make noise, get up to go to the bathroom or even roll over, we decided to move her to her room. She was sleeping through the night without having to eat at this time so it really wasn't a big deal. She seriously was so much easier to get to sleep in her own room than her brother was. It was wonderful. She didn't cry for me and reach for me like her brother did and in turn I had less mommy guilt.

What do you do when it comes to sleeping arrangements with your children? How do you feel on the topic of co-sleeping? Post some comments and lets get this discusion going.

Bad Mommy Sighting

I went out of town for the 4th of July weekend and we decided to find some food for dinner. The town we were in was full of people to see their annual firework display. My husband decided he would run in and get the food while I stayed in the car with the kids. I was just sitting there passing the time playing a game on my cell phone when I looked up and saw a group of late teens early twenties hanging out on the sidewalk in front of my car. For some reason I stared at them for a while and I noticed one of the girls was smoking. No big deal I thought until she turned sideways and I noticed that she was VERY pregnant!! I couldn't believe it. I wanted to jump out of the car and chew her out but lets just saw that she was associating with not they type of people I would want to make angry. I tried to snap a picture of her with my phone but I could never get a good shot of her smoking with her very noticeable pregnant baby. I was so upset about it, I felt so bad for the baby. I know that there are certain things that are debatable as far as parenting goes, but smoking while you are pregnant is not debatable. There are facts, proven facts that smoking while pregnant is detrimental to babies. It should be illegal I really don't know what to say. What are your thoughts





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What The "Freak" Where They Thinking????

I try to find an article or blog post each week that would be valuable information for my readers. I read it and then write about it. Well, as I was searching on Digg for something that would be pertinent I came across the blog post entitled, "10 Great Books For (Traumatizing) Kids," on the blog"cracked." I thought the article sounded funny so I decided to read it and check it out. I tell you, I could not keep my mouth shut while I was reading. I repeatedly found my jaw practically on the floor.



The author of this post found 10 books that have the ability to screw your kids up. The sad thing is that these are real books, I kid you not. Every single one of these books have been published and printed for the masses. It just goes to show you anybody can write a kids book. Heck, maybe if this whole blogging thing doesn't work out for me I should throw some crap into a book and put some bright colorful pictures in it and call it a kids book. Who knows maybe I'll strike it rich. Anyway, I thought I would bring you the list of books he talked about and a little synapse of what they are about. Ready?? All right, remember these are real books, I am not joking.



1. Hiroshima No Pika



This book is written for Kindergartners and it is about, you're right the bombing of Hiroshima. The book is an account of a mother trying to escape the bombs blast radius while leading her to children and carrying her wounded husband on her back. And yes, that is her topless running through a symbolic sea of blood on the cover.



2. Who Cares About Disabled People





Yup, that's the title all right. The goal of the book is intended to answer that question with the answer, everybody cares about disabled people. Unfortunately the authors idea of disabled people are fat kids, alcoholics, druggies, and really tall athletes. I agree with the author of the post by saying as soon as a druggie or alcoholic gets a handicapped spot at the grocery store while I am hauling my two kids from all the way in the back because there is no where else to park, I'm gonna be ticked!



3. I Wish Daddy Didn't Drink So Much



Can you say, "dysfunctional?" The author of this book also wrote books titled, My Big Sister Takes Drugs, Nobody Wants A Nuclear War, When Eric's Mom Fought Cancer, and My Two Uncles. I think the author wanted to make screwed up situations better?????? Not sure. But really who's gonna get a book like that for a kid who's dad drinks a lot, I think I'd rather get the kids some therapy.



4. Outside Over There



This book is bazaar. The movie "The Labrynth" was based on this book, loosely and I must say loosely. Thankfully, loosely. The book suggest that if you don't like your younger sibling you can just ask the goblins to come and eat her/him and they gladly will do just that.



5. The House That Crack Built



Wanna teach your little one all about crack and where it comes from? Well read them this book. It paints a pictures of the entire process of crack, start to finish. The intent was to scare them from drugs early so they will avoid them all together but seriously, they are LITTLE KIDS for crying out loud. I'm still working on sharing and not peeing in his pants, I don't think I need to teach my preschooler about crack just yet.



6. Sometimes Mommy Gets Angry



Yup, that's exactly what the book is about. The book is meant to teach the children about mental illness. Well the little kid calls grandma and she talks him through it over the phone. Well what the crap grandma, why didn't you go get your grandkid and save him from his psycho mom??? That's what I want to know.



7. The Poodle-Pug-Daschund-Pinscher



First I thought to myself, well that's gonna screw the kids up and confuse them on any knowledge they had about the birds and the bees. Upon further investigation I found that the book was actually Nazi propaganda intended for little preschoolers-2nd grade-ish. The propaganda spewed was all about how awful Jews were. For example, "Just like the bacterium, the Jews bring plague and decline to the peoples they infect by race mixing and infecting Gentile peoples with Jewish thinking. They maintain, for example, that all humans are equal. But that is not true. It is a terrible lie!" Yes, I realize that this was printed during WWII but it is still accessible to today's children.

8. Latawnya, The Naughty Horse, Learns To Say "No" To Drugs






Funny title and to book at first glance just seems a stupidly hilarious but did you notice the name in the title? Yup, Latawnya. In the book not only are the horses smoking cigarettes but trying to hold alcoholic drinks with their hooves they are all black horses names, Latawnya, Daisy and Latoya. Theses horses are, top it off, confronted by the evil drug pushing white horses. So if that's not just weird enough for ya, they throw in an overdosing horse at the end.

9. Cautionary Tales For Children

Yes this book was written over 100 years ago, but keep in mind that it was rereleased in 2002. I just can't believe it. What a way to inflict fear in your kids. I thought it was somewhat humorous and unfortunate. Notice the black hand trying to get the white kid on the cover. That is just wrong, such a subliminal way of teaching kids to be racist.

10. Alfie's Home

This book is written about a little boy who was molested by his uncle and whos parents don't believe him when they talk to him. Not disturbing enough for you, well the book also implies that those who molest are gay and all that are molested are gay. The word "faggot" is written in the illustrations also. Not only that, to resolve the issue of molestation they just send the kid and the uncle go to couseling, the uncle apologizes, the kid realizes he isn't gay and everything is just magically OK. I just can't believe it.

I really want to give the benefit of the doubt to the authors of these books but really I'm not sure what they were thinking. I have enough to worry about raising my little kids to try and teach them the woes of the world. For crying out loud can they not just be kids for a while instead of delving into all this crud at such a young age. Really its beyond me, it just goes to show that you can't trust everything they say is a kids book.

"What To Do Wednesday" Colored Sand

Most kids love play with sidewalk chalk but what do you do with the leftover pieces that are too small to write with or that crumble off? Make colored sand!

1. Gather the sidewalk chalk crumbles and grind into a fine powder.
2. Get some sand from your kids' sand box and mix the sidewalk chalk powder into the sand to tint it.

Thats all there is too it. Easy as can be! After you make your colored sand you can play with it just like you would regular sand box sand. Put it into molds and make colored sand castes, fish, sea shells etc. Let your imagination run wild. The kids will love this, its fun and new plus you aren't wasting those leftover pieces of sidewalk chalk!

Have fun with this. Let me know what you do with your leftover sidewalk chalk. Check back next Wednesday for more ideas on what to do with your kids.

Thrifty Tuesday

Every Tuesday I will share 5 money saving tips and tricks. The theme again this week is saving money on groceries and food. Please feel free to comment and as always, thanks for stopping by.



Make you're own breadcrumbs



What do you do with the crusts or heels of a loaf of bread? Do you throw it away or give it to the birds? Simply run them through the food processor and freeze until ready to use. You will never have to buy breadcrumbs again. If you prefer the seasoned variety, add some basil, oregano and garlic powder while processing. They freeze well in a plastic container or freezer bag.
You can also harden them by placing in the micro for a few minutes. Then crumble and freeze dry, or cube first to make stuffing.



Buy fresh produce at the farmers market



Use the farmer's market approach by purchasing produce that's fresh, inexpensive and in season. Avoiding the middlemen will save you money and provide your family the freshest of foods. It's also wise to not purchase non-grocery items such as medicines, contact lens solution etc. You will probably pay more for these items at the grocery store.



Look for Discounts



Buying items marked down can save you as much as 20 percent on your total grocery bill. In addition, find out when your store marks down items that expire like bread and meat. You can save money on these items by freezing them or serving them that night for dinner. Also, look for a small section in the store where they discount items that weren't as popular as the manufacturer's had hoped. This can provide you many bargains.



Know where to buy cheaper brands



Be aware that the highest markup items on the shelves are at chest level. To find the cheaper house or generic brands you will need to reach up or kneel down. Also, the main aisles of the grocery store are filled with high priced items, so avoid these pricey areas, such as the paths to the milk and bread.

Make you're own T.V. dinners

Next time youre running late dont spend a fortune on takeout. Have a home cooked meal. Spend a couple of dollars on some nice individual serving freezer containers. (The ones with the separate compartments are great). The next time you have leftovers use these containers to store and freeze your meals. Then, when you do have one of those days you can simply pop one of your tv dinners into the microwave and your family can enjoy a homecooked feast in minutes. Youll save time and money in the long run

Cafe Mom Website: My new find

I just wanted to tell you girls about a website that I found and really think is interesting its called Cafemom
I checked out the website and signed up. It was free and I really liked it. There are all sorts of forums to write and discuss things that are relevent to us mothers. You can meet other mothers that are dealing with the same things that you are dealing with. If you have breastfeeding concerns you can find somebody there to talk, if you need to complain about something, there is somebody there to talk to, if you have a difficult child there is somebody there you can get advice from. I really liked it, wait I think I said that already. The best part it is free. Click on the ad below and it will take you over to cafemom.com and check it out.

I am sooooooo tired!!!!

I just want to say today that I am freaking exhausted! It boggles my mind that after going through labor and caring for a newborn baby throughout the night for months that we as mothers can get up the next day and put on a happy face, most of the time, and carry on. But the second they start sleeping though the night we (I) take it for granted. They sleep peacefully for months, through the night light little angels. Then one night they decide they are going to wake up at 2 AM and want to play! What the heck?!? I got the baby to sleep again for like an hour and then she was up again. This went on all night long. Then, she was up for the day at 7 AM this mornig, which was early for her anyway. I AM TIRED!! Why? I just don't get it. I didn't just go through labor, I'm not nursing anymore, my body isn't recovering from anything but I feel like I just got hit by a train. I am so confused. Do you think our bodies are hard wired to run off of 3 hours of sleep after we have a baby or what? I want to hear what you have to say on this topic.

"The Mommy Wars" Round 2: Stay at Home Moms vs. Working Moms

Round two of "The Mommy Wars" is here. The topic for today is stay at home moms vs. working moms. The is the original "Mommy War." This debate has been going on forever. I have done a lot of research on this particular topic and have been thinking about it for about a week, since I have decided to write about it. I am finding myself not knowing where to start. But one thing I have learned through all of this is that it isn't as cut and dry as some people might think it is.

There are many stay at home advocates that will tell you that it is better for the baby. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development did a study in 2003 that found that kids who spent all day in daycare had higher levels of stress and more aggression than kids cared for at home. Some experts believe that any consistent, quality caregiver could give the emotional stability needed for children to have lower levels of stress and less affression and that that care doesn't have to come from the parents to yield those results. Another plus in being a stay at home mom is that you get to be there to see all of their "firsts," and you don't have to hear about it from a caregiver. One aspect of being a stay at home mom that particularly appeals to me is that you can raise them how you want and teach them things you want them to learn.

Some stay at home moms feel like they are loosing part of themselves or at time their sanity. This is something really important to consider.

An important aspect to consider is the money situation. For many families it is cheaper for a parent to stay home and not pay for daycare. But with the economy the way it is and more and more single parents out there, working for some is not an option.

It also goes beyond money reasons why some mothers decide to work. Some mothers say they need to work in order to keep their sanity or to be good moms.

The main pros of being a working mother is that they can keep their identity and "self." Unfortunatly, no matter how far our society comes women will always be judged on the aspect of how well they are able to raise and take care of their family. It is hard for working mothers to spend a lot of times with their kids as they would like. Cooking home cooked meals and doing stuff around the house on top of everything else sometimes can feel impossible.

During th e tough economic times that we are in now, some husbands of stay at homes moms are being layed off and it is falling to the women to go back to the workforce and take care of the family. Many moms that stay at home work from home.

I personally stay at home with my children, but I am always working on something to contribute to the family. I guess I would be labeled a work from home mom. I said this before in round one of "The Mommy Wars," as long as we are doing what we feel is the best things we can for our children then thats all that matters. There are no 2 situations that are the same and no 2 families that are the same. Each situation and family warrants it own individual decision. If at the end of the day our children know they are loved, if they are happy and their need are taken care of then you have done enough and everything is ok.

Here is a video found that I found. I love the Momversations and look out I am going to be posting them periodically.

6 Ways To Train Your Husband

Allright, allright I know the title of the post makes you probably think, "what the heck??" I have to admit that when I heard about this subject I thought the same thing.

I ran across this idea while I was surfing the web and reading blogs. A fellow mommy blogger and journalist wrote a blog post about a article that caught her eye in "Cosmopolitan" magazine. I was still skeptical at this point but I kept reading for the heck of it. She stated that she wasn't a regular "Cosmopolitan" reader. I was interested a little bit more because neither am I. I kept reading and by the time I finished reading her post I was intrigued. So I surfed on over to the "Cosmo" website and checked this article out.

The article was titled "6 Ways To rain Your Boyfriend." Most of us reading this blog have children and probably a husband or serious boyfriend. I read the article and reflected on something I heard probably 5 years ago from Dr. Laura. Dr Laura is a conservative radio show host and psychologist who takes calls on her show from listeners and helps them with their problems in their personal lives. With regard to Dr Laura's thoughts on women in relationships Dr. Laura states the point as follows: "Men are simple creatures who come from a woman, are nurtured and brought up by a woman, and yearn for the continued love, admiration, and approval from a woman. Women have great power and influence over men, and wives in particular have tremendous power over their husbands. How they use this power essentially controls the relationship, because women are the masters of most relationships and marriages."

I just want to make the point known that I don't think for a minute we are in total control or that the men in our lives can't think for themselves or that they have no responsibility in the outcome or success in their marriage. I think the opposite but I also believe completly that we as women have a ton of power. I have seen it in my 6 year marriage and in the 32 year marriage of my parents.

Now, going back to the cosmo article. The article speaks of 6 ways to train, or better put mold, shape and help determine the path things unwind in your relationships. I think "6 Ways To Train Your Husband" just has better punch and catches readers eyes. They equated animal training techniques to men, this made me chuckle because don't get me wrong I love my hubby but sometimes don't men just act a little animalistic.

The first way to train was in reference to their aversion to doing chores. They said to change this behavior endulge in their playfulness first. Chimpanzee trainers will play with the chimps that they are training for a few minutes first before they attempt to get them to do any tricks or tasks. No matter how old they are men never loose all of the playfullness in them. It seems like the brat in them comes out when you are asking them to do things around the house. Experts say that if you play around with them for a few minutes first and then ask them to take the trash out, for example, then tell them you will finish playing with them later (after they take out the trash). Eventually, if used consistently, they will stop associating chores with nagging and drudgery and start associate it with fun and be more willing to help out more when asked.

The second way to train was when they are lacking social graces (farting, burping, etc.) The best way to get him to stop doing this behavior is to ignore it. Dog trainers will tell you that when a dog sniffs a crotch or paws at peoples legs the best thing to do is to ignore. Yes, instinct is to push the dog away and tell it no but really this just incourages the dog to do it again and again. Men are a lot like this. Sometimes they just want attention, attention of anysort. “Men don’t want to be treated like children, and if you correct him, he’ll feel like you’re mothering him,” says Patricia Covalt, PhD, author of What Smart Couples Know. Instead, ignore him when he’s being obnoxious, and give him some PDA (think a kiss or a tap on the butt) when he’s acting sweet. Since guys — like dogs — aim to please, he’ll instinctively begin to avoid the behavior that makes you freeze him out. One tip: timing is crucial. Be sure to reward him at the exact moment he engages in a positive behavior; otherwise, he won’t be able to make the appropriate connection.

The third way to train was talking about how men want to bottle up or leave when there is an argument. Its important to keep a cool head. Men in this situation are like horses. They respond well to calming soothing voices. Guys, my hubby expecially, will argue back more and the fight gets worse if I have a high pitched voice or raise it even the slightest. “Calmly telling him what he did wrong will make it easier for him to tune in to what you’re saying,” says Covalt. Touch also plays a crucial role in this scenario: Place your hand on his as you speak. Not only does this buffer the blow of your words, but it also mimics the comforting way a trainer strokes a horse’s mane to calm the animal down.

The fourth way to train your man is talking about when they are being stubborn. The key here is to use proper body language. When trainers want cougars to bend to their will they find a middle ground. They walk with squared off shoulders not too forcefull to be percieved as a threat but also not to meek to be percieved as prey. Men are a lot alike. When they are being stubborn its important for us to not approach them too aggressively. Even the most manly of men can feel emmasculated if a women approaches them in a fearless way. But on the flip side of that men have a tendancy to "walk all over" women that are too submissive, women that slouch and look at the floor when speaking. "If you’re standing really close to him with your hands on your hips and your feet wide apart, he’ll get defensive and instinctively want to fight back,” says body-language expert Patti Wood, author of Success Signals. “The best way to stay on equal ground is to stand with good posture, your head up, and an open frame so he sees you as being on the same level as he is. This way, he’ll be more apt to want to talk things through with you,” she says later.

The fifth way is geared to those wonderful moments when he won't get his butt off the couch, and do something around the house. In this analogy our men are compared to lions. Lions are lazy they sleep about 20 hours a day and only get up to do what they have to do to survive (eat, drink, go to the bathroom etc.) Lion wrangler Dave Salomi says, "Trying to get a lion to do something when it’s in resting mode can be very difficult and even dangerous,” he goes on to say, “That’s why we make use of the animal’s active time instead of trying to force it into doing something it doesn’t want to when it’s chilling.” A man chillin out is less likely to do move his bum and do something productive no matter how much you engage him or bribe him. The article suggests approaching him when he is most active, like after he is done working out or first thing in the morning when he is full of energy. If you have to get him to do something during his down time, make it worth his while by bribing him that interests him more than what he is currently doing.



The sixth and final way of training our men teaches us how to make them more romantic. The key is to take baby steps. Elephant trainers don't teach elephants to paint by just giving them a canvas, paint, and brushes and telling them to have at it. They take baby steps. One day they will teach them how to hold the brush by putting it into their trunk and wrapping their trunk around it. The next day they will teach it to did the brush into the paint and so on and so on. The same is for men. If we want them to be more romantic, we can't just tell them and expect miracles, we have to show them. The average guy is romantic it just that guys aren't really into details. They usually lack in the execusion department. Start by staging your home. For example, turn the lights down low, lights some candles, turn some romantic music on etc. Start doing things like that for him and this will create a ritual in his mind. Eventually he will start making a connection and start doing this on his own.

Who knows maybe these methods will work. I look at some women and they can get their men to do anything and I seem to still fall short. I feel like I have to nag too much and after 6 years of marriage you would think that I would of been better in the training department. The one method that really jumps out at me and sounds like it will make sense is the analogy of the horse and using a calm voice and touching him when there is a disagreement. I have noticed in my life that this is true, so who knows maybe the rest of it is. It definatly is worth a shot, just imagine how nice it would be to never have to nag again. Give it a try and let me know your thoughts on it.

What To Do Wednesday: Peanut Butter Playdough

As a mother of 2 kids I am always trying to find activities for them to do that will keep them busy. I saw an episode of John and Kate Plus 8 where they made this playdough for the kids and it kept them busy forever. The best thing is that it is edible.

***Tip: Don't tell the kids its edible right away. Make sure they play with it for a while and that will help drag out the time that they kids are occupied for longer.


JUST FOR KIDS: PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH

1 c. peanut butter
2/3-1 c. nonfat dry milk
2 tbsp. honey


Mix ingredients. Add enough powdered milk to make playdough dry enough to handle. Shape into balls. Add raisins to make a face. Or stir in chow mein noodles and make a bird's nest. Or stir in Cheerios or chocolate chips for fun. Eat and enjoy!

Crazy Me

seem to always be frazzled in one way or another. I run around a lot taking care of the kids and the hubby while trying to keep a nice home and the list goes on and on. You all know how it is. We are so busy that we don't get a lot of time for ourself. When we do get a moment it truly is just a moment. Mine usually is when I am in the shower. Well, actually sometimes that isn't even truly a moment for myself. I was trying to shower the day beforemy sons birthday party and I had a ton of stuff to do. When I shower my mind races and I think of all the stuff I need to get done. Well aparently my mind was racing a little too much because the next day after my sons party we decided to get into the hot tub and I went and changed. Well, apparently I got distracted while I was in the shower because I noticed I had only shaved one of my armpits!!! I couldn't believe it. Somedays I think I am loosing my mind. But it is just an example of my CRAZY life as a mother. I couldn't help but laugh and get a good chuckle out of it.

Thrifty Tuesday

Every Tuesday I will share tips and tricks to save you and you're family money. With todays economy everybody needs to work on saving money, especially us with kids. I will list 5 things but please feel free to comment and leave me your own tips. Each week I will focus on one central theme, today I am focusing on saving money on the one thing we all need, groceries. Thanks for stopping by.

Go grocery shopping with a list and buy only what is on the list

You will spend less on food if you shop with a list, and stick to it. The less you impulse buy, they more money you will save. Your list is your road map to how much you can spend each week. When you make it out, try to cost it out also. Then you'll know about how much of your money you are going to spend. If there is something you have forgotten to put on your list that you need that week, not an impulse buy, a forgotten item, write it on your list before putting it in your basket. This will force you to think twice about your money and keep you organized for next time.

Cook with two meals in mind

Plan ahead and use recipes when cooking dinner or making a liost and planning out your meals. For example: Having a pot roast for dinner? Make sure you have a recipe for beef stew for the leftovers. You can make it the next day and eat right away or freeze it for next week. If you don't have enough meat leftover for a stew, try a beef vegetable soup. You don't need much, just make sure you plan ahead and be prepare to use your leftovers in recipes, otherwise you may lose the savings!

Pack your own school lunches for you're kids or lunches for you're husband to take to work each day

Packing a school lunch costs approximately $3.00-$4.00 a week. Considering buying a lunch at school costs $2.00-$2.50 a day, you can see the saving immediately. Plus, you can be sure that your child has something he/she wants to eat. Examples are crackers and cheese or crackers and peanut butter, boiled eggs, cold fried chicken, soup, salad, slices of ham or roast, raw vegetables and dip, muffins or cornbread with baked in hotdog chunks. If there is a special day each week that the school offers a lunch your child wants, like pizza, buy the one day a week - you'll still benefit from the savings. Plus when you pack you're hubby's lunch each day it will draw the two of you closer. It will show him how much you love him and in turn he will be sweeter to you when he comes home. Its also a lot of fun to leave notes in the lunches it makes the recipients day that much better.

Save on Breakfast

How many times a week do you cook pancakes, waffles of french toast for breakfast? Do you spend more money than you have to by buying these items pre-made and frozen? Rather than waste time and money try making larger batches at one time. These freeze well and can be reheated in either the toaster or the microwave in minutes.

Try shopping by you're self and in a good frame of mind

Try to shop alone because little helpers can boost your bill. Shopping early in the day gets you through the store quicker with your list and you spend less. Do not shop while you are hungry or you will spend more. Also, avoid shopping when you are tired, you'll tend to buy more sweets and more high carbs. When you are angry you will tend to buy more junk food.

Robeez Footwear

As a mother of a 8 month old little girl we gotta have shoes! Come on they just complete the outfit. I have the hardest time finding shoes to fit her. Her feet are funny, they are really little but fat at the same time. So shoes that are the right size in length wont go on her little chubby feet but if they are big enough to squeeze her feet into, she can usually kick them off because they are too long. Its frustrating. Thats why I am grateful that there are such a thing as Robeez Footwear. My son used them as a baby, and he wore his almost everyday. They are way cute and come in many different designs to fit every style and match every outfit. They are also made out of soft leather that will stretch and mold to the shape of their growing feet which research has shown is actually better for them. Click on the link below because Robeez is currently offering free shipping on orders of 2 or more Robeez.

The Joys Of Bunco And The Importance of "Me" Time

I have posted before that I am a part of a close knit group of girls. Once a month we get together and play Bunco. What is Bunco? Bunco is great!! I will explain the rules etc in the second part of the post so keep reading...

I really enjoy my time at Bunco. Its a time that I can leave the kids at home with my hubby and I get out for me and only for me. I love it. I was reflecting while driving home how important it is that I go. I realize its just a game but really its more than that. This once a month get-away is like a break from motherhood and being a wife. It really gets me motivated upon returning home.

You know how it is as a mom, we get so bogged down in the everyday monotony of what we do that we are some days, just about ready to crack. Bunco saves me, and it probably saves my kids and husbands as well. I'm not saying Bunco is for everybody but you need to find something you like to do by yourself or with friends and just get away for a while, even if it is only 2 hours once a month.

All right I said I would tell you what Bunco was well here it is...

Bunco is a dice game that we play in groups of three or four. Each group is at their own table. Currently our bunco group has 16 girls (4 girls at 4 tables). At each table there are three dice. The hostess (I'll explain that in a minute) yells start. One at a time a girl will roll. We start out for example rolling for 1's. If we don't get any, the dice will move clockways to the next girl at the table. She rolls, if she gets 1's she will keep rolling until she doesn't get any then she passes the dice on to the next girl. Keep track of how many you roll and mark it down at the end of each roll. The first person in the whole room that gets 21 points yells "Bunco!" That will stop play and then we move on to rolling for number 2's.

Recap - Ways to get points

• rolling the number that we are on (rolling 1's when we are on ones)


• Rolling 3 of a kind other than the number we are on (rolling three 4's when we are trying to roll ones) This counts as 5 points and the roller will keep rolling


• Automatic Bunco (rolling 3 of the number we are rolling on (rolling 3 1's when we are rolling for 1's)

I love getting an automatic bunco. Not only do you get 21 points but you also count all the other points you made while rolling for that particular number.

After you work through 1-6 and Bunco is called on every number the person from each table with the highest amount of points gets up and moves to the next table. I'm not sure what the reason for this is other than moving people around so that we can have different people to talk to.

You keep playing this way until time is up. You can decide this as a group. We usually end about 20 minutes until our girls night is over so we can pass out prizes and plan for next month.

Here are some more details that will help your bunco night go over better.

1. Have a different girl every month take on the roll as hostess. She will collect the money the previous month (collect money at June's Bunco for July's Bunco)


2. We charge $10 bucks a girl. This is to be spent on the prizes.


3. The Hostess will buy prizes, one for every girl in the group (16 girls 16 prizes)


4. The hostess is also responsible for deciding how prizes should be given out. Some will do highest score to lowest, some lowest to highest, some most buncos, some most zeros (rounds with no points scored), I have given everybody a number when they showed up and passed out prizes that way, some do random drawings. It really doesn't matter because all the prizes should be valued the same and everybody gets one. It shouldn't be to competitive just fun.


5. We usually have a theme and keep the prizes all around 1 central idea (movie night, spa, food, summer etc.) This makes it fun but not necessary


6. The Hostess is also responsible, if your group chooses, to plan a meal for everybody. We eat before. Its great to chat and eat before we let the games begin.


7. Hostesses make sure that there are enough tables and chairs


8. If a girl won't be able to make it, its important to find a sub that way there are enough girls to play. Its not detrimental if you are short a girl or two it just makes it easier and funner if you have a full house.


9. At the end of bunco and prizes, the next months hostess takes over, collecting money buying gifts etc.
   
10. Probably the most important rule of all: NO HUSBANDS OR CHILDREN ALLOWED!!!
    
    

Here is a link for free printable score cards

http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/bunco_score_sheet.html

The Mommy Wars Round 1: Bottle vs. Breast

I am involved with a close knit group of girls that are all moms. Each of us come from different backgrounds and have different life experiences. More than once the topic of breastfeeding or formula feeding has been brought during our little get togethers and it started me thinking. I realized that us moms really have strong opinions on how we raise our kids, so much so that we know we are right no matter what. I also realized that this also takes place in other areas of motherhood. I call this phenomenon, "The Mommy Wars."

I feel I have a unique perspective on this topic because I have two children. My oldest was exclusively breastfeed for one year exactly and my youngest was breastfeed for about 4 months exclusively and then we made the switch over to formula at 6 months.

My son, who was breastfed was the best baby the world has ever seen. I can say that because he's my boy, I know I'm biased. He had no problems nursing, content, happy, the list goes on and on. My daughter, whom I love just as much as my son, is completely the opposite. She hated nursing, I mean hated it. I tried, I really did. I nursed her and fought with her for 2 months trying to get her to nurse. I knew that it was medically the best for her and I wanted it for her. I figured that if we worked hard enough on it we would eventually get it down and things would be OK. After about 2 months of fighting and stress I decided I would start pumping and just give her a bottle. She liked that so much more. At the moment I really liked the situation because a)she was getting the healthy breast milk b)she wasn't screaming all the time while I was trying to get her to nurse c)breast milk is free and d) I have a really good breast pump and I was able to pump in a really short amount of time and throw the pump parts in the dishwasher.

This went on for about 2 months. During this time I started to realize how much of a pain in the butt it was to go anywhere like this. I couldn't be gone too long because I needed to stay on a pumping schedule, yes I had a great pump but to me finding a place to pump while running errands with a 3 month old and a 2 1/2 year old was a little crazy. Also, it was hard because if she got hungry while we were away we had to find a place to warm her bottle up because I was unable to find a good car bottle warmer. Not to mention the fact that I had to lug around a cooler of some sort to keep the breast milk cold before she was ready to take her bottle.

During this time my daughter was still nursing at night. If I could catch her before she woke up entirely we could make it work. I think she was just to tired to care, to be honest with you.
One day she stopped nursing at night and I said to heck with it. I started giving her formula when we would go out, just because it was easier than taking breast milk with us, and she would also have formula at night.

We kept this habit up until she was 6 months old and I was placed on medication that I could no longer "nurse" her. She made it to 6 months and I figured that it was better than nothing. Even knowing this I still had some guilt over the issue. I think we as mothers want so desperately to do the best for our kids that we can. We battle with ourselves over everything we do for them because we have this fear that we are going to screw them up somehow. Well, at least that is the way I feel sometimes.

When I thought about "The Mommy Wars" I did a little research and came up with some pros and cons of breastfeeding and formula feeding.

Pros of Breastfeeding

• Mothers that breastfeed usually loose weight faster than non breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding requires about 500 calories a day to produce the milk for the baby.


• Easy and convenient - nothing to buy or prepare, no bottles to wash


• Free- need I say more
• The mother can sleep during the 2 a.m. feedings

• There is a very special bond between mother and baby that some will argue that is stronger in breastfeed babies and moms


• Less spit-up, no stains, no smelly poop


• Protects against some breast and ovarian cancers
  
• May delay you're menstrual cycle from starting up again.


• Contains natural immunity strengtheners for babies


• Helps babies brain to grow and develop


• Less learning and behavior problems


• Less diaper rash and other skin problems


• Less Colic


• Easy to digest, less constipation and diarrhea


• Protects against SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Cons of Breastfeeding

• Time consuming
  
• Mom has to pump if she want to leave baby or have someone else feed her.


• Breastfeeding takes a lot of energy, mom can feel more fatigued than usual.


• Possible anxiety/frustration while mom and baby are learning


• Some moms can develop physical problems like clogged milk ducts that can cause pain and infections


• Can be challenging for working mothers

Pros of Formula Feeding

• Tastes remains consistent and is not dependant on mom's diet or activities


• Mom's can eat or drink what they want with no worry about it effecting the quality of the milk


• Formula is digested slower than breast milk so babies are satisfied longer while on formula
• Mothers are able to take medications

• Easy feeding for traveling


• Wonderful for moms that for medical reasons or supply issues cannot breastfeed


• Anybody can feed baby, good for dads that desperately want to be more involved

Cons of Formula Feeding

• Expensive!!!


• Bottles, nipples, bottle washer, bottle dryer, etc are all additional items that need to be purchased and don't forget cleaned


• Not as good, nutritionally, as breast milk
  
• Doesn't supply natural antibodies for baby
  
• Formula fed babies have a higher chance of becoming constipated
  
  
  
  

After doing the research and having two DIFFERENT children I have realized that breast milk is best for babies. I read a quote that I think sums up my thoughts, "Breastfeeding isn't for every mother but it is for every baby."

I realize that medically speaking breast milk is best for babies. There have been studies and there really is no disputing this fact. Sometimes it isn't always as cut and dry as medical thinking may be. My baby wanted immediate gratification and did not want to nurse. I fought and fought with her, I wanted her to nurse. She was unhappy constantly, I was stressed and the tension level in our home was raised. Who knows, maybe I could of made it work but at the moment it was more important to me to help her to be happy. Her and I gave it our best shot and she received breast milk for 6 months, that's better than nothing. If we have another child I am definitely going to breastfeed our next but only time will tell.

I know girls that want to breastfeed but will not make enough milk to satisfy the baby and end up drying up within a matter of weeks. They wish they could breastfeed and they can't, they truly suffer from mommy guilt. Some moms chose not to breastfeed at all because it was better for them in their specific circumstance.

Whether you take the stance of "breast is best," bottle feeding mommy or somewhere in between, love your kids and make sure they know that.

Check back soon for the next round of "The Mommy Wars," working moms, vs. stay at home moms.

The Joy of Mother-IN-LAWS

Recently I had my sons birthday party, he turned 3. We were doing a fishing theme so she told me she wanted to buy him a fish for his birthday. I told her "NO!" Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against fish, but it was for my son. Let me says this again, he was turning 3! I knew that if she bought him a fish the fish would very quickly become my fish. I am past the time of my life that I want a fish as a pet. I have two kids and a husband, if I wanted to take care of something I would get a cat or a dog or something that at least would be a little bit more fun than a fish. She really was adamant that she get him a fish and finally I said yes only if she would come and clean the bowl once a week.

Sure enough at the party last night she brough my 3 YEAR OLD a present that I was sure was a fish. We took it out of the gift bag and sure enough, not one but 2 fish. There was also a snail which I was told would help keep the tank clean (we'll see). I later found out that one of the fishes was PREGNANT!

I thought to my self, I give you an inch you take a mile! I know its just fish it is just irritating. She knows I wasn't happy about the idea but she did it anyways. Now my son "loves the fish" and says "they are my best friend." What can I do now.

What is it about mother-in-laws that drive us as women crazy. I know there are a few of you out there that have great mother-in-laws and I guess this posting doesn't apply. I just don't get it I have no idea why it is always like this. Mother-in-laws have an uncanny ability to drive us CRAZY!

I needed to rant. Post a comment or send me an email about your mother-in-law!

Modesty

My husbands 10 year high school reunion was coming up in a few days so I was trying on clothes and trying to pick out something to wear. I found a skirt in my closet I thought was cute. It wasn't anything to crazy, just cute. It came to just a little bit above my knees. I tried it on and asked my tween daughter what she thought of it. She said, "its a little short mom." She has been getting an attitude and I just had a baby a few months ago so I said, "what do you mean, too short, like I'm to fat short or what?" I was feeling a little defensive. She said, "no mom, like immodest, to short."

Its a funny story but our children really do teach us a bunch of things. We really do try to teach them and sometimes I don't think they are getting it at all until they come back with a comment like the one above and then you realize, ok I haven't done too terrible of a job raising you so far.

I need a paycheck!

. Being a stay at home mom is so interesting. Most jobs have paychecks. In my other jobs that I have had in my life, the paycheck was the big motivator. Well, I don't get a paycheck for cleaning my bathroom, or grocery shopping, or making dinner, or changing a million diapers in one day (sidenote: I really am amazed at how fast diapers can create 'diaper mountain'). So, what then is my motivation???!!! I would have to say that typically I act out of necessity, I mean the smell of those diapers is enough to motivate almost anyone! In an ideal world a mother's paycheck would be feeling appreciated. But, of course we can't always count on that. I have to admit though, a regular paycheck would be nice.

"Is That Jesus?"

I go to church by my self. At the time I had 2 kids a 3 year old and a 5 year old. During church its hard enough to get my kids to sit still and be quite when I get help but almost impossible when I'm by myself. During one of those times that I was sitting by myself my kids were doing really well. They were sitting still and being quite. Thats all I could ask for. It was a very quite part of the church service when somebody came in the back and sat down. the man was scruffy, long hair, I think he even had sandles on. My 3 year old son turned around and said, very loudly, "Mommy, is that Jesus?" Everybody heard of course and started laughing. I was embarrassed but at least he asked if he was Jesus instead of saying something really embarrassing.

Guilt

I realized that I don't always allow myself to enjoy myself. If the kids are napping and I feel like watching a movie, I sometimes feel bad about that! Mostly, because of all of the other things that I have to do. I do it anyway, but that doesn't stop me from feeling a little guilty.

I think as mothers we have always felt guilt. Whether its doing something for us or denying our kids the toy at the store. It also can go deeper than that also. Young mothers especially get caught comparing ourselves to the other moms. We think, "he's potty trained, mines not, what am I doing wrong?" Guilt. "Oh that mom is so skinny after having 4 kids, I have 2 and I am fat!" Guilt. "Those kids are always so clean and their hair is always combed." Guilt.

We need to come to be happy with ourselves and what we do. Every mother is different and every child is different. With that there are different circumstances and different decisions that are made. I think that as long as we are doing our best to know at the end of the day that are our kids know they are loved and that the kids are happy, we have done enough.