Wash Wednesday: Shaving Cream Cleanup

On Saturday I mentioned why we can't have nice things.

Here's another example. I was working on the computer and had put the boys in my bedroom to watch Spongebob and be quiet.

They were quiet. Too quiet. A little TOO quiet. After learning my lesson about quiet kids and marks on the wall I decided to inspect.

I then noticed the smell. The house smelled like a Frat house on a Saturday evening around 6 pm. Cologne...and shaving cream.

Guess what I discovered when I opened the door...

I was greeted with a "Oh HI MOMMY! I wanted to be a sheep!"

Mommy's sheep.

There was shaving cream EVERYWHERE. On the sheets. On the wall. On the TV and the TV stand. On the lightswitch. On the door. On the door knob. In the carpet. EVERYWHERE.

I had to throw them in the bath since they were covered. They lost TV privileges for the day and got talked to when Daddy got home. He informed me that was a brand new container of shaving cream. He had just opened it that morning. I believed it. That was a LOT of shaving cream.

I had to open the windows to get the smell out and it took 10 rags to clean it all up. As for the shaving cream in the carpet, it was impossible to find what to do to clean it up. So here's what worked...

Take a dry rag and pick up as much shaving cream as you can out of the carpet. Then use a wet rag to soak up the shaving cream that has made its way into the carpet fibers. Follow that up with another dry rag to get the moisture up.

The house smelled like shaving cream for days. So again, this is why we can't have nice things and when they're too quiet, they're up to something.

Tip Tuesday: Changing Sheets at Night

Just recently I was at a baby shower for a friend. On the table the hostesses had little advice cards to jot down some words of wisdom to the new mom-to-be. I thought and thought, thinking I can share some of the many things I have learned over the last few years with Judah. My mind unfortunately was blank until I remembered one piece of advice a friend passed onto to me in my early days of motherhood.

This friend in fact sent me a note book of journal entries from each day starting the day she knew I was going to have a baby until Judah's birth date. She provided, in her humorous words, stories of wisdom from her own experiences with two children. And these stories along with much needed advice helped me in my first few months.

So I thought today I would pass on the same advice I gave at the shower regarding avoiding changing sheets during the night. This is just one of the many cool tips my own friend passed onto me.

In my case, if I can minimize the time limit I am up during the night with Judah, then I am more likely to fall back to sleep right away. Will if the kid is sick, you get up, calm them down, check their temperature, become a slop mop for throwing up, change their clothes and sheets, give them some medicine if needed, and perhaps a drink of water before you can lay them back down. The minutes tick by and you realize you still need to clean up yourself. I still have yet to mention that you are already exhausted and may or may not be awake enough to actually get those sheets on right.

So my friend came up with this trick to keep these tasks to a minimum by alternating wet pads and sheets on the mattress before night time when the child is sick. Layering wet pads and sheets allows for you to just take off the top, dirty layer and throw into the laundry. The next clean layer is already to go without having to take the time to put clean sheets on. And you can get back to bed mush sooner without worrying where the next clean sheet is in the drawer.

Be sure to also keep all the dirty items close to the washer for immediate washing, limiting the passing of germs. And try using old towels draped over the pillow as a substitute for vomit buckets for smaller children who throw up anywhere.

Wishing you pleasant slumbers!

Make Monday: Make Money While Spending Money...Sort Of.

On Sunday morning I grabbed the Walgreens flier. I flipped through it and saw the deals. I then grabbed my coupon organizer and the inserts from the Sunday paper.

And I clipped, I wrote, I sorted, I flipped, I tore, I clipped into two separate (and organized) piles. And I presented my shopping plan to my husband, handed him "his" stack of coupons (as he rolled his eyes at me) and we were out the door with the boys.

"We're going to need two carts and keep things separate." Again, another eye-roll. And then the shopping began. And here's how it ended.

We walked out with:

4 packages of M&M's (the big bags)
Cover girl eyeliner and mascara
Two jars of Welch's grape jelly
9 rolls of Angel Soft toilet paper
2 boxes of Tampax Tampons
2 boxes of Always Infinity pads
2 tubes of Crest Complete Toothpaste
2 bottles of Head and Shoulders Shampoo
2 Clinical Strength Secret Deodorant
A Gillette Fusion Pro-Glide Razor
2 Gillette Body Wash
2 Old Spice Body Wash
Gillette Deodorant
Old Spice Deodorant
Gillette Fusion Shave Gel
Gillette Fusion Shave Prep
6 boxes of Cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, Golden Grahams, Cheerios)
1 pack of 15 Cascade duo pack dish wash detergent
3 Tide 15 count Stain Release packs
6 rolls of Charmin
Downy dryer sheets (80) sheets, 1 pack
2 Gain Detergents
Pack of Envelopes
4 12-packs of Dr. Pepper
And One pack of Huggies.

Whew.

Total before coupons and savings? $293.50

After savings? $130.50

Saved $163.00 PLUS I got $24.00 in Walgreens Register Rewards for a future trip. WIN!

So the hour of planning on Sunday morning made me $187.00. Not bad for an hours worth of work. And it's not like I bought things we didn't need. Take the time to plan. It will be worth your while.

Salvation Sunday: Faith!

The concept of faith through an 8Th grader....

"Faith is an attitude of total commitment, reliance, trust and obedience toward God's will for one's life.

In the Old Testament, faith mentioned thirty times, does not refer so much as to a set of doctrines as an outward acceptance of the Law. Instead, faith and righteousness was evident through their lives. Faith in the Old Testament is rather sometimes found in a specific word (s), work commandments of God, God's revelation, or in God, Himself. Confidence in God's faithfulness and a consequent loving obedience to His will distinguishes the Old Testament saints from others.

In comparison, the same attitude is expected in Christians today as the New Testament shows faith described in Hebrews 11. However, unlike the Old Testament, faith appears five hundred times primarily for the reason of "this real act of faith, " believing that Jesus was the promised messiah. For example, Jesus aimed at creating a complete trust in his disciples. He offered Himself as the object in faith necessary for intercession between God and man and eternal life. His primary concern was building that faith in them. To believe meant becoming a Christian as in Ephesians 2:8-9.

Faith is completely trusting in Jesus, the truth of his teachings and His redemptive work accomplished on the cross. As a result, one will submit to Him and His messages. Faith requires reliance, commitment, and obedience to Him as Lord."

Shuffle Saturday: This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

You're probably wondering why Shuffle Saturday was posted so late. Well, as my mom said, and I never really understood until I had children. This is why we can't have nice things.

For my birthday, we bought a netbook. It was new. It was fast. It was small enough that I could put it in my diaper bag/purse and take it to school board meetings. It had all of its keys (with small children, it's the small things) And best of all, since I'm a freelance writer, it was a tax deductible birthday present. #Winning!

But that's where the winning ends. Just this weekend, my boys broke MY new toy. They broke the part that plugs in to the computer right off. The little "male" part of the computer was broken off into the "female" part of the computer. "I can handle this," I thought. It would just take some wiggling and I can make it work.

But I couldn't. This was one "do" Mommy couldn't "un-did".

And this is why we can't have nice things.

So we went to Best Buy. I bought a Universal adapter that "would totally work with all netbooks," as the Geek Squad guy said. So sixty bucks later, we were out the door.

Yeah, it didn't. So I took it back and since I paid with my debit card, I was refunded with cash. But I did find my SAME EXACT computer, a floor model on sale for over half of what we paid for my computer brand new just two months ago.

And I thought and thought and thought. With the money I was refunded, plus a gift card I was given for my birthday PLUS a gift card my husband was given...that should come close to covering the cost for that computer. I would get a plug in that worked and my husband would get a computer with all of its keys and that wasn't super slow (we bought that laptop just before he went to Iraq...two kids ago). Yeah, that's a no brainer for me.

So we now have to brand new computers. And we're sharing a power source. But if you're looking for a "this is why we really can't have nice things" post. Stay tuned. Wash Wednesday is going to be a winner.

Food Friday: Pork Chops with a Citrus Twist!

Perhaps we are trying to squeeze every last bit of summer. And so we tried a new recipe - with a citrus twist - to the old boring Pork Chop dish. We grilled the chops for some added smoky flavor. We added the last of the season's sweet corn grilled and fresh, steamed green beans. Then we sat back and enjoyed our little visit to the Caribbean.

To go with our grilled pork chops, we made this gourmet mango salsa to pour on top:

1 ripe mango, diced (approximately 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Let stand for 15 minutes; stir before serving; enjoy.

For more information, visit Food.com.

Toy Thursday: No. You Can't Take It To School

In a previous post, I discussed how my five year old has the habit of carrying toys around. I knew this would be an issue when he started school, as it is almost always a fight with him. He wants to take a toy to the grocery store, to church, to the post office etc etc.

I knew he couldn't be taking toys to school. So I talked to him about it. And Ma'am talked to him about it. And Grandma talked to him about it. But he still insisted that his friends would want to see his toy.

It's a bit of a safety blanket for him. Instead of a binky or woobie, he has a toy.

See Nemo in his hand? Yeah, we didn't see it until we were looking at pictures of this Christmas event. We had no idea that Nemo had tagged along.

So when we went to the ice cream social/open house to meet his teacher and see his classroom, I had his teacher tell him that toys were not okay. And that was the end of it.

He didn't believe me, or Ma'am or any other family member that told him no...but as soon as the teacher did, it was okay.

Whatever works. We still carry a toy around with us at home, but he knows he can't take it to school. He's growing up. That's for sure.

Wash Wednesday: Pull-up type Diapers.

So the end of summer season is upon us which meant our last day at the pool on Monday. How sad to see the pool close especially when it is still nice out for all the non school aged children (but that is another day's post).

Will anyways, like always on Monday, when it was time to leave the pool, I changed Judah from his swim diaper into dry clothes. I thought to myself how much I will miss the pool but not changing those soggy swim diapers.

Until recently did I really know how to take these pull-up type diapers off without making a mess. Once I even made the mistake of pulling the diaper down when he had pooped. Needless to say we made a mess all over everything. Even if a child wets the swim diaper, it is still gross to pull it off as it turns inside out showing yellow.

So for Wash Wednesday, I thought I would pass along a little tip that will help you avoid making a mess pulling off swim diapers and pull-ups. As I discovered there is a way to get those yucky things off without having to wash everything.

Back on Monday I used this little trick that I just learned this summer. Instead of pulling off the diaper down his legs, I ripped the sides of the diaper (as he was laying on the towel) taking it off like a regular diaper. This makes the dreaded changing much easier and hassle free. It also appears to be more hygienic and safe in such a public setting.

Then I just fold the diaper up as if it is a regular one and throw it into a scented bag for the nearest trash can. I sanitize my hands and then we are ready to finish changing and go on our way.

So next time, avoid extra washing by changing your approach to taking off pull-up type diapers. It will make a difference in the end.

Tip Tuesday: Issue With Eating Out

I've already written about poop...more than once (oye). So what else would I have to write about? Well, sometimes with kids, what goes down, does come up. As a fair warning, this article contains puke. If you've got a faint stomach, turn back now. You've been warned. :)

I've been finding some great coupons for eating out. And seeing as it's been as warm as it has been lately, I honestly don't feel like cooking.

But it seems that we can't go out to eat without Sean (the two year old) getting sick. I don't know if he's just excited about eating out, excited about the treat of a different drink (chocolate milk, orange juice etc) or just the fun of being someplace new. But the last two days, he's gotten sick at the table...twice.

Sunday we went out for a buy one get one free breakfast. And Sean puked at the table. I was sitting next to him which meant that I was the lucky one cleaning him up with baby wipes.

He acted okay, not like he was sick or anything...so we just assumed that he had too much orange juice before the meal. It was just too acidic for him.

On Monday, after Liam's "meet the teacher" night, we celebrated with taking Liam (and the younger two) out to dinner. I had a coupon for free kids meals at Chili's and, along with the Two for $20 meal for me and daddy (and the free chips and salsa with the foursquare check in) it was going to be an inexpensive meal.

Once again, I was seated next to Sean. I didn't think anything of it. My mistake.

He, once again, chugged his drink. Chocolate milk this time. We were enjoying our free chips and salsa as well as our texas fries that came with the 2 for $20 deal and I (thankfully) had a napkin in my hand. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sean gag and before I even knew it, I had my hand (and napkin) under his chin catching puke.

It wasn't much...more like a spitup compared to an all out puke. So we withheld the milk from him until he ate a little dinner. All was going well and dinner was done when Baby B decided to fill his pants. Hubby decided to evacuate with baby and big brother while I signed the check, loaded up the leftovers and got ready to leave with Sean. And then he threw up. ALL OVER. He got himself, the table, the floor. It was horrible. I yelled to the husband, who had just made it to the hallway. I was gagging, the lady at the next table was gagging. It was bad.

Husband handed me the baby and told me to head out to the car while he took care of the mess. That's a bonus about being married to a medic. He can handle all bodily functions without losing his meals.

Now, home clean up is my job. The car seat liner (along with his clothes/shoes included) are in the wash. Between the baby's bad diaper and the toddler getting sick two days in a row, it makes me wonder if we don't have a bit of a bug in our house. Hubs is chalking it up to all of the fair food from Saturday, but I don't think it could be still causing problems. I guess we'll wait and see what tomorrow brings.

That being said, I've learned a few more things. ALWAYS ask for more napkins. When you first sit down, get napkins. When the server takes your drink order, get napkins. When you get your food, get napkins. And have a few extra stashed in your diaper bag. Because you never know when the puke fairy will bless your table with her presence.

Quick Mommy Time Out! Savings for Wii!

Do you have kids who love their Wii? Do they love Mickey? Only today (and only as long as they want to do it) Amazon.com is having a great deal.

Buy Epic Mickey and pick one other Wii game for FREE! Plus you can get it shipped for free. That's TWO Wii games, shipped to your house, for the price of one!

Be sure to intercept the mail and put it in your spreadsheet! My boys are getting Epic Mickey and Toy Story 3 for Wii. YAY!

Make Monday: Homemade Pinwheels!

So I ran across these instructions that are adapted from Scrapbooks, Etc. to make your own pinwheels. I had high hopes that we would make them before now as we love pinwheels in our house. However, I keep losing the instructions and so I though I better post them before I lose them once again.

-Cut out a even square of double-sided paper or card stock. Use different sizes of squares for different size of pinwheels.

-Draw too diagonal lines on the square from corner to corner.

-Using scissors, cut on each line, approximately leaving 1/2 inch on each line from the center point intact.

-Punch a small in every other corner so that a hole is on each triangle only.

-Poke a slit (using scissors) into the center point for brad prongs.

-Fold every other corner (corners with holes) into the center. Insert the brad prongs through the holes as you go and then down into the slit.

-Using a bit of glue, slide a wooden dowel or skewer into the pinwheel. Allow to dry.

Looks like fun, huh? These instructions are for a decorative pinwheel only as pictured above. However, I would really like to see if we can get it to turn for added delight.

At our house, we use pinwheels to express music. We move the pinwheels high and low to the notes of the music. We also move them fast and slow along to the rhythm. Regular pinwheels move by themselves with these full body strokes and do not need to be blown.

So you can see why we would love to try to make our own. Plus, it is another fun craft to enjoy together. I will keep you posted on the results.

Salvation Sunday: Letting Go...The First Day of Kindergarten

Liam is getting his wings. He's more than ready to fly. And believe it or not, he starts Kindergarten on Wednesday.

How can it be? How can this tiny little boy, who was just a baby not that long ago be going to school?

He is excited for school...on Wednesday. And then he asked if he has to go again on Thursday. I said "Yes". He said, "But I'm going to miss you all day," with a crack in his little voice.

I don't think he'll have a problem. He was in daycare 40 hours a week from the time he was 6 weeks until he was 4.5. But he's become used to having me home, being able to hang out with me...me making his breakfast, lunch and dinner. And to be honest, it's going to take some getting used to, having a bit of quiet in the house when he's at school. I'll still have the younger two boys with me at home, but it will get a little more quiet.

I know I can say that now...but ask me again how I'm feeling on Wednesday as he's stepping on the bus.

And yes...I do plan on following the bus and taking pictures. And it's only a half day for the first three days. So ask me how I'm doing next Monday. My answer may be different.

I know I need to let my little bird fly. I know I taught him the basics...be polite, share, don't tease, don't get upset if you are teased. But I also know I won't be there to defend him.

I'm SO not ready for this. So I'm here, on Salvation Sunday, praying for strength.

I remember my first day of Kindergarten. I walked with my good friend, Jason Bruning, our moms following behind. Half-way there, Jason and I decided that our moms were going to be too embarrassing (as they were crying the whole way) and we asked them to turn around and go home...that he and I could go the rest of the way ourselves.

And that story made his mom smile ten years ago, when we were at Jason's wake. He was killed by a drunk driver. And I think, ten years after his death, twenty-six years after the walk to kindergarten I'm still thinking about it. And it still makes me smile.

So maybe there are worse things in life than being that embarrassing mom. And I'll probably be that mom.

But to me, he's still that little baby...and no matter how big he gets...he probably always will be.

And that's my co-author, Emma and her (then fiancee) husband Tim holding baby Liam when he was one day old in the hospital.

Shuffle Saturday: The Iowa State Fair!

"Our State Fair is a great state fair
Don't Miss it don't even be late
(our state fair is great)
It's dollars to doughnuts at our state fair
It's the best state fair in the state"

I was singing these lyrics from the famous Roger and Hammerstein musical, State Fair, to my toddler Judah yesterday as we got ready for the Iowa State Fair. So naturally you heard this little tyke quoting, "don't even be late." Too cute.

The Iowa State Fair has become a tradition at our house. I grew up with an August birthday. One year, my parents asked me what I wanted to do and being from northeast Iowa (two hours away from Des Moines, the location of the fair), I mentioned I wanted to go to the Iowa State Fair. We had never been to the fair up to this point and after hearing about it from friends and seeing the commercials, I wanted to check it out. Every year since, my family and now my own family spends some time at the Iowa State Fair. And I think that is where Sarah is today as well with her family.

The Iowa State Fair has become more than an icon for Iowa residents and a stop for national political candidates. It is a tradition. Our family tradition. Each year we have our check list of must see items, eat items, and do items at the Iowa State Fair.

And the fair is never complete until we accomplish all on our list for that year. We have it down to a system; depending on where we are on the grounds, we make sure to take time to see something specific like the celebrated butter cow, the sand sculpture, see the western old village, view the "Hall of Breeds," or tour the 4-H building. We also know the food vendors inside and out and plan our meals and snacks around what we have not eaten yet: pork chop on a stick (from the Pork Producers), smoked turkey leg, our lamb burger (from Lamb Producers), cheeseburger (from Cattleman's Association), an ice cream cone (from the Dairy Barn), a giant dill pickle, an egg on a stick, and much more fried, greasy, and tasty flavors to fill our bellies.

On the side we squeeze in time for a show on one of the grounds many stages or at the Grand Stands. Other times we have participated in the sewing contest. Occasionally we hit the midway for rides. And we certainly enjoy the tractor pull.

This year Judah had fun posing by all the painted, ceramic cows in celebration of the 100 years "Butter Cow" exhibit. He particularly enjoyed seeing the giant pumpkins in front of the horticulture building and seeing the animals in the barns. He also danced along to some oldies and drooled over the cakes from the cake contest (calling them Happy Birthday cakes).

So once again for another year, we celebrated a family tradition. And today we are tired but it was well worth the time together. What are your favorite family traditions? Even more so, if you are a fair goer yourself, what are your favorite fair memories?

Food Friday: Couponing

Hi. My name is Sarah and I'm addicted to using coupons.

Whew, that felt good. But couponing also feels good. I LOVE using coupons. I clip, I print, I save. It's fun. I try to best my previous grocery trip every time. And I love the look on my husband's face when the cashier says, "You saved $XX today with coupons." It's even more fun when a manager has to come over and approve my use of coupons, because it happens A LOT.

To be honest, it's the main reason I get the Des Moines Register. And if the coupons are good, we'll get gas at Kum and Go on Sunday and get a free paper...just for the coupons. Because if there's a diaper coupon in it, I'm on it.

But you can get coupons more places than just the Sunday paper. You can print them online...and at Target, you can pair a Target coupon WITH a manufacture coupon for even more savings. Hy-Vee also takes Target coupons.

So here's a few of my favorite websites for printing coupons at home:

MomsWhoSave They have great coupons and great codes for shopping online.

RetailMeNot Anytime I buy something online, I always check Retail Me Not for a coupon code. I have saved SO much from clothes to pizza and everything in between!

Zulily I LOVE Zulily. Their options change daily and quite often I can find a coupon code on RetailMeNot. Plus, if your friends buy from Zulily using your link, you get a $15 store credit!

If you don't use coupons, try it. You'll love it. And you'll save a little money in the process!

Toy Thursday: Those Darn Random Toys!

On Tip Tuesday this week, I talked about Toy Storage Solutions. A face book friend posted the following comment in response, " I like your idea about the dishes containers. My biggest issue is that crazy collection of miscellaneous, and sometimes junk, toys. We don't have a lot of room, so I use under bed storage boxes are our solution for now. We can fit about 3-4 under ...a twin bed. In the boys' room, one entire box is dedicated to toys from the movie Cars. And if the junk toys fill up an entire box, then we have to start getting rid of them."

I totally sympathize with my friend regarding those darn random toys that seem to pop up anywhere and always at the worse times. These are the miscellaneous toys that do not seem to go with anything else. These are the McDonald's Happy Meal toys that seem to litter the floor and end up under your feet as you walk across the room. These are those annoying toys that you hate but entertain your kids for hours. You get the point.

In fact, I myself just went through a bunch of our random toys out of desperation. I just could not stand it anymore. I was getting tired of stepping on them and finding them all over the house in strange places.

Unfortunately I still have some of those random toys as the kid would take notice that they were gone which might create even more problems. So in the meantime, I have implemented an idea from another friend.

I learned that kids love to call things their own like a "secret" drawer that they can put anything into and empty out to their hearts delight. This drawer belongs to the nightstand in our bedroom (and contains the only toys currently in our room). And this is where we stuff those random things that Judah cannot part with and I do not know where else to store.

We have several strings of beads, a whistle, a top, old (now play) cell phones, and other random junk that we have picked up along the way as a freebie prize or gift. Then when mommy is in her room doing chores like folding laundry, Judah usually opens his drawer and entertains himself with these random pieces of "junk."

From time to time we clean out the drawer replacing some toys with our newest finds. We keep our favorites as we enjoy them time and time again (unless mommy steps on them).

Good luck trying to tackle the mess of random toys. As my friend above suggests, randomly clean out the junk toys from time to time before they truly take over your house (and your life).

Wash Wednesday: MY WALL--Part 2!

Last week I told you about how Liam's art ended up on his wall and I promised an update. So here we go...

TWO, read it TWO Mr. Clean Magic Erasers later, MOST of the marks are gone. I'm still having trouble with some of the pink crayon marks.

Note: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers have a tendency to disintegrate after some good old elbow grease applied. I even tried a blue rag and water, neither really took the pink crayon off.

So, friends, I ask you, what else (other than white paint) can I try to get the darn pink crayon off? I'm stuck!

Tip Tuesday: Toy Storage Solutions!

At my house some days, I feel like a tornado went through the toys. On these days, I hop scotch over all the toys strewn across the floor. And they are all out in full force too- blocks, cars, trains, balls, and those blasted miscellaneous (or objects that become toys) toys you never know what to do with.

We do pick the toys up before bed but until then the mess is crazy. We sing our song as we pick the toys up, putting them away where each belong. Then the very next day, the very same toys somehow make their way out again as we integrate them together for many creative play ideas and fun.

We do have those toys that are supervised only that come out for a short time and then get picked up afterwards. These toys like puzzles and crayons still somehow make their way scattered across the floor even in that short amount of time.

Toy storage is so important to get those toys momentarily off the floor and to teach organizational skills to your child. Encourage them to pick up on a regular basis.

We store our own toys a couple of ways. First, we just got a new toy box for Judah's bedroom (from Ikea) that allows Judah to get the toys in and out for easy access. The shelf (his size) also provides a flat surface on top for playing, especially to set up his toy trains.



Second, we still implement the boxes meant for storing dishes using them for toys instead. Box sets of three come are sturdy enough to store toys. Cloth means easy wipe down. The neutral boxes look nice on a shelf. And you have different sizes for toys. Plus the best part is you can slide in a picture of the toy (from simply cutting out the picture off of the box) inside the front pocket allowing the child to match the toy with the label for easy sorting.

How do you store your toys?

Make Monday: Make The Time

In our crazy hectic days, it seems like the days take forever to get through but the months fly by...if that even makes sense.

But when you've got events going on in your town, it's important to make and take the time to attend them. This weekend we went to the Straw Poll on Saturday (leaving the kids with Grandma and Grandpa) and on Sunday we went to the State Fair. We had a blast at the Straw Poll, meeting old friends and making new.

At the fair the kids had so much fun playing in the fountain and we even met up with some friends who came all the way from Omaha to check out the Iowa State Fair.

While its important to make the time for these events, it's also important to make time for yourself. I made sure the kids had sunscreen on and neglected myself. And I am burnt to a crisp.

So yes, make time for the family but be sure to take care of yourself when you're out and about. Now? It's time for more aloe for mommy.

Salvation Sunday: Courage!

Courage is "an attitude or response of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult, or painful (Webster's New World Dictionary)."

Courage often displays a positive attitude. A person, in spite, of being afraid, is able to control the fear and perform successfully in overwhelming odds. Sometimes, however, courage represents the quality of being fearless or brave. The response to the danger, difficulty, or pain is almost an immediate reaction. Instead of withdrawing, fear and danger are faced, looked straight into the eye. Usually fear is dealt with in a certain task.

A good example of courage (that Judah and I have read a lot about lately) is the Old Testament Bible story of David and Goliath. David assumed the responsibility of facing the Philistine giant, trusted God for the results, and killed him.

Courage also refers to ones' convictions; standing up for what is right. A person, for instance, may face criticism and boldly stand for their own beliefs or for a certain cause.

"Take heart and be of good courage, for He will strengthen your heart." Psalm 31:24

Shuffle Saturday: Iowa Straw Poll Day! Tips From a Veteran!

It's straw poll day in Iowa. For those involved in politics in Iowa, this is our Superbowl, our Oscars, our Olympics...it's a big deal. And I'm excited. I had a hard time sleeping last night because I was so excited. Even more so than 4 years ago. And back then I had a VIP pass!

This year is my husband's first year, as he was in Iraq four years ago. Even though he's a native Iowan and we've been together for 8 years, he still had no idea how big of a deal the Straw Poll really is. I feel he's still going to be amazed.

So from a Straw Poll veteran, here's a few tips...if you haven't left already.

1. Go hungry. There's going to be plenty of food.

2. Wear comfortable shoes. If you're going to go tent cruising, you'll be doing a lot of walking. While the Vera Wang black heels are cute, they're not practical.

3. Greet the candidates. Don't be afraid of them. They're people just like you and me. And they want to meet you. Don't be nervous. Ask them the tough questions you have. They WANT to meet real people. That's why they're there.

4. Listen to the speakers. Take the time to listen to everyone, not just your particular candidate. You'll learn something.

And last but not least,

5. Don't feed the trolls. I was given this great piece of advice from Nansen via Britney at RightOnline this year and they are so right. There will be people protesting, yelling, trying to get you to react. DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. They thrive off of attention.

And most of all, have fun. Enjoy the day. And please, don't feed the trolls.

Food Friday: Iowa Straw Poll Edition--And Why There is No Hickory Park

Iowans love their food. Iowans love their politics. Mix the two and you've got a great event.

That being said, both Emma and I are looking forward to the Straw Poll tomorrow. Emma will be busy volunteering with Tim Pawlenty's Campaign and I'll be busy tweeting, writing and blogging for CAPE PAC. It is also my husband's first straw poll, as he was in Iraq four years ago.

So who is serving what? And why no Hickory Park?

Tim Pawlenty will have Famous Daves' BBQ and Dairy Queen Blizzards. Blizzarrdsmmmm.

Herman Cain will have Godfather's Pizza. MmmmmTacoGodfathersPizza.

Michele Bachmann will have artists Randy Travis, Charles Billingsley, Tim Rushlow, and Richie McDonald providing free entertainment at her air-conditioned tent...but no word on what she's serving.

Ron Paul's camp will serve hot dogs, as well as catered pork barbecue, potato salad, grilled sweet corn, baked beans, soft drinks, bottled water and ice cream. BUT, Ron Paul's people were asked to kick in $10 towards the $30 ticket, whereas most of the campaigns cover the cost of the ticket for their supporters.

Rick Santorum will be giving away jars of homemade jam. Ummm...okay?

Thad McCotter got one of the most prime spots of real estate at the Straw Poll...but no one is quite sure what he's serving.

So for the main question....Why no Hickory Park?

I messaged my insiders of the Ames foodies group and heard back from the Hickory Park manager.

She said, "We are not catering any candidates this year. It is so labor intensive we decided to not accept any contracts this year."

So it wasn't that any candidate didn't get Hickory Park catering. It's that Hickory Park wasn't doing catering for any candidate.

And now you know.

Toy Thursday: Home Made Play Dough just like Mom Made!

A few weeks ago, our play group was hosted by another mom at her house. It was there that I walked down memory lane as she spread out a plastic table cloth on the floor, got out some toys, and placed some play dough on the table cloth.

Judah's first experience with play dough was actually a week previous when Gigi brought it on vacation for the boys to play with outside. Even so, I sat on the floor beside Judah to roll, pat, cut out, and roll again the blue and green play dough.

The play dough seemed soft enough (unlike regular store bought play dough), so I asked my friend, neighbor, and hostess, if this was indeed home made play dough. She grinned, responding yes and that she got the recipe from her mom from this book. I finished her sentence with Feed Me, I'm Yours (by Vicki Lansky)! I thought the recipe was the same from my own childhood and we both laughed when we talked about using the now brown book which happened to be second generation (falling apart) used.

Since Judah did so well on vacation with the play dough, I finally felt comfortable making this special fun home made activity for him just like my mom did for me. The softness makes this concoction so easy to roll with kid rolling pins, pound with meat tenderizers, and cut out with cookie cutters. This safe, kid proof recipe does not make me cringe as much if he happens to eat it. And we play to our hearts content making caterpillars and meatballs with fun colors of blue and green.

So yesterday, I finished memory lane as we made our own play dough. The recipe seemed easy and quick enough for an excited kid to help. This inexpensive dough lasts for a long time in a sealed container as we come back for more and more fun. Clean up stayed to a minimum as this dough allows easy wiping and the toys can be run through the dishwasher.

In a medium pot, mix:
1 cup white flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
Once combined, add:
1 cup water
2 teaspoons food coloring
1 tablespoon oil

Cook over medium heat and stir (about 3-5 mins). It will look like a globby mess, and you’ll be sure it’s not turning out, but it will. When it forms a ball in the center of the pot, turn out and kneed on a lightly floured surface. Store in an air tight container or plastic bag. It’s edible, but not tasty.

When using play dough, don't neglect those necessary pieces of equipment: cookie cutters, rolling pins (real or play), plastic knives, bottle caps, extra flour, uncooked spaghetti or macaroni, etc., etc.

Thanks Lindsay for taking us down memory lane. You can visit more of Lindsay's ideas at Musings and Tidbits. And yes, I found my copy again of the book!

Wash Wednesday: MY WALL!!

Quite often, when I'm working on my daily political commentary masterpiece, I make the boys play in their room.

Some days they play nice...most of the time, someone is screaming every five minutes interrupting my train of thought.

And some days...it is just WAY. TOO. QUIET.

Tuesday was one of those days.

I had to work and seeing as they kept unhooking the internet (our wireless is in our bedroom) they lost "Mommy and Daddy room" privileges. It's kind of a big deal, because Mommy and Daddy have a TV. And as much as Liam kicks and screams, I swear he will not get a TV in his bedroom until HE buys one. I think TV in the bedroom for kids is a major no-no. But that's for another blog post.

So they were banned to his room. Some punishment. That kid has more toys than I ever could imagine when I was a kid.

And they were playing nice.

And I was getting work done.

I was getting lots of work done.

I was getting too...much...work...done.

And then Baby B came out of Liam's room holding a blue marker. Lid off. *PANIC*

After grabbing the marker from Brendan, I ran into Liam's room. Both he and Sean were on the top bunk of his bunk bed.

And I saw THIS.

MY WALL!

Note it's not only blue marker but also a red/pink crayon. And it's me. Thanks Liam.

Click on the images to see his "art" in a new window.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to the rescue. I'll let you know how it all turns out...and if it comes off.

Tip Tuesday: Make Sure It Works

If your kids are anything like mine, they play with things that are not really toys. My boys seem to enjoy my kitchen timer. It was one of my favorite purchases from IKEA when we went to Minneapolis for the RightOnline Conference.

They play with the timer often, which leaves me to use the microwave timer when I'm cooking. And quite often I'll be startled with the timer going off under the couch, in their room, etc.

On Sunday I decided to color my hair. It was getting a little blah looking and I thought I'd shake it up a bit. I informed hubby what I was doing, got all of the necessary items and locked myself in the bathroom.

I was SUPER excited because the box of color I got a few weeks ago, I got PAID to take out of Target. No, really. I had a manufacturer coupon, I had a Target coupon AND it was on clearance. So after all of the discounts, Target paid ME .25 to take the box of color out.

This can't end up bad right? Clearance hair color? Totally good, right? Yeah, it wasn't the color that was the problem.

I mixed the silver tube into the white squeezy thing, squirted it on my hair, making sure to go from root to tip, saturating the hair like the directions said. And then it was time to wait.


I set the timer and grabbed my cell. I checked my twitter feed and started playing Angry Birds. After "I don't know how many games" of Angry Birds, I thought to myself, "It HAS to have been 10 minutes by now," and I looked at the timer. It still said 10 minutes. It wasn't working.

Panic.

Okay....so do I get in the shower now? Has it really been 10 minutes? Has it been MORE than 10 minutes? OMG-AM-I-GOING-TO-BE-BALD!?!?

I started the shower and hopped in. The moment of truth. I start rinsing my hair. A few strands come out. I keep rinsing until "the water runs clear". A few more strands.

I condition my hair, what was left. The tub was clogging up, which told me I did lose some hair. Thankfully I have a lot.

I let it air dry...and, after all of the panicking, it turned out okay. But if you learn anything from my experience...make sure you have a timer that WORKS before coloring your hair...or just don't let your kids play with it.

Make Monday: Make it into a Display!

A few weeks ago we visited some friends for the weekend. I noticed on the mantel was displayed some very large white canvases of artwork from their five year old boy. The bright colored paintings were neatly matted onto the canvas making a really neat display and keepsake.

With all the craft projects we do around our own house, I have been thinking about the different ways to display our artwork. This very topic came up at our play group this morning.

Currently, I have large banners from our more recent finger paintings taped up to our dining room mirror (the topic of discussion this morning). Eventually these paintings will be turned into wrapping paper for the holidays or upcoming birthdays as I have collected a whole stash of similar banners upstairs in the closet.

For the smaller 8 1/2 by 11 papers of which I have saved my favorites, I have dated them, put them into plastic sheet page protectors, and slipped them into his baby book (which happens to be a three ring binder). The others are piled into a stack awaiting hand written notes for thank yous and other letters to grandparents and relatives (who love this stuff).

Aside from those simple uses, displaying your child's artwork can be a relatively fun and easy way to decorate your house. And these keepsakes are always cherished. As you can only imagine at my house and since Judah is only two, we have years of artwork ahead.

The most likely place for artwork is putting it on the fridge but that also seems temporary. We also like to frame some pieces for daddy's desk at work. I however would like to branch out with some new creative ways for collecting these beautiful designs as I cannot bare to throw them away.

I have seen an old antique bead spring mounted on a wall with pictures and artwork hung via clothes pins. I also have a card older that acts very similar in that you slip your papers through the iron loops to be held up.

I have also used shadow frames featuring special mementos with 3-D characteristics. This pipe cleaner display of Noah's Ark was from a baby shower display. It was cute and special enough to keep. The frame offers a nice wall display in our nursery. Judah loves to look at it. And the craft stays nice and clean.

How do you display your kids' prized artwork?

Salvation Sunday: NOTHING Wrong with Prayer

The Texas Governor Rick Perry prayed yesterday. And that has made a lot of Liberals angry. Because he prayed with others. So why is that wrong?

It's not.

But Liberals are super angry. Perry hosted a National day of prayer at Reliant Arena that drew roughly 30,000 people and that was broadcast on cable Christian channels and the Internet nationwide.

He didn't do it at the Governor's home. He didn't do it at the State Capitol. He did it, as a man based in faith, concerned for our Country. And there's nothing wrong with that.

"Father, our heart breaks for America," Perry said during 12 minutes of remarks that included prayer and Bible passages. "We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government and, as a nation, we have forgotten who made us, who protects us, who blesses us."

And there's nothing wrong with that. If Liberals are so upset that the Governor prays, it makes me wonder what they think about America's first Ambassador to France, Benjamin Franklin as he invoked God in many of his famous quotes. A few?

"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."

"Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature."

"This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins."

There's nothing wrong with prayer. If I had a leader who was an atheist, THEN I'd be worried. Because without God, there is no reason to be humble.

After all, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

And we need healing. So I say to you, continue to pray. Continue to ask God for our help. We need His Saving Grace.

Shuffle Saturday: Mommy Moments!

My first vivid mommy moment (I remember like it was yesterday, it was so traumatic) comes to mind when I was pregnant with Judah. We were packing to visit family over Thanksgiving. Since I had just started showing, I was packing maternity clothes into the small suitcase that my husband and I normally share together.

Hormones got the better of me as Tim simply found me laying on the floor next to the half packed suitcase crying. Clearly he was concerned, inquiring after me. Still crying, I informed him that there was not enough room to share the suitcase with him this time. My clothes were simply taking all the room. He responded by telling me not to fret, that he would find something else. Crying even louder, I mentioned that I was not even done packing myself and all my clothes were not going to fit. At that point, I had had my first melt down over feeling too big.

We both laugh now when we think of that story. How topsy turvy things get when you are pregnant. Your body is changing. Your hormones are off. And you cry at almost anything.

I may have gotten emotionally more stable once Judah was born, but let's face it, I still have those (what I call) mommy meltdown moments. I am in fact a mom! You know when you have had just enough whether from the kids, your spouse, or your circumstances that you just explode. You either get so upset you cry, yell, or literally lock yourself in the bathroom.

And do not forget every mom goes through that "it has been one of those days." My neighbor and I in fact quite often get together on these days for moral support (or so we don't kill someone or ourselves). After all as moms we see our toddlers who throw temper tantrums, school aged kids who mouth back, and teenagers who disobey. We ourselves are entitled to some meltdown at some point especially when we are strong for our family.

So today, let's take a break to celebrate our mommy moments. I am sure you have your own stories to tell.

Food Friday: Natural Peanut Butter Surprise

I use coupons, that's no surprise. So we usually have Jif, Skippy...name brand peanut butter. But when I didn't have a coupon (gasp) I bought Target brand peanut butter. Checked the label, creamy, check. And in the cart it went.

So around 2:30 on Tuesday afternoon, when I realized I haven't eaten lunch yet (the kids were fed their noodles and mini-pizzas but I didn't get any) and knowing that the one soggy Oatmeal Creme pie wasn't going to hold me over until dinner, I went looking for some peanut butter to make a PB&J.

I remembered I had used all of my peanut butter a few weeks ago when I made Peanut Butter Cupcakes.

I grabbed the new jar of all natural Target brand peanut butter, took the seal off and BAM! Peanut oil all over my counter, microwave and a few sippy cups that are plotting to take over my kitchen.

The sippy cups? Well, they deserved it. My counter, dishwasher and floor (it dripped) didn't deserve it. So what's a girl to do? I took rags and cleaned it up and then did a google search. Turns out, all natural peanut butter DOES have the oil separation issue. I'm glad I didn't just pour the rest of the oils off!

I tried to stir it up (it was really oily) and I put it in the fridge (as the jar said). After working my mad google-fu skills, I turned the jar upside down in the fridge to help the oils move to the bottom (which is now the top).

I really like the flavor of the natural peanut butter, and the price was nice too. We'll see if my picky husband likes it too.

Quick Mommy Time Out!

Here's a quick time out for moms. Don't forget that this weekend (Friday and Saturday) is the tax-free holiday on select items.

Along with no sales tax, many stores are running specials and with the latest consumer spending report showing consumer confidence being down, I won't be surprised if they sweeten the deal even more than normal.

Diapers ARE included on the tax free deal!!

For more information, click here!

And happy shopping!!

Toy Thursday: Matching!

Judah helped me pack a few weeks ago for our vacation, especially when I got the games out to pack. In particular he found the UNO Attack game which proved to be great fun. So naturally I showed him how the cards flew out when you pressed the button. Laughing and laughing, that finally wore off. Next, I showed him how to sort the cards by color.

This game lasted an hour as I took his plastic color boxes and placed a corresponding matching card on top. Then I asked him if he could sort the cards and match the colors. Meanwhile, I continued my packing of the other games, watching him actually sort out the cards by color.

Judah is coming to the age where matching is an important skill to master in child development. This precursor to mathematics teaches the importance of counting and sorting. Your child improves his/her memory and develops thinking skills. Also, Judah is enhancing his ability to define colors at the same time. And most needed, it entertained him so I could pack.

So if you are in need of a boredom buster during this heat wave, try mastering your matching skills with your child. Your resources are endless in possiblitlites as you can match colors, similar objects, numbers, and letters. You can turn the cards over and guess where the match may be (for older kids) or simply sort them by their similarities and differences. You can also discover which item does not belong.

What are your favorite "matching" games?

Wash Wednesday: STOP CLOGGING THE TOILET!!!

My son has been potty trained since he was two. Ma'am (my mom) trained him in a weekend. She's pretty amazing. But the appropriate level of toilet paper is something he hasn't grasped.

If there is toilet paper on the roll, he's using it. All of it. And somehow, still doesn't get clean.

At least once a week, I hear a flush, water running and the "MOMMY!" that strikes fear in my heart and gets me running. Thankfully, my dad taught me how to shut the water off at the bottom of the bowl to stop the flooding...that is, if I get there in time.

And then there's the floaters. Ew. And how much water has run over. So what's a mom to do? Everyone has a collection of towels that has lost it's fluff over time, that accidentally got bleached etc. I call those my "potty towels". I use them to soak up the potty water and throw them in the washer (on hot of course).

What I'm thinking of doing it using an empty box of kleenex and making that Liam's paper box. After he goes to the bathroom, I refill a specific amount of toilet paper in the box for him to use.

But if any other moms have tips or tricks for toilet paper abusers, please share. Because my potty towels are sure getting a work out.

Tip Tuesday: Purchasing a Garment!

Over vacation last week, my sister-in-law and I had a conversation regarding people buying clothes. Living in a bigger city, she meets all kinds of people, including those who have their brand new clothes tailored. We both mentioned that the only time we have had something altered was for a formal event or an expensive business suit.

This conversation totally reminded me of a project I repeatedly entered at 4-H fair, a purchased garment. For several years on the first day of fair, I stood in the "clothing" line awaiting my turn to have my purchased garment judged. Aside from my actually sewn projects, this display was relatively easy, and the thought process I learned has stayed with me longer than any sewing I ever did.

When I purchase a garment to wear today, I still mentally go through my check list upon inspection. If the item of choice meets all the requirements, only then will I allow myself to consider it a "purple ribbon" purchase.

1. Item. The first step is to consider what item of clothing you need depending on the occasion or event and any related accessories. Focus on this specific mission while shopping by not getting side tracked on something else that will take away time looking and money from the budget.

2. Budget. Set aside a budgeted amount depending on the garment needed. Allow enough for your specific need as a formal dress will cost more than a shirt.

Look at it by how much would you spend to wear that garment each time you wear it. Multiply that amount by how many times you will think you will actually wear it and that is how much you can spend. You will also know that a purchase was good by taking the amount spent divided by the times worn leaving a reasonable expense.

3. Complete the Outfit. Never buy a separate. Always have a something to match completing the outfit. Should you need a shirt to go with a skirt, then consider this in your budget.

4. Mix and Match. Stick to neutral, traditional items (especially for your professional wardrobe), that can be mixed and matched into several different outfits. This will allow you to be universal with your clothes and save you money and closet space.

5. Accessories. Include the price of specific accessorise into the price of the outfit, allowing room in the budget. If you need a specific color of shoes, then this will be included with the price of the outfit.

6. Fit. Never purchase clothes that do not fit. The likelihood of actually altering clothes is slim. Make sure the clothes flatter and enhance your look.

7. Design. Consider the design elements of the garment before purchasing. Do the colors go well with your skin color? What direction do the stripes go?

8. Fabric. Consider the appropriateness of the fabric for your particular need and lifestyle. Linens are an excellent choice in hot weather. Likewise, wool is guaranteed to keep you warm in frigid temperatures. Find fabrics that are easy to care for and will last a number of washings.

9. Quality. The garment itself should be sewn correctly. Therefore, do not purchase a garment that looks cheap and is falling apart. Do the seems match up accordingly? Is the hem sewn properly? Are their holes in the pockets?

10. Instructions. Always look at the washing instructions before purchasing a garment. If you do not have money or time to dry clean, then find a washable garment. Likewise, kids clothes should be easy to clean.

For more frugal tips, visit Learning the Frugal Life.

Make Monday: Make It Flavorful!!!

My boys like drinking water. They also like drinking fruit juice and drink boxes. I don't like the sugar in those drinks...because one thing my kids don't need, sugar. They're hyper enough.

And it's hot. And they're thirsty. And they get bored with plain water. So what's a mom to do? Flavor the water...and not with sugar or a packet of kool-aid.

One of my favorite summer treats is cucumber water. Just take a cucumber fresh from the garden, rinse it off, slice it up and put it in a water pitcher in the fridge. It's crisp, it's cool and it's yummy.

You can also mix it up with strawberries, blueberries...just experiement. I use a Brita pitcher. I put the cucumber slices above the filter (so they don't get too soaked and icky) and let the water filter.

Get creative, get fresh, get yummy!