Tip Tuesday: Kids Need Plenty of Water...and Here's How!!

With all this heat, here is a friendly reminder to drink lots of water....not pop, beer, but WATER! Especially our little ones!

When I was little I remember my family taking my dad to the emergency for heatstroke after a softball tournament on a particular hot weekend in July. He had gotten too hot and dehydrated that day with 90+ temperatures and humidity. Ever since that day he does not handle the heat very.

I was reminded of this when Judah got dehydrated this week especially after being out in the heat even the tiniest bit. Even indoors, we find ourselves drinking a lot of water due to the unbearable heat. So I have encouraged him to drink plenty of water every time I remembered. It was Judah who came up with the idea of keeping a cup within his reach to remind him.

One day Judah was trying to figure out how to stick his drinking cup to the fridge. He kept asking for some way to attach it to the fridge door on his level. With that idea in mind, I went upstairs to my sewing stuff and found some adhesive Velcro (which you can find at the fabric store or in a craft section at a department store). Together we stuck the scratchy pieces to the fridge door and its corresponding soft pairs to the cup.

Now Judah can access his cup at any time from where it sticks and step over to the other fridge door to get water. This system has saved time in asking for help as well as encouraged independence and ingenuity.

Please remember though to be careful with spilled water on a tile floor as it gets really slippery. Also keep an eye out for objects finding their way inside the cup (like dirty pennies). Be sure too to clean the cup every so often by running it through the dishwasher. And lastly, make sure your child is not dipping the cup into the cat water dish as he refills it.

Happy Hydrating!

TIp Tuesday: No Expectations!

Yes, we are still here just in case you were wondering. Baby time turned into a 3 month sabbatical from the blog. Kristyna (Krissy) Jane was born March 14 and we have been adjusting ever since as we make her a part of our family.

Some of these adjustments are to be expected...The late night feedings. Nursing tanks and in between comfortable elastic clothes (because nothing else fits). Blow out diapers. Naps. Eating and going to the bathroom in a hurry. A crying baby. Hormone changes. Somehow I thought it would seem easier this time because I knew what to expect and what to do with a baby.

As I experience motherhood for the second time though some preconceived notions were thrown out of the window right away and I had to adjust in ways I did not even imagine. I thought I could settle back into routine with just adding one more person.

Little did I know that I would grieve and cry over spending one-on-one time with my firstborn. And then I would cry over not having alone time to get to know baby number two. On one hand I would cry for some sleep as I realized I could not sleep with baby since child number one was finally awake for the day with loads of energy to unload. And on the other hand, I would cry when child number one would turn into a little terror that would stomp and pull baby number two or melt into previously unknown temper tantrums. Even the hormone changes caught me off guard with sweaty arm pits and heat flashes. I guess I had a lot to work through.

The bottom line advice this second time around on what I have learned....have NO EXPECTATIONS as it will all come with time!

Worrying about a dirty house, still being in your pajamas, and trying to care for two crying kids can get the best of you if you had plans you wanted to complete and a routine you needed to keep. Enjoying and focusing on yourself and your family is the key. When you do get a load of laundry done or make supper or have a peaceful nap time you can relish in accomplishing something instead of what you did not get done.

So hopefully we are back as we settle into a new routine. Back for some advice from you more experienced moms. Back to offer you new moms a recess reprieve. And back for some laughs and tips as we go through motherhood together!

Tip Tuesday: Check list for New Baby

Since I am almost week 36 pregnant, I decided it is time to go through a check-list for the new baby. Here is a list I used from a friend during my first pregnancy I thought I would review. And of course, based on my previous experience, I took some away and added a few other items. Please share from your own experiences what items you would include or not include and why.

These are the must have items you should have before baby arrives.

1. Crib with at least 2 sets of crib sheets and waterproof pads. You do not need a bumper or a baby positioner for baby as they are unsafe.
2. Mobile to hang over crib
3. Chest of drawers
4. Diaper pail, Diaper Genie for disposables
5. Changing table with a changing pad and 2 pad covers
   
6. A good night light
7. A clock with indigo light to see what time it is in the wee morning hours
8. A comfy rocking chair
9. Lots of receiving blankets. Consider the size of the swaddle blankets as the ones in the store are way too small for swaddling. Also I could not have done without my Halo Sleepsacks which relieved nighttime fears of blankets falling over babies face.
   
10. Boppy pillow or I actually prefer My Best Friend Delux (for post-Ceseran recovery as it sits high above your incision and allows you the ability to do several feeding positions).
    
11. A vibrating bouncy chair
12. Diaper cream, Infant Tylenol, Infant Gas Drops, and safety and hygiene kit with an Emory board and nail clippers and a working thermometer.
13. Baby bath tub and baby wash clothes/towels for tub.
    
14. Diaper bag or I actually prefer a baby back pack to free your hands when unloading the car.
    
15. Breast pump if you are pumping - If you do not work outside the home, I would consider a Medela Swing Pump as it is convenient to store in your diaper bag for traveling. Then consider renting a double pump machine for the first few weeks after your hospital stay until your milk production goes down to allow you to store enough milk in the freezer. When you rent a machine, you will buy brand new tubes (which you will need for you own machine anyways) making it totally sanity.
    
16. Breast pads - I like the disposable Johnson and Johnson cotton inserts that fit into your bra so you do not leak all over.
    
17. Lanisol cream for you breast if you are breast feeding
    
18. Breast milk storage bags and marker
    
19. 4 - 6 ounce bottles (if breast feeding) - Most lactation consultants at the hospital start you on a certain brand like Avent. Take your cue from them before purchasing your own set of bottles as babies respond differently to the different nipples.
    
20. A container for the dishwasher to wash bottles and drying rack for bottles that sits on the counter. We also used our bottle warmer quite often on our second story but not that it is not necessary to have.
    
21. Stroller based on your needs - I recommend a jogger if you exercise frequently. Otherwise, consider one that fits with your car seat for daily use. Remember to make sure that it fits in the trunk of your car and you can open it with one hand as you may have the kid on the other.
    
22. Car seat - I would recommend getting a car seat base for each of your cars. Never buy a used car seat because you do not know if it has been in an accident or meets all the safety requirements. Also, keep in mind after a number of years, your car seat will actually expire and by kid number three you may need to buy a new seat.
    
23. A car seat cover for the winter.
    
24. Baby monitor - We prefer a video monitor that we can hook up our smart phone and computer too.
    
25. A sling to carry baby around.
    
26. 2-3 nursing bras - I suggest not buying them until right before your due date as your bust size does change. Consider getting fitted at your local hospital boutique before leaving for home to find the most comfortable size and fit. I prefer Bravado Designs as they were the most comfortable with the back pain I experienced my cesarean.
    
27. 1-2 pacifiers
28. 2-3 packages of 0-3 month onsies
29. 3-4 packages of 3-6 month onsies
30. 2-5 pairs of pants
31. baby socks
32. baby hat
33. 4-5 sleepers - I like the nightgowns for newborns as it is easier to change their diapers
34. Baby book and/or first year calendar - I like to have them available at the hospital to do an extra set of footprints directly into the baby book.
    
35. Outfit to bring baby home from the hospital as well as comfortable clothes for mom to go home in. I suggest a dress or skirt for post-ceserean if you incision is still painful and sore.
    
36. Burp Clothes
37. Diapers - I recommend the Pampers Swaddles for newborns because the yellow line changes colors after the diaper has been wet.
    

These Items are really nice to have on hand but I recommend borrowing them from a friend or family member for storage reasons. Please note that each baby is different and may not always take to one of these items anyways.

1. Bassinet and bassinet sheets
   
2. A swing

These items are nice to have or again borrow but you do not need them right away.

1. Exersaucer
2. Baby Bjorn
3. Exercise/play mat
4. High chair
5. Pack and play
6. Bath toys
7. CDs of lullabies
8. Toys- rattles, teethers, blocks, rings, books
9. Cute lamp for the nursery

Things to do before baby arrives

1. Chose a pediatrician before baby arrives
   
2. Try and get your nursery done before you are 7 months pregnant
3. Make meals to freeze
4. Stock up on 1-2 months worth of : toilet paper, paper towels, soap, shampoo, razors, 1month supply of maxi pads (with wings), dish soap, diapers and wipes, rice/pasta, frozen vegetables, bread (can freeze), etc.
5. Consider hiring a cleaning service
   
6. Consider buying a digital camera, video recorder
7. Consider a mini vacation before your bundle of joy arrives
8. Starting thinking about who might babysit for you
9. Have the car seat bases installed a few weeks before you are due
10. Get thank yous done before baby arrives if possible
11. If you think you might need daycare, start looking now
12. Start looking at places where you might want to get baby pictures taken
13. Wash all baby clothes in gentle detergent prior to having baby
    

Tip Tuesday: The Love Of A Mother--Are Ultrasounds Really Safe?

No one questions that mothers love their children. No one questions that expecting mothers can't wait for their ultrasound date. The chance to peek into your own uterus and see your growing child? It's magical.

But it's also not proven to be entirely safe. I do a lot of reading...maybe too much. But when it comes to my kids, there's no such thing as keeping them too safe. When I was expecting my first child, I read and read and read...and I haven't stopped. But 6 years ago I read about the dangers of ultrasounds. That's when I decided that ONLY medically necessary ultrasounds would be the route we would go.

With our first son, the ultrasound showed that he might have an issue with his kidneys. The doctors wanted to be prepared in case something was wrong, that they'd be able to do kidney surgery on him right after birth. They scheduled a second ultrasound ten weeks later (32 weeks) and discovered the kidneys were totally healthy. When he was almost two weeks overdue, he failed the "kick counts" and the doctor told me to leave work and rush to an ultrasound. He was fine, just running out of room. So my first pregnancy I had three ultrasounds. Not what I had intended.

Every pregnancy there after, we've only had one ultrasound per child. No additional ultrasounds were necessary. This baby (yes, #4) we will probably have two ultrasounds. Why two? Well, we already had one (unintentionally) because the Doctors were looking for what we all thought was a ruptured cyst...turns out, it was a hemorrhage...and a baby. I will have one more ultrasound (around the "normal" 20ish weeks) to make sure everything is growing, that the placenta has attached as it should (a danger because of the hemorrhage/high risk pregnancy) and maybe, if baby cooperates, to see the gender.

And that's it. No extra ultrasounds. No "fun" pictures. Why? It's not safe. It's not necessary. And it could be harming the baby. Did you know that ultrasounds destroy sperm? They actually use it as a form of temporary sterilization. What makes it safe for a baby?

I've also heard the "it's my body and I can do what I want." Interesting. This is the same argument that pro-choice people use. But it's not just your body. It's affecting the baby as well.

According to WebMD, some parents are opting for a 4-D scan. "Some facilities are providing this scan at the parents' request without a specific medical indication. A moving picture interpretation is referred to as a 4-D ultrasound. According to the March of Dimes, the FDA, as well as many other experts, the use of these non-medical ultrasounds is discouraged since untrained personnel may provide inaccurate or harmful information."

No, thanks. I'm going to take the word of the FDA, the March of Dimes and the safety of my child over my want to see the baby.

My friend, fellow Conservative blogger and Doctor wrote an article about this subject. She says, "My son, and his twin who died, both hated the ultrasound. It seemed to cause them physical pain from what I observed. They became agitated. It is known that the amniotic fluid warms up at least a degree from the ultrasound."

Again, no one questions the love a mother has for her child. If every mother knew of the dangers and read more about all of their options, maybe they would put the safety of their child ahead of their want.

You'll see and hold your baby soon enough...let them be safe in the safest place in the world. Your womb. Don't open them up to unnecessary dangers.

Edit: Upon further research, I discovered that the Ethics Committee within the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has discouraged the use of non-medical ultrasounds during pregnancy. You can read their opinion here.

Tip Tuesday: Tracking Your Gestational Diabetes

So first things first, we have to track our carbs for gestational diabetes. Not an easy task when going out to eat or using a recipe that does not spell out the nutritional facts so readily.

Thankfully, my professional health consultants have pointed out a few websites and apps that can help solve that very problem. And we have started using it more frequently, especially eating out more lately. I can find out the carb count and the sodium intake from a dish at a major food chain restaurant.

I first look at the menu for something that sounds like it will contain less carbs and sodium and we look it up. Then I know for sure how many extra things I can have at the meal. This worked great at Outback Steakhouse the other night where I had the Gold Hearts of Mahi Mahi (without the lemon sauce of course for sodium) and I could still have a few pieces of bread.

Our favorite app to take along with us on our 4G network is calorie counter, who allows you to break down your dish or recipe. At home we can use sites like myfitnesspal.com or calorieking.com, who specializes in low fat and low carb recipes. Try it out for yourself even if you are on a diet.

Tip Tuesday: Listen to your body

I know, I know. This should be a no brainer. But for moms, it's not. We often put ourselves (and our health) on the back burner. And we shouldn't. I have to remind myself of the instructions on a airplane. "In case of a lack of cabin pressure, put on YOUR oxygen mask first, and then help others." But I failed to do that.

As you know, I'm involved in politics. And the Iowa Caucus? That's like the Superbowl for us Iowans...and it only comes once every four years. Between moving in November, hosting my six year old's birthday party and Thanksgiving, a house warming party, preparing for Christmas and the caucus, I've been busy...and been having low back pain. But I put it off. "I'll get it checked out after the caucus" I kept telling myself. And being tough, I refused to take anything for it. That was probably a good call on my behalf.

On New Years Eve, an Uncle of mine unexpectedly passed away. They scheduled the funeral for the day after the caucus. On caucus day, we had the Huffington Post follow us around and get the point of view of caucus attendees. You can watch our caucus experience here.

It was a whirlwind day. Interviews, caucus, victory party...and I was named a Washington Post Reader Favorite Top Iowa Political Tweeter (you can follow me on twitter @bowmama, and our blog is also on twitter @mommysrecess). At our caucus location I spoke on behalf of Rick Santorum...in front of about 1200 people and a slew of reporters. Did I mention I had to follow Rick Perry (himself) and Ann Romney (wife of Mitt)? Yeah, no pressure there. All the while, I had to mentally prep myself as I was doing the readings at my Uncle's funeral mass the next day.

Our boys spent the night at Grandma and Grandpas (thankfully) because we didn't get to bed until after 1AM and had to get up at 6AM in order to make it back to the funeral in time.

I made it through the readings without crying, but after I read, I saw my mom crying and, well, you know how it is when your mom cries...you cry. So I cried. At the luncheon after the cemetary, we learned that my great aunt had been in a car accident and was being life-flighted to Omaha. She had two collapsed lungs, broke her C2 and C3, compressed disks, etc etc. The remainder of the week was spent checking in with mom to see how my Great Aunt was doing, and trying to get back into a normal routine.

And then Saturday night happened. My husband worked on Saturday. When he got home, we had dinner. At dinner, I stood up to get a napkin and started bleeding. Heavy. Fast. I raced to the bathroom and even my medic husband was concerned. I called Mercy Nurse and she told me to come in. I explained the back pain and we both thought an ovarian cyst had ruptured (I have a history of cysts). My husband dressed the boys and called his parents. We rushed them over and went to the ER. The nurse took my vitals, asked for a urine sample and took blood. They hooked me up to an IV because I was dizzy from all of the blood I lost. And then it was time for an ultrasound to see where the cyst had ruptured.

But there was no cyst. There was, however, a strong heart beat. And a 7 week 5 day baby inside. Surprise.

The first thing I said? "Holy CRAP! There's a baby in there!" Not the most eloquent thing I've ever said but I was in shock!

My husband and I were both so surprised. And so was the ultrasound tech. And the nurse. And the Doctor. The amount of blood I lost, we had prepped ourselves for the possibility of a miscarriage. But like his/her mom, "Noodle" (what my oldest has nicknamed the baby) is strong.

They did find a bleed and called it a subchorianic hemorrhage. My instructions were to take it easy and monitor the bleeding. I go to the doctor today for a check up.

Long story short? Listen to your body. Had I gone to the Doctor when I had the pain weeks ago, this probably couldn't have been avoided but at least I would have known.

I've had enough drama in 2012 to write a whole Christmas letter. You hear that 2012? No more drama. And I've learned to listen to my body. Don't put your health off. And be sure to put on the oxygen mask first, and then assist others.

Tip Tuesday: Battle the Dry Air

Last week my husband blamed me for dripping hair color (purple) on our bedspread. I thought I had been really careful about it. I guess I wasn't.

And then I found a variety of dark red spots on the tile in our bathroom floor. Again, I didn't think I was that crazy with the hair color...but I guess I was.

And on Saturday, the real culprit reared his little furry head. As I was getting ready for our housewarming party, Beckett, our cat, came in and used his litterbox. On the way out of the swinging door, he sneezed. Blood sprayed everywhere. I screamed for my husband and he came running, holding the cat in the bathroom so he wouldn't drip blood on the new (cream) carpet.

"Gimme some cotton balls," demanded my husband who was holding Beckett down as Beckett continued to sneeze and spray blood.

I went to the "stockpile" in our closet and grabbed the first thing that made sense. A maxi-pad. It IS what it is for. So here's my husband, holding a feminine pad under our cats nose as he continues to sneeze and spray blood. Still.

"Cottonballs," yelled my husband. I finally found them and he did get the bleeding to stop...but it took about 20 minutes. My husband, who notoriously gets bloody noses in the winter, informed me that he had one a few days before.

We love the new house but it is so big that it makes it hard for a pot of boiling water to humidify the air...unlike the apartment.

So I've been air drying the items I know my husband isn't picky about and trying to occasionally boil water. I also leave the bathroom door open when I shower to help by getting some of the humidity into the house.

After the last big nose bleed of the cat, my husband put some Neosporin on his nose. That seemed to help....that and what I've done to put some humidity in the home.

At least I know it wasn't my hair color.

Tip Tuesday: Frugal and Festive Holiday Decorations

It will be nice when I can decorate my whole Christmas tree...but for now, we'll just decorate the top half.

Now that we have hardwood floors, I knew I didn't want to put any breakable ornaments on the tree. I can just see it...the boys come running, crash into the tree and there would be green, red, gold and silver glass shards all over the floor.

Nope. Not going to happen.

But I really hate having decorations that I can only use once a year and knowing they're just sitting in a box in storage. It doesn't seem like a good use of property.

So I grabbed some vases and put the glass balls in them. I put three vases in our front entry way, one on the boys bathroom counter and one on our bathroom counter.

The boys bathroom with glass balls in a vase

Master Bathroom

Front entry way


It really gave all of the rooms a festive feel and it didn't cost anything as I already had the supplies!

Tip Tuesday: Eliminate Clutter With Sheets in Their own Pillow Cases

Why didn't I think of this before. Really. My sheets take up SO much space. Fold em up, put them in the corresponding pillow case and done. It makes SO much sense! I have to give credit where credit is due and saw this on a pinterest post. We tried it this weekend and it worked. It cut our linen closet space by half. BY HALF!

And we have a King size, two twin's and a crib/toddler bed in our home. It makes so much sense, keeps the sheets smelling fresh and is organized!!

Tip Tuesday: Christmas Shopping Savvy

Whether we're ready or not, Christmas is coming. I find it hard to believe that some stores already have their Christmas gear out...did I miss Thanksgiving? No? Okay. Just checking.

I've been buying all year for Christmas. When items go on clearance, I grab them. I stash them. I spreadsheet them. I am a nerd. And in addition to my "gift tote" I also had to figure out a way to get the larger toys from the apartment to our new house in the move. It wasn't easy.

My boys LOVE Angry Birds. They love it so much, they "play" angry birds. That means on kid is sitting on the couch and the other "launches" himself from the other side of the room, to the kid on the couch, screaming "CA-CAW!"

When I saw this deal I couldn't pass it up.

A "live action" Angry Birds game, complete with sounds, for HALF PRICE.

My oldest (the biggest Angry Birds fan in the house) turns 6 just after Thanksgiving. I know what he's getting for his birthday!!

Tip Tuesday: Yak Trax

It's coming. The four letter S-word...snow. It's in the forecast for tonight. I am thankful that I'm not pregnant this winter...but I've managed to survive two snowy Iowa winters pregnant.

When you're expecting, your balance is off. It's normal. And falling is not good for pregnant women. However, I did find that owning a pair of Yak Trax always helped.

While putting the Yak Trax on and off of my shoes was a bit of a challenge, it sure beats slipping and falling and injuring baby or myself.

Tip Tuesday: Dealing with Morning Sickness.

So it is official - I am 20 weeks pregnant. Yes, this does explain why all my posts lately have been full of grammar errors more so than usual. This also explains why my co-author Sarah has been doing the bulk of the posts...because most days I have been too tired chasing my toddler around or I just finished throwing up my lunch.

Just like with Judah, I experienced morning sickness throughout my whole first trimester. In fact, I knew instantly when I was pregnant. One day I started feeling nauseous and the thought of any food seemed repulsive.

When you feel nauseous, nothing sounds good to eat. Your husband, like my sweet husband, has to literally cook all the food and clean up afterwards. As with me, any turn of the head with one (but the wrong) sniff of smell would send me running to the sink.

Even Judah caught on by plugging his own little nose and mouth with his hand calling things stinky. He also would go to the sink with me and pretend to cough. And when my diet became picky, Judah's diet also changed.

Morning sickness is never fun to go through. You feel just yucky all the time, ready to throw up at a moments notice. The only foods you can get down are the ones that sound remotely good and do not require a lot of chewing. Simple things like brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, and changing a dirty diaper suddenly seem like a huge production.

Going through morning sickness twice, I have learned a few tips along the way that at least lessens the bad feelings and yucky tastes. Luckily with Judah, I could lay down all the time.

Here is what I do for morning sickness. Please as with anything before trying talk to your own doctor about what is best for your situation.

1. Try chewing gum after you eat. This helps clean the teeth from leftover food particles that make you want to gag. Chewing gum also helps curb the bad after tastes that seem to penetrate your mouth and make you nauseous.

2. Try taking Unisom sleeping tablets offset with B-6 vitamins. Unisom can be bought over the counter and helps with nausea. The B-6 allows your food to be converted into the energy. With Judah I took two B-6 tablets during the day and a Unisom tablet right before bed throughout my whole pregnancy.

3. For a quick boost in energy and carbohydrates to curb the onslaught of nausea, try eating saltine crackers. Even more so, try eating saltine crackers when you wake up in the morning and before you get out of bed.

4. Snack before you go to sleep. In taking some extra protein (like Greek yogurt) lessens the nausea when you wake up.

5. Eat small meals more often. Personally, I have used Ensure to supplement my diet when I need a snack on the go.

Share your own experiences on dealing with morning sickness.

Tip Tuesday: In honor of Baby Calder....Cherish your Loved Ones!

It is with great sadness of heart today that I must inform you that Baby Calder passed away last evening in his mother's and father's arms.

At around 5:00pm, my husband received a text from his co-worker Becky that her and Zac were on their way back to Iowa City. Cutting their trip at home short, they got word that Baby Calder was suffering from internal bleeding on the brain. Thankfully, Zac and Becky made it back to the University of Northern Iowa Hospitals to spend the last remaining minutes with Baby Calder before he passed by 9:00pm.

Thank you to all our moms for their outpouring, loving response. On behalf of family and friends, your support has been very much appreciated. Your prayers have been felt and your financial contributions a big blessing.

We ask for your continued support in prayer for the family. Soon the adrenalin of experiencing a birth, life, and death will hit them full in their pain of grief. Wrap Zac and Becky in your prayers as they struggle to cope and recover from this brief but traumatic experience emotionally and physcially. For more information on Baby Calder's story, visit Pray for Baby Calder! Should you feel compelled to help further, you may also visit Care for Calder.

In honor of Baby Calder's memory, I ask you to take a few minutes to show your own family members how much you cherish them. Once again we are reminded how fragile life can be. Spend some quality time with your loved ones today giving them a hug and tell them that you love them.

If you yourself are struggling with a the loss of a child, I implore you to read the book, Heaven is for Real. In my own time spent reading this book this past summer, I have thought it helpful with all the emotions and questions surrounding a situation such as this.

Thanks again to our readers for your support.

Tip Tuesday: The Gunk in the Microwave

A friend of mine on Facebook today posted, "Ever had a non-rushed time at your microwave...and as you place your food items in the microwave you look, and think, "WTF exploded all up inside there and HOW LONG has it been that way???" Yup...I had that experience today...I guess tomorrow's agenda will have scouring the inside of the microwave on it."

I know that feeling all too well. And you can use all of the elbow grease in the world, but sometimes the gunk just doesn't come off. Besides, you've got better things to do than to play "What is this and how do I get it off?"

Here's a little trick my mother showed me. Fill a glass measuring cup with water and microwave it to a boil. The hot water will steam the inside of the microwave and help loosen up the "gunk". This way you can use your energy on something important...like chasing down a diaper-less toddler!

Tip Tuesday: Harvesting Herbs for the Freezer!

Why not use the last few Indian summer days of Fall before frost hits to harvest your herbs. Harvesting your herbs and freezing them for the winter will save you some money at the grocery store later as well as make some tasty, winter meals for your family. Surprisingly, it is easy and well worth the hassle.

When I grew herbs in my garden a few years ago, I found an old cook book, The Herb and Spice Cookbook: A Seasoning Celebration, that explained how to freeze and save your herbs over the winter. I tried it, finding it to be a simple way to add flavor and dressing up my boring winter menu, that I have been doing it since and saving some money at the same time.

Perhaps you did not grow your own herbs this year. You can still use the leftover herbs from the bunches you bought at the store or farmers market, preparing them to freeze, before letting them go bad and throwing them out as we often waste them.

1. To get started, take your bunch of herbs (whether cut from the garden or from the store), and remove bad leaves, roots, large sticks, etc.

2. Soak the herbs to clean in a large container of lukewarm water. Never wash under running water as this will crush the leaves but rather immerse them in water to remove dirt.

3. After soaking for some time, remove a small amount at a time and place on paper towels, even laying them. Pat dry and shake slightly any access water. Let sit to finish drying.

4. Tear off individual leaves and spread out onto a cookie sheet so leaves do not stick together.

5. Place cookie sheet into freezer.

6. Transfer frozen leaves into freezer bags and place back into freezer to save in a spot they will not get crushed.

7. Label and date bag.

8. Pop the amount needed to into the dish. When ready to cook, use frozen as the heat of your dish will defrost them quickly. For cold salads and recipes, defrost before adding them.

Herbs will keep from six to eight months frozen. My example in the pictures is oregano. Likewise, for basil, sage, mint, and any other herbs with large leaves, remove them from the larger stem freezing the individual leaves. For rosemary, cilantro, chervil, tarragon, dill, thyme, and marjoram, retain the thinner stems. For chives, chop before freezing.

For a seasonal dish using your harvested thyme, try Sauteed Pork Chops with Thyme and Apples!

For more frugal tips, visit Learning the Frugal Life Tip Tuesday.

Tip Tuesday: Dirty Shoes

We wash our clothes, we wash our cars...but the item that touches the ground the most hardly gets washed. Our shoes can get filthy...but what's the best way to get them clean?

With three boys under the age of 6, I don't have time to take a rag and spot clean our shoes. I remove the laces and just throw them in the washer on cold. Yep, that's it. I use detergent to get them clean.

Once they're done, I pull them out and stuff them with newspaper (yay! a practical use of the Des Moines Register!!) so they don't lose their shape. I let them dry overnight and voila! Clean shoes!

Tip Tuesday: Pajama Jeans...Continued

A few weeks ago I talked about buying and loving my pajama jeans. Seriously, I can't rave about them enough. I wear them EVERYWHERE.

If you love Home Shopping Network (and nursing mothers, I KNOW you watch it at 3AM) they have a big sale on them. Check them out here! They have them on sale for $34.99 with free shipping. Cheaper than you can get at Bed Bath and Beyond WITH a coupon!!

AND you can earn 3 points per dollar through Mypoints.com. If you shop online and don't use mypoints, you're missing out. Leave a message in the comments and I'll send you a referral link!

Like I said, I wear them everywhere. Just the other day, I was shopping at Target and happened to be passing by the "As seen on TV" end cap and over heard someone say, "Look at this...pajama jeans. There's no WAY they look like jeans" and I smiled as I walked by...and they smiled back. I was wearing them...and they had no idea.

Honestly, buy a pair. You will LOVE them. To be honest, I just bought a second pair. And they accept paypal. So shhh...don't tell my husband!

Tip Tuesday: Be Frugal With Your Scents (cents)

HA! See what I did there? Now that you're laughing, I'm going to make you feel uncomfortable.

How does your house smell? No, really. How does your house smell? With two in diapers, my house smells rather...interesting, depending on the day.

I've been getting some great deals at Bath and Body Works on candles but it's not safe to having a candle lit around a toddler who likes to climb. I can light a candle when he goes to bed (and make sure I blow it out before I go to bed) but I don't want to forget it.

So what's a mom to do?

The other day, I made an apple pie. Yes, from scratch. I reserved the peelings from the apples and the apple cores and when I washed my hands of the sugar/cinnamon, I washed it over the pot (small pot) that contained my peels.

I put the pot on the back burner and set it on low. And boy, did it smell good. Granted, I did have an apple pie baking in the oven, but even after an hour after the pie had cooled (and made sure to add a little more water) my house STILL smelled like there was an apple pie baking in the oven.

Not only was I pleased that I re-used the apple peels (yay frugal!) but it made the house smell like all of my boys were potty trained.

I have a feeling potty training is still a few years away for Baby B. But at least my house doesn't have to smell like diapers!

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!

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?