Just One Mom Trying

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Products I Love

Here are 3 products that I love. I wish I had them. I've seen them and have interacted with them but do not own them...yet.

Let's start with the Green Marker. These are super cute grass blade sticky book marks. I want! These are popular in Japan and are difficult to obtain right now in the US. They would cost almost $100 just to get a few of these markers from Japan. I'm going to have to wait on these. BUT I JUST LOVE THEM!

Here's something I can afford- bubbles from Family Dollar! I think these were $2. It's not the actual bubbles themselves that I like, but the top! Check out the bubble top. It's a no-spill top, perfect for toddlers. I think all bubbles should come standard with this top. LOVE!

And then there's the gloves. These are absorbent dish drying gloves! One thing that I hate is opening up the dishwasher and the dishes are super hot and they're not even totally dry! Put these bad boys on, dry those dishes, and put them away at the same time. GENIUS! I don't know why I still don't own these but I should. You can find these at Bed Bath and Beyond for $4.99. That's a good deal!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Family Dinners: Back to School

Emily 5:36 AM 0 Comments

DELIGHTFUL DINING: Show and Tell

Each member of the family packs an item in a backpack, or tote, or other "school" bag. Be prepared to share the history or a story about that item to the other family members at the table. It can be a picture, an heirloom, book, toy, etc. Take turns sharing.

TABLE TOPICS:

Do you know anyone who can speak a second language? If you could speak a second language (or a third), which language would you like to speak? Why?
What was your very favorite part of summer? What are you looking forward to when school starts?
What do you hope to learn this year in school?

FLAVORFUL FAVORITES: Easy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These are so delicious and perfect for busy weeknights. These won't disappoint. I love P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps but they're expensive and I rarely eat out. I love making my own version at home.

Ingredients:

1 can water chestnuts, diced

3 green onions, diced

1/2 pkg. fresh mushrooms, diced

1 chicken breast, cooked and diced

Trader Joe's Soyaki teriyaki sauce (add to liking)

1 head butter lettuce, washed

Directions:

In a skillet, combine water chestnuts, green onions, mushrooms, chicken and Soyaki. Cook until hot and mushrooms are cooked through.

Serve with washed butter lettuce leaves.

# delightful dining # family dinners

Monday, September 5, 2011

Easy Hand Sewing for Children

Emily 6:22 AM 2 Comments

Sewing is a skill. And, it's a great skill to have. However, it's just not as popular as it used to be. Here's an easy way to introduce your child to hand sewing. You don't need to be an expert to do this. If you are a teacher, you can do this in your classroom! It's that easy and the kids love it.

Materials:

burlap (easily obtained from a fabric store or the sewing section of Walmart)
yarn
yarn needle
masking tape

Directions:

Cut a piece of burlap to desired size.
Tape the sides on the back to keep the burlap from unraveling or fraying.
Start sewing using your yarn and yarn needles.

This is what MJ, my 3-year old, came up with. I love it! I want to frame it. (They look super cute when they are framed.)

# crafts # kid craft

Monday, August 29, 2011

DIY: Tea Party Hats

Emily 11:53 AM 0 Comments

Under this hat is my cute niece. She is having a tea party with her cousins. They made their own hats, with some help from their moms.

Want to make your own hat?

Cut about 3 feet of butcher paper (we used paper that was about 24" wide).
Mold the paper over the child's head.
Wrap some tape around the child's head to keep the shape. This way the hat will fit and stay on.

4. Roll up the edges of the paper to form the brim of the hat.

5. Take the hat off and DECORATE! Use feathers, bows, ribbons, sequins, pearls, tissue paper, etc.) We made some tissue paper flowers to go with the whole "paper" idea. Click HERE for a tutorial on how to make easy tissue paper flowers.

MJ had a blast with her cousins. They all looked darling in their little hats. I think we might try a tea party-themed birthday in the spring.

# birthdays # crafts

Dominoes

Emily 11:26 AM 0 Comments

When was the last time you or your child has played with dominoes? We inherited a huge bag of wooden dominoes from my mom- the same dominoes I used to play with when I was a kid. My brothers and sisters and I would set them all up and then knock them over, use them as little blocks and stack them up, and count all the dots on the pieces. I don't remember using them to actually play a real game of "Dominoes."

MJ likes playing with them the same way I did- knocking them over. It's fun to see her grasp the concept of cause and effect.

She also likes building with them, and even playing a REAL game of "Dominoes." She learned that she had to count the dots and then match the same numbers up.

Dominoes make a great teaching tool. Who knew?

# games # playtime

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hurricane Irene

Emily 6:50 PM 0 Comments

Well, I missed one earthquake while I was gone on vacation and made it back just in time for Hurricane Irene. We were extremely blessed that the hurricane slowed down and passed without any damage. We pray for those who have been affected by the hurricane.

We prepared for the worst. I never take chances with the lives of my kids and husband. I prepared the best I could.

There are 3 things that I ALWAYS have ready to go for whatever emergency may arise. I want to share with you what these 3 things are. This made my preparation a lot easier.

1) Flee Bag. This bag is a plastic shopping bag that contains an old pair of tennis shoes, a pair of clothes (light-weight, pajama pants and t-shirt sort of thing just in case you're not fully clothes when emergency strikes), and a flashlight. This stays at the foot of the bed in case of an unplanned emergency and you have no time to do anything but just go.

2) Emergency Backpacks. Each family member has a backpack loaded with toiletries, flashlight, whistles, a pair of clothes, some activities, and snacks. It gets complicated when you have a baby. This is a 72-hour kit for each member of the family. I usually keep these in the car (if you have the room) or by the front door. Make sure the backpacks are updated every 6 months or so. Food expires, kids grow out of clothes and diaper sizes, etc.

Here's a list of things and other suggested items that I keep in my backpacks:

For Adult or Older Children

WATER
Soap (hand sanitizer and bar)
Acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen
Pepto Bismol
Wipes
Feminine hygiene supplies
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Shampoo
Deodorant
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Hand lotion
Socks
Clothes
Flashlight
Whistle
Tissues
Trash bag
Rain poncho
Deck of playing cards
Pen and paper (small notebook)
Scissors
Important phone numbers and info. (in notebook)
Cash
Snacks

Vienna Sausages
Tuna salad and crackers (ready to eat)
Hard candy for quick energy
Applesauce
Fruit cup or dried fruit
Beef Jerky
Peanuts
Fruit snacks
Gum
Granola bars or protein bars
Plastic spoons

For Infants and Toddlers

WATER

Soap (hand sanitizer and body wash)

Infant and/or child’s acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen

Shampoo

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Sunscreen

Hand lotion

Chapstick or Aquafore

Socks

Clothes

Flashlight

Wipes

Diapers

Baby formula

Bottle

Baby Food

Spoon

Pacifier

Toys

Stuffed animal*

Coloring books and crayons

Easy card games

Blanket (extra hospital blankets work great so don’t throw those away)

Snacks

Granola bars
Applesauce
Fruit snacks
Fruit cup or dried fruit
Peanuts (toddlers that are old enough)
Handi-Snacks (Cheese dip and crackers)
Hard candy
Vienna Sausages (for toddlers)
Spaghetti-O’s (single serving size)
Plastic spoons

*I have a back-up favorite stuffed animal for my daughter. She has grown attached to it and loves it more than anything. I went online and bought a back-up to put in our emergency kit. It will be a great comfort if we have to leave home.

Other things to have on hand in the car: blankets, water, emergency car kit (jumper cables, etc.)

3) First-Aid Kit. Make sure it is loaded and ready to go.

Some suggested items to have in your kits:

Band-Aids
Adhesive tape
Neosporin or other antibiotic ointment
Instant ice pack
Cotton balls or cotton-tipped swabs
Ibuprofen
Acetaminophen
Scissors
Latex gloves
Gauze
Tape
Alcohol wipes
Tweezers
Thermometer
Safety pins
Ace bandage
Hand sanitizer

You can never be too ready for an emergency.

# emergency preparedness

Monday, August 1, 2011

Going Back to Cali

Emily 4:12 AM 0 Comments

We just recently moved from California to Boston this spring. This week I will be packing up our two girls and heading to Cali to visit my fam. Hubs has to stay behind and work. :( We will be gone for almost a month so my vacation from blogging begins today as I prepare for our trip. :) I am extremely excited to go back to my native land of perfect weather. Happy August!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Products I Love

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Family Dinners: Back to School

Monday, September 5, 2011

Easy Hand Sewing for Children

Monday, August 29, 2011

DIY: Tea Party Hats

Dominoes

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hurricane Irene

Monday, August 1, 2011

Going Back to Cali

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