Making The Most Of Mommy Time Quick Tips

Time management took on a whole new meaning with the arrival of baby boy number two. Multi-tasking raised to a magician skill level, combined with a pencil schedule (read, flexible, eraser friendly, and downright throw it out the window) attitude.

That's when I figured out a few tips that make some days (not all, of course...that would just be silly!) feel as though I've accomplished something...or things!

Take advantage of early mornings. My boys wake up early, which means I wake up early. Amazingly enough, I kind of like that at times. I get myself a decaf pot brewing (or if I fell real fancy, I brew a nice cup of Teavana). Then, I get my game plan on. If I can get three things at least of my today list, it is a win. Laundry, dishes, and dinner in the crockpot. Usually, the boys are in the best mood early and play well together, allowing me to have a pretty productive morning. Then, I have the rest of the day to pick up leggos and Cars.

Multitasking is a must. My house is u-shaped. Therefore if I have to go to one side or the other, I try to take something with me or grab the Swiffer to join me on my journey. There's always clothes to be dropped off to the laundry room!

Make a realistic list. There's no way I can get the whole house cleaned, mopped, sparkling and perfect. But, I can get laundry started, the dishwasher emptied, and a fabulous tickle session in. Yep, I put that one on. Not only to check off another item, but to remind me that there are things more important than a clean house.

Finally, put down your phone. Seriously. It is a time sucker. I try to have one day a week that the phone is just a phone, and not a mindless time escape. Then, I actually try (this doesn't always happen, because I do have to do work related "tasks" at times) to only check my phone at a scheduled time. First thing in the morning, nap time, in between daddy coming home and dinner, and before bed.

But, the biggest thing I do for my time management road to a great day? Don't stress if things don't go the way you plan. Big deal. Happiness isn't a clean house, a perfect list checked off item by item...it is those moments that melt your heart.

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Mommy Tips...Frugal Snack Time

Another plus side to frugality as a mommy has popped up. I've started to make a few things at home rather than buy them at the store, not only saving money, but I know what is in things plus it turns out to be very environmentally friendly!

Once I had my boys, I started paying more attention to what we were putting in (and on) our bodies. And even before, when I was pregnant. Certain things started going the way of a desolate, deserted road.

No more artificial sweeteners, less processed food (single ingredients, or at least ones that I could pronounce!), no more butter substitutes, as few artificial colors as possible...

In that quest, I discovered how wonderful Pinterest can be for all things DIY (I'm currently researching a pallet project).

Here is one of my favorite recipes that I've added my own twist to. At my house, chewy trail mix granola bars are like gold. For a busy mommy (especially while breastfeeding!), a quick, healthy snack is a must. Plus, my husband takes them to work, or as a on the go snack!

CHEWY TRAIL MIX GRANOLA BARS

1/3 cup honey
1/4 brown sugar
1/4 unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups quick oats
1/2 cup crisped rice cereal
1/4 flax seeds
1/2 sliced or crushed almonds
Generous dash of coarse sea salt
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 chopped dried cherries
1/2 raisins
1/4 mini chocolate chips or finely chopped dark chocolate
Coconut oil (to "grease" the pan)

1.) Preheat oven to 350.
2.) Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place oats, flax seed, and almonds on, evenly.
3.) Bake for five minutes, stir. Continue baking for five minutes, lightly toasting to a golden brown (not too dark)



4.) In medium bowl, mix cherries, raisins, rice cereal, salt, almond extract, and vanilla extract.



5.) In small heavy sauce pan, combine honey, brown sugar, and butter on medium heat until sugar dissolves.



6.) Pour warm, toasted oat mixture into bowl with cherries, etc. Use the foil to line your baking/brownie pan. Lightly grease with coconut oil.

7.) Carefully pour in warm honey mixture, stirring to ensure everything getsvcoated. Add in almost all chocolate (I like to save some to press into the top as well). Don't worry about the chocolate melting, it will help with the chewy factor!

8.) Spread mixture evenly into lined baking pan. Use a bit of the coconut oil on the back of a spatula and PRESS DOWN EVENLY. The better you press, the better the stay together factor. Press in remaining chocolate.

9.) Refrigerate for two hours. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container for about a week and a half. If they last that long!

I personally love all the bits that fall off...perfect for greek yogurt.

Keep in mind, the possibilities are endless. Use whatever extras you like! I used coconut flax granola, dried berries with white chocolate...the best part is the cost. We would spend eight to ten dollars a week...now we spend that in a month!!

Enjoy!!

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Frugal Mommy Tip: Off Season Savings

Frugal doesn't mean cheap. It means your smart. One of my favorite tips for a stay at home mommy to be a money saving, frugal, SMART mommy is to buy off season.

For example, the two weeks after holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, even Valentine's Day are real bargain hunting extravaganzas.

Just last week, as I was checking off the everyday items from my grocery list, I spotted the final markdowns of random Christmas baking novelty mixes. Marshmallow rice crispy tree kits ($4.50 now $.25!!), ugly sweater sugar cookie kits ($3.99 now $.50), ninja gingerbread men cookie kit ($3.99 now $.50), and red velvet cake ball kit ($3.99 now $.50). So, for $4.25, I now have two red velvet cake mixes, two cookie kits, and five bags of rice crispy cereal/marshmallows, plus white chocolate wafers, red and green candy wafers, and two ziplocs full of decorating items.

Red velvet will be perfect for Valentine's Day, especially considering the ugly sweater sugar cookies came with heart sprinkles. And, the rice crispy cereal will become treats, or breakfast and cups of marshmallow filled cups of cocoa!



Not too bad, if I do say so myself.

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Stay At Home Mommy Tips (aka frugal doesn't mean cheap)

You know the stories...they tell you how to save money/make money/maybe even plant a money tree as w stay at home mom. The title makes it sound so easy, like snapping your fingers or clicking your heals together. More often than not, the link leads you to another link, which leads to yet another...possibly to buy the amazing ebook that, if you just dish out $9.99 or thereabouts.

Which is a case of Up & Up baby wipes.

Not this mommy.

Three years ago, I left a well paying retail management position for a company that I loved, but more often than not, came home after a ten hour day bawling my eyes out. Once I had my son the mantra I had repeated to myself suddenly made sense.

MAKE THE CHOICE TO BE HAPPY.

I chose to stay home. It hasn't been easy. My husband and I had just purchased our newest house while still owning our first one (yay two mortgages) and had planned major renovations, plus we now had baby boy to supply diapers, wipes, new clothes, etc, to.

Oy.

But, while everything hasn't been perfect, I've learned so much. And, for the most part, I'm happy. (No one is happy all the time. If they tell you they are, they're lying to make themselves feel and look better.)

So, I've decided to help others with their choice, no gimmicks. Easy stuff. Little things, that together, can make bigger things happen.

Here is number one.

The great closet clean our , clutter cutting, make a few pennies time.

You've seen it, either on the blogosphere or even the Today Show. We don't use seventy percent of what is in our closet. And, my closet has had many years of mindless spending to gather useless items.

Most people suggest a keep, donate, and throw away pile. I don't.

Try a keep, donate, and sell pile.

The goal is to make "Stay At Home Mommy" work for you, right? So, yes, donate. These are the things that you've kept that aren't in fabulous condition or so out of style, no one will want them. Most places will take anything, because they either use it (like shelters), sell it (Goodwill), or make something of it to sell (like rags to industrial companies). And try not to forget animal shelters for your old towels, blankets, etc.

Then, take a long hard look. What do you really wear? I have cute tops, skirts, etc, that just sit there. Besides my everyday comfies, jeans, and the usual go to pieces, I have my feel good clothes. Those I wear, but on special occasions and they make me feel fabulous.

Then, there's everything else.

Big job, I know. But, you don't have to do it all at once. In fact, if you have days like I do, that would be impossible, even in jammies and skipping showers!

I use handle bags that I've collected and can't bring myself to pitch or recycle to separate my piles and organize them. Then, the real fun begins.

There's a few different routes you can go to sell your gently used, beautiful dust collectors.

Resale shops. I don't go this way often, only because I can cut out the middle man. But if time is of the essence, resale is easy and fast. Plus, you can check out what they have. The drawback, besides the little bit you leave on the table not selling yourself, is that these places only want the really current and in like new condition things.

Garage sales. Deal hunters will clean you out. For a deal. Plus they are seasonal. But, if you have a house to declutter or friends to co-host, definitely worthwhile. Bonding over money...sounds fun to me!!

Facebook groups. My local community has a sell your stuff group that I joined. You set the price and pick-up (meet at your place or somewhere).

My favorite, though? EBay. You list, take pictures and describe (the more, the better!!) your items, and then just wait. The audience is bigger, and you can ship and list when the little ones are napping or on the weekends. Plus, if you time it, you can ship a few things all at once. Just do your research on pricing (auctions vs did price), really accurate descriptions, and shipping costs. I usually pre-package items and mark what they are so I can easily ship once they sell.



Go forth, cut the clutter, and make a few dollars.

I am.

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What EBay Selling As A Mom Has Taught Me

Since I've decided to stay home with my little ones, I've had to find ways to make up partly for the full time salary I once had coming in. (Still have to pay for those pre-many Coach purses and silly shoes I'll probably never wear again!)

That being said, besides teaching three times a week, I've been selling various things on eBay. And, I've learned so much about what that means, especially about eBay and values I want to teach my boys.

1.) You can never tell what people will buy. Make-up samples and freebies (like the free gift eye shadow that you've never used!), back issues of magazines, even coupons are money makers. Well, not big time, but every little dollar counts.

2.) Always be up front about flaws. People will appreciate honesty, and describe and take advantage of those twelve pictures. Even so, people might be mad at their own decision and regret it later...which leads me to...

3.) Communication. I truly have the belief that most people want to do the right thing by others, especiallye. If you have a problem, don't leave feedback that blindsides a seller. For example, I sold a "gift certicate"/coupon (the wording on the item, not mine!) for $1.99 plus shipping for Udder Covers, Faraway Canopy, etc. and clearly stated that shipping (as stated on the offers) wasn't free. It sold over a month ago for $1.99 plus my shipping cost. The buyer just left neutral feedback that shipping was $90 for four items, and I had ripped them off! I personally own two of these and purchased them with the same offers and it didn't cost me more the twenty. But, this person not only never contacted me (for a $1.99 item), but made it seem I RIPPED THEM OFF!! Well, I sent a message to them, offering a refund even though they received it as described and said I would've gladly worked with them had they COMMUNICATED WITH ME. No reply as of yet...and sadly, eBay protects sellers very little in situations like this.

3.) People are cheaper than you think. See above. Unfortunately, even for a $1.99, people would rather let their frustration out on you than simply ask a question. But, hey, I love a great deal, so that doesn't really bother me...

4.) As sad as I was to see my boys outgrow their "bananas over mommy" outfit, I'm happy that some other little munchkin will get to wear it. Even if I only get 5% of what I paid for it.

5.) Shipping items takes time, money, and sometimes costs more than you think. The time is the hardest part, especially with little ones.

4.) You have to spell everything out clearly. Which takes even more time. Listing items is somewhat easy, but in no way fast.

5.) Somethings just won't sell, or won't sell for as much as you'd like. Save those things for garage sales, or better yet, donate them.

6.) Don't take feedback personally. I'm trying really hard with this one, because I feel like it is personal. When it is positive, go for it. But I'm your heart if you know you've done the right thing, realize that some people are just bitter or upset and are taking it out in you.

Sigh...and, try not to check your phone in the middle of the night so that you won't be upset enough to write a blog post like this...

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I Beg To Differ, My Friend.

Recently, a somewhat good friend of ours published a note on her Facebook page. Overwhelmed with turning forty, as well as a series of small mishaps that culminated ion her son taking the leap of acquiring his driver's license and being told she was feeling sudden "empty nest" syndrome, she decided to put her emotions to words.

Words that she probably felt were filled with poetic wisdom that would make fellow mothers in their daily plight of overwhelming happenstances.

Thus enters the dangers of generalizing for the masses, but most especially for women.

The long and the short of it, this hopefully well meaning friend made her point of not living for your children who wouldn't need you forever or always. To have your own identity outside of your children,band not be so wrapped up in them that they are your life.

Well, I am here to tell you (in the words and wisdom of Prince) there's something else. As in, I don't think so, my friend.

While I somewhat agree with her sentiment (ok, barely), her process simply doesn't work. At least in my situation. You see, I had a well paying, exciting, and empowering full time position that allowed me the opportunity to spoil myself, while providing a roof and the necessities of life. Including a Coach bag/accessory collection/addiction, shoes of every style and color, MAC/bare minerals/Nars beauty product addictions, comic book/fan girl collections, just to name a few. Oh, and the ability to take a few tribal bellydance classes here and there.

Then, baby boy number one makes his appearance. My heart, much like the Grinch (not that I'm Grinch-like!) grew and grew. Those beautiful brown eyes stared up at me, sometimes glaring, and I just knew this little guy would forever change my life. That wonderful job? I suddenly knew that coming home crying more often than not, being pitted against my other female coworkers like a scene from Mean Girls, and eight to ten hours on my feet in heels was simply not worth it any longer. I couldn't imagine an hour without seeing that face or letting someone else witness all his firsts.

And I knew, more than anything, I needed to set the example for him and be the best that me that I could possibly be. Which meant no more full time, crazy scheduled, results focused job that did nothing to fulfill my life.

I knew this little man would be my life, and the joy he gave me was so much more than that. It was courage to take a leap of faith, and be the me I was truly meant to be.

Then, number two made his appearance (much faster than we had thought!), and now my days are filled with loving these two little boys who are my everything (with their daddy, of course!). Family. Love. Even with the challenges (some days, we live in our jammies), every moment of happiness laced with a small amount of insanity is worth so much more than I ever believed possible. In finding that kind of love, I've discovered how to take care of myself and dare to dream again.

Then there's the whole notion that your children will stop needing you.

I call B.S.

Right now, and almost every moment of every day, especially since the bundles of crazy insane joy have arrived, I need my mom. With an aching in my heart, I think of her. But she's not able to be with us. I know she looks in, and there are times when I just know she is there.

I've never stopped needing her. Ever.

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