Halloween 365-Days a Year

That's right. I'm writing about Halloween in the middle of February. Want to know why? Because I have 3 young children who loooooooove to play dress-up! Who needs Halloween to wear costumes when you have little kids?

No one! My funny-little-monkeys dress-up at least 3 times a week. Not necessarily as monkeys, though we have one of those costumes too! My kids can dress as princesses, witches, monkeys, dogs, or fairies; if we don't have a costume to suit their current avenue of play, they will make one! Needless to say, our dress-up clothes are put into very good use all year round.

This week the girls are role-playing 'maid-servant' to a princess, who is, in the words of my oldest, "very rude." I believe I may have mentioned feeling like their maid-servant the other day. My best mothering moment? No, but it spurred their imaginations and that is a wonderful thing!

Did you know that by encouraging our children's imagination and providing concrete tools (like costumes, kitchen sets, dolls, etc.) to facilitate imaginative play, you are providing the foundation for future success? Studies show us that imaginative play actually helps our children learn to cope better with stress and build critical cognitive skills like problem-solving and visual processing.

When your little one gets wrapped up in playing and pretending, guess what other awesome skill he's developing? Self-regulation. Otherwise known as self-control. A highly-desired trait that I want my toddler-boy to develop!

Plus, playing is fun. And that's what childhood should be: Fun-filled days brimming with adventures with princesses, fairies and sometimes even a not-so-scary witch! So pull-out those Halloween costumes and get playing!

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Halloweenmart.com, but the writing came straight from the cognitive skills formed through my many years of happy imagining and playing dress-up!

Good Mommy, Bad Mommy

Is there any one thing that turns you quickly from a good mommy to a bad mommy? For me it is the combination of a whiny child and not enough sleep for me. I stayed up waaaaaaay past bedtime last night doing something I rarely ever do anymore: I watched a movie! A movie that my husband has been wanting me to watch with him for a while.

So, I did. I'm glad I did. There were many poignant, thought-provoking quotes in the movie, The Edge (yes, I'm very behind any movie lacking "Barbie" or "Car" in the title) and it was interestingly analogous to our current business situation.

That said, I'm tired! My threshold for whining goes from an approximate 7 out of 10 to absolutely 0! Zero! No tolerance. I am snappy and sometimes mean. Then I have to comfort them when their faces fall because of "Bad Mommy". It's confusing for them, especially the little one.

So, what to do? Ensure that you get just what you need to stay in the realm of "Good Mommy." Which, for me, means I'm going to let my 5-year-old watch a video and I'm going to catch a nap while the boy sleeps.

What makes you mean? What keeps you nice? Do something for you today! What will it be?

Are you an Online Shopper?

I am. I used to enjoy browsing through malls or outdoor shopping strips. Grab a coffee, take a leisurely stroll, try things on or try out products. I used to enjoy doing that. Now, when I actually head outside of my house to shop I'm strapped with three little monkeys who love to run around, scream and generally complain if I linger more than a few seconds over any one thing.

This is why I have done as much shopping as humanly possible online for the past 6 years. And, as I have a keen need to research every single thing I buy on every site it is available and read multiple reviews before deciding on a purchase, I am happy when I discover a site that is basically all in one!

I feel compelled to share this with you, my fellow busy moms!

At Become.com you can find anything from electronics to diaper bags. Looking for a mattress? They have comparable mattresses to a Tomahawk Beautyrest! Looking for the fountain of youth? They have SkinCeuticals Serum 20 AOX. Getting married or have a son who's old enough to propose? They have simple engagement rings for women! 

Essentially, they have everything you need and the research and ratings are all right there at your fingertips.

Ahhh. More time for coffee and reading blogs!

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Become.com and I really do think it is a very cool site!

Tips & Tricks Tuesday: Keeping the sparkle

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo from GoTravel24.com

I originally wrote this post way back in November of 2010, but felt it was a great tip for today! Many of you will be celebrating with your sweetie tonight and Champagne or Sparkling Wine may just be on the menu! Enjoy!

Keeping the Sparkle:

In your Champagne, that is. Or your sparkling wine, whatever fits your budget and your palate!

Since the holiday season is upon us, there will be parties. Holiday parties usually involve a bit of the bubbly. Today's Tip & Trick is how to keep it sparkling if you don't pour it all on the first round.

All you need to do is drop a silver (really any metal should do) spoon into the neck and store it back in the refrigerator. Ensure the spoon has a little wiggle room above it and is not stuck in place. In my experience, the bubbles will last a good 24-hours, though for taste, it is best consumed within a few hours!

There is science behind this, if you're of a curious mind. Here's a link I found while searching for a picture: To Spoon or Not to Spoon

Happy Celebrating!

The Me in Mommy

Do you get so wrapped up in your children, your husband and your home that you sometimes completely lose sight of yourself? Do you care for everyone else and yet fail to care for yourself? As mothers we do this often without realizing it. We believe it is our duty, perhaps even our destinies to care for others and we put ourselves last on the list... even behind laundry!

I am guilty of this. Frequently. Fortunately, I often realize that I've lost touch with myself and that it is time to prioritize me for a while.

When I am stressed, overwhelmed and overworked with the demands of being a mother and wife, writer and business owner, housekeeper and cook I get grumpy! Grumpy with life, grumpy with myself, grumpy with my kids and grumpy with my man. None of us deserve that. The remedy is simple: I take time for me.

This doesn't mean hours and dollars getting massages and pedicures, though I thoroughly enjoy it and wish for it weekly. (click donate :) It means letting some things go, taking it easy and getting present with myself. Breathing deeply, thinking about the things that set my soul free in song. It means taking my time and putting a stop to multi-tasking; Sitting down to read with my children instead of trying to write an article while cooking dinner; Closing the computer and watching my kids play while sipping my coffee.

Take a few minutes every day to simply be with yourself. Be quiet. Be still. Just be.