Monday’s Mommas: Megan Strickland

Monday means a lot of things to a lot of different people. Here, it means it’s time to meet this week’s Monday’s Momma.

Megan Strickland from Frugal Finds During Naptime joins us. Megan is a frugal, couponing, stay-at-home mom to two girls {ages 5 and 1}. She started Frugal Finds During Naptime in January 2014 as a way to help others learn how to use coupons, save money, and live a more frugal lifestyle. She enjoys finding deals, and breaking it down to small, easy-to-do scenarios to help others learn how to save money.

Today, Megan talks about the craziness of trying to keep up with Pinterest around Valentine’s Day. I really love this post. Do you have your kids make valentines or do you buy them?

“Cutesy Cards and Craziness? Or Store Bought and Sanity?”

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. I see the “cutesy hearts” every time I go grocery shopping. Then, I get on Pinterest (my weakness) and I see SUPER cute Valentine’s Day Treat/Card Ideas. {You know the ones I’m talking about. The “I’m ‘toad-ally’ yours” and “You ‘blow’ me away” with cute treats and bubbles.}

I see them and think “I could ‘toad-ally’ do that!” So I do, then I overwhelm and stress myself out. I become irritable while trying to make the perfect Valentine’s Day treats. Towards the end of making treats, I’m gluing eyes, curling ribbons, and putting on tags thinking “they better ‘love’ these!”

It’s a little ironic, isn’t it?

I started evaluating why I continue to do little projects like this that stress me out, and I’ve come to the conclusion it’s because I feel like I need to “keep up with Pinterest moms”. I see what others are pinning and think they are actually making those things (when in reality how many of us actually make everything we pin?), and I feel like I have to “keep up”.

It’s crazy, and insane. Instead of keeping up with the Jones’, I’m keeping up with Pinterest. All it does is make me crazy and irritable. That’s not how I want my holidays spent is feeling irritable because of a Pinterest project.

Moms, it’s OK if your kids have store bought cards for holidays instead of hand made “cutesy” things from Pinterest. I would rather have my sanity with store bought cards, than the cutesy ones I made and be stressed.

In the end, your kids will remember how you spent the time with them during different holidays. Chances are, those late nights you put into those Pinterest gifts for your child’s friends, they aren’t going to remember it or care {What child says, “Thank you for staying up late and crafting this perfect, heart-shaped Valentine for me”?}. So, pin away, but don’t stress yourself out making everything. Buy some store bought cards, store bought cookies, let your kid scribble his/her name on them, and be done. Then you might have some time to work on that really big project you’ve been wanting to. . . or just spend time with those you love. After all, it’s “love day”.

No Phones at the Table

“No phones at the table.”

That’s my quote. My husband knows it. My kids know it. Even our extended family is aware of it.

Why? You may ask.

Why not?

I grew up in a house where family dinner time meant something. It was a time to talk about your day or any other topic you had on your mind. It was the one time of day when everyone was together, even just for a short amount of time. It wasn’t the time of day to check your Facebook or text messages. Granted, they didn’t exist then (geez I’m old), but you get my point.

Sad to say, family dinner time is pretty much non-existent in many households today. Opposite and crazy work schedules can make family meals impossible. For others, it’s overscheduling ourselves or our family that seems to be the problem. Whatever the case, dinner time ain’t what it used to be. I’m sure many of you agree.

That’s even more reason why we should give our phones a little nappy when actually sit down to dinner with the family. That Facebook video doesn’t need to be watched now. It doesn’t ever need to be watched if you ask me, but I digress. Twitter will still be there in a half hour. That text message that’s dinging incessantly will eventually go away. Don’t worry, it will be waiting for you when you’re done eating your mashed potatoes and corn.

Trust me, it’s hard to resist the urge to set your phone a place at the table. Just because I made the rule doesn’t mean it’s easy for me to follow. I really don’t know why our phones have such a hold over us. It’s an addiction. It’s hard to accept the fact that our phones can wait.

I don’t think the same can be said about our kids or spouses. A little piece of me cringes when parents tell their kids to hold on to that great story they are bursting to tell so that they can finish a text or finish watching a video. The next time, that child may not want to tell their story. Think about that the next time your text messages dings.

So, if you ever have dinner at my house, remember no phones at the table. If you forget, don’t worry, my kids will remind you. They know the rule so well that their play phones don’t even make it over!

How about you? Do you have similar dinner time rules?

Monday’s Mommas: Stefani Tower

Welcome Monday and welcome to another Monday’s Mommas feature! Each week, I have the pleasure of introducing you to a great blogger with a fabulous guest post.

This week, Stefani Tower joins us! Stefani is a Certified Child Life Specialist and author of the blog Childlifeology. A mom of two girls, she is passionate about empowering and supporting children through challenging events such as chronic illness and hospitalization by providing them with tools that help them transform and master their experiences.

Stefani’s post “All Good Things” takes a look at how important it is for us to help our children find the good in each day. Check it out!

All Good Things

“I had a horrible day!” Ugh. Not those words again. My first grade daughter has been having the kind of days that made that one kid in that book want to move to Australia. Kids are bound to have bad days and goodness knows so are adults but this “horrible day” statement was happening more often than not. If this sounds familiar to you and you aren’t sure what to do, read on.

First things first, it’s important to always validate what your child is feeling. Empathic responses such as “Tell me about what made it horrible” lets the child know you are listening. Sometimes their response can be something that might seem trivial such as, “We had a substitute teacher” or “I had to sit next to (fill in the name) and I don’t like that kid” but that is big stuff in a child’s world. Resist the urge to make it seem like a trivial complaint. Instead respond with “I can see how that made you unhappy” or “It sounds like that was really hard for you.”

Once the child has had a chance to tell you all about what their day was like, ask them if there was anything that they can think of that was good about their day. This allows for a transition from thinking about all the bad that happened to the one good thing that did happen. Even if it’s a really small thing, something good happens everyday if we know how to look for it and that is why I started the “All Good Things” wall at my house.

The “All Good Things” wall consists of using a large roll of art paper or a few big pieces of poster board and taping it to a wall. Ask your child to think of one good thing that happened that day and have them write it on the paper. The whole family can contribute to the wall and it’s fun to see what constitutes a good day for someone. Some examples of some of the good things on our wall include, “I had my favorite sandwich at lunch today”, “I got a row to myself on the train to work this morning”, “I got to see my family when I came home from school” and “We had ice cream for dessert tonight.”

If you have a child who is going through a tough time or who might benefit from looking for the brighter side of things, give this a try. This can be modified to use in hospital settings as well, where it may seem like everyday is a bad day for a child. Again, its looking for the little things, such as “I got to make a fun art project” or “I had my favorite nurse today” or “My sister got to come visit me in the hospital.”

After the first day we put up the wall my first grader told me on the way to the school bus the next morning that she couldn’t wait to come home and write something good on the wall. So here’s to hoping she stops wanting to move to Australia!

Are Your Kids “Plugged In” at Night?

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit both of my girls have TVs in their bedrooms. The one in my 5-year-old’s room is old as sin and has the gigantic back to prove it. The one in my 3-year-old’s room is tiny and not even plugged in because we don’t have a cable cord running to it. But, it’s still there, just taking up space.

Although my older daughter has a TV in her room, I can count the times on one hand that she actually watches it…even at night. We usually watch our night shows together on the couch. The funny thing is they don’t really enjoy watching television in their beds. So, I guess that’s a good thing.

A new study shows we shouldn’t keep TVs or small electronics in our children’s rooms if we want them to sleep better. Besides all the screen time rules we’ve heard about, it makes sense for other reasons too. Obviously your kid isn’t going to want to go to sleep if he or she is too busy finding out if Doc McStuffins fixed Lamby. Also all the bright lights and sounds are too much stimulation when you want them to sleep.

Do your kids have TVs in their rooms? Do you allow them to watch TV before bed?

Jamberry Nails Review

There is something about having my nails done that makes me feel good. Simply put it’s nice to look down at your hands and have them look pretty. As a mom, getting your nails done professionally on a regular basis is just not realistic. At least not for me. Ever since I get my mom crown I have to say that I paint my nails at home more often than I used to. It’s just easier and cheaper.

But, sometimes you want something a little different. So, I tried Jamberry Nails custom wraps. I used the “Tinsle Town” design seeing that it was holiday time. The wraps come in a sheet of different sizes so you can match them up with the size of your nails. Once you find the right one, you have to heat up them up with a hair dryer and then stick them on your nails. Using a cuticle pusher you seal the wrap. Then, you need to trim the top with a scissor and file it down. Once you’re done with this step, you apply more heat and pressure so the wrap is securely fastened.

Presto! You have designer nail designs without the cost and time.

From start to finish, it took me forty minutes to finish my manicure. I had a harder time doing my right hand since I am not left handed. Once I got the hang of it though, I was able to move a lot faster. I definitely enjoyed the look of the design. But, after a couple of days I did notice they started to peel a bit, especially after I washed my hair in the shower and did some dishes. This was the only down side.

All in all, I think this is a great alternative to paying for expensive designs, especially if you don’t have the time to sit in a salon for hours. I would use Jamberry nails again for a special occasion. Call me old fashioned, but I still like my old school nail polish for an everyday look.

*I was compensated with a set of Jamberry Nail Wraps to complete this review.

A New Year’s Resolution List from My Kids

Dear Mom,

We’ve heard you talk about these things called “New Year’s Resolutions” a lot lately. We heard you say you want to eat better and exercise more so you don’t get a muffin top. We kinda don’t get that because we always like the tops of muffins. You know we actually like them better than the rest of the muffin, so we really hope you’re not trying to get rid of all the muffin tops.

We also don’t know what kind of junk is in the trunk that you talk about getting rid of. You’re a bit of a neat freak. The only “junk” we see is a stroller that you insist on driving around with although you really know we don’t need it. So, if you want to get rid of that “junk”, we’re all for it.

We also heard you say you want to read more and write more. We’d settle for learning to read and write well. But, we know you’re a bit of a nerd, so we get this one if that’s what you want to do.

Since you’re doing all this stuff, we thought we should be doing things too. Here’s a list of things we came up with:

1. Sleep in our own beds more than just once a week– Although we love a good snuggle, you probably don’t like all the elbows and knees to the rib all night. Sorry, but that’s just how we roll.

2. Try to put more toys away– We know you keep stepping on Barbie’s head and getting Lego imprints in the bottom of your feet, but what’s the point in putting all the toys away when we’re just gonna take them all out again tomorrow? Plus, you keep saying “fudge” every time you trip on something. We like fudge, so this one is going to be a tough Mom, just warning you.

3. Go to bed easier– We know you want us to go to bed so you can do your stuff, but we really don’t want to. But, we’ll try. We guess.

4.Share-It’s just one small word, but for some reason you yell it a lot. We can try to do better here.

5. Clean Our Own Butts– Who really wants to wipe poop from their butts? Not us. This one is going to take some time.

We can’t promise we’ll get all of these done, but we’ll sure try. Just please, save the muffin tops.

Love,

Your Daughters

Okay, before you think my kids actually came up with this list, let me tell you, they didn’t. If my 5 and 3-year-olds could, these are things I would love for them to do. I’m sure every mom has a list of their own out there.

I can tell you numbers one, two, and five, have already been broken…many times.

Number three has seen the most success, with number four dragging behind.

We’re only a few days into 2015, so we’ll see how it goes.

As for the muffin tops, and junk in the trunk…I’ll see what I can do!

What kinds of resolutions would you like to see your kids make?

Monday’s Mommas: Melinda Ziskinder

It’s a new year and that means more mommas to introduce you on The Mommy Rundown! We’re kicking off 2015 with Melinda Ziskinder.

Melinda is an attorney, wife, and mom to three boys. Since 2013, she has written about parenting and modern life on her blog,There is a Season. When she and her family aren’t watching Glee, they enjoy playing Catchphrase, reading J.R.R. Tolkien books, and gathering in the kitchen for family meals.

Do you and your spouse agree on TV shows? If you do, I think you’re one of the few.

Check out Melinda’s story here in her guest post.

“Newly Discovered Evidence”

Think you know your mate from every angle? Confident you would take the disco ball trophy on the Newlywed Game or pass the INS toothbrush test? Think again!

I’ve been married for more than a decade to my love. Not so long, I know, but surely long enough to know what he enjoys and what he would use scorched earth tactics to avoid. One thing I thought I knew for sure: he doesn’t like music. Disco, 80s greatest hits albums, yes. Music? No.

Case in point, a handful of years ago, I purchased tickets to see Paul McCartney with my mom and brother. My brother couldn’t go because of a last minute work schedule change. I asked . . . ahem begged my husband to go in my brother’s stead. Mainly so I wouldn’t have to drive in the dark. I hate driving in the dark. My husband declined. Years later, a friend of his heard this story and pronounced my husband an “a%$%$e” for not going. Say what you will but my husband relayed his friend’s pronouncement to me and agreed, without any trace of shame, that he was an “a#$#$#e”. What’s that line from Sex and the City? He just wasn’t that into Paul McCartney.

At least not live. My husband enjoys music, but it has to sound the way it sounds on the radio or on the album. No improvisation allowed! And original music by unknown artists? He’ll pass. Anyway, through the years, he has been subjected to the Paul McCartney concert guilt trip on many occasions. It must have been a gift from God that he didn’t go. He has paid for that decision many times.

For instance, the other night I decided that it would be fun and meaningful for our family to watch some television together. Miracle on 34th Street? You must not know my family. I settled on Modern Family. But the series wasn’t on Netflix. Grrr!!!! So I asked my son to scroll through the television series options and I spotted Glee. I had never seen an episode but I had a vague memory of Facebook friends losing their minds over the show. And I am a music geek. I decided my boys, all four of them, needed to be exposed to the arts. Since I’m too lazy to schlep them all to a museum during the weekend, Glee would suffice.

The menfolk all grumbled but they ceded to my offer: “We’ll watch ten minutes. If it sucks, we’ll find something else.”

The show began with a scene of a puppy-eyed young guy with a hairy chest agonizing over how to help his students. I was sold. Hairy chest? Tortured teacher type? Sign me up!!! My husband muttered, “This show was made for you babe.” Yes it was!! How did I never watch this?

A half hour passed. My sons were watching. They were not complaining. It was a pre-Hanukkah miracle! My husband was laughing. At the end of the episode, he yelled (my husband yells a lot – in a non-threatening way): “Let’s watch another one!!!” He adored the characters, who he labeled, “really great,” especially “that neurotic lady.” I was worried he might cry when Kurt’s father, a stoic lumberjack lookalike, revealed that he had known his son was gay since he was a toddler and that he still loved him. I made a mental note: Force husband to watch Mr. Holland’s Opus.

I’m not a big TV person. My husband and I usually have one TV show that we watch together. When we were dating, it was Ally McBeal and at some point, South Park. After we married, we moved on to (of course) The Sopranos. Of late, we have looked forward to Mad Men and Homeland, and my husband – a history buff – has convinced me that there is value in Pawn Stars. Glee’s whimsical quality has reminded me of Ally McBeal and of the first years of our courtship, when I hung on my husband’s every word, and he believed I was an angel. Things have changed for sure but apparently some things are still the same.

I was surprised that my husband, in short order, became an avid fan of a show about musical theater dorks, but on another level I was reminded of his soft heart, his love for underdogs, his inability to steel himself against 80s schtick. There is plenty of 80s schtick on Glee – Journey songs abound. We should watch TV shows more often.

NutriBullet Giveaway

As the New Year is upon us, we are always looking for new ways to get healthy and live our lives better. The NutriBullet can help put you on the right path to finding a new and healthy you!

NutriLiving.com is also set up to help you with tools and recipes to assist you with your NutriBullet lifestyle! Check out what they have to offer!

Ashley from Sweet Cheeks and Savings completed a review of the NutriBullet. You can find our her whole opinion HERE!

Now, lets get on with the giveaway! The Mommy Rundown is helping to spread the word! One lucky person will be winning a NutriBullet system! To enter, see below for rules and instructions!

The Giveaway!!

How to Enter: Please use the Giveaway Tool below!

Prize: 1 NutriBullet System

Dates: Starts December 31, 2014 12:00 am EST. Winner will be chosen January 14, 11:59 pm EST

Entry -Form

Disclosure: Sweet Cheeks and Savings teamed up with Magic Bullet for this giveaway. Other participating bloggers are not responsible for choosing the winner or shipment of product. They have not receive any compensation for this post. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. The winner will be chose at random by the Giveaway Tool and emailed. The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours or they risk forfeiting the prize.

Monday’s Mommas: Christine Cox

As a mother, you know how important it is to make sure your kids are getting enough exercise. With the temptations of technology, the job becomes a little harder. This week’s Monday’s Momma, Christine Cox, talks about how we can use music to get our kids to move.

Christine Cox is the blog master for Choosy Kids. She has always had a passion for writing and is honored to contribute her work to this blog. Most of her writing inspiration comes from her daughter, Capri, who is fun-loving and full of energy.

Embedding Health Messages in Songs to Get Kids Moving

By: Christine Cox of www.choosykids.com

My 2 year old and I were driving in the car the other day and she said, “Mommy, play horse from your phone.” I knew what she wanted…to listen to her favorite song, “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry. She just likes it because of the beat and isn’t old enough to understand what they are sublimely singing. Of course, I turned it on, and she danced in her car seat as happy as could be, but it got me thinking about what she could learn from music.

Music resonates with children of all ages and they naturally move, dance and sing their favorites over and over again. My child has a very eclectic taste in music and enjoys songs that get her up and dancing her groove thang!! Whether she realizes it or not, dancing is great exercise, even if she only does it for the duration of the song. Besides getting up and moving, there are other benefits to listening to the ‘right’ kind of kid’s music.

Choosy Kids, a company that focuses on health and nutrition for children and families, has created music that gives directional guidance to children, allowing them to elevate their heart rate while increasing their vocabulary about moving, nutrition and healthy habits. It is music that I personally enjoy listening to on repeat and that my little one loves to dance to. Sure, the songs get stuck in your head but that is the point! When your children listen to “I’m Moving I’m Learning” over and over again, the messages about how to move their body in different ways helps to get them up and exercising without them even realizing it. Additionally, songs about their body teach them that moving makes you happy, your heart healthy and allows your body to grow. And for those who are too little to know what their arms, legs and head are, it may teach them their body parts and how to get them moving!

Children understand happiness and growth, but it is the health/exercise message that is a little harder to teach. This is an important message because so many American children are said to be obese at such young ages and it is an epidemic that needs to be changed. By listening to Choosy Kids’ music, children can learn about making healthy choices and sharing their experiences with family and friends as this music can be effective for initiating a discussion about healthy behaviors, signifying transitions or simply allowing children to have fun and be expressive while moving.

Now don’t all of those things sound much better than trying to explain what “Dark Horse” means? I know that day will come, but for now, I am going to stick to listening to songs that she can move, groove and dance to that will provide her with healthy messages.

Mom’s List to Santa

Dear Santa,

I know these lists are only supposed to be for the kids, but I think you know just as much as I do, us moms deserve a wish list too. We deal with the kids when they’re naughty, not just nice. I know you’ve been watching so you know what I’m talking about.

So Santa, do you think you can give me one day of peace and quiet? One day when I can actually watch a show without having to pause it every ten seconds. One day when I can have a phone conversation without having to clean up a spill or wipe a butt at the same time. I know that’s asking a lot.

Do you think you can make my older daughter stop playing school 24/7? I’m all for learning, but I can not take playing school for two hours every day when she comes home from being in school all day long! Santa, it drives me insane.

I would also love if I could have one night when I don’t have an elbow to my head or a knee in my side. I just want everyone to sleep in their own beds all night long. Please.

I know this sounds like a weird one, but can you give me some time to clean and organize my house in peace? You know how OCD I used to be and how it kills me when things get too out of control. I could be more efficient if I didn’t have to break up an argument every ten minutes or change Barbie’s outfits because her clothes are too darn tight.

Santa, can you help my little girl say the word “funk” better so when she’s singing “Uptown Funk” people don’t think she’s a truck driver? On the same page, can you help her with her “s” sound so that when she’s talking about “shows” people don’t think she’s talking about something else?

Can you also give me the energy to get up and go to the gym everyday so I don’t get a muffin top and there’s not more junk in my trunk?

I think that just about does it for now Santa. I know I’m asking for a lot here. I know you have to try to fulfill the wish lists of all the other mommy’s out there too. But, I’m sure our elf, Sweet Abigail, told you I’ve been a good girl this year. So, maybe you could move me up the list?

Thanks for listening Santa. I’m signing off now to try to finish the book I’ve been reading for two months now. Perhaps I’ll finish it before summer.

Merry Christmas!

-Kristina

The Mommy Rundown

As a mom, the rundown of your day’s activities can make you feel so run down you want to scream. When I can’t scream, I write, laugh, and drink plenty of coffee!

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