Taking Lunch to the Park

So my girlfriend says 'Lets go to the pool/park tomorrow'.  This presents a problem as my kids get out of summer school at 12pm and the pool opens at 1pm.  That does not give us time to go home for lunch so I have to pack something to go.  I really don't want to take the big cooler but I also hate warm veggies, yuck! This is my solution...

Using my cake caddy

I put ice and ice packs in the bottom.  The ice melted too quickly.  More ice packs and no ice next time.

I put fruit on the bottom of the next level. Now you ask why not put the veggies closer to the ice, well I didn't want the cantaloupe juice to run on the veggies.

Then put some veggies

Then sandwiches and cupcakes, divided by napkins.

Add some water, bathing suits and a half eaten bag of chips and AWAY WE GO.

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING OUT MY BLOG.  TILL NEXT TIME. CHEERS.

Cleaning the wax from the Menorah

I have to do a Hanukkah presentation at my kids school today and was trying to dig old wax out of the Menorah. After having no luck I tried the corkscrew and viola, it worked like a charm!

Push the corkscrew into each candle holder and turn like you were opening a bottle of wine. The wax will come up with each turn. Repeat till all holders are empty.

Happy Hanukkah!

Making A Healthy Alternative to Rice Krispy Squares

3 tbsp. Margerine or Butter
1 tbsp. Vanilla
4 cups. Mini Marshmellos

4 cups. Fibre One Cereal (1 sleeve)
1 cup. Dried Apple Rings, coarsely chopped
1 cup  Banana Chips, coarsely chopped
1 cup Dried Cranberries
4 - 6 cups. Multigrain Cheerios Cereal

1.  In a microwave bowl melt margarine. Add vanilla and Marshmellos and toss to coat. Microwave 1 minute at a time until melted and puffed up.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
3. Spray 9x13 and 8x8 cake tin with baking spray. Cover hands in margerine and Press mixture into baking tins.
4. Chill and cut into squares. Serve or freeze.

I'm back!

Ok SAHM so family only has one income but I want a cell phone.  I go and try and get the best deal and then am looking around a month later for a friend and find a better deal.  Obviously can't do anything about it now but now I am feeling bad that I didn't get the best deal for my family.  Stupid I know. What to do?

the Angry Toddler

My son wanted so badly to eat his dinner outside and when told no repeatedly he got so mad that he turned around and licked the window.  Take that mommy.

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Bite Sized Foods

Start really small.  Mine started around 8 months

• Cheese cubes
• Cereal - Multigrain Cheerios, Corn Bran
• Toast cubes
• Cooked apples - Peel and core apple, cut into 1 cm squares. Place in small pot and cover with water. Boil for 5 - 7 minutes till tender. Drain and run under cold water. Dry on paper towel and serve.
• Other fruit - Soft. Barlett pears, banana, blueberries, oranges.
• Graham crakers broken up. Good fibre.
• High fat yogurt around 9months.  I found 5% or higher plain Greek yogurt and added apple sauce or other fruit puree

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Pasta

Equipment
2 cup electric Food Processor ($15 or less)
4 ice cube trays ($2 at dollar store)
Medium - Large pot
Large Ziploc Freezer bags
Pen - I like a black Sharpie

Foods
I will tell you what I did for my kids. After 1 box of every cereal Rice, Oat, Barley but leave Wheat to last for the single grain and then if the baby is fine with those try Mixed Grains. Then I had them try every veggie there was. No fruit till they can hold it themselves due to the sugar content. Then came the pasta. When it comes to pasta it is whole wheat all the way for my family.  

Ingredients

Any Whole Wheat Noodles

Water

Instructions

1. Fill pot with water without salt or any other spices and bring to a boil.
2. Add pasta and boil 5 minutes past the recommended time.
3. Drain and put in processor.
4. Process till in pea-sized pieces.
5. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.
6. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.
7. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving.
8. It sounds grosse but add breast milk, or formula, if you want to add creaminess. Or even mashed sweet potato or yams for taste but only if you have already tried it for 3 days. 

Also see Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Vegetables

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Vegetables

I saw this advertisement for the Baby Bullet and it was really expensive.  I thought there has to be a way for those who can't afford or don't want to spend so much money on this product.  So this is what I came up with...

Equipment
2 cup electric Food Processor ($15 or less)
Potato masher ($2 at dollar store)
4 ice cube trays ($2 at dollar store)
Medium - Large pot
Large Ziploc Freezer bags
Pen - I like a black Sharpie

Foods
I will tell you what I did for my kids. After 1 box of every cereal Rice, Oat, Barley but leave Wheat to last for the single grain and then if the baby is fine with those try Mixed Grains. Then I had them try every veggie there was. No fruit till they can hold it themselves due to the sugar content.

Veggies in order: Sweet Potato, Yam, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Peas, Brocoli, Cauliflower, Potato. I avoided Tomato or anything high in acid.

Instructions - Sweet Potato, Yam, Potato, Carrot
1. Peel vegetables and cut into 2-3 inch pieces.
2. Place in pot and cover with water. No salt or spices.
3. Boil for 20 - 40 min or till vegetable is easily pierced with fork.
4. Drain.
5. Put in food processor till smooth.
6. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.
7. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.
8. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving.

Instructions - Broccoli, Cauliflower

1. Cut florets apart.

2. Place in pot, with a steamer and enough water to steam.

3. Steam for 10min or till vegetable is easily pierced with fork.

4. Remove from pot. 

5. Put in food processor till smooth.

6. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.

7. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.

8. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving so you don't get hot spots.

Instructions - Peas
1. Use frozen peas not canned.
2. Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil.
3. Drop frozen peas in and boil for 5min
4. Drain and mash with potato masher.

5. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.

6. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.

7. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving so you don't get hot spots.

See Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Pasta

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Tips

• Start with single grain baby cereals, Rice, Oat, Barley but leave Wheat to last because of allergies.  Then Mixed grains.
• At about 7 1/2 months, you can put 9-grain Oats in the processor and process to the consistency of cornmeal.  See recipe for homemade baby cereal.
• Serve only 1 single food every 3 days to test for allergies. 
• Start with all vegetables before fruit.
• Start by making it quite thin and work toward thicker and lumpier. This gets the baby ready for real food.
• If it is too thick mix with breast milk, formula, or water but not milk.
• If it is too thin, mix in a little baby cereal.

Homemade Baby Cereal

Ingredients
1 cup 9-grain Oatmeal
1/4 cup Single grain baby cereal
Breast milk, Formula or Water

Instructions

1. In processor add 9-grain Oatmeal till the consistency of cornmeal
2. Add single grain baby cereal.  Pulse 2 more times.
3. Mix 1 part baby cereal and 2 parts breast milk, formula or water. Not milk till 1 year.
4. Microwave in 30sec segments, stirring each time, till getting warm and creamy. If it gets too dry add more liquid.

Mommy Money Saver #1 - Kids Pump Soap

You know that expensive kids soap Kandoo made by Pampers.  Well my kids love it and one time I broke down and bought it but when it ran out I decided to make my own using the Kandoo pump and it worked.  I filled the container with 1/2 water and 1/2 liquid hand soap.  It gives the fun foaming but way cheaper.

Enjoy.

Hamburger holder

Use a coffee filter.  I use a cone shaped coffee filter and cut about an inch and a half off the top and put the hamburger in and it helps my 3 yr old to hold the hamburger without making a big mess.

Good luck.

Teething Help

So I have an 17m old little one the just is biting anything and anyone in his way when he is frustrated and in pain?
It is so sad to watch and not so nice to get bitten either. But I came up with a teether that actually works for him.

I take a baby cloth, put an ice cube in and wrap a hair elastic around it.  Then I smash it with a tenderizer or a hammer if it is too big.  He chews on it and the ruffness of the cloth and the cold of the ice makes him feel better.  The downside to this is you have to wring it out every 10 min or so if he doesn't suck the water off it, especially if you smashed the ice.

Good luck.

Camping with Small Children

Just got back from camping with my family and it was amazing how different camping was with little ones.  My children are 1, 3 and 5.  I went earlier in July with just the 2 older ones and it was easier but not like it was in the days prior to kids.  The things I learned were:

• Bring a stroller or playpen to lock up the baby when cooking or having a fire.
• Don't expect the kids to eat or sleep like they would at home.
• Bring a canopy in case of rain to give you more space for the children to do their activities as well as provide shade during the hottest times of the day.
• A play tent can provide a nice shady spot for the kids to play.
• Warn the children in advance of what the treat limits are.  Such as '2 treats each; marshmallows, candy, etc.' and let them choose what combination they want.
• Serve raw veggies with every meal.  Saves cooking and cleaning dishes.
• Don't expect any time to yourself if you have a baby with you but as they get older your time will increase.
• Camping at these ages is for the kids not you so enjoy your children's fun and book a spa day after you get home.

Healthy Yogurt Popsicles

1/2 cup  Frozen Fruit and/or Berries
1 cup full fat Yogurt
1/2 cup  Cool Whip
1 tsp  Vanilla

Add all ingredients in the food processor till well blended.  Dish into popsicle forms or ice cube trays and insert sticks.  Freeze overnight.  Serve as treat to children.

Napping

Now my mom says that I am a slave to my children's schedule but I disagree. I believe that the kids are on  the schedule I have set for them based on their age, number of naps and how their behaviour is affected.

Currently my youngest needs 2 naps a day and luckily he is somewhat adaptible.  He has a certain rhythm that is natural for him but at least a couple days a week I am not able to have him in bed at the time he needs because of another childs activity and he goes down an hour later and there are days I have to wake him up so we can meet up with friends for a playdate or go to the gym.  Obviously my older 2 don't have morning naps but we do hang around the house while the baby naps.  On the otherhand my older son needs one nap in the afternoon and my daughter needs quiet time and lets be honest so do I, so we all rest or sleep during this time.  The days we go out, I make a point to have us all home by nap/rest time

I think of it as our schedule not their schedule.  A little give and take to keep everyone healthy and happy.  I find it amazing the difference in their behaviour based on their sleep or lack of it.  There are definately people in my life that would prefer us to be available more hours or different hours of the day but OUR schedule does not afford us that but those same people like the fact that my children are well behaved.  That comes with some sacrifices and really it won't always be that way will it?

Oatmeal Breakfast Bar - Revised

I grew up with a terrible diet that has left me with weight problems my whole life. Obviosly I didn't want my children to suffer the same fate so I was very strict with their diet. Vegetables, Whole Grains, Fruits, etc.

Not only do I think breakfast is the most important meal, I feel that oatmeal is a very important part of that. It is whole grain and packed with lots of healthy stuff and digests slowly so that child doesn't get hungry soon after. Of course I have the best of intentions but my middle son didn't like it and this made every morning an unpleasant experience. Being a fix-it mommy I had to find a way to get my son to eat oatmeal without a fight. I went to the internet and found a recipe that had less sugar and more good stuff and it was for Oatmeal Bars. As you will see you can add whatever seeds, nuts or fruit your children enjoy. The only negative is they are quite crumbly while he eats them.

That was my original post but I have revised the recipe and now find that it does not crumble and he doesn't complain about the large chunks of dried fruit.  He is eating them without too much of a fight now.

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Ingredients
2 cups 9 grain oatmeal, uncooked
1 cup oat flour (can be made by pulverising quick cooking rolled oats in a blender or food processor)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup packed currant or raisins
1/2 cup finely chopped apricots, dried apple slices
1/4 cup chopped nuts, pieces

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Grease a 9 inch by 13 inch pan, or two 8 inch by 8 inch pans.
3. Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well.
4. Put mixture in prepared pans and spread evenly and press down.
5. Bake for 30 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and cut into squares while still hot.
7. Wait until the bars cool before trying to remove them from the pan.

The Great Toy Purge

From December to the end of February we have had Fake Christmas, Hanukkah, Christmas, my daughter's birthday, the joint friend party for both Madison and Jack, the joint family party for Madison, Jack and me and then Jack's birthday. Now that is a lot of excitement and a lot of presents. It happens every year and the children get very overwhelmed and start to act erratically and misbehave more. But I started a new tradition last year, the Great Toy Purge, and it seems to calm everything down.

I have explained to my children that we only have so much space and therefore we can only have so many toys downstairs so they decide which toys they will be leaving downstairs and which are going up in the toy closet for the rest of the year. Then once a month they can swap something of equal size for something in the closet. This way they have new toys to play with every month. This also gives my children a sense of choice and responsibility for their own toys. They make a lot of the decisions together as a team and therefore teaches them to work together to get what they want.

It is a week later and I have seen a drastic change in both my older children towards me and towards each other and their younger brother.

Awsome Mommy Trick #3: Bag Balm

The baby started getting a diaper rash just before my husband and I went on vacation to Mexico.  I tried 4 different diaper creams and it seemed to hold it at bay so we dropped him off at my MIL and when we were away it got increasingly bad so my MIL called our dr and he told her to get Canesten because it might be a yeast infection.  She used that 6 days and would leave him bare bum whenever possible to dry it out but there was no improvement and it was BAD.  He had ulcers that bled and red bumps from penis to back.  I thought well maybe its a bacterial infection so I tried Polysporin for 2 days and Hydrocortisone .5% and again no improvement.  I took him to the doctor and he gave us a prescription for a Hydrocortisone 1% and Canesten compound, Maalox in the diaper and we added baking soda to the bath.  We tried it for 2 days and again no improvement.  Finally I googled 'home remedy for diaper rash' and I came across a posting board for which mentioned a product for Bag Balm

The funny thing about this is that Bag Balm was created and is used to fix cracks and engorgement in cow udders.  You can purchase it at large animal feed stores and Lee Valley for gardener's hand issues. The mom claimed that her son had the same rash as my son and she had tried this product and it had started to fix it in 3 hours. Now I was a bit skeptical so I read the comments from other parents and 20 people made the same claims so I bought it ($12) from my local pet food store.  I started using it on a Thursday afternoon, in 24hrs I did see and improvement and by Saturday the red bumps had turned to pink skin and the ulcers had improved.  Not the 3hr miracle but definately a diaper rash cure I will use again. 

The Bib Skinny

Bibs are a necessary item for most babies. We all know it but before you have a baby you have no idea what you will really be using them for.  So for all those moms-to-be this should save you from drawers stuffed full with bibs you will never use.

1.  Cotton bibs - virtually useless.  For newborns and infants that spit up or drool this bib easily soaks through to the baby's clothes and usually has to be changed a couple times a day.  It can be made of terry material, sweatshirt or t-shirt material.  You can get them with back or side closure or pull over the baby's head.
2. Cotton vinyl lined bibs - this is my favorite for spit up or droolers but not good for new eaters because they have to be washed after every use.
3. Vinyl or plastic bibs - Great for new and seasoned eaters that make the occasional accidents because it can be wiped clean between uses and disinfected but not absorent for drool or spit up.
4. Sleeved bibs - Great for little artists and particularily messy eaters but only the ones made of plastic or vinyl otherwise you have to wash between every use.

At this time, I have drooler, a messy eater and a little artist so we are packing the arsenol of bibs.  So save yourself the laundry and expense and buy only what you need.  Good luck!