I just discovered a GREAT new website. Mommy Docs was started by two mom doctors who have more in common than their medical degree. I can tell from their website they’re all about informing and helping moms raise healthy kids. They have a great Q & A page, and a page where you can ask them specific questions. (I’m still waiting to hear from my OWN doctor about a rash I had over Memorial Day!) They have podcasts, a blog, and links to other medical sites!
Jamie A. Freishtat, M.D.
Rachel L. Schreiber, M.D., FAAAAI
And they want to get the word out about Summer safety. Check them out and let me know what you think!
Have a Sun Protection Strategy: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Look for products that provide “broad spectrum” coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Use this sunscreen routine with your child–daily application 30 minutes before going outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner if swimming, toweling off, or sweating). Creating a routine will establish good habits for the future. In addition, don’t forget a wide brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun protective clothing.
Keep Pests off Your Little One: In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child. For pesky mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellant. Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on children under 2 months old.
Keep the Pool Cool and Clean: Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as bacteria. To keep the pool free from unwanted “swimmers,” after each use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of ¾ cup regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age when they are around any water; whether it’s a bucket, a small backyard plastic pool, or the local community pool.
High Heat Means Hydrate: Excessive heat exposure may cause your child to experience a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink! Make sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.
Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies: Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail, and picnicing in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather. But all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid cream or calamine. If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not getting better, call your doctor right away.
Don’t let your cash get away from you this summer. Join me Saturdays here at Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted and get a grip on your cash flow and start sharing your savings ideas.
I don’t know about you, but I’m appalled at how quickly gas is rising, so I’m on a mission to think of ways for my family (and yours) to save money. If you have some fabulous ideas to save money this summer, then join me in posting one idea every Saturday.
Here are the official rules:
Write a summer money saving post and copy the logo and link back here to the Mr. Linky post
Invite others back here to view more tips on how to save money this summer
Sign Mr. Linky with the url of your Money Saving Post
Do NOT add a Mr. Linky to your blog, but encourage those who want to participate to visit here!
More on what to post:
You can share your ideas or some things you did the previous week to save (or make money.) I can’t wait to hear all the wonderful money saving tips you have. Don’t forget to share your money saving ideas and sign Mr. Linky! Here’s mine!
Bake more: I spend a lot of money buying organic snacks for my kids and they seem to inhale what I buy for the month in a week. So I’ll be baking more wholesome snacks. Got any recipes? My made from scratch cornbread was a flop! I also bought a food dehydrator a while ago and only made beef jerky once, but the kids LOVE it! With the help of mom, I hope to learn how to dry fruit as well.
Don’t let your cash get away from you this summer. Join me Saturdays here at Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted and get a grip on your cash flow and start sharing your savings ideas.
I don’t know about you, but I’m appalled at how quickly gas is rising, so I’m on a mission to think of ways for my family (and yours) to save money. If you have some fabulous ideas to save money this summer, then join me in posting one idea every Saturday.
Here are the official rules:
Write a summer money saving post and copy the logo and link back here to the Mr. Linky post
Invite others back here to view more tips on how to save money this summer
Sign Mr. Linky with the url of your Money Saving Post
Do NOT add a Mr. Linky to your blog, but encourage those who want to participate to visit here!
More on what to post:
You can share your ideas or some things you did the previous week to save (or make money.) I can’t wait to hear all the wonderful money saving tips you have. Don’t forget to share your money saving ideas and sign Mr. Linky! Here’s mine!
Downsize, Don’t Supersize. Eat fast food less: During the busy school year it’s nothing for us to drive through several times a week. Of course I tried to make sure we had cheap ($1 menu) and healthy (grilled chicken wraps) options, but I’m hoping our summer won’t be so busy that lunch will be on the go.
Another thing I’m doing is instead of buying that Grande latte, opt for the smallest one and limit it to once a weak or as a reward. Not only will your wallet thank you, but your waist will as well.
Now it’s your turn . Just click on Mr. Linky and a window will pop up. Add your contribution, browse other posts and start saving!
Don’t let your cash get away from you this summer. Join me Saturdays here at Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted and get a grip on your cash flow and start sharing your savings ideas.
I don’t know about you, but I’m appalled at how quickly gas is rising, so I’m on a mission to think of ways for my family (and yours) to save money. If you have some fabulous ideas to save money this summer, then join me in posting one idea every Saturday.
Here are the official rules:
Write a summer money saving post and copy the logo and link back here to the Mr. Linky post
Invite others back here to view more tips on how to save money this summer
Sign Mr. Linky with the url of your Money Saving Post
Do NOT add a Mr. Linky to your blog, but encourage those who want to participate to visit here!
More on what to post:
You can share your ideas or some things you did the previous week to save (or make money.) I can’t wait to hear all the wonderful money saving tips you have. Don’t forget to share your money saving ideas and sign Mr. Linky! Here’s mine!
Hang my clothes on a clothesline: I’m sure many of you are already doing this, but with my mom here hanging her clothes outside, I thought I’d bite the bullet and commit to using the dryer less and air dry my clothes more. Yes, that will mean more time doing something I hate, but with not having to drive to a pool, guess I’ll have more time!
I’m not proficient in this yet, but having mom here, showing me the ropes sure helps!
Now it’s your turn . Just click on Mr. Linky and a window will pop up. Add your contribution, browse other posts and start saving!
Not get much house cleaning done! That’s for sure!
I have a confession to make. I hate to clean house, do laundry, do dishes, etc. For a while I was blessed with having someone come to my house every other week and mop the floor, clean the bathrooms and dust. But that came to an end a while ago.
In between cleaning visits, Clorox Wipes were my best friend! Now that I don’t have anyone cleaning for me, they’re are a life saver! I use them for everything. From spot cleaning the kitchen floor, to cleaning around the toilet, and on the sink and faucets. They come out when I see a fresh dirt hand print on the wall or to clean dust bunnies from corners. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
When Clorox came out with their new disinfecting wipes, I was eager to try the sample they sent. I immediately noticed they had a stronger smell. They package says they’re thicker and they claim to cut through, sticky messes easily. I decided to test their claim:
I compared original Clorox wipes with the new disinfecting wipes and I have to admit the newer ones are thicker and I love the griping, suction cup like protrusions that help scrub up dirt. I used them to wipe bird droppings off my car window, to clean up dog hair hiding in the corners of my kitchen, and to clean my mirrors. And it’s true, there were no streaks. Next task is to clean up the dried up egg on my smooth top stove! A true test of the products worth!
More info:
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are bleach-free and are safe to use on hard surfaces from glass and stainless steel to marble and granite. The new wipes also contain a streak-free formula that makes them ideal for quick cleaning of mirrors, windows, and metal fixtures. And, as always, the Clorox Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9% of bacteria, including salmonella, E.coli and the flu virus. Well, my family has been flu free for years WITHOUT getting the flu vaccine so maybe there’s something to this claim!
I have a container of Clorox wipes under every sink and need to get one for my car. They truly are a busy moms life and time saver!
This past weekend we took the kids and my mom to the local circus. It’s always a thrill to sit in the big arena and watch all the animal, dare devil and acrobatic acts. Though while my eyes flitted from ring to ring trying to soak it all in I noticed my little girl was more interested in finding the cotton candy man.
During some of the acts, especially they extremely long animal acts, I found my mind wandering to book plots and titles. I can up with two cozy mysteries. One taking place in a circus! I guess only time will tell if they will ever come into being
But it wasn’t until later, when I got home that I began to see my life was like a three ring circus, and I’m trying to perform in all three!
There’s the ring of parenting, writing and faith and throw in my renewed effort to really work on being the best wife I could be!
I’m certainly not the main attraction in any of these arenas. In fact, often times I feel more like the lion tamer fighting off parenting problems, writing interruption and faith distractions. But still I’m on stage, putzing along, doing my best and hoping that maybe just maybe one day I’ll get it right!
Okay, this analogy is really hurting and I guess it’s a testimony to how tired and scattered I am. But you get the meaning of this post. Maybe one day I’ll be able to write a really good post about my life as a three ring circus. Until then, I’ll keep jumping from ring to ring!
Years ago my family switched to natural cleaners we purchased through our Shaklee, our vitamin and natural supplement company. I wanted a cleaner that was safe for me, my family and the environment, but also one that cleaned well! While I’m far from a cleaning expert, the diluted solutions seemed to do the job.
Recently I started stocking pile Clorox Clean Up wipes. Nothing beats the ease of grabbing a wipe and cleaning. I keep one in every bathroom and under the kitchen sink. When the gunk starts to build, I just whip out a sheet and clean.
Then I discovered a new product from Clorox called Clorox Green Works. Seems like Clorox has jumped on the “green” band wagon, and I’m so glad. I tested the all purpose and window cleaner and the first thing I noticed was the smell. It had a citrusy, clean smell unlike my other cleaner. But does it work? I have no complaints. My counter tops and bathroom look clean, and I even cleaned the dog smudges off the back door!
Clorox Green Works has a full line of natural cleaning products from kitchen counters to toilets all made with plant-based ingredients taken from coconuts and lemon oils. Sounds good enough to eat!
For those really concerned about the environment and animal testing, this is good news. GreenWorks products contain over 99% natural ingredients that are biodegradable and eco-friendly with recyclable packaging, and they’re not products tested on animals.
The only issue I had with these products is trying to find an online price for them, though the company does say these cleaning products are a little more expensive than traditional cleaners because of higher costs to create them. And I’ve known for years how much more expensive natural and organic is, but my family’s health is worth it!
I do recall seeing this product at Walmart, so I’m sure they’re available wherever Clorox products are sold.
I’m a garlic lover. I put garlic in lots of things like my homemade tomato sauces and I use it when I sautee vegetables. Though some dislike the after affects of garlic, the health benefits are extensive. It has power antioxidants and is said to help cure the common cold. I even have some garlic tablets for those occasional times I feel under the weather.
Though I love cooking with it, preparing it can be a pain. I really don’t like the garlic smell on my fingers. When I was a teen I worked in a restuarant as the garlic bread girl. That’s all I did, slather garlic butter on bread and make garlic bread. I smelled like garlic for days and couldn’t get the smell out.
Years later in my own kitchen, I used garlic cloves, still reeking like garlic after cooking, then I discovered minced garlic in a jar. It was convenient and did the job. Then one day I bought a huge container of peeled garlic cloves. I thought I’d save a little money, make my own minced garlic and store them in oil in jars in my frig. And I did and it worked great. I even gave my sister a jar of my preminced garlic, and now she’s hooked on the minced instead of the cloves.
Fast forward to today where I read on someone’s blog that storing garlic in oil can lead to botulism! My mind races back over the years to one of my favorite shows as a kid, Quincy, M.D., where there’s a case of botulism, from rancid food in a can or from a water fountain. My memory is fuzzy about the details, but I remember that episode so clearly, probably because of the word…BOTULISM. It was a new one for me and the idea of dying because of bad food must have stuck in my brain.
I usually have a stomach of steel. I’ve been known not to throw food away just because a label said it’s a couple of months overdo (though I do confess this is not the best practice and now I call the company to make sure it’s safe.) But when I read this about the garlic in oil, I started to panic. Could botulism be breeding in MY kitchen?
After doing some research I learned there is a higher chance of botulism growth in garlic stored in oil at room temperature. Whew! I keep my in the frig, but I’ve often wondered how long it can be stored safely. The site I found says a couple of months. I think I’ve gone over. I remember giving my sister a jar back in April. Guess it’s time to play it safe and get rid of the garlic before I sautée my zucchini, and store this information in the back of my mind next time I need to kill someone off in my next novel. Oh, and of course, let my sister know about the dangers of garlic!
For more information on botulism and garlic visit:
It seems that I’ve been so busy doing…(field trips, shopping, baking, blogging, laundry, cooking) that there hasn’t been much time to enjoy my family. There’s always something that needs to be done and being the choleric that I am, I usually make time to do it.
Some of the things I do are really good. Like my daily exercising which I’ve been consistent at for months. (Which is a good thing after all the cookies I ate while baking!) But some of the things I do can be postponed, shortened or eliminated. Hopefully during Christmas break I’ll be able to get back on track, prioritize my day better and spend more of the fun times with Grace and the boys.
I really do miss being the fun mom!
UPDATE:
I have this really great schedule over Christmas break that gives plenty of time for playing with my kids, but alas I got my Zune Mp3 player in the mail (a belated b-day present to me) and I’ve spent HOURS trying to figure out how to download my writing conference Mp3 cds to my computer and then to the Zune! After giving up on their instructions, I just used logic and I’m in the process of uploading/downloading/whatever to the Zune now. The kids are way past their video game limit but I’m afraid if I quit now I might forget how to do it!!!!
Since I’ve had kids, I’ve been trying to make Easter more about Christ’s resurrection than the Easter Bunny. But in today’s materialistic society where retailers want to make money, it hasn’t been easy. Though we’ve technically never told our children the Easter Bunny, baskets of goodies were waiting for them after church, eggs were hidden and then found over and over again, and of course who could resist the claymation video, The Easter Bunny is Coming to Town.
But this year we’re trying something different. It’s not that I’m apposed to bunnies, or egg hunts, it’s just that sometimes Jesus gets lost in the hype. So I was thrilled when I found a great way to separate the two and still have all the fun.
Instead of adding all the bunnies and egg hunts to our Easter festivities, we’ll be celebrating the first day of spring, this Wednesday the 21st, with baskets, bunnies and egg hunts. It will also be a great opportunity to learn about nature and the awakening of life after a long winter’s rest. There are so many great possibilities!
I haven’t ironed out all the details, so if you want more information you’ll have to hop over to my blog early next week.
I’m already excited about this new tradition, especially since my kids won’t be going to Easter morning service with dye on their fingers. We already have some wonderful Easter traditions in place and now I won’t feel stressed to crame all the festivities in one weekend. When Easter Sunday rolls around it’ll be all about Jesus. We’ll have our traditional Christian Seder, do our Resurrection eggs, and focus real meaning of the holiday. Christ’s resurrection!
How do you reconcile these two traditions? What are some of your favorite ways of keeping Christ in Easter?
I’ll be posting more on our Spring Celebration later in the week!
Susan Page Davis is an author and a homeschooling mother of six. She has written seven historical romances for Heartsong Presents, two children’s books for JourneyForth, and two romantic suspense books for Harvest House. She’s also written a cozy mystery with her daughter, Megan, that will appear in February 2008, and has more books in the works.Susan and her husband Jim live in Maine and are active in a small, independent Baptist Church. Jim is an editor at a daily newspaper. Their two oldest children are married, and the Davises have four gorgeous grandchildren. All of their children have been homeschooled all the way up, and the three oldest are college graduates. Child #4 will graduate in May. The two youngest, ages 12 and 14, are still learning at home with Mom.
Wow! I’m impressed with the years you’ve spent homeschooling and writing! I can’t wait to hear about how you did it!
Tell us about your call to write.
I always loved to write and wrote many stories when I was young. After marriage I got sidetracked into journalism and nonfiction articles. I freelanced as a news correspondent for several years, and continued to write features and type local news for the nearest daily newspaper for more than 20 years. Then in 1999 I realized I had a book-length story going through my head, and my husband encouraged me that summer to write it down.
How did you get your first “writing break?”
I’d have to say my first break came from Woman’s World Magazine. Their fiction editor put encouraging notes on my first few tries, and I determined to keep on sending her stuff until she bought a story. I eventually sold three stories there in 2003-04. I also sold short stories to other national magazines, and finally got my first book contract that same year.
What do you write and why this genre?
After seven historical novels and a fantasy, I am now writing romantic suspense. I’ve always loved to read mysteries and suspense, and that first book I wrote way back in 1999 was a mystery. It wasn’t published, but I haven’t given up the dream of writing in this genre. The puzzle of the mystery intrigues me. Suspense, which is more about danger, totally absorbs the reader. It’s about justice and good triumphing over evil—themes that will never grow old. Last summer Harvest House contracted two of my romantic suspense books, and I’ve loved writing them. I hope to produce many more. That doesn’t mean I’ll never write historicals again—I love those, too. But for right now, this seems to be what the Lord has for me.
Do you have any recent contracts and up coming releases?
In March, my first suspense, Fraiser Island, will be released. This book began with a challenge from my older son. He was supposed to write a book, too. Well, I finished mine, and he didn’t. I’m still hoping he’ll finish his someday!
Frasier Island features a handful of military personnel fighting huge odds. When Harvest House bought it, they contracted for a sequel. I just finished writing it, and that book (working title Finding Marie) will come out in September 2007.
I also have two more short historicals coming out in 2007 (books 2 and 3 in my Maine Brides series with Heartsong), and a novel for young people, Sarah’s Long Ride, about a girl who competes in endurance riding.
What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?
Besides providing a good story and a temporary escape from the cares of the world, I hope to spotlight God’s sovereignty and His presence in our everyday lives. Some of my characters are slow at learning this concept. They want to be in control and have to accept the fact that it’s God who holds the power.
And now for the tough questions…
How do you balance being a mom, wife, and writer?
This is tough. Some days of necessity, I’m all mom, or all wife, or all writer. Or all church financial secretary, or… I could go on. We have a set time when school is supposed to start each morning. We don’t always start on time, but we try to get moving and get the school day in hand. First we do math and language, the subjects where the kids need my attention most. I’m usually able to spend a few hours a day writing, especially in the afternoon and evening. We all break for our big meal of the day at noon, since my husband works evenings, ensuring us at least a short time together. Everyone pitches in on household chores.
Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, homeschooling, writing, and keeping in shape? If not, which one for you has to take a back seat?
Well, that’s easy for me to see in my own life. I haven’t kept in shape. I’ve tried to keep the kids’ education on track, and my writing has progressed over the last 8 years to where it takes a lot of time. I’ve given up the part time freelancing for the newspaper so I can devote all my working time to my fiction. But in 1997 (two years before I started writing fiction seriously) I had a massive stroke. The doctors found no explanation and I recovered fully, but indirect effects contributed to an injury that has kept me from walking far at a time. I’ve had foot problems for 10 years, and sadly have not kept my body in shape.
When do you find the time to write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children when you write?
I do my best writing in the morning, but my kids seem to do their best work then, too. Therefore I get more writing time later in the day, when they are done with their schoolwork and busy at other things. Yes, sometimes I have to tell them I can’t do something they want to do because I have a deadline.
How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?
I know some people shut their office door and won’t answer the phone during writing time. I can’t make myself do that. I want to be accessible to my family and others who need me, whether it’s my 12-year-old or my married daughter who lives 3,000 miles away. Working so long for the newspaper also trained me to respond to contacts. So, if the phone rings, I usually pick it up.
How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted?
I usually go back and reread the section I was working on and take a running start at it.
What do you do to encourage yourself during those stormy days every homeschooling mom has?
We love snow days!! The public schools close, but we do school, and we get ahead of them. And when the school work is done, the kids go out and play in it. But if you mean figuratively stormy, sometimes we have to just “get through” and catch our breath when it’s over. We had some of those storms last fall, when my father died. We took several weeks off from school as we dealt with Grandpa’s illness, death, and funeral services, family concerns, etc. Then we eased back into our routine.
How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you?
In the morning, when I first go to my desk, I try to have a few quiet moments to pray.
Since my husband works from 3 p.m. to midnight and sleeps later than the rest of us in the morning, we’ve chosen immediately after lunch for our family prayer and Bible reading time. It’s good to have this calm, quiet time in the middle of the busy day, when we come before God as a family.
If you do feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?
If that happens, I have to stop cold and take a hard look at where I’m headed. There are times when I’ve realized I need to set aside more time each day for the kids, or they just don’t get it. The two youngest recently started karate lessons twice a week. Instead of separating us more, this has thrown us together more, since the half-hour ride each way means that the three of us have two hours a week together (at least) in the car, and we talk about a lot of things during that time. If I find my devotional time has slipped, sometimes I will write it on my “to do” list for a few days. The act of physically writing it down prompts me to remember it and not put other things first.
Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?
Since I began writing fiction, I haven’t put it aside for more than a few weeks, but I’ve had times where I had to give it less time. One example is this last year, when my dad was very ill. I got on a schedule of driving 25 miles to his house and spending the night there every other night. Our 25-year-old daughter came home to live at this time, and she was invaluable during Dad’s crisis. She was there with the two younger children while I went to my dad’s and my husband went to work. This went on for months, and my writing was slowed down some. Dad didn’t have Internet access at his house. If I did any writing there, I did it on a used laptop and saved to a disk, which I would bring home the next day and put on my desktop. My work progressed, but slowly.
Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?
No, I feel that He brought me to this later in life (in my mid-40s), and it’s a joy to be able to earn money for my family this way.
What advice would you give to writing moms who are have their hearts set on publication?
Be patient. This may not be the time for you to be published. Don’t give up writing, but let God work in His timing. The most important writing you do now may be the lessons you plan for your children, or the letters you write to encourage others. But keep writing. I highly recommend keeping a journal. I know most homeschooling moms love to read and write. Keep it up! And if you feel God has given you a story or a message that should be published, by all means pursue it, but don’t let that become more important than your family. They come first.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Every child is different, and every year of homeschooling is different. With six children, I started out expecting it to get easier, and for each child to learn at the same rate his older brother and sisters did. That hasn’t happened, and each one’s school experience had been unique. But that’s okay. Even when things don’t go as you planned, remember that they’re going exactly as God planned.
Thanks for having me, Gina! I invite your readers to visit my website at www.susanpagedavis.com and email me from there for a chance to win one of my books. I’ll be drawing a name each month for a free book.
I may be all about organization, but that doesn’t mean I’m organized. My desk is cluttered with papers, as is almost every corner of my home. It’s not that I don’t clean and I try to declutter every so often, it’s just that there’s so much stuff with 4 kids, many hobbies and not enough time to keep up with things.
Okay, I confess I have ADD when it comes to house cleaning. I start a project and then my eyes gaze upon another hot spot (as FLY LADY likes to call the areas in your home that seem to pile up) and I’m immediately drawn to another task, thus leaving the first one undone. But I think I’ve always been like this. I remember my mom telling me I could never finish a project as a kid without getting interested in something else.
Joey (9) is like this when it comes to crafts. He has so many unfinished projects piling up in my hot spots. I had to put my foot down and institute the “Finish What You Start” rule.
Well, I said all that to say all this. I’m trying to get organized on my blog and while there’s probably some easier way to do this, I’ve compiled all my posts in categories. So the next few posts will be listings in categories and then I’ll add it on my side bar for later reference.
I’m just hoping I can follow the “Finish What You Start” rule without getting lost in cyberspace.
Last year when I took a plate of Christmas cookies to my daughter’s preschool teacher I was surprised by her comment.
“Thank you. Not many people give homemade Christmas cookies anymore. It seems to be a lost art around.”
That made me sad to hear that so many people forego this holiday tradition. Growing up my mom always filled shoeboxes of cookies for neighbors, relatives and friends. It was her gift to them. And they’d come to expect it every year and cherish their favorite cookie recipes.
I have to admit I don’t bake nearly as much as she still does. One of the reasons is that it’s too stressful cooking with four kids underfoot and trying to do everything else for Christmas. But if you still want to bake and give those holiday cookies without the stress, here are some great ideas that have helped me.
Start baking now!!! Pies, cookies, sweet breads are all freeze great!! So don’t be afraid to freeze them. I usually freeze holiday cookies (and cookies throughout the year) for those unexpected guests! Then I just pull them out and let them defrost!
Organize a cookie exchange!!!This is the BEST way to do the least amount of work and get the most variety of cookies. Invite your friends over to a cookie exchange party. Then have everyone bake a couple of dozen of one or two varieties of their favorite cookies. On the day of the party, break out the Christmas eggnog and coffee, scented candles and music and arrange all the cookies on the dining room table. You can even have everyone bring their favorite snack to share at the party.
Make sure everyone brings and empty container to take home cookies. Then after you visit for a while, start revolving around the table grabbing 3-4 cookies of each variety. If you brought 3 dozen cookies, you take home 3 dozen. If you brought 2 dozen, then you leave with two dozen.
Then take them home and enjoy. I usually share my goodies with teachers and friend. They don’t have to know you didn’t bake them all!
Cookies in a Jar!!! This has been my standard teacher’s gift for the last couple of years. It is so easy to do, and everyone loves to make their own cookies without all the measuring and the mess. You can make them months ahead of time, so start saving those applesauce, mayo and tomato sauce jars now! Here’s some recipes to get you started. You may have to cut the recipes in half for smaller jars! Don’t be afraid to change up the ingredients and get creative!
Next week I’m starting a new tradition! Thanksgiving cookies! I’m going to bake and deliver my cookies and breads early. Why? For one thing, the teachers won’t be expecting goodies at Thanksgiving time. Plus it’ll lesson the stress for me when it comes time for Christmas!
For more ideas on “Holidays made Easier,” visit Eileen aka Cybercelt at CoolAdzine. For more great Christmas idea visit Rocks in My Dryer!
When my kids were younger I wanted to find a way for them to feel connected to far away relatives and friends, so I made placemats with all the photos they sent us.
On one side I put photos of my family, grandparents, cousins, etc. On the other side I put friends. Then I laminated it. So each day they got to “eat” with their family and friends and when it came time to visit, relative faces were already familiar so my kids didn’t shy away from the hugs and pinched cheeks.
After having three boys, I was ecstatic when my little girl came along. Now I’d be able to trade the baseball hats in for bows and shorts for dresses.
My little girl is four now and by the time she could dress herself at age two she’s been changing clothes at least three times a day. Why didn’t anyone tell me this? Oh, and now that she’ four she only wants to wear dresses. What about all those cute short and capri sets I bought her? Well, basically it was a waste of money.
About a year ago I got tired of her messing up her big closet. I’d come in her room to see her pretty church dresses thrown all over the place and a gigantic mess for me to clean.
I wanted a solution and thought if she had her own “closet”where I could put her princess and play dresses, that would solve all my problems.
I searched on line and at ever store in town, but couldn’t find one small enough or affordable, until I found this closet at Target. It’s sturdy enough (after we anchored it to the wall for my little climber. Hey, she has three big brothers!) and big enough to hold all her favorite clothes. My husband added the bar and wallah! A perfect pint size closet for my little princess! It’s truly been a life saver for me and her!
I may be all about organization, but that doesn’t mean I’m organized. My desk is cluttered with papers, as is almost every corner of my home. It’s not that I don’t clean and I try to declutter every so often, it’s just that there’s so much stuff with 4 kids, many hobbies and not enough time to keep up with things.
Okay, I confess I have ADD when it comes to house cleaning. Like Shannon…Dryer, I start a project and then my eyes gaze upon another hot spot (as FLY LADY likes to call the areas in your home that seem to pile up) and I’m immediately drawn to another task, thus leaving the first one undone. But I think I’ve always been like this. I remember my mom telling me I could never finish a project as a kid without getting interested in something else.
Joey (9) is like this when it comes to crafts. He has so many unfinished projects piling up in my hot spots. I had to put my foot down and institute the “Finish What You Start” rule.
Well, I said all that to say all this. I’m trying to get organized on my blog and while there’s probably some easier way to do this, I’ve compiled all my posts in categories. So the next few posts will be listings in categories and then I’ll add it on my side bar for later reference.
I’m just hoping I can follow the “Finish What You Start” rule without getting lost in cyberspace.
Jamie A. Freishtat, M.D. 
Not get much house cleaning done! That’s for sure!
Instead of adding all the bunnies and egg hunts to our Easter festivities, we’ll be celebrating the first day of spring, this Wednesday the 21st, with baskets, bunnies and egg hunts. It will also be a great opportunity to learn about nature and the awakening of life after a long winter’s rest. There are so many great possibilities!
We already have some wonderful Easter traditions in place and now I won’t feel stressed to crame all the festivities in one weekend. When Easter Sunday rolls around it’ll be all about Jesus. We’ll have our traditional Christian Seder, do our Resurrection eggs, and focus real meaning of the holiday. Christ’s resurrection!
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