Grocery Shopping with Kids

Taking the Kids out in Public!

So today I have to go grocery shopping for the week, something I normally do not do. But I know that if I do it, than I will save money! See, Chris works at a retail store, and it is so EASY to just ask him to pick up a few things from work! And although I love him, he is not the best at finding deals, figuring out cost per ounce, things like that. And I don't BLAME him, he just wants to get out of work already!

So, I'm going to stop buy and pick some stuff up. With my 3 kids, all under the age of 4. Insane right?!? HAHA..I LOVE to take on a challenge! Well, kidding aside, I used to be horrified at the thought of taking all three of them out all by myself, I used to beg family to come with me to help. Well, now during the day they are all at work or school, and I am left all alone...(trying to get pity points here, lol). And I wouldn't get anything done if I only went with another adult, so I have to suck it up like many moms and dads do, and just go! So I have learned what to do with them to be sure they are on their best behavior, and it seems for the most part to work!
So here's what I do:

1. I prepare them for where we are going. Before we go inside, but not too much before, because I don't want to hear it if there is a change of plans and we can't fit the store in our day. So I tell them usually in the van, and at their eye level. This is what I say, "Girls, we are going inside the store, you will be great listeners right? You will stay with mommy, not run off, and be my helpers right?". And they will agree.

2. When we get inside, I try to have them involved in what I am doing, I will ask them to find a certain food, or ask them about all the produce, or have them put items in the cart for me. They absolutely LOVE it!

3. We sing songs or make rhymes, we are a singin' family! Haha, I'm not talking about screaming opera in isle 7, just some nice quiet songs to ourselves.

4. If all else fails, I give them a healthy snacks, like carrot stick, crackers or apples I packed from home. This always calms my kids! (They are eating machines!)

So that's it! That's how I get my kids to not act like hooligan animals! How do you get your kids to act civilized? I would love to know! Comment below!

Meal Planner

Ok, this is my first official meal planning for the week. REALLY trying to make most of my meals at home! I have a couple of meetings and shows this week, so I have some crockpot meals planned. I bought a ton of chicken breast, brats, and pork steaks last week, so you will be seeing some of that on here!

Sunday: Mexican Chicken and Rice
Monday: Chili and home made cornbread, with left overs to make Fridays meal
Tuesday: Vegetarian Rollups and Spinach, Chicken Salads
Wednesday: Vegetable Beef soup from the freezer and Peasant Bread
Thursday: Crock Pot Chicken and Rice
Friday: Chili Mac and Vegetables
Saturday: Meatball Subs with MeatBalls from freezer

Yum!

What I've Learned from Raising My Kids

My sister, Jennifer, loves to write, she wrote this great piece about raising her kids. Please read and enjoy!!

Well rounded, well behaved children are:

1. Hard to come by
2. EASY PEASY
3. HELP ME PLEASE!

Ok, we have all been there and if you chose A or C, well I am here to give you some tips and reassure you well rounded children are not hard to come by. First off let me tell you a little about myself. I have a beautiful, active, responsible, smart 15 year old, I am honestly not just bragging, she gets good grades, is an athlete, eats healthy food vs. junk food a majority of the time at least (she IS a teenager), and has no problem talking to me about anything. I do get compliments on her behavior often and many people genuinely like being around her. I say, the proof is in the pudding and this pudding is really good. Now do not get me wrong the child does find her self in trouble, but not anything that I would not call normal. She is teenager after all and at some point they break the rules. The dealing with trouble topic will be a later article, at a later date. This one however is all about what helps a child understand the rules, expectations and love of a parent. J

Oh the joy of parenting, there are some days when I want to pull my hair out and some days where I can’t get enough of kissing and hugging on her. Ever wonder just what to do to ensure that your child feels safe in the home, knows he or she is part of a family unit and how ensure they are helping the overall survival of that family unit. A team must function as a team, if everyone is always separated or always busy how can a team have a synergy. Many people today in their companies have team building strategies why not have a similar plan at home?!? Now I’M not saying you need to drop backwards and hope your kids catches you… eep could you imagine? Oh SOMEONE will be traumatized there. What I am saying is family dependability and home structure is the most important thing your child can have during his or her time with you.

Here are some great ideas that my family has always practiced not only in both my own childhood and that of my lovely daughter but also in the homes of my siblings.

• Family dinner time, at least half of the week. What better way then to sit down and discuss the day and really unwind then around FOOD! If the food is healthy there are two important points here that your children will learn. 1. Healthy food is DE-LI-COUS and 2. Mommy and Daddy are taking time out to pay attention to us and we feel important. (Did I mention there is FOOD?)
• Church: OH MY is Church important. The spiritual lessons your child will learn will help them through the tough times. Sometimes it is faith in the higher power and strength from that higher power that gets us through the tough times. Not to mention the morality lessons they learn and the love they can feel from our Lord above. I personally thank God everyday for my daughter’s guardian angel that sits on her shoulder guiding her through the rough waters of high school. When I tell her that, all she does is smile, and it makes her feel important that she has an angel, of course everyone does, she just knows about hers.
• READ to your kids. This is something I often failed to do as a young mother but I see the damage it has done. My daughter struggles with her interest in books and sometime would rather watch T.V. *sigh* that is my fault. But with my nieces I see how they devour books everyday; my 8 year old niece just loves the books. (My girl reads them to her and the babies…so I KINDA got my way? Or is that wishful thinking?) Either way reading is an AWESOME alternative to movies or television. IMAGINATION can take you ANYWHERE. *hint hint Colleges and employers love the imaginative ones… why not exercise it!*
• Make easy rules and STICK TO EM! Rules, oh how important rules are. The absolute: do not do this or this please. Make them easy as well; like, the dishes must go in this cabinet, or stay in this part of the yard not this part. As your child grows more, responsibly is a must. FAMOUS words in my house are “age appropriate” she knows this means that a 15 year old sophomore is NOT going to the senior prom nor driving in a car with other teenagers. Now comes the hard part. If you stick to the rules and they break them…Guess what PUNISHMENT TIME! Oh I hated this part.
• 
  
• Don’t threaten/promise what you don’t intend to keep. Always Always ALWAYS remember that if you say, “If you don’t do this or that, then I will put you in time out...” then...yes your going to have to put them in time out...if they don’t do it. This is no fun but like mama always said “this will hurt me more then it hurts you” and you know what? She was right. (yes my mother does like hearing this) I didn’t understand that until my own daughter wailed like the dickens while she sat in her time out chair. To this day the pouting when she is grounded from something kills me. But if I don’t do what I say I will do then where is the threat? If a person constantly promises you something but then never comes through how long will you believe them? Your kids look to you for structure and dependability… and we have to provide it, no matter how much we hate to see those adorable faces pouting and angry at us. Something I always told myself is:”I’m her mom she HAS to love me in the end”. In the end your kids will respect you and love all the more…believe in that.
  
• Volunteer with your kids. Oh the joy of giving, how else can you teach your kids this joy then by them sharing their talents? Volunteering helps kids learn three MAJOR things: 1. that the world is bigger than themselves, 2. thankfulness for what they have. And the third is the biggest... EMPATHY. A child with empathy will be able to understand the human conditions more than one without. Sometimes the world is not so great, sometimes people get down on their luck, but we can help to make it a little bit better. I learned PERSONALY, that empathy helped my daughter understand when things were not going so great for our family. You’d be amazed by your own child’s capacity to understand and love when they have this emotion.
• Talk to your kids about ANYTHING. I really don’t need to tell anyone this…but …YOU are your child’s greatest teacher. AND AMEN to that. I would not want my kid’s friends to teach her about sex…would you? *shudder* My daughter talks me too…mostly because I ask and I’m nosy but she would not talk to me NOW if I didn’t talk to her when she was little. I even tell her a little bit about MY life (AGE appropriate of course…I love those words) I tell her about work or my friends and their families, but this opens the door to a SHARING conversation. I listen to and even sometimes take her opinions. (and she has them, BELIEVE me) I love this time with her, you will too with your child, just relax, breath and open the door with; “Hey, how are you?”, “ What are you thinking?”, “How do you feel about this?”, or “ What do you think about this?”. Once my daughter and I had a long discussion about what she felt about the presidential election and I found out my daughter is a conservatist ...Neat huh?

Parenting isn’t easy… but I would not trade it for the world and I am pretty sure you feel the same way. Just remember when in doubt turn to Our Lord… He seems to answer in His own way, but He always does.

How to look the part of a pulled together Mom!

You know the one, the seemingly perfect mom who has things together and looks awesome. "How does she do it?" many ask. I do too. I have pick up a few things through my work and being around super cute gals. And well, here are some tips to help you too get that look and feel!

The Look
Did you you know that 90 percent of a persons' impression of you is made in the first 4 minutes of meeting you? Wow! It is so important to make a great lasting impression, you never know who you will meet! Now am I saying that you need to base your life on what other people think of you? No. But you need to dress the way you want people to portray you. And if that is a 1980's hairband groupie, than by all means wear the ripped jeans and neon green tee while grocery shopping. But if its not, then here are several elements of a well polished look:

1. A haircut that is flattering to your face.
-Make an appointment with a stylist and throw around ideas of the type of hair cut you would like. Take in pictures from magazines or books and make sure to tell him/her the amount of work you are realistically willing to do each day to walk out the door looking great.



2. Great natural makeup
-This is very important. The main point of makeup is to enhance the beautiful face you have! Some great ideas to go by provided by Beauty expert Bobbi Brown. These tips, found at http://health.discovery.com/centers/healthbeauty/tipstricks/eyecolor.html and in her book Beauty Evolution helps you choose the perfect makeup colors that look great on you!

• All-over eye-shadow base. The color, which is applied from the lashes up to the brow bone, should blend with your skin tone. Eye dos: White, bone, toast, sand or banana. Colors to avoid: Red-toned shadows — they can make you appear tired.
• Lid shadow. Use neutral shades to enhance your eyes. For blue eyes — ashy taupe, gray or heather. For green ones — yellowy taupe, camel or heather. And for brown — rich taupe, sable or mocha. Want to complement your eye shadow with an optional contouring color, to further define by day or add a dramatic touch by night? Go with a shade that's not too dark, such as brown, slate or mocha. Brown's word of warning where contouring is concerned: "Smoky black lids are for rock stars and supermodels only!"
• Liner. Go for darker shades, not bright ones — mahogany, charcoal or navy can be nice.
• Mascara. Black is makeup expert Brown's favorite, but not for women with fair skin and light-colored hair and eyelashes — for them brown mascara can create a look that's less harsh.

What about going beyond the basics to try trendy for a change? That can be OK, but only if the color doesn't clash with your skin tone and hair and eye color. And if you're older, bear in mind this added pointer from Rockville, Md., makeup artist Barbara Roybal: Stick with matte-colored eye shadows — and stay away from frosted ones — to minimize the appearance of wrinkles.*

3. Appropriate Clothing for your size and shape. And I mean your shape NOW not then, or where you want it to be. You want to look great NOW right? Than buck up and embrace your beautiful self! There are 5 different body types. Freelance Writer, Kristin Ketteringham tells us the different types and some tips and tricks to go by.

Apple - this body type is "top heavy." Apple bodies have a wide torso including a full bust, waist and upper back. They also have broad shoulders. They may have slim arms, legs, and hips. Weight gain will normally go towards the waist line. In general, the upper body is noticeably larger compared to the lower body.

Tops: Avoid tops with puffy sleeves or tops that are baggy. This will only add to your already heavy top. Try a tunic style top that skims around the waist. An empire waist shirt (waistline begins under the bust) will also work nicely by drawing the attention away from your stomach. You want your shirts to reach below your waistline. For a more balanced look, go with a shirt that falls at the largest point of your hips. Layer it up by wearing a layered blouse over a tank top. This will camouflage your tummy and other trouble spots. You might also consider wearing a belt over your shirt, letting it ride lower over your hips. This will minimize your larger bottom. With respect to neckline, going lower will move the eye upwards. Boat necklines, turtlenecks and collared shirts will also look nice. Knits and woven fabrics will flatter your body shape as well.

Bottoms: Avoid skinny legged pants in most cases. The exception is if you are wearing a longer tunic over the skinny pants. Apple shaped bodies normally have great legs and hips so they can pull off a hip-hugging jean that will emphasize their curves. To create a more balanced look you need to fill out your lower half. Try wide-legged or flare pants and wide-legged capris to showcase slim ankles. Look for jeans with front and back pockets. This will help to disguise your rounder midsection while flattering your curves. Avoid pleated pants and opt for a flatter front. When choosing a skirt, you want one that is fuller, with a flare and a higher waistline. This will disguise a large stomach. Avoid slim fit miniskirts and tight clothes as this will further exaggerate your broad top and slimmer lower body.

Pear - this body type is the exact opposite of an apple shape and it is extremely common. Pear bodies are noticeably smaller on top than they are on bottom. Weight gain will normally go to the hips and thighs, therefore pear bodies will appear larger in this area. This body type may have a slender neck with narrow shoulders. Pears will always have a curvy bottom.

Tops: You want to draw attention to your shoulders. Choose shirts that have wide necklines like a boat neckline or a scoop neck. Square necklines will widen the shoulders to create more balance. Buttons or ties at the neck will also bring the eyes up. Avoid shirts that are too tight and too loose. Semi-fitted, tailored tops look best. Shirts that are defined at the waist will highlight your waist, a feature you want to show off. Belted and cinched tops work well with a pear shape. For a jacket or blazer, make sure that the bottom doesn't hit the widest part of your hips. You want it to fall slightly above or at waist level. Avoid jackets that have two slits or vents at the back, especially if you have a larger backside that needs a little extra coverage. Go with a single vented jacket or a jacket without any slits at all.

Bottoms: Avoid high-waisted, shapeless jeans and skirts and opt for the younger, slightly lower rise styles. Go with waistlines that rest slightly below your natural waistline. Flatter your defined waist and small backside with wide-legged pants and deep dark colors. Larger pockets on the back of your pants will make your butt look a bit smaller. Your perfect pair of pants or jeans would have oversized pockets that taper at the bottom. This makes your butt look rounder and your thighs look smaller. With a skirt, choose flowing fabrics that minimize your larger bottom half. Straight, A-Line cut skirts are ideal for your body shape. The A-line cut will help to conceal some of your problem areas through the hip and thigh.

Rectangle - this body type has very little curve. Rectangle bodies have small frames and are considered athletic or slim. These are those "skinny" bodies that will many times wear petite or tall sizes. They also often times have a small chest size. The rectangle body looks straight up and down. Weight gain would deposit evenly throughout the body.

Tops: The goal is to add some curves. To achieve this try tops with necklines that fall below the collarbone. This will elongate the neck and upper body. Find flowing "blousy" shirts to help soften your shoulders and arms. Tops that cinch at the waist can add some curves to your frame as can certain embellishments. Simple ruffles, lace, or even a neck tie can make your waist look smaller and give you are more feminine look. A longer suit jacket will help to lengthen your upper body. Shirts with pockets on the bust line will also emphasize that area and give the appearance of curves.

Bottoms: Avoid details around the hips and do not cuff your pants or jeans, as this can make your legs appear stumpy. Choose bootcut and wider-legged styles that will flatter your muscular legs. Look for a pair of pants that have a larger opening at the ankle than at the thigh. This will make your thighs appear slimmer. Skinny jeans will only add pounds to your frame so try to avoid this style. Avoid belts and pleats at the waistline also as these can broaden your waistline, working against your illusion of curves. Choose an A-line skirt with a dropped waist to slenderize. Some added feminine accents around the hemline can broaden the lower half of your body and also draw the eye to that area.

Hourglass - this body type is the one that most women want. It is considered curvy but proportional. Hourglass bodies have well defined waists with hips and shoulders that are well balanced. Weight gain distributes evenly throughout the body with this body type as well.

Tops: You have plenty of options to choose from and not much to avoid. The key here is to draw attention to your well-defined waist. Your best choice is going to be a wrap top that sits just at your waist. Choose semi-fitted clothes instead of a too tight or oversized styles that will overpower your frame. Too many accessories or prints can also be overwhelming. Bold stripes and plaids may flatten your curves, whereas soft, delicately patterned fabrics will accentuate. V-neck and boat neckline tops look nice with an hourglass figure also.

Bottoms: Once again, you want to accentuate your waist so wear pants that have defined waistlines with belts or contoured waistbands. Straight or wide legs will showcase your curves as will soft pleats and darts. Flat front pants will also look nice. Feel lucky that you don't have any real "off limit" areas when it comes to the pants and skirts you wear.

Circle/Round - this body type has a lot of weight around the tummy and will likely have large breasts. The waist line is not well defined. Many women fall into this category due to weight gain or natural changes in the body with age. Shoulders and hips appear narrow. Weight gain would deposit around the waist with this body type.

Tops: You want to accentuate the positive by wearing lower cut or v-neck shirts. This draws the eye to the bust line, one of your best assets, and also helps to elongate and slenderize your neck. Avoid tight-fitting tops that will showcase your larger midsection and avoid overly large sizes that will make you look larger than you actually are. You want your clothes to skim your body. Avoid horizontal and diagonal stripes, and opt instead for vertical strips that can make you appear slimmer. Turtlenecks and large, busy prints will not flatter a round body type.

Bottoms: If you have nice legs, go with some capris or knee-length skirts. Wear a belt to narrow your waistline and make you appear slimmer. Stay with fitted skirts, like a pencil skirt, when you have a round body type. This will accentuate your legs and bring the eye away from your midsection. Skirts and pants with a straight style look best. Avoid tapered, pleated, and cargo pants as these will give you an even fuller figure.

Hopefully your next shopping trip won't seem quite so daunting now that you have an idea of which styles will be the most flattering on you. Remember, use your own judgment about what looks best.

4. Eye Catching Accessories. Accessories are a MUST! Experts say that you should always be sure to budget accessories into your wardrobe budget. Did you know that most woman wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time? WOW! And the way we can change those stand by staples in our closet to look fresh is with accessories. Accessories never make you feel fat, because they stay the same size, and they have this uncanny ability to make you feel put together. Some things you should follow when wearing accessories:

-Don't over do accessories. They should be used in moderation. Ways to over do it? By Doing things like wearing a big sassy hat along with a bright scarf. Unless of course, you are wearing it for the real reason...to keep you warm. Or wearing a big bulky necklace on top of a boldly printed shirt, yikes!

-When dressing, a simple tip is to do solid, solid, pattern. And accessories are a great way to get that pattern in there. With a cute polka dot jacket, a sophisticated paisley scarf, or with an awesome pair of pin striped heels. Do not mix patterns. It will be confusing, and it will look as though a fabric store threw up on you. I am sure that is not the look you are going for.

-Look through fashion magazines and pay attention to fashionable people on T.V.. Do they look put together? How are they wearing their accessories? Write it down and make a mental note. When you go shopping, pick up some of the items that you enjoyed. Then go to your wardrobe, and put together an outfit with them!

5. Your Smile! Yes, I know, there are days when you feel like you got hit with a board with a nail in it. And yes I know it is so much easier to vent to everyone you see through the day, including the little boy trying to sell you a candy bar for his school. But isn't it nice on those days when someone smiles at you? Or they tell you to have a nice day? It certainly makes me feel better! I also have found that I feel happier when I make someone else feel good. Or when I kill that really rude lady at the drive thru with kindness. There is something deep inside that says "Haha, your rudeness will not break me, I will take you up a level with my positive rays!"

Daddy Dresses!

Daddy Dresses

By Daddy Deno

So you need to get that cute kid presentable huh? Well, First off you have to identify how many children you have and what sex they are. Seriously, if you are going to take on the task of dressing your child you need to know a few things like what size they are, what clothes are appropriate for where they are going, style, and what the temperature is outside. We will take each one separately and get your darling child dressed before she is old enough to drive.

What size? We have two dressers in the girls’ room with three drawers each. Top drawer is for underwear, socks and pajamas. Middle drawer is for shirts, and bottom drawer is for pants. Sizes can be a little misleading. A size 4t in one brand may be smaller than the same size in another brand, but for the most part they are close. Try the clothes on. If you see belly or ankles, you have the wrong dresser. If she trips on her first step or cannot find her hands, you have the wrong dresser. Her clothes should look like yours do on you. If you can dress yourself then dressing you prince or princess should not be much more difficult.

What clothes are appropriate? If you are going to church then obviously jeans are out. If you are going to school, you need to know what the dress code is. If you do not know you either need to get into your time machine and look at what she wore yesterday or you can ask your spouse. If you are a single parent you have already dressed her once…do it again. If all else fails, even our two year old knows which clothes are hers. Also, it is wise to have “play” clothes separate from “going out in public” clothes. You do not want to send her off in grungy pants. Grunge was a popular look in the ‘90’s. It’s not good for your three year old. AND IT IS NEVER APPROPRIATE TO TAKE YOUR CHILD OUT IN PUBLIC IN THEIR PAJAMAS IF THEY ARE OLDER THEN ONE!

What’s style? I don’t know. Don’t ask me. Just stick with easy solid colors if you can. If you do not understand style then avoid all patterns, especially stripes and poka-dots. There are rules for these items and I don’t know them, but I can find a nice pair of tan pants and a shirt that has a butterfly on it. And if you are forced to do the shopping for clothes and do not understand style….oh, boy! Luckily there is Garanimals. Find the children’s section and they do the matching for you. Match monkey and monkey…you have an outfit! Or buy an outfit that is all put together on the same hanger. Manufactures understand that style-impaired parents exist so they do try to cater to us.

What temperature? If you live in the Midwest like we do, you can see the weather change in minutes. Layers are always the best method for increasing warmth. If she is too hot she can take something off. Too cold…you get the picture. But if all of your warmth is a huge bubbly coat, she is either going to be sweating or frozen. We usually have to go outside before we dress our girls in the spring and fall. You never know from one day to the next what will be correct. If it is not, she’ll tell you.

Remember, the more simple the better. Let Mommy do the fancy hair and the fancy dresses. She’s better at that anyway. Find something clean and solid colors, you should be just fine.

Daddy Do's

How to do your little girls hair...from a dad's prospective!

By Daddy Chris Deno

Dear Dad’s, welcome to the world of little girl’s hair. It can be a scary place and very intimidating. Some types of hair are easier to work with than others for some styles. I think straight,fine hair is the easiest and I think curly hair is more difficult, but not to worry we will get you through this. Currently we have two girls who need their hair done and we have one with straight hair and one with curly hair. Always remember you are not the first daddy to do his little princess’s hair. There are tricks to help you and to help cover mistakes. Sometimes a simple brushing is all you need, but if she is going to church or school you will want to do a little bit more. I am certainly no expert. I keep my own hair very short so I do not have to deal with that issue in the morning. If this is your first day doing your daughter’s hair: take a deep breath, say a prayer, and read the following.

The first universal truth that you have to remember when you work with your daughter’s hair: get it wet!! I do not know the physics, but hair is much easier to handle when it is wet. The next two are tied in my book. Whatever you do to her hair, she is going to cry, scream, and whine each time until she realizes that it really does not hurt that much and she looks SO PRETTY when you are done. To reduce these tears(whether they are real or not) you have to use conditioner in her hair. Guys can get away with just shampoo or using a “two in one”, but for your angels hair you have to use a conditioner. Don’t worry the wonderful companies of the world have developed tear-free conditioner too.

Conditioner makes the hair so that it does not tangle as easy. There are also “detangler” sprays that you can buy but if you brush her hair daily and use conditioner you may not need it. Young kids generally do not do well when you spray them with things. The biggest battle we had with our oldest’s hair was that she liked to use it as a napkin. She would wipe her hands off during supper. Dried food makes hair-do’s impossible and painful to attempt. Her hair needs washed right away before it has a chance to dry, especially when you have something like spaghetti or macaroni and cheese.

Ok, her hair has been washed and conditioned, her hair is still moist, and you understand that she will potentially not completely enjoy the experience. NOW WHAT??? Well, the easiest look I know is brushing all the hair straight down and using a clip or two to sweep the bangs out of her face. This isn’t a look that I would advise for “class picture day”. However, it is a quick and easy hair style that may say, “Daddy Day”, but it also says, “I tried”. Please do this if you can do nothing else. Do not send her out into the world without brushing her hair. This should also be a relatively pain-free interaction…good starter step.

A very simple look is to pull it all back into a pony tail. Comb out all of the little knots, pull all the hair towards the back and use a simple “ouchless” rubberband. There are a variety of kinds so try not to spend an entire day at the store trying to find the right one. You might not like the first kind you buy, but the good news is they are cheap. Don’t sweat it. While you are at the store pick up some clips. These can be a “do” saver. If you pull all of her hair back and one small group was missed…that’s why clips were invented. Once you have brushed it all toward the back start gathering it up in one hand and brush more into that hand. You now need to determine where on her noggin this creation of yours is going to reside. If you are fearful of being able to find the exact middle, there are a few options. Good news, your life does not depend upon exact, but it should be somewhere close to the middle. If you cannot seem to make this happen then try to gather it all to one side, “Punky Bruster” style. Very young kids do look cute with it on the side. When you have a ponytail made with one hand holding it together use the other hand to grab a rubberband and put the hair into it. Keep holding the hair tight. They twist the rubberband and put the tail into it again. Depending on the thickness of the hair you will probably have it wrapped around four or five times. Once you have the band on her hair then you can tighten it by gently pulling the ends away from each other. Be very careful not to tighten too much. You have a high potential to hurt her, but a little tightening is necessary to keep it together. The last step is to brush the ends so when it dries it will fluff out a little.

The next step up from a single ponytail is pig tails. Same concept but you have the added step of splitting her hair in two, hopefully equal halves. So let’s begin with washed, conditioned and moist hair. Brush her hair being careful of knots and tangles. They will be there just try not to rip out all her hair. A brush with wide teeth makes this less painful. As you are brushing her hair determine about where the middle of her head is and begin to brush so that a clear line appears. Once you have that accomplished, start gathering one side in your hand while brushing more into it. Where to place the tail? High, low? Close together or far apart? That all depends upon you and a little luck until you get used to it. The good news is it really does not matter so long as when you are done they appear to be in the same location. One high and one low is not a good look.

Once you have those mastered it is time for French Braiding. No, I am just kidding. I’m really not sure what that is but I know it is exceedingly difficult. Stick with the basics. Let Mommy handle the “special days”. She just needs to know that in a pinch if called upon your child will not look like she stuck her finger in a light socket. If you are a single dad, practice. Hopefully you have someone in your life that can teach you first hand some tricks that I have missed or can teach you to French Braid. Patience and time are two qualities you will need until you feel confident in your technique. Remember clips can help hold clumps of hair that you failed to get into the rubber band. Ribbons and bows also hide flaws. In the hair care aisle there are pre-made bows on clips. If all else fails, maybe it’s “hat day”.

Box Tops and Food Safety

So you have a child in school, you want to help with the class more, because well, you’re her parent! But you a) work full time or b) have small children at home? No fret! There are still ways you can help the class and child and still do you’re other responsibilities.

Room mothers are usually needed to help out with parties, field trips, and some miscellaneous project every now and then. Although it might be hard to physically go to these things, there are ways to help, and be involved with the class. First step is to find time to meet with the teacher to discuss which activities the room mother might be needed for. Tell him/her that although you cannot come to all the events required, you are here to help. Get the list of mothers/fathers involved with the class (or the actual “room mothers”) and call them to tell them the same.

You can do such things as putting together gift bags, baking cupcakes, sewing costumes, or making signs for a fundraiser. These things can be done at home and on your time. The important part to this is you need to OPEN YOUR MOUTH and then do the things you said you would do. When a party is planned, tell the room mother you are willing to bake the rice crispy treats. Fundraiser coming up? Make sure to TELL the teacher and room mother you will help. The point to this is to not wait on people to ask you.

Box Tops

Another way to help your school is by participating in Box Tops for Education. Box Tops are found on a ton of the products we already buy. Products like; Cheerios, Hamburger Helper, Kleenex, and even on Kotex Maxi Pads! The school gets 10 cents for EVERY box top, and they can add up! A lot of people do not realize how much of an impact these have for a school, and do not think about it when they throw the package out. A great way to keep track of the tabs is to always have an envelope in your kitchen to hold the tops. Once a month, bring them into your child’s school, or to a local school. Also, some schools are a part of My Coke Rewards, Tyson Project A+ (Tyson Chicken), and Campbells Labels for Education. Be sure to ask! Please take the time to check out and sign up at these websites!

Box tops for Education

My Coke Rewards

Tyson Project Plus

Campbells Labels for Education

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Is that Pizza Safe to Eat?

With the holidays going on, I always have the uneasy feeling when the leftovers get left on the counter a bit too long. If you have to ask the question “Has that food sat out too long?”, then it probably is unsafe. The food “danger zone” is from 41 to 141 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature range where bacteria love to party. Despite how well we prepare our food there will always be hazardous bacteria on or in it. We keep them to a safe level by slowing growth through refrigeration or actually killing most of them through proper cooking. However, when the food sits in the “danger zone” those bacteria that are left are multiplying, and multiplying...like rabbits these things are!

There are many food borne illnesses. If you follow common sense you will rarely find yourself with one. Have you ever had a 24 hour flu? Ask your doctor but more than likely you ate something that was under cooked or sat out a little too long. I do not want to scare you into not eating anything, but you need to know a few things like do not use a wooden cutting board, due to the fact that bacteria can get caught in it, and there no real way to properly sanitize wood. And be sure to put your food into the fridge when you are done eating it...not hours later. Notice earlier I said that refrigeration only slows the growth. I know you have forgotten about that spaghetti dinner you had three weeks ago. Don't eat that either! Fuzzy is good for peaches not for spaghetti.

The next time your lovely meal has sat out for four hours or more, you are definitely in harm’s way. There are multiple factors that affect the growth of bacteria like moisture, protein, and acidity levels. You cannot tell simply by looking at food to see if it is safe (unless of course it's that green, fuzzy spaghetti). So when you’ve eaten your fill at a picnic and your attention turns to playing in the park, think twice about going back to the table and dipping into that coleslaw.

Cheap orFree Kids Activities!

How fun is it to play with the family! Activities come in all shapes, sizes, and prices! Listed are a few, and we will add to the list as the ideas come!


Free or Inexpensive Activities,
1. Pack a healthy lunch and sunscreen and head out to your community park! River parks, Water Parks, Nature or Playground parks. Feed the ducks, have a picnic, and play hide and go seek!

2. Fishing, if you don't know how, learn with them, it makes it even more fun! This is not gender specific, bring your girl out!

3. Create a scavenger hunt. Write down several items that you can help your little one search for things like feathers, flowers, acorn, or even a lady with a red hat!

4. Camping in the back yard. This is perfect for "Newbie" campers or parents with littler ones. All that is needed? A Tent, flashlight, blankets, pillows, and great stories!

5. Bike Ride on a bike trail. If littler ones, put them in a bike trolley and if older, have them ride along with you! You can also ride around town and hit landmarks like museums, book stores, market or a soda shop!

6. Good ol' fashioned walk! Take a stroll and point out objects to littler ones or talk about nature. With older kids, talk about life, or have them "teach" you about their favorite thing to do, even if you already know all about them!

7. Gardening in the yard. It is so wonderful to see the exciting phases of life in a garden with your child! Talk about the different plants, the care it takes to get them to grow, and be sure GET DIRTY!

8. Crafts or seasonal cards to send to friends and family. How fun is it to get sweet things in the mail? Make special pictures and Thank You Cards with your little ones. This teaches them a life skill of gratefulness!

9. Picture or word search in magazines and books. For littler ones, have them do a mini scavenger hunt for certain pictures in a book or magazine. For older kids, have them find words in the book they do not know yet and have them find the definition for it! This will help you learn more too! ;)

10. Bug collecting! Again, not gender specific! Grab a clear glass and trap a bug underneath it. Talk about the colors, shape, and classify it.

11. Cook or Bake. These skills are so important! Have them stir, pat, shake spices, or add ingredients. Talk about why certain ingredients are added (i.e.Baking powder helps the dough rise), and have them help make decisions on some of the ingredients! Red sprinkles or blue? Carrots or Squash? This will help them learn that providing for others and themselves is important and kind, and they know that they helped make it, so they will be more prone to eat it!

12. Play Pretend! Not sure how? Ask your child! They do all day long and will lead the way!

13. Game Time! Pick a night of the week to play games with the family! There are games that even a preschooler or toddler can play. This teaches them the importance of family togetherness, and shows them that they are special, and the time you share with them is as well.

14. Movie Night! Pick a movie that is rated for the youngest child watching it, pop some pocorn, get some blankets and pillows, and sit back and enjoy!

15. Already a member of a health club? Most have a family swim night or other activities. Check it out!

16. Tea party or indoor picnic. This is a classic way to be spontanios and fun with your little one! Feed their imagination by dressing up and speaking with an accent!

17. Read a book! This is a MUST for parents. No matter what age. Teach the little ones that reading is important by reading with them and make it fun by using funny voices. Teach the classics to older kids, have them read Charles Dickens or even Shakespear to you a little every night.

18. If its raining or too cold outside, why not put up a tent or throw a blanket over a table and chairs in the house and put potted plants around. Presto! Your own homemade camp site!

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Make at Home Gifts!

Make at Home Gifts!

So as my Chris and Myself are trying to save a buck for Christmas, I came across this site feeding 6, LOVE it!

She did some research on the internet and came up with these great homemade present ideas. Some directions for homemade soap made in the crockpot. It does take a few weeks to cure so if this interests you it's best to get started on this now. I have never made soap before, but I would love to start! I think these are just so pretty, and some of these fizzy bath bombs would go perfectly with them!

So, if you like me, have a ton of friends that spend a little too much time at Starbucks, (you know who you are), these earth friendly coffee cup sleeves would be a PERFECT gift for them! You can package it up with a few homemade flavored sugars for coffee and tea and you have the perfect gift.

You want frugal? How's this. These adorable stuffed hedgehogs are made from a dollar store car mitt. So stinkin' cute for the little one on your list.

Ok, so LOVE THIS! Take a $3 frame and a little creativity to create this amazing dry erase wall calendar. I might just have to make an extra one for my wall!



Broken crayons turn into custom monogrammed pictures. We are SO gonna make One of these for our daughter's teacher, how cute!



Ok, so when I was a kid, I SO remember making these snow globes! You can either make them yourself for someone, or how about giving the materials in a box with a little bow? What a fun time to have with a little one!



Ahh, the classic chocolate chip cookie, my favorite! How about this Cookie mix in a jar as a gift for your favorite sweet tooth?

So these are some affordable Christmas gifts for you to check out. Keep checking back, cause I will be finding some more!!

Remember, Christmas doesn't have to be a put-you-in-debt holiday. You can truly make some amazing easy on the wallet gifts that don't come off as "cheap".

Hello all!
Well, I have thought about it, and I think I want to start moving the website here to this blog. It's cheaper, funner, and just more laid back, which is the feeling we're going for! I will continually just be writing about life, kids, parenting, fashion, and want to focus on budgeting too. Cause well, its not my forte....AT ALL. I am naturally cheap, that's not the problem it the fact that I need to find ways to be MORE frugal, and Like Dave Rasmsey says...I need to tell our money where it needs to go...or I will wonder where it went!

So, where to start...Well I can say,

Hello! And welcome to my Almost Perfect Parent blog site! This site was created to focus on parents building strong families and well rounded children, while looking great and saving a buck along the way!

Just think about all the things that are involved when it comes to raising a child. Religion, Education, Money, Nutrition, Security, Discipline, Morality, Hygiene, Social Skills and Manners. These basics have usually been passed down from generation to generation and somehow they have become a lost art. We are compiling information and details about the things needed to become an "Almost Perfect Parent". Now as you might have guessed, I am NOT a perfect parent. I do have days (ok, many) days where I let my children leave the house with mis-matched socks or spaghetti on their faces. I also once myself left my home with my pants inside out and figured it out at my business meeting. Is it the end of the world? No. Will I ever do these things again? Probably. But one thing I have learned that knowing that I am not the only one, and that I am raising well balanced child is an awesome feeling. I hope that this blog helps you in a small way, no matter what it is!