Advice (Unsolicited)

Advice (Unsolicited), Creative Projects

Every time I have a drink with my good friend over at Sara Bakes Cakes, I start harassing her about how she doesn’t blog enough. She’s not even halfway through her Porkslap and I’m already rattling off all the “quick! easy!” ways she could keep her blog alive.

I realize we can’t all be Sheri, but look at Nina! If she can do it….!

Ahem.

I posted here a whopping 13 times last year. (13 times in 2013! At least I was symmetrical.)

But the crazy part is how much I think about this blog.

I write at least 5 posts a week. I keep lists of them. I write snappy ledes. I find the perfect image.

In. My. Head.

So here’s what we decided: For the month of January, we will write one post each week.

Why we bother

Even though I am a book coach, I actually do not believe everyone in the world needs to be read. Including myself.

But I’ve come to realize that it’s personally important to me to keep this blog going.

It’s how I connect with myself and other people who are on the same path as me. I’ve found so much hope and inspiration and laughter from other bloggers, and this is my small way to join the conversation.

So there you go. Every week in the month of January I will be sitting down and picking from my long list of blog ideas on Springpad. And presumably Sara will be doing the same. And at the end of the month we can assess and see how that pace felt, and if we want to continue.

Who else is in?

xo

P.S. Happy New Year from the twins!

merry christmas from the twins

Advice (Unsolicited), Pregnancy & Newborn, Productivity, Raising twins, Toddler tricks

homework in pajamas

Here’s a tip for making your fall and winter evening routine more sane:

Bathe the bigger kids before dinner.

Here’s why:

The after dinner hour is one of the craziest times of day — kids are tired, babies seem to nurse constantly, dad gets home and everyone wants to climb all over him, parents are hungry, and there’s tons of basic household stuff to get done in the evening. Getting baths done before dinner takes one big thing off your list.

Older kids don’t get very dirty during dinner (we have a 5 year old and almost 4 year old)

Our kindergartener prefers to do homework after dinner. Having him in his pj’s already means we can take more time with homework, look through his school papers from the day, and turn homework time into quality time together. (Like the photo above, which my husband took before coming into the house one night.)

Having kids in pj’s sends the signal that the day is winding down.

It’s cold and dark. PJ’s are warm and comfy.

Having your older kids in pj’s for dinner means they have more time for quiet play, books, or free time before bed. (While you make lunches, clean up from dinner, and take care of younger kids who need more hands on attention.)

It also means more quality time with working parent(s) who tend to come home right in the thick of nighttime to-do’s.

It results in a much calmer evening routine.

—

So that’s what’s working for us right now.

What’s your tip for making the evening madness more sane?

Advice (Unsolicited), House & Home, Productivity, Toddler

Now that I have the job of stocking up on baby gear for the twinsers (3 months to go!!) I realize how much I’ve forgotten. And this is from the person who used to be able to recite the Baby Bargains book by heart.

(New moms: Baby Bargains = the consumer reports of baby crap. If this is your first time around the block, don’t set foot into a Baby Superstore without your copy.)

So before amnesia sets in, I’m documenting my 5 favorite things to make your life with toddlers easier. Hope it helps you!

1. Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat

Forward facing
POUNDS: 20-100 pounds
HEIGHT: 27-57″

They should call this “THE LAST CAR SEAT YOU’LL EVER HAVE TO BUY!!”

As soon as your little one can move into a forward-facing carseat, buy this one.

We made the mistake of going from the infant car seat to the Britax to this.

We could have skipped the Britax altogether and gone straight to this bad boy. Young toddlers will feel like total hotshots with this seat’s built-in cup holders and secret compartments perfect for stashing LEGOs and Hotwheels. And when your toddler turns into a preschooler (overnight), voila — here’s your new booster, friend.

 

2. Bumkins Waterproof SuperBibsBumkins Waterproof Superbibs

Why don’t I ever hear moms complain about how hard it is to find a bib that:

– Doesn’t soak through

– Doesn’t deteriorate the first couple of times through the wash

– Kids don’t rip off easily

– Isn’t so tight that it strangles your kid

– Doesn’t completely suck?

I have no idea. But I do know that these bibs lasted us through two toddlers in a row, and I think there are still some up in the attic waiting for rounds 3 and 4.

 

3. Multi-layered mattress protection

The best part, of course, is the product shot.

When your little Houdini graduates from the crib to the bed (we went straight to twin beds at around 18 months for both boys), you’ll want to do everything you can to protect their new twin mattresses.

Because as far as I’m concerned, they’ll be using these mattresses until they move out.

Here’s your twin bed setup:

  • First the Vinyl Zippered Mattress Cover from Target. It zips around the entire mattress.
  • Then a regular quilted cotton mattress pad like this one.
  • Then the waterproof sheet protector as demonstrated by our lovely model. (This way if there is an accident during the night, or god forbid a stomach bug, you might luck out and only have to change this layer and up of bedding.)
  • Then the fitted sheet. (Unlike our fine model above, I put the sheet protector under the fitted sheet.)

 

4. Ergorapido Ion Bagless Coordless Stick and Hand Vac by ElectroluxErgorapido coordless stick vac

Keep it in or near your kitchen (I’m still trying to find the perfect place to conceal it but have it close enough to make it easy to use). If I used this after every meal, my floor would never be as disgusting as it is this morning.

Note: I had an earlier model of this vacuum and can say that the Ion battery version makes all the difference.

 

5. Diapers.comdiapers.com

BONUS: Use the code to the left to get 20% off all of their sites

I’ve been using these guys since they launched and they keep getting more awesome. I always get free, next day delivery, and their customer service is amazing.

I’ve use them for monthly diapers & wipes (they sell Kirkland brand wipes, which are awesome), sippy cups, cases of baby food, baby wash, books/toys. And for fun you can always throw in a tube of fancy mascara, laundry detergent, or throw pillows from one of their sister sites.

They also now offer a Baby Registry, which is WORLDS above the baby superstores since shipping is FREE as long as you order is over $49. And what better incentive for your gift giver to put that money toward your gift instead of the outrageous shipping Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby charge. Really, I hate those stores.

 

So those are my faves. What are yours?

 

This post contains affiliate links.

 

Advice (Unsolicited), Inspiration, Joy

one thousand gifts ann voskamp

It was a tense weekend.

A bank snafu that temporarily drained our cash reserves. 

A misunderstanding with a friend.

Anxiety over the unknown as Ian moves his office to Manhattan and I take over our local space.

The anniversary of the worst phone call I’ve ever received, that my father had died at age 59.

My heart felt racy and junky all weekend. Then, on Monday, just plain sad.

I crave solitude and find myself daydreaming about a cabin on the banks of the St. Lawrence River waay upstate.

But since feeling to the New York/Canada border is out of the question, I picked up Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts (which you really have to be in the mood for) and received this message:

Stress = fear

Fear = lack of trust

The antidote to stress is trust.

The antidote to fear is trust.

The way to practice trust is giving thanks.

“The only way to fight a feeling is with a feeling…We can only experience one emotion at a time. And we get to choose–which emotion do we want to feel?” –Ann Voskamp

Today, I will practice replacing fear with trust.

Today, I will practice replacing anxiety with gratitude.