And the winner is… (How to host a family-friendly Awards party)

Back in my college days, when life revolved around such things as rushing home from class to watch soap operas and waiting around for Whattaburger to begin serving taquitos at 11pm (By the way, I sure do miss the metabolism of my early 20’s. I cannot even look at a taquito these days without gaining a pound or two), my friends and I would host an Oscar party every year. Ballots would be cast, food would be consumed, money paid out to the winner and good times were had by all.

These days those college friends are in the same parenting boat as the husband and me…the boat that involves bath times, time-outs and sippy cup refills as opposed to lots of time spent palling with friends. Max and Ruby get more screen time on the family television than Oscar-nominated films. We do get to walk the red carpet on occasion…mainly because someone spilled juice on it a few months back and the stain has yet to be removed.

However, this year I am bringing back the Oscar party. Rather than sitting on the couch in my frumpy mom yoga pants to watch the glitz and glamour this award season, I am taking the time to create a family-friendly Academy Award party that adults and children will both enjoy.

Want to get your family in on the awards-party action? Below are some ways I set the stage at my house for some Academy Award fun.

This award season do not merely watch the action from the sidelines of the family couch. Involve every member of the family in on the fun. A family-friendly party is a great way to spend some quality time together enjoying one of America’s cultural phenomenons.

I shopped the consignment sales and survived!

Watches were repeatedly checked to see if the appropriate time had arrived. Eyes shifted about cautiously, assessing the competition. Legs and arms were stretched, ensuring that muscles were warm and limber.

Surveying this group of women (and one lone man) that had convened in the halls of the Plano Centre, one might think these mamas were getting ready to begin a 5k race or compete in a great physical feat of motherhood. No one would suspect these women were preparing to do some serious shopping.

I am not speaking about a dash of frantic women searching for ridiculously cheap wedding gowns or barging through the doors of a newly opened Nordstrom Rack.

No, my friends. These women were on the prowl for children’s clothes.

Recently I found myself in the middle of these moms, stroller in hand, running shoes laced up and credit card searing a hole through my wallet in hope of being used. I was waiting for the doors of the Plano Centre to be opened and to join the masses as I shopped the  Divine Consign sale. Once 4:30pm (my allotted shopping time) finally arrived, I attempted to nonchalantly speed walk to the girl’s 2T section to scour the racks for smocked dresses marked at deeply discounted prices. I secured a spot in the 2T’s and began quickly examining the clothes on the rack, pleasantly surprised by the amount of Gymboree, Baby Gap and boutique labeled clothing I came across. My stroller filled quickly as I acquired a nice little wardrobe for my child, including a few smocked dresses and a precious pair of  overalls with attached tutu.

After some time spent in the girls section, I wandered over to the boys section and gathered some great things for the little man in my life. Although polo shirts and jeans do not hold the same excitement level as frilly dresses, I was again thrilled when I found several pairs of NWT (“New with tags” to those of you who shy away from browsing eBay in the middle of the night for a shopping fix while the rest of the house sleeps) Gap jeans which will be perfect for preschool. Not a tear will have to be shed or a stain stick used in vain when said jeans return home from school covered in paint drops or bearing a worn knee. Boys are rough on their clothes and I breathe a bit easier knowing my son is most likely mucking-up a pair of $5 jeans as opposed to a $30 pair as he enjoys his days at school.

Next season’s wardrobes secured for both children, I headed off to the toy section. I selected a few things for each child (Diego action figure for the boy, Snow White costume for the girl) and stocked up on some things for upcoming birthdays. Next stop was the book and movie section, where I came away with some great titles for just a few dollars. By this point the stroller was becoming heavy and my shopping time was winding down. I bypassed the section of outdoor toys, feeling a tug at my heart as I passed over the adorable children’s easel that was marked at a reasonable price. I managed to resist the urge to purchase it, knowing that our home is currently not in need of such big items. After congratulating myself on demonstrating such willpower, I scooped up a pair of new red Mary Janes for my daughter and a few booster seats for a friend, then  found my way to a check-out station and paid for the goods.

As I loaded all my finds into the car, my muscles felt like perhaps they had participated in a 5k as opposed to a shopping extravaganza. However, I pulled out of that parking lot smiling because I knew the physical exertion was worth the money I had saved by taking the consignment route as opposed to purchasing such items in retail stores.

Besides, retail stores often frown upon moms who speedwalk (nonchalantly, of course) to the 2T section.

***

Afraid that you have already missed out on the deals of Divine Consign? No worries. Divine Consign Plano is this weekend, March 7-9. Details, directions and information are all available on Divine Consign’s website.

Mommy Blogging 101

One weekend in the sixth month of my first pregnancy, I spent an entire weekend scrap-booking my soon-to-be-born child’s baby book. Despite a bulging belly and the need to get up and visit the ladies room every 12.4 minutes, I spent hours that weekend cutting and pasting, creating a beautiful work of art waiting to be filled with such important statistics of when baby slept through the night and the exact time and date of his first attempts of rolling over.

Then that little baby arrived.

I quickly realized I was doing good to get a shower each week. That beautifully scraped baby book collected dust on the shelf as I attempted to survive motherhood. The baby did roll over and he did (finally) sleep through the night. However, such events were recorded well after they happened. I realized I was simply too busy living motherhood to actually be able to record it.

That is, until I started blogging.

When my firstborn was three months old a friend said something about her blog. I smiled, not really knowing what a blog was. After our lunch date, I quickly went home and googled “What is a blog and how do I get one?”. I quickly discovered that mommies everywhere were banging out posts on their home computers about such important topics as Jr.’s first steps and Little Susie’s midnight feedings. Reading the tales of other moms, deep in the same parenting trenches with me, was soothing to my first-time mother’s soul. Then I decided to join them. That cute baby book I spent hours crafting sat abandoned on the shelf while I published post after post about all the highs and lows of being a mom.

Starting a mommy blog is a relatively easy process, one that most likely can be done start to finish during a productive nap time. Below are some steps that can help you create your very own Mommy blog.

1. Find a voice. Mommy blogs do not merely discuss the ins and outs of diapering a child and feeding a family. Mommy bloggers cover a variety of topics from parenting to saving money to political issues. In order to establish a blog others want to read (readership is one of the goals of a blog), one must first decide the voice that will be used. Draft a few blog posts, attempting to focus the writing on topics or subjects of personal interest.
2. Select a blog hosting site. The Internet is crawling with a variety of sites that will host a blog, many free of charge. Blogger and WordPress are two of the most popular and user-friendly blog providers. Examining a detailed comparison chart of these two hosts can aide in deciding between the two.
3. Choose a name. Give the name of a blog careful consideration. Before simply deciding on “Jo’s Journal” attempt to think of a creative title that will prick the curiosity of potential readers, wanting them to  peruse the content of the blog.
4. Consider design. Blogs come in a variety of designs, from simple free templates to expensive intricate designs. Take time to contemplate the look desired before jumping in feet first to a blog design. Remember that others will be reading the blog and attempt to make the site user-friendly and pleasing to the eye. The best thing about blog designs is that there is an array of possibilities, meaning that everyone can find something to match their personal taste.
5. Write…then write some more. The best way to enhance one’s writing abilities is to practice. Establish a goal for the blog, attempting to generate a particular number of posts each week. Although such an exercise, as with any exercise, can be difficult at first, it will eventually become easier with time.
6. Promote the blog. As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons for penning a blog is to gain readership and experience feedback via comments. List the blog at specific blog directories that match the content, leave comments on other blogs and tweet about recent posts.

Almost nine hundred posts and 4.5 years later, I am still blogging.

And that cutely crafted baby book is still sitting on a bookshelf in my house, waiting for the day that I fill its pages.

Do you have a mommy blog? Leave a comment telling why you choose to blog and a link to your site.

Behold! The Power of Two

Surviving a Snow Day (or Arctic Blast) 101

As a child I used to beg, beg, BEG the newscaster to issue those glorious words on snowy days…”School is CLOSED!”

Even as a teacher, I used to silently pray that I would see the name of my district appear in the list of closings due to inclement weather. I am not too proud to admit that even as an adult I did a dance of victory when school was canceled on those snowy days.

Now, as a parent to two active children, I am starting to understand the bittersweet nature of a snow day.

Sure, on such days we do not have to hurry out the door to preschool. There are no lunches to pack or carpool lines to navigate. No one will notice if the family lives in their PJs for the entire day.

On the other hand I have two young children to keep entertained indoors without losing my mind. That is no easy feat some days, my friends.

When frigid temperatures and cold winter weather strike, be prepared with indoor actives that will keep children occupied and parents sane.

• Host a birthday party. Have children plan a birthday party for their favorite stuffed animal or toy. They can draw invitations, create party decorations and then cook (with a parent’s help) a tasty treat for everyone to enjoy at the animal’s party. Be sure to sing “Happy Birthday” and have a candle for everyone to blow out!

• Bring the sandbox indoors. Playing in the sandbox is not merely limited to the summer months. Place sand in a small plastic tub, toss in a few cups and small toys and let children dig for buried treasures. Turn this into a math lesson by measuring out sand in different increments, seeing how much sand it takes to fill various containers.

• “Wash” the dishes. Fill the kitchen sink with warm water and bubbles and have kids wash their play dishes. Water play is enjoyed by all children, especially when they are assigned an “adult” task like doing the dishes. Keep safety in mind with this activity. Be sure to place towels on stools where kids are standing to keep them from slipping. Also, remind them never to turn on the faucet themselves as they might get scalded by the hot water.

• Draw a map. Roll out a large piece of butcher paper (the backside of wrapping paper works great for this activity) and have kids draw roads and buildings on it, creating a map they can use for toy cars or small toys. Perhaps create a map of a town, the zoo or even Disney World. Children will love making their own map and then will have great fun playing on it.

• Hallway relay races. Even when provided with a variety of indoor activities, children still need the chance to run and play. Host a family relay race down a long hall or in a large room. Have different themes for the races, such as having to wear large shoes while running or running backward. Time each race and see who can run the fastest and the slowest.

• Get ready for Hollywood. Help children make a homemade movie by acting out a favorite book or even creating their own screenplay. Film these stories on the family video camera, download to the computer and send to family and friends to enjoy!

• Write a book. Staple a few pieces of construction paper together to make a blank book children can use to write a story about their life. Have them trace their hand, draw a picture of a favorite activity and attempt a self-portrait.

• Pull out the reserve. Hopefully there are a few Christmas presents or small trinkets tucked away that children have yet to enjoy. Pull out these new things and let children experience them for the first time.

• Go craft crazy. Rather than sitting down for a structured craft, let kids create their own. Pull out the glue, scissors, paper, string, and any other odds-and-ends and let kids put their creativity to work. Little ones can improve their scissor skills by cutting everything possible while older kids can create a host of inventions by using the materials provided.

• Make a play date. Remember that other parents are stuck at home with kids as well. If road conditions allow, call up some friends and invite them over for a winter play date. Encourage them to come dressed in their PJs, serve pancakes and hot chocolate and make paper snowflakes together. Let the children entertain each other for a bit while adults enjoy some quality conversation.

• Finger-paint with shaving cream. Pour a good amount of shaving cream onto a large cookie sheet and add a few drops of food coloring. Let kids finger paint, creating a masterpiece of peaks and valleys out of the colored shaving cream. This is a great way to help toddlers learn their colors.

• Have a dance-off. Dig through the family music stash and put on some fun dance tunes for the family to enjoy. See which family member has the best moves. This is a great activity everyone will enjoy and it (hopefully) will burn off some of the pent-up energy.

• Step into the kitchen. Having to stay indoors is a great time to bake or cook with children. Children learn about measurements, practice their stirring skills and have to demonstrate patience when helping in the kitchen with mom or dad. Baking bread is a great kitchen activity for children to enjoy alongside a parent.

How do you keep kids entertained while stuck inside during the winter months? Leave a comment and share your ideas!

Thank You Note 101: How children of all ages can help send a note of thanks

This Christmas season may be remembered as the time that I frantically emplored my children to JUST. SLOW. DOWN. when tearing into gifts and utttered such phrases as don’t-dare-rip-the-card-attached-to-that-present and please-someone-tell-me-who-sent-that-gift-right-now.

I am the mother of two preschool children…two preschool children who are blessed by loving friends and family members who bestowed  upon them mounds and mounds of Christmas presents. Being a lifelong subscriber to Southern Living magazine and firm believer in social graces, I fully intend to have the children (and myself) write thank you notes to all these generous realitives in our lives.

Thus the reason I manically dug through the discarded wrapping paper in search of lost gift tags so I could know who gave us the dinosaur book and who bestowed upon us the diaper bag and ringing cell phone set (not sure if I am truly thankful for the ringing cell phone, but a card will be sent nonetheless).

If you believe as emphatically as I do about having children write thank-you notes, gather the children and have them sit down to scribble out a few notes of gratitude for all the loot received this holiday season. Teaching kids how to write a note of thanks is an excellent way to instill a gracious spirit as well as practice those necessary writing skills.

Obviously, age plays a factor in children’s ability to write a thank you note. However even young children can get in on the action. Below is an example by age group of how children can participate in writing thank you notes.

0-18 months: Babies can help in the note writing process by simply being present while mom or dad write the thank-you note. Cheerfully say “Now we are writing Uncle Peanut to thank him for that toy he gave you for Christmas” as you jot out a quick thank-you to relatives. Although a six month old will not understand the process of writing thank-you notes, they will enjoy the one-on-one time with a parent. Involving a child in such actions early on sets a precedent for how things will be later in life.

18-36 months: Toddlers can use their newfound skills to help the note writing process. They can attach stickers to notes or create a drawing that can be tucked inside the envelope for the receiver to enjoy. Because this age group is on the go the majority of the time, it might be best to write the thank-you notes before sitting down with the child. Read the note to the child, talk about how nice it was for Nanny to give her a new doll, and then have the child decorate part of the note with crayons or stickers.

3-4 year olds: Preschoolers are aware of letters and words and can be a considerable help with writing thank you notes. Children this age usually can write their name so give them the opportunity to sign the bottom of each note. Some preschoolers can even write words and could write one or two in the note themselves. For example, the parent can write “Thank you, Papa, for the new _____.” and the child can fill in the blank with the correct word.

5-6 year olds: Depending on writing skills, this age group could write the note themselves. Let go of any anxiety of how most likely the note will be sloppy or unreadable, Just remember that the message of gratitude is being expressed from a child’s heart. 5 and 6 year olds might be able to write a simple sentence of “Thank you for the Lego’s.” or might need to use the fill-in-the blank method listed above. Either way, they are an active part of the thank-you note writing process.

7-10 year olds: Elementary-aged children can sit down and write out a thank-you note independently. The trick with this age group is actually getting them to accomplish the task. Make this more of a fun activity rather than a chore by setting up a thank-you note writing center, complete with blank cards, stickers, colored pencils, envelopes and stamps. If a child has several notes to write, break up this project over several days. Make a set time, such as after supper, that everyone sits down and jots out a few notes.

‘Tweens and teens: Getting teenagers to do anything can be a hassle. Approach sending thank-you notes by handing over all control to the child. Explain why the notes need to be written and mailed and then give teens free range in how they choose to get the job done. Perhaps they design a cool card on the computer or send out witty emails (Miss Manners might not appreciate electronic communications as a way of sending “thank yous” but she might also have never lived with a teenager). The key here is giving over control and then stepping back and let teenagers decide how they would like to accomplish the task. Do not criticize the harsh neon colors chosen or critique the wording. Simply smile knowing that the task has been accomplished independently.

Do not forget that children are not the only ones who need to respond with a note of thanks for gifts received. Adults should do so as well. Set a good example for children by sitting down and writing out a few thank-you notes while the family is relaxing in the living room in the evening. Let them see that even mom and dad need to be sure to express gratitude for the gifts they received…even when those gifts consume a large amount of batteries and spontaneously make terrifying beeping sounds in the dead of night.

The broken cookie pieces of life

I devoted a day recently to baking holiday cookies for a cookie exchange at a Mommy get-together. Deciding this would be an educational experience, I enlisted the help of my toddler in the dough making process.  We shared quite an enjoyable time measuring, pouring, mixing, and tasting our creations.  Upon completing the dough, we carefully tucked it away in the refrigerator to chill.

As soon as naptime began that day, I hauled out the bowls of dough and set about baking and decorating dozens of cookies.  This too would have likely been an enjoyable activity for my son, but I wanted my cookies to look cute.  Two year olds don’t know how to do cute…just messy and destructively messy.  That afternoon I baked and decorated four dozen reindeer cookies, painstakingly placing mini chocolate chips as eyes and red chocolate candies to serve as the nose.  Pretzels were cut precisely to serve as little antlers atop the peanut butter cookie head.

Two hours later I surveyed my tiny holiday masterpieces, choosing only the perfect reindeers to swap in the cookie exchange.  I wrapped my platter in decorative cellophane, tying it with a coordinating ribbon and decorative tag.

On the morning of my Mommy get-together, I gathered both children, two diaper bags, my purse, and my perfect plate of cookies and off we went. I dropped the children off at their classes, and then rushed back out to the car to retrieve my festive cookies.  A quick glance at my watch told me I only had a few minutes to make it back inside for the start of the cookie exchange.

I bet you can imagine what happened next…

I dropped the plate of cookies.

Upside down.

On the hardwood floor.

Antlers were broken off in sad little pieces, noses were without a face, and the beautiful ribbon/tag/ornament combination I had carefully affixed on top of the platter was a jumbled mess.

A perfectly good afternoon spent making these cookies was now wasted.

In a moment of personal introspection, I learned a few things from this mishap.  I had missed out on the perfect opportunity to spend quiet time with one of my children because I was seeking perfect cookies simply to impress others.  I missed out on quality family time because I was still packing away the cookies and cleaning up the post-baking war zone that was my kitchen.  I missed out on a much needed nap because I had devoted my child-free hours to making sure reindeer eyes were even and antlers were straight.

Sometimes I put a significant amount of focus and energy into making sure my personal plate of cookies looks beautiful to others, causing me to neglect the important areas of my life.  Women (present company included) often get caught up in the race to make life resemble a Martha Stewart creation, with perfect edges and wrinkle-free seams. My family is not asking me to be like the glossy images of a magazine page or to be picture perfect on a daily basis (or even a monthly basis!). My family enjoys the little fractured, imperfect pieces of me. This holiday season forget the rush to be perfect. Take time to focus on the reason of the season and on being with family rather than attempting to live up to standards that are only portrayed on the cover of a magazine.

To the Mommy who received my sad little platter of broken cookie pieces at the exchange…just pull out a spoon and dig into those crumbs.  I am sure Rudolph is just as tasty in little pieces as he would have been whole and unbroken.

Pass the biscuits

I need a shirt which reads, “I *heart* breakfast” because I really might love the morning meal almost more than my family some days (Don’t panic…I said almost).
That being said I usually eat wheat toast and fruit most mornings to maintain a boring ol’ healthy lifestyle.

However, on those special days when I welcome such things as butter, sugar, and more sugar into my breakfast genre, I like to whip up fun breakfast creations. Lately such breakfast creations have involved some type of biscuit making as I am attempting to teach myself the art of baking tasty breads.

Last-minute Christmas shopping tips

In the hustle of rushing around from soccer practice, holiday photo shoots, breakfasts (and lunches and suppers) with Santa and treks to view neighborhood Christmas light displays, one can simply forget about buying presents for people on their Christmas list. Before you set out to the nearest gas station hoping to find something on their shelves in a panicked shopping frenzy, take time to consider these last-minute shopping tips that can help you mark off those final names on your shopping list without losing your sanity.

Shop at odd hours.

There are some major retail stores staying open pretty darn late in hopes of making last minute sales during this time of recession. For example, a retail store popular in the ‘burbs stays open until midnight until Christmas Eve. I find it hard to believe that there are any lines in stores at 11:45pm. If you are a night owl, this might be a good option for you.

Create your own gift.

Making one’s own gifts to give got a bad rap years ago and I am not sure as to why. Lots of years I make a gift to give to others and have found that it takes much more effort than hopping in the car and plucking a gift off the shelf. Baked treats are a real joy to receive, because who honestly takes the time to bake themselves something tasty. Look here to see my secrets for tasty cutout sugar cookies.

Gift Cards.

I am going to be honest and say that gift cards are not my favorite gift to give (although I do like to receive them). I find them to be a bit generic. However, gift cards have become wildly popular and can be found anywhere…including gas stations (which tend to actually be open on Christmas Day…thus giving you one more shopping day).

Framed Pictures.

A great present to give relatives is a cute framed picture of your children or family. This is a standard gift coming from casa de Phillips. One hour photo places are EVERYWHERE, including local drug stores. Simply select a picture, download it onto their site, and place your order. Your prints are ready in an hour and you have a cute and thoughtful gift to give.

Away in a Hilton

As I sat down to play with my two little ones this morning, I realized that perhaps we need a bit more instruction on the whole Birth of Jesus story here at Casa de Phillips.

A few years ago, Santa graced us with a wonderful Little People Christmas train. This toy lives in our attic all year, except during the month of December when we pull it down for all to enjoy.

This morning I plopped down on the carpet to play Little People for awhile and had quite the lesson on Baby Jesus from my son. According to him, the stable featured in the below picture is the hotel where Baby Jesus lived. Baby Jesus also likes to ride with Santa on his Christmas train and deliver presents to all the boys and girls, mommies and daddies. Also, there were apparently a few guests at the birth of our Lord that were left out of the original recount. If you look closely at the picture, you will see Noah’s ark to the right of the light pole and various Little People scattered about the scene.

Although he thought I was kidding about Jesus not being born in a hotel, he did let me convince him that the elf in the green hat was not Mary, as he originally had assumed.

Sigh.

I guess this is what happens when children are raised in suburbs surrounded by mega-hotels as opposed to being brought up in the country filled with stables.

Next Page »