I found a great idea to entertain toddlers AND older children.  I did this with a neighbor to see how it would pan out and it worked wonderfully.  This weekend were going to do this with my children and my fiance's two children, HOMEMADE SLIME!  Hats off to the wonderful mother that came up with this idea.  Please visit her page below.  She has some really really wonderful ideas.  I will post pictures this weekend of how my kiddos did with the homemade slime.

Tot Treasures North Bay Homemade SLIME

Leave a comment and let me know if you try this!~

Great Idea from Another Mom

Hello Friends,

So I was looking at the blog of another mom and was completely wowed!  I have been trying to teach my children that chores are chores and you don't need to get a reward for doing them.  I also wanted to be able to award them for doing chores out of their way, something that they aren't needing to do.  This mom has the idea, we now have a toy/stuff ransom box and so far it is far out.  Everytime I have to pick up their toys, clothes, books, anything that isn't where it is suppose to be, I put it in the ransom box.  If they want or need anything out of the box, they have to pick a chore out of the envelope taped next to the box.  Once the chore is done, they get 1 item back.  What a wonderful idea isn't it?  Following this idea, there is a chore card reward system she has that I think is great and will be incorporating in my house.

If you would like to visit her page too feel free to follow this link Just Another Day in Paradises Blog    She has a lot of wonderful ideas to offer.   Don't forget to share your thanks.

Busy Moms Must Have

As a single mom of four, I have a hectic schedule that is anything but a schedule.  Appointments change and are made, school meetings, online college classes, church functions and even oil changes make it near impossible to remember anything.  I have spent the last few years trying to find the perfect calendar/method to keep track of this madness.  And who would of known that the savior came in the mail as a freebie I signed up for. 

Yes, you heard right.  I went to my mailbox on Friday to find a Blueline Calendar/Notebook.  I sat down that evening with my 10 minutes of free time and put all my appointments in there.  It is small enough to fit into my purse and I keep a pen with it at all times.  Now when someone wants to schedule something with me or I need to schedule my kids next exam.  All the printable's I tried and datebooks I purchased and none of them met my needs like this. 

I know that my way might not be the way of another so I am hoping to be able to share some wonderful Busy Moms printable sites with you.

Mom, I hate all my clothes!

This is something I hear every morning from my seven year old.  The thing that boggles my mind the most is when I look at the clothes she has thrown aside to realize, they are all clothes that she had picked out.  Every night before bed, I have my children get out their clothes for school the next day.  I thought this would not only help make the morning more organized but give her a little bit of time to "create" her next outfit.  This has backfired terribly.  School mornings were still a fight to get her dressed and out the door on time because the outfit she picked the night before "isn't pretty enough", and/or "will get me picked on", "doesn't fit how I want it." I couldn't begin to tell you where she has gotten her fashion sense because I am a jeans and tee shirt kind of mom.  Her aunt gets dressed up for church and doctors appointments and her grandma is just like mom, find something presentable yet comfortable, throw the hair up and were good.

Here's a tip to mothers who have children like this, its new for me and working wonders.  When you have your children pick out their clothes the night before, put on a low music track and have them have a fashion show with some of  the clothes that they want to wear.  This becomes fun for both you and them and they will have a chance to pick from several of their own outfits. ((If you want to snazz this up break out the make up kit but remember your child is young and doesn't need too much make up.  I like to keep hair sparkles from Halloween for these occasions.))

Feel free to comment here if you have any other advice for those who are struggling to let their "fashionistas" shine and not drive mom nuts.