How to Become a Time Management Junkie--Part I

My shortfalls are many.

I'm either neurotic or I'm crazy.  But then, I repeat myself.

• I talk too loud, too much, and too often—mostly about myself and my family (which might explain this blog).
•  I am very sarcastic. This can be funny when properly used.  When used in battle, it can be downright destructive.
•  I have a porcupine personality.  Great to see—hard to get close.  I’m not sure why but I’ve always kept people at an arms length and am very slow to warm up.  On the other hand, once we’re close, I stick by you and am hard to get away from (sort of like pulling quills out of a dog’s nose).
•  I really like things done the right way (read: my way).
•  I am overly quirky.  I can’t sleep if all the light switches aren’t going the same direction, spoons/forks/knives can never touch in the dishwasher, and wars have been fought over bed making, which direction the open end of the pillows should face and how curtains should be drawn. 
•  I can be critical and judgmental.  See above. 

One area, however, where I consider myself mostly successful is in time management.

My personal philosophy: When God created time, He created enough of it. 

Insert warning.  I’m going to be a bit raw and honest in my forthcoming statements.  If you are thin skinned, stop here.  If you want to read it and it makes you mad, sorry.  Please send hate mail to my PR person.

Probably my #1 pet peeve are the people who say, “I don’t have time to ____exercise, read to my children, make a healthy meal, mail a birthday card, pray …_____.”  This extends to the “I’m too busy” people, too.

What I’d really like to explain to those folks is:

• You are not lacking any more time than the rest of us; you are misusing your time more than the rest of us.
•  We are all busy.  I know retired people who are busy.  Until you walk eight miles to get water and then carry it back eight miles to the home you hand built where you’ll boil the water over a fire made of sticks you hunted for so you can hand wash your only other set of clothing which you will line dry as you go work in your small garden and care for your animals, the product of which you will use to make your meal from scratch, I don’t want to hear it. 
• What doesn’t make your “To Do” list says more about you than what does.
• We are not too busy.  We are too self-important.

Phew.

So I can manage time but I’m not perfect at it.  In fact, I am VERY much a work in progress but I’d like to share some skills and routines that help me decide how to divide my time, talents, and treasures (and still have time to talk to my sister on the phone a couple times a day). 

Okay, after posting the mullet photo twice, I decided I better put in a photo of 

my sister when she looks hot!

Check back for more information on skills and routines I find invaluable.

Days of Play--Spaghetti Monsters

Tactile play is an amazing way to help your children explore and learn.  In this day of play, take 1/4 box of spaghetti noodles and cook them according to directions.  Drain and **cool** them.

Put the cooled noodles in a big bowl and let your kids squish around in them.

For Younger Children:
This is perfectly acceptable for little ones but you will need to watch for noodle pieces heading toward the mouth.

For Older Kids:
Give each child their own bowl.  Have them wash their hands.  Add pasta sauce and an art smock.  Presto! Lunch you can play with!

Souper Bowl Sunday

Today is the Super Bowl and I must admit that I'm not exactly a fan of pro football.  That being said, I am rooting for the Saints since this is their first Super Bowl bid and the Colts won a few years ago.

Geaux Saints! (only Matt will understand the irony of why I chose to spell Go that way).

Anyhow, what really matters to me on this momentous day in American football (that we have momentous days in sports I'll leave for another day), is the FOOD.

Not too many years back I made Rilda's Kickin' Chicken Corn Chowder for a Souper Bowl party and it won first place. I got a big (and I mean BIG) trophy and everything.

But today's soup is Taco Soup courtesy of Matt's Aunt Amy.  We'll be having chips and queso and so dipping veggies as well.  Mmmmmm.

Amy Brock's Taco Soup


Ingredients
2 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
1 chopped onion
2 pkgs dry Ranch Dressing
2 pkgs taco seasoning mix
3 cans chicken broth
2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 cans northern beans (drained and rinsed)
2 cans pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
2 cans Rotel tomatoes (mild if you need it!)
2 c. frozen corn

Directions

1. Brown ground beef and drain off the grease.  
2. Add onion, Ranch and taco seasonings to the beef and mix well.
3. Add broth, beans, tomatoes, and corn.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat.  Stir and simmer for 30 minutes.

Serve it up!
Serve with freshly shredded cheese, Frito Scoops, and green onions.  Sour cream makes this divine.

Freeze it!
This is a large batch so if you'd like, set half aside to cool.  Once cooled, put into a gallon freezer bag, lay flat, and freeze.  To reheat, thaw and warm.

**Why cool it first?  If you put this into the oven hot it will produce steam which will freeze as crystals**

Don't like meat?
This is a great vegetarian meal if you replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth and remove the beef.  If you desire, Portabella mushrooms make a mean beef substitute!

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday!

A Day in the Life

Here is a breakdown of what my day looks like, in response to a request from Heather.  Please keep in mind that this is what works for me and my family but might not work for you.

Break down of my average day

• 6:00 am—Wake up, devotional/prayer time
• 7:00 am—Get children, make beds, and feed kids breakfast, take out dinner
• 7:30 am—Do morning make-up and dress routine
• 8:00 am—eat breakfast, read the paper
• 8:15 am—clean up breakfast dishes, get kids cleaned up and dressed
• 8:40 am—Take M.E. to school (storytelling and free play)
• 9:00 am—put Pax down to nap (M.E.’s solo-play time)
• 9:10 am—start a load of laundry, clean routine, facebook/e-mail if time
• 10:00 am—switch laundry, homework, computer time (Day of Play time)
• 10:30-11:00 am—get Pax and feed him
• 11:15 am—Pick M.E. up from school (free time or errand running)
• 12:00 pm—lunch, clean up, and story time
• 1:00 pm—naptime for Pax/quiet time for M.E.
• 1:00-2:00 pm—House Zone cleaning, switch/fold laundry—phone time
• 2:00-3:00 pm—homework, blog/internet/read
• 3:00 pm—get kids up and give them a snack
• 3:30 pm—Intentional Play Time
• 4:30 pm—bath time (M.E. stays in forever!)/ Pax’s solo-play (10 min) (errand running)
• 5:00 pm—start dinner, feed Pax his solids—5 at 5
• 5:15 pm—M.E. out of the tub, watch a show or book on CD.  Keep working on dinner.
• 5:45 pm—Stories and bed for Pax.  Read M.E. stories
• 6:00 pm—Matt is home, dinnertime
• 6:45 pm—Matt plays with M.E. while I clean kitchen—dishes, counters, remind myself what is for dinner tomorrow, get tea ready to go for the morning, exercise.
• 7:30 pm—Story time, M.E. goes to bed.  Mom and Dad time! Time to play on computer, watch a  movie, do date night, read …
• 9:30 pm—shower and bedtime routine
• 10:00 pm—get in bed. Be asleep by 11 at the latest (hopefully!)

Why the italics in the break down?

M.E. goes to pre-school a couple days a week.  Items in italics show what we do when she’s home.

M.E.'s first day of preschool.  September 2009

Clean Routine:

 My clean routine assumes I’m starting with the house picked up, including toys put away, kitchen counters cleared and dishes done. 

I find that if I clean for 20 minutes each day that I never get snowed under by what needs cleaned up.  And yes, I can vacuum, sweep and mop in 20 minutes (it takes a while to dry).  Laundry and home improvement take a bit longer J

• Monday—floors, errands
• Tuesday—dust, laundry
• Wednesday—floors, 5 minute bathrooms 
• Thursday—glass, laundry
• Friday—floors, dust, bathrooms (I take a bit long today so there is nothing to do on the weekend)
• Saturday—home projects, errands
• Sunday—home projects and laundry

House Zone cleaning:

This is a deeper cleaning I do every day for no more than 15 minutes.  Divide your house into zones and focus on REALLY cleaning that zone for 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week.  Start at the ceiling and work down—get cobwebs, wipe baseboard, etc.  If your basic cleaning and tidying is already done, it means you can focus on deeper cleaning.

My Zones :

Week 1--Entry way and bathrooms (2)

Week 2--Kids bedrooms (2)

Week 3--Kitchen, Dining, Living room

Week 4--Master bedroom and laundry room

Again, each zone gets 1 full week of deep cleaning and then it’s off to the next zone.

Need to organize a closet or your kids’ rooms?  That’s BIGGER than a cleaning task; it’s a home project.  Wait to do it until you can devote an hour or two.  Even then, start small (which means NEVER take out more than you can put back in an hour).

Intentional Play Schedule

Monday—Manipulatives (clay, sand and water, etc.)

Tuesday—make believe

Wednesday—board games

Thursday—crafts (painting, coloring, etc.)

Friday—baking

We also do a focused Day of Play activity on the days when M.E. doesn’t have school.

Snowed in at the cabin but with Board Game Day with Grandma Ginny, we were anything but bored!

Errands

I hate running errands so I only do it 1 or maybe 2 times a week.  Get a re-usable bag and put it near the door.  For a week put everything in it that requires an errand: library books, mail, receipts and goodies to return, grocery list, etc.  Once (or twice) a week grab your bag and run errands. Even more time saving, plan your route so you have as few left hand turns as possible (hey, it works for the UPS).

I have a gray Fashion Express bag, similar to below, that I use for my errand bag.  Function+fashion=hot mom

Exercise

2-3 times a week I run on the Elliptical and do Elise Gulan's Straight to the Core 8 minute ab routine.  Do 20 push-ups before bedtime. You won't look like Elise but you'll feel great!

Friday Follow

We are going strong! Here is the 4th week of Friday Follow. This idea is a fun way to find out about new blogs, find new friends, and grow in followers. Come join the party. We have had a great turnout so far and are finding some wonderful blogs to share.

Welcome to the Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops. 

 --Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 2 slots. This week Hearts Make Families will not be participating due to technical issues. She will be back next week.

--Follow as many blogs as you'd like.

--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

The Blog Hop is the same at each of our three hosts blogs so you do not have to add your blog at each site. Just one - but you can follow each blog. Follow a few or follow them all.

The list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Please be patient with following or getting followers. With the tremendous response there are a lot to visit. The Mcklinky will stay here so you can visit blogs at your own pace. 



Friday Follow Blog Hop #4
Hosted by Rita @ One 2 Try Tami @ Hearts Make Families and Lynn @ Midday Escapades . Join us every Friday as we celebrate followers! Link up your blog name and URL below to follow and be followed!
Want to be a part of this Blog Hop? Click here for instructions and code...

Days of Play: tea party

Break out silly shirts, hats, ties, and socks and enjoy a tea party together.

This is an old photo of the Divine Miss M but it is one of my favorite tea party outfits!

You'll need:
clothes to dress up in--boys might like dad's shirts or ties, girls will love your old necklaces
tea set if you have it--if not, pitcher and cups
snack cookies (nilla wafers, Oreos, etc).

Make your kiddos a special drink (kool-aid, ice tea, soda if you drink it) and serve it to them at a tea party.  Show them how to talk with an accent or how to hold their pinkies up.

For Younger Kids
Play dress up and drink milk. Invite teddy.

For Older Kids
Let your children set up the tea party and serve you.  Music and dancing might be warranted.

What's Cooking 2/8-2/14

At the request of a reader, I'm going to post my weekly menu in advance so you can hit the grocery store on the weekend, if you are crazy enough to go there!

My DH will be traveling the next 6 weeks or so; therefore, I might have meals twice, skip meals, etc.  Don't be surprised to see some repeats!

Here's what's cooking at my house next week:

Monday*--Pizza Casserole 
Tuesday*--Lemon Chicken and rice with mixed greens
Wednesday--Taco Salad
Thursday--Spanish Rubbed Chicken with couscous (Thanks, Alicia)
Friday*--Sirloin and wine sauce (similar )
Saturday--out to eat with family
Sunday--Vegan soup bar and dinner rolls (to celebrate Paxton's dedication).

~No V-Day dinner for us since family will be in town but check out Spy School for a GREAT V-Day recipe to cook with your lover!~

*These meals are from Jenny, a member of my OAMC group.  Thanks Jenny!

Custom Apron Giveaway

I LOVE the blog Frontier Kitchen (which is why I talk about it often).

Right now, through February 8th, you have a chance to register 3 times to win this uber cute custom apron.  100% cotton; 100% awesome! Head on over and register to win !


P.S.  I'm secretly hoping NONE of you will actually register and that I'll win the apron but it's no fun to not have a little competition :)

Things I love: Sick Baby Snuggles

Get well soon, Gooey Guster!

Paxton has been sick the past few days and I hate it when my babies are sick.  The germies, the gooey noses, the spit throwing sneezes, the poor sleeping, the crying, the "stuck inside and can't do anything crazies," the fevers and phlegmy coughs are the worst!

But there is one thing I LOVE about sick babies (at least my sick babies) and that is how much they want to snuggle.

Pax wants to be held constantly which gets a bit old but it only takes about .8 of a second of him sitting on the floor crying crocodile tears over toys while his boogies come dangerously close to his lip for me to whoosh in like Super Mom.  As soon as I pick him up the crying stops, the nose is wiped, the tears are dried and he pops his left thumb into his mouth (and curls his pointer finger over his nose--too cute!).  Then the best thing of all happens.  He dramatically throws his head onto my shoulder, cuddles and sighs.

There are few things worse than having a sick baby. But I figure as long as I have to wipe his nose and inhale his germs, I might as well get a few loving snuggles out of the deal.  And what a sweet way that baby reminds me how much he loves and needs mommy.  When everything else is wrong in his life, somehow just holding him makes him feel better.

And it makes me feel better too.

Holding my 3 week old--May some things never change!

 

Spy School #7 (perfect for Valentine's Day)

I'd prepare to do this challenge for your Valentine's Day Date!

Are you the cook or is he?  For this challenge it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that you both whip up something sexy in the kitchen.  Get your head out of the gutter; I’m talking about cooking a meal together that you wouldn’t normally eat and then sharing the meal over candlelight.

To prepare you’ll need to choose the date and time of your husband's cooking challenge and get the groceries necessary to make your aphrodisiac meal.  You might also want to come up with some dialogue questions (no talking about kids tonight!)

Here’s what I suggest (with the exception of the salad, these recipes are from one of my favorite cookbooks InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook)

For Dinner:

Strawberry Salad
1 lb washed and torn spinach
1 pint washed and sliced strawberries


Combine the following in blender and pour over salad:
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. vinegar
1/4 c. poppy seed
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. grated onion
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 c. salad oil

Strawberry Pasta

(see the cookbook)

OR

Chicken and Asparagus Black-bean Enchiladas

See the cookbook

For Dessert:

Strawberry Chocolate Crescent Rolls

2 strawberries sliced
chocolate chips (semi-sweet, bittersweet—you choose)

1 package of crescent rolls (package of 4 is perfect)

powdered sugar

Lay out crescent rolls.  Put a few pinches of chocolate chips and a strawberry slice in the center.  Roll up.  Place on a cookie sheet.  Bake according to package directions.  Cool a few minutes.  Dust with powdered sugar.  To make dessert taste better, feed each other.

Sample discussion questions:

·      In what ways have I changed since we’ve been married?

·      What song from the 80’s best defines you and why?

·      If we could get on a plane tonight and go anywhere in the world, where would we go?

·      If someone was to make our marriage into a movie, what actor and actress would portray us?

Text or e-mail this to your husband inviting him to the challenge:

 The Challenge:

Bond is a man of distinguished taste.  If you choose to accept this challenge, your skills and tastes will be put to the test.  Meet me at ____TIME_&_DATE____ .  Dress in a manner that makes you feel sexy.

What I think about--Turning 31

Yesterday was the big 3-1 for me.

Since I was 29 my husband has been a bit skittish about my aging BUT since I've teased him relentlessly about that fact, he really backed off this year (that or he's in denial).  For some reason turning 30 didn't bother me.  Would turning 31?

I needed to soak in the whole day before I could decide what I really think about being 31.  But here are my thoughts.

Our culture devalues the good things that come with aging: wisdom, joy, and family. I really don't want to be one of those people who gets all upset because I'm getting crow's feet (I'm not, by the way.  See my previous post on Mary Kay) or because my boobs aren't as perky now as they were ten years ago.  I really want to be a woman who confidently recognizes it isn't what I am that matters; it's WHOSE I am.

When I think of the type of woman I want my daughter to grow to be or my son to marry, I envision Godly women who care more about WHOSE they are than what they look like.  If I want this to be the woman my daughter becomes, I must model it for her.  Now.

So this 31st year of my life, I plan to take hold of the fact that I am the child of a King, and the King is delighted by my beauty!  The world can keep their fascination with always looking 20; I'm determined to being fascinated by my God!

Here is how I looked in second grade.   I'm the one in the white turtle neck with the feathered do.  Awesome.  Side note, doesn't that flowered wall thing look like it's growing out of my sister's head?

Here's how I look most recently (The truth really has to come out.  I can't find my USB cord so even though there are more recent photos of me, I can't get them off the camera):

Survey says .... better at 31.

What I loved about my 30th year:

• My Super Bowl birthday party.  Wait.  I didn’t love that.  I’m pretty sure Spy School was Matt’s  was of making up for my “Homer” party last year.
• My mom lived 1 year past what docs at the Mayo Clinic expected (and in March it will be 2 years past!).
• Giving birth to my delightful and peaceful son, Paxton.
• Going to Texas to see my husband’s family, a wedding, and Sea World. 
• Watching M.E.’s fascination at flying in a plane for the first time.
• Celebrating Dee’s 80^th Birthday.
• Welcoming Jori Gracyn into my sister’s family.
• Celebrating my parent’s 40^th anniversary.
• Building and moving into our new home.
• Celebrating Drew’s first birthday.
• Continuing my quest for my Ed. D.
• Going to the cabin in Spearfish.
• Taking M.E. to see a live, mostly-wild bear for the first time.
• Snowshoeing, sledding, and digging in the snow.
• Spending Thanksgiving with almost all of the Kaufmans.
• Organizing my sister’s new kitchen.
• Playing dress-up for hours with Meems.
• Quiet alone time feeding Paxton.
• My 7^th wedding anniversary.
• Hearing Pax say “ma ma.”

I realize as I write this that the list could go on and on.  The truth is, even the trouble I encountered this past year is not enough to cover the joy I experienced. The longer I live, the more wondrous His works are.  Praise Jesus for another year of life--may I use it to glorify Him!

It's a Clorox Anywhere Day

I got up at 6:06 this morning, made my cup of tea, grabbed my UW Snuggli (nope, no shame!) and settled down to do my Bible study.  By the way, you should know that my church issued a 90-Day Breaking Free challenge and the challenge I took was to read the Bible in 90 Days!  My personal trainer Rauch "The Breath" Yahweh is infusing me with His Vision.

Anyhow, at 6:12 Baby Pax woke up screaming.  He's sick.  Of course I didn't get to him before the Divine Miss M woke up.  So by 6:15 I had two children up and wanting to eat.  Normally my kids sleep until at least 7:00 so this was a bit of a bummer.

Below is a photo of the kids strategizing a way to spice up Ground Hog Day.

By 6:30 I'd made M.E. cheesy eggs and Pax had breast milky and peaches with oats.  Matt was up and offered to help but by this time, my vision of a quiet morning and 16 chapters of the Bible had slowly drifted away.

On the upside, I got time on my own to prepare for the day.  After brushing my teeth (4 zones, 30 seconds a zone), I examined my face closely.  I don't look a year older!  To celebrate I put on my favorite graphic T-shirt and the jeans my husband thinks makes my butt look high and perky.

I hate jean shopping.  I love my AE boyfriend jeans!

By now it was 7:30.  M.E. was continuing her breakfast.  She's a Euorpean eater and can't possibly finish a meal in under an hour and a half.  I ate and then somehow, I started seeing GERMIES.

Now I know most of you can't see them, but I can (as a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure my sister can see them too.  I'll ponder another day if this is genetic).  Germies fly out of mouths and noses and stick to everything in sight.  When my kids are sick I'm convinced I'm breathing in green germie goo.  Now don't be jealous because germies only show themselves to me.  In fact, don't even be bothered by the fact that the voices only talk to me. But trust me on this, I am in a battle against germies.

Luckily, Clorox created this fantastic stuff called Clorox Anywhere .  It is basically watered down bleach that you can spray on hard surfaces, let dry (or wipe, your call), and move on.  Take that germies!

Matt took M.E. to school for me and I should have been resting and doing my Bible study. Instead I waged war on the green goo germies and cleaned every hard surface in my house (and vacuumed up the dead germie bodies. Did I do my Too Clean routine of spraying my carpet with fabric softener? You know it!).

With the germies if full-on retreat, I finally sat down to read my chapters.  I came to Genesis 17:17 which states,  "Abraham fell face down; he laughed."  This is what he did right after God told him he would become a father at 100 years old.  He was laughing because he doubted God.  But God was earnest.  He would keep his covenant with Abraham.  

This morning, perhaps I laughed and doubted God.  Is this the kind of morning He'd give me on my birthday?  Is this as good as it gets? 

As I type this, my house smells lightly like bleach and lavender.  It might not be exactly how I'd envisioned starting my birthday but it's the little things that remind me how much I love life.

• Like M.E. saying she had to get up to be with me on my birthday.
• Like my parents and nephews and niece calling to sing to me.
• Like Matt insisting I give him a biscuit squeeze before he went to work.
• Like being germie free (until Pax wakes up and Meems comes home and the germies wage war on the second front).
• Like remembering my sister once had a mullet. Sorry, SD.

By the way, she is the tall one and it was a fancy permed mullet.

May the lingering aroma be my reminder of the covenant He made with me.  He makes all things work together for my good (Romans 8:28).

Even on Clorox Anywhere days.

Tuesdays Too Clean Tip--5 at 5

After a fun day of playing, it is time to clean up to start the evening routine.  

5 at 5 is a something I use before my husband gets home.

At five o'clock I set a timer for 5 minutes.  During that time my 4 year old cleans up her toys and puts them away and I do a quick 5 minutes clean-up routine (wipe counters, store shoes where they belong, put coats in the coat closet, etc.).   That way when DH comes home the house is *mostly* in order.

Side note--as my children get older items left out after 5 minutes will go into a box in the closet for 2 days (this will include, of course, MY items I leave laying around!).

To make this even more fun, call it a "pick up party" and sing songs.

Clean up, clean up everybody everywhere, clean up clean up everybody do your share.
Pick up Pick up put the toys away.  Pick up pick up we are done for the day.

10 Tips to Better Pictures of Your Children

Please welcome our first guest blogger!  Jamie from Mommy's Camera is a pediatric nurse, a Heritage Makers consultant, and a mom.  For more tips and information on taking better photos with point-and-click cameras, please check out her blog!
Without further ado ...

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10 Tips Anyone Can Use To Take Better Pictures of Your Children


Think you have to have a fancy DSLR camera to take great pictures of your children?  Think again.  With these 10 tips, anyone, even your average mom with a point-and-shoot camera, can take great pictures of their kids.  

1)  Have fun and keep it natural.  The less you tell your children to stop, pose, and say “cheese” the better pictures you’ll get.  Have fun while taking pictures, laugh, let your children do their own thing, and their personality will shine in the pictures you take.

2)  Snap, snap, snap!  The great thing about digital cameras is that you don’t have to worry about wasting film.  Simply click away and delete the pictures that don’t work.  With children, you’ll end up taking ten pictures before you get one good one.  Along that same line, if your camera has a continuous shooting mode, try that.  Some of the best pictures I’ve snapped of my girls have been in the middle of the continuous shooting mode.


3)  Get down at your child’s level.  Too often we look down on our children to take pictures.  Getting down at your child’s level creates a more natural angle for pictures.

4)  Be quick, be ready, and anticipate movement.  Children move, and they move quick.  If your child is walking toward you, back up and anticipate the fact that by the time you snap the picture, your child will already be a few (or more than a few) steps closer to you.  If your child is running, aim your camera just slightly in front of your child.  By the time you snap the picture, your child will be in the frame.  You could also try continuous shooting mode for anticipating movement too.  If your pictures look blurry due to too much movement, try changing your camera to action mode.

5)   Zoom in.  On of the biggest mistakes people make with photographs is taking them too far away.  Zoom in and watch your photos pop!

6)  Turn off your flash.  Flashes create a very un-natural, harsh light.  When ever possible, take pictures in a place bright enough to avoid using your flash.

7)  Try a different angle.  Straight on shots can be good but adding a bit of an angle or taking the picture from a different perspective can add some interest to your photo.

8)  Watch the lighting.  Contrary to popular belief, bright, sunny days are not the best for outdoor photos.  Too much sun can cast harsh shadows in your picture.  Cloudy days will give you more even lighting for photos.  If you must take pictures on a sunny day, you just might want to turn your flash on!  Believe it or not, your flash can help fill in those dark shadows caused by the sun.  Just be careful not to overexpose your photo by using your flash.


9)  Add some color.  Gone are the days of solid, neutral tones for photos.  Adding color and patterns can make a more fun, interesting photo.  Make sure however, not to overwhelm your child with color and an overly busy pattern.  You want the color and pattern to complement your child, not take over the picture.

10)  Take your camera everywhere.  You never know when the perfect photo opportunity might pop up!


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Thank you, Jamie, for the awesome insight.  If you have questions or comments, please check Jamie's blog or e-mail her at jamie@mommyscamera.com

I won a blog giveaway!

If you are one of those people who never wins anything, like me, REJOICE!  I totally won some awesome kitchen artwork.  I can't wait for it to arrive!

Check it out here!

And thank you Dandy Bread and Candy!

What cookin' at my house this week?

On Friday the gals I OAMC with and I swapped meals so I am looking forward to a new month of yummy dinners.  Here are the meals I have planned for this week.

• Sunday--Orange Beef with broccoli (FYI--I double the sauce, omit the cornstarch, fry in MUCH LESS oil, and serve with a whole bunch of broccoli.  If you don't like sweet Asian flared dishes, skip this one!  Also skip this if you don't have OJ concentrate or a fresh orange.  Orange juice is too watered down and your sauce won't thicken).
• Monday--Nachos (taco meat is pre-cooked and DH can handle the rest).
• Tuesday--Sesame Chicken in spring greens with Asian dressing (we didn't eat this last week because DH and our besties surprised me at the Melting Pot for pre-birthday dinner)
• Wednesday--White Lasagna (courtesy of Sarah at Frontier Kitchen )
• Thursday--Lime Chili rubbed Steak with lime cilantro rice 
• Friday--Chicken Caccitore (again, thank you Miss Sarah!)
• Saturday--Rilda's Kickin' Chicken Corn Chowder 

Days of Play: Fast Food

My 4 year old loves to play fast food!

You might consider rounding up:
tray or cookie sheet
tupperware and plastic silverware
napkins
pretend food
laundry baskets

Set up an ordering booth (think drive thru at McDonlad's) from a couple of laundry baskets.  "Drive" through (this looks like crawling for me) and order silly foods: peanut butter and cheesey mustard sandwich with sugar fries and a grass milkshake.  This is really all there is to it.  M.E. can play this for hours (it loses it's fun factor much faster for me!).

For younger children
Let them explore the tupperware etc.  Show them the pretend food and describe the color, texture, where it comes from.  Push them around IN the laundry basket.

For older children
Help them make a menu of food items they can make (cereal, PBJs) and order your lunch from them.

Days of Play: Indoor Camping

Take a few chairs and drape a blanket over them to make a tent.

Lay a blanket on the floor to camp on.

Read books, eat a snack, sing campfire songs, and snuggle in your tent.

For Older Children:
I suggest making indoor s'mores with your kiddos.  You can make them in the microwave OR toast the marshmallows over a candle (put them on a skewer first!).  And of course provide supervision!

Things I Love--Mary Kay Make-Up

Don't worry--I'm not trying to sell you anything and you are not being invited to a party.

I just have to say that I have not always had the best skin.  And to cover up for my imperfections I've tried various brands of make-up and facial cleansers--Neutrogena, Oil of Olay, Swiss Ivy, Sephora, Clinique ... the list goes on and on.  I figure that if I could have back all the money I've spent on dermatologists and products in the name of getting vibrant healthy skin, I'd probably be able to afford to take Matt on a little romantic getaway to Cozumel (any excuse to dive and see his pecs!).  

A few years ago a friend suggested I try Mary Kay.  I'd always thought it was a gimmick but decided to at least try it when she offered me product at wholesale pricing.  I started with the Miracle Set plus some acne treatment gel. All I can say is HALLELUJAH!  My skin tone is even, my skin looks bright, and I rarely get adult zits (fewer than 3 a year--down from 3 a month!).  Don't even get me started on the fact that I'm not even in the early stages of crow's feet!

Now my vanity drawer looks like a Mary Kay saleswoman vomited pink and black product everywhere.  I use the foundation, the eyeshadow, the lipgloss, the microdermabrasion ... and I love it all.  

If you have skin product you love then you can relate to how great I feel when I put on my Mary Kay.  

My routine:

• Wash with the 3-in-1 face wash.
  
• Put 1/4 inch of acne treatment gel on my pointer finger.  Rub together and slather all over my face (I only do this once a day.  If you have bad acne or super oily skin you can do it morning and night).
  
• Put on Day or Night Serum.
  
• Mix dab of face lotion with dab of liquid foundation (morning only) and rub into skin.
  

Spy School #6

Spy School #6

In this challenge you will have your husband pick out outfits for you both AFTER he has learned the latest trends.  Without shopping, he will create 2 up-to-date outfits for you and he to wear.  Reward him by wearing his outfit out to dinner, to brunch, or for a nice in-home date (check out my other date ideas for an in-home date).

You may need to provide him with resources such as Vogue magazine, links to What Not To Wear, etc.

Text or e-mail your hubby the following challenge:

The Challenge 

Bond is a man of fashion.  From his chic swim-trunks to his expensive tuxes, the man can dress!  This challenge, should you choose to accept it, will open your eyes to the world of fashion. 

Your challenge:

1. Peruse magazines, online sites, etc., and find tips on current MEN and WOMEN’S fashion trends.
   
2. Without spending a dime, “shop” in our closets and create an outfit for me to wear and for you to wear.  Dressy?  Sexy? Causal fun?  It’s up to you.  But be prepared to explain what you picked and why you picked it.
   
3. We will celebrate your trendy taste by wearing our outfits on a date.
   

Wednesday--What I think about SPANKING

To Spank or Not to Spank?  What a Scary Question

Spanking is a pretty hot topic and I was asked to share my thoughts on the subject by a few moms in North Carolina.   What I put here, of course, is my opinion only and should not be a substitute for prayer and research on your part. 

Let me start by announcing boldly that I am not drawing a line in the sand.  I am not saying it is good or bad to spank.  I’ll probably get hate mail for my refusal to be black or white but you should know that grey is my favorite color and my favorite place to be.

So, here are random ramblings related to spanking.

First and foremost, I know that the AAP, Dr. Phil, and Super Nanny are against spanking. Those experts are speaking to a large demographic and given the prevalence of child abuse, not endorsing corporal punishment makes sense. But I also know that these experts are not your child’s parents and they may not have your belief system.

Biblical References

Corporal punishment is mentioned in the Bible.  Here are some verses to reference:

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him (Proverbs 13:24).

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him (Proverbs 22:15).

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die (Proverbs 23:13).

The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother (Proverbs 29:15)

My Thoughts on These Verses

First, shepherds used rods to guide and direct their sheep.  At times the crook was put around a sheep’s neck to get it out of crags. Other times it was used physically to direct sheep.  The rod is used metaphorically and it is stated, “your rod and your staff comfort me.” Please note that while “rod” can mean corporal punishment, it can also mean guidance. 

In Proverbs 13:24, parents who love their children are “careful” to discipline them.  Think about the word “careful.”  It means intentionally exercising caution.  In my opinion, if you yell or strike out at a child in a fit of wrath and anger, you are not carefully disciplining.     

Proverbs 22:15 talks about disciplining a foolish child.  I caution you to be aware of the difference between rashly acting or being foolish versus being childish.  Your child will do things that will make you angry that are childish, not foolish.  Spilling milk is childish, not foolish.  Do not discipline your child for being childish—correct them.  Guide them.

Proverbs 23:13 and 29:15 encourage parents not to shy away from guiding and disciplining their children.  You are your child’s biblical authority.  Be their loving authority and advocate. You are responsible to train your child, which might include corporal punishment but also means more than spanking.

Given these verses, I do think that corporal punishment is biblically founded and may be useful when used correctly.  When done incorrectly, spanking can cause humiliation, anger, and bitterness in the heart of your child. It can harm children emotionally and physically, and is child abuse.

Spanking is not prohibited and may be encouraged.  However, you must remember that "everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial" (1 Cor 10:23).  There are biblical guidelines on how to discipline a child correctly. If you are not willing to put time and effort into praying and researching how to correctly discipline your child, please do NOT spank them.

Corporal punishment is a heart issue, not a salvation issue; therefore, I can't tell you that you must or must not do it.  Spanking or not does not make you a good, Christian parent.

What We Do

I went into parenting being 100% opposed to spanking; Matt viewed corporal punishment in a more positive light.  Therefore, we researched and prayed and came up with our parenting style. 

We have spanked our daughter a couple of times in response to severe, repeated disobedience. But more often, we’ve used time-outs, natural consequences, and loving guidance and discussion.

Conclusion

In the end, the decision to use or not use corporal punishment can only be made by you and your husband after a time of prayer and research.

If you choose to use corporal punishment, please read Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp.  This book will instruct you on spanking in a manner that encourages forgiveness and reconciliation. 

Some basic guidelines:

• Never spank in anger or out of wrath.  Corporal punishment is not about vindication, retribution, or emotional release.
  
• Do not spank your child for being childish.  Being disobedient and being childish are very different issues.
  
• Never punish in a manner that embarrasses or humiliates your child.
  
• Have a conversation with your child.  Try to find out why the disobedience happened and explain why the action was not correct.  Don’t lecture; listen.
  
• If the situation requires a spanking, spank your child only on the bottom.  Use one or two swats that sting.  Test on your thigh first.
  
• Show your child that it hurts you to spank them.  Encourage reconciliation and forgiveness.
  
• Pray with your child.
  
• When the event is done, it is done.  Do not re-hash or bring it up.
  
• NEVER allow anyone but you and your spouse to spank your child.
  

Please remember that corporal punishment should only be a part of your parenting style, if used at all.

Whatever you do, be consistent, loving, and fair.  If you need resources on biblical parenting I strongly recommend Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel.

Please note that there is research about spanking that is more science-based (as opposed to faith-based).  I've not discussed that and will leave doing that research up to you, though this link to a comment from a reader offers resources.

Scholastic Book Giveaway

Please go to the In the Know Moms site and register to win 50 children's classics on books and DVDs.  This is an amazing giveaway and only takes a second to leave a comment!

Go here if you are interested.

Days of Play--Musical Chairs

Put a chair in the middle of your living room floor (have 1 chair less than the number of people.  3 people=3 chairs).  Play music and move around the chair.  When the music stops, race for the seat.  Whoever sits wins.  Whoever doesn't loses :(

For Younger Children:
Play music and dance.

For Older Children:
Indicate how children move around the chair.  Walk, skip, grapevine, cluck like chickens, waddle like penguins, etc.

Tuesday's Too Clean Tip

My sister taught me this trick and it is my favorite.

If you have carpet, get a spay bottle and a bottle of Febreeze-scented Downy fabric softener.

Put the fabric softener in the spay bottle and lightly spray all over your carpet areas.  Allow to dry (roughly 10 minutes).

Vacuum.

Enjoy cushy, fluffy carpets that smell delightful.

**Spot test before you spray this everywhere**

Spicy Chicken for 2

When I was pregnant with my daughter I craved Chang's Spicy Chicken.  Unfortunately, I lived too far away from PF Chang's to indulge my cravings.  I found this recipe online and tweaked it to my liking.

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

2 T. olive oil

Sauce

1 t. minced garlic 

1/4 c. sliced green onion

1 tsp. chili paste

1 oz. chicken broth

1 T. Oyster Sauce

2 t. Sesame Oil

1 oz. vinegar/sugar mixture (1 T white, granulated sugar and the rest rice vinegar)

Directions

1. Fry chicken in olive oil.  Drain and wipe excess oil out of pan and off chicken.
2. Mix the rest of the ingredients in hot pan. 
3. Add chicken--sauce should cling to it.

We eat this over brown rice or undon noodles.  If you like a lot of sauce then double the sauce ingredients. 

What cookin' at my house this week?

 I LOVE meal planning!There is something refreshing about not worry about what to have for dinner.

Kaufman Menu

• Monday--Baked Rotini (I'm not a fan of casseroles but this easy dish is necessary since I have class on Mondays and DH needs to feed the kids and himself after a long day at work).
  
• Tuesday--Rueben Soup
  
• Wednesday--Cranberry Chicken and Rice
  
• Thursday--Beef Enchiladas in white sauce
  
• Friday--Sliced sesame chicken on spring greens with Asian dressing
  

Days of Play--Indoor Snowball Fight

Go through your recycle bin and crunch up paper in to a ball.  Hide behind couches and ambush one another with "snowballs".  End the fun with a cup of hot cocoa!


For younger children
Allow your child to play with and crinkle the paper.  It is wonderfully tactile!  Be care that your little one doesn't eat the paper!

Jean Shopping...Ick!

I have several pairs of jeans but only one doesn't have a hole in it somewhere (and regrettably these are junior-sized, boot cut, distressed LEIs) .  My favorite jeans, the ones I bought when Matt and I were engaged but I strive to fit into post-baby, have so many holes that I'm starting to think they are more patches than jeans.

Anyhow, I have to go jean shopping which in my mind is the equivalent of running my self-confidence through a food processor and then straining the mush to pick out seeds of self-respect that are then dumped down the sink.  And this is only when I try on the first pair of jeans!

Before I go, I watched Stacy and Clinton.  I love them!  If you are in the market for a new pair of jeans, click the link and watch this video; it might help you, too.  In the mean time, wish me luck!

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/what-not-to-wear-how-to-find-the-perfect-pair-of-jeans.html

What I think about: Edward Who?

I’ve already made it known that I liked the Twilight series.  They are fairly well written love stories coming out of the “sex is power” wakes of Sex in the City and Friends.  As a former middle school teacher I must admit I was grateful there was finally a pro-abstinence, pro-self-control, anti-clique and mean girl option for young ladies.   However, I am not blind to the negative aspects of the book.  The story isn’t pro-abstinence on moral grounds but rather because Edward doesn’t want to kill Bella.  And one must question Bella’s motives that she’d die for her parents but won’t tell them the truth.  In the end, though, I feel like if this book series is tempered with discussion and logic, it is safe enough to read.

Where I get really nervous about the Twilight series is the female reaction to Edward and Jacob.  There has been mass hysteria surrounding the characters and I’m not talking about tweens swooning over shirtless Jacob (though that does bother me). 

What really bothers me are TwiMoms who lament that their relationships with their husbands are not equal to (depending on your team) Bella/Edward or Bella/Jacob.  The danger with love stories for women is that they have the capability to enhance our expectations in a negative way. 

Please know that we should expect great treatment from our husbands; our husbands are to love us with the same sacrificial love Christ demonstrated to the Church—no easy task!   While we must have high standards from our husbands, we should not expect them to be perfect, to be our “all in all” or equal to fictional characters. 

My assertion: If you don’t want your husband to impose stripper-pole, porn-star expectations on you, please don’t force your Edward/Jacob expectations on him.

When I finished the series, I was so grateful for my husband and our intimate relationship.  I even made him a shirt that says, “EDWARD WHO?” to remind him that he, not a fictional character, is worthy of my love and affection.  Here are some reasons my relationship with Matt is better than Bella’s relationships with Edward/Jacob.

• ·      Matt is my best friend AND lover.  I’m not torn.  He wins.  Period.
• ·      Unlike Edward, Matt listens to me when I backseat drive.  He wears his seatbelt and does roughly four miles over the speed limit.
• ·      When Matt and I have differences, we talk them over.  No one leaves (like Edward) or ignores the other (like Jacob). 
• ·      As adults we’ve discussed what would happen in the event of sickness and death. Neither of us feels like we’d commit suicide if the other died (no running to the Volturi for us!).  Though devastated, we’d rely on God to sustain us.
• ·      I speak the truth in love and so does he.  We do not need to be professional liars (Edward) or tricksters (Jacob).  As Matt said in our wedding vows, “I will be worthy of your trust by being trustworthy.” 
• ·      Matt encourages me to hang out with other people, to make new friends, and to have hobbies and interests outside of our marriage and family.  I never have to feel guilty for visiting with friends.  Matt is not controlling (Edward).
• ·      As married adults we can snuggle in bed and engage in sexual activity without sneaking behind our parent’s backs (unlike Bella and Edward). 
• ·      Because we are adults, Matt and I can enjoy thrill seeking without our parents’ permission (unlike Bella and Jacob). 
• ·      We are first and foremost committed to our Christ.  We recognize that though we are God’s perfect provision for each other, only HE can fully satisfy. 
  

 So ladies, if you want a quick and easy read, I’m not opposed to recommending the Twilight Series (though I’d really recommend Redeeming Love, Pride and Prejudice or Peace Like a River more).  When you finish the series, remember that it is fiction and that your husband does not and should not live up to standards set by fictional characters.

Praise your husband for the good he brings out in you and if you want more romance in your marriage, show him how it’s done!

Days of Play--Color Scavenger Hunt

For younger children:

Go into his or her room and talk about color.  Get several items of one color and explore them.  Read a book about colors.

For toddlers:

Go into his or her room and ask him or her to bring you one red item, one blue item, and one yellow item (feel free to mix up the colors here).

For older children:

Make a list of various colors and number of items to be retrieved.  Consider a time limit.

3 pink things, 6 blue things, 1 black thing, 2 orange things, etc.  

**Enrich this game more by using 2 languages.  Find 2 yellow things.  Where is something amarillo?**

BlogFrog Reader Community

Women, Wives, Moms--

The purpose of my blog is to share ideas, advice, humorous stories, and life experiences with other women.  To help fulfill this mission, I've added BlogFrog.  Please join me in an online fellowship of moms.  To join, find the purple link on the left side of my blog.  It takes just a minute to sign in but once you are a member, you can post questions, stories, advice, ideas, etc.

Please take the time to do this so we can make Where is the ME in Mommy? an mutually beneficial site.

Thank you for sharing life with me,
Reagan

Date night In--Movie Game

If you've been to college or know someone who has been to college then I'm sure you are aware of a drinking game where you have to drink every time you use the "taboo" word.  This date night is a alcohol-free take on that game.

What you'll need:
A movie
Snacks--popcorn, something to drink
Bowl
pens
mini-note pad or strips of paper

What to do:
You and your husband will each write silly actions you can do quickly on pieces of paper (kiss my cheek, pick your nose, shake your bum, give me a high five, make a tooting noise with your mouth, tell me you love me, scratch my back, use "fo' shizzle" in a sentence, etc.).  I suggest 10-20 ideas each.

Now pick a frequently used word (but not too frequently used word--avoid "the").  Something like: love, what?, happy, etc.  You might want to think in advance about a word that might be in the movie a lot (if you want a holiday show, for example, you can expect Christmas or happy to be used often).

Turn on the movie and enjoy the show but listen for your word.  Every time you hear your buzz word both you and your date draw a paper out of the bowl and do what it says.  If you run out of papers you can pause and make more OR just finish the movie.

Days of Play--Card Sharks

You'll need:
Small snack (popcorn, peanuts, mini-Goldfish, etc.)
Deck of Cards

For young children:
Let your little ones manipulate the cards.  Try to have cards that feel like plastic so your wee one can munch on them.  It is never too soon to show colors and to count.

For toddlers:
Examine the deck of cards.  Point out the colors, the shapes, the numbers, the faces.  Show your child how you can shuffle (I haven't yet met a 3 year old who wasn't impressed by a bridge shuffle).  Count from 1-10 with the cards and point out that the Ace is 1 and the faces are 10.

To play card sharks, have your child pick a color and a suit (red hearts).  You do likewise with a contrasting color (black spades).  Put the 2 suits together and shuffle.  Take turns flipping over the cards. Every time your child's suit comes up, he or she eats that many snacks (so if the 3 of hearts shows up, your child eats three mini-gold fish).

For older children:
Teach them to shuffle.  If you know a good card trick, show them (and then teach them).  Build a house of cards with them.  Snack while you visit.

Spy School #5

In this challenge you will be encouraging your husband to show off a skill he already has.  Allow yourself to be his student and be open and willing to stretch out of your comfort zone to have him teach you something.  Is it a karate move?  The proper way to shoot a basketball?  How to fire a weapon?

E-mail or text your husband the following (you fill in the date and time--give your husband sufficient time to prepare).

The Challenge
While you are enrolled in the Spy School to learn, there are times when the student becomes the master.  What do you have mastered?  What do you do well?  Find a talent you have and practice teaching it for in one week you will teach your Bond Girl how to do it.   You will need to let your Bond Girl know where to meet you, when, and what to wear by (date, time).

Days of Play--What the animals do

Let's act like animals!

For young children:
Look at books with pictures of animals and encourage animal sounds.

For toddlers:
Have your child act like a frog, a bird, a duck, etc.  Join them in the silliness as you move and talk like the animals do.

For older children:
Have them mime an animal and guess what it is charades style.  (Anyone know how to be a duck-billed platypus?)

Days of Play--Guess Box

You'll need:
Box that has a hand-sized hole in it
small objects
tape to securely close box

For young children:
Enlist even little ones to help find small toys to put in the box.  Let your child put toys in and take them out.  Talk about shape, color and texture as the items go in and out.

For toddlers:
Have your toddler help you find small items to go in the box.  After the box has several items, ask your toddler to reach in and pull out the ___(ball)___.

For older children:
Don't let older kids see what goes into the box. Instead, fill it and give them 3 minutes to feel around in there.  Then, hand them a note pad and give them 5 minutes to write down everything they can remember (or tell you and you can be their scribe if they don't write as fast as they think/talk).

Days of Play--Texture Art

Today you'll need white paper, dark colored crayons, and a hard surface to color on.

For Toddlers

Encourage your child to find flat items in the house or outside (leaves, fabric, coins, keys, etc.).

Put the item under the white paper and rub over it with the crayon until a picture appears.

For Younger children:
You can do the activity but they might be more interested in manipulating the crayon, eating the paper, or exploring the object.

**DO NOT LEAVE CHOKE-SIZED ITEMS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN**

For Older Children:
Try rubbings using more abstract items--walls, shower curtain, drains, cold air return grates, etc.