Tip Tuesday: Cold Cereal Shake Up

OK, so I just realized that it's Tuesday.  Not bad, since it's only 6:30!  And there's two guys in my basement working on the furnace.  I'm glad because for the past several weeks it's been getting louder and louder to the point of breaking out the earplugs.  Me, not the furnace.  It sounds a lot like a deep growl going up the wall behind my head.  That's not a very comforting sound at night.  As you can imagine.  So, we're finally getting it the help it needs.  Aren't you glad you know that?

On another front.... I was mixing up the ole cereal this morning and thought you might like to know this little tidbit of tightwaddery.  We rarely buy cold cereal anymore, but when we do we always mix two different types-- sweet and plain.  Two boxes fit perfectly in these nice big pour containers that I got from Aldi a verrrry long time ago.  Then I just shake it up and whammo! Nobody can hog all the sweet cereal before everybody else wakes up.  We do this with cocoa or fruity/plain rice crispies, honey or cinnamon/plain cheerios, and frosted flakes/plain corn flakes.  Sometimes we dump a box of granola into a box of plain cornflakes (when we're feelin' really fancy).  Just make sure you hold the lid closed before you shake it up.  I'm just guessing that it might totally explode all over the kitchen if you don't.  Just guessing.

And that sums up my very exciting life.

Oh, and I got to go on a date last night with my incredibly manly, handsome SON.

 And I got a Smashburger and a movie out of the deal.... which is always good.

Oh, and I also came up with a new jewelry design.  It's an act of desperation really because I can't really go out in the garage and hammer right now due to the fact that I'm in so much pain that I can barely move my neck and I look like a robot when I turn my head.  It might help if I went to the doctor but I was raised by skeptics and I'm terrified to actually find out what's wrong in there.  So, when I say "pray for me" I really mean it because all this Aleve can't be a good thing.  But, you know how God causes all things to work together for the good?  Well, here's my latest project...

So, there ya have it...  Mix your cereal, eat a Smashburger and buy yourself a necklace.

Oh, and stay warm!  Brrrrrrr!

Tip Tuesday: Inspect What You Expect

I recently read an interesting book called Large Family Logistics.  It was written by a mom of nine.  I figured that since I only raised eight, I could learn a thing or two.  ; )

Well, the book was really annoying...for the most part.

This lady is terribly organized and boring and not at all like me.  Except for maybe the boring part.  Maybe it was just her writing style.  I'm not sure.  But she also cleans her bathroom every single day.

Every.  Single.  DAY.

Yes.  I know.  What a freak, right?

Just kidding.  Sortof.

But one thing I did learn from the book is this:

Tip Tuesday: Eating on the Cheap

Here's a pic of one of my recent grocery hauls.  I think we actually stopped into the store for lunch meat and buns.  But the "managers specials" got the best of me... 

Tip Tuesday: Two Unusual Cleaning Products

Have you ever heard of this?
 I have my sister-in-law's mom to thank for this tip!

You know that weird, black grime that accumulates on the plastic floor of your walk in shower stall?  Well, this is the stuff that will get rid of it!

Tip Tuesday: Do What You Can

 Boy, it sure would be nice to own 100 fertile acres, a root cellar, a spring-fed well, a milk cow, a gigantic thriving garden, an orchard, 1000 canning jars, a windmill, a wood burning furnace, a tractor and a generator.  Oh, well, at least I have a flock of chickens. 

Yep, that, and a few other things.

 Like spam.
 And rice.

Tip Tuesday: Use Less

We're always trying to figure out ways of saving money for our family.  Most of the time we first think of how to spend less on the things we need.  How to get a better deal.  But one often overlooked method of saving money is to use less.  Here's where a little thrifty thinking comes in.  Did you know that a whole scoop full of detergent is enough for at least four loads?

Tip Tuesday: Traveling With the Fam

 Here's ten tips that my kids wanted to share with you about road trips with the family.  They just rattled these off for me as I typed. 

I have no idea what is going on here...

1.  Always bring a barf can.  Coffee cans are our favorite for this (and we've tried lots of different things, sadly).  Even if you never actually need it, it gives a sense of comfort just knowing that if you do, it's there.  Keep a big zip-lock bag in the can, so you can zip it up and dispose of it at the next convenient stop.  Trust me on this one.

2.  Good stories on CD are a lifesaver!  The library has tons or buy them on itunes.  Some of my kid's favorites are:  Around the World in 80 Days, Little Britches, Johnny Tremain, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and of course... The Narnia Series!  We wear those things out and still looooove them!

3.  Keep a case of waters or each kid bring their own water bottles in the van.  No other sweet drinks, because everybody chugs them and then has to stop in 20 minutes.

4.  Snacks.  Keep it simple, but keep them in the car at all times... not just on a long trip.  We like peanut butter crackers, granola bars, pretzels, nuts or dry cereal.  Apples are great, too, if your kids are older... That way we don't need to stop nearly as often and we avoid fast food like the plague.

5.  Baby wipes.  Even if you don't have a baby.

6.  Hand sanitizer in a handy pump.  Pass it around after every stop.

7.  Keep a roll of paper towels in the car.  You'll know why when you need them.

8.  Make up a family sound off...no child left behind!

9.  Liquid Benadryll.  But you didn't hear that from me.

10.   Lower your expectations.  Kids make everything take longer.  But once you get there, you'll be glad you brought them along.  Have Fun!


So, what other advice would you like to add???  C'mon, somebody out there needs to hear it!  ; )

Tip Tuesday: Folding Shirts Military Style

Hi guys!  Today's tip comes to you courtesy of my wonderful husband and his amazing Army experience.  As you probably already know, the military has been a very big part of our lives.  The Captain and I have been together since way before he was a Captain.  We've been through Officer Candidate School and Flight School and Helicopter Test Pilot School and a bunch of other schools and trainings and drills.  And it's been an adventure, to say the least.  He's learned a lot.  And I've tagged along with various babies.  But one thing I did learn that has actually been beneficial to me has been the military version of laundry folding.  It's different from the way my mom did it.

Tip Tuesday: Dishwasher Soap

If ya thought I was gonna tell you how to make it, sorry to disappoint you.  I looked it up and thought about it, and even bought the ingredients...but that's as far as I got.  I did, however, come upon a different helpful hint that you will want to know about...

THIS STUFF WORKS!!!

Tip Tuesday: 2 o'clock

Wow.  Thanks for the tip. 2:00.  Epic, right??

About a year ago we came up with this idea and it's been a real life saver.

Big Family Laundry Logistics

Here's a question that's come up recently... Should kids do their own laundry?

Now that's a subject near and dear to my heart.  Let me explain...

 I actually enjoy doing laundry.  I know it's sortof weird.  But it's a peaceful, mindless task that makes me feel productive.  However, with a large family, it might just be a little too much peaceful, mindless task for my taste.

New Meaning to Tangled

Have you ever seen this before?

Help From the Blogosphere

Yes, God does work in mysterious ways.  He speaks that way, too.

I've heard him in his Word.  In a song.  In a sermon.  On a billboard....

Who knew that He spoke in blogs?

Here I am wondering, in the back of my mind, which vacuum I should buy.  Mine bit the dust several weeks ago and we've been using our tiny camper vacuum for our huge amount of very dirty floors and it's getting just a bit comical.  At least for me, since Jacob is the one who vacuums around here.  He finally said that enough is enough, we need a new vacuum.

How to Surpass Them All, Part 2

OK, so what if you're not The Proverbs 31 Super Amazing Woman?

What if you’re not Mrs. Dugger?

  Or "Total Mom", Hannah Keeley?

What if you’re just a regular mom like me?

I mean, geez, some days I don’t do ANY of those things in Proverbs 31.  And none of my kids play violin!  What a guilt trip, right?

So, here’s what I’m thinking....

Making Weird Slimy Laundry Soap

Can't wait to wash something in this stuff...  ???

I mostly made this stuff out to curiosity.  I'm pretty happy with my cheap laundry detergent that smells good.  But since this is the trendy thing to do these days, I had to join the club.  I'm still not convinced.  But I do love saving money and this was SUPER easy to make.  It turns out a lot like Nickelodeon slime.  Or worse.  I'm still not sure how that happened.  It's a chemistry thing, I guess.

Anyways, here's how you make it, if you are curious like me:

Family Scheduling AKA Head 'Em Off At the Pass

So, I guess a lot of this motherhood job really boils down to "head 'em off at the pass."  I can just picture the sheriff and his trusty side-kick galloping to the mouth of the canyon to round up the bandits before they make their escape. You're sortof like the Lone Ranger on the home front!

Sounds funny, but lots of happy, unstressed mommies are actually just more pro-active than their frustrated, stressed-out counterparts.  It's not that they work any harder.  Sometimes it's just the opposite!  Both mommies are going to have to fix lunch, for example.  Stressed-out mom will wait until her children are hungry, grouchy and whining for food before she fixes it.  Then she'll be annoyed while she's trying to figure out what whiny-butt wants to eat because a hungry toddler doesn't really CARE...they just want food NOW!  Happy mom, on the other hand, knew that her children would be getting hungry around their normal lunch time, so she decided what to fix and had it ready before the kiddos even realized how hungry they were.  It's actually the same, exact amount of work involved.  Both ended up fixing lunch.  One was frustrated.  One was not.

Help For Mommies, Controlling Stuff

Getting Stuff Under Control
 Last post I talked about some unnecessary cleaning that might be sucking up your free time.  Obviously there's gonna be some chores that you just can't avoid.  You've got to deal with food and diapers and laundry, no matter how organized you are!  But, those aren't really the problem.  It's all that other stuff that seems to be constantly out of place and needing your attention.  If you want more time for the things that matter to you, like crafts and playing outside, it will help if you show your "stuff" who's boss. 

Help For Mommies AKA Don't Kill Your Family

About a month ago I received this letter from a young mom, asking for advice.  She asked a very relevant question, bringing up a common problem.  I didn't intend to write a book, but as I've been mulling it over, well, there's a lot to her question!  I thought I'd share my response, just in case anyone else might be wondering about the same sort of things.  Here we go...

"Okay. I have a question for your blog. How do you run your household with order without killing your children and husband? I feel like I am constantly putting stuff away and cleaning up after everyone and never have the time to do things I actually want to do. I do enjoy cleaning, but there are other things I would like to do with my kids...like go exploring and crafts and have a scheduled school time. What are the first steps to managing a less-stress, fun home?"

Although I’ve been raising children for nearly 20 years, I think it was a bit of a blur back when they were all really young.  You know, it’s all about survival.  Especially when you’re outnumbered!  But never fear, I asked my trusty source of all information, my husband, who was there with me during those years, but had more of his brain functioning.  He helped remind me of  how I actually survived those years and live to tell about it.  Here’s what we came up with.  A few first steps to managing a less-stress, fun home.