A busy time of year!

The holidays are a busy time of year for everyone. Especially for me because my son's birthday is December 30th! This year my baby boy is turning 4! It's hard to believe that in just 4 years he has turned into such a big boy with a huge imagination and quite the vocabulary. I have many fears about raising a boy as a single mother but so far in 4 years I think I have managed fairly well. He's rough and tough and certainly loves to destroy my house. Haha! Every year when Christmas and his birthday come around I take some time to reflect on my life as a single mom. When I first started this journey I was terrified of the challenges that I would have to endure and overcome. However, at the end of every year I am always reminded that I'm still standing and stronger than ever. As far as my son is concerned I am a superhero. To be honest though he is my superhero. We can, have and will get through anything together. I couldn't ask for a better sidekick. I know it has been a while since I last blogged but hopefully with the new year and my resolutions I will stick to blogging more often. Speaking of the new year and resolutions..........stay tuned for my next blog! Have a safe holiday! Merry Christmas and a very prosperous new year!

A busy time of year!

The holidays are a busy time of year for everyone. Especially for me because my son's birthday is December 30th! This year my baby boy is turning 4! It's hard to believe that in just 4 years he has turned into such a big boy with a huge imagination and quite the vocabulary. I have many fears about raising a boy as a single mother but so far in 4 years I think I have managed fairly well. He's rough and tough and certainly loves to destroy my house. Haha! Every year when Christmas and his birthday come around I take some time to reflect on my life as a single mom. When I first started this journey I was terrified of the challenges that I would have to endure and overcome. However, at the end of every year I am always reminded that I'm still standing and stronger than ever. As far as my son is concerned I am a superhero. To be honest though he is my superhero. We can, have and will get through anything together. I couldn't ask for a better sidekick. I know it has been a while since I last blogged but hopefully with the new year and my resolutions I will stick to blogging more often. Speaking of the new year and resolutions..........stay tuned for my next blog! Have a safe holiday! Merry Christmas and a very prosperous new year!

Pinterest

My newest favorite obsession is this ingenious site. It's a virtual cork board of ideas. The easiest way to remember something is to write a note and place it on a memo board. I for one am always coming up with ideas for my home or new traditions with Parker. If I like something instead of writing it down somewhere and forgetting about it until years later, I can use pinterest. Only problem with that is it's an invite only site. And it seems to take ages to have your request granted. I can't say anything but good words about this site. If you are planing a wedding, vacation, remodeling a room, or just brainstorming outfit choices this is the place to go. You're coming up with Christmas wish list? This is where you put them until you are ready to weed out the ideas you have crossed off. The best part is you can shre them all with your friends! So if you are one of the creators of pinterest and you have somehow stumbled upon my blog.....please, please, please honor my request and let me join! Please?

Coconut Water Revisited

I finally found coconut water and I tried it. First of all....I paid $2 for maybe 8 oz. And the taste? Not very good. It may be the newest fad to hollywood's brightest stars but I'm going to get my potassium from bananas thank you very much! Too pricey and doesn't taste very good. I'll leave it to you to make an opinion but mine is a big thumbs down. Healthy benefits maybe the only good thing about it!

Pardon the Construction

          I've decided to change a few things in my blog and I am still currently coming up with new ideas.  Please excuse the mess that is my page.  Hopefully it won't be long before I am completely finished (well for the most part anyway b/c it will always be a work in progress).  In the mean time, take a look around and let me know what you think.  I would love comments and suggestions because I am new at this after all.  Thank you all ahead of time for your patience and support.



                                                                                     ~Mikki~

The Contents of my Purse

Bought on sale @ Target!

 

I love this bag!  It's a black satchel purse with a braided handle and a cross body strap (optional).  I got is on sale for $20!  It's the perfect size for keeping all my "necessary items". You know the ones, the things you can't live without. The things that just make it possible to make it through the day. (If you have those complimentary airplane liquor bottles in your purse, you may want to re-examine the stressors in your life)!




This is a picture of my mess.  It may not 
show every item but you get the idea.

1. Wallet --> Always a must have
2. Umbrella
3. Coupon File --> Never leave the  house w/o it!
4. Sunglasses --> My backup pair
5. Make up --> Not a big wearer
6. Calculator --> Can't count in my hear...lol!
7. Crayons --> for the kiddo
8. Toy cars --> Saves my sanity
9. Thomas the Train undies --> Not for me I promise!
10. Receipts
11. Day Planner --> My personal life saver
12. Tide Stain Remover Pen--> Must have for parents with BOYS!!!!
13. Deodorant --> Are you sure?
14. Burt's Bee's Lip Balm --> Best thing to every touch your lips 
15. Loose Change --> Should really put that in the piggy bank
16. To do lists --> Live by my lists and couldn't function w/o them
17. Brag book/pictures --> So that my love bug will be w/ me always
18. Bar drink coaster --> A smarta** inside joke
19. Quote flip book --> Daily encouragement
20. Children's books --> Always trying to instill the love of reading
21. Scissors --> You just never know when you need them
22. Journals --> My brain never shuts off so I'll have something to jot thoughts down
23. Bills --> Who doesn't have those dreaded things?
24. Ipad --> The ultimate life savor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's in Your Bag?: A look Inside a Mother's Purse

Scene from "One Fine Day" 

I'm not much of  a romantic comedies fan but if I'm in the mood for one I can certainly appreciate them.  One of my favorites is "One Fine Day" starring George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer.  Have I lost you?  I bet you are wondering where this random tidbit is going.  Well, if you have seen this movie then you know exactly where this is going.  Yep, you guessed it......the infamous "mommy bag".  Pfeiffer's character is a single mom who is having a hectic day but her bag has everything she needs for a back up plan.  I was so mesmerized by the contents of her bag.  It was as if she was channeling Mary Poppins.  From that day on I vowed to be the mother who has a bag that performs miracles on hectic days.  

Here's you challenge if you choose to accept it:

       Grab your purse and dump it out on a flat surface.

Step 1:  Take a picture of you purse and the contents.

Step 2:  List the contents and if it's interesting by all means tell us why it's in your bag.

Step 3:  Find the item you think is most interesting, most common, weirdest, the items you can't live without.

Step 4:  Post it under comments because I'd love to see what you find.

**** Don't lie either. If you have some really weird stuff tell us any way (We won't judge).  If your list is really long then I hate to be the one to tell ya but you may need to clean out your bag.  Let's have fun with this!  Don't forget the pics!!! I have a bag obsession and I'd love to see your bags.  If you are really proud of it then give me details!

My previous blog isn't dead just put on the back shelf!

I switched to this blog because my previous blog no longer let me post pictures.  I guess I used up my limit. Here is the link to it just in case you never got the chance to view it:  http://singlemommasetbacks.wordpress.com/

What's the deal with Coconut Water?

Every time I'm in the checkout line at the grocery store I pick up a magazine (a bad habit but a guilty pleasure) to keep me occupied during the wait.  Skimming the covers I have noticed many celebrities are spotted drinking coconut water.  It's every where and I think it might just be taking over.  What is it and why is it so popular?  Most importantly, should we drink it because it's a popular celebrity craze?  Absolutely not!  But beyond it being a fashion accessory for the rich and famous there are many good things about this drink.  It's more nutritious than water and is better than sports drinks.  It has no calories, no  fat, and no cholesterol.  Also, it provides more potassium than a banana.  When exercising or playing sports it re-hydrates the body faster than Brand X sports drinks.  As far as taste?  I've never had it but may need to try it.  I'll report back to the blog with the taste and pricing.  If it's good for you and the celebs. are flocking to it like moths to a flame then it must be expensive.  If you want to try it for yourself and tell me about your experiences then look for these brands: O.N.E., Vita Coca, Zico.

Summertime Fun!

       Besides the horrific humidity, the sweltering heat, and the lovely state bird (the mosquitoes).......summer is one of my favorite seasons.  There are a number of things you can do as a family at little or no costs for some summer fun.
       
         1.) Back yard BBQ - Who doesn't love to sit around enjoying the smell of the grill.  Get some friends together and have everyone bring their own dish and B.Y.O.B.  It's a low cost solution to a fun and entertaining dinner party.

         2.) Go for a bike ride or hike -  We all say we need to lose the dreaded holiday weight and we even make resolutions at the beginning of the year.  But let's face it, we pay for gym memberships and go for maybe 3 or 4 mths but never follow through.  Get out with you kids and go for a walk around the neighborhood or hop on your bike.  (I discovered a vintage bike in my garage that belonged to my grandmother. I cleaned it up and have enjoyed riding around the neighborhood with Parker)  

         3) Go camping-  Do it the old fashioned way by setting up a tent. It could be your back yard, living room, or an actual campground.  If you have a large family or group going then consider a cabin.  Make s'mores, catch fireflies, play family-favorite games, go fishing, etc.

          4.) Back yard scavenger hunt - Turn your back yard in to an adventure land. Get the kids outside and set up a scavenger hunt and give your kids clues.  Give prizes at the end. Make it fair and split up into teams so everyone gets a chance to play.

        5.) Movie night under the stars- Everyone loves a good movie.  Even better is to watch a movie under the stars.  If you have the extra cash and are willing to spend some money for a good investment then you could buy your own projector.  You can find them on amazon.com for as low as $115.  It hooks up to a laptop or dvd player.  If you don't want to spend that kind of money you can always check out your nearest library to see if they rent out projectors. Often times they do for a small fee.  Throw a light colored sheet on top of the garage door, pop some popcorn and lay out some blankets and you've got your very own movie theater outdoors.

         6.) Become Explorers- Ever wonder what you are missing by working your 9-5, cooking, and cleaning?  If you stop and look around you'd probably realized that there are things you never noticed.  For some summer fun, drive downtown, park, and just walk and explore your surroundings. Don't forget your water.....staying hydrated in the hot weather is important!!!!  The good thing about walking and exploring is that there is always a store with a/c to cool off.  If you have young kids who are learning shapes and colors, make it a game.  If they can identify so many shapes and colors then they get a prize or a nice cool ice cream cone.  


*What are your favorite free or low cost summer activities?

A Run-in with Reality: Yes, You Really are Getting Older!

      Have you ever had that conversation with your friends when you made the statement, "Hey do you remember when we were young and......?"  Yeah of course you have. That convo that sparks up because you remember a toy from childhood or a cartoon you use to watch.  Then, after having these amazing discussions of great moments from your past you realize that they were 5,10 + years ago.  How does that make you feel?  For myself it always surprises me how I always thought I'd feel time pass instead of looking back and realize that I never even noticed time go by.  As a society we live in a fast paced environment and well let's just burst my bubble: you can't actually see time fly.
     These conversations really get your gears going about how much has changed in your lifetime and how much older you are. Sometimes though, it isn't even that discussion that changes your perspective. It's a simple visit to your local (insert brand here) retailer.  You pass by the toy aisle for whatever reason (Really I don't want to know. Let's just say you have kids.) and you see they same exact toy you had when you were a kid only it's on the shelf advertised as "vintage" or "__th Anniversary Edition". Yeah that'll do it!  Where did the time go when your old toys are now considered vintage?
       The other day I was doing some window shopping, strolling in front of a local strip mall.  I pass a store that I can remember the "it" store to shop at if you were between the ages of 12 and 17.  That was a punch in the gut (not really b/c I'd never want to be that age more than once in a lifetime) because I'm 25 and could never shop there unless I wanted to look like a teenage wannabe in a quarter life crisis. Anyway, in the window there was a sign saying all graphic "T's" 50% off.  Next to the sign there they were the infamous licensed graphic "T's". Only the images on the front shocked me because I was thinking of the ones we would buy because we thought it was cool to wear a shirt with our favorite cartoon characters on it.  Hey, I'm not judging you because you wore them. I did too and I still have some to remind me that I am getting older. Also, if you never had one because it wasn't cool......then don't judge the rest of us.  The shirts in the store front window were definitely not for our generation.  The had t-shirts for cartoons my nephews use to watch as toddlers.  So, here they are in no particular order.....are you ready: The Rugrats, Sponge Bob, Pokemon, Lady Gaga instead of Madonna just to name a few. What's next? Rocking Barney graphic "T's"?  Who ever knew that The Rugrats would ever become one of those cartoons that you put on a t-shirt because it reminds you of when you were younger.
         Today's generation of kids are sitting around with their friends hanging out because it's summer and they are talking about the things that remind them of the good ole days. That includes the cool new t-shirt that has their once upon a time favorite cartoon character on it.  We mention watching Darkwing Duck and they say "What's that? Must have been a long time ago when you were young." Ha our Ghost Buster, Scooby Doo, Ninja Turtles graphic "T's" will beat yours any day you crazed teenage Justin Beiber fans! I really can't hate though because now I'm old enough to say, "Been there, done that."   And I know how much you hate that! LOL!

Mason jars are my new obsession!

I stumbled across a box of mason jars in my garage.  They were taking up space and I don't know a single person who still uses them to make jams or preserves.  What oh what should I do with them? Give them away? I could never do such a crazy thing like that.  I recently saw a show where mason jars were used as decor in a home make over, at a wedding, and as home made gifts.  I thought that was brilliant!  How could I not have seen such great ways to utilize these jars?  Now I've got so many ideas I don't even know what to do with them.  I'll be posting numerous pictures of my crafts and the various ways I've used them.  I'd love to know all the ways you use them. Give me some unique and original ideas of how you would use them. Pics of my projects coming soon!
     The best thing about these mason jars are that you can find them every where.  You can find them at craft stores, grocery stores, garage sales or even thrift stores.  I would go for old ones that have been sitting around someones house for years.  They add character and some might have some great stories.  Who doesn't love an object that brings back fond memories of your grandmother?  It brings lovely sentiment into the lives of a dear friend or family member if given as a gift.  Gifts from the heart will always mean more than any store bought item.  Get creative with things around the house make it crafty or simply useful for the home office.  Bring them outside and put citronella candles in them for a cozy romantic feel with a practical purpose! 

A Fool-Proof Discipline Strategy

     Forget about counting to three and time outs. I've got a brand new system and it hasn't failed yet. Knock on wood!  I'm a firm believer in positive reinforcement.  When you child does something good you reinforce that good behavior by giving a compliment.  It's tricky though because you don't want to teach the child that every time they do something right they get a compliment.  Because let's face it when was the last time anyone gave you a compliment when you did something right?  It doesn't happen often.  The point is that with positive reinforcement your child will know that they did something right and it is appreciated. Also, the more they know they are doing a good job the more they will continue the good behavior or good habits. For instance when Parker sneezes and covers his mouth I'll say "Thank you for covering your mouth. That keeps everyone from getting sick." Or if he throws away his own trash I remind him that he's being such a big helper. 
     Now for the fail safe system.....I have a box filled with toys or books that Parker doesn't know about.  I'll pick a random moment (so he doesn't expect it every time) when he's doing something good and let him pick a toy.  However, when he doesn't do what I ask or throws a tantrum I ask him to bring me one of his toys.  He knows that his bad behavior resulted in one of his toys being taken away.  He earns the chance to redeem himself and get a toy back if he does something good.  The good behavior is still being rewarded but in a way in which he won't expect a new toy every time.  It's as simple as taking away a toy and letting him earn it back.  The system has seemed to work so far. His tantrums stop mere seconds after they begin if I ask for a toy. I think that's the key. Ask for a toy don't demand it.  Explain that if the bad behavior continues you'll take a toy but his toy is safe if he stops behaving that way.  This reminds them that what they are doing is not ok.  Redemption is the easy part and rewarding for both you and your child.  I wouldn't stop at just good behavior but I would go as far as promoting learning something new.  Good behavior could be a number of things; Random acts of kindness, having initiative to pick up toys or trash, being polite, learning something new, etc.
        This system isn't for all children because some kids don't care if you take their toys and maybe time out works for them.  However, if you are at wits end and find yourself yelling more than you'd like maybe you should give this a shot.  You won't be finding yourself making empty threats that you will never follow through on and the best part is that it's positive reinforcement which means no more saying no or don't do that! A great part about it is that you can continue with this method long after those terrible two's and/or three's. Every child deserves encouragement and they should get it if they are doing something the right way.  It establishes right from wrong and gives them the room to decide it for themselves.  Maybe it'll work with homework in the future!