May 09 2008
Ladies, this year, don’t leave the Mother’s Day planning up to your spouse, OR your kids. Decide how you want to spend your Sunday and let the family know. This will take all expectations away and you’ll end up being happier.
Sure, it takes some of the surprise out of it, but it really gives you control over how to spend a day that is meant to celebrate you.
May 05 2008
I got a press release today about an interesting contest (grant) for innovative moms. Here’s the official release:
This Mother’s Day, May 11, Whirlpool brand will kick-off the fourth annual Mother of Invention Grant Program – just in time for the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day. In the past three years, Whirlpool brand has recognized and helped more than 15 moms turn their innovative ideas into reality.
The Whirlpool brand Mother of Invention Grant Program provides seed money and expert guidance to moms to turn their invention, business or service ideas into full-fledged businesses. Contest winners receive:
- A $20,000 grant for the grand prize winner
- $24,000 in grant money for the four runners-up
- Appliance prizes
- Invitation to business boot camp where winners will receive guidance from Whirlpool and industry experts
This year, we are greening the program by adding a new category focused on moms who create an environmentally friendly product/service or use natural/recycled materials to create their invention.
More information and entry forms can be found at www.whirlpool.com/moms, May 11. Entries are accepted through July 31, 2008.
Last year’s grand prize winner “created the Quick Change Crib, which gives parents direct access to the crib’s mattress so that sheets can be changed simply by sliding the mattress out and back into the crib.” Sounds pretty cool.
Maybe the invention you keep telling your husband about could be next.
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Jan 11 2008
Yesterday morning, as I was locking the front door to my house, I had two pieces of buttered toast balanced on a paper plate, to eat in the car on my way to work. On my pinky finger I had one of those plastic grocery bags with a Christmas gift I need to return. In my other hand I was leaning over to lock the door, while balancing my purse and tote bag containing notebooks and important papers for work. Oh, and I had my travel mug full of hot coffee — which hand that was in I can’t remember. But it made it to my desk that morning; maybe I balanced that on my head!
I know I am not the only mother in the world who does this balancing act. Even stay-at-home moms do it. We all have to balance our lives with our families’ needs.
Last night, on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Dr. Bailey showcased the daily struggles that mothers face. She worked for years to get to the place where she is in her career. A career that takes years of study and practice. She is in a good place. She saves lives. In last night’s episode, she was faced with saving her baby — and her marriage. What will she do? It was an emotional episode because so many of us know exactly how she feels. How is Bailey going to remedy her situation. Where is her balance? I’ll be looking forward to other new episodes to find out.
In the meantime, I’ll be continuing with my personal quest for balance. Maybe tomorrow I’ll eat breakfast at the table before leaving for work.
Dec 20 2007
I found a good, quick read about tips for families with toddlers, “Simplifying Christmas for Toddlers.” I love the idea of simplicity and have been trying to add it to my life for several years now.
In the article, the author talks about how to take time to be a family. Christmas gets so overwhelming at times. Add a toddler to the mix and you can have chaos.
I love how the article ends:
Lower Your Own Stress Level
Toddlers have an innate ability to sense when the people they love are stressed. If you are feeling stressed through the holiday season due to over scheduling your time, your toddler is going to feel stressed as well. Help you toddler to have a peaceful Christmas by taking the time to take care of yourself.
Good advice for the moms out there who need a break from all we are trying to get done.
Nov 26 2007
For my son’s second birthday I struggled with whether or not to make the cake myself. Last year it was an easy decision: You need something special for the first birthday. I need to make the cake, I thought. Months before the event, I took a cake decorating class. Not knowing that I had to bake and frost a cake every week for a month, I endured the class and learned the basics of how to frost a decorative cake.
The night before my son’s first birthday I was up past midnight, with yellow icing up to my elbows. It was worth it. (The wine helped.) The cake turned out so cute and I was very proud.
This year, I wanted to do that same thing. We matured from a duck cake to a car cake. He loves cars so how could I not make a cake in the shape of a car? If you’ve never made a specialty cake before, it takes a lot of work. And I mean a lot of work. And, it’s not that it’s cheaper than a store-bought cake. Even though I had all the supplies and I’d already purchased the cake mold a few months ago, I was still dreading the baking and icing of the cake. Shouldn’t I just call Publix and order the Disney Cars cake?
I was about to make the call, but finally decided that I wasn’t going to let myself fail. I want to make this cake and have him point to it and say his favorite word, “car.” So, I forged ahead; made a plan, baked and frosted that cake. Even as I was making it, I made mental notes to think twice about doing it for birthday number three.
Finally, it is complete. The little blue car cake is sitting on the table in all it’s splendor. It is adorable. The kids love it, the adults are impressed and Mommy feels great for doing something special for her son’s second birthday.
Tips:
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