Random Monday-July 22, 2013

Last week, I got my kids dressed for storyhour.  Then I realized that the two older kids were wearing these matching John Deere outfits I'd made them last summer.

Photo by the very talented Diane H Photography

Then, I realized that the baby didn't have an outfit that matched and Mommy Guilt set in so I decided to just whip up a John Deere bubble romper for her to wear to storyhour that morning.  So, 40 minutes before we had to leave, I was cutting fabric and sewing like a crazy person (which is how I usually sew, but it was even worse this time).  I got it done.  I didn't have a pattern so I winged it which is a terrible idea when you're trying to work as fast as you can as it turned out a whole size too small for her.  But I squeezed her into it and all 3 of the kids looked adorable and matched for storyhour.

I took the two oldest kids on a shopping trip to The Big City last week.  I left the baby at home with my older sister because it was stinkin' hot and there was a heat advisory in effect.  I tried to leave Little Man there too as he's very sensitive to the heat, but the wailing and gnashing of teeth and "But Mommy, I want to be with you! You're my favorite!" changed my mind.  One store into the shopping trip (we had at least 4 more to hit up before we were done) and he was whining that he was done and wanted to go home.  *eye roll*

But even if it was incredibly hot and the kids were whiny, they did say and do some cute-ish/embarrassing things while we were out shopping.

Like on the way to The Big Ciy when Princess was telling me all about something we did when she was 3 that she still remembers.  I asked her how she remembered so much and she said, completely serious, "I have books in my head and that's how I remember."

Or when we were walking through JCPenney's and Little Man pointed at a mannequin wearing a bra and loudly exclaimed, "Mommy, you have one of those!"

Or when Princess wanted to come in the changing room with me when I tried on a shirt.  When I took off my shirt to put the new one on, she held the bag she was carrying in front of her face and said, "Yuck! I don't like your tummy."

Okay, that last one kind of hurt a little...

Star and Little Man have been battling a bad cough for the last week or so.  Star has barely eaten at all since a week ago Sunday because of it.  I decided to take the kids into the doctor today (because doctors love all those walk-in, last minute appointments on a Monday, right?).  Star has pneumonia and Little Man is close behind her.      

And just to prove that I don't live under a rock and in case you do, the royal baby and heir to the British throne was born today and is a boy.  I plan to drink tea and munch on biscuits while changing my baby's nappy tonight in celebration.

        

31 Days-Easier Shopping List

I tend to be a little over the top (read: slightly obsessive) over this, but I can't stand running out of anything in the kitchen.  I always have my basic staples on hand and stock up on them when there's a sale.  Anytime I'm running low on something, I write it on the shopping list.

I used to keep a loose piece of paper stuck to the fridge with a magnet for my on-going shopping list, but the paper kept falling off and getting lost, and the pen kept disappearing.  So I ditched that idea and implemented a new way to keep my shopping list up to date.  I found a magnetic dry erase board with a corkboard that could stick right on my fridge.  Now I always have a writing utensil since the dry erase marker fits in a small plastic holder on the top and it's super easy to add things to the list as I think of them.  Then, when it's time to go shopping, I transfer the list to a piece of paper, or, if the list isn't too long, I take a picture of it with my cell phone.  

I got mine at Target, but they can be found on Amazon as well.  Here's a basic one like I have. 

 I found this one online too and thought it would be perfect for keeping track of everyone's schedules.  It also has space for the shopping list and a corkboard to pin things on the bottom.  I might have to upgrade soon :)

For those who don't like the idea of having to transfer their shopping list to a piece of paper everytime they go shopping, printable shopping lists are also a great idea.  I used to use them until my printer broke and then I switched over to the dry erase board on the fridge.  I haven't gone back yet, but now that I have a printer that works again, I've been thinking about how convenient a printable list is.  I lost the one I originally wrote, but here's one I found on Pinterest that is similar.

Source: simplemom.net via Heather on Pinterest

  

I love that the categories are divided and all you have to do is put a check by the item you need.  When I used this type of shopping list, I would print off several at a time and hang them on my fridge with a magnetic chip clip.

Want to see a complete list of the posts in the 31 Days to Simplify Your Life series?  Click here. 



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31 Days-10 Tips For Shopping With Small Children

We do small shopping trips to our local grocery store for milk and things that we need in between big shopping trips, but once a month, we head up to the "big city" 45 minutes away from our small town to stock up on groceries.  Between groceries, Princess's gluten-free/nut-free/dairy-free/egg-free foods, clothing, and my boutique supplies, we usually end up making 4-6 stops and spending all day shopping.  Not fun, especially when you have small children!  Here are a few tips I've found that make shopping with kids easier.

1. Park next to the cart corral.  I feel uncomfortable leaving my kids in the van while I walk halfway across the parking lot to put the cart away, but bringing them with is a hassle as well.  I always park next to the cart corral and then I can buckle them in, put the cart away, and never be too far from the van.


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryce/237233725/

2. Bring snacks.  I used to pick up snacks while we were out shopping, but that can be more expensive than bringing your own.  I like to use reusable snack bags like the ones shown below for cereal, crackers, or other non-messy snacks.  I also bring bottles with spill-proof lids or sippy cups along for drinks rather than buying them something while we're out.

Reusable snack bags from Etsy

3. Have them help you shop.  I often ask them to look for certain things while we're shopping which makes them feel like they're helping me or we play "I Spy."  I've also seen shopping lists for kids to keep them occupied at the store such as the ones seen below.  You could also easily make your own by putting clip art of food on a word document and printing it. 

Source: activity-mom.com via Jane on Pinterest

Source: she-wears-flowers.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

4. Talk to them.  Describe things you see to them or ask them to do the same.  Ask them questions to get them involved.

5. Never give in!  This means when they whine or ask for things (as they will do!) don't reward that behavior.  EVER.  If you do it one time, they will continue to beg, whine, and throw fits every time you're shopping because they know you will probably give in again.  My mom had a rule that if we asked for something, we definitely wouldn't get it, but if we didn't ask, there was a chance we'd get a treat when we were done shopping!  This is something I do with my kids too now.

6. Make regular trips down the toy aisle starting from the time they're babies.  Seriously.  If you start when they're too young to ask for things, you can train them to NOT ask for things.  When we're walking down the toy aisle, I will stop and point out different toys.  When we're done looking at it, I tell the child to say "bye-bye" to the toy because it has to stay with its "friends" at the store.  They generally will happily comply and learn that just because we see fun toys at the store, that does not mean that we will buy them.  Sometimes Princess will ask for something, and I tell her that if she wants it, she can put it on her Christmas wish list or save her money for it herself.  By the time, she gets home, she's usually forgotten about it completely.

7.  Go over the rules outside the store.  Don't wait until they're acting up to remind them.  I go over the rules before we even get out of the van to go into the store.  This way, they are fresh in the kids' minds, and they're aware of the behavior I expect from them.   

8. Plan a break.  The reason I like to leave first thing in the morning for a big shopping trip is so that lunch time falls somewhere in the middle of the day.  This breaks it up for the kids and allows them to get some energy out.  We either hit up a restaurant with a play place or I take them to the mall which also has a play area.

9. Hit the bathroom before you are stuck in the middle of the store with a cart full of food, and a child doing the potty polka.  The bathrooms are usually inside the door somewhere so take advantage of that and head that direction before you even get a cart.  If your child is afraid of those automatic flush toilets (like mine are) keep a pad of small sticky notes in your purse and put one over the sensor until you're ready to leave the bathroom stall. 

10. Have them hold the cart.  My mom did this when she would do her all-day shopping trips with 5 small children, and now I do it with my kids.  Having to chase kids around the store is a sure-fire way to make the trip a nightmare.  This is also a safety issue!  Put the youngest child in the cart seat as long as they still fit and have the others hold onto the side of the cart.  Make sure they know that there will be consequences if they let go and follow through!  It doesn't take them long to learn.

What are your tips for shopping with kids?

Want to see a complete list of the posts in the 31 Days to Simplify Your Life series?  Click here. 



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