Rihanna Looks Like Ice T

Am I the only person on this planet who thinks that Rihanna could be Ice T's daughter?

Black Friday Etsy Selections... More Coming!

"Meowy Christmas," "Happy Howlidays," and other great printed mug/merch designs. Now on Sale! From Heart and Willow Prints: 15% off - use code BF2016




Cute Cross Stitch Designs from Fuzzy Fox Designs:

Personalized kids' clothing from The Little Queen Bee!  20% off everything in the Etsy store. Include your child's name in the notes area when purchasing, so she can personalize. Perfect holiday gift for kids!

Hand Poured and Homemade... here's a lavender soy candle. Lots more available from North to South Gifts!  35% off sale: use code BLACKFRIDAY

Handmade jewelry in beautiful, simple designs using earth friendly materials. What a sweet holiday gift for your favorite earthy gal. Coupon code SAVE20 gets you 20% off from Earth Jewelry

Will Someone Please Buy These Prairie Dresses for Your Daughters?

Alas, I have no daughters. But if I did, you can be sure they'd be getting prairie girl dresses (a la Laura and Mary Ingalls) this Christmas.

What I wouldn't have given to have my very own Laura Ingalls costume as a child! This could have taken the "pioneer" game that my brother and I played as kids, to new and exciting levels. I could don my cotton dress, bonnet and apron, gather up my Cabbage Patch dolls who would surely be wearing their own prairie girl dresses, and we could do all the things that they did on my favorite show, Little House on the Prairie. Like milk the cows, eat horehound candy, dance a jig while Pa plays the fiddle, call in the cattle at dusk ("Hooey! Hooey! Hyaww!!") and other fun, prairie-girl themed activities.

Back when I was nursing my son, I had to figure out a way to pass the time and so I got back into Little House because one of the cable TV channels was showing reruns every night around dinner time. It was just as good as I remembered it!!

Thankfully, some lady out there (actually, a lot of them if you can believe this) is as excited about prairie girl dresses as I am... and she's made some for your own little prairie girls to dress up in!

Order your own pioneer girl dress, apron and bonnet for Christmas! In girls' size small thru large.

I Hate Paperwork, But These Funny Office Manager Stamps Make it Okay.

This lady seems to be doing a lot better job than I am at
organizing her various papers.

Ah, paperwork. Now this is something that busy work from home moms like us "ain't got time for." Am I right?
Remember the days when it was exciting to go and get the mail? I'm probably dating myself here. But when I was a child, you could count on relatives mailing birthday cards with money in them, and sometimes your pen pal would send you a pencil-scrawled note from make-believe France.

I always wondered what other people do with their paperwork. Did you set up paperless bills? The possibility of some government official asking me to prove my identity by showing a printed copy of my utilities is what prevents me from going totally paperless. That, and also, I am just old school. I am probably the last living human being who still mails out bills with stamps on them.

What do you do with your pile o' papers? For a while, we had this storage thing hanging over the door of our kitchen. I was stuffing mail into it and then ignoring the mail. But then, a few times, I walked by it and almost took my eye out on the point of some envelopes that were sticking out. I started to worry that when people came over, the jutting envelopes and papers would create a hazard for them as well. No one wants to find themselves in small claims court over a paper cut on someone's eyeball.

Hate paperwork? Then you'll love these satisfying, "Paid This Sh*t", "Shred This Sh*t," "File This Sh*t"
Office Manager Rubber Stamps that put the fun back into administrative tasks! Makes a great holiday gift.

Anyway, I think I've made the point here that I really don't enjoy paperwork, and I'm sure you don't, either. That's why I find these funny office manager stamps especially amusing. Because I have actually fantasized about having my own, profanity-addled stamper to express my feelings on the never ending pile of papers that will taunt me for the rest of my days!

Also, I've seriously considered writing "F you" in the memo section of checks I'm writing to various institutions. Does anyone do that? Just leave a nasty message to their insurance company or other? If you do, please speak up, I would love to hear from you on the blog!

xo,
Mom

A Fun Anniversary Gift - His and Hers Mugs

Buy your own set of His and Hers Mugs from J Crafts

For our anniversary, I was trying to think of a fun little gift for my husband. Just a small, token item that might amuse him. Like the time he bought me "Fuck You" socks (at my request – just to be rebel in my own mind!) which I wore secretly under my boots so our then 4-year-old who could read already wouldn't be able to see them, and which I would be inclined to arbitrarily flash at random people such as my own brother, during family gatherings.

Anyway, so the anniversary token gift. I remembered that my crafty Facebook friend makes printed mugs and puts funny sayings on them. So I put in an order for his and hers coffee mugs. Mine says "I like his beard" and his says "I like her butt."

I built it up a little, just prior to the big reveal. Two days before our anniversary, I asked hubs out of the blue, "Do you like my butt?"

He gave me a quick "HUH" expression, then said "Ummm... yeah. Why?"

To which I smiled and said "'Cause I like your beard!" and he responded with a miffed look.

The next day, I asked him again. "Are you sure you like my butt?" "Ummm... YEAH. Why do you keep asking me that?" "Well, because I like your beard!" smiling mischievously.

"What are you up to??" "Nothing! Just a little anniversary fun... you'll see."

Well, our day arrived, and I presented him with the his-and-hers mug set, and he got a kick out of it.

I thought it was also funny that the next morning I came downstairs, to observe that he had taken the time to select the proper mug ("I like her butt") and drink out of it.

Anyway, this little personal gift really set the tone for good humor, and an awesome date night to celebrate our 4 years of marriage! Delicious sushi meal, dessert coffees at a cozy little cafe, and a night of drinking good beer and listening to a great blues band!

Happy Anniversary, my love. I like your butt, too.

Natural, Essential Oil Based Perfumes for People Who Can't Wear Regular Perfume

People who know me are aware of my aversion to strong, artificial smells. I don't really want to be this way; I just am. Usually, once my friends become pregnant, they typically gain sympathy for the nauseous, dizzy, migraine-inducing reaction I get from men's colognes, Febreeze, cigar smoke, new carpets and other interesting, chemical based aromas.

Check out the assortment of yummily scented goodies at Twinkle Apothecary

Because of my smell problem, I can't wear perfumes. But even though they induce a strange sensory reaction for me, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the beautiful aromas of flowers, herbs, spices and such.

Thus, you can imagine my overjoyed reaction at discovering Twinkle Apothecary's homemade, essential oil based natural perfume blends. My friend Amy Jo Garner recommended them, and upon visiting their Facebook page I immediately placed my order for what I felt was a very reasonably priced roll-on vial of what they have aptly named "Luscious."

Well, let me tell you, this non-chemical wearer was overjoyed at the deliciousness of this perfectly blended scent. Top notes of jasmine and ginger with enduring vanilla for depth and complexity, and vetiver as the base, make this a subtle, warm, and intoxicating scent to wear for an evening out, or really, any time at all.

I have rubbed it on my pulse points for the second time today, and am delightedly sniffing myself up as I type this. Because there are no chemicals to add that cling that most perfumes have, you should carry some around with you for reapplication as necessary. In addition to perfumes, Twinkle Apothecary offers things like body butter, shampoo, deodorant, bath oils and more.

It's also worth mentioning that their products are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.

Mostly, what I love about this and other essential oil blends is that they tend to respect the boundaries of personal space. Meaning, if I swish by you in a crowded lobby, you might get the slightest whiff of jasmine and vanilla that dissipates quickly on the air. But my personal scent is not going to hover and cling and impart its odor in an obtrusive manner, should someone else fail to appreciate these scents as I do.

Basically, as a chemical-smell avoider who loves essential oils and aromatherapy, my review of Twinkle Apothecary is that they're awesome. If you know of a crunchy, earthy gal like me, their naturally scented products would make a welcome stocking stuffer. I plan to order more from them for certain!

Handmade, Crocheted Mermaid Tail Blanket for Kids - Perfect Christmas Gift!

Anyone who knits or crochets knows that the mermaid tail blanket is a really hot and sought-after gift item right now! I'm lucky enough to know a very talented gal who crochets them and sells on Etsy. And I truly think there's nothing more delightful than a Christmas gift that was lovingly crafted by hand.

Makes a perfect Christmas gift

Mermaid tail blanket for your little mermaid!

Even if you're not crafty yourself, you can still give your favorite little mermaid an unforgettable handmade holiday gift this year. But you'd better jump on it while the offer's still available. Handmade gifts take much longer to plan and make than something generic that you'd run out to Walmart for.

Why not help the small business owner earn her keep and feed her family by buying this awesome Crocheted Mermaid Tail blanket? It's absolutely beautiful and 100% homemade from the heart.

DIY mamas, let's support each other in these troubled times! Order your Crocheted Mermaid Tail Blanket on Etsy today.

America Needs Nurturing

It is my observation at this time, when slightly less than half of the voters in our country have expressed that their hopes have been crushed with the election of Donald Trump as our next president, that many of these people could use a message of hope, a mental and emotional perspective shift, and a strong but gentle and compassionate leader to follow.

What does this mean to you?

It means that if you're a strong person, now is the time to build something great. Why? Because very few will be standing in your way.

It means that if you're already in a position of leadership, now is the time to step up and offer a glimmer of hope, a cause, an aspiration, something for these people to cling to and feel as though they can make a difference.

It means that if you're naturally a nurturer, a space has opened up for you to step into and begin creating a safe haven for those who need it.

It means that if you've been wanting to build a following, now is your chance. Start preaching - eyes and ears and hearts are open.

Here's an example of the kind of nurturing that many, many people in this country are in dire need of. If you offer something like this, don't become distracted by chatter. It's time to focus and strengthen your influence, a time to embody something positive that people will naturally flock to in their need to feel secure.

It starts with a mindshift. Here's Coach Susan Liddy from Los Gatos, CA, with an exercise to help you change your emotional state.

Namaste.

Carrot Juice for Hormone Balance

I will testify to this day that I got pregnant for the first time at age 38, because I was drinking carrot juice daily.

There is no scientific proof of this, but I just know.

Before carrot juice = irregular periods, hormone fluctuations due to age.

After carrot juice:

Weight loss
Brighter complexion
Weird bumps on inner arms went away
Brighter eyes
Fewer stomach troubles
Regular periods – like clockwork, for the first time in my life
Preganancy

I also drank carrot juice throughout my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding my son.

My son's reading ability is off the charts advanced. I have no way of knowing to what extent the carrot juice has contributed to his overall intelligence. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was a factor.


I went off carrot juice for a while, just too busy to bother. Started drinking it again last spring, same effects!

If you're looking for something to level you out hormonally, aid digestion, brighten your eyes and skin, and just contribute to overall health, I'd give it a try!

You don't need a full, 8 oz. glass of carrot juice. Actually I think that's too much sugar. About 4 ounces, with a squeeze of lemon, should do the trick.

Carrots provide beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in the body.

I've also read that you're more likely to absorb the vitamin A from carrot juice and carrots, if you pair it with a healthy fat, like coconut oil.

So, why not enjoy your morning cup of carrot juice with some granola that contains oats and coconut oil, as well as some healthy nuts and seeds (also good for the hormones).


If you need a recommendation for a good juicer, try Breville.

Bottoms up, health nuts!

xo,
Mom

Hand-Crocheted Halter Crop Top for Sale on Etsy

Any of you pretty ladies out there in the market for a handmade, crocheted halter crop top? There's a crafty gal on my list who makes them and sells on Etsy. Her Etsy handle is MisscrochetBoutique and she also crochets sweet little baby hats and things, too.

Here's a photo of the top... isn't it so adorable?

Order this cute crocheted halter top from MisscrochetBoutique

If I had abs (also, basically if I was an entirely different person), I would wear this with cut-off shorts and cowboy boots, and head off to a Citizens Band radio outdoor summer concert or someplace equally cool.

But although I can't get away with wearing skimpy handmade hippie gear, maybe you can!

Same top, in black, for a more eveningwear/clubbing goth kinda look.

To order, click here and you'll be transported to my friend's Etsy shop where you can purchase online and she will whip one up and ship it to you.

Say "Goodnight" and Mean It... with Susan Liddy's Yoga Nidra Meditation for Deep, Restful Sleep

As I mentioned in an earlier post, sleep and I have a love-hate relationship. Are you a busy mom in your 40s, working from home, trying to balance it all and then finding that you can't seem to turn off your brain and put your body into a restful state when you need it most?

Susan Liddy is a wonderful life and business coach from Los Gatos, CA who offers sleep support solutions with her Yoga Nidra series on Youtube.

The next time I have trouble falling or staying asleep, I'm going to come downstairs and let Susan's Yoga Nidra meditation sink in deep.

Perhaps you'd like to join me in spirit! Here's Coach Susan Liddy; thank you for sharing your soothing audio with us!

Too Many Herbal Teas? Reign In The Chaos With Tea Organization Tips

Tea Time means relaxation time... but not when an avalanche of tea boxes comes flying out of your cabinet. Do you love tea? It makes for more enjoyable sipping when you can reach for your tea collection and find what you need right away. Here's what I did to calm the chaos that is my stash of herbal teas! I got the idea from my mother-in-law, who is extremely organized. You can do it, too.

Supplies Needed:

Pair of scissors
Lots of plastic sandwich baggies
Large storage can (see below)

1. Get a huge can to store all the teas in. You can often buy these filled with popcorn. (Eat the popcorn first, obviously. Makes a great school snack, too!) They usually have a large selection of these cans at Walmart during the Christmas season. I chose one with a wintry outdoor scene, so that I could have it on display all year round.
2. Clear off a table, such as the one in your dining room. Tea sorting can be messy business, especially if you have open, loose bags that may have sprung a leak.
3. Bring out those boxes. The designer tea boxes that they sell, with loose, unmarked tea bags in them, are pretty cute. But they take up too much space. Take all of your boxes of herbal and regular tea, and put them on the table.
4. Open each box, one at a time, to see what's inside. If the tea bags come in little labeled wrappers, that's ideal. Sort all of the labeled, wrapped tea bags into little piles, according to the brand/type of tea. Place in plastic Ziploc baggies and add to your giant storage can.
5. Deal with the unlabeled, unwrapped teas. These also come in pretty boxes – Celestial Seasonings packs their teas in this manner. This is okay if you have just one or two boxes of herbal tea. But if you have a large collection, things can get out of hand. If a tea bag escapes from its box, you may not be able to tell what kind of tea it is. So, pick up one of the Celestial Seasonings boxes of tea. Take the little wax-paper pouch that the tea bags are packed in, which is glued to the bottom of the tea box. Rip it out of the box and put it aside.
6. Cut out the labels to save. Pick up the tea box, grab your trusty scissors, and cut off the front of the box so you have a saved, cardboard label telling you what brand and flavor of tea it is.
7. Label your unmarked teas. Place the label that you just cut out back inside the wax-paper pouch of tea bags. Now you know what kind of tea is inside the pouch, but you've saved room by eliminating the box. Place the pouch, with the label peeking out of the top, inside of your can of teas.
8. Repeat #7 this all of your boxed, loose tea bags.
9. Put the lid back on the huge can. No, wait! We have to test this out now. Open the can back up, and rummage through your tea collection until you find one you might enjoy at this moment.
10. Clean up. While your tea kettle is boiling up the water, throw away all of the old-cut up boxes, and wipe down the table.
11. Celebrate. Sit down, relax, and have yourself a hot cup of tea to celebrate this organizational victory!

Then, call your friends to come over for tea this week. :)

Do you love tea? What's your favorite flavor?

xo, Mom

How to Make Tom Yum Soup at Home

Ever wish you could replicate the tongue-tingling, belly-warming, soul-filling goodness of Tom Yum? Here's the secret to making delicious Thai soup that's as good as your favorite restaurant's. You can skip the kaffir lime, regular lime juice will do in a pinch. This recipe takes less than an hour to go from pot to table.

Note:  You'll probably be making a trip to the grocery store, as people who are inexperienced with Asian cooking do not typically keep these ingredients on hand. If you do have them already, two thumbs up! You probably already have your own recipe for Tom Yum.

I took the shells off before serving, but they do look nicer left on!

Ingredients:

• Coconut oil
• Chicken broth or water
• Half a bag of frozen shrimp (I get wild-caught, as nature's nutrition is still in tact)
• Onion – small, or half a large, sliced into large chunks
• 4 or 5 scallions
• 3-6 cloves garlic
• Knob of fresh ginger
• Half a package of fresh mushrooms
• About half a cup fresh chopped tomatoes, skin off
• Your choice of favorite fresh veg such as baby bok choi, napa cabbage, peppers, green beans, washed and chopped
• Fresh cilantro, cleaned and chopped, about half a cup or so
• Juice and zest of 1 or 2 limes
• Thai red curry paste (I buy Taste of Thai, as it has no MSG added) - start with a tablespoonful and keep adding to your taste.
• Anchovy paste
• Your choice of hot peppery goodness: sriracha sauce, cayenne, fresh or dried chilis
• Rice noodles

Start by thawing the shrimp. I like to add mine to a bowl of tepid water with a splash of apple cider vinegar mixed in.

While the shrimp is coming to life, sautee the garlic, ginger, red curry paste and anchovy paste with coconut oil in the bottom of a large soup pot. Stir in the lime zest and onion. Next add the mushrooms, then the green veg, continuing to sautee until everything begins to wilt. Add enough chicken broth AND/or water to fill the pot to ¾ of the way up. Add the fresh tomatoes and half the cilantro. Salt and pepper to taste.

Drain and rinse the shrimp, then bring the soup up to a boil with the shrimp in it. I leave the shells on while cooking, then remove later. When the shrimp turn pink, remove them using a pair of tongs, and let cool in a separate bowl. Take shells off shrimp but don't throw away! Instead fill a small pot with shrimp shells and a little water, then simmer for about 10 minutes. This is your fish stock. Pour through a strainer and back into your pot of soup. Add the noodles (you don't have to pre-cook them) into the soup and simmer until they're al-dente.

Add the cooked shrimp back in when you're ready to serve – otherwise, they'll overcook.

If you're making this for adults only and you know they like it hot hot hot, then go nuts with the spicy peppers. You can add sriracha sauce, cayenne, and fresh chilis to your heart's desire. But if you're feeding kids, then leave these mouth burners on the side for whomever wants them. You could also pour half the soup into a different, smaller pot, and add the hot peppers to one. But that's too many pots to clean, I think!

I would add the chopped tomatoes at the end because otherwise, they'll melt away into the soup and you want this to be fresh and bright. At the very end, squeeze in the juice of one or two fresh limes, and add your scallions along with more fresh cilantro.

Note: if you happen to have any leftover chicken or pork in the fridge from the night before, throw that in. The secret to great cooking is making use of those leftovers!

Serve hot, and enjoy! I made this last night to help my family get over their colds. It was very enthusiastically received.

What's your favorite one-pot meal to make?

xo,
Mom

Frank Sinatra - It was a Very Good Year

When I was seventeen, it was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We'd hide from the lights
On the village green
When I was seventeen
When I was twenty-one, it was a very good year
It was a very good year for city girls
Who lived up the stairs
With all that perfumed hair
And it came undone
When I was twenty-one
When I was thirty-five, it was a very good year
It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
Of independent means
We'd ride in limousines
Their chauffeurs would drive
When I was thirty-five
But now the days are short, I'm in the autumn of my years
And I think of my life as vintage wine
From fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs
It poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year

Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

I just Googled "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells," and I came upon this uber-nerdy, and when I say uber-nerdy I actually mean awesome, person who chronicled the history of this hilarious, Christmas-song parody that has been passed down through generations from US coast to coast, and just won't die.

My son sings Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. Why? Because I taught it to him. Nothing like a rollicking round of that famous chorus to break up the monotony of the day.

Let's all sing it now.

Jingle bells, Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
Batmobile lost a wheel
And the Joker got away
Hey!

I've been pondering how it can be that people keep this amusing, superhero-offending little ditty alive, year after year, generation after generation.

I think that Jingle Bells, Batman Smells satisfies some sort of inner need to mercilessly mock the world's revered role models while simultaneously bastardizing an iconic Christmas song. Mockery and bastardization rank as two of some of the most satisfying pastimes. Also, the Joker is the clear winner in all this, which is somehow gratifying.

Nothing odd about these two.

Batman and his faithful sidekick, Robin, are two grown men in tights who sport colorful masks and capes, while running around claiming to fight crime. I would also like to point out that they wear their underwear on the outside of their clothes.

My son dresses like this sometimes, but he is six.

Breaking this down further... let us examine the actual lyrics of said schoolyard rhyme. A revered American hero, Batman, discovers that he has an odor problem. Then his faithful sidekick, Robin, flatulates. Or, rather, does he ovulate? I'm not sure if "laid an egg" is meant to be taken literally but it's certainly fun to ponder.

Next, our two heroes get into a car accident, and their arch enemy, the Joker, without whom I'd like to point out there would be no purpose at all to their crime fighting agenda, yet again slips away into the night to continue wreaking havoc on the world.

(I don't know why it has to be night. Isn't it always night-time in the world of Batman and Robin?)

I think, also, that Jingle Bells, Batman Smells lives on because in our homogenized modern society where no matter what you say, you're bound to offend somebody, this is an opportunity to ridicule two bizarrely dressed boy-men without anyone having ANY problem with it!!

Why? Because they don't even exist!

Jingle bells, Batman smells... it just feels to good to sing it.

Did you sing Jingle Bells, Batman Smells in the schoolyard growing up? Do you have an "alternate version"? Do your kids sing it now?

Post in the comments, or share on Facebook.


xo,
Mom

Bring Back Romper Room!

Tonight my kindergartner and I took a trip down memory lane (my memories, not his of course!) and watched a full episode of Romper Room from 1984. Actually, I was too old in 1984 to watch this show anymore, but I couldn't find any full episodes from 1978 or 1979.

My son was as delighted with Romper Room as I was at his age, listening intently to Ms. Mary Ann teach, watching the little storytime vignettes, doing all the dances and exercises along with the kids, and generally enjoying all the age-appropriate material. And, like me when I was six, he too was completely mesmerized by the Magic Mirror, awaiting the mention of his name, along with the names of all his special people, with eager anticipation.

As I watched, I went back in time to sing along with my kindergarten self at all the songs I still remember by heart, such as "Bend and stretch, reach for the stars... here comes Jupiter, there goes Mars!" and "Romper bomper, stomper, boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me, do...." And I was surprised
to reacquaint with a regular character on the show that I had NOT  thought about again since childhood... Doo-Bee, the woman-in-black-tights wearing a paper mache bumblebee mask/head and miming along/doing movements to songs with the kids on the show. Remember Doo-Bee, the happy dancing bumblebee?

This show struck me as being extra awesome because of all the valuable content. They covered every topic of interest, with suggestions for what to do on a day when you're bored, good nutrition, exercise, how to patch it up after an argument with a friend, and more. And the kids on the show were actually local guests from schools around NJ, were they not? I'm not sure where Romper Room was filmed, but I'm assuming it was either NY or NJ because I did catch a mention of the Turtle Back Zoo.

Anyway, if you want a blast from your childhood past that puts a smile on your face and reminds you of simpler times, then check out the above episodes of Romper Room! Even cooler if you can do as I did, and watch with your kindergartner.

"Wrap Rage" - It's a Thing. For People Confounded by Modern Packaging

What's with packaging these days? Am I the only one who veers dangerously close to committing violence when confronted with anything that is wrapped, boxed, zip-tied and otherwise bound up in packaging? Evidently not! Wikipedia refers to this condition as "wrap rage" or "package rage". Bah, ha, ha! I relate to this in a big way, how about you?

pic from simplyfantasticbooks.wordpress.com

I don't remember packaging being an issue in "the good old days." I remember bags of potato chips that one could easily open with one's bare hands, without requiring the use of complex tools or the utterance of profanity.

I remember Christmas toys that I was able to gleefully tear out of the packaging on my own, as child. Now, not only are the kids unable to remove their own gifts from the boxes they arrive in, but parents can't do it either!

I'm not sure what happened with the packaging industry, but I feel like a joke is being played and it's on us. A mother shouldn't have to wrestle with a simple bag of snacks just to offer her child a little sustenance in the car. A person should not have to stand there at the kitchen counter, slowly starving to death while unsuccessfully trying to peel the protective inner layer of plastic wrap off their container of hummus. An Amazon box should not have to end up utterly mangled in order for its recipient to access the mail-ordered goodies inside.

In order to combat the unnecessary overzealous packaging of modern goods, I've actually had to employ a few preemptive strategies in my life.

Purchase multi-packs of kitchen shears and stash them all over the house. Two in the kitchen, on in the coffee table in the livingroom, one upstairs in the hall closet, one in the basement by the washer. This way, no matter what room you're in, you'll always have the option to wield your trusty instrument and deftly slice open whatever package is currently causing a problem for you. Except of course, for the wrapping that the shears themselves arrive in. You'll have to grapple with that for a while before you can actually utilize these handy helpers.

Open up packages well in advance of needing the items inside. This works especially well for when you're having guests over to your house. I for one have no patience for tricky packages of crackers that have been sealed with super-grip adhesive that you end up yanking every which way and breaking all the crackers inside while trying to accomplish the simple task of arranging a plate of party snacks.

Buy your husband one of those man tools. I forget what it's called, but he can put it on his belt or keep it in his pocket. It has basic handy things like a small knife, can opener, nail file and stuff like that. Whenever my husband is around and happens to see me fumbling around with a wrapped box or other packaged item, he comes through with his handy man tool and all is well in a matter of seconds.

Keep matches and lighters at the ready. This works well if you must "burn your way" through a sealed package as a last resort. Actually, I'm just kidding – I've never had to set anything on fire while attempting to procure the contents inside. But one never knows what may become of the packages of the future, so probably best to have that blowtorch waiting in the wings.

Are you confounded by modern packaged goods? What types of items do you have trouble opening, and what have you done about it?

Whatever it is I think I see becomes a Tootsie Roll to me

So, I pretty much always have jingles from vintage TV commercials constantly running through my head. And why not? Songs on TV actually sounded good back then! Can we bring back classic jingles... please? For the love of my 40-something ears.

It's Knitting Season!

I took up knitting many years ago. My progress has come along in fits and starts, but I do keep getting better at it. Even though my mom is a champion knitter and seamstress, I never felt compelled to pick up the hobby until I quit my "young people vices." So basically, when I gave up going to the bar on weekends is when knitting started to look like something I might want to do!

These days, I knit for fun and relaxation at night while watching Netflix comedy specials. Comedy is perfect to knit to because you don't have to keep your eye on the action the whole time. Also, it's funny.

The above photo is of a cabling project I'm working on. I got the pattern from a book called 99 Knit Stitches and it's become my knitter's bedside bible.


I still haven't knitted a sweater, but maybe now that I know how to cable that can be something to strive for in the future! It's hat and scarf season, and we have plenty of kids in our family to knit for. So maybe I'll just put this endless cabling mission down for a while so I can knit fun stuff for fam.

One thing I love about knitting is the kind of people I meet when I take my projects out and about. Nice ladies (and cool old men) often stop to ask about what I'm making, admire my handiwork, and share their mutual love of knitting or appreciation of handmade knitted goods.

To learn knitting on my own, I began viewing videos I came across online. The best ones I've found are from a pro knitter by the name of Amy Findlay, who runs the awesome site, KnittingHelp.com. Check out these beginner knitting videos of hers on Youtube.



Casting on is the first knitting trick you should learn. It basically means "loading" your knitting needle to begin a new project. The above video share the continental method of casting on.

Here's an "intro to knitting" video from Amy!

To learn more basics, go to Knittinghelp.com.


If you've ever wanted to become a knitter, these days you can do it without having to take formal lessons or have your female relatives hovering over your shoulder. Plenty of avid knitters are posting helpful tips on Youtube and other knitting sites!

Do you knit? What are you knitting this fall? 

xo,
Mom

Where to Get Poofy Organics in Hunterdon, NJ

Have you heard of Poofy Organics? I have to say, I really like their products. I buy the natural deodorant, nail polish, and natural perfume. If you want to get ahold of some Poofy but aren't sure where to find it, let me send you in the direction of a gal I know - Gwen Stanton. She manages a Poofy group on Facebook, and I buy through her so she gets a little commish which is always helpful for busy moms like us, trying to help support our families. I order mine by mail but I think you can also pick up.

Explore natural and organic products from Poofy Organics

Anyway, here are some photos that contain Gwen's Poofy link. If you click through and order something, you'll support her business! And of course, you'll have a great Poofy supplier in your area.

My personal Poofy recommendations:

Almond cookie scented, whipped body butter. Mmm, how decadent does that sound? Why not treat yourself, or get a head start on Christmas shopping, and buy one for a good friend?

Poofy Organics Almond Cookie Body Butter

 

Poofy's baking soda based, Max Deo has become my deodorant go-to after years of using regular antiperspirant, which stopped working for me anyway. I stash one of a few different scents in various places like my purse, makeup bag, upstairs in the bathroom, and at my computer desk.

Max Deo Natural Deodorant

I am one of those scentless people, or at least I was until I discovered Poofy Organics and essential oils. Regular perfumes give me a migraine, so I was super excited to find natural and organic products that allowed me to have a "signature scent" again! Ruggedly Natural Wood Citrus is my fave.

Ruggedly Natural Wood Citrus Cologne

Can you tell I'm on an Almond kick today? Poofy's nail polishes have really scored big in my estimation because as I mentioned, strong odors like perfume make me feel crappy. Poofy polish does have a slight odor, but it goes away really quickly and does not linger in your house!

Click to see a plethora of Poofy polishes

This is just a very small sampling of the awesome organic products you can find from Poofy Organics. Visit them at https://gwenstanton.poofyorganics.com/ to learn more, and shop for the scents and products that you like best!

You'll Never Guess What Natural Cleaning Product Works Best to De-Grunge Linoleum Floors!

Earth-shattering news from the 40s mom world... up at 5 a.m. for some kitchen floor detail. Mine always looks like a herd of filthy animals just trooped through here, basically because that's what happened. Also, because I don't wash it. Just kiddin'.

No, for real, if you struggling with keeping linoleum clean in a high-traffic area of the house, AND you also prefer to use non-chemical household cleaning products, then you'll appreciate what I'm about to share here.

The surprise product is... hold onto your hats, people... Bon Ami!



Does anyone even know about Bon Ami? It's this nifty little abrasive cleaner that shares space in the aisle with Comet and Ajax. The can is  yellow, there's a little chick on it. It's good for a whole host of purposes, which we can talk about later as I don't want to spoil the fun by spilling all in this one post.

Bon Ami is pretty cool because it contains no chlorine bleach and yet it still stands up against old floor crud, berry and tea stains on your counter tops, and other things that we Keepers of the Family Domain must deal with on a routine basis.

Here's a can of Bon Ami, in all its glory, in case you have no idea what I'm talking about. The ingredients are limestone, feldspar, soda ash, baking soda, and surfectant. I'm not really sure what any of these things are, but they sound good so there you go.

So, anyway, let me tell you what to do with the Bon Ami when your linoleum needs a good scrubbing.

Fill a bucket with hot water and your favorite other, natural cleaner. My preferred kitchen floor mix contains the following:

• Splash of Dr. Bronner's (I prefer the lavender scent)
• About 15 drops each of lemon oil and peppermint oil
• About 6 drops of tea tree oil

The essential oils impart a delightful, clean scent while delivering disinfectant capabilities. I'm not sure if Bon Ami disinfects, but at least this way you've covered all your bases, plus you can enjoy that fresh and delightful aroma which I honestly find so inspiring.

Anyway, so grab a clean cloth and get on your hands and knees for some good old-fashioned floor scrubbing. Don't you know, scrubbing is good for the soul? Plus, you can sneak in some yoga while you're down there. Cat, cow, scrub, breathe, rinse. Also, be sure to wear something slutty in case your husband comes by and finds himself aroused by this scenario. Not that this has ever happened to me, but hey. A girl can dream. Uh, what?


So, back to the floor. Here's what you do. Dip your cloth in the bucket and then wring out. Spinkle just a bit of the Bon Ami on the area of the floor that you want to clean the muck from, and scrub it in with your handy cleaning cloth. Next, dip your cloth into the bucket again, wring out, and wipe clean the spot that you just Bon-Ami'ed.

Repeat until the entire floor has resumed its former glory. And, you're not done. Your floor will now feel gritty. Have no fear. You can simply use a hot-water saturated mop to go over it again several times until the abrasive grit is removed. Also, pay attention to the bottoms of your feet. They will probably have Bon Ami on them. Wash your feet before resuming normal daily activities.

xo,
Mom

How to Make a Haunted House Out of a Happy Meal Box

We made our quarterly trip to McDonald's earlier in the month. My son found his Happy Meal box to be fascinating. (Great prize, by the way – it was a Batman "mask" that doubled as glasses.) He told me it looked like a house, and wanted to play with his action figures in it when we got home.

That got me to thinking. Since it's Halloween season, why not grab some acrylic paints and turn this into a Halloween project?

Step 1. Remove any remaining hamburger grease from Happy Meal Box as best as possible. I shook some baking soda into mine, then emptied. It wasn't very messy anyway.

Step 2. Tuck the handles in and close up the roof with tape.

Step 3. Use a pencil to trace arched windows and a door into the sides of your Happy Meal box.

Step 4. Cut the bottom out of your Happy Meal box using age-appropriate scissors.

Step 5. Carefully use the scissors to cut the windows and doors out of your Happy Meal box.

Step 6. Squirt some black acrylic paint onto a paper plate. Fill a cup with water in case you need to wet your brush. Have paper towels on hand for blotting excess water out of the brush. Use a paint sponge or thicker brush to paint your haunted house black, including the roof.

Step 7. Squirt some black and some white paint onto the paper plate. Mix together to make gray. Use a smaller paintbrush or a Q-tip to paint little gray stones onto the roof of your haunted house.

Step 8: Set the haunted house on top of newspaper or paper towels and let dry.

Take it Up a Notch!

To make this Halloween project even cooler, get a large shoebox, stand it sideways horizontally and paint a spooky scene on it. Dangle plastic bats from the ceiling of the box. We haven't gotten around to this phase of the project, but if we do, we'll be sure to post and share!

Are you doing any fun Halloween crafts at home with the kids? Share your link here!

Whatever Happened to Awesome Homemade Cupcakes for School Birthday Parties?

Remember elementary school birthday parties of the 70s and 80s? They were one of the main highlights of being a kid. If someone had a birthday coming up, everyone in the class could look forward to the arrival of a mysterious, foil-covered box from JC Penney or Macy's which held delicious chocolate or vanilla cupcakes, carefully wrapped in paper and baked with love by Mom. And if you were a really cool kid with an extra awesome mom, you might show up at school with cupcakes that had been somehow magically inserted into ice-cream wafer cones and covered with sprinkles. The ultimate!

Remember eating one of these at your desk? Cupcakes that resemble ice cream cones are still alive and well. It's just that you can't send them into school with your kid for her birthday anymore! Pic from allrecipes.com

Well, these days things are not so simple, and the fun of school birthday parties has been stifled a bit by controlling powers that be. Yes, many kids have life-threatening tree nut allergies, and that is a legitimate concern. But today's elementary schools have some rather rigid rules in place, and come with quite the detailed protocol to follow for sending treats in with your kid.

The first rule set forth by my child's school is that if you wish to send food into school for any reason, it must be submitted in writing at least 2 weeks in advance.

The second is that any snack you send in for the class to enjoy must be already on their "pre-approved" list. So, too bad for you, working parents. No more sailing through the DD drive-thru to grab 24 munchkins on the morning of your kid's special day. No, this must be pre-planned, pre-approved, and pre-selected from a limited list of nutritionally-approved items.

Additionally, here are the nutritional guidelines provided:

• No more than eight grams of total fat per serving
• No more than two grams of saturated fat per serving
• Sugar cannot be the first ingredient
• Beverages can only be low-fat milk, water, or 100%
• Fruit/vegetable juice

According to the notice I received, "All food items must be store purchased and pre-packaged. Foods of “minimal nutritional value” will not be allowed in school. This includes soda, water ices, Jell-O, candy-coated popcorn, cotton candy, chewing gum, and candy. Foods containing nuts or manufactured in a facility that uses nuts are not allowed because of life-threatening allergies."

Are you feeling the birthday love? The unbridled anticipation, the excitement, the joyous spontenaeity?

Not to mention, what constitutes nutritional value is awfully subjective, don't you think? Who is to say that homemade cupcakes made with local farm eggs and grass-fed butter would be nutritionally inferior to the packaged foods that made their list?

In case you were wondering what sorts of approved foods have made the public school birthday treat list, here it is. Looks like Doritos are approved. I guess MSG made the cut? Oh boy, I'm sure the kids at school will be so delighted if I decide to send in Mott's apple sauce.

Luckily for those parents who don't feel like combing the aisles of Shoprite on the night before their child's big day in search of those specific, pre-approved items, the school has a convenient option to order ice cream treats that can be purchased from the cafeteria. One is lowfat ice cream sandwiches, and the other is "birthday-cake flavored" frozen yogurt.

(And why would something that is "birthday cake flavored" be considered healthier again?)

All of this leads us to low fat ice cream treats from the cafeteria as the obvious choice, would it not? 

I mean, what do you want, kids, lowfat graham sticks, boxes of raisins... or ice cream?

 Life in the modern world is very, very strange to me.

xo,
Mom

Is It Me, or Is It Suddenly Lip Balm Season Again?

It's October 11 and fall is finally here, or at least it seemed that way this morning with our teeth chattering at the bus stop!

Today was the official day I lugged the last window air conditioner out and hauled it back up to the attic. It was also the day I officially broke out my lip balm and resumed carrying it around with me after not really being too concerned about lip moisture for most of the summer.

With a nip in the air and some good hair days ahead of us, I think it's time to stock up on lip balm again, don't you? And I know just the girl who can supply you with some delicious, natural moisturizer for that purty pucker of yours.

Buy some yummy, homemade, all-natural lip balm from KissieMamaLLC!

My pal Tracy of Kissiemama LLC makes homemade lip balms from a variety of all-natural, lip-smacking ingredients. I've sampled her chocolate mint, orange clove, and birthday cake flavors, and they're all pretty much "the balm!"

The only issue I have with her balms is that they're so delicious I immediately lick them off my lips. :D

In addition to lip balms, Tracy also has come up with some delightful, all-natural recipes like her ultra-moisturizing face and body lotion.

Tracy's all-natural face and body lotion is available for purchase on Etsy.com

Go shopping for cold-weather skincare from a quality, homemade source!

40-Something Beauty Secrets: Eating Whole Cranberries

I'm a busy mom in my forties. Some days I look okay, but other times I think I appear rather haggard. RBF (resting bitch face) is something I'm unfortunately well familiar with.

("No, I'm not in a bad mood! I'm just over 40!") 

When you're over 40, people will ask you if you're upset, when actually you're just trying to think. If this doesn't happen to you, then congratulations. It means you are more attractive than me!

I guess it's luck of the draw at my age. There are those times when the hormones may not be kicking on, or you had a late night, or the barometric pressure is off, or the sun ducked behind a cloud or something.

Every once in a while, someone will tell me I look good. When that happens, I find it a bit startling, and tend to glance around uncertainly, thinking they must be talking to someone else.

HA! No, really, a woman's looks do become a bit more of a concern at this age when the crow's feet become crow legs and the beer belly is beginning to rival your husband's.


Anyway, I recently got a compliment from my Dad who told me he thought that I had lost weight and looked really pretty the last time he saw me. Sadly, I was trying to figure out why that could be. Why would I have looked good? Was it something I ate? Didn't eat? Was it wine? Maybe I should drink more wine! 

I figured out it must be cranberries. I keep frozen, whole cranberries in my freezer and I swear to God they take about ten years off my face when I remember to eat them. I'm pretty sure the cranberries help to clear me of any extra bloat I may be carrying, which, at my age can be a very helpful thing, you know, eye bags and such.

So, to all forty-something ladies wanting to look your best, and by look your best I mean not look like you stayed up all night partying when in reality you slept a full 8 hours... pop some whole cranberries. They're extremely tart, but you're tough, you can handle it can't you? Any woman who in her youth used to down tequila shots at 3 am can, in her mature years, power through six frozen cranberries in the afternoon.

One day I'm going to do a cranberry experiment where I take a photo of my face pre-cranberries and post cranberries, so you can see the difference. Well, actually no, I am probably not going to do that ever. But maybe you should! Take the Cranberry Challenge. Cranberry before and after selfies for everyone!

PS: Dried, sugared cranberries do not count. If you really, really hate the taste of unsweetened cranberries, try cranberry tea instead.

Studies Show: Dogs Love Singing to Pink Floyd

I noticed that my chihuahua mix loves to sing along to Pink Floyd. His favorite song is, what else - "Dogs". No, just kidding, it's "Shine on You Crazy Diamond."

Here's my dog, howling along to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" in the car. Please note: I started recording while in park, and I was not looking while filming the dog (as you can tell by the awful video that is not even on the dog). It was a slow, short drive through a quiet neighborhood.


 (Please ignore my maniacal laughter during the making of this video.)

After Youtubing this phenomenon, I discovered other dogs who also feel compelled to sing Pink Floyd songs.



Here's another Dog of YouTube, singing along to Floyd. "Wish You Were Here" seems to be a popular choice for these musical mutts.




This chihuahua really seems moved by the music. Look at those ears!...



Pink Floyd's Animals album does it for this frisky fella...

 

Does your dog sing? What's his or her favorite band?

Bring Back Those '80s Retro Ribbon Barrettes!

When I was a girl, I wore my hair long, actually very long. My claim to fame was my hair that reached my waist at one point, and for having a swinging ponytail that swished back and forth as I walked (bounced?) to school. People probably thought I was weird, but what are you going to do? I still am weird! HAHA!
 
Anyway, I wore barrettes in my long hair, and at times I still wish I could wear barrettes because I really like them. Remember barrettes?! The best ones were fashioned with braided ribbons that dangled a bit and had a bead tied at the end. You could go downtown to the craft store (I forget where, I just remember that there was this magical craft store that my mom would take me to sometimes), and we'd get ribbons and make barrettes. 

OOH. The Ultimate Ribbon Barrettes Party Pack, from a lady on Etsy!

All my friends who got Cabbage Patch Dolls for Christmas and tied friendship pins on their sneakers wore ribbon barrettes. We had doll houses (mine was the Smaller Homes and Gardens model, one time I found my pet hamster loose and roaming around in my doll house, what a kick!) and we read Beverly Cleary books. Those were the kinds of barrette-wearing girls that we were.

Glorious ribbon barrettes! The same lady is selling them in a six pack of assorted colors

Anyway, so even though I don't have daughters, I do have a pretty little niece now (Yay!!) which I think is rather neat. She's too young for barrettes now, but just you wait.

So what do you say, let's bring back those ribbon barrettes! You can get some ribbons and Goody barrettes (I know they still have them at the pharmacy or grocer store, don't they? Those barrettes will be on the shelf forever!). Or, you can head on over to Etsy where cool crafters have already made them for you, and have even packaged them up into convenient party packs!

Ribbon barrettes for all seasons and occasions, oh, sweet girlhood bliss.