Posted on July 19, 2008
As organized as I like to think I am, I have a couple of soft spots: books and toys. Chloe is starting to outgrow her play room again, and it is time to do the purge.
A majority of the toys will be set aside and stored up in the attic for baby #2 (with the assumption there will be a baby #2.) Some toys we will just get rid of. Either they are missing too many parts to really make them useful to anyone, or they’re broken. It always surprises me when things go missing. I am militant about cleaning up every day and checking to make sure all the toys are complete. And yet, little elves or sprites (or cats) seem to be spiriting away some of her toys. I am not surprised when toys get broken. I am trying to teach Chloe to respect her possessions and not damage her things, but she’s still a child. And let’s face it, some of these toys aren’t made very well.
I know what I should do. The issue is execution. I am having a difficult time deciding what to keep, what to store, and what to get rid of. Ellen is going to laugh at this post because a little over a year ago I was having the same conversation with her regarding her kids’ toys. I remember thinking, “How hard can it be?” Well, I apologize for underestimating the difficulty factor when it comes to weeding out your child’s most cherished possessions. It’s hard because not only does your child have an emotional attachment to these items, but so do you. I remember every present, care package from grandparents, and shopping trip.
Not to mention the fact that I will pull the toy out of her play room and set it aside with the idea that it will be on the chopping block. Of course, Chloe will find renewed interest in it and spend a good half an hour playing with it. Then I feel like I can’t get rid of it. “See,” I say to John, “she still plays with it.” He responds, “Do you actually think she’ll notice when it’s gone?” And the answer is, “Of course not.” She has numerous other things to distract her. But for some reason It’s still hard.
However, there is something to be said for the excess (Okay, I admit it, now shut up.) Chloe really does have an excessive amount of toys. She has a pretty large bedroom that is full, and a decent size playroom which is also full. (I would give you room dimensions, but that’s way too much effort.) And, I confess, I keep buying more. I’ll realize she has a hole in a “category” of toy. For example, she loves to play with John’s tools, but she didn’t have her own tool box. So, I bought her one of those Melissa and Doug tool boxes that will help improve her fine motor skills and eye hand coordination. Does she need it, no. Will it help her, YES! (I just can’t turn off that damn “teacher” button!)
I am a FIRM believer in the “one in one out rule,” when it comes to ME. I just can’t commit to that when it comes to Chloe. That being said, I am mustering up my courage (there is nothing like the rath of a two year old who is missing a toy) and about to begin the purging process. I am fully anticipating this it going to take me several hours, which is why I am blogging. Procrastination is yet another weakness.
Posted on June 23, 2008
Chloe and I leave tomorrow for Denver again. This time we are flying out to go to our friends, Lance and Midori’s wedding. With all this traveling, I feel like I am getting pretty good at packing and I thought I would share my tips. (Okay, so I am actually procrastinating doing the actual packing, but its still might be useful!)
- Make a packing list beforehand with everything that you could possibly need on it. Print out two copies, that way you can mark all over it on the way out of town, and then use it to make sure that everything comes home with you.
- Pack clothes in outfits. This avoids extra clothes.
- If you travel frequently, invest in clothes folders and cubes. It helps organize items, helps reduce wrinkling and are generally pretty compact.
- Keep in mind any activities that you plan on doing while you are there. For example, even if there is a chance you will go swimming, pack a swimsuit. If you might go out to a fancy restaurant, pack a nice outfit. Its much easier than scrambling and paying more money than you normally would to get something at your destination.
- Pack socks inside shoes, it helps them keep their shape and saves the bulk from the socks. pack underwear and other smaller items in the lining of your suitcase for the same reason, it helps cut down on bulk, and it doesn’t matter if those items are wrinkled.
- Even though it is a pain to get through security, I recommend wearing bulkier shoes on the flight and packing lightweight ones. Yes, it takes longer to untie and retie your shoes, but they take up a tremendous about of space in your suitcase.
- Keep samples and smaller bottles of your toiletries in your toiletries bag, it helps save time later, and the smaller bottles are much more compact.
- If you are traveling with a child (or even if it is just you) pack snacks for the flight. You never know these days if you will get food on the plane, and even if it is a short flight, there is always the chance that you will be delayed and will end up spending more time on the plane than you planned.
- If you are traveling with a child, bring toys, books, an extra sippy cup or water bottle, and a video ipod. The Ipod is vital, but you need the other items for when they won’t let you use the ipod. Chloe hates when I take the ipod away, but she is getting used to the idea that there are times when she can’t have it.
- Finally, when going through security, keep track of you driver’s license. Take the extra time to put it back in your wallet. Trust me on this one!
Posted on April 23, 2008
1) Go to bed later than usual and then wake up every two hours. It works best if you can wait until the Mommy is just inches from sleep, and then start knocking on your door. And if you can handle it, it also works well to stay up for two hours straight singing and talking to yourself from around 2 am to 4 am (times may vary). This is a garanteed way to make the Mommy crazy (or crazier, as the case may be.)
2) Approach the Mommy with your best cute face and say, “Mommy, get it, PEEEESE!” When the Mommy asks, “What do you need, Sweetie.” Say with just as much zeal, “PEEEEESE.” When the Mommy asks again for clarification start your typical tantrum cycle. You know the one: face falls, lip quivers, voice reaches that whiney level that makes the Mommy’s hair stand on end. Slowly start to lose your cool until you are on the floor face down crying because nobody understands you.
3) Knock over your bowl of cheerios as many times as you can (making sure to step on a few in the process), “accidentally” squeeze your juice box all over the Mommy’s sofa, and leave remnants of grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all over the house for the Mommy to find.
4) Call out, “Mommy” at least fifty times in a row, for absolutely no reason (other than to make the Mommy crazy/crazier.)
5) When the Mommy is busy doing something, anything, sit on her feet holding onto her leg and cry uncontrollably until she finally gives in and picks you up. Then wrap your legs around her with a vice like grip so that she cannot put you back down, there by guaranteeing that you will be late to wherever you are going and/or dinner burns.
For more tips on How to Torture Mommy, please send a self addressed stamped envelope to Chloe, Mommy Torture Inc., PO Box 1234569101112 (7 and 8 still don’t exist).
Posted on April 5, 2008
(I am stealing this concept from another blog I read called Notes from the Trenches)
When choosing to make a new dish out of a recipe book that I know is more complicated than I am used to, I should:
1) Check to make sure I have ALL of the ingredients before I go to the grocery store, not just the veggies (missing sherry, because really, who keeps that around?)
2) Make sure that I have alternative ingredients for anything I have never heard of, because chances are I won’t be able to find those ingredients at the grocery store. (flageolot beans?)
3) Before beginning prep, read the recipe and figure out exactly how long it is going to take to cook, and then work backward. (For this particular dish, there was at least 1/2 hour of prep time, and 1 1/2 hours of cooking. I started cutting potatoes at 4:30 expecting a 5:30 dinner time, obviously didn’t make it.)
4) Before beginning prep, look up any cooking terms I am unfamiliar with. (Blanching and parboil?)
5) When planning a meal with a large amount of prep and cooking, find someone, anyone, to entertain the child. (Its hard to slice potatoes with a screaming toddler at your feet.)
6) Gather all ingredients and have everything measured out and ready to be put into the pot before I even turn on the stove. (Left a pot simmering for a few extra minutes to drain and rinse beans.)
7) Make sure you have all the pots and utensils necessary before cooking, and that they’re not in a running dish washer (yes…I ran the dishwasher right before I started cooking. Brilliant, party for one!)
Check to see how many people the dish feeds so you aren’t cooking something that feeds 8 when there are only 2 of you eating it. (We’ll offer it to Chloe, but I doubt she will eat it.)
9) Before putting the filling into a casserole dish, double check that everything, including the spices, are included, so you don’t have to dump it back out, add spices, and then dump it back in. (Luckily, I caught my mistake after only a couple of spoonfuls had been put in the casserole dish.)
10) Ignore husband when he whines about being hungry, it only stresses me out and makes me forget to do stuff, like add spices.