22 Nov 2011
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How to Include Kids in Thanksgiving Preparations

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, sometimes I find myself getting caught up in perfection. During these times, I usually find something else for the kids to do so I can get lost in whatever preparations I am doing. This is no fun for them and they often end up bored which then leads to them trying to drive me crazy!

This is why I have started trying to include the kids in holiday prep work. They love it and it actually takes some of the work off of me. Here are a few simple ways to get your kiddos involved this Thanksgiving.

  • Setting the table. The kids are GREAT at setting the table and they really enjoy it. This is also a great learning opportunity for them. You can teach them things like where the silverware should be placed and how a place setting should be configured. I also let my kids get creative with napkin folding. This often gets a bit silly but there is nothing more fun than trying to fold a napkin into something cool.
  • Pie Making. Making pies like pumpkin or a sweet potato are relatively easy. This is a great way to get the kids baking and if they are old enough, reading! Reading recipes is great practice and you can teach fractions too. It’s hard to mess up a pumpkin pie, so let the kids help out!
  • Leaf collecting is a great activity for the kids. Once they spend some time outside collecting their leaves, they can bring them in and use them to decorate. A simple idea is to take a fruit bowl or small platter and put the leaves on it. Then place a few apples, a candle or both! You have a quick and easy fall decoration that the kids can make all by themselves.
  • Ask for input on dinner. I know what you’re thinking, “they’ll eat whatever I make…it’s Thanksgiving!” While this is true, I find that my kids are more likely to try new foods on their plate if they have something they feel comfortable with on their too. They also like being heard and knowing they are included. When I ask Cole what he wants for Thanksgiving dinner he says “eggs!” and when I ask Ansley she says “marshmallows, cherries and whipped cream!” So I am making deviled eggs, putting marshmallows on my sweet potato bake, and I picked up some cherries to go on top of the whipped cream on our pie.

Kids just want to help and sometimes it’s more trouble than you anticipated but give it a try, they’ll have fun anyway. The kids will feel involved and it will take some of the stress off of you. Hopefully these ideas will inspire you to start some new traditions for your kids to pass on.

I wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving. May it be filled with family, friends and great food!


21 Nov 2011
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Can’t Catch A Wink

Two hours ago, I went to bed. I was tired. I have yet to get any sleep which is why I am sitting up…awake. In the last two hours I have been visited by Cole 3 times. The first time he fell out of bed, the second he wanted to sleep in my bed and the last time, although I doubt it will actually be the last time, he wanted something to drink.

On two of my trips back to Cole’s room, I stepped in pee from the dog who I can only guess at this point has actually lost her mind. Not that there was that much there to lose in the first place. After peeing in the floor…twice, she felt the need to pace around in front of the back door indicating that she had to go out…to pee. Not wanting an unexpected surprise from the other end, I got up and let her out.

While I was waiting for her to pace around the patio listening to night creatures pee, Ansley came out of her bedroom. It was at that moment that I wondered if they made those vinyl wall words that said “Grand Central Station”. Because if they did, I was going to have it made for my kitchen. So, I take Ansley back to bed. Their is nothing more charming than a 4 year old who awakes suddenly in the middle of the night, unless of course, said 4 year old is fighting a cold and wants to argue over the fact that the doll I know for a fact is sitting on the couch is the same doll she went to bed with and it must have fallen out of her bed at which time the dog must have taken it to the couch. Which I believe is impossible because when would the dog have had time to do that with all of the peeing she had been doing!

Now, both kids are back in bed, dog in empty, Mr. M2C is snoring even though in the morning he will tell me he “didn’t sleep very well last night” and me?…well I am WIDE awake. The house sleeps and I do not. I never hear Mr. M2C say anything about not being able to sleep and sitting up on the couch until the wee hours of the morning. It must be one of those “mom things”.

It’s probably best that we don’t know all of the “mom things” that come along with this job before we get knee deep in it because if we did, no one would ever do the job!

Goodnight!…I hope!

 

13 Nov 2011
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California Wine Club Gift and Giveaway

The holiday’s are coming…in case you haven’t heard. I was singing along to Jingle Bell Rock as I shopped for last minute Halloween candy. There are so many decisions to make around this time of year; what to buy, what to cook, whose house to celebrate at, which parties to go to and how you’re going to pay for it all! Stress levels run high and everything else runs low.

There is one thing I don’t have to make a decision about this year and that’s wine! Delivered promptly to my door were this months California Wine Club selections, taking all of the guess work out of choosing wine. Last Friday things were crazy around here but I wanted to make sure I kept my Friday night date with Mr. M2C. A tasty Pinot Noir was in my delivery so I defrosted some bacon wrapped filet’s, made a roasted garlic mushroom risotto and viola! Date night! I didn’t have to do much thinking and I didn’t have to stand in the wine section of the store with two kids who want nothing more than to touch every last GLASS bottle!

Mr. M2C and I are a bit dorky when it comes to things we love. We read and talk and read and talk so after dinner we sit on the couch with the California Wine Club newsletter. It’s a nice way to learn about the wine and dream about a day when we might be so cool as to head back to California and run a winery. South Florida doesn’t offer much in the way of rolling hills of grapes or warm afternoons of wine tasting. One where you can chat up the sommelier and learn a thing or two. The newsletter is a great substitute and I can’t wait to show off some of the stuff I’ve learned at one of this years holiday parties.

I am so excited to receive next months delivery. Holiday wines are on the menu and I know California Wine Club will not dissappoint!

I know I’m not the only one who experiences the rush of the holiday so I have some great news! California Wine Club and I are giving away a one month subscription to their Premier Wine Club! That way you can enjoy how wonderful it is to have wine delivered straight to your door. Here’s how to enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite way to enjoy wine or what your favorite wine is!

Extra Entries:

“Like” California Wine Club on Facebook and tell them that Mommies 2 Cents sent you (make sure you include a link to the giveaway)! – 2 entries

“Like” The Boring Wine Guy on Facebook and tell him that Mommies 2 Cents sent you(make sure you include a link to the giveaway) – 2 entries

Follow @Mommies2Cents on Twitter – 1 entry

Follow @CAWineClub on Twitter – 1 entry

Follow @BoringWineGuy on Twitter – 1 entry

Tweet about this giveaway with a link (Leave link to your post in comments) – 1 entry

You must leave one comment for every entry and make sure to include your email address. If I don’t have your email then I cannot contact you to tell you that you won! Contest is open to US residents (excluding Utah) 21 and over only. This contest will conclude on November 26th at 11:59 EST. Winner will be contacted within 24 hours. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize otherwise a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Also remember that a California Wine Club Premier Membership is the perfect gift this holiday season. You can use the code “mommies2cents” at checkout to receive a 10% discount on your gift order. If you would like to try out this wonderful service for yourself you can use the same code, “mommies2cents”, at checkout and not only will you receive 10% off your first month but you’ll also receive an extra bottle of wine with your first month!

 

***I received a 3 month premier membership to California Wine Club for this review but as always, all opinions and experiences are 100% my own!
09 Nov 2011
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Classic Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Cupcakes are so fancy these days. They contain exotic ingredients and odd combinations that make us oooohh and ahhhhh! Sometimes though, you just want something simple, original…classic! This is a thick deliciously sweet vanilla cupcake. It is great for a kids birthday party or an afternoon treat with the girls. The buttercream recipe is smooth and heavenly. It can be tinted of course but I like it best in it’s original form.

There is one thing about this recipe I must tell you…these cupcakes go FAST! Make sure you eat one before you show anyone else otherwise you might be out of luck!

Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 TBLSP pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
In a large bowl of stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, vanilla, salt and baking powder with the mixer on the lowest setting. Add flour and milk alternatly, starting and ending with flour. Turn mixer up to medium speed and mix until batter is smooth and satiny. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into prepared cupcake tins and put into a preheated oven at 375 degrees. Bake for 18 minutes. Let cupcakes cool in the tin for 2 minutes and then remove them to finish cooling.
Once the cupcakes are completely cool, it’s time to decorate!

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened but not melted!
  • 3 cups confectioners sugar, SIFTED (this is the key to perfect frosting)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons half and half or milk (Half and Half makes for creamier frosting)
Beat butter for a few minutes in mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla, salt, and 2 tablespoons of half and half and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add more powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add more half and half 1 tablespoon at a time.
I like to keep my vanilla cupcakes simple so I top them with classic buttercream and simple chocolate sprinkles. You could, however, get as crazy as your heart desires! Happy baking…ENJOY!
09 Nov 2011
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Wordless Wednesday – Afternoon Visitor

This is a visitor that we get every afternoon. He is an excellent bug hunter!

 

07 Nov 2011
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How to Transform Your Bedroom Fast, Cheap and Easy

Last week I complained about having my room taken over by my kids. I’m ok sharing most of the house but I really wanted my bedroom to be a retreat. Someplace I could go and…not be a mom. I’m pretty sure Mr. M2C would appriciate that too. With the holiday’s coming up, I didn’t have a huge budget but I was determined to transform my drab, kid infested bedroom into sexy, comfortable place to relax.

Mr. M2C was up to the challenge and we hit the ground running on Friday night. We put primer on the walls in about an hour and removed the old, discolored blinds. Our room was even more pathetic than we thought! It’s pretty sad when white primer makes your room look better. On Saturday, Mr. M2C took the kids to the movies and then to the park so I could start painting. I turned on the music and began the transformation.

It took me about 3 to 4 hours to cut in and put on the first coat of paint. I was in love! Luckily, we had grossly over estimated the amount of paint we needed for our small hallway when we painted the dining room. I had almost 2 gallons of “Chai Latte” paint left over so onto my bedroom walls it went.

When Mr. M2C came home, he was impressed by the way the room looked and while we waited for the first coat to dry, I sent him out to get black paint. Yes! I said BLACK PAINT! Mr. M2C was a little skeptical…on the outside. Which means on the inside, he was thinking I had lost my mind. He even had to convince the guy at the paint counter to mix it up. “Are you sure?” he asked. To which Mr. M2C replied “That’s what she said…black.” 

I like to make a statement with color and what better color to make a statement with than black? Last week sometime I was reading through a design website and that is where I first saw the idea. By painting the baseboards and the doors black, you create drama. So I decided to go for it. So far I have done the first coat of black in the window frames and on the baseboards. We put up curtains on Sunday night and I bought a very hot pillow for the bed. My accent color for this room will end up being a deep rose colored pink.

The transformation is not yet complete but in a matter of two days I transformed my bedroom from drab to fab. Are kids taking over your special space? Is your bedroom the least pretty room in your home? Here is what I did to take my bedroom to a whole new level:

  • Paint! Pick a soothing color. Something that relaxes you for the walls. Don’t be afraid to be bold and sexy with your trim or accent color!
  • Sheer curtains are light and sexy. They are also wildly inexpensive! Pick a color that accents your room and add some flowing sheers to the windows.
  • Float your furniture. We moved our bed to the center of the room so that you can walk all the way around it. When we wake in the morning, we are facing the windows and have a perfect view of the lake. The room looks modern and intruiging, plus it added tons of space to the room. We even have room for a chair in the corner. If all of that doesn’t make you want to try floating your furniture, this little tid bit will; making the bed is SO easy because you can walk all the way around it! Woo Hoo!
  • Pay attention to detail. Changing the plate covers on the outlets and the doorknobs gave the room a fresh new look. Everything is clean and it’s super cheap.
  • Add eye catching accents. By bringing in one large pillow for the bed, the room suddenly came together. The vision set and it was finally falling into place. A great picture, a vase or even fresh flowers will be the one thing to set your room off!

I will keep you updated as we finish the bedroom and move into our closet and master bathroom transformations. In the end I should have a kidless sanctuary to call my own. Feeling inspired? Share your room makeovers with me, I would love to see them!

03 Nov 2011
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Do I Have Kids…Or Do They Have Me?

I knew when we had kids it would be a big change. I mean nothing requires you to give away more of yourself than being a parent. I was prepared to lose sleep and give away my free time. I knew I would trade fancy dinners and late night movies for living room picnics and cartoons. It comes with the territory…

However, nobody tells you that you are going to lose all of your stuff! I don’t have anything of my own anymore. Even my bed has 4 people in it! There are building blocks in my shower and sippy cups in my purse. The glove box of my car is filled with actions figures. I can just imagine what it would look like if I got pulled over. “Just one second officer, my registration must be under Spiderman!”

My phone is loaded with apps for puzzles, connect the dots and memory games. My excersize bike doubles as a coat rack for lunchboxes and backpacks…their stuff is all over my stuff! All of this got me thinking; don’t parents deserve a kid free zone of their own? Shouldn’t I have one place where I know I won’t sit on a rubber duck or step on a G.I. Joe?

I think for my sanity, I need a place like that. I’ve decided it’s going to be my bedroom. I mean, the kids will hate that! My bathroom has a bathtub the size of a small pool and a huge glass shower. They will miss their nightly “swims” but I want candles and bath mats that won’t get soaked every night. I may even buy a plant! Yes! This is exactly what every parent needs…a kid free zone. A place where only adult things live.

This weekend, I’ll be starting a project to spruce up my bedroom and bathroom. Keep an eye out for the transformation from kiddie playground to adult oasis!

What about you? Do you have a kid free zone?

02 Nov 2011
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Post Halloween Ramblings

This was a great Halloween. It was a little touch and go as far as the rain was concerned but it all worked out come trick or treat time. I was really looking forward to Halloween this year because it is only my second one in our own house. Decorating and handing out candy in our sweet little neighborhood is just so exciting to me.

This year Mr. M2C took off with the kids and I stayed behind to hand out candy…and catch up on some of my shows. This year I purposly only bought 1 bag of yuck candy so I could pass it out and not have anything good to eat. I failed to calculate my kids into my plan. By the last trick or treater, I had about 7 pieces of taffy in the bottom of my gigantic caldron…then my kids came home. Their buckets were overflowing and they dumped their loot into the community pot. NOW my caldron was almost filled to the top with tiny chocolate bars!! You know the ones that you pop in your mouth while you are doing the dishes and another one while you fold the towels. Sometime around 3 pm you realize all you’ve had all day is 3 Snickers, 2 Milky Way’s and a Twix. I have resigned myself to the fact that “candy” and “sugar high” are going to be the theme of the week and come Sunday night…what’s left is going out with the trash.

Amoungst all of the candy there are other things like bags of pretzels, peanut butter crackers, etc…these are actually a nice treat for me because it breaks up the sweet. There are two bags of colored goldfish crackers, that I would have paid little attention to except for the fact that everytime Ansley sees them she repeats back to me the speech of the woman handing them out on Halloween. “Chocolate will make you sick! She doesn’t give out chocolate anymore because it will make you sick. She only gives out healthy crackers!” Because I don’t want to cause an issue with my 4 year old I am going to post my response for all of you to read…lucky you…

Dear Crazy Lady,

Please don’t use Halloween as an opportunity to get on a soapbox in front of a bunch of kids trying to have fun on a holiday in hopes that they will repeat your speech to their, in your opinion, stupid parents. Because they will repeat it but instead of slapping our forheads and asking why oh why we had been so naive about candy before! We will mumble “who does that biatch think she is” under our breath and drive past your house everyday hoping that your bushes become overgrown or that you put your garbage cans out too early or maybe bring them in too late so that we can report you to the HOA and you can have that glaring letter attached to your front door. HA! Suburbs warfare at it’s finest! Also, Rather than Mono-this, mono-that, red dye #2, Green dye #4, Blue Dye#7, Yellow Dye #1…I will take chocolate, peanuts, and caramel any day!

What’s Halloween without a few tricks among all the treats! I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! What were your holiday mishaps and what is your plan for all of that CANDY?!

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