SaneMoms.com Journal

I Dare You Too

sanemom — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:00:35 +0000

Kelly Corrigan has a way with words … there’s just a few here and they’re well worth the 3 minutes it takes to watch. I dare you.

So, what belongs in your bubble?

Would you Like Some ... Homemade Bath Salts?

sanemom — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:41:50 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandawoodward/ / CC BY-NC 2.0
My sister sent me some great home-made bath salts for my birthday, and it inspired me. I did a bit of googling, and it’s not hard at all! They’re cheap, easy, and fast … and are so nice to treat yourself with, or to have as gifts. I just made some grapefruit ones for a gift swap. The only expensive part is essential oils, which have so many helpful uses (and last forever) that I can’t recommend them enough! I’m a sucker for the citrusy scents especially, and use many as part of my health arsenal. Peppermint settles the stomach, tea tree kills germs, lemon and eucalyptus are great for chest congestion, and I could go on and on, but, without further ado, here’s the quick recipe!

Tip of the Week : Travel Light!

sanemom — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:43 +0000

I know, I know, it’s virtually impossible with kids! However, I’ll bet you can get away with a lot less than you think.

For starters, one batch of laundry while you’re gone can cut clothing weight down dramatically! How many “never ended up wearing it” pieces did you bring home last time?!
Favorite toys? Just pick a few, and let the novelty of new places and people do a lot of the entertaining. Pick toys with multiple uses too, and not ones with small pieces!

Q of the Week : How much do you think about home when you're away?

sanemom — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:15 +0000

Of course this is related to my current vacation, but I’m curious. How much do you think about home when you’re away? I’m truly a home body at this point in my life, and while I LOVE travel to new places, I inevitably start to miss home. Familiar things, having my own space, the kids with their own toys, and all that. I’ve talked to my husband most days since we left, and do miss him, but it’s not really that.

Do you think about what you could/should be doing at home? Do you ever feel guilty for being away? I reach a point in a trip where I start to imagine what’s going to be expected of me when I return, what’s piled up while I’m gone (I dread seeing my inbox!) and that kind of thing. I wish I could say I go completely on vacation, but it seems to take me 3-4 days to truly relax, a few days to enjoy it, and then the last bit gets taken up by the when-I-get-home thoughts. Is it just me, or does part of your brain stay tuned in to home life no matter where you are?

Catching Up

sanemom — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:38:53 +0000

Sorry to miss the Friday Roundup ladies, but I’m still on vacation with limited access, and quite frankly had no links to roundup as I’ve not been online for a week! It’s been lovely :). I won’t be home for another couple of days, but will leave you with one pic from the week … Douglas and his cousin exploring in Florida. It’s been a great getaway, but I’m glad to be heading home in the morning. Two days in the car? Hoping it’s reasonably smooth!

Are You Teaching Your Children to Live Without You? (guest post by Susan)

sanemom — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:31 +0000

Guest post by Susan Heid of The Confident Mom, thanks Susan!

“The most beautiful sight in the world is a child going confidently down the road of life after you have shown him the way” – Confucius

Confucius had it right – isn’t that what our job as a mom is, getting our kids ready to leave the nest? I don’t know about you, but I certainly am not interested in accompanying my child at age 19 to his first job, carrying his briefcase for him or dropping off his lunch that he forgot at home. Okay, that is an exaggeration (I hope….but I bet there are some moms who fall into that trap) but at what point do you starts truly putting forth that effort to develop independence and self-reliance in your kids? It can start a lot sooner than you think.

Happy Birthday Douglas!

sanemom — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:42:26 +0000

My ‘baby’ turns 8 today. I’m rather speechless. Love you, my crazy one, thanks for being my #1 son!

Would You Like Some ... Kale Chips?

sanemom — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:55 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phoenixwolfray/ / CC BY 2.0

This is SO easy it’s become a quick favorite in our house! I admit the boys already like greens, but this is greens-as-chips and it’s addictingly crunchy. Great as a topping on soups or rice too!

Kale Chips

Mince a couple cloves of garlic
Toss in a large bowl with 2T olive oil
De-rib and rough chop at least one large bunch of kale, it’s barely enough for the 4 of us …
Toss together with the oil/garlic mixture
Salt to taste
Spread on baking sheets and bake@425 for 12-15 min until crispy and a few are starting to brown
Pull out of the oven and fall on them like hungry wolves!

Enjoy :). I’m sure you can do the same with whole stalks of kale also, it would make a great layer in a sandwich or burger!

Tip of the Week : Talk About What Your Kids Read

sanemom — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:00:49 +0000

Maybe this tip’s just for me, I don’t know. I’ve been going around the house lately looking for books that Douglas hasn’t read. He’s absolutely voracious in his consumption, and anything that I’ve handed him he’s read at least once, with one or two exceptions. He complained yesterday that the WWII era escape book (which I loved in high school, and grabbed in my desperation to find something new) was boring because it had no dialog, so I dropped that one. What I didn’t realize however, until I started quizzing him, was that a good chunk of the books he’s read he didn’t really ‘get’. He’d motored through them and understood most of the words, but comprehended little of the actual point. Doh!

Q of the Week : Favorite Season?

sanemom — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:48 +0000

How my husband survives winter … I may just be getting sick of snow and winter, but I’m getting really itchy for spring! I’m tired of bundling boys into all kinds of snow gear just to go to the store, drying mittens, and crunch-running in treacherous conditions. I love snow and building things, but it’s been long enough I think. Bring on spring!