Month

November 2014

I Love Them Because You Love Them: Taking Care of Those Lovies

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All three of my kids have lovies. Special friends with special names with whom they sleep, snuggle, and must have for events like shots, first haircuts, and all other things scary. They have each had their lovies for as long as they can remember. Even their baby books include photos of them with their special buddies. I had a feeling from the beginning I would need to take care of these buddies for a long time. Maybe until they head off to college (or head to their first job, apartment, walk down the aisle, or have kids of their own).

 

Because of the kids attachment to their special friends, it is sometimes like I have SIX kids to take care of rather than THREE. In fact, it is joked about that I sometimes worry about some of same things I would with the kids. (Let’s face it if these buddies get lost or ruined it would break my kids’ little hearts.) Hence: I worry about their location, safety, and cleanliness.

So, here are some tips that we follow to keep our lovies safe and clean.

1.) Safe Place: After too many nights searching for friends at bedtime, we have decided to keep them in their beds. This way the kids know where their buddies are all the time. The only time they are allowed to take their lovie out of bed is for an extenuating circumstances like watching a movie on the couch when sick or going to the doctor for a blood draw.

2.) Sewing Skills: When these little buddies are so loved they are bound to have a rip or tear here or there. I have learned to keep some thread on hand for such an occasion. I have also learned that small curved upholstery needled works best for mending stuffed buddies.

3.) Freeze ’em Clean: I know this may sound strange, but when the kids have been sick my first line of defense is to put their buddies in a plastic freezer bag and put them in the freezer for 48 hours. This is a tip we got from our pediatrician. Doing this will kill any germs and will also kill dust mites. It does take some explaining to the kids, but I tell them that just like they need medicine to get better, their buddies need to get well too.

4.) Machine or Surface Clean: After our trip to the freezer, it is time to wash. For those friends where it is safe to wash them in the washing machine, I always make sure to put them in a lingerie bag or even in a pillowcase. I then wash in cold on a gentle cycle with mild soap. Then, I keep the buddy in the bag and put it in air cycle in the dryer. For those friends that can only be surface cleaned, I follow the directions on the label.

5.) When All Else Fails: This may sound terrible, but when our kids started to develop an attachment to a certain lovie, we hit the internet hard and actually bought a backup. The kids know about their backups, and my youngest even keeps her backups with her. My oldest has his hidden away just in case. The kids are old enough to know that if (it hasn’t come to this yet) ever have to replace their lovies with a backup it won’t be the same as the original, but at least they will still have something similar with memories of their first buddy.

If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Thirsty Thursday: Water with Refresh2Go

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I was compensated for this post with product, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I know that water doesn’t offer the same amount of excitement that you are used to for a Thirsty Thursday. Typically, you are used to fun mixed cocktails, blended smoothies, hot concoctions, or some fun facts about a great beverage. However, the only time we talked about water for a Thirsty Thursday, I infused a bunch of stuff into that as well, and we have never just talked water which is the most consumed beverage in the world. 

The health benefits to drinking water are enumerable. Besides being good for maintaining good daily brain, muscle, and digestive functions, water is great for your skin, can help promote weight loss, prevents fatigue, boosts immunity, and can actually keep you more focussed. 
Drinking enough water is a habit I picked up in college when I was training for a marathon. Since then, I have maintained the healthy habit, and have passed it down to my kids. They are forever carrying water bottles, and I can always be found with this:

Yes, the laptop, but more importantly, it’s my water cup. It pretty much comes with me everywhere. You know how there are people who constantly are looking for their phone? I am the girl that is constantly looking for her water cup. My kids will tell you that I say, “Can someone grab my water cup and bring it down/up/inside/outside/from the car/when you pass by please?” I bought it many years ago, and what drew me to it immediately was the straw.
When I was pregnant with my oldest, I was put on bed rest for close to a month. I was specifically requested to lie on my left side, all day. Getting up only to use the bathroom. That’s it. In that time, I fell in love with straws because it was so much easier to lie down and drink out of a straw while watching hours of TV, and reading entire books in one day. Since then, I haven’t turned back. Straws only, please.
That is why when I met Lyndsay Palkon of Refresh2Go at the Sassy Moms in the City Blog event in September, I was immediately drawn to her amazing straws. 

Lyndsay created Refresh2Go straws (and later water bottles which have been great for my kids) as a way to have  clean, good tasting, filtered water wherever you go. Refresh2Go reusable straws contain a filter. As someone who has grown attached to my water cup, I was elated about just having to switch out my straw. 
I was also happy that I could fill up my water cup anywhere and have filtered water. Whether it be running errands, at soccer practice, ballet, volunteering at school, heading out to an event, or filling up out of the tap at home, the water is always clean and tastes great. Refresh2Go straws also give me the added bonus of not having to pay for bottled water or having to create tons of waste. (Did I mention I still get to use my same water cup?)
As you can see, I am not the only fan of Refresh2Go. These are a great option for when you know kids will be filling up water bottles when they aren’t at home. You know they will happily be drinking more because no matter where they fill up, the water will taste good. 

As I am working on getting some things done on my holiday to do list, I have already planned on buying some straws for the teachers. 
For more information about Refresh2Go check out the website, follow them on Facebook, or Twitter, or look at their video below.

For all things beverage related, check out the THIRSTY THURSDAY page for recipes for all kinds of drinks, cocktails, and all things drinkable!

Want to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor? Become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.


I Would Not, Could Not Skip Thanksgiving: A Holiday Planning Guide

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I was just barely getting over a Halloween hangover when I was smacked in the face with a midterm election. Now, everywhere I turn there seems to be Christmas in the air.

All of my favorite stores are betraying with me holiday stuff, discounts, and I swear I smelled peppermint in Starbucks the other day. Some of the blogs I read are sharing gift guides, and things to do to get ready for “the season.”

Some people are Holiday Crazy, that is great. I applaud you. I used to be like them. In the past, I would be playing holiday music already, putting autumn decor away, buying gifts, hiding them, begging my husband to let me put out just a few holiday decorations before Thanksgiving, and coming up with schemes for that damn elf.

However, considering my Autumn Decor has not been up that long, I don’t think I should be getting out any more decorations just yet. Also, I am still getting used to the homework routine this school year, so I doubt I can add a little bit of Christmas to anything just yet. Also, I realized I seemed to be skipping over Thanksgiving. It was like a gateway holiday getting lost in the shuffle of other holiday preparations.

This was breaking my heart as I used to claim Thanksgiving was one of my favorite holidays. In the past, I would spend days preparing a Friendsgiving Meal, and making a spare turkey for leftover sandwiches. I would take the time to meet people for brunch, and go to church. I Would Not, Could Not Skip Thanksgiving. Nope. This year is going to be different.

I am going to plan ahead so that no longer happens. I can hopefully use my time wisely and knock some of those smaller things off the TO DO LIST now so that I can enjoy myself the week of Thanksgiving. I am sick of spending that week, running errands, buying gifts, and starting Christmas cards. This Thanksgiving, I will be eating turkey sandwiches and enjoying my family.

First Week of November

  • Create Holiday Card List
  • Update Addresses
  • Make Appointment for Family Photos
  • Create a gift list (family, friends, teachers, neighbors, coworkers, hostess gifts)
  • Send holiday party invites
  • Do online shopping
Second Week of November
  • Purchase smaller gifts like gift cards, bottles of wine, or other non food gifts.
  • Plan family photo outfits
  • Do a gift wrap inventory and purchase anything needed (tape, ribbon, etc)
  • Plan which cookies and treats to bake
  • Pick out Holiday Cards
Third Week of November
  • Have family photo taken
  • Purchase baking ingredients sugar, flour, vanilla, (freeze butter), etc.
  • Wrap any gifts already purchased.
  • Start addressing envelopes
  • Do a thorough clean of house to be ready for holiday decor
THANKSGIVING WEEK
  • Be Thankful!
Don’t get me wrong, I will still have things to do, but everything will be ready to go. I won’t be wasting time running to Target for more tape, stopping at the grocery store for more vanilla, trying to put together teacher gifts the night before the last day of school, or addressing envelopes at 2  in the morning. Best of all, I will be enjoying my time with my family.

If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.