It’s The Thought That Counts!

I love the holidays.  Family, friends, fellowship, food…  While I believe that Christmas, in particular, is more than just the gifts we give and receive, I love partaking in this tradition.  I actually find more joy in giving a friend or family member a gift I’ve thoughtfully selected.

I have to admit that I’m not the most creative or gifted when it comes to handmade gifts.  One year in particular, when I was a starving college student (hehe), I decided to make all of my friends and family member’s a personalized ornament.  I went to Michael’s and bought the supplies.  I wish I had taken a picture because they turned out really cute!  I used puffy paint and glitter and filled them with tinsel.  Everyone loved them and I felt a sense of accomplishment in what I had made.

I truly hope that handmade gifts are not a thing of the past.  They elicit creativity and thought and personalization. This week I’m joining other moms and dads over at The Parent Bloggers Network as they share their handmade gifts from seasons past.  Klutz, the creators of activity books, is helping you with your handmade gifts this season.  They are also offering free shipping and a free copy of the award-winning Activity Book when you order $50+ via this link. So head on over and share what you’ve made.

Kitchen Secrets

I’ve blogged and blogged about my tumultuous kitchen experiences.  You can add “started a fire” to the growing list of mishaps.  I’ve done everything from spilling a bag of sugar during a baking session, to unintentionally “cooking” meat in the microwave and “burning” pumpkin bread so badly that my husband and I couldn’t see each other clearly through the smoky haze that shadowed the room.  So of course I’d like to minimize the amount of time I spend in the kitchen without compromising my safety the taste of the food.   The Parent Bloggers Network is asking us moms and dads to share our best shortcuts. Speaking of shortcuts, Ore-Ida has introduced their new Steam n’ Mash potatoes. The potatoes are scrubbed, peeled and chopped.  All you have to do is take them out of the freezer and steam them in the microwave.  Here are a few of my kitchen shortcuts:

1.  I cook chicken and fish without defrosting it.  I don’t know why it works but it does.  I don’t notice any difference in taste, texture, or quality.  It saves me time in defrosting and I don’t have to deal with raw anything!  

2.  I buy seasonings, sauces, and other prepared condiments to quickly season chicken or fish.  It’s easier on those days when I need a tasty, quick meal and don’t feel like going all out and cutting veggies.  

3.  Whole Foods and other markets sell the ingredients for meals in one package.  For example, their stir-fry package includes chopped vegetables, sauces, etc.  It’s a fresh, homemade meal but I don’t have to spend as much time prepping (definitely not the most inexpensive way to go but definitely quicker).

What are your secret shortcuts?  I’d love to know how to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible less time in the kitchen.

My So-Called Life

We’ve just spent the last week dealing with a sick baby and I have to admit that with cold and flu season approaching, I’m not looking forward to months of this.  Last night we were in the Emergency Room with my son because his temperature went up to 104.  Apparently toddlers can tolerate fevers this high but whether or not parents can, is another question.  

We all know that a baby changes your life in ways nothing else can.  But nobody can really explain how chaotic your life can feel at times.  I am blessed to be able stay home with my son five days a week and still keep up my nursing skills working part-time in the neonatal intensive care unit.  This gives me the best of both the stay-at-home mom and working mom worlds.  I sometimes feel like the demands of both leave me drained and cleaning often takes a back seat!

You should see our zoo place.  Toys strewn everywhere, piles of paper begging to be sorted, and laundry piled up in the basket crib desperate for folding.  Oh…and did I mention we’re MOVING?  So amidst the chaos we live in, we are also partially surrounded by boxes!  And my son? Happy as can be…except when he’s done with his food and he starts throwing it.  Content playing until he starts throwing his toys everywhere.  Do you see a pattern emerging here?  I’m hoping all this practice throwing will lead to a career! 

Life in the Bailey household is never without excitement.  My husband and I have had to resort to the reality that our place will never be spotless…but we are happy and healthy (for the most part) and I wouldn’t change our life for anything!  

This week over at The Parent Bloggers Network, parents are sharing stories about the zoo that is their life.  Check it out!  You may just win a $250 Visa card and a copy of I Know Animals, Letters, and Sounds from Generation Next!