Mondays: First-Time Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

This week, for Mommy Mondays, I want to discuss some tips for learning the tricky up-hill slope that is breastfeeding. No man understands all the feelings attached to this word. Before you have your first baby, you can almost write a book about the horror stories you have heard about breastfeeding- crazy things, like bleeding nipples, pink or green breast milk, babies that lose weight from not getting enough, moms that say it is the hardest thing they have ever done in their life.... There really is a lot of hype about breastfeeding. Not to mention all the breastfeeding guilt-trippers. "You know, if you aren't successful at breastfeeding, your child will get sick about 15 extra times each year. Do you REALLY want to be responsible for that?" or "If you don't breastfeed your child, then their IQ will be 10 points lower- how'd you like THAT for you kid?"

Honestly. It's just like that.

So, here is a less-complicated viewpoint. Breastfeeding is great for you and your baby if it is done right. Some women can't or won't breastfeed, but that doesn't make them bad moms. If you want to be a successful breast feeder, it can be tough or confusing. If you really want to breastfeed that little darling of yours, you will need some help. Here are some tips to help you make that happen.

Read up on successful stories. You will hear some CRAZY things if you talk to other women about breastfeeding. Crazy. So, make sure you know the facts and that you hear some success stories.

Arm yourself with a buddy. Find a woman (mom, grandma, bff, aunt, cousin, whoever) that you are comfortable talking openly with and that has breastfed successfully. Let them know that you will be coming to them with questions- they can be a great resource. It can really be one to the best things that you can do to help you succeed. Don't know anyone you feel comfortable with? Join a mommy website and post in their forums.

Visit a lactation consultant. Will you have a chance to meet with someone in the hospital? Probably. Are there so many things going on in the hospital (oh, I don't know, trying to recover mentally and physically from making a baby?) that are going to make it hard to really pay attention and do well? I'll say yes. So, go ahead and spend a week or two on your own, trying to figure things out, then visit a lactation consultant. They will be able to tell you if your breastfeeding methods are working or not. Even if you feel like you are doing well, the effects of poor latching, etc., are often not manifest until several weeks after delivery, because if it can be difficult to distinguish sore nipples from breastfeeding and the sore nipples from poor latch when you haven't had previous experience. The worst thing that can happen is that they tell you that you are doing a fantastic job and don't need to do a thing. The visit is totally worthwhile.

Find something extra. Some may say to not watch tv or read or sew or do ANYTHING while breastfeeding so that you can bond with your child. There is some truth to that- there will definitely be times when doing something else will make you miss out on some bonding- but honestly, you will have plenty of times and ways to bond with your child all throughout their life. If you do pick something you enjoy that you can do sometimes during breastfeeding (hand-held Yahtzee, Oprah on TiVo, your favorite book, some fruit snacks... whatever) it can help. In the first few weeks of breastfeeding, it will sometimes feel like you only get a long enough break from breastfeeding to run to the bathroom and back. That can be frustrating. If you can have some other distraction that you look forward to, it will help you to not associate breastfeeding with negativity. If every time you think about breastfeeding you feel frustrated, your experience with breastfeeding will probably be a short one. So, find something extra that will make breastfeeding more of a pleasure.

Don't pump for the first month. Your body still doesn't know what kind of eater your baby is going to be. Will they need 3 ounces every two hours? Will your baby want 4 ounces every 3 hours? You, your baby, and your body are trying to figure that out. So, in that first month, give your body a chance to figure out how much milk it really needs to make for your baby and when. Once your body is accustomed to how much it needs to make, you can up the supply a bit by pumping. If you start pumping before then, there is a good chance that your body will get a little messed up on timing and you may end up with less milk than your baby needs when they need it, giving you a sad, cranky baby.

Hard-core pumping planned? Get a good pump. There is a whole market of pumps out there, from inexpensive hand pumps to pro-pumps that cost hundreds of dollars. If you intend to pump just here and there, every once in a while, a cheap pump will get you through just fine. If you intend to pump daily, you need to spring for an expensive one. Why? If your nipples are hurting, your breastfeeding days are probably numbered. Cheaper pumps pull unnecessarily on your nipples and cause minor irritation, sometimes directly after use and sometimes weeks after use. If you only intend to use your pump here and there, that's not a problem. If, however, you know you will be using your pump day-in-day-out, that added soreness and discomfort from a bad pump are going to do you no good. So, if you intend to pump often, pay the big bucks and get a Medela or similar breast pump.

Buy nipple cream ahead of time. Some people (very few!) just breeze into breastfeeding easily. For the rest of us, it is only a matter of time before you will need nipple cream to help soothe your nipples. Buy it and have it on hand so that you can use it right when you need it, instead of sending your hubby to the store at 3 am.

It's like learning a language. Let's say you want to learn French. It takes practice, learning, practice, practice, oh, and I think you need to practice. Breastfeeding is its own little language between you and baby. At birth, neither of you speak this language, so you need to learn it together. Both you and your baby will figure out the nuances of this language a bit at a time, so be patient with yourself and with your little one as you figure things out. It won't happen overnight.

Support. Tell your hubby (or boyfriend or partner) that you want to breastfeed and that you don't know how you are going to do. Tell them that it might be easy or tough, but that no matter what they do, they need to have your back. If you can tell them that clearly before you actually start breastfeeding, then they will be less likely to say, "Hey, it looks weird when you try that" right at the moment that you are crazy hormonal and feel like you are going to break down and cry. Think of it as preventative maintenance, like changing the oil in your car so it doesn't break down later.

Don't stress it. You aren't a bad mom if everything isn't hunky-dory perfect. You aren't a bad person if it takes a hundred years to get a good latch. If you end up giving your baby formula, don't think you deserve CPS called on you- your kids are going to grow up and eat hot dogs, for goodness sakes. Believe me, formula is not going to be the worst thing that your kids will ingest. Just do all you can and don't worry about the rest. You'll be fine.

Hope these tips help ya' out when you are maneuvering that crazy road of breastfeeding for the very first time. Don't stress, get good support, and love that little baby of yours!

Extras: Just had to steal this one...



Unless you are my husband....

Friday: Kiddo DIY Fun Toy!

Shake and play!

This is a really easy and entertaining toy! Not to mention inexpensive!

Materials
*Empty hand sanitizer bottle (thoroughly cleaned)
*Red food coloring
*Olive oil
*Super glue

Fill half of the bottle with water and add a drop of red food coloring. Next, fill to the top with olive oil to the brim. Lastly, put a generous amount of super glue in the lid and screw on to the bottled. If you have a flip-lid, make sure to put extra super glue where the lid flips to keep it SAFE FROM SPILLS!

Lastly: Let dry- then shake and enjoy! Good anti-stress toy for mom, too!

Friday: It's All About Baby Crafts!

This week's Crafty Friday crafts are barely even qualified to be called crafts, as they are so simple. I'm just gonna throw them out there as a few easy ideas for anyone to use on their kids and babies.

First, Stroller Buddy. Again, so easy it barely deserves to be mentioned, but with this one, just buy a spool of ribbon, cut 3-4 foot pieces, and use them to tie toys to your stroller. That way, when you are out for a brisk walk, your child can have something to play with and you don't have to stop and continually pick up dropped toys. (Note: They ARE long ribbons, so do take care and watch your babies with them.)


Second, Bath Buddy. For this one, just get an empty dish soap bottle. Fill it with warm water and a drop or two of food coloring- better yet, let your little one pick the colors and drop them in themselves. Then throw your kiddos in the tub and use this special, 'magic water' when you need to rinse the shampoo out of their hair. This is perfect for kids who hate getting water in their eyes/on their head, because they think it is so neat to have 'magic water' that is only used for rinsing- it also leaves their bath water just SLIGHTLY colored, which makes it fun for bath time, too!

Like I said, almost brain-dead ideas, but hey! If they help anybody, then awesome!

Extras: My Hunger Games Book Club Party

In the spirit of the Hunger Games, I decided to host a book club. Here's what I did! (I'll add pics of my party later...)

Starting off, everyone who walked in the door had the chance to vote for their favorite- Team Peeta or Team Gale! (Team Peeta one hands down at my book club....)

FOOD

For the food, I set one table, one half with the foods of the 'Capital' and one half with foods from District 12. I really had to do some guessing on the Capital side and really just tried to focus on fancy, over-the-top foods.

Capital Side

Crystal goblets and white china, set on a lace table cloth. And for that actual food?

*Mini cherry cheesecakes

*Bite sized key lime crumbles

*Fancy sliced French bread

*Strawberries and whipped cream

*Red velvet mini cupcakes

*Orange juice (HAVE to have that orange juice... they talk about it so much!)

District 12

Much simpler, set on a rough piece of woven brown cloth, served in stone and wood dishes. The food?

*Sliced Swiss cheese (reminiscent of the goat's cheese from Primm)

*Sliced apples (as mentioned in the book)

*Home-baked bread (Peeta't bakery, perhaps?)

*Pumpkin bread (seemed homey-and simple)

*Milk (served in a stone pitcher)

ACTIVIES

I kept these rather simple and book-based. We started with a quiz of over-the-top questions (I'll post a few- see how you do!)

(1) What Hunger Games did Haymitch win? (_____________th)

50^th

70^th

55^th

(2) What is the baker’s favorite meat?

(3) Who is the only male member of Katniss’ prep team?

(4) What score did Rue receive in training?

Pretty tough, right?

And the PRIZE if you got the most quiz questions right? Over-the-top make-up and nail polish, reminiscent of the Capital.

Then I doled out a simple question sheet to promote discussion of the book, with questions like:

· What was your favorite part?

· If you could change one thing what would it be and why?

· Which character do you think you would be in the Hunger Games?

· What part upset you the most?

· What do you feel was the point the author was trying to get across?

Then, I sent everyone home with little gift bags of some European chocolate.... not that Europe existed in the book, but I am sure there was plenty of delicious chocolate! Feel free to steal some ideas. If you are interested in just having my entire format for YOUR party, reply to this post and I'll e-mail you my whole text document with pictures, quizzes, and decor as an attachment. (It's a .doc file)

Thursday: 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies/Muffins

Are you ready for something easy? Delicious? Kid-friendly? Low-fat? Weight Watchers approved? I think I may have the recipe for you! This is a delicious recipe (egg free- so you can eat the dough without worry) that is almost impossible to mess up! What do you need?


Ingredients
*1 box of spice cake mix
*15 oz can (or half a 29 oz can) of pumpkin
*1 bag of chocolate chips

Mmm. All done!

Mmm... Mini Muffins...

 What do you do? Mix these three ingredients. At first, it will seem like it won't combine and that there aren't enough wet ingredients, but keep mixing- it combines fine. Once all together, spoon onto a greased cooking sheet for cookies, or into a muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 8-12 minutes (depending on the size of your cookie.) If you decide to use a muffin tin, know that the dough doesn't rise/expand much, so you can fill the muffin tins to the top without worry. Cookies are done when a toothpick comes out clean (minus melted chocolate, of course). These cookies really are delicious and surprisingly impressive. Enjoy!

Thursday: Vegan Street Tacos!

This lovely recipe is for my sister. Sometimes she says I don't make anything vegan. Well, I do! And not necessarily just because this is vegan.. more because they are DELICIOUS~! (And, easy to make)

Ingredients:
*Fresh guacamole (you can use my easy recipe
http://myamericanconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/04/thursday-freakin-awesome-and-easy.html)
*Diced tomatoes
*Chopped green leaf lettuce
*Chopped red onions
*Yellow corn tortillas
*Salt/pepper

I feel like I don't even need to tell you HOW to make them because they are so easy, but here goes anyhow!

*Fry the tortillas on both sides in a frying pan
*Put a dollop of guacamole on the tortilla
*Sprinkle tomatoes, lettuce, and onions on top
*Add salt and pepper to taste
*Scoop on salsa (if desired)


Serve them flat, like traditional street tacos, then fold one up and eat to your heart's delight! They are healthful, vegan, easy, delicious.... everything you could want from a food! Enjoy!

How to Clean IMPOSSIBLE Toilet Bowls

Dirty toilet bowls. Disgusting, no? But the WORST is a stained toilet bowl that you just can't get clean! This is a brief tutorial on how to get the most impossibly dirty toilet bowls clean again! What do you need? Just run to the dollar store and get:
1- The Works toilet bowl cleaner
2- Ajax cleanser
3- Wire scrubber

Step 1: Flush the toilet once and sprinkle Ajax cleanser generously into the bowl
Step 2: Don some plastic gloves and use the wire scrubber to just scrub the heck out of the stained places. You'll notice that the entire area that you scrub turns blackish-grey from the scrubber: That's ok! Keep scrubbing and scrubbin.
Step 3: Flush the toilet (to remove all remaining Ajax cleanser) and pour the Works toilet bowl cleaner all around the inside of the bowl. Use a normal toilet brush to wash off the blackish-grey left from the wire scrubber.
Step 4: Be surprised that your toilet bowl is now sparkling clean!

I used this to clean a toilet bowl where every other deep cleaning product and lime remover had failed. It worked!

Wednesday: Grapefruit Mint and 4 Other Ways to Healthfully Jazz Up Water

For this weeks Wellness-Wednesday, I wanted to give you some ideas on delicious ways to spritz up water. The right (or wrong) beverages can literally make you or break you when it comes to a healthy body weight. As great as a diet soda may be to cut calories, sometimes just a fresh look at water can be great way to quench your thirst naturally. These 'water recipes' are a few different ways to jazz up your water without 'adding to the luxury of your waistline.'

Grapefruit Mint
*1 sliced grapefruit and a 5-6 sprigs of chopped mint per 2 liters of water

Cucumber Lemon
*1 sliced cucumber and 1 sliced lemon per 2 liters of water

Lemon Mint
*1 sliced lemon and 5-6 sprigs of chopped mint per 2 liters of water

Strawberry Basil
*6 sliced strawberries and 3-4 sprigs of chopped basil per 2 liters of water

Citrus
*1/2 sliced grapefruit, 1 sliced lemon, and 1 sliced lime per 2 liters of water

Extras: How to Use Bleach to ACTUALLY WHITEN Your Clothes

I had a robe from Bath and Body Works that had become dingy. I didn't want to buy a new one- I was ready to try anything. So, I decided to go a little bleach-crazy- I had nothing to lose, I was about to throw it out anyhow! And so I learned how to ACTUALLY whiten clothes with bleach!

-Gather all of the clothes you want whitened (make sure they are sturdy and not delicate fabrics and that they don't have any colors at all, threads, etc.)
-Throw them in the washer on HOT and wait until it has been filled with water- then STOP the washer
-Add (believe it or not) 4-5 cups of bleach
-Allow to soak for a few hours
-Add laundry detergent and wash

You'll be shocked that what seemed un-whitenable actually turns pure white!

Sidenote: A few weeks after I wrote this, I started using DIY OxyClean that I just made at home- and while bleach is good to freshen up and whiten clothes, this DIY OxyClean just blows it out of the water in terms of stain remover. DEFINITELY check it out, especially for delicate fabrics.

(As I added to the comments below, please note that this method of using bleach really is only for sturdy white fabrics, not delicate or old fabrics. If you are in doubt, put a small piece of the shirt in the bleach water and let it sit to see how it stands up to it. If you have any qualms about the fabric, boil it instead in the DIY OXYCLEAN from above.)

Tuesday: How to Do Your Makeup in 2 Minutes

The Official Before-After

Sometimes, I feel lazy when it comes to getting ready and it feels like a hassle to do my makeup. So, one morning, when I felt really lazy, I told myself, "Just do your fastest routine. It won't be that bad." and so I timed myself. BOOM! Under two minutes. In the off-chance that this helps someone else out there, this is how I do my make-up in two minutes. (forgive me, I only have my own face to use an example)

My products of choice

1. Products:
-Good foundation (I liked Nu Skin's tinted moisturizer, because it gives a good cover, but feels like moisturizer
-Black eyeliner
-Bronze powder (got mine for .99 at Charlotte Russe)
-Light pink shimmer (from the dollar store, oh yeah!)
-Black mascara

Step 1: Apply foundation (25 seconds)


After step 1

Step 2: Use the bronze powder to dot your cheek bones and then brush over your eye area, avoiding the actual lid (5 seconds)

After step 2, 3, 4, and 5

All done!

Step 3: Using the pink shimmer, dot your cheek bones and then apply directly to your eyelid, underneath your eyebrow arch, and dot sparingly at the corner of both eyes (to brighten them up!) (7 seconds)

Step 4: Using your finger tips, blend the makeup on your cheek bones and on your eye lids so there are no define lines (10 seconds)
Step 5: Use the eye liner on just the outside corner of your eyes, focusing on the eye lids (15 seconds)

Step 6: Apply mascara (a good mascara can take a couple of coats, so use the rest of your time here)
ALL DONE! And you have a nice, beach-y summery look! Win.
















PS! Make sure to check back here every Friday for your (very good!) chance of winning something great!

Monday: When I Grow UP, I Wanna Be A Cowgirl, Baby

 I LOVE both of these pictures, but I am not sure which one I like best.... Hat and boots compliments of her Texan cowboy papa....

Extras: Another Japanese Poem I Like

This is another Japanese tanka from Tawara Machi, translated by the same Juliet Winters Carpenter. Again, I'm a big fan.

Extras: Japanese Poem I Love

This is an English translation of Tawara Machi's tanka from Sarada Kinenbi (Salad Anniversary) done by Juliet Winters Carpenter.

I found this in my translation book as I was studying Japanese and something about it really struck me. So, I just thought I'd share.

Friday: Pefect (Inexpensive) Mother's Day Gift for Little Fingers

This week's Crafty Friday project is for Mother's Day. Price to make? (depending on the bag) less than a buck! Win-win, right?

Potpourri Sachet Bag (for mom)

1. Send your kids out in the yard or to the park to collect various leaves and flowers
2. Dry the flowers/leaves by either tying them together with string and hanging them, or else by pressing them in between the pages of a large, heavy book (if you press them, make sure to put wax paper down first to protect the book)

3. Mix 1/2 cup of baby oil with 4 Tb of your favorite flavoring (vanilla, lemon, mint, etc.) or your favorite perfume/body spray
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of your dried flowers and leaves and sprinkle the baby oil/scent combination on to
5. Portion into sachet bags (make simple drawstring bags from extra fabric or buy them at the dollar store)



BOOM! Gift for mom? Check. Made by kids? Check. Low price? Double check. Actually a cool thing to have in the towel closet, linen closet, or drawers for freshening? Of course. SWEET!

Thursday: McDonald's Breakfast at Home- Save Money AND Calories

If anyone is familiar with my hubby, you will know that he adores McDonald's food- probably more than anything I can make. (Don't ask me why- I have no idea) So, I decided to make him some McDonald's at home- you save calories AND dinero. For our McDonald's meal, I made egg McMuffins and hashbrowns.

Healthier, because these hashbrowns are baked and not deep-fat-fried. Instead of eggs packed with preservatives and artificial cheese, these are made with 100% real cheddar and a simple egg/milk blend.

Hashbrowns
The way I made the hashbrowns is really similar to my crispy-roasted potatoes (http://myamericanconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/04/thursday-best-crispiest-roasted.html)
1- Grate well-washed potatoes with a cheese grater
2- Spread them on a greased cookie sheet that is lined with foil
3- Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are brown on the bottom
4- Broil for 2-4 minutes until the top of the potatoes are crispy and brown
5- Sprinkle with salt and pepper

BOOM! You make hashbrowns that are A: far cheaper than McDonald's and B: CRAZY better for you- not only are these crisp and delicious, they are HEALTHY! Boom!

Egg McMuffins
1- Bake layered refrigerator biscuits (usually 12-15 minutes at 350)

2- Mix 4 eggs with 1/4 cup of milk and pour into a small, greased frying pan at medium  to medium-low heat; cover with a lid and allow to cook for 10 minutes until cooked through
3- Slice the egg into fourths and layer on the biscuit with a slice of cheese and allow to warm in the oven on a cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is just melted

My Finished Meal

BOOM! Egg McMuffins! Far less expensive and far healthier! And let's admit it- easy as pie to make!

Here is my full meal- a nice glass of milk, plus I threw in some blackberry cinnamon rolls, since I had some extra biscuit dough from my McMuffins (they are only 4 ingredients and are crazy easy to make.....
http://myamericanconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/03/easy-4-ingredient-blueberryblackberry.html)


PS: Make sure to check back here every Friday for Freebie Friday!! Win something fabulous!

Accidental Workouts- 5 Workouts You Can Do Without Feeling Like You Are Excercising

It's honesty time. We all say that we don't have time to work out- but if you watch one TV show a day, then you have time to work out- it's just that sometimes we don't want to..... When it comes to real health, though, small changes that you can do for the rest of your life are the ones that are the most beneficial. So, for those of us looking to do a little extra exercise but without actually feeling like you are exercising, here are five ideas.


1. Specially plan your grocery shopping trip- head to a store like Wal Mart or Sam's Club. Instead of going first to produce, then frozen, grocery, dairy, and health care, mix it up- hit produce, and then head to the other end of the store for non foods. Go back for dairy, then go go for grocery. Stop and visit the clothes/DVD section, and finish with frozen. By making a route through the store that is winding instead of direct, you will do a lot of extra walking and therefore burn extra calories! Grocery shopping may take a little longer, but it will be worthwhile. (Every extra 15 minutes of walking= 58 calories)


2. What is your favorite place to shop? Leave you credit card and money at home and go window shopping at the mall- or a hardware store- or a garden shop- whatever it is that you enjoy. Just getting out and wandering around will make you burn extra calories, but since you will just be out looking at things you enjoy, you won't even really notice all the extra walking. (15 minutes of walking= 48 calories)


3. Take your child on a walk in a stroller, but throw some heavy books in the bottom for extra resistance. You'll likely be distracted by your child, the walk, etc., and won't even notice the extra work that you're doing. (15 minutes walking=58 calories)


4. What is the dirtiest place in your house? Plan for a deep clean! Scrubbing, washing, vacuuming... It's an easy little something you have to do anyway- so the cleaner your house, the thinner your waist line! Not too shabby! (15 minutes cleaning= 38 calories. 1 hour cleaning=152 calories)


5. It's Spring!!! Want to get out in your garden? Mow the lawn? Pull weeds? Do it! (15 minutes of gardening=52 calories. 1 hour of gardening= 208 calories!)


EXTRA: Make it a habit to park far away. Easier to get a spot and if you make it habit, you will be doing extra walking and burning extra calories for your whole life! (Though I confess I HATE parking far away...)


Come on- none of these are overly challenging- but all of them are little lifestyle changes you can make to help you stay in decent shape.

How to Clean Your Gross Plastic Containers

Let's face it. We've been there. Taco sauce, tomato soup, Spaghettios.... they wreck havoc on your plastic containers! Here is an easy how-to to clean your containers out.






1. Fill almost to the top with water and a squirt of dish soap
2. Add 1/4 cup of bleach
3. Microwave the container for 40 seconds, or until the solution is boiling
4. Allow to rest until the water is luke-warm
5. Wash out your container and it is as good as new!

PS: Any qualms about using bleach on plastic food containers? Then don't do this. Simple as that.

Tuesday: Improve Your Marriage (Part 4)

How-to Tuesdays: This is part 4 in the series "How to Improve Your Marriage this April". Each week in April, I've posted a few tips or tricks on things you can do to make married life a little sweeter. Today, we are going to follow up with one of the most important things you can do.



Improve Your Marriage (Part 1)

Improve Your Marriage (Part 2)

Improve Your Marriage (Part 3)


Week 4
Focus on changing YOURSELF and NOT on changing your spouse. This is the one time in married life when it is ok to make thinks all about you. Some learn this secret early on, while others try for years to change their spouse into exactly what they want them to be. Real change can only come from within- and while you can influence someone else in their changes, again, real change can only come from within. Meaning: You  cannot change your spouse- only your spouse can change your spouse.

So, stop trying to change them! Take a minute and change yourself instead!

For example, if you are upset that your wife wakes you up when she get ready in the morning, don't get angry and try to get her to be quieter when she gets up. Instead, try to not get upset by being woken up. Get to the point that even if she wakes you up ten times, you can just let it happen without getting upset.

Let's say that your husband won't take out the garbage until it is overflowing and it drives you CRAZY. All you can think is, it is SOO easy to just take it out- why does he wait? And then each time you see that full trash can you get upset. Instead of hoping and praying that he will eventually just take it out when you want him to, change your mindset. Decide that a full trash can is not the worst thing a spouse can do and that it won't kill you to let it sit until it gets full. Not only will you learn to make yourself more content this way, your husband will appreciate not being nagged for every little thing that he does that bothers you.

You will be far more successful in changing that way you look at things than you will at changing how your spouse acts.

Remember, you have the greatest control over the way that YOU do things- so instead of fretting over every thing that your husband or wife does that drive you crazy, think instead of what you can do to change yourself so that those things don't bother you.

I guarantee that this will result in less fighting and more domestic bliss.

Monday: 5 Things You Want to Know BEFORE You Go To a Restaurant

After last week's article (Employee-Only Grocery Store Secrets) got thousands of hits, I was trying to think about some other tips I might be able to share that might be beneficial to everyone.

I've worked at a breakfast 24-hour restaurant, steak and sushi, and even an all American spot. (Not to mention a mom-n-pop burger joint.) So, I thought I'd share some employee-only restaurant tips that will help make your restaurant experience better!

1. You REALLY can send food back if it isn't what you want- Just tell them what the plate is missing and send it back for a better or different dish. No one will spit in your food or be overly upset. People really send their food back often, so don't stress it too much.

2. You will get better service if your server knows they'll see you again- Drop a statement about how this is your favorite spot, or how you might be coming back next week with you mother, whatever the case might be- if your server knows they are going to see you again, they will treat you better to avoid awkward future confrontations.

3. Get an extra drink. If you walk into a restaurant and see that it is swamped with people, ask your server to bring you 2 Cokes instead of one- just say, "Oh, I'm a quick drinker- bring me by an extra." Even the best of servers can't get back to you every few minutes when it is busy, so ensure that you will not go thirsty you'll need by getting an extra one from the get-go!

4. Worried about freshness? Ask for an addition/subtraction. If you are worried that your food isn't being made fresh to order for you, make a small change when you place your order: extra onions, no dressing, plus tomatoes- whatever the change might be, it will require the cooks in the back to make yours different, and therefore, fresh to order for you.

5. Don't make comments about prices to your server. Let's be honest- your server is there to make money. If your server thinks they won't make good money from you, there 's a good chance your service will be less than perfect. The fastest way to know someone will be a poor tipper? Comments about the price of food. Just don't say anything about it and your server will have higher hopes of getting a better tip giving YOU better service!

Just a little extra knowledge, but it will help you have a better time when you go out!

Thursday: Best, Crispiest Roasted Potatoes You'll Ever Eat

This may be one of the great wonder-foods in the world. It is:
*Healthy
*Delicious
*Cheap

WHAT? A triple hitter? You had better believe it! The ingredients and prep are simple- what makes these potatoes amazing is the cooking method.

Ingredients:
6 potatoes, diced (scrubbed clean)
1 Tb garlic salt
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder

Spices!

Step 1: Put the diced potatoes and spices all into a giant Ziploc bag and shake until the potatoes are coated in spices (don't skip this step- if you just sprinkle spices over your potatoes, the ashes that hit the pan and not the potatoes will turn to ash while broiling)

Shake and shake...

Step 2: Place the potatoes on a tin-foil covered cookie sheet. Spread them out evenly.

Ready to bake

Step 3: Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until the bottoms of the potatoes are crisp

Step 4: Turn on the broil function of your oven- let the potatoes broil for 2-3 minutes until crisp on top

Step 5: Enjoy your awesome potatoes- prepared with no oil, butter, or grease- awesome.

Wednesday: Employee-Only Grocery Store Secrets

As I was thinking about what kind of an article I could write for this week’s Wonderful Wednesdays, I tried to think of something that I know that most people don’t- some kind of knowledge that I could share. And, as I thought it over, I realized that since I had worked at a grocery store in nearly every capacity for about a million years, there might be something I could share that I had learned there. So, here goes. 5 things most people don’t know about grocery stores.

1. When buying meat, milk, and bread, buy from the back and bottom because grocery stores rotate: meaning, oldest in front, newest in back. Pull your food from the back, bottom, behind, and underneath, and you will usually get a product that is a few days fresher.

2. Cheese normally keeps for MONTHS past when you buy it- check the expiry date on the back. A lot of the time, you’ll have 4-6 months until it expires- so you can feel free to plenty when it goes on sale.

3.Expiry dates vs. Code Dates: This is an important, albeit well-kept secret of grocery stores. Sometimes, in place of an expiration or best by date, there will just be a mix of numbers. The reason? Grocery store employees go through and check expiry dates to make sure that products on the shelves are fresh. If they are expired, a grocery store can send that product back to the manufacturer and get a refund. Some companies don’t want their product sent back-they don’t want to have to pay for a refund of expired food if their product doesn’t sell. Their sneaky way around this? Code dates. They are required by law to have some kind of expiration date on their products, so they make a special code for dates: Example: A45=November, AA=11, SD= 2012, and so on- so all you see on the label is a mix of numbers and letters (A45AASD) nonsensical to you and grocery store employees. Since no one except the manufacturer knows the code, they don’t have to worry about expired product being returned to them. Be safe: buy products with an expiry or best-by date.

4. When it comes to dairy, bigger is better. If you are at a store that is always jam-packed, THAT is where you want to buy your dairy products. Not every store is big or busy enough for a daily dairy shipment- so if you are at a store that is cram packed, usually it means that their dairy is sold so quickly that you are ensured absolutely fresh product from the truck that morning, rather than a shipment from 4-5 days ago.

5.  Produce employees are supposed to sample their wares: Want to know if something is fresh? Not sure if that batch of oranges is good? Find an employee and ask them to cut it open, or give you a slice to make sure it is good- they won’t say no.

EXTRA: Here’s one extra tip: When it comes to canned and bottled food, expiration dates really are not expiration dates. Nearly all canned and bottled foods are good for months and often YEARS past their expiration date. Why? No company ever wants to be sued. Better super safe than super sorry, so they put their expiration dates far in advance of the real expiration. (NOT true of boxed cereals- you will definitely notice that cereals past their expiration date are less than fresh and yummy)

Hope this helps you feel like a pro next time you go to the grocery store.



PS: Make sure to check back every Friday for Freebie Fridays! Your (very good) shot at winning something great!

Tuesday: Improve your Marriage (Part 3)

I hope all is going well for you- we are up to week three in April and there is a new tip for you. This one will be a little less complicated- If you are still working on Improve Your Marriage (Part 1) and  Improve Your Marriage (Part 2)- you probably have your hands full! If you feel like you can handle it, here's part 3!

Use your actions to show love. You are probably already doing a lot of different things to show that you love your spouse, but try each day to do one thing EXTRA for your spouse: Make breakfast for him if you normally don’t- Take over one of her chores- make the bed if that is normally what he does. Whatever you choose, just do one thing for your spouse that you normally won’t do. As you continue to try to do go above and beyond to do something kind, you will notice that your spouse will likely do a little more here and there- and it will turn into a cycle of both of you working and helping one another.

Definitely a simple thing that will make life a little sweeter.

Post a reply with any good experiences you have! I’d love to hear. Doing great? Continue on with Improve Your Marriage (Part 4)!

Extras: Truth of Pinterest

Monday: 5 Tips for Working Moms

1. Clear your mind when you get off of work. Before walking in the door after work each day, take a minute or two to mentally switch-over from work stresses to home life. Take a deep breath (or two or three or four). The last thing you want your husband or children to associate you coming home with a cranky mom.

2. Make time for you. When you work, it sometimes feels like between your job, family, house, and husband, you have not a minute for anything extra. But, if you can carve out a little time for yourself, just a long soak in the tub, or a brief outing to a movie, the time that remains will be more productive because you will be better rested and less stressed at your family.

3. Spend time with you husband, sans children. Depending on you and your husband’s schedule, you may not be able to spend time your husband alone very often. However, this time should be a priority. Remember that your relationship with your husband affects everything: how well you can work, how smoothly the home runs, how your children react to both of you, etc. Regardless of your life’s schedule, you need to spend time with your hubby.  The time you spend just you and him will have the greatest impact on your family- happy mom and dad leads to happy children.

4. Have an ordered home, NOT a spotless one. Be realistic: YOU WORK! Add to that your relationship with your hubby, each of your children, cooking, cleaning- it is not necessary to have a spic-n-span house. Spend some time to make sure that your house in in order: Meaning, clean, knowing where everything (or, most things) are, but don’t sweat it if your house doesn’t look like a Swiffer commercial.

5. Make sure your children know they come before your work. Sometimes work can be stressful- it can take a lot out of you and you really might not be able to do every single thing that you want to do with your kids- that’s life. HOWEVER. Make sure that in all you do, your children know that you value time with them far more than what you do at work. Actually take them aside, regardless of their age, and explain that mommy has to work to help support the family to pay for food, clothes, and a house, but that she only does it because she loves them. You never want your child to grow up thinking their mother loves work more than time spent with them.

There are lots of reasons to work- regardless of your reason to work, remember that family always needs to come before work. Good luck to working moms out there everywhere!

P.S. Make sure to check back here every Friday for the weekly giveaway! You have a GREAT shot at winning something fabulous!

Friday: Baby Onesie Swimsuit Bikini

As I was out hunting for a swimsuit for my little darling for summer, I found that I was too cheap to buy any of the suits that I found that were cute- when I was inspired by a swimsuit on a onesie! I already had paint, ribbon, and a white onesie... so I thought, why not just make my own? It wasn't tought at all and turned out even better than I had imagined in my mind.




Materials
*White and red fabric paint
*Sponge pain brushes
*Masking tape
*White onesie
*Ribbon/ rickrack
*Needle/ thread



Step 1: Using scissors, cut out rounded pieces of masking tape to be where the 'leg holes' go, then use just straight pieces to create a bikini outline on the onesie

Step 2: Using your red paint, use a slow, controlled brush stroke to paint the entire bikini area. Let dry for 3-4 hours, then peel the masking tape off.

Tape pattern

Step 3: Using the bottom of a sponge brush, make dabs of white paint for polka dots. Let dry for 3-4 hours.

Step 4: Using your needle and thread, use rick-rack for the bottom of the bikini top and the top of the bikini bottoms

Just needs ribbons and rick rack

Step 5: Use ribbon to make two small bows: Sew them to the top of the bikini top

DONE! And it is just darling.