We can really be kept busy as moms doing ebay when we have numerous items to ship each week. One of the daily tasks  which is a must, is to find time to  prepare meals.  I have listed  some ideas below, I hope  that it will be helpful.

7 Quick and Easy Dinner Time Ideas

It’s 6:00 p.m. the kids are hungry, homework needs to be done, you’re stressed and then they ask… “Mom, what’s for dinner?”

It’s not easy juggling our busy lives while trying to feed our families a hot nutritious dinner everyday.  These 7 quick and easy dinner ideas will help take the stress out of family meal times.

1 – Plan a Menu – This does take a little organizing ahead of time but it’s definitely worth the effort.  Find a few minutes during the weekend and plan your meals for the upcoming week.  Write a quick menu, do your shopping and stick the menu on your fridge.  Every morning quickly glance at it and take out the foods that need thawing and plan ahead how much time you need to prepare the meal.

2 – Befriend the Crockpot – Okay, this little invention may not be the coolest kitchen gadget around but it can definitely be a lifesaver.  With a little planning you can have a nutritious dinner ready before the kids can even say “mom…”

3 – The Casserole is Back – Similar to the crockpot but great for days when you forget to plan ahead.  Casseroles work great with leftovers or just about any items you can find in your pantry.  Throw together some pasta, tuna, corn kernels, peas and cream for a quick meal.  Casseroles made with rice or potatoes are just as easy.  Keep a few easy recipes on hand and add or omit ingredients according to what you have in your pantry.

4 – Easy, Versatile, Pasta – By far the easiest way to quickly throw together a healthy family dinner.  To avoid boredom try to avoid the usual jar of sauce and pasta dinner.  Try this, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over very low heat and add one crushed garlic bulb, stir for about a minute and add a can of drained crab meat, the juice of one lemon and a little salt and pepper to taste, and finally add a little chopped cilantro or parsley.  Serve over your pasta with some garlic bread on the side for a delicious meal in minutes.  

5 – Eggs Incredible Eggs – Eggs aren’t only for breakfast, they’re also great for quick dinners.  Make an omelet and fill with a little ham and cheese, you can also add some chopped tomato, onions or mushrooms.  Serve along with a salad and some bread.  Or make a Spanish tortilla.  Scrub, peel and thinly slice a couple of new or small potatoes.  Add to a sauce pan with a little water and boil until soft, about 8 minutes.  Add a little oil to a nonstick frying pan, add the potatoes, scramble eggs and a little chopped onion (optional) cook on low until the bottom starts to set.  Then stick the frying pan under a hot grill until the top of the tortilla sets.  Serve with a side salad.  

6 – Sandwich Bar – Some days you just don’t have the time or energy to cook a hot meal, but you can still feed your family a nutritious meal in the way of sandwiches. Put out some bread rolls (whole wheat is best), add a platter of cheese, ham, turkey, tuna or any other favorite fillings.  Add another platter of chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and any other favorite veggies. Now let your kids put together their own sandwiches.  Serve with some pretzels, a salad or cut up veggies and dip, a little hopeful but worth a try.

7 – Wrap It – Wraps are great for quick dinners.  You fill them with just about anything.  For a Mexican wrap cook a little ground beef, drain and fill wrap.  Add some chopped tomatoes, grated cheese, sour cream or guacamole.   You can also fill it with a little heated tuna with some corn kernels and a little mayonnaise or try scrambled eggs, chopped ham and tomatoes. Leftover chicken with cheese and lettuce works great too.  

Potty training - what age to start?

Some very lucky parents find their child easily potty trains without many issues.  Other parents aren’t so lucky.  Some will try for months without result or just as they are making progress the child seems to regress.

It’s not easy trying to decide what the right age for potty training your child is,  The recommended age by many pediatricians is somewhere between 18 months to 36 months.  

However, this doesn’t mean that as soon as your child turns 18 months you have to rush out and buy a potty.  This is just a guideline and you should use your own judgment as to what age is best for your child to start, after all you know your child best.

Here are a few signs that may show your child is ready to start potty training:

She starts bending down or squats when she needs to go.

He goes to a more private place when he feels the need to go.

She starts showing an interest in your toilet habits by looking or asking what you’re doing.

He feels uneasy when his diaper is wet or filled and show relieve when you clean him.

She shows awareness of what she’s doing or will actually tell you when she’s going.

He understands basic instructions and interacts and responds to questions.


If your child is showing some of the signs above, it may mean she’s ready to start potty training.  There are times though when a child will show the signs and still not want to sit on the potty.  If your child refuses to sit down or wear big boy underpants then it may be best to wait a little longer.  

Some children may show signs of being ready mentally or emotionally but physically their body may not be ready. They may just not be able to hold it for very long and this will lead to many accidents.

In cases like this, rather than struggle to potty train your child it may just be best to wait.  When a child is fully ready for training they should respond well and train in a fairly short amount of time.  When children take a little longer than expected it may be because they started training too early.

Ultimately the decision lies in your hands and you know your child best.  You can always give it a try and see how your child reacts or you can buy a potty and put it out so your child can start getting familiar with it.  

Here are some funny expressions made by kids which has been circulating on emails.
    

  
   Why God made Moms - BRILLIANT
  Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions!!

   Why did God make mothers?
   1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
   2. Mostly to clean the house.
   3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

   How did God make mothers?
   1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
   2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring
   3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger
  parts.

   What ingredients are mothers made of?
   1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in
  the world and one dab of mean.
   2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use
  string, I think.

   Why did God give you Your mother & not some other mom?
   1. We're related
   2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

   What kind of little girl was your mom?
   1 My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
   2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty
  bossy.
   3. They say she used to be nice.

   What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
   1. His last name.
   2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk
  on beer?
   3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to
  chores?

   Why did your mom marry your dad?
   1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
   2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
   3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

   Who's the boss at your house?
   1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof
  ball.
   2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the
  bed.
   3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

   What's the difference between moms & dads?
   1. Moms work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.
   2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
   3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause
  that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
   4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

   What does your mom do in her spare time?
   1. Mothers don't do spare time.
   2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

   What would it take to make your mom perfect?
   1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of
  plastic surgery.
   2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

   If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
   1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid
  of that.
   2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did
  it and not me.
   3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of
  her head.



 

Baby Teething Remedies

Teething normally occurs in babies between the ages of six and nine months. Some common symptoms of teething include cranky moods, swollen gums, drooling, fever, and excessive biting on objects.

You should expect your baby to be fussy, as her gums are in an extremely tender state during the teething process. She might even refuse to eat or take her bottle if she is uncomfortable or in pain.

Here are some common baby teething remedies that will help ease your baby’s discomfort:

* Rub his gums with your finger. Remember to wash your hands before doing so.

* Soak one end of a clean bath cloth in water. Place the wet cloth in a refrigerator. Once chilled, let your baby bite or suck on the cold cloth.

* Chill a teething ring or teething toy in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Let your baby chew on the cold toy.

* Offer your baby a frozen banana (with adult supervision). Be sure to freeze the banana thoroughly before giving it to your baby. Cut the banana in half to make it easier for your baby to hold.

* Use an OTC (over the counter) teething gel. These gels are specially formulated to be safe for your baby. Read and follow the instructions on the package carefully before applying the gel to your baby’s gums.

* Administer Tylenol or Motrin, for pain and fever as recommended by your pediatrician. If your baby has trouble sleeping at night, consider giving them a dose of pain medication just before bedtime.  If you’re unsure of what pain medications to give your baby, make sure to check with your pediatrician first.

It is very necessary to established a schedule if you are a mom working from home

Establishing a Bedtime Routine for Your Toddler

Toddlers certainly have their own ideas about what they want or don’t want.  Unfortunately, going to bed falls into the “don’t want” category.  Getting a cranky toddler to go to bed is no walk in the park.

The best thing you can do is to establish a bedtime routine for your toddler.  Toddlers need routine to feel safe and also to learn their boundaries.  It will take a little patience and perseverance, but gradually your toddler will start to cooperate.

Here are a few Ideas:

Give him soothing bath before bedtime - This could be considered one of the oldest and most successful bedtime routines for kids. A warm bath will soothe and help your toddler calm down before bed.  You can add a little lavender or chamomile oil to help your little one relax. Try to keep things calm and don’t add too many toys to the bath.  This is a time for your toddler to relax.

Toddlers love good story – Your toddler loves listening to the sound of your voice.  Engage her in a bedtime story to help her drift off to sleep.  Also try making up stories instead of reading.  Include your child as one of the characters and talk about things your child will find interesting.  Regular bedtime stories and reading to your child will help influence her interests and develop her creativity.

Sing a Lullaby – The long loved lullaby does just that, it helps lull babies and toddlers to sleep.  Your voice and lulling rhythm of the song will give your toddler security and calm him down.  You can also play soft music in their rooms.  Just watch the reaction of your toddler.  Sometimes even low music can stimulate or irritate very sleepy toddlers.

Don’t Surprise Him – Not when it comes to bedtime.  About 15 minutes before you start your bedtime routine let your toddler know.  Try not to say it’s time for bed in 15 minutes instead say it’s time for a story or a bath in 15 minutes.  Some toddlers will automatically go into overdrive if they hear the word bed.

Remind him again about 5 minutes before the time.  You can also get him to help you tidy up the toys as a way of preparing for the next activity, the bedtime routine. Once it’s time to go, gently tell him that it’s time for a story or bath and help him to the bedroom. Your toddler may try to think of a million excuses or things she needs to do at this time but remain calm and insist that it’s time to go.

Don’t Rush Him – Toddlers really don’t like being rushed.  As a fully fledged parent of a toddler you already know the patience you need to exhibit doing the simplest things like getting your toddler in and out of the car.  Bedtime is no different.  

If you’re rushing and putting the emphasis on getting them to sleep then your toddler will pick up on that and lash out.  Try to place the emphasis on spending quiet, quality time with your toddler.  Allow yourself plenty of time so that you can get through the whole bedtime routine without rushing and be flexible and allow for little glitches in your routine.  

Don’t Give In – Speak to your toddler before hand about your new bedtime routine, warn him soon before the time.  When it’s time be firm and consistent.  Even the most reasonable of toddlers, will push their boundaries when allowed.  It’s a normal part of growing up and development.  Remember your toddler looks to you to make all the grownup and important decisions for him.

Sleep is important for all of us and more so for young children.  Be consistent in your bedtime routine and even if things don’t go well at first keep it up.  If you’re consistent your toddler will eventually come around.

The terrible twos…Even the most dignified parent has been left red-faced and wanting to be swallowed into the ground while their toddler is having a public meltdown.

Here are a few easy ideas for avoiding toddler tantrums:

Don’t Let Them Get Over Tired – Don’t let your toddler become too tired.  Set a regular nap routine and try to stick to it, and make sure he goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets enough sleep during the night.  Tiredness is often the first reason for a tantrum.  

Keep Sugar Levels Stable- Don’t let your toddler’s blood sugar levels dip too low.  This will make him irritable and tired, the tantrum will soon follow.  Make sure he has plenty of small nutritious snacks throughout the day to provide him with a steady source of energy to avoid blood sugar dips.

Give Them Time - Allow enough time for activities like getting dressed, brushing their hair and getting in and out of the car.  Your toddler will want to do a lot of these things on his own and rushing him is a sure way to start a tantrum.  Give him a little extra time and let him try to be independent by allowing him to do certain things for himself.

Put it Away – Is there a certain item that always causes your toddler to have a tantrum?  A food that’s only for after dinner or an item he shouldn’t have.  Then put it where he can’t see it.  Out of sight, out of mind, is a great way of avoiding tantrums.  

Ignore It -  This is easier said than done and of course it depends where your child is having his tantrum.  If you’re in the middle of the supermarket you can’t just walk away or ignore your child especially if they’re grabbing or breaking things.  In this instance it may be best to gently pick up your child and take him outside or to an area away from people and noise.  Give him a few minutes to calm down and a big hug.  

If your child is having a tantrum in a safe place like at home, then it’s best to walk away until he calms down. Make sure he can’t hurt himself or anything or anyone else and just walk away.  Once he’s finished give him a hug and talk about what he’s feeling.  

Give Him a Hug – Many times your child just needs to be held and needs you to help him control his emotions.  If he’s in the middle of a tantrum try gently hugging him and just hold him.  A lot of the times this will completely diffuse the tantrum.  Be sensitive to his reactions and if you see your hug is only making him more upset then give him a little space instead or try a different approach.