A Day in the Life of a Super Mom: A Mommy Blog: mommy blog

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

National Park Week: Get Into Participating National Parks for Free!!!

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." ~John Muir

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National Park week is finally upon us! (April 20-26, free days are April 22-26) This is a great time to teach your youngins' about how important nature and keeping our Earth in tip top shape, really is. And... most national parks waive their admission fees! That's right... you can get into participating national parks for free!! My family loves to go out and be one (well, six) with nature. It's an awesome time to bond with the kids and also a good way to exercise my useless Jeopardy! knowledge. (My kids are quite impressed with my ability to name every animal, plant, and insect in sight.)

Scroll down and see if a park near you is included. They are indexed by state:

Alaska
Denali National Park and Preserve

Arizona
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Chiricahua National Monument
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Grand Canyon National Park
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Petrified Forest National Park
Pipe Spring National Monument
Saguaro National Park
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Tonto National Monument
Tumacacori National Historical Park
Tuzigoot National Monument
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Wupatki National Monument

Arkansas
Fort Smith National Historic Site
Pea Ridge National Military Park

California
Cabrillo National Monument
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lava Beds National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument
Pinnacles National Monument
Sequoia National Park
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Yosemite National Park

Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Colorado National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Hovenweep National Monument
Mesa Verde National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Cleaning in a Hurry

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~Lao Tzu

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If y'all are like me, cleaning is something that you do deliberately and thoroughly. You at But on occasion, your husband may just tell you while you are watching every episode of "Survivorman" on Netflix, that his best friend is on his way over. And this time the house is a mess because you have been learning to survive in the event that you're lost at sea for 7 days. So you jump up and start aimlessly trying to straighten up the house. Well, I have perfected the "get your house clean in 10 minutes" routine. Ready...set...go!

1. The Kitchen/Dining Room: I know it may be hard, but don't worry about getting this area spotless. It's pretty easy to "fake" spotless in this area.

- Dishes/sink: Make sure you tackle this part first. Especially if you have a lot of dirty ones sitting in the sink. A dishless sink actually gives the illusion of a cleaner kitchen, even if the kitchen around them, is a wreck. So when I wanna take care of these in a hurry, I put all the big pots and pans in the oven, and quickly fill up my dishwasher (make sure you unload any clean dishes). I don't rinse the dishes or even perfectly arrange them. I just fit them in the best way they will go. Instant dishless sink! Once company hits the road, you can go ahead and wash them the way you're supposed to. If you don't have a dishwasher, utilize as much of the oven as you can. You may also use the drawer at the bottom.

Once all of the dishes have been removed from the sink, wipe it out with a paper towel, making sure you get rid of any food. Then I like to spray it down with a bleach and water solution and let it sit. It cleans the sink and also gives off that clean bleach smell that smells like you've been cleaning for hours. Once the friend leaves, you can wipe the sink down again or rinse bleach away.

-Junk on the counter: I collect tons of plastic shopping bags from the grocery store and this is when they particularly come in handy. Grab a bag and throw away all trash on the counter. Tie it up and throw it in the trash can once it's full. Next, wet a rag (aka dish/wash cloth for you non-southerners) and wipe down counters and stove top quickly.

-Floor: So there's two ways to handle this one. My favorite is to quickly sweep and push the pile of debris to behind the trash can. Lazy I know, but this is if you're in one heck of a hurry. The second way is to grab out that ol' trusty vacuum cleaner, set it on the lowest setting and go over the floor quickly. Don't worry about mopping, there's not enough time ("No time, there's never any time!!!" as quoted from Jessie Spano on Saved by the Bell when she od'd on caffeine pills). Spray any visible icky spots with windex and wipe up with a paper towel.

-Dining Room Table: Make sure there's no dishes or food on the table. Wipe down with a damp rag.

2. The Living Room: Remember those plastic bags from the kitchen portion of my post? Grab as many as you can and start filling them up! Use one for any trash and debris and toss it in the garbage can. Then use any extra ones to throw toys, clothes, books, etc. into. Now this doesn't have to be perfect, just presentable. Take those bags and stack them into the nearest closet. You can take them out later and organize everything. I actually designate a corner of my living room just for my son's toys so if you do this too, just toss all toys in that corner. Even though that corner may be in disarray, if the floor is clean, that corner will just look "lived in". Don't worry about cleaning end tables or coffee tables. If the floor is clean, the whole living room will look clean. Vacuum only visible parts of the floor. This no time to clean under the couch and behind chairs. Just the parts of the floor you can see. If you have candles or oil burners, LIGHT THEM! Good smells=illusion of cleaner than a 10 minute clean. Make sure all pillows and cushions are perfectly arranged on furniture because that pulls everything together. Since I have 4 kids, my furniture isn't in pristinecondition. I have a pretty large stain on the arm of my couch and so I just toss an accent throw strategically over the arm so that it looks "designer" like.

3. The Bathroom: I'm lucky enough to have 3 bathrooms. That's awesome with a house teeming with estrogen, but it sucks for when you have company and are a little behind on cleaning. That's why I only clean one of them for guests. I close the doors to ALL the rooms, EXCEPT for that one bathroom I'm gonna clean for guests. Cleaning the bathroom is a lot like cleaning the kitchen, minus the dishes. Use some more plastic bags and clean up any trash and clothes. Toss the trash bag in the trash can and the other ones can go in the tub. Just pull the curtain closed. If for some reason you don't have a tub with a curtain, these bags can go either under the sink if there's a cabinet, or in the nearest closet. Wet a rag and wipe down the sink and the toilet. Once again spray some bleach/water solution in the sink and in the toilet. Don't worry about cleaning it just yet. The bleach will clean as it sits and also give off that famous clean smell. Do the floor like you did for the kitchen.

The secret to cleaning in a hurry is paying attention to the important VISIBLE areas, while cutting corners on the not so important areas. I also recommend drinking a couple of cups of coffee for an added boost! To stay up to date with my posts, please feel free to subscribe and if you have any tips you would like to add, I would love to hear them!

~XoXo Jess

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

5 Family Friendly Spring Break Vacation Destinations

"We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings." ~Erma Bombeck

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*If you're new to my blog, please take a second to subscribe so you can stay up to date with all of my posts!*

Ahhh, it's that time of year again. Kids are out of school, college kids clog up the interstates heading for the beaches... Yes, I'm talking about SPRING BREAK! Down here in the south, it is a tradition to hit Panama City Beach, Florida if you're a college student, but I've been there as a teen, and I must say, it isn't my idea of a family friendly environment. I'm sure there are places to take your family there, but I'm not really interested in my children seeing a bunch of under-age drinkers stumbling around and getting into fights at the beach. Ok, so growing up has turned me into a bit of a cynic, but I want my kids to have fun not become traumatized. (Keep in mind, I'm PMSing haha...ha)

So I have done one of the things that I do best (scour the 'net), for some ways to keep your kids innocent this spring break. Now keep in mind, these suggestions aren't all super cheap but I wanted to throw in some variety in the event that you can afford to go a little crazy this year.

#1- Atlantis Resort, Bahamas:

Totally out of my price range this spring break but that doesn't mean I've completely written it off for future vacays. Definitely on my family bucket list.

Plan Your Atlantis Vacation

Atlantis For Kids


Atlantis Resort

For the next 12 days , Atlantis Resort will also be offering a spring special. Prices start at $199 per night with a $300 instant airfare credit on a 6 night stay. Click the link below for more information:

Atlantis Spring Specials

#2: Orlando:

According to about.com, Orlando is the #1 place for family-style spring break. And it's no wonder! Orlando is PACKED with family friendly things to do! Of course there is Walt Disney World and Universal, but there's more to Orlando than that! You can find events just for spring break, also. Click the links below to see what all Orlando has to offer:

Things to do in Orlando

Orlando Spring Break for Families

Orlando Spring Break - Beauty and Beast at Disney World

Picture above from: about.com

#3 St. Simons Island, Ga

Now if you're fortunate enough to live in the South, you may have heard of St. Simons Island. This is where we have been vacationing for most of my thirty years of life. It started when I was a baby and now it's where I take my kids. This place is the epitome of laid back, coastal living. The spanish moss hanging from the live oaks are reason enough to keep returning year after year. I have only been here for Spring Break once, but it's a great place to take the kids.

We always hit up the alleged haunted lighthouse which sustains breathtaking views of the Atlantic. Still have yet to see a ghost though. The stairs are a little steep so make sure you hold on tight to little ones hands. And there are quite a few of these steps. But the view at the top is well worth it. It's also home to a small museum showcasing some cool artifacts.

Hours of Operation
Monday thru Saturday 10a.m. - 5p.m.
Sunday 1:30p.m. - 5p.m.
Last climb 4:30 p.m.

Admission:

$10 for Adults
$5 for Ages 6-11
No admission charge for CGHS members and children under 6

We also frequent the pier in the village. It's free, unlike the one on Tybee Island. It's an awesome place to take kids, (just keep a good eye on them), because of the different sea faring creatures that are caught. Last vacation, a man reeled in a HUGE sting ray. The kids were really excited. You can also rent your own crab cages or fishing poles at the local bait shop a few yards away from the entrance.

I could honestly talk about this place all day so go ahead and click on the link for more information:

ExploreStSimons

Picture above from: www.goldenisles.com

#4 The Everglades:

I've been here as well so I can say that I actually know what I'm talking about on this one too. Aside from St. Simons, taking this once in a lifetime vacation was definitely my favorite. In my opinion, the best camping for families in the Everglades would be Flamingo. It's at the most southern part of mainland Florida and it's AMAZING! The place where we camped was a once-marsh-turned-into-campsites. And it's right beside the ocean! We woke up to dolphins playing near the shore every morning. There's also a movie screen where they show some good nature films. And there was tons of wildlife of course. Manatees like to hang out at the marina, there's bald eagles, and what would the Everglades be without the almighty alligator? Saw TONS of them. Click the link below to plan your trip to the Everglades!

Florida Everglades

Picture above from: www.florida-everglades.com

#5: the Florida Keys:

After we hung out in the swamps for awhile, we would leave to check out what the Keys had to offer. The beaches are like you've never seen before. The water is so pristine and blue, it's breathtaking. There are tons of things to do on the Keys, as well. They have quite a few places where you can swim with dolphins, which is cool. Also, make sure you make a trip to Key West and get your families picture taken with the famous 90-Miles-from-Cuba buoy. Believe it or not, that buoy is what fueled my trip to Key West.

Plan Your Florida Keys Vacay

Picture above from: www.fla-keys.com

So there ya have folks! Some of the best family spring break vacations, at least in my opinion. Please let me know if you have any more family friendly vacation ideas! Thanks for stopping by and may you all have a fun and safe spring break!

~XoXo Jess

Monday, April 1, 2013

Spring Cleaning: House Cleaning Like a Boss...

"Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world." ~Virgil A. Kraft

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Winter here in Georgia seemed to last a little longer than usual this year. It just started warming up to the seventies a couple of days ago, so I haven't been in much of a spring cleaning mood, plus the fact that I'm PMSing has added some extra laziness to my days. But alas! Spring has finally sprung down South! Now with that said, another obstacle has decided to put a hitch in my spring cleaning. Kids are out of school all week for spring break! But instead of letting that throw off my cleaning planning, I have decided to delegate some duties to my brood. Who knows, maybe we will be more productive than I am anticipating.

I have been scouring Pinterest and the Internet like crazy to come up with the perfect cleaning plan-of-action. We have only been living in our new home for a couple of months now, but that doesn't mean it hasn't had time to accumulate some dirt and dust bunnies. On the contrary, it has gotten dirtier than I thought it would. So go ahead and feel free to check out these great plans to get your house sparkling like the beautiful spring sunshine.

1. Quick and Easy:

Here is a nice list with some click-able links to get you started in your spring cleaning regimen. I really feel like spring cleaning should be something you put a lot of effort in to but that doesn't mean it has to take you days to complete.

Floor to Ceiling Guide to Spring Cleaning


From: www.apartmenttherapy.com

2. Spring Cleaning Checklist:

If you are familiar with my blog, y'all know that I am a list-making chica. I love lists! I really do get a little tingle in my tummy anytime I come across a good one. So check out this one I found on Pinterest to help you keep track of things you've done and things you still need to finish.

Spring Cleaning Printable Checklist

From: pinterest.com via Susan Lincoln (jordansmom77)

Original: firsthomelovelife.com

3. Spring Cleaning Products:

Our new home has a beautiful set of stairs leading up to the second floor. HOWEVER... aside from me falling down them on nearly a daily basis (no joke), it's quite a pain running up and down them all day. When my husband and I are upstairs relaxing, and one of us wants something from downstairs, we always try to get eachother to go get it. These stairs also makes cleaning a pain in the booty. So the easiest thing to do is to keep a bucket of cleaning materials upstairs as well as downstairs. Having two vacuums helps too. One for upstairs and one for downstairs. Here's a list of products that will help get your house its cleanest:

- bucket: keep all your cleaning shiznit in this and it also doubles as a mop bucket. Just rinse before you put your cleaning products back in after mopping.

- all purpose cleaner: cleans almost every surface but double check the label.

- powder cleanser (i.e. Comet) I swear by this stuff for anything porcelain or stainless steel and chrome fixtures. Also works wonders on those plastic builder's tubs. Just make sure you rinse VERY WELL because it likes to leave behind a chalky residue. Make sure you read the label.

- scrub brush: great to use ffor stubborn stains in the tubs, sinks, tolets, and floors.

- reusable cleaning cloths: If you;re like me, you go through a lot of paper owels while ckeaning. I preder to use paper toels for cleaning glass but cloth works better on dust.

- glass cleaner: I use glass cleaner for just about everything. A good tip is while cleaning windows, is to clean the inside glass horizontally and the outside glass vertically (or vice versa). If there's any streaking, you'll be abloe to tell which side it;s on.

- vinegar and baking soda: has tons of uses. Check out these links to see what this power duo can do:
Naturally Clean with Vinegar
Great Things to do with Baking Soda

- paper towels: a must have for any cleaning caddy.o get you started

       Now this is just a little boost to get you started.

       Ok, so part of the reason why I started this blog is because I always have crazy things happen to me. As I was writing this post, my 3 year old son came upstairs to me, crying hysterically. After much coaxing, he finally told me what was wrong. He said he stuck a penny up his nose! I immediately lost my mind for a second. I looked up his nostril and saw something shiny and started freaking. How he got a penny up his little nose never even occurred to me. I immediately called 911 as his nose started bleeding. Two of my daughters then began freaking out as well. Right before the ambulance arrived, he told me that it was actually a bead. The paramedics gave his nose a good looking over and came to the conclusion that it had already passed through his nasal passage and went down his throat. Looks like I'll be searching through his #2's for a couple of days...

   Now back to the cleaning. Please check out my "Clean House" board on Pinterest for some more valuable cleaning tips and tricks. "Clean House" Pinterest Board

       If you have some of your own, I always welcome suggestions. Also, don't forget to subscribe to this here blog so you stay up to date with my crazy stories and tips. Thanks for stopping by!

-XoXo Jess

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Disciplining with a Passion

"Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it." ~ Harold Hulbert

Now that I have finally got us a new house, I figured it is time to pull out the big guns on disciplining my kids. I have great kids and I'm actually pretty proud of how well behaved they are. Well, Adrian my 3 year old daredevil could use some work. But I guess they could all use some fine-tuning and extra refining. I have learned from having four kids that a way of disciplining that works for one, may and probably will not work for another. Disciplining is not a one size fits all deal.

Although my children are generally well behaved and respectful, they each have some irritating quirks that need to be nipped in the bud. I have been scouring the internet for new ways to discipline and have actually found some pretty interesting and creative ways to get the job done. Check out the links below and be prepared to be dazzled!
( I would like to apologize for the lack of pictures. I am using my Blogger App and am still trying to figure it out.)

Using creative ways to discipline:
Www.imom.com/parenting/tweens/parenting/training/21-creative-consequences

This woman has some fantastic ideas that I can see really working. She also has a vid on you tube.

Effective disciplining that doesn't require yelling:
http://doctorleanne.com/disciplining-children/

I love these ideas, as well. I like the fact that this woman believes in spanking but uses it in moderation. And I am a yeller so maybe this will help me simmer down.

Keep your cool:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2190911_keep-cool-disciplining-children.html#page=0

14 tips for disciplining children:
http://www.ldsliving.com/story/64602-14-tips-for-disciplining-children

I'm gonna try these things out and see how good they work. If you have any other tips, I would love to hear them!

If you haven't already, make sure you subscribe to my blog to stay up to date with my latest posts. Thanks for stopping by!

-XoXo Jess

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Halloween Home Decorating

"Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title." ~From Scooby-Doo

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Sometimes I think that my kids get more excited about Halloween than Christmas! I love decorating for both holidays but there's something more kid friendly about Halloween decorating. I'm still in the process of moving, but at the same time, I'm thinking of ways to decorate my new home. The house I'm moving into has a HUGE front porch, which makes it great for Halloween decorating. Here's some ideas that I'm gonna be using, I'm so excited!

Light Up Ghosts:

http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/284852745150759093_6XizfZOh.jpg

Source: http://pinterest.com/deborah_hamrick/

All it takes to create this adorable ghost is an upside down tomato cage, white christmas lights and a sheet. Just draw on the eyes and mouth and tada! An easy, inexpensive ghost!

Tombstones:

Now this project is a little more time consuming, but the final product is quite realistic. Check out the link below for step-by-step tutorial on how to create these creepy Halloween favorites!

Source: http://pinterest.com/ddoucet, http://www.halloweenforum.com

Building and Painting Tombstones

Source: www.halloweenforum.com

Chalkboard painted Pumpkin:


Source: http://pinterest.com/kathag94/

This is a pretty easy project. Paint a pumpkin with some black chalkboard paint, affix some black feathers and a raven from the Dollar Tree on top and write what ever you like!

Ghost Jugs:

Here's another easy project that the kids will LOVE doing!


Source: familyfun.go.com

For this, all you need are some milk jugs a black sharpie and some white Christmas lights. Ooh I just had another idea! You can also fill some milk jugs with orange lights and turn it into a pumpkin. Super easy and a great way to recycle!

Pumpkin Vase:

These will look great with different sized vases clustered throughout the house. You can even change up the bows for an eclectic look.


Source: swainstonvinylanddezign.blogspot.com

Fill some vases with tiny, mini pumpkins and wrap with some Halloween themed ribbon.Super simple!

Halloween Specter Orbs:

These would look nothing short of amazing hanging in trees through out the yard!

Source: http://pinterest.com/chiabjm/

These are pretty easy to create as well. Find some glow balls and put in white stockings. Then hang from different lengths of string and hang through out the yard.

Glowing Eyes:

I have been saving my toilet paper rolls for the past few months just for this project! I can't wait to see what this looks like.


Source: thriftycraftygirl.com

The picture is quite self explanatory. All you do is cut out different kinds of eyes, affix a glowstick inside, and place through out the trees and bushes in your yard. Since the glowsticks only last for a couple of hours, this is probably best done on Halloween night. Another awesome idea for recycling!

Glittery Pumpkins:

I am a female, therefore it is is my DNA to love glitter! I love this idea because it actually uses more muted colors. And it's yet another easy and cheap decorating idea!


Source: thriftycraftygirl.com

Check out the link below for the directions step-by-step:
Glittery Pumpkins

Pottery Barn Ghost Knock-offs:

This is a cute way to decorate trees and your front porch!

Source: simplydesigning.com

Click on the link for the materials and directions:
Ghost Materials and Instructions

Halloween Witch Brooms:

Here's another decorating idea where the picture is kind of self explanatory. As long as you can find some "witches" brooms, all you have o do is wrap some Halloween colored lights around the handles and stick in the ground. This would look good as a driveway border,


Source: thehalloweenkid.blogspot.com

Hanging Bats:

First off, I must say that I totally love this front porch! But check out the link below to create the hanging bats:

Hanging Bats Materials and Instructions


Source: marthastewart.com

Well, my family and I are going to have a great time making these decorations and setting them up in the yard! Please feel free to show me your own decorating ideas and pics of your house decorated for Halloween! Thanks so much for stopping by, and don't forget to subscribe so you can stay up to date with all my Halloween posts.

~XoXo Jess

Pages

Thursday, April 18, 2013

National Park Week: Get Into Participating National Parks for Free!!!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Cleaning in a Hurry

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

5 Family Friendly Spring Break Vacation Destinations

Monday, April 1, 2013

Spring Cleaning: House Cleaning Like a Boss...

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Disciplining with a Passion

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Halloween Home Decorating