holiday travel game: bad idea (great for long car rides!)

Bad Idea

We play a wholesome game called, “bad idea.”

We go around stating things that we could do or say at inappropriate times or that show poor judgment.

For instance, we’ll be driving and when boredom strikes…I’ll say, let’s play “bad idea.”

DS (9) will immediately say something like, “don’t stop to fill your gas tank when the light comes on” and the whole family (in unison) will say ” bad idea”. We go around and come up with stupid things that if we did, hypothetically, would generally be bad ideas.

Note- it’s funny & even your three year old will remember not to “leave your bike in the rain” or “touch the bbq when daddy’s grilling”… all those things you nag & warn about about can come up in this one. It’s also a nice time to slip a few “friendly reminders” of what hubby shouldn’t do without nagging. Seriously, try it. It’s addicting.

got sniffles? read this favorite poem…

With the sniffles going around, I thought I’d post a family favorite. We read this poem and laugh every time. If you haven’t heard it in awhile – or ever- enjoy! Then, share it with someone who might be feeling under the weather…or at least faking it. lol

Sick
by Shel Silverstein
"I cannot go to school today," Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I'm going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I've counted sixteen chicken pox And there's one more--that's seventeen, And don't you think my face looks green? My leg is cut--my eyes are blue-- It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I'm sure that my left leg is broke-- My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button's caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained, My 'pendix pains each time it rains. My nose is cold, my toes are numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what? What's that? What's that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? G'bye, I'm going out to play!" From Shel Silverstein: Poems and Drawings; originally appeared in Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.

in-laws coming? put ‘em to work: polishing with green cleaners

With the holidays soon approaching, you might need to get out some of those rarely-used metal pieces of silverware/dishware. I know I have a few things that I either need to brighten up or leave in the back of the storage cabinet. If you’ve got brassy, browning metals check out this list directly from Green This! by D. Imus

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Remember, kids LOVE to polish so with these safe solutions, put them to “work”!

Aluminum

Clean with: cream of tarter & water

Brass

Polish with: soft cloth dipped in lemon & baking soda solution OR vinegar & salt solution

Chrome

Polish with: nontoxic glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth

Copper

Clean with: rag/cloth + mixture of salt, lemon juice water…dry thoroughly

Gold

Clean with: toothpaste

Pewter

Clean with: paste of salt, vinegar, flour

Stainless Steel

Clean with: nontoxic glass cleaner + microfiber cloth…for utensils, soak in bakingsoda for 15min, rinse & dry

Silver

Clean with: soap + warm water or silver polish cloth or toothpaste or 1part water/ 3 parts baking soda

NOTE: storing silver in cloths will keep them cleaner longer…

So good luck…sit back, sip that cup of cheer while they make things look spic ‘n span!

Kids and Holidays…Naughty Time or Nice?

If you think you’re the meanest mom ever, you’re not alone. And if you’re noticing a particularly squirrely behavior pattern, you’re also, not alone. When I read I’m the Meanest Mommy Ever, I felt better. A lot better. My kids have been INSANE! The whining, the fighting , the yelling, the hooting. And, yes, like that mommyblogger, I’ve been yelling and threatening- and just plain wiped. To the kids’ defense, we’ve had visitors, gone to parties, and spent hours running around like mad people in the attempt to do all the “fun” things on the agenda.

Now, here it is, ten days out ’til Christmas and if gifts really were contingent on Santa’s judgment, we’d all be screwed. Seriously, our usual holiday highlight, decorating the tree, was more like an afternoon in a three ring circus. Everyone was in spiteful spirits and it became comical at one point. Here we are, lighting lights, hanging decorations and one kid’s down the hall, balling because he was asked to leave the room due to obnoxious behavior. A second child’s crying in the playroom because his “stupid” brother got to put the star on top. And me, I’m almost in tears because the “magic” of Christmas had evaporated.

However, sometimes you have to hit the low point to realize that there has to be a better way. In her article, she says she stopped the insanity and went sticky sweet. I’m right there, sister. And, I’m also pretty sure it’s the holiday season that makes everyone feel so crappy that they tip into “new year’s resolution” mode. I assume it’s because during the “mst wonderful time of the year” everything’s supposed to be perfect, magical and memorable. When it falls short, it adds stress and guilt and agitation. I didn’t send cards this year but now I feel bad! I forgot to plan a family portrait and now I feel guilty. The kids are hopped up on Christmas cookies and tweaking from red dye #5…and I’m yelling “sit down” or “be quiet!”. What a dynamic, right?

Still, when the magic of Christmas morning comes, everything is right with the world…that is until the fighting over toys and whining over who got what begins. And so with that in mind, I continue on trying to make this year special.

The Meanest Mommy Ever