Banana Bread

I really look forward to the bananas ripening beyond reasonable consumption. That means it's banana bread (or muffin) time. Today was one of those days, and I found a great recipe that I had to share. It is super easy. No sifting, no mixer, and only uses one bowl! And it tasted great! The only modification that I made to this recipe was that I added some chopped pecans. Feel free to add walnuts, chocolate chips, whatever you like!

Simply Recipes - Banana Bread

Having Fun With the Kids

One of the many benefits of being a Stay-At-Home parent is getting to spend so much quality time with the kids. However, it is challenging entertaining them throughout the summer months. But I love a challenge! Through one of my other blogs, 72 Days of Summer, I am documenting out experiences together this summer. Having this blog has inspired and motivated to come up with new and exciting activities with the kids. Today we made a Solar-Powered Pizza Over, went to the movies for free, and made cookies.Tomorrow I will be perfecting a kool-aid based hair dye and so much more! Here are some more ideas for summer activities with your children:
Summer Fun for Kids
Fun for Kids - Homemade Entertainment
Easy arts and crafts for toddlers

Homemade Cleaners

I truly believe that my children do not get sick as often as many others because I refuse to use store bought cleaners. The only cleaners I need are dish soap, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and baking soda. I do use dye and fragrance free laundry detergent for the most part, but even make laundry detergent on occasion. Inhaling chemicals is terrible, even if it is only for cleaning. Vinegar is a great disinfectant and  baking soda is a great alternative to other harsh abrasive cleansers. It deodorizes as well. Here are some great recipes for homemade cleaners.

Easy Homemade Detergents and Cleaners

Stress

Stress is a huge part of my life, but it is manageable. I think that giving in to the stress is important. There are sometimes where you need to take a breath and remember that distractions, problems, and other disappointments happen, and there is nothing that you can to do stop them. However, there are things that you can do to help manage these situations and keep your stress levels in check:

Take a Break -Unless you are engaged in a time pressing, life-or-death situation, it is perfectly acceptable to take a break. If your little one is begging for your attention and you have your mind elsewhere, try and switch gears. Hugs should be always welcome, and not only do your children need you, but you need them as well. If distractions are a problem, take a time out and engage your child in an activity. Once he or she is in active play, and is safe, feel free to step away and go back to what you were doing, but don't forget to take breaks regularly.

Clutter Creates Stress - Clutter has got to be my number one pet peeve. Working or functioning in it drives me absolutely crazy. If you are in a horrible mood, this could be the cause. If I am too worked up to clear it out myself, I micromanage this task to my four children. Today, I happened to be feeling really terrible and needed a nap. Not only did my daughter let me sleep, but she cleaned up the room and made sure that her brothers were entertained. When your children do do something nice for you that wasn't asked, make sure they know they are appreciated. It is surely to happen more often. :)

Do You Enjoy Writing?

For me, writing is a passion, and without it, I am without direction. I am constantly writing articles, short stories, and blog posts. It keeps my mind active and helps me to make a few extra dollars each month without seeking outside employment. It isn't much, but I hope that one day it will eventually ease my financial burdens. If you share the same interest, here are a few sites to look into:

1. Helium - This is, so far, my absolute favorite site to work for. It may seem a little complicated at first, but once you dive in, you will learn as you go. Anyone can write for Helium, but articles are rated and payment is decided on multiple factors. Articles and creative writing pieces are rated by your peers, which means that you, also, take part in the rating process. There is a small bonus if you rate more than 500 pieces in a 3 month period. The highest rated, most viewed articles earn the most ad revenue, plus there are bonuses available once you begin earning stars. The higher your articles are rated and the more articles you write on Helium affects how many stars you have. There is a very informative Help section that will explain exactly how Helium works. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.

2. HubPages - This website is also great, and unlike Helium, you are always in control of the title and content. Monetizing HubPages works a lot like monetizing blogs, so you are in charge of setting up ads and affiliate settings. Setting up a Google Adsense account is your first step to effectively monetizing your HubPages. If you aren't sure how Google Adsense works, click here.

3. Blogger - If you found my blog, you probably know about Blogger. I like Blogger because it is simpler than WordPress and other blogging websites to monetize, because Google Adsense is built right in. If you aren't sure what to blog about, start with your passion. Is it a hobby, your family, a sport? Go from there. I have multiple blogs for various pieces of my life.

There are also several other sites that I have not had very much luck with. Associated Content is one of them, as is Freelancer. I really wouldn't suggest going the freelancer route because it pays far less than sites like Helium, there is a huge amount of competition for these jobs with interviews and resumes, AND most importantly, you do not get to keep the rights to your work.

If you are looking for other ways to make a few extra bucks online without and investment, here is another article that I wrote on the subject:
Top 10 Easy Ways to Make Money Online For Free

Happy Writing!

Oh, how I love my van...

FlyLady says that the kitchen is the command center of the home, and that maybe true. But as a busy mom I find that we are in the van so much, that it is like a second command center. So much goes on in the vehicle and I think that our vehicles should be comforting, inviting, and a place that our children can be comfortable and content. This being said, it can be difficult to maintain. Food, trash, spills, and so much more can consume your vehicle, so it is important to have a system. Here is my system:

1. Contain the Mess Before it Happens - Each of my children have their own bag. This does not have to be an expensive bag, a reusable grocery bag will do perfectly. They can pack it with whatever they would like to bring: mp3 player, headphones, video games, pens, paper, anything appropriate for the trip. The rule is that it must all stay in the bag, and the bag comes in the house when we come home. Any random items in the car I confiscate for a period of time, so that the next time, they remember to put everything away when they are finished.
2. Trash Containers - I have a van with three rows of seats, and most of them are occupied. So, I have multiple trash containers for each row. This can be a small grocery bag or a small trash can. To get the trash can to stay in place, use sticky-back Velcro strips on the bottom of the trash can. It should stick to the floor of your vehicle without the the other side of the Velcro. Containing trash before it gets out of control makes it so much easier when it comes time to clean out the car.
3. Be Prepared - Besides an emergency roadside kit, here are somethings a parent may need to have in their car:
  Mini First Aid Kit - Band-Aids, alcohol wipes, and  Neosporin are a good start. Also you may want to throw in a couple of Q-tips, Tylenol and ibuprofen (adult and children's), and the insurance card and doctor information for you children, if you don't already carry that information with you.
   Wipes - I keep both a large tub of wipes and smaller individually packaged Wet Wipes in the van for quick cleanups and messy faces. If you have a child who is not potty trained consider stashing an extra couples of diapers and an outfit in case you've forgotten your diaper bag or have just run out of diapers.
  Restaurant Coupons - I do try to limit my children's fast food intake, and it is a rare treat, however, I always kept forgetting those coupons that I would get in the mail. Now, each time I get some that I think I might use, I clip them and put them in an envelope in my glove box. Each time I add more, I toss out any expires ones.
   Towel - Big spills happen. Enough said.
  
   Reusable Grocery Bags - Not only are these great for shopping, but they are great for keeping clutter in check.

   Extra Set of Clothes - Yes, this means you too. I can't count the times where I have spilled something on my shirt, pants, or when one of my little ones has decorated me with their excrement (I know, disgusting, but infants can be very unpredictable when being changed).

3. Time to Get Things Done - I like to spend the time that I am waiting in my car, typically when picking up kids from school, doing something productive. So, I carry bag with things like, a clipboard, notebook, pens, paper clips, bills, or just other papers that I need to take care of.

Here is another article that I wrote on the subject: How to avoid a messy car on a family road trip

There are other great things to add to this list: backseat organizer, grocery organizer, the list can go on forever, but don't get caught up in buying things that you don't really need. Keeping your car clean and clutter-free should not cause you to go and buy more things, it should be the opposite.
  
  

The Basics of Spending Less

There are not too many of us who can spend money frivolously and not care how much we spend at the store. Budgeting and monitoring spending habits is stressful, but I have found that it doesn't have to be so hard. There are many things that we pay way too much for and don't have to. If you are a stay-at-home parent, it is easier to plan and find the best deals. Look at it as your job. Once I realized that I was not going to look for another job after I lost my last one, I realized that saving money was now my job. I had to figure out what I could do to supplement my income, and this including saving money. Things like daycare, lunches and coffee out, and picking up a few things here and there on the way to or home from work were actually costing me money, and I figured that I could find a way to recover the lost money in my budget.  Here are some great things that I have learned:

1. Limit Shopping to One Day A Week - I learned this from my great grandmother. I remember every Wednesday (the first day of the new sales ad went into effect) we should spend most of the day traveling from store to store to get the best bargains. We lived in a relatively small town, so this didn't burn up a lot of gas. If you feel really ambitious, grab a three ring binder to organize your shopping day. This can be use to plan out your route, keep shopping lists, coupons, and sales ads all in one place. I prefer not to shop with children because I actually end up purchasing far more than I would alone. I do my shopping while they are in school, but if you have to bring your children, make sure to bring snacks or something that can distract your little ones.

2. Make Sure to Consider Store Brands - Typically these are nearly identical to name brands, but sometimes they are not. Dollar stores often have some good deals as well, but not on everything! Just because it's cheap, doesn't not make it effective. I have been very disappointed by many of the products sold there, but there are a few that are worth the trip. I have found that their brand of Fabric Refresher works just as well as Febreze and smells the same as well.

3. Freecycle and Craigslist - I cannot tell you how much I love Freecycle. It is a fabulous way to get rid of clutter and find things that you need, but cannot afford to purchase new and perhaps not even used. I have received large appliances such as a washing machine and a refrigerator. furniture such as a dining room table, a book case, dressers, and so much more. Please be considerate when using Freecycle and Craigslist. Only take what you need (I'm sure you don't need the clutter) and make sure to give back. Each time I receive clothes for myself or my children, I make sure to go through out old clothes and give away what we don't need or use. Clutter is not only unsightly, but is damaging to your mental wellbeing. Don't get carried away getting free stuff. This is a two-way road, but it is a very useful resource.

4. Make it at Home - Making homemade cleaners and fun stuff for your kids gets your kids involved in the creative process and makes your home a healthier place (not to mention it is easier on you financially). There are so many things that you can make a home for a fraction of the cost of buying it in the store, and many are very easy. Kids love to get in on the fun too. Here is another link for more homemade fun for kids. There are plenty more resources on the internet for even more recipes and ideas. Try a quick Google search and see what you can find.