WFMW: Getting the last of the peanut butter

Such a simple, obvious idea that just never occurred to me until I read it in Natural Home magazine (a wonderful bday gift from my wonderful SIL. Thanks, Liz Beth!)

To get the last bit out of the peanut butter jar, use a rubber spatula as a scraper. Frugal and environment since you get more peanut butter from the jar, and the jar is then easier to clean out for recycling.

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Hello, My name is Amanda and I have a problem.

I drink about half a gallon of diet coke a day. I have one first thing in the morning. I look forward to my coke breaks throughout the day. When I travel overnight, I make sure to bring along some diet cokes in case the place I am staying doesn't have any handy.

With subtle pressure from my husband (in the form of information) and not-so-subtle pressure from some friends, I've decided to kick the coke habit. Now, I don't plan to become a T-tolarer, but I want to be more in control of the consumption. I aspire to become a person who has an occasional coke when out for a burger or with popcorn at the movies. I aspire to no longer be that person who has to hide diet cokes in her suitcase.

I went back and forth on deciding between a slow weaning -- cutting back from four a day to three to two to one to half... but decided instead that method might continue my cravings for the sweet-that-isn't-so sweet. I instead quit cold turkey. I drank my last diet coke Friday morning. For my morning fizzy-fix, I drink orange juice mixed with ginger ale. For the headaches (from caffeine withdrawal) I take ibuprofen. I drink lots of water and have another OJ in the afternoons for another pick-me-up. Saturday, I took a nap while Caroline napped. It was like a drugged sleep -- I was restless and fidgety, but I didn't want to get up.

My reasoning behind suddenly giving up my habit has to do with the research John pointed out to me -- that diet cokes make you fat. The theory is that sugar consumption makes your body crave more sugar. You drink a diet coke, though, causing your body to continually crave more sweets but that original carving isn't satiated, so you crave even more sweets and end up consuming even more calories.

So there. It's in writing, published for all the world to see. And hold me accountable. Kicking the diet coke habit -- let's hope it continues to WORK FOR ME!
For more Works for Me Wednesday Ideas, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

WFMW: Cheap Montessori Shelving

In a child-centered environment, short, open shelving allows the child easy access to activities or toys. You want the shelves low enough to be reachable by little hands and open so that the child can see the activity and get to it easily. The shelves should also be natural or white in color so as not to distract from the activities displayed, either. Ideally, Montessori materials should be made of natural materials. I found some great, cheap shelves at Target that meet *most* of these ideals. (They're not made of natural materials.) These were on sale for $9.something for back-to-school. I stocked up! I have one that is still not in use, but I have three ideas for how to use it and where to put it. I used one as Caroline's kitchen and another as our math center. Cheap and educational and organizational -- works for me!

For more Works for Me Wednesday Tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

WFMW: Parenting Advice Edition -- Don't Watch the Clock; Watch the Baby!

It started as breastfeeding advice that I heard in a La Leche League meeting. "Don't watch the clock; watch the baby." Great advice for nursing to make sure you establish a good milk supply and meet your baby's ever-changing needs rather than putting your child on a rigid schedule. It also seems to work well beyond nursing -- sleep, solids, potty-training, weaning, new experiences. As a classic Type A personality, I like to be in control. I like to PLAN. I like to read the latest research to support my choices. That's all great, but it all has to come down to what *my child* is ready for. Are bedtimes or naptimes becoming challenging? Perhaps her sleep needs have changed and it's time to reevaluate our routine. How do I know she's ready for solids? Is she showing signs of potty readiness? Should I put her in a playschool program or keep her at home with me? No book can have all the right answers for every child. As parents, we have to watch our babies, know our babies, and read the signs from our babies (however old those babies) to know what they need.

Watch the baby.

That's the advice that has WORKED FOR ME. I hope it works for you, too.

For more Works for Me Wednesday Ideas -- specifically "parenting advice" ideas, this week's theme, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

WFMW: The non-scrapbooker's memory book

I am not a scrapbooker. I think they are beautiful and special, but I'm just not into creating things like that myself. It is time-consuming, expensive, and clutter-creating. My non-scrap-booker alternative is to create a memory book each year for my daughter, choosing favorite pictures and memories from the year. I used Shutterfly for the book about her ssecond year of life and did a day-in-her-life theme. I can see the project evolving over the years to become highlights of the year. The book is high quality, and the photo software is easy to use and includes a variety of templates. This book cost me about $20 -- pricey, yes, but I *know* I would have spent that buying scrapbooking materials that just sat in a closet. This way, I actually *have* the book. :-)

It works for me!

For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

WFMW: Reusable grocery bags

Since Earth Day is approaching this weekend, my Works for Me Wednesday tip is good for the environment and makes life easier! I use reusable grocery bags instead of choosing "paper or plastic" at the check-out. These bags are sturdy and open up fully, so they hold much more than the plastic bags do. They have nice long handles, so they are easier to carry. I am able to fit all of my groceries into five bags, and best of all, those five bags can be carried into the house in only two trips! No more trip after trip to unload the car. No more recycling the tons of plastic bags we accumulate or finding a place to keep them until I get a chance to recycle them.



I bought my bags at Ecobags, and I paid about $15 for all five bags. I see that now they come in more colors.

So that I don't forget them when I leave for the grocery store, I keep them in my vehicle at all times, putting them back after I put the groceries away.

makes my life easier + good for our world = GREAT IDEA!

WFMW: Occupying a toddler (without TV)

To occupy my toddler (without plopping her in front of the television) while I take care of kitchen chores or prepare dinner, I like to use activities that will stimulate and entertain. I've found great ideas in Barbara Curtis's Small Beginnings and La Britta Gilbert's I Can Do It! I Can Do It!

Some of these activities do require some minimal set-up on my part and some clean-up effort (for both of us) but I find the effort to be well worth it! The idea is to expose Caroline to different textures and develop her fine motor skills with these activities. Some things we've tried and found worth repeating: spooning beans, spooning colored water, finger painting, playing with playdough, scooping cotton balls (or rice or sand, etc), and the always easy, always available hit, playing in a sink of soapy water.

These activities keep Caroline busy while I unload the dishwasher, get dinner ready, organize cabinets, etc. To make these activities and other kitchen-helping/observing easier, I highly recommend the Learning Tower, a wooden platform that puts the child at counter level. It *is* quite pricey, but I talked to several families who have one before buying this and they all gushed about how worth it it is. I totally agree. This will hold up for multiple kids (resale!!), and I have friends who say their kids use it until four or five years old. (My 5-year-old niece certainly enjoys it when she is here.)

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks in my Dryer.

WFMW: Bathroom Organization

I borrowed this idea from another blogger, but now that it WORKS FOR ME and it is WEDNESDAY, I'll share it here.

I use an over-the-door shoe organizer, trimmed to size and hung over my shower, to organize my toiletries. I hate the clutter of things on my counter. This frees up the counter but still keeps everything I need daily easily accessible.




For more WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY ideas, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Works for Me Wednesday -- Toddler Nutrition

Toddlers aren't the best eaters. Most moms worry about their kids' nutrition. I don't stress over how many veggies my daughter eats or fight to get a lead-laden vitamin in her daily because I know she is getting a good dose of the nutrition she needs from mommy's milk.

(from Kelly Mom)

• In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL (that's about 15 ounces) of breastmilk provides:
  • 29% of energy requirements
  • 43% of protein requirements
  • 36% of calcium requirements
  • 75% of vitamin A requirements
  • 76% of folate requirements
  • 94% of vitamin B₁₂ requirements
  • 60% of vitamin C requirements
  -- Dewey 2001

This nutritionally-sound milk also protects my daughter from the germ-y world. She gets my immunities through my milk, and since she and I are usually together, we are exposed to the same things. Since a human's immune system isn't fully developed until two years of age, nursing is the best thing I can do to keep my daughter healthy now. The health benefits she gets now will continue with her for the rest of her life.

for scholarly research about the nutritional benefits of extended nursing, search Google Scholar.
for breastfeeding support and information, contact La Leche League.
I'm sure I'll be posting more about toddler nursing in the coming weeks and months, so check back here, too!
For more Works For Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Works for Me Wednesday

I have learned (and am learning) so much from and been inspired by other moms in the blog-o-sphere through carnivals like Tackle it Tuesday and Works for Me Wednesday, that I've decided to give back to the web, in a way, and join in. You've seen two weeks of Tackle it Tuesday so far -- that's for inspiration and accountability -- now you'll see Works for Me Wednesday, hosted by Rocks in my Dryer, for ideas to use at home or with the kids.

Babysitter's Club
Stay-at-home moms of toddlers need a break every now and then, so some neighbors and I formed a babysitting swap. Since I'm not interested in regularly leaving my daughter in a paid childcare situation, like a Mother's Day Out, and I want Caroline to have fun time with other kids rather than sitting at home with a babysitter, this option works really well.

Four neighbors and I, all with kids between 13 months and 19 months, switch off sitting every Tuesday afternoon. Two moms are "on" each week while three are "off." We chose one house as the host home, and we bring the kids there after naps, around 2:30. With five moms, we rotate so that you're "on" one week, and then off for one or two weeks. We plan a few months in advance so we can book doctor or hair appointments during those times. It's a great chance to get lots of errands taken care of. We've all been amazed at how much we can get done in 2 1/2 hours when we aren't getting a toddler in and out of the car sear, in and out of the shop, etc.

We have a binder that travels each week that has a sheet for each of our "precious ones." It has the parents' contact information -- mom's cell, dad's number at work, home number, the child's birthday, allergy information (my sweet child is the only one with allergies so far but others have foods they are avoiding), and any other things we need to know about the kids.

We started with five moms, then lost one because her son was having some separation anxiety, but we found another interested neighbor and are back at five. Discipline hasn't been an issue, really, but may be something we'll have to discuss in the future. I know some of the other moms use "time-outs" which I'm not planning to use with Caroline. We have given toys time-outs, though, which is fine with me and has worked with two 19-month olds are intent on dominating the toy vacuum cleaner (or whatever.)

I was reluctant to leave my daughter at all, but after having a few Tuesday afternoons to myself, I have fallen in love with the BABYSITTER'S CLUB (and the mommas and kiddos I'm working with.)