The do's and don'ts when working with a recruiter

If you read my most recent blog post, you have come to realize that working with recruiters can be a little more complicated than it might first appear. Here are some do's and don'ts when working with a recruiter:

DO

1. Put your best foot forward. This recruiter is screening you to see if you are the best fit for their client. They are interviewing you.

2. Call for interview prep if needed. This recruiter wants you to do well so they can make a placement and get paid. They will have the buzz words that the employer is wanting.

3. Be punctual and professional. While the recruiter might have hidden motives, they are the gatekeeper to your possible future employer.

4. Ask how they got your name. If they can't be specific keep your guard up.

5. Work with multiple recruiters if you are in an active job search. Multiple recruiters will represent multiple clients. Keep track of your recruiters and the interviews you go on. More than once I've had recruiters fight over who should get credit for the hire. The recruiter that gets you the interview is the recruiter that should get credit.

6. If you feel that the interviewer has objections or apprehensions, bring these up to the recruiter so he or she can work through them.

7. Follow up and be enthusiastic. If this recruiter likes you and sees your true value, he or she will be excited to place you with other opportunities that come along.

8. Express apprehensions with your recruiter. If you see red flags, tell the recruiter so he might investigate and better qualify what's really going on. If you're not interested, tell the recruiter so you don't waste anyone's time.

9. Define the roles, responsibility and pay with your recruiter before moving forward.

Don'ts

1. Do not tell the recruiter the specific names of other companies you are interviewing with. This will only mean competition for you. If your recruiter learns of another hiring company, he or she will likely contact that company and try to find candidates for the open position.

2. Don't reveal all your cards. After the interview, you might present one or two generic questions that the hiring manager asked you but not all of them.

3. Don't rely on the recruiter to communicate with your hiring manager. Be sure to get the card of each person you interview with so you can facilitate your own communication without relying on the recruiter for everything.

4. Don't give just anyone your resume. It has important, personal information about you. The more people that know you're looking, the greater chance your current job will be jeopardized. Make sure that you indicate several times that it is NOT okay to contact your current employer for a background check!

5. Do not give references to your recruiter. Give them directly to the hiring manager. You could be handing your recruiter a list of potential candidates to call through.

6. Do not try to facilitate the payment arrangements between your hiring manager and your recruiter. This has happened and it's a red flag that your recruiter is unprofessional and likely a jerk. It happens!

7. Don't call a million times a day. If you're waiting to hear some feedback, once or twice during the week is acceptable.

8. Do not go behind the recruiter's back to the hiring company. Once the recruiter tells you the name of the company, it is not okay for you to pursue it on your own or tell another recruiter about the opportunity. However, if you tell the recruiter that you're interested and that you want an interview, it's fair game. If another recruiter contacts you with the same opportunity you might tell them that you're working on that with another recruiter but you'll keep him updated. If the original recruiter hasn't lined up an interview after repeated requests, tell the second recruiter you'd like to pursue the opportunity. Not only will this make the recruiter mad and possibly get you blacklisted from all recruiters, it puts the hiring manager in a tough spot when determining who to credit. Sometimes, a hiring manager will decide to go with another candidate rather than deal with the hassle of fighting the recruiter.

What recruiters don't tell you

I love learning about careers. I love helping someone figure out what he wants to do in life, put together a resume and then prepare for the interviews. I'm one of the strange ones that enjoys going on an interview... although I haven't officially been on one in ages. As you might suspect, I thought these interests would lend well to a career in recruiting. For a few short weeks of my life, I sat behind a desk calling random people telling them about "great" opportunities. I would leave my overzealous messages and wait for the return phone calls. Why did I do this for such a short time you ask? I suck at lying and I hate it. My boss told me that I just didn't like being on the phone... well, if you ask my parents, you couldn't pry the phone from my hands when I was growing up. If you ask AT&T, they would likely tell you I'm one of their best customers. I loved being on the phone. What I didn't like was lying to every single person I talked to during my short recruiting stint. Getting fired from that job was a dream come true... I just didn't know it yet.

Recruiting firms are working for the hiring client, not you. I must note that there are exceptions to this rule. Some recruiters will look for jobs specifically for you if either (a) you're a fantastic candidate with a rock solid resume or (b) you agree to pay a lofty sum of money. In either scenario, you're probably better off looking for a job yourself.

Here's how it works. Lets use the Acme corporation for an example. The recruiter, let's call him Carl, calls through a bunch of companies promising to find great candidates and at least one that the company will want to hire. Of course this service doesn't come for free. If Acme agrees to hire one of these candidates, thousands of dollars will be owed to the recruiting company. So, Acme agrees to these terms in writing and the search begins. Recruiter Carl sets out to find the star employee by posting on the Internet, looking through linkedin.com, networking, etc. Here's the part you might not know. The best employees are usually already working. Carl knows this so he calls companies that produce the best type of candidates for Acme company. He targets companies that train their employees well and have rigorous interview and hiring policies. He seeks companies with a proven track record of success that only hire the best. Here's how the conversation might go:

"Hello, thank you for calling XYZ company. How may I direct your call?" Receptionist.

"Oh, I'm hoping you can help me. This is John and I recently went to a luncheon where I met one of your employees. I was really hoping to connect with her but I can't remember her name. It's right on the tip of my tongue. I know I'd remember it if I heard it," Carl.

Carl waits for the receptionist to start rattling off names. Carl writes these names down and keeps searching. He knows that Acme likes to hire young, attractive men and women that are recent college grads with a few years experience tucked under their belts. He continues but this time, he gets more specific.

"No, I don't think that was her name. She was younger, probably about 24 or 25. Tall, blond, very sharp," Carl.

"Oh, you must mean Cindy. Let me put you through," Receptionist.

"Thank you. What is her extension if I get disconnected?"

Cindy isn't in the office so her voicemail picks up.

"Hello Cindy! My name is Carl and an anonymous source told me that you'd be great for a fantastic job opportunity I have. My client is a fortune 500 company that doubled their profits in the past year. They're one of Fortune Magazine's top 100 companies to work for they're offering a very attractive package with realistic first year earnings of at least $100,000. If you could please call me back at your earliest convenience I'd really appreciate it. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon," he hangs up and records Cindy's name in a log indicating what company she works for and the date he contacted her. Then he waits for her to return the call.

Carl has never met Cindy. Never seen her and likely never will. He has no idea what her qualifications are, if she's happy in her present job or if she would be a good fit for Acme. What he really cares about it placing Cindy at Acme and getting paid for the placement. Heck, he'd be better off if Cindy didn't work out and Acme came running to him to replace her with another candidate. Carl continues this method of searching for at least another few hundred calls before he eventually does find a couple candidates to interview and hopefully a hire. Since he has Cindy's extension, he can call through other extensions that are close in number to hers where he can offer up the same word track as before. His dream would be to get a dial-by-name directory of all the people in her department. After all, most people don't tell their co-workers about recruiter calls and opportunities. You'd be surprised how many times I arrived at an interview only to see a co-worker waiting in the lobby to interview after me. Recruiters love to throw a bunch of candidates from one company to see if one will stick.

Cindy does call Carl back and Carl starts seeing dollar signs as he realizes that Cindy is exactly what the company is looking for. He arranges an interview but tells Cindy that she must call him before and after the interview for prep and follow-up. Carl knows what the client is looking for and knows what buzz words to give Cindy in order for her to shine in the interview. These may or may not be words that Cindy would normally use and this might be a company that will be a great fit or maybe not. What matters is that Cindy is sold on the job and pumped up so that she can go sell herself in the interview. Carl takes special time to make sure that Cindy creates phrases to use that incorporate these buzz words and qualities and he teaches her things to avoid. Perhaps he got these avoidance topics directly from Acme when he asked about things that made other employees not work out in the past. Cindy goes on her interview and excitedly calls Carl afterwards.

"Hi Carl, the interview went great! I think they really like me. They want me to come back next week and meet the rest of their team," Cindy.

"That's great Cindy. When is that interview scheduled for? What questions did they ask you?"

Carl sits and writes down ever single question that Cindy can recall. He takes careful notes about the details of the interview so that he can properly prepare and educate his next candidate. These details aren't necessarily to help Cindy but to help Carl place a candidate if Cindy doesn't work out.

Carl talks to the hiring manager at Acme and learns that they really like Cindy but they have another candidate with more experience. They will continue to interview Cindy but they do have someone else waiting in the wings. Carl decides not to tell Cindy about this because he wants her to remain excited and energized about the prospect just in case the other candidate doesn't work out or decides not to accept the job. In fact, when Acme begins to stall with Cindy as they await an acceptance from candidate B, Carl makes excuses for the hiring manager, telling Cindy that he is out of town and not to worry about not getting a call back yet.

Meanwhile, Cindy has been distracted from her job that she was otherwise happy with and she has started to question if there's something better. Her productivity starts to slide as she works with recruiters and starts to interview. She may or may not find something that makes her happier. The more likely scenario is that her boss finds out that she's looking and she jeopardizes her existing job. Unfortunately, I know this from personal experience.

There are good recruiters out there that genuinely want the best for you. I would argue that this is the exception and not the rule.

Another tactic that recruiters often use is to post a job opportunity that doesn't really exist. Recruiters love to build up their "resume bank" to have great candidates waiting for prospective hiring managers. A bait and switch technique, many candidates will call about a posting, send in their resume and then be told that the job was filled. If the recruiter has another, less sexy client, he will often try to pass off this "new opportunity" to the candidate. Sometimes the recruiter won't even call the candidate back. Why would he when he has a resume to file and follow up on for the next hot opportunity that comes by?

Stay tuned for the do's and don't when working with a recruiter.

Get it write!

If you're like me and have an "s" in your name, you might still be reeling from learning to write. I remember how frustrated my mom would get when I'd continue to write my S's backwards. Luckily, my daughter doesn't have an "s" in her name but she's still struggling to control her pencil the right way. I went in search of tools to help her learn and here are some helpful hints.

• http://desktoppub.about.com/od/lessonplans/ig/Free-Print---Cursive-Fonts/Penmanship-Print.htm This website allows you to download a free font that places numbers on those hat, belt and shoe lines that you hear your kids talk about.
• http://www.otideas.com/Items/PencilGrips.htm Pencil grippers can help your child learn to hold a pencil properly. This site has some for purchase... shop around as these seem a little pricey
• Use short and fat pencils. Think about the size of your adult hand in relation to your pens and pencils. Now consider how small a child's hand is. You can purchase these pencils at your local Children's bookshop.
• Make it fun! Consider using a white board and markers. Mix it up on paper by using markers, crayons, glitter and glue or sidewalk chalk on a sunny day

Quick and easy tips to chop your meal prep in half!

Here are some fast and easy tips on chopping that will surely cut your meal prep in half!

• Cutting herbs: Take a hand full of fresh herbs and place them into a narrow juice glass. Using kitchen shears, chop vertically until thoroughly minced. Be sure to take a whiff... the smell will be amazing!

• Slicing meat: To get thin strips of chicken or steak for fajitas or salads, cook the piece of meat whole. When the meat is still about a minute or so away from finished, pull it out onto a cutting board and slice it using a fork and pizza cutter. Return meat to skillet and cook until it reaches the desired wellness.
• Shredding Chicken: Use a vegetable peeler to shred already boiled or baked chicken. Be sure to use a fork to hold the chicken in place as you quickly shred using the peeler.
• Chopping Garlic: I used to buy pre-minced garlic and thought it tasted just as great as the real thing... WRONG!!!! I can't believe how much better freshly chopped garlic tastes. There's a great new tool that has become my favorite kitchen gadget! Quickly peel garlic and place it into the top of this rolling garlic chopper. Roll back and forth on your counter and in seconds you've got freshly chopped garlic!
• Pizza Cutters, not just for pizza: I have 3 pizza cutters because we use them so much. Consider them for cutting crusts off PB&J sandwiches, slicing through waffles and pancakes, cutting celery or fruit or chopping meat into small pieces for soups and salads.
• Green Beans: Rather than sit and pop the ends off of all of your green beans one by one, grab a handful, tap the ends of the bunch on your counter and chop. Flip the bunch over and allow the ends to fall to the counter and chop once more. This works for the ends of asparagus too.

You know you're sick when...

The flu of the century hit our house this past weekend. All of us got it but luckily my husband was well enough to take care of us... and hopefully he doesn't fully come down with it. Bored of out my skull today, I decided to remark on a card from http://someecards.com that poked fun of Alzheimer's. A few people responded by telling me to lighten up and that sometimes laughter is the only thing we have when illness strikes. On that note, I'd like to recap the top 10 ways we knew we were sick beyond repair.

1. Catheter and diabetes supplies are only a phone call away. You know that because you've seen about a million ads. Do you need any advice on denture cream?
2. The water department calls to ask if you have a leak because your household water use has tripled. At this point you pray that your washing machine doesn't die.
3. Your washing machine tries to die as you attempt to wash a queen size quilt... I know some of you can.
4. You start to worry that the health department will have your house condemned. This might be an easier solution than cleaning it once you have the strength
5. The thought of brushing your teeth is more disgusting to you than not brushing them.
6. A shower sounds so good but can you make it back to bed?
7. An annoying thought or phrase gets stuck in your head over and over and over and ov.....
8. Your dreams would carve a great time slot on the sci-fi channel. Was that a turtle you were having a martini with on the back of a cloud?
9. If you're not sick yet, you lay in bed half asleep knowing that your children will soon need you but that you need your rest because it's only a matter of time. Was that heartburn or the flu quickly creeping into your stomach?
10. The thought, "this is a disease nobody has ever heard of before. Someday, it will be named after me because this is going to do me in," repeats in your head.

Stay healthy my friends!

What matters most?

I can't tell you the number of times I've been standing in line at a store, doing my best to keep my kids from hitting one another or taking down a near by display, only to hear someone tell me, "Enjoy it now. These years go by so fast." I know these strangers have the best intentions and that what they are telling me is true. However, when I've "had a day" it's a little annoying and overwhelming to hear. Tell a crazed mother of a toddler that these are the best years and you'll likely have her crying a river because she believes that this really is as good as it gets.

I love to scrapbook. It's time spent crafting, talking with friends and looking at pictures of the good times. Nobody ever scraps the fight they've had with their husband, a funeral they were at... well some people might but they're kinda strange, or the time their kid woke up decorating the halls with vomit. No, the times you scrapbook are the good times and those that are to be remembered. Every time I look at pictures just a year old, I'm amazed at how much my kids have grown. It really is scary to realize how quickly time marches on. I'm amazed every Sunday that it really has been a week since I sat in my pew and heard the last sermon. All of this reflection got me thinking, what are my priorities?

Take out a piece of paper and a pen. Write down what you wish your priorities were. In a perfect world how much time would you spend with God? What about with your kids and their homework? What about your exercise routine? How much time would you want to spend on a clean house or paying bills. Be realistic and realize that some of these tasks have to stay on your list whether or not you like it. Next, write a list of the things you do everyday. Next to those activities, write down the amount of time it takes you to do these things. Now, list them by how much time they take you, the most amount of time first descending down to the things that take the least amount of time. Compare your two lists. Are the activities you wish had priority in your life really the ones that are most important?

In reality, most of us will admit that our exercise routine doesn't get as much attention as our housecleaning. More of us will admit that our time with God really starts to fall towards the end of the list even though we might want it towards the top 3. What drives you to accomplish the things on your "real" list? Are they set appointments or commitments? Do you write them down on your to-do list? Schedule your day differently. Take your top priorities from your ideal list and schedule those first. Write it down and stick with your plan. Try it for just one week and see how you feel. You might realize at the end that this really is as good as it gets!

Red light, Green light

In these modern times, I can't believe I still can't turn my doorbell on and off. I'm sure someone has already invented this but why isn't readily available to consumers? We can turn our home phones off, set our cell phones to silent or vibrate, have our emails automatically respond that we're unavailable but we can't stop our doorbells from ringing.

We're lucky to live on a great street with lots of kids. Unfortunately, our street is a through street that serves as a speedway for many cars. After requests were denied for speed bumps, I've decided that I'm just not comfortable letting my 6-year-old play in the front yard unattended. It is rare that I have time to sit outside while my kids play so they usually end up in the back yard or in the playroom. Many of my son's friends do play outside and ask if he can come out.

One day, my doorbell rang 6 times... yes 6 times. Luckily I didn't have a sleeping baby upstairs but I was starting to go a little "ringy dingy" myself. It's not that I don't want kids asking to play with my son. It's fun to watch him develop friendships with kids on our street. However, I really do need a way to organize my time and set up playtimes with his friends. I think I've finally found a solution and I hope it works for you as well.

I made a two-sided card that hangs in the front window near my door. One side is green and the other is red. I explained to my son's friends that when the card is red that he can't come outside and not to ring the doorbell except in case of an emergency. When the card is green, he can play and it's okay to ring the doorbell. Until summer hits, this card will likely stay red most of the time but it really is working for our family. It's always so hard when a friend comes over, rings the bell and I have to tell him that we can't play. My kids get so disappointed and I feel guilty that I don't drop whatever I'm doing and rush outside for a play date. I think it's better for our friends too because they don't have to come all the way up to our front door only to be told "no" again. I find that this system works better than "do not ring bell" because I may still want my vendors and other people to ring the bell.

Say what? Conversations to have before becoming a stay-at-home Mom

At the age of 9, I decided I wanted to be an attorney specializing in mergers and acquisitions... seriously. I was going to live in an enormous street of dreams house, have the perfect marriage, great kids, have a nanny and run an amazingly successful law firm out of my home. Somehow, I thought I'd also be President of the PTA, run every school fundraiser and have blue birds fly around land on my finger on command. Reality? I've got a wonderful marriage, great kids, a nice house, no job and I do my best with school fundraisers. It's like Cinderella without the mice and blue birds. Reality? I'm so glad that I didn't go down the attorney/career path and that I'm lucky enough to stay at home with my kids but it has it's ups and downs too.

I was at a party a couple years ago when I ran into a woman I used to work with. Single and very successful, this woman talked to me as if I was an invalid. Towering over me at nearly 5' 9 she looked down on me in every sense of the word and said,

"I just don't know how you do it."

Do what? Cook, clean, get the kids dressed and out the school every day, do the laundry, pay the bills, homework... that? I looked at her and thought,

"lady you have no idea. That's the easy part."

Another time, when expressing frustration about my day, a working mother reminded me that I chose to stay at home... gee thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear.

"You chose to work,"

I felt like saying. So exactly what is the hard part about staying at home? Until you do it, you might be surprised at the answer.

If you're lucky enough to love what you do, it might be an incredibly difficult decision to leave your career to raise your family. If, like me, you hate your job a pregnancy might be your saving grace. Of course the first thing that comes to your mind are the income that you'll lose. You might have a company car or great benefits that will disappear if you leave. You might love the people you work with, or seriously dislike them but have a blast talking about them with your friends... did I just say that? Here are some important questions to ask yourself when making the decision to be a stay-at-home mom.

1. Can we survive on one salary? What is my true income?

• What would childcare cost?
• Are you and your spouse in a higher tax bracket because of your combined income?
• What conveniences do you pay before because your working? These might be house cleaning, dry cleaning, eating at restaurants, higher cell phone plans, etc.
  
• How much are you spending on clothing needed for your job? What about dry cleaning?
• What are your commuting costs? Would your insurance go down if you weren't commuting? What about gas and maintenance on your vehicle?

2. What will be expected of you if you stay home?

This might seem obvious at first. You might think it's to take care of your home and kids. What does that mean exactly? Will you suddenly be responsible for ALL housework? Let me tell you that having this burden with a newborn will make you feel like a loser fast. Your energy with a new baby will be nill at best. Your house will likely suffer. Talk to your spouse about household duties and decide beforehand who will do what. Talk about expectations. Will your spouse have checklists for you? Will you feel angry and resentful towards your spouse if he/she expresses disappointment for your "chores" not being completed?

3. How will you receive recognition and validation?

"The love of my children is all I need."

I've heard this before. I've said this before. If you're used to getting bonuses, awards, closing deals, getting high marks on a performance review, get ready to reset your expectations. Remember that clean house I was talking about? A clean house rarely goes hand in hand with a happy child. It's a delicate balance that can often leave you feeling like you can't win. Instead of achieving quotas, increasing performance or being rewarded for great customer service, you'll be faced with a never ending laundry basket, bill after bill to be paid, on half the income you're used to, and dishes to be done. While faced this before, finishing these tasks will become your accomplishments for the day. On the other hand, seeing your baby's first steps, getting slobbery kisses, watching them sleep and playing ferry princess in a blanket fort will make this well worth it!

4. What will be your intellectual outlet?

Since becoming a mom, I can tell you all of the Disney Princesses, I know more about Legos and Star Wars than I ever thought I would and I'm a pro about car seats and what makes Toyota the best minivan on the market. If you asked me to run a regression analysis or balance a company's payroll, although incredibly excited at the challenge, I'd likely end up sitting in the corner drooling. I've often sat for 20 minutes watching Handy Manny looking for the deeper message and then looked around to realize I was the only one in the room. Reading, hobbies and close friendships are a perfect way to keep your head going and maintain good emotional health but you must make time for them.

5. Who will pay the bills?
Will your spouse's money truly be your money? Will you be responsible for paying the bills? Will your spouse feel resentful if you're not making money but telling him/her how to spend the family income? Have a careful discussion about the budget and financial responsibilities of the household.

6. How will you make time for yourself?

Be sure to set aside some money for babysitters. It can be so difficult to find someone reliable and trustworthy to watch your kids. Ask other moms, teachers or respected kids in the neighborhood. Make it a priority to get out with your friends at least twice a month. Don't forget your spouse! Make date night a priority! Keep in mind that things like going to the doctor or getting a haircut are a little more complicated now. It can be difficult to find a sitter in the middle of the day that doesn't cost a fortune. Who is your support network?

7. How will you structure your days?

If you're a list maker, having a list of things you'd like to accomplish or do for fun will structure your day. It's so easy to spend half the day "getting ready" only to find it's 3pm and you have more things to do than hours in the day. This is especially true when your children start going to school. Consider having a set routine after dropping the kids off at school. It might be heading to the gym or over to Starbucks to clear your head. Do something that will get you out of the house so you're dressed and ready for the day. I have yet to go to the gym or the coffee shop in my sweatpants and uggs... hopefully I never will!

8. How will your reference group change?

One of the biggest changes stay-at-home moms face is a change in their social circle. I have a friend that dearly loves my children but her eyes start to glaze over when I tell her about the fine details of my kids. Other moms in my life are all to happy to discuss these things. Learn which friend is best to vent to, to discuss your kids with, to call when you need a good cry, a good laugh or someone to offer advice. Don't expect one friend to offer all of these things or you'll surely be disappointed. As you search for other stay-at- home parents avoid the spouse bashing trap. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten together for a play-date only to have the other mom talk trash about her husband the entire time we're together. While we all have frustrations with our spouses and we need a friend to vent to, this is a really negative trap to get into. Without even knowing it, hanging out with a negative person can turn your thoughts and emotions negative as well. Look for positive, energetic but real people to surround yourself with. The phrase "misery loves company" is so true. While everyone has a bad day from time to time, avoid negative people. Lillian Glass wrote an excellent book about toxic relationships called, "Toxic People." If you find yourself in one of these relationships, I highly recommend this book.

For some parents, having a dedicated stay-at-home parent is the answer. For others, it works best to have two working parents and for single parents the decision is made for you. I feel very fortunate that I can stay home with my kids. If you're working and wish you were at home, remember that the grass isn't always necessarily greener on the other side. Be grateful that you have an intellectual outlet, some time away and recognition and achievements outside the home. While a lot of what I've had to say puts a negative spin on staying at home, it has been incredibly rewarding for me. My son was diagnosed with a speech disorder that required Extensive speech and Occupational therapies. There is absolutely no way we could have gotten him to all of his therapies and made the progress that we have as a family if I hadn't been able to stay at home. God has made it clear that my place is at home for right now. When making your decision, remember every scenario has good and bad points. I hope I've helped you consider some things about staying at home that you may not have considered before. Now, go hug those kiddos of yours!

20 uses for baby wipes

In my previous life, it wasn't unusual to find me sitting in an interview where strange questions would test my critical reasoning skills... or my sanity. I remember one, "If you could go back in time and invent one thing, what would it be?" My answer probably would have been something like an airplane or, like Al Gore, the internet. Since becoming a mother, my answer has changed dramatically! What would I have invented you ask? Baby Wipes! Luckily we're out of diapers at my house but we still have tons of baby wipes laying around. Here are some great uses for these little gems.

1. Removing stains from your clothing. This works best if you can blot the stain quickly before it sets but you'd be amazed at the set stains these wipes can remove.
2. Clean the slats in your blinds. Grabbing the top and underside with a wipe is a quick and effective way to get your window treatments looking like new.
3. Get your baseboards and woodwork sparkling. This is especially helpful for chair rail which always seems to be covered in dust.
4. Your kids. Duh right? Keep them in your car and wash off their milk mustache before running off to school.
5. Remove your make-up. I'm not an optometrist so use with caution but these are great for taking off your mascara and eye make-up.
6. Keep a package in your car and wipe down your dash while waiting in line to pick up the kids or make your ATM deposit.
7. Don't forget your furry friends. Wipes are great for muddy paws. Wipe down your dog or cat's coat with a wipe to remove surface dirt, excess hair and dander. This is great for those that suffer from allergies. Follow with a dryer sheet to help spot smell better.
8. At the office and notice your leather shoes are looking dull? Give them a quick pass with a wipe if you don't have time for a shoe shine.
9. Are your leather wallets and handbags showing their age? Rub them down with a wipe and you'll be amazed at how much dirt comes off.
10. Make your watches like new again.
11. Remove ink from your rubber stamps and fingers
12. Going on a beach vacation, buy wipes that contain aloe and use on sunburns for instant relief.
13. Did you little artist decorate your walls? Try a baby wipe to remove crayon from your walls. If that doesn't work, the magic eraser will.
14. Clean your computer screen.... be careful as some surfaces could scratch or become streaked.
15. On your keyboard, cell phones and home telephones (clorox wipes are best for this)
16. Only got a minute, wipe down your bathroom counters, sink, fixtures and back of your toilet.
17. Are you a scrapbooker? Use a wipe to clean off your cricut mat.
18. Clean toys that read "spot clean only". These are also great for cleaning vinyl doll heads/ faces, legos, cars and video game controllers
19. Ceiling fans. First, take a pillowcase and wipe down each blade of the fan. This will knock all of the dust inside a concealed case rather than on the floor below. Second, wipe down each blade with a wipe to remove and excess dust or dirt.
20. Light switch covers look like new with a swipe of a wipe.

If your wipes dry out, a few drops of water will make them new again. My favorite wipes are from Costco. They're priced great, come in handy individual packages and they stay moist for a long time.

Top 7 ways to keep tabs on your kiddos

I remember the days when I wouldn't even think of taking the kids to the zoo without my husband in tow. It seemed like my son would run one way and my daughter the other. I spent so much of my time worried that I'd get separated from them. Years later, as we planned our Disneyland trip, these memories came flying back. Sure, my kids are old enough now to tell an adult they they're lost, to give the names of their parents and maybe our home phone number but exactly what would we do if we became separated from our kids at the happiest place on earth?

As we entered the park, I saw several parents attach leashes to their children. Really? A leash? I mean no offense to any family that has found this to be a workable solution but the idea kind of gives me the willies. Inspired by commercials for Disney phone apps, I was reminded of my cell phone. I grabbed a ball point pen and wrote my cell number on their right arms. The next day, I improved upon this idea by using a permanent black sharpie. You would have been amazed by the number of parents that thought my idea was brilliant... even Belle from Beauty in the Beast commented. Here are some pointers to help calm your nerves while visiting a crowded place with your children.

1. Use a permanent, easy to read, marker and write your phone number somewhere visible on your child.
2. If using suntan lotion, your ink will smear or not adhere. Consider writing the number on the upper arm under a sleeve or across your little one's stomach.
3. Do not write your child's name or your name on your child. A stranger could use this information to make your child more comfortable when interacting with them. Imagine a stranger approaching your child, calling him/her by name and then saying, "your mommy (insert name here) told me to come get you. " Your child would likely wipe the stranger danger from his mind... a person isn't a stranger if they know my name or my Mom's name right?
4. If you can't find a spot to write on your child, use a name badge to write your number on and attach it to his or her shirt. Or, make a pin on button with your number written on it.
5. Take a photograph of your child before entering the attraction. Having a current photo with the clothes your child is wearing that day will allow for a better search should your child turn up missing.
6. If you want to go hi-tech, consider a GPS unit available at best buy and other electronic dealers.
7. If you're looking for a more stylish, more expensive way to tag your kiddos, check out this cool website. http://store.safetytat.com/store/

Don't get hosed!

We have a new addition to our family. If you haven't met her, prepare to fall in love. She's nearly 8 pounds, adorable and so cuddly. I love playing with her and it's so fun to watch her discover the world. Her name is Gucci and she is a 5 month old Havanese Puppy. She's so little and so incredibly easy to bathe. Her big sister Zoe is another story.

Zoe is about 70 pounds and sheds like mad. If you shaved Zoe, I think she'd weigh about 40 pounds. This dog will be gone for 100 years but I'm sure you'll still be able to find her hair floating around our house. She always lets us know it's spring by shedding. Usually, a series of sneezes from each family member signals the start of the new season. By the time I get around to bathing her, I'm usually sick with a cold and the thought of trying to wrestle her into the bath tub usually resorts in and expensive trip to the groomer's. I'm excited to say, I have found two products that make my job a breeze!

Pet Shower Deluxe, by Rinse Ace is an amazing product! It's a small shower head and hose that connects inline with your existing shower head. Originally, I thought a regular corded shower head would do the trick. I was frustrated by the short cord and that there wasn't an easy way to turn it off and on while bathing the dog. I broke down and tried this product and I was amazed how much easier dog bathing became.

This product took me about 10 minutes to install. A pipe wrench was necessary to unloosen the existing shower head. Remember to hold the pipe that comes out of the wall with a separate wrench so that you don't twist the fixture out of the wall. Place a cloth between the pipe wrench and the shower head and turn in a counter clockwise motion. Once unscrewed, cover the shower fixture threads with teflon tape (this comes with the Pet Shower Deluxe) and screw in the connector that comes with the Pet Shower. Then, simply screw the shower head into the open end of the Pet Shower connector. Attach the Pet Shower hose into the bottom piece of the connector and you're good to go. I love the small size of the Pet Shower head. It allowed me to spray underneath my dog with ease. I didn't have to worry when rinsing her face because it was small enough that all of the water didn't go straight into her eyes. The shower operates with a simple on/off toggle so the water shuts off when you let go. This made it especially easy when it was time to shampoo. The long cord was the best part. I was able to follow my dog all over the bath tub as she paced back and forth. Finally, when you're done, disconnect the Pet Shower from the bottom portion of the connector and store until your next use. Continue to use your shower as normal.

Another product that has been especially helpful for the undercoat on my golden mix has been the furminator. This brush has multiple rows of teeth that really get at the undercoat of my shedding pooch. Pet'smart uses this tool for grooming but will charge a hefty price if the furminating service is added to the grooming process. While this brush costs nearly $35 with a coupon, it has proven to be priceless. I easily clear a garbage bag's worth of loose hair from my dog every time we use it.

Picture Perfect

I have a random collection of picture frames scattered throughout my home. We have lived here nearly 2 1/2 years and the majority of my walls are bare. I just get overwhelmed when it comes to hanging pictures. I'm afraid I'll end up with a poorly placed picture or a big hole in the wall.

I was looking through the ads one Monday and saw the perfect picture hanging solution. In fact, I was so excited that I got in the car, headed to Michael's and came home with 9 frames and the template to complete the project. I knew my husband would freak if I asked him to hang the picture frames himself and there was no way he'd agree to put 18 screws into the wall. I took matters into my own hands and, an hour later, I had my frames hung. I'll admit that I nearly dropped a drill from my 6 foot ladder onto my hardwood floor, and that I have some grey hair as a result, but it went fairly smoothly.

I highly recommend this system. My pictures are level but not necessarily lined up well with one another. That said, they're much better than if I had tried to hang them without a template. I apologize that I can't find the link to Michael's but the following link will give you the general idea. http://www.thepicturewallcompany.com/whatyouget.html

The process is really simple. My picture shows two paper templates, side-by-side. Each paper template has leveling indicators at the top of the sheet. Use a large level and secure the template to the wall. That really was the toughest part. Getting one template level might have been easy but two were a little challenging. Next, drill through the markings indicated on the template. The template instructions tell you exactly what drill bit to use and all of the hanging hardware comes with the accompanying frames. The template is alphabetically coded with the proper frames. For example, you might see and 8x8 frame on the template that is marked "E" and you will find that the 8X8 frame is also marked "E". I drew a quick picture of the template, ripped it off the wall once the screws were secure and started to hang my pictures. Hanging the pictures is really easy. Be sure to leave your screws sticking out of the wall slightly so the picture has something to grab onto. All frames can be hung horizontally or vertically. You'll notice that if you closely examine my photo. The sailboats are the original print in the frames, not the permanent ones which I still have to decide on. I plan to swap out these black and white prints around Christmas and as my kids grow since rehanging them is so simple.

There are a few patterns to choose from. There's even a template for the stairs which looks really neat. I know I never would have attempted to hang these photos before I found the template system. Hopefully this will be a way for you to display your most cherished memories.

13 tips to make flying with children less turbulent

Make your skies a little more friendly...
The first time I traveled with my son was when he was 7 months old. I was terrified to spend 5 hours on a plane without my husband or anyone to help me. I was just sure my son would scream and cry the entire way. Everyone in the waiting area glared at me as I boarded the plane, just sure that I'd be the one with the screaming kid. I was shocked when we landed in Charlotte, NC and I realized that my son hadn't let out a peep the whole time. As I got off the plane, several passengers commented on what a good baby I had, what a good mother I was. While I was beaming, I knew that I would have been pummeled by those same people if things had gone slightly different. I know that because, years later, my children were those terrors on the plane. Here are some tips to help make your flight a little easier.

• Keep your kids busy! Have a present for them to unwrap every 20 minutes or so. Yes, I'm telling you to bribe your kids. A box of crayons, a coloring book, some paper, a mini play-doh (get the mini or it will be taken at security), a book, etc. will keep them busy and excited to receive a new gift. Don't forget to stock up at the local drug store for the return trip. *During high alert status, your packages will likely be unwrapped. Consider a surprise grab bag instead.
• Electronic games with headphones are a great way to pass the time. I love our Leapsters.
• Don't overdo it on snacks. That said, be sure to have enough to keep your kids from getting hungry. We overdid it on snacks for our last flight and well... it wasn't pretty. Onto my next point.
• Dress your child comfortably. I love zip up sweatshirts. This allows your child to adjust to the temperature on the airplane and can serve as a quick pillow.
• Slip on shoes!!! If everyone wears slip-ons, the security process will be so much easier.
• Check your car seats! Unless you are absolutely certain that you're going to use your car seat onboard the airplane, there is no sense lugging those seats through security and down the tarmac only to check them at the gate. Bring clear plastic bags to prepare the seats for travel. Most airlines will provide these but for a charge.
• If you have a child that is prone to motion sickness, pack a motion sickness kit. I was amazed at how clueless our flight attendants were when my daughter got sick. It took them 10 minutes to find the airsickness kit and then they handed it to me to handle while I was holding my sick, upset daughter. Pack two garbage bags, a pair of latex gloves, a travel pack of Dramamine, purel and a washcloth/ disposable wipes. Use one garbage bag to dispose of towels or wipes and the other for soiled clothes.
• Always pack an extra outfit for your kids and an extra shirt for you. Keep it in your carry on baggage. Spills, sickness and accidents make for a long flight if there's nothing to change into.
• If your child experiences ear pain on the flight, consider benadryl or tylenol... this is not medical advice and some might shun the idea but it sure makes for a quieter flight =). Also consider Ear Planes which are small plastic ear plugs that help regulate ear pressure. These really do work.
• Before getting on the airplane, find a place for your kids to blow off steam. Many airports have gotten smarter and have built play areas throughout the building.
• If you're travelling with a baby, the front packs are fantastic. Your flight attendant will likely make you remove it during take off and landing because they are not approved by the FAA. However, it makes going to the bathroom and taking a nap much easier. Being held nice and snug against mom or dad helps your child to feel more secure as well.
• If you're travelling with the family, have one parent board early to get the seats ready. Have the parent take all of the baggage and get it situated in the seats and overhead bins. This way you're less likely to clog the aisles with cranky kids. When you land, if you're toward the front of the plane, go ahead and get off. However, if you're in the middle or back of the plane, it's a good idea to stay put until most of the plane has unloaded. If your kids are expected to stand in line and wait for a long time, you're going to have a meltdown. It's also more polite to keep your kids seated so other passengers can get off of the plane more easily. If you have a connection, disregard this and run like the a gazelle!
• Finally, if a flight attendant goes out of her way to accommodate your child, get her name and write a letter to her supervisor. Most airlines reward employees with points for merchandise and gift certificates. All too often, people only write letters to complain.

Family night at the drive in

Go to the Drive-In without ever leaving your living room!
Remember those hot summer nights at the drive-in? Mom would make popcorn, you'd put your Pj's on and the whole family would climb into the car and head to the movies? It was so cool to get to stay up late and make blanket forts in the car. Why not go to the drive-in during the winter? Too cold, think again.

For your next family night, go to the store and let the kids pick out their favorite candy. Find a box(es) big enough for each child to sit in. Cut the top off and let the kids decorate it so it looks like a car. Pick your favorite movie, spread out a blanket on the floor, grab a million pillows and there you have it! A drive-in movie for the whole family.

Happy family time!

Great Roast Chicken Dinner

Are you looking for a meal that tastes like you took all day to prepare it? Do you want some good, hearty comfort food? Here's a simple, easy recipe that has become a staple in our house.

Roast Chicken and garlic roasted potatoes

Ingredients:

• Fryer Chicken
• Lemon
• white onion
• 2 Bulbs of Garlic
• Rosemary
• 1 lb Baby Red potatoes
• Olive Oil
• Kosher Salt
• Flat Leaf Parsley
• Paprika

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Wash and pat dry the fryer chicken. Be sure to remove the organs inside. Lightly salt and pepper the inside of the bird. Quarter the onion and lemon. Cut the pointy end of the garlic, exposing the cloves inside. Stuff the chicken with the onion, lemon, garlic and rosemary (1-2 sprigs). Rub olive oil on the outside of the chicken. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken, add paprika for color. Rub this mixture into the skin and place the chicken, breast side up, in a roasting pan (be sure to elevate the bird with a simple wire rack). Roast your chicken for 1 1/2 hours until the juices run clear. To test the juices, slice between the leg and the breast of the chicken and observe the juices. Let the chicken rest 5-10 minutes before carving.

While your chicken is roasting, wash and quarter your baby red potatoes. Mince 1-2 cloves of garlic. Chop about 1/4- 1 cup of parsley depending on your preference. The best way to chop parsley is to put it in a juice glass and use kitchen scissors. This really chops it finely and avoids any denting or scarring of the parsley.... and it smells amazing! Place potatoes in a shallow casserole dish and toss with the other ingredients. Add enough olive oil to lightly coat the potatoes (usually about 1/4 cup). Sprinkle with kosher salt and bake for 45-60 minutes along side your chicken. These potatoes are impossible to mess up. Add the amount of ingredients to your liking. If you prefer softer potatoes, cook for a shorter period of time, crunchy potatoes stay in longer until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Friendly fast food

Fast food doesn't have to be a fast end to your diet!

It's the Monday after Superbowl Sunday and I've just realized the number of calories ingested the day before. I hit the gym and knock out 5 miles on the elliptical, lift some weights and down a few bottles of water. I run home to take a shower and get ready for my hectic day which includes karate, doctor appointments and dinner with a friend. As much as I'd love to throw together a healthy lunch for me and the kids, the clock just won't allow. Soon, I find myself under golden arches speaking into a box. A crispy chicken meal later, I've more than undone all of my work at the gym.

It's inevitable that, at some point, a busy Mom is going to end up driving through a fast food joint now and then. If you're a mom and can't relate, you get Mother of the Year award and we'd be better off not meeting. It's easy to feel defeated after a trip through a drive through. So often, that defeat results in a day of poor choices rather than correcting the error by compensating with healthier choices. If you do mess up, don't let it ruin your whole day.

I once heard a great analogy for this situation. Imagine you're walking across the kitchen with a bowl of eggs. You slip and drop one egg and it breaks apart all over your floor. Nobody in his or her right mind would say, "oh no, dropped an egg. I guess I'll drop the rest of them," and throw the rest of the bowl on the floor. No, you clean up your mess and take extra measures to insure you don't lose another egg.

If you do find yourself at a fast food restaurant, here are some of the lower calorie, not necessarily lower fat, options. I am not saying that these are "healthy" choices because we all know that whole foods are the best options for optimal health. However, these menu items appear to be better choices for those watching their caloric intake. There are several app's on smart phones that can assist you with this quest as well. I find that keeping a mental list, or a physical list with me in the car, is best just in case my phone doesn't load quickly enough. Check out http://dwlz.com for more restaurant nutritional information. ***Some of the calories vary from different regions in the country, specifically with Starbucks restaurants.

Click on this link for a list of lower calorie fast food options: table.

You're not used to getting into a car accident...

It was a sunny day as my family and I sat in traffic after a fantastic football game. Our team finally won a game after a prior losing season. To top it off, our rival was losing! Needless to say, my mind was on the game, the traffic and not the car in front of me. Before I knew it, BAM!!! Right into the back of the pick up truck I went. My 5-year-old told my 3-year-old that I was going to get arrested and that we'd have to sell our house to pay to get me out of jail. She started screaming, my son was crying and my husband was about to lose his mind. It didn't help that a police officer witnessed the entire thing. I stumbled out of my car and started to write down as much information I could think of. When I got home and called the insurance company, I realized I hadn't written down the time of day, type of vehicle and had forgotten most of the pertinent information. Luckily, my wonderful agent at Amica Insurance said, "don't worry. We've got it from here. You're not used to getting into accidents so you're not used to taking down the right information."

Hopefully you'll never need this information but here are some things to remember when you're in an accident. If possible, go to your state's website and print out an accident report form. Keep it in your glove box just in case.

1. Keep a disposable camera in your glove box. While we all have cameras on our phones, you never know if your phone will be damaged in the accident. Take pictures of the damage to your car and any other cars or property involved in the accident.
2. Make a copy of your driver's license and insurance card. Keep a copy to give to other people involved in the accident. *** Use discretion as your personal information is on this.
3. Keep the phone numbers of local tow truck companies on hand. Keep in mind that your auto club membership likely will not tow away from accidents due to environmental concerns.
4. Some people will disagree with me but carefully evaluate to see if it's necessary to call the police. Someone will be cited at fault for the accident and a ticket will be issued. If nobody is hurt and you're at fault... I don't know but I think I'd think twice before calling 911 to get a ticket.
5. If anyone is hurt, call 911. Do not move people that have back or neck injuries. Cover them with a blanket to help with shock.
6. Keep a pad of paper and a pen in your glove box to write down important information.
7. Road flares, a flashlight, blanket, tire iron and spare tire may be especially helpful.
8. Keep a printed list of important information to gather after an accident. A blank accident report form might help you accomplish this. **For more ideas about important information, see the following list.
   

Important information to gather:

• Date
• Time
• Location
• Weather/ road conditions
• From the other drivers involved: Name, address, phone, DOB, license plate #, Driver's License #, Insurance company name and contact info as well as policy number.
• Make, model and year of cars involved (include a brief description)
• Names and phone numbers of any witnesses
• The names and phone numbers for all people involved in the accident
• The accident report number if one is issued

Do not admit fault under any circumstances. Keep your cool and do not react emotionally. You can cry and lose it later! Wait until you have talked to your insurance company and/or attorney to determine fault. Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Be sure to move to a safe location after your accident. So many times people are in shock after an accident and put themselves in serious harm by stepping out into traffic. If you are in pain, go to Urgent care or the ER right away. Shock keeps many people from feeling their injuries until much later. Better to error on the side of caution.

For a Washington state accident report form, visit http://www.wsp.wa.gov/publications/forms/345161_Civilian_Motor_Vehicle_Collision_Report_empowered.pdf

Drive Safe!!! Make your car a text free zone.

The top 10 must haves for your diaper bag and the 5 best ways to keep it all organized.

Sorry I've been away for a few days. Luckily a friend of mine gave me some blog ideas. If you've got anything you'd like help with, email me lisayunt@gmail.com and I'll try to research the topic and post it on the blog.

Still in the diaper bag stage? Have you ever lost a bottle of formula only to find it nearly exploded in the bottom of your diaper bag? Ever had a cranky baby and can't quite find that teething ring with out completely dumping your bag all over the floor? Here are some helpful tips to keep your bag organized.

1. Create diaper packs. Stock up on sandwich and gallon sized ziplock baggies. Place 3-4 wipes into a sandwich sized ziplock and zip it up tight. Place this wipes bag and a diaper into the larger, gallon sized ziplock bag. When it's time to change baby, finding the supplies you need will be no problem. Use the empty baggy to dispose of the dirty diaper or save it to use again. Make these packs no longer than a week ahead of time because your wipes may dry out. If our wipes do dry out, a few drops of water will fix them. Keep these diaper packs inside your changing pad to make them easy to find. I used to rely on a small, plastic container for my wipes but often found that the container didn't hold enough wipes or that it was awkward to get into while changing my baby. If you have room in your bag, re-purpose this plastic container as a back up supply of wipes.
2. Keep a large baby bag in your car. Keep a change of clothes for your baby, and maybe you if your baby is prone to sharing his/her "wipe out episodes" with you. Additionally, keep 3-5 extra diapers, a package of wipes, a few tubes of baby formula (if you're formula feeding), an empty bottle, a receiving blanket (can work as a blanket or burp rag) and perhaps a bottle of baby tylenol and teething cream. This way, you have everything you could possibly need but you're only carrying the essentials with you.
3. Tether that toy! Does your child have a favorite toy? Consider sewing a cloth loop on the toy so you can attach it to the strap of your diaper bag or an inside zipper.
4. Do you formula feed? Those little tubes of formula can get expensive! It's definitely a good idea to have these on an airplane but it's just too expensive for everyday use. Purchase bottles that have tops on them such as the avent bottles. Put the proper amount of formula into your bottle and cap it. When it comes time for feeding, poor the formula into the cap, fill the bottle with water and redeposit the formula back into the bottle. Most formula companies instruct to add the water first, then the formula. Does the idea of pouring formula back and forth make you nervous? Consider purchasing a small, divided snack container available at target or your local grocery store.
5. Purchase disposable spoons and keep a few in a ziplock bag inside your diaper bag. Rinse them after feedings and put them back in your bag so you're never without the proper utensils to feed baby.

The TOP TEN must haves for your diaper bag! (Supplies for 1 day)

1. 3-4 diaper packs (See #1 above)
2. Changing pad
3. empty bottle
4. formula
5. pacifiers or other toy to soothe your baby
6. bottle of food and or small ziplock of crackers or other treats.
7. disposable spoons
8. 2 burp rags
9. diaper rash cream
10. hand sanitizer

When choosing a diaper bag, make sure there is a separate compartment for your changing pad. A few separate compartments help but too many can be restricting and overwhelming. An outside pocket that holds a baby bottle and/or bottle of water is especially helpful. Consider a backpack style if you travel a lot or need your arms free to carry baby. Make sure your diaper bag is washable. A waterproof interior is especially helpful.

To make life easier, consider switching from a purse to a wristlet. Keeping your driver's license, a debit and credit card, your auto club and medical insurance cards as well as a folded blank check and some cash will keep you covered for the day. Sunglasses, car keys and your cell phone can slip into pockets in the diaper bag.

15 questions to ask your school Principal

I am absolutely in love with my Son and Daughter's school. I feel good dropping them off every morning because I know they are receiving the best education possible. I'll admit that sending my son to public school next year has me in a bit of a panic. If his current school went beyond Kindergarten, I'd find myself back at work so I could afford tuition. Considering the costs associated with private school, we're going to give public school another shot. I have extensively interviewed elementary school principals in the area and would like to share some of the questions that have been helpful in my interviewing.

1. What is the mission and or philosophy of the school and administration?
2. How does the school rank within the district? What about withing the state? Are there any biases or errors in the state's method of testing and evaluating schools? How does that affect the scores of the school you're interviewing?
3. What is the school's biggest strength?
4. What is the school's biggest challenge?
5. How are students placed in classes? What about placement within the class such as learning groups?
6. What is the average class size? What does the school do to make up for larger class sizes?
7. What is the PTA like? How is parental involvement?
8. How does the school address a child that falls outside the norm? If the child is struggling, what steps are in place to insure that the child doesn't fall through the cracks? What approach is taken to keep an exceptionally bright student challenged?
9. What can your child expect in an average day?
10. What are the learning objectives? What should children know when entering the appropriate grade and what skills should they possess before moving onto the next grade?
11. How does the school handle bullies?
12. What is the Principal's approach to discipline?
13. How does the school prepare the students to be lifelong learners and good citizens?
14. What kind of technology is available to students and staff?
15. What reading and math programs are used? *** This is a really good thing to learn and research later. Understanding the programs will allow you to teach and enrich your children at home.

Next, tour the building. Is this a place you would like to go to school? Is it clean and safe? Are the children happy or does it feel like the military? Are there colorful, educational charts and art on the walls? Do the classes seem to be under control or are they total chaotic? What about the teacher's desk? Is it clear and organized or a heap of papers?

Finally, do your homework before you go. There are several great websites that can give insight about your school. Interview several schools within your district. If local districts allow transfers, consider interviewing outside your district. If, after your interviewing, you still don't feel comfortable with your options, consider researching private and homeschooling options.

http://www.greatschools.org/

http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?year=2008-09(Washington state statistics)

Cookbook clutter

If you're like most people, you could use an extra cabinet or two in your kitchen. To save space, photo copy the recipes you use most and put them in a binder. Give the cookbook to a friend or donate it. This is also a great idea for magazines that you've had laying around the house for ages.

Reclaim your laundry room

Is your bedroom floor decorated with various, half filled laundry baskets? Do you find yourself frantically digging through clean laundry to find a pair of socks for your kids in the morning? Here is a simple system that worked for us.

Rather than do laundry in two large loads, consider washing according to room or person. To save water, remember to set adjust the settings to the proper load size.

An empty laundry basket or hamper in every room will make laundry a breeze. Wash only one room at a time. Fold the laundry as soon as it comes out of the dryer and take it directly to the room it belongs in. Enlist the help of your children if they're old enough to help. It's never too early to start a good habit.

Looking for a great book? Try Jane Porter!

I've decided that Fridays will be set aside for reviews. Today, I 'd like to tell you about a great book. Everyone I have suggested this book to absolutely loves it and continues to read all 3 in the series.

Odd Mom Out, Jane Porter

I love local authors so it should come as no surprise that I instantly fell in love with Jane Porter, an author who lives in Bellevue, WA. Jane has written several Harlequin romance novels but started writing modern day books about the struggles we go through as women and as mothers. I found myself laughing out loud as I read her book, Odd Mom Out.

Are you a mother? Have you ever felt like you're supposed to drive a certain car, wear your hair a certain way, dress in particular styles, attend every PTA and school function on the calendar, cook gourmet meals and keep your home like Martha Stewart? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to show up to one of those PTA meetings in combat boots, a black leather jacket thrown over your shoulder and your harley parked out back? Meet Marta Zinsser from Odd Mom Out. Marta is an advertising executive who moves with her 9-year-old daughter from Manhattan to Seattle. Marta and her daughter find themselves living in an exclusive area of Bellevue, Washington to find that Marta's particular style isn't accepted. Bitchy, backstabbing, insecure women do their best to make Marta and her daughter stick out and feel as unwelcome as the H1N1 virus in a Ped's unit.

Jane does a wonderful job developing her charters and plot. I felt instantly connected to Marta and grew to hate the mothers and other children that seemed to be constant bullies. Marta's young daughter Eva does everything she can to be accepted, to be normal. As Marta struggles to juggle caring for her sick mother, pursuing a career, having a personal life and motherhood, Eva slowly starts to learn that life isn't about being normal but about being true to yourself. This book gently reminds women that it's okay to be unique and to go against the grain.

Check out Jane Porter's website to learn more about her and her books. I highly recommend reading Odd Mom Out, followed by Mrs. Perfect and Easy on the Eyes. Jane will release her 4th book in this series in August 2010.

Eww... I hate meatloaf

"Mom, what's for dinner... ewww! I hate that. I want something else!"

Sound familiar? Does it seem that you have become a short order cook? Your kids want one thing while you and your spouse want something completely different. Here are some helpful hints when it comes to harmony at the dinner table.

• Have your child list his or her favorite meals. Include two of these in your weekly meal plan. If there's something your kid absolutely loves that you absolutely hate, it's okay to make something different for you and your spouse.
  
• Include your kid's in meal preparation even if it's something as simple as setting the table. Involving your kids helps them feel in control. If they are choosing to eat what's put in front of them, rather than being forced, it's going to be a smoother road for everyone.
• If it's on a stick or you can dip it, it's a hit! Veggies on a stick? Veggies on a stick with ranch dressing? What a hit!
  
• Be sure to space out snacks and drinks so your kids come to the table hungry. Try not to give snacks more than 2 hours before dinner.
• Set realistic expectations. If your child tries a few bites of everything, recognize the effort. While I'm not an advocate of deserts every night or a "clean plate club," a small incentive at the end won't hurt.
• Try these fun ideas with your kids to get them involved.

1. Pizza (have your kids make their own pizza, either a large crust or individual English Muffins).
2. Baked Potato night. Have several condiments and toppings available.
3. Pasta night. Make a few different sauces, meatballs, different shredded cheeses, etc. Your kids decide what to top their pasta with.
4. Taco bar
5. sliders (mini burgers) with a choice of toppings and condiments
6. Sloppy Joes or shredded beef sandwiches (put a beef roast in a slow cooker all day with 1/4 cup marinade. Remove the roast and shred with a fork. Return it to the slow cooker with another 1/4 cup marinade and let it sit for about 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, slice some baby reds and an onion, season with salt and pepper and saute until golden). Combine it all to serve as hash or serve the beef on Kaiser rolls. My kids loved this last night!
7. Salad wraps
8. Breakfast for dinner (backwards day)

Try shredding some zucchini or carrots into the spaghetti sauces, hamburger mixtures or pizza. Do it when they're not looking and see if they notice! Serving yogurt, applesauce, carrots or cottage cheese as a side will keep the meal nutritious.

What's for dinner?

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
It's 4:00 and your family asks, "What's for dinner?" You make a mad dash to the pantry and stand there just waiting for an idea to pop into your head... nothing! You turn to the refrigerator and find a bottle of ketchup, some yogurt and some eggs. Your response, "pizza is on the way!"

While it might seem time consuming at first, planning a week's worth of meals and shopping one day a week is the way to go. Here's how to get started.

Create a list of 10-15 meals your family eats on a regular basis. If you don't have this many, just list what you can think of. Here are some of my favorite recipe websites:

• http://allrecipes.com
• http://foodnetwork.com
• http://epicurious.com

There are several ways to do the next piece of this meal planning process. If you're computer savvy and think in Excel like I do, read the following ideas. Otherwise, skip over these to the next bold item.

1. Using excel, make a worksheet for each recipe and put the title on the tab. Insert a blank worksheet in the beginning of your workbook for your weekly meal planning.
2. Make a master menu. Vertically label cells Monday-Sunday. Next to each day/date, list the name of the recipe you'd like to serve. Consider the activities you have that week. If you're going to be home late, consider a crock-pot recipe or something you can prepare ahead of time. ***It's also a good idea to use fresh produce early in the week before it spoils. This is the only time I might make a second trip to the store in one week.
3. Next, copy the ingredients of each recipe and paste them into your worksheet.
   
4. Spend a few minutes at your local grocery store and take note of the store's layout. Write down the aisle headers to better help you organize your grocery list.
   
5. Sort your grocery list by aisle to make shopping a breeze. Using the copy and paste features in Excel will make this process fairly easy.
6. Be sure to shop your own pantry and refrigerator before finalizing your list. This will save you lots of money in the long run.
7. Consult your coupons. Look through the big stack and see if any of the coupons will apply to your weekly menu. Some might start with the ads first, basing the meals off of the sale items.
   
8. Post your menu somewhere in your kitchen. I like to post mine inside a cupboard so it's out of sight. It's important to do this so you don't forget what you bought all of your ingredients for.
9. Don't forget to add the items you'll want for breakfast and lunch. Double check your other supplies like paper, cleaning, storage, etc. and note them on your list as well
   

Technophobes, here's your strategy:

1. Create a recipe book on the most commonly used recipes. Try to include at least 15 recipes so your mealtime doesn't get monotonous.
   
2. Make a master menu for the week by choosing 7 recipes and assigning one to each day of the week. Keep your schedule in mind. If you're going to be late one night, consider a crock pot recipe. ***It's also a good idea to use fresh produce early in the week before it spoils. This is the only time I might make a second trip to the store in one week.
   
3. Start your grocery list by dividing your page into the various sections and aisles of your grocery store. Taking a few minutes to note these aisle headers the next time you're at the grocery store will make this especially smooth.
   
4. List your ingredients according to the sections and aisles of the grocery store.
5. Shop your pantry and refrigerator to make sure you don't duplicate items you already have.
6. Consult the ads to see if any of them apply to your menu for the week. Some choose to start with the ads before choosing the weekly menu.
7. Post your menu somewhere in your kitchen. I like to post mine inside a cupboard so it's out of sight. It's important to do this so you don't forget what you bought all of your ingredients for.
8. Don't forget to add the items you'll want for breakfast and lunch. Double check your other supplies like paper, cleaning, storage, etc. and note them on your list as well.

Making copies of your menus and the coordinating lists can save you time in the weeks to come. Be adventurous! Try to add a new recipe every week. I have 30 recipes I use so we don't repeat very often.

Overwhelmed? Here's a website that does most of this for you.
http://www.e-mealz.com/
If you don't have your own recipes, this site is for you. I have used it for two weeks and I like it. There are a few drawbacks. First, there is a cost. It's not expensive but you will pay $15.00 for 3 months. Secondly, you can't include your own recipes so your lists might need slight modifications if using your own recipe in place of one of the suggested meals. Some of the meals take quite a bit of time. While there might not be a lot of hands on prep, some of these meals require starting them 9 hours ahead of time in a crock-pot or over an open flame. Finally, from what I can tell, you can't swap out recipes if there's one that doesn't particularly appeal to you and your family. The grocery list does list the grocery items with the meals they will be used for so these modifications aren't too terribly difficult to figure out. Keep the menus and be sure to make a copy of your grocery lists before going to the store and covering them in your notes. Keeping these hole-punched and in a notebook will allow you to use them again and again.

Additional ways to save time and keep your refrigerator stocked:

• Hire a milkman. If you live in Western Washington, consider Smith Brothers.
  
• Don't forget your Farmer's Markets and fresh produce delivery. It might be an extra stop but you'll be supporting local farmers while getting the freshest produce available.
• Keep a freezer in your garage. Making double batches of your recipes is a great idea! You never know when a snow storm, or a long day at the beach if you're lucky, might keep you from getting to the store.
• Make a run to your local Costco or Sam's club and stock up on some frozen dinners. Yes, I know, it's not what Martha Stewart might suggest but these meals can save you if you're caught unprepared. We have been pleasantly surprised by some of the newer meals available.
• ALWAYS boil your chicken carcass! This makes excellent chicken broth that's sure to cure a cold. If you're really on top of it, chop up a few stalks of celery, an onion and some baby carrots to make chicken soup. Freeze it until you're feeling under the weather and it will feel just like Mom brought over chicken soup!
• No time to shop? Use your list to shop at an online grocer. Some stores might charge a few dollars for this service but it's fast and easy. It also keeps a person from making impulse purchases. Shopping online allows you to more easily stick to a budget! Most sites total your cart as you go. If a recipe is getting expensive, you can quickly delete the items from your cart and choose something less expensive like a pasta or hamburger based meal. These options usually more than cover the cost of delivery making online grocery shopping worth consideration.