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.