How Do You Do It???

I've been sick recently with Shingles (ugh!) and haven't had the energy or creativity to come up with a blog post. I didn't want to leave you all hanging, so I asked my friend Tracy from Baby Spit is the New Black to fill in for me while I recover. Thanks so much Tracy!!!

One question I get asked a lot as a mom of 4 kids with a husband who travels is “How do you do it?” The “it” in that sentence can refer to any number of things. They can mean keeping my house clean, or staying organized, or just plain keeping my sanity. Since the overall “theme” of Modern*Simplicity is to help lead a better, more organized life (at least that is what I get from it) I thought I might address a little bit of “how I do it.”

1) Utilize technology: I’ve got a Roomba, a Scooba, a bread maker, a crock pot, a washer, a dryer, a dishwasher, automatic toilet bowl cleaners and probably more that I’m not thinking of. All of these things work without me having to monitor them or do anything past the initial button pushing or installation. It makes it easy to get some things done without having to actually do much of anything. I especially love setting them off at night, so when I get up in the morning, my family room is vacuumed, the kitchen is mopped and the bread is made. Not all of it has to cost as much as a dishwasher or a Roomba...my bread maker was FREE from Freecycle!

2) Schedule, schedule, schedule: I have very specific days that I do things. Every Wednesday, for example, is when I wash the clothes for the 2 oldest kids. Wash, dry, fold, put away. Every Friday I clean the downstairs bathroom. Every Sunday I grocery shop (when Husband is home so I can go kidless. Whee!)

3) Routine, routine, routine: We’re pretty predictable around here and it works to our advantage. Home from school, snack and relax, homework, playing, bath, dinner, goodnight show and bedtime. Bedtime routines are pajamas, brush teeth, stories, songs, interesting facts from the day and lights out. We start early and we don’t hurry. I find that rushing makes the kids dig their heels in in protest. Taking our time leads to smooth sailing.

4) Keep my humor: I try very hard to remember that in 20 years, most of it just won’t matter. Heck, most of it won’t matter next week! If I don’t put the cushions back on the couch, it won’t matter. If I don’t make my son pick up his blocks, or make my oldest daughter put away her Barbies or make my toddler eat her dinner, well, tomorrow is another day. And, like my baby, I try to find the humor and laughter in the small things. Remembering to enjoy my life while I’m living my life makes it me a happier mom/wife/person.

All those things together, while they may not make life easy, they do make it easier. And easier is something we could all use!

The Halloween Book!

One of my very favorite October traditions is taking my boys to a local pumpkin patch in their Halloween costumes and taking LOTS of photos of them. I started doing this when my oldest son was born -- he was 2 months old at his first pumpkin patch photo shoot, and of course I dressed him as a pumpkin. The next year we went to a larger patch, and our boy was dressed as his best buddy Tigger. The next year, he was a frog, and I was starting to amass a stack of pumpkin patch pictures that I really wanted to show off. And so the pinnacle of my favorite fall tradition was born: the Halloween Book.

I went to Target and got a plain black linen photo album with a little cutout window, where I placed a photo of a jack-o-lantern. I put my pumpkin patch photos in, with a little note for each year for the kid's age and costume description, and I found a place of prestige for my album on the mantle. The next year, I had 2 sons to take to the patch, and photos of Baby Pooh and Bigger Tigger made their way into the pages. My older son suddenly discovered the book, and now enjoys flipping through the pages, giggling at how silly he looked as a froggie and how much his own pix as a baby pumpkin look like his baby brother. I just sent the photos of this year's Firefigher and his puppy Dalmatian to Target to print, so I can add those photos to the pages tonight. I know the Firefighter will be eager to help me put them in.

My own Halloween Book is a simple black linen album. But here are some adorable photo album ideas for you to start your own Halloween Book tradition -- even if you don't do a pumpkin patch, a book dedicated just to your child's Halloween costuming adventures would be a wonderful keepsake for years to come.

From Little Yellow Bicycle

 From Etsy 

From Etsy 

 

Q&A with Tracy: SuperMom!

I'm starting a new feature where I pick some of my favorite bloggers and do a Q&A with them. I hope you enjoy learning about some blogs you may not know about as well as meeting some of my blogger friends! This Q&A is with my friend Tracy from Baby Spit is the New Black. With 4 kids and a husband who travels frequently for business, Tracy is definitely a SuperMom! Enjoy!

Your blog name: Baby Spit is the New Black

Your blog address: http://www.outnumberedbythekids.blogspot.com/

Your hometown: Sacramento, California

How long have you been blogging? Since January of 2009

How did you get into blogging? I had several friends with blogs, and I loved to read them. It was nice to be able to kind of keep in touch and know what was going on with them even if the only time I had to catch up was after midnight. I can't call and chat at that time, but I can read their blogs. Then my friend, Lisa, was going to do this picture a day for a year project and that got me thinking about blogging the everyday events of our house and it just kind of went from there.

3 things readers need to know about you or your blog:

1) I think I can give the appearance of really having it all together. I totally don't. I'm disorganized to a fault. I'm working on that. If you look at my Recipe of the Week you'll see that it really should be more like Recipe of the Month. I rarely change it on time. It's just one of those things I can't always get to. If I were better organized I probably could get to it as I should.

2) Often when I blog a list or an inner thought, it's because life is BORING and no one wants to read about how I changed 5 poopy diapers yesterday or that I have to do my laundry.

3) I'm addicted to decorating blogs and, although I will NEVER be as talented as some of those women, I do aspire to try some of their projects and then blog about them (while giving credit and blog links to the original creators, of course). So I can see the course of my blog content maybe including some new things very soon.

I'm adding one: 4) My blog is called "Baby Spit is the New Black" because when I was trying to decide what to name it, I realized that I am always covered in some kind of kid-oriented substance. And many of my mom friends are the same, to the point where we go to Target without realizing that we have peanut butter smeared on our pants legs and baby spit on our shoulders. Kid grime is an accessory, and so the name was born.

List 5 things you LOVE (about ANYTHING):

I love my BFF -- I'd lose my sanity without her.

I love my Mom -- she is my biggest cheerleader and support.

I love chocolate (a little too much).

I love my crock pot and my bread maker.

I love my family.

It's supposed to be 5 things I love, but I cannot leave off my online sisters. They know who they are.

Your biggest pet peeve: ooooh. That's a good one. Does it sound snotty if I say "stupid people"? It does, doesn't it? OK, I'll say bad drivers, especially people who drive UNDER the speed limit.

You write about your kids a lot. Who is your audience? Is your blog for you, your kids, your extended family, or someone else? As it turns out, my audience is mostly other moms, but I started writing it for myself and for my kids so that I would remember all the little things that are so easily forgotten and so that they would have some stories of their childhoods "on paper."

How old are each of your kids right now? Curly is 6, StinkyMan is 4, Peanut is 2 and BabyGirl is 1.

What's your very favorite thing about each of your kids (just ONE for each kid!)?

Just one? Yikes. OK, ummmmm:

Curly's creativity

StinkyMan's big heart

Peanut's sunshiny-ness

BabyGirl's fearlessness

How do you decide which things get blogged? Do you ever wonder if your kids will read all this later and ask, "why on earth did you print that about me?!" If something makes me laugh, it gets written 9 times out of 10. If I think other people can relate to it, that's even better. And if it's something I want to be sure to remember, to blogspot it goes.

I do sometimes wonder if they will be mortified or angry with me (like when Peanut colored some body parts that aren't usually mentioned on a family blog) but you know, I figure one day, when they have kids of their own, they'll laugh and thank me. Plus I don't use their real names so there is always plausible deniablity!

I have a friend who passed away this past summer and sometimes when I don't feel like blogging, I think of her girls and how they would probably love to have her memories and thoughts written down. It really keeps me going.

If I remember correctly, your blog originally started as a Blog365 project. Have you been blogging daily this year? Does the Deal of the Day help you remember to blog daily?

Yeah, I think 365 lasted about 2 days. There just aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done. And like I said before, life isn't always exciting and no one cares about every inner thought I have, so it quickly went by the wayside. But the DOTD really does force me (and readers) to check in daily. It's an accountability thing for me and a way to keep readers coming back.

How do you choose your "Deal of the Day"?

I scour bargain sites and deal blogs, and sometimes I get suggestions from friends. I choose the ones that are the most interesting to me. Sometimes I'll find one that I'm not so interested in, but that I know would be really popular with my friends or other mothers, so I'll use it anyway.

You have 4 kids and a husband who travels frequently. How do you keep everyone organized and on track for school, extracurriculars, etc.? I have a giant dry erase calendar with every stupid thing written on it. There is nothing I don't put on there because I won't remember on my own. And I have a lot of help from my parents, especially my mom.

Name your favorite home management tip to help other busy moms:

For the big kids: when they come home with their backpacks, take out their folders right away, and read and sign and repack what needs to be returned immediately. Otherwise you will put it on the counter and forget all about it or remember it as you are racing to get out the door in the morning.

For the little kids: Don't run out. Always stock one extra of what you use. If you use diapers, consider yourself "out" when you are using your 2nd to last pack and have one full pack left. Same with baby medicine. Get some more the minute you crack open the one you have. You don't want to be caught without it when you need it at 2am! This is something I'm trying to do more and more myself. Now if I could just get myself to do this with groceries I'd never have to make an emergency run to the store!

Solve Your Closet Problems!

Here are a few closet questions people emailed me during the Closet Clean-Up Challenge. Hope these answers help!

How do I store purses and bags? (Clarissa, Addison, TX)

I have most of mine filed neatly into a large storage bin in my closet, with some tissue paper stuffed in to help them keep their shape, and stored in their original dust bags if they came with one. If you have the space, you can also arrange hooks or pretty knobs on your closet walls and hang the purses like artwork. I'd still keep some tissue paper stuffed in there to help them retain their shape, and dust them off often if you don't use them frequently.

How do I organize the clothes in my closet so I can find what I need when I actually need it? (Sara, Midland, TX)

Try grouping your clothes by function (work, casual, dressy), then by type (tops, pants, skirts, etc.) Since my work is fairly casual dress, I skip the function and group my clothes by type (tops, pants, skirts, dresses), and then within the largest group (tops), I break them down by kind (sleeveless, short-sleeve, long-sleeve, jackets, etc.) Some people suggest you can then sort each kind down by color, but I find that a little too high-maintenance for my taste and grouping by kind works for me. Purge before you try to group them, that way you won't have all the nonwearable stuff to sort through every day!

How do you store shoes and boots? (Katie, Cleveland, OH)

I keep most of my shoes in labeled plastic shoe boxes on built-in shelves in my closet. Shoes I wear more frequently sit on wire shoes shelves in the closet (so they can breathe and be easily accessible). My short boots hang out on the wire shoes shelves, and my tall boots are stuffed with boot protectors to keep their shape (you can use old magazines or newspaper too), and they're stacked on the bottom shelf of my wire shoe shelves.

I don't have a big closet. Is there a way to make more space without building on? (Jessy, New York City)

There's not a lot you can do for a small space. Purge whatever you can, use slim hangers, and consider storing delicate items like sweaters in a dresser or pretty boxes outside the closet. Keep your closet neat -- messy items take up more space and make it harder to find what you want. Do you have space near the ceiling to put in an extra shelf for out-of-season items? Can you use double hanging racks to get more hanging space? Also use the back of your closet door if possible for extra storage using an over the door organizer or simple hooks for belts, scarves, etc.

How do you clean a closet out when you don't have time to do it? I don't want to leave all my stuff out while I spend 2 weeks trying to get it done?! (Lisa, Ashton, ID)

Do little bits while you have free time. Spend 10 minutes pulling out clothes you no longer wear, and bag them up for charity. Add a pop-up hamper or small box to your closet so you can purge clothes as you're getting dressed. Next time, spend 5 minutes refolding any messy piles of clothes. Maybe tomorrow you can spend 10  minutes vacuuming your closet floor and organizing your shoes. Next week you can spend 5 minutes sorting your clothes by type so your favorite shirt is easier to find. Little bits add up!

Thanks for all your questions everyone!

Banana Cake with Cinnamon Glaze

Usually I post recipes on my other blog, Delicious in Season, but I want to highlight this one because it is so yummy and perfect this time of year, with a hot mug of tea or cocoa. My boys love bananas, and we always have leftover bananas lulling away in the freezer. This recipe is a great way to use them. The glaze is optional -- the cake is moist and delicate and doesn't *need* it if you're short on time or what to save a few calories.

Banana Cake with Cinnamon Glaze
1-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, etc.), optional
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
2 mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
1-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 to 2 tbsp milk or cream

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray nonstick cooking spray on a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

In a small bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt, and chopped nuts. Stir until evenly mixed.

In a large bowl, beat sugar and oil. Add eggs, bananas, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Beat for 2 minutes until thoroughly combined. Add dry ingredients, stirring only until all ingredients are combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until lightly browned and top springs back when lightly touched. Let cool to room temperature.

Cinnamon Glaze:
Whisk together confectioner's sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and milk or cream. Add only enough cream to make a spreadable glaze. Top cooled cake with cinnamon glaze before cutting.

Yield: 24 to 36 servings, depending on cut size. Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 30 minutes

A Few Touches of Fall

I actually did some fall decorating a few weeks ago, but I held off on posting it because people kept saying it was too hot for fall. {This IS Texas, fall is anything less than 85!} But now that it's cooler and a bit drearier with rain, it really feels like autumn, and I want to snuggle up on the couch under a blanket and watch movies by the fire. So here's just a peek at a few of the fall decorations I put out to cool off the mood here in Texas.

 

Added some fall pumpkins, leaves and pinecones to the mantle. And dusted off the fireplace for some cozy fires soon!

 

Added more pumpkins and berries above the entertainment center, with some candles and a large metal pumpkin bucket that will hold candy for Trick or Treaters on Halloween night.

 

Switched out the couch cushion covers with these that I made a couple of months ago. Check out this post for how I did it.

 

Hung this Uppercase Living Halloween countdown calendar by the door in the dining room. My son loves to move the star magnet ahead each night.

 

Replaced our usual silver cross that hangs by the front door with this lovely harvest one I found at Hobby Lobby.

 

Filled our trifle bowl with lots of fresh apples, my oldest son's newest snack obsession. The Give Thanks is by Uppercase Living as well.

I also put out some fresh throw blankets rolled in baskets for the kids to cuddle up on the couch, and placed a glass block with a pumpkin face and butterscotch candies on the kitchen mantle, surrounded by more mini pumpkins and pinecones. In a couple of weeks, we'll head to the pumpkin patch to grab some real pumpkins, then let our sons decorate. I'm thinking they're too small for carving, put we may do some fun jack-o-lanterns with UL vinyl or paint markers.

Happy Fall Decorating!

Closing of the 5/$500 Challenge

So how did you do? I liked the 5/$500 Challenge, where we listed 5 things a day to sell for 5 weeks in hopes of earning $500. While I didn't reach my $500 goal, I *did* sell enough to buy the new camera I wanted, so I consider it a success. I also purged my home of 34 items, plus a couple of bags of stuff went to the consignment store and donations to our city's family services. I'm mailing the last of my 5/$500 sales today, a Halloween costume I sold on eBay. This is by no means the end of the purging/selling/donating spree in our household though! I hope you will continue as well -- make some cash for Christmas!