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Our Tips for Cooking with Kiddos

Prep as much as you can.  Sure, an impromptu cooking session isn’t going to allow for much prep time.  But as much as you can prep ahead of time, the better.  Either it’s cutting up some veggies before their little fingers come around or measuring out the flour before they start spooning it into the bowl.  Try to set up your kitchen like you’re on a cooking show.  That way everything is ready to go when they are.

Have a towel ready to go.  When you’re cooking with kids, things are going to spill.  Embrace it.  Preferably with a big towel, ready and waiting to soak up that spilled milk.

Get on their level.  Either bring in some stools or move to a shorter table.  You want them to be able to safely reach everything that they’re working with.

Keep it safe.  Keep their little fingers away from knives and have a game plan for whenever you’re putting things in the oven.  We have a cupboard door that the kids have to stand behind when the oven’s open.  They can still see, since you know they’re curious, but they have that barrier they know they can’t cross.

Let everyone help.  Make sure everyone has a job to do.  I like to make them take turns putting ingredients in.  Even if it’s one cup for Little Miss and then one cup for Mr Monster.  They are both helping.  If one is waiting their turn, I ask them to count something…How many ingredients do we have?  How many eggs are left in the carton?  How many chicken nuggets are on the pan?

Cleaning is part of cooking.  Make sure they are helping with the cleanup part of the process too.  Rinsing the spoon or throwing away wrappers are all things they can help with.

Get aprons.  When I’m cooking with kiddos, I want to be focusing on what they’re doing and living in the moment.  The last thing I want to worry about is whether or not they stay clean.

I set off to Etsy to find an apron that would be both cute and functional…Do you know how many aprons there are on Etsy?  Tons.  It’s hard to find the perfect one.  There are frilly one, short ones, long ones, all colors of the rainbow.  I was looking for a functional children’s apron, which meant I needed something that was washable, well made, and easy to use.  I found one that stood out amidst the competition.

HappyToBeAGrandma’s Fun & Functional Children’s Apron

These are made by Paula at HappyToBeAGrandma and are the perfect tool for cooking with kiddos.  Her shop is full of great items, but her aprons are what sold me.  I reached out to Paula and asked if I could write a post about her aprons…because they are fantastic!

The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that the aprons didn’t feel too “girlie”.  I have a two year old boy that probably wouldn’t enjoy wearing a frilly apron.  I picked the army apron, because I knew he would love it.

For Little Miss, there is a perfect pastel butterfly pattern that shimmers.  She loves it!

These aprons are well made. Double lined with a great material.  I.e. Functional.

Above everything else, my favorite part of these aprons is the fact that the kids can put them on all by themselves.  That’s a huge deal when you’re two and wanting to help mommy.  It helps give them a sense of independence and confidence.  When I first handed the apron to Mr Monster, he looked up at me and asked me to put it on for him.  I told him he could do it himself.  His eyes lit up!  I walked him through his first try, and with little effort, he was able to put it over his head and fasten the Velcro strap.  He was so proud of himself.  A priceless moment.

You can purchase a matching oven mitt and hot pad (which the kids call their napkins).  The oven mitts are now a permanent part of their play kitchens.

Working with Paula has been an absolute treat.  You can tell that she loves what she does and takes pride in the quality of her work.  I asked her what her favorite part of owning an Etsy shop was.

“My favorite part is when people talk to me and tell me about their family, ie… who the items are for, what ages etc..meeting new people, and being able to make something special for that family.  Knowing in some small way, I was a part of making it better for them. I make every item like I was making for my own grandchildren, with quality, love and with safety always in mind.”

You’ve got to check out her shop.  It’s full of other fun goodies too.

Like this great tool belt.  Mr. Monster loves putting all his tools in the pockets…along with his horsey.

And these adorable purses.  Little Miss actually hugged it when she got it in the mail.

You can tell that everything at HappyToBeAGrandma is made with love and care.

Cooking with kiddos can be fun, educational, and exciting.  For more than just the kids.  Using these tips you can enjoy your time just a bit more.

Check out HappyToBeAGrandma today and get those kids in the kitchen!

We love when the kids help out in the kitchen. It helps them try new food too!

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated us via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission.  Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Thank you for supporting Twitchetts!

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We’re all busy.  We have loads on our plates and little time to do it all.  We thought we would share some of the items that help us get things done quickly.  From planners to kitchen tools, to blogging must-haves.  Check out what we recommend for every busy momma!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.  

Here are our Around The House Things We Love

Lunchbots Bento Box:  This lunch box is great for J to take his lunch every day.  It makes it so that I can create waste-free lunches.  It’s dishwasher safe.  And (most important) the food doesn’t touch!

Shark Professional Steam Mop:  Looking for a non-toxic way to keep your floors nice and clean?  Meet my friend Shark.  He’s a steam cleaner that makes cleaning the floors a snap.  Best part?  You can refill the cleaner container with your homemade floor cleaner!

LapGear XL Deluxe Laptop Desk:  As a busy mommy blogger, I do a lot of work from my couch.  I know I’m not alone.  I pin while watching reruns of Community and schedule Facebook while binge-watching Gilmore Girls…who doesn’t?  My hubby bought me this lap desk for Christmas, and it has changed everything!  It’s just the right size for my laptop, plus a mouse (because I despise using that little mouse pad on a laptop!).  It even has a little spot for my phone!  I swear, if you do ANY work from your couch, you want this bad boy!

Gnesis Magnetic Spice Jars:  Don’t waste time digging in drawers looking for your favorite spices.  These jars have magnetic lids, so they can be attached to your stove or fridge.  Grab them quick!  They also work great for keeping little craft trinkets or barbie shoes!

Lekue Silicone Stretch Storage Lids:  I received these lids with my last Mighty Fix, from Mighty Nest.  And they have already zoomed to the top of my favorite kitchen tool.  It’s one of those items that make you wonder how you lived before you had them…My kids love to not touch their glass of milk.  Organic milk.  Do you know how expensive that stuff is?  No way am I throwing it away.  Now I can put one of these bad boys right onto the glass and stick it into the fridge.  Have half of an avocado?  Pull one across the top.  It keeps your avocado from turning brown for at least 2 days…I haven’t tested for anything longer than that.  I’m loving these!  For a limited time, Mighty Nest is giving a special deal to Twitchetts readers!  Check it out here!

Flip & Tumble Crossbody Bag:  Another Mighty Fix item!  They must have read my mind because I was just thinking to myself that I needed a nice bag to carry my stuff to and from work.  This bag has been amazing.  It’s just the right size to keep my planner, some diapers, my wallet, and snacks.  With room to spare.  It comes with a bag, that it can fold nicely into.  The bag snaps into the interior of the bag, perfect for your keys, chapstick, and cell phone.  There’s even a little front pouch!  But what’s even better, is that it’s made with nylon, so it’s durable and comes clean quick, which makes it very momma friendly.

Munchkin Scoop, Drain, & Store Bath Toy Organizer:  We all have them.  This one is my favorite.  It makes picking up the kid’s toys a snap!  And when you’re trying to clean up with two naked babies (ok…toddlers/preschoolers…) running around…you want to clean up as fast as you can!  You can use the scoop with or without water.  It hangs on the side of your tub, for easy storage.  It drains (a big must).  Most important, it’s big!  It’s plenty big to actually hold all toys that accumulate in the tub.

OK to Wake! Children’s Alarm Clock:   It happens to every child.  They get up in the morning, ready to start the day.  Come to find out, it’s only 4:30 AM.  This alarm clock is great for letting your little one know that it’s not quite time to get up.  You set the time, and the light turns green when it’s ok for your little one to get up.  You can set the rules for what suits your family.  We told J that he could get up, but he had to stay in his room until the light turned green.  The only exception was the bathroom.  Worked like a charm!

Everyone has their go-to items to help them get stuff done around the house.  These are some of ours.  We hope that they help you as much as they help us!  Check them out today!

The post Things We Love – Around The House appeared first on Twitchetts.

1 – Organize

This is one of my goals for the new year.  And it’s something that I always struggle to find time to do.  But I’m devoted to getting it done this year, and let me tell you…I’m glad that I am.  Each time I get a chunk of space organized, it helps maintain the rest of the beast.  For example, I have an awful problem with putting craft supplies back once I’m done with hem.

The reason for this? Because my craft table was such a disaster that I didn’t have any room to put anything!  So this is where I started.  Every night, once the kids are in bed, I set an alarm on my phone for 15 minutes.  That’s it.  Just 15 minutes.  Do you know how much you can get done in 15 minutes?  A Lot!  It’s amazing!  So, after 4 days of 15 minutes power cleanings, I finally have my work space back.

Not only that…I have a place to put away the 2,000 piles of craft supplies.  Which means I have my kitchen table back.  Which means I  have a place to put my new Kitchen Aid Mixer.  Which means I can play with some new recipes that have been rolling around in the back of my head.  Which means you’ll get to see some new recipe posts…See, we all win!

If you’re looking for some more tips on organizing…check out these easy closet hacks.

2 – Find your chunks of time

Now I don’t want this to get confused with “multi-tasking”.  I’m talking about the 20 minutes while your dinner is baking/cooking.  Or the 5 minutes your kids are playing in the bath tub.  Both of these chunks of time are golden for me.  I spend the bake time emptying my dishwasher and loading the dishes from the morning.  (check out my huge dishwasher time saver here…)  I spend the 5 minutes of bath playtime washing my bathroom.  I even wipe down the tub while I shower…thanks to a little tip I found on Mama By Fire’s Clean Your House In 30 Minutes or Less post.

Remember…you don’t have to clean everything every time you clean…I bath my kids about 3 times a week…so I wipe down the sink/mirror one bath, the floors another bath, and clean the toilet the third bath.  (I also use very natural products, so I’m not stinking out the kiddos with fumes.  If you’re looking for a quick cleaning wipe, check out the ones I make.).

3 – Delegate

If there is more than one person in your house, there is more than one person that can clean.  Sure, you may do 90% of it.  But that last 10% can be all you need to keep your sanity.  Even my 2 and 3 year olds help.  I even tried my hand at making some cute chore charts so that they can have some fun with their new responsibilities.  We’ve also started to use Susie’s 10 minute clean up routine.  Every night, my phone goes off and everyone drops what they’re doing and cleans for 10 minutes.  4 people cleaning for 10 minutes can get a lot done.  Once the 10 minutes are over, we can move on with our evening…but it’s strategically placed at the end of our evening, so that the natural next activity is baths or some quiet time.  That way they aren’t dragging everything out again once we’re done.

4 – The less you touch things, the less time they take

This is a huge time management tool that I use in my day job.  And it helps get things done around the house too.  When I get home from the grocery store, the first thing I do is fill the sink with cold water and vinegar.  That way, while I’m unloading the groceries, I can just put the produce into the sink.

If I did a Costco run, I immediately separate out the large bags into smaller, more manageable bags.  (you can read more about his tip here) If I don’t do these things right away, then the large bags just get shoved into the small freezer and the fruit gets thrown into a bowl.  Neither of these things are the end of the world (and both things happen on some weeks), but knocking them out in the beginning saves time with meal planning and feeding young children.  (it’s so much faster to just reach into the fridge and grab a clean apple and toss it to a fussy 2 year old, then to have to take the time to wash it while their hanging from your leg).

5 – Do one load of laundry a day

If you’ve been following us for long, you’ll know that laundry is my nemesis…well good habits are laundry’s kryptonite…and while I am still struggling with keeping up with these step, when I do, my life is so much more at peace.  I absolutely despise having a pile of laundry sitting on my couch…but it happens so often that it’s mind boggling.  When I can keep up with this one step, it saves me so much sanity!  When I get home from work, I do a quick walk around and collect all of the laundry out of all the hampers or off the floor and sort it.  Then I start a load before I start working on dinner.  Usually the kids need some wind down time when we first get home, so they are pretty quiet…usually…  After dinner is done and the kids have run off to go play, I run downstairs and put the load into the dryer.  When I do this I bring up the load from the day before…yes, it’s probably better to put a way laundry as soon as it’s dry…but baby steps.  Now this part is important….put away the laundry right away!  It’s actually easier to do this while the kids are playing.  Because either they want to be with you, in this case you hand them some wash clothes or ask them to bring you hangers; or they are busy playing, so you can fold it quickly and get it put away in peace.

6 – Invite people to your house

This one may sound silly…but think back to when your house looks the nicest.  It has to be a proven fact, somewhere, that you can get more clean in the hour before guests arrive than you do at any other point.  So now I’m going to make it a point to invite someone over at least once a month…and sisters/best friends don’t count…because they don’t care what your house looks like.

Now, I’m not perfect…and some of these tips don’t always happen in my house.  But when they do, my life is so much easier…and I have time to do the other things, like write blog posts for you!

What are some of the things that you do to keep up with the constant cleaning routine?

The post 6 Cleaning Tips for people who don’t have time to clean appeared first on Twitchetts.

I decided that this year I was going to try my own attempt at a chore chart.  One that is designed for the youngens.  My kids are 2 and 3 and love helping me around the house.  Hubby and I decided that we would keep things simple.  They only had to complete 2 out of the 4 tasks in order to earn a bed-time show.

So I set off to make my super cute, pin worthy chore chart.  I was inspired by the chore chart the J used last year.  It’s cute.  Involved very few supplies.  And was made in very little time.

I basically drew a chore that represented each chore onto a piece of paper.  If drawing isn’t your strong suit, you could easily find some cute clip art and print some pictures.

 Then I glued the piece of paper to an old refrigerator magnet.  

I whipped these up, put them on the fridge, took my pictures for this post and waited for the kids to wake up and learn all about their new responsibilities.

Little Miss was very excited.  She quickly moved over “Brush Teeth” and “Breakfast dishes” into the Done section.

 Then she scurried to pick up all the toys in the house.  The pass out forks would have to wait until dinner time.  It was a success!

Then came Mr Monster.  He was also very excited about the new addition to the fridge.  But he was more excited about how he could so easily peal them apart…He still does his “chores”, but he could care less about moving a magnet.

The lesson of this story….Little ones will help you with chores whether or not there is a cute chart to go with it.  They just love helping.  To them they are not chores, they are times that they can be with mommy and daddy and feel appreciated.  And while Little Miss is still using her part of the chore chart (Mr Monster has had no interest since his original destruction).  She’s more excited about the idea of helping than the idea of moving a magnet.

Do you use chore charts?  How old were your kids when they first started?

The post Simple Toddler Chore Chart appeared first on Twitchetts.

I want to start by saying this. Offer a child the same thing at least 10 times. The first time they might not even touch it. The second time they might squish it around a bit. The third they might take a bite and spit it out. The forth they might do the same. The fifth they might finally recognize it and eat some…. You get it… Each new food is a learning process. How many of us liked broccoli from the day we were born? I didn’t like it until I was an adult, but it is one of my son’s favorite veggies! It wasn’t the first time he tried it… Try these tips with your picky eater.

1. Low Pressure ~ Low Praise

This one is exactly how it sounds.  We don’t sit and yell and scream for our youngest (she’s 2) to try her food. Try to suggest that they try it. If they refuse, which happens, teach them you expect a “no, thank you”. At least they are learning manners right! We also don’t go crazy if she actually tries it. It should seem expected and normal for them to eat what is on their plate, so don’t make it a big deal. Then they think there was some reason they maybe shouldn’t want it!

2. No Special Meals ~ Cook for your family

I refuse to make a separate meal for my kids. They eat what the family eats. Our youngest has been eating our dinners since she started solid foods. Sometimes I deconstruct her meal. Example: She has cheese, meat, avocado, beans, & corn when we have nachos. I do this for my husband too, sometimes he has a taco salad. Still the same meal, I was the queen of not wanting my food to touch growing up. Just remember to cook for your family. So don’t make things that are well past your children’s taste buds.

3. Small Portions

This one is very important to me. I think that portions are out of control for children and adults. I don’t like to feed my kids outrageous mountains of food. I give a small portion of everything that is for dinner. My goal is for them to be able to clear their plate and not waste food. At a certain age that works for your family, you may have them finish their first helping before having more of other foods, or at least required to try it, can be inserted into your routine. The fight over “can I be done yet” happens a lot less with this method.

4. Do not set them up for failure ~ One new item max per meal

Do not put a plate full of all new things in front of a kid and expect them to be excited about it.  The first time a kid sees something new most of the time they have decided they don’t like it before even trying it. So make sure to only bring one new food item per meal. That way they can try it and move on to something they know they like. If after presenting the same food multiple times, they have actually tried it a few times and they say they don’t like it, that’s OK! They will not learn to like everything. Do you like everything?… Exactly. I still won’t eat baked beans and J won’t either.

5. Be Consistent

It is up to you to ultimately decide what your expectations are for your kiddos. Age can play a big factor. J (7yrs) knows he has to at least try everything on his plate. V (2yrs) eats at her own pace still. The main thing is to stay consistent. Once your kiddos know your expectations, they will learn not to constantly question you or throw a fit at the table.

***

Dinner time is family time at our house. We like to fill the table with pleasant conversation, not eat your dinner battles. These tips have helped us keep it that way. We are still in the midst of my daughter’s picky eater phase, but I have to admit on the 4th try of edamame and she ate them all and asked for more. It took quite a few times of having cooked carrots, now she will have a few. Just keep with it. Eating habits are learned at a young age. Do you have any tricks or tips that you use in your home? Let us know in the comments below!!

Pin this to your parenting board!

The post Picky Eater Problems? Here’s 5 Tips for You! appeared first on Twitchetts.

~Tears of Sadness~

Flash-back… The first day of preschool, even the last day of preschool there was definitely some welling in the eyes. I mean my BABY was in school! How did this happen?!

~Tears of Guilt~

We had a Crazy summer that year. V was born and we moved from Missouri to Florida. We were settled about 2 weeks before J headed back to school. His backpack almost swallowed him alive!!

We had moved from all of his friends. I couldn’t help but feel guilty that I might have stuck him with a bunch of jerks… I ran to the car before I let the water works start. He, of course, loved his new school and before long had plenty of new friends.

~Tears of Pride~

By the first day of 1st grade, we were settled. He was in sports, had friends, and was ready to go to school. I knew he was ready and prepared. It felt good sending him off somewhere he loved…. then it happened. We moved again… Florida to Kentucky over Christmas break.

 After a lot of holiday traveling, we prepared for a new school again. No complaints, no fear, and no tears (for J that is). Again, mom filled with pride, dropped off her 1st grader for his first day, again. I waited until I got into the car to let the tears flow.

~Tears of Joy~

So are you there yet? When the end of summer hits, are you counting down the days until school? Don’t get me wrong I love summer and all of the great activities that go along with it, but towards the end, I can tell J is striving for more. It is like his brain needs to learn and by the end, my brain is fried…

2nd grade go get ’em J!! Look his backpack even fits!

The truth is, there are all kinds of tears involved with being a parent. The hardest part is watching them walk away. When they don’t need to turn around anymore to see if you are there. When they are learning to be confident and independent. When you are starting to learn to trust that you have taught them well. This is the moment your Fears can turn to Cheers as you watch them grow into another year of growth and learning new things.

What kind of tears did you feel on the first day of school this year??

When the kiddos moved to their new classrooms, I had tears of fears…but I know that they love where they are and are thriving!

The post Monthly Mommy Moments ~ Back to School appeared first on Twitchetts.

When I first discovered I was pregnant with baby number two, I was filled with a lot of unknowns.  So I did what we moms do and headed for the internet.  But I never really found what I was looking for.  I found a lot of people telling me to make sure that I put on mascara every day or joking about keeping a stocked wine cabinet.  These are both good tips, but I was looking for logistics….Like how am I supposed to carry around two babies…everywhere.

So I thought I would give you a few of my best tips.

Tips for surviving Two Under Two

~Teach your oldest to walk, holding your hand, as soon as possible.  As soon as Little Miss was walking, I was training her to hold my hand.  She walked into stores, into the house, into school.  All while holding my hand.  So when Mr. Monster came around, I only had to carry an infant carrier and not two babies…at least 75% of the time.

~Find stores that have double shopping carts.  Target and Costco are two good examples.  I don’t want to admit how long it took me to realize that I could utilize a double shopping cart at Target.  Just be careful.  Those carts take practice to drive.  You’ll most certainly run into a clothing rack at least one time, every time you shop.

~Invest in a good double stroller.  I can’t recommend one because this is something that I’m going put in my lesson learned column.  I had a second-hand double stroller that was given to me. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lovely gesture.  But looking back, I should have spent the money.  Do your research.  Be able to open and close it easily.  Make sure that your infant carrier fits properly in it.

~On a similar note, get a good baby sling.  Make sure it’s comfortable and easy for you to use. The model I used is discontinued, but it clipped together in seconds.  Susie used one of those that she wrapped around her body, which she loved…but I could never get them to work right.  Whichever one you choose, practice putting it on and taking it off.

~Shop in the evening.  When the kids go to bed, head out for some quiet shopping.  You might be tired, but it’s worth it.  I did all my Christmas shopping between 8:00pm and 10:00pm.  And it was glorious.

~Make an extra effort to have one on one time with your oldest.  They will need the attention.  Schedule it and make it special.  Which isn’t hard, a one-year-old is very easily entertained.

~Keep your new baby out of reach.  Your oldest won’t completely understand that this is not a more life-like version of her baby doll.  I once had Mr. Monster laying in a Boppie, on the floor; I walked into the room and Little Miss was straddling him.  All I could see was his bald little head and his arms flailing…poor kid.  I can laugh about it now…but at the time, it was terrifying!

With all these tips…keep in mind the following:

~There will be tears.  Yours and theirs.

~Your house will be a mess.

~You will deserve to end every night with either wine or ice cream (some nights both).

~You will survive it.

~It will all be worth it.

If you’re still wanting more tips on 2 under 2, check out the great list at Parenting From The Heart.  Another survivor.

How many of you have survived baby bunching?  Do you have any recommendations?

Please share this with anyone you know that’s expecting their two under two!

The post Two Under Two ~ A Survivors Guide appeared first on Twitchetts.

We’ve been quiet this week, and for good reason. Baby V turned 2!! We were together to celebrate and spend some quality family time together. This month, our mommy moments are from our week together.

Eating some pancakes…minus the sticky fingers. (check out the recipe here!)

Cousin Love…

Taking summer selfies!

Exploring the great outdoors

And spoiling a special little girl.

You know that birthday party posts will be coming soon.  So make sure to sign up for our emails so you don’t miss out on all the details!

How was your June?

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The post Monthly Mommy Moments ~ June 2015 appeared first on Twitchetts.

My Quick Dishwasher Tip

Have I mentioned before that I work full time?  I have?  Oh, OK.

Well, my full-time job is in accounting.  And this week is our fiscal year-end.  And anyone that knows anything about working in accounting knows what that means.  It means my life is a bit on the crazy side right now.  I’m dealing with deadlines and decisions and massive amounts of data entry.  I have numbers coming out of my ears.  When I get home my brain is about as fried as the rice that Susie made me make last night.  (which was Amazing, by the way!)

Anywho…Since I’m a little strapped for time (and mental functionality) I’m going to share with you something that I recently discovered.  I honestly don’t know where I read this.  So if I’m stealing this from someone I’m sorry, let me know and I’ll give you some credit.  This little bit of a tip has changed my world.  Literally.

It’s how I load my dishwasher.

Now, I know I’m working my way into some sensitive territory for people.  Telling some people how to load their dishwasher is like telling them how to fold their undies.  It’s personal.  But trust me, this is awesome!  And it’s so simple!

Grab more quick cleaning tips here!

Load your dishes in groups.  Done.  That’s it.  Put your forks with your forks.  Your spoons with your spoons.  Your kiddie silverware with your kiddie silverware….I’m pretty sure you’re getting the picture. They come out clean, and all I have to do is grab the bunch and throw them in the drawer.

Now for the top…

Line up your cups.  Put your measuring spoons together, Keep the lids with the containers.
I know that this is far from rocket science.  But the amount of time this has saved putting away my dishes has been minutes…OK, so that doesn’t sound like much.  But, when you’re staring at your kitchen debating whether or not you should skip the kitchen and grab the ice cream, those couple of minutes help…A Lot.

 

The post The Dishwasher Tip That Will Change Your World appeared first on Twitchetts.