Mama's Must Have: Me Time - Guest Post

Hey all! It's the "L" in ELF from ELF: A Family Blog, feel free to call me Libby. I'm a wife to a wonderful chef in training; mother to a chunky, fun-loving little boy; keeper of two spunky dogs; and teacher to many rambunctious high schoolers. Join me as I talk about the ups and downs of marriage, motherhood, postpartum depression, weightloss, the switch from disposable to cloth, and everything in between.

As a first time mom, I came home from the hospital with visions of a beautiful baby boy sleeping wonderfully, breastfeeding easily every three to four hours, and a body that bounced back from pregnancy as quickly as the teen moms I teach.

Yeah, notsomuch.

I struggled.  Breastfeeding was hard, the weight slllooowwwwllllyyyyy came off (after a year of working at it), and sleeping through the night?  Yeah, that happened at about 5 1/2 months old and even then it was sporadic.  Oh and toss on top of the a diagnosis of postpartum depression at six weeks post-pregnancy and you've got yourself one hell of a good time. ;)

Needless to say, I figured out early on that "me time" is extremely important in keeping this mama sane.  When I was first diagnosed with PPD I'd often volunteer to run to the store, grab Taco Bell, or whatever else got me out of the house.  In fact, I'd even take the long way home after browsing the entire store I stopped at.  Yeah, I needed me time.  

Then I got a pedicure.  In all my post-partum, still swollen cankle-like glory, I sat and got an ahhhh-mazing pedicure.  I felt revived.

A couple weeks later, I went in for highlights.  I stood a little taller.


I enrolled in a bootcamp at seven weeks post-pregnancy...five weeks later I finished it!  I felt like a new woman.


Nowadays, I get my kicks and some me time by filling the tub super full, turning on the jets, and reading a book.

Sometimes I take the time to pick those blackheads, tweeze the eyebrows, slap on a face mask, and even deep condition my hair in the tub.  While my pedicures have become more infrequent (after all, an Iowa girl doesn't need a pedi in the winter people), I've learned that, for me, it's the little things - that little bit of "me time" - that keeps me sane, keeps me happy, and makes me a better mother and wife for it.

My mama must have: me time.  Don't give birth without it.

Oh Libby, you hit the nail on the head! Thanks for your post, I needed to read that. Stop on over and visit Libby at ELF: A Family Blog.

Toilet Paper Time-Out - Guest Post

Hi all!  I'm so happy to be posting here today, while Mama G settles into her new home!  I'm Kayse, a work-from-home teacher, wife to my musician Hubby, and mommy to my sweet Emily Ann.  You can usually find me over at Finding Hope, where I write about real-life stuff like faith, easy recipes, living happily on a budget, and fishing baby poop out of the bathtub.  Stop on by anytime!


Today my kid discovered toilet paper.

We had just gotten home from a walk and had no choice but to run into the bathroom for a quick pit stop before jumping into the whole dinner-bathtime-bedtime routine.  It was one of those days where I had not had a single extra second to go to the bathroom.  All. Day. Long.  You've been there too, I know.  So you'll understand why at that moment I just did not have time for my curious little girl to discover that toilet paper spins on a roll.  And comes apart in pieces.  And tastes funny.

But before I scooped her up and hastily threw all the tiny pieces of toilet paper into the trash can, I caught a glimpse of her face.

Sheer joy!  I swear, it was like Christmas in our bathroom.  Over toilet paper, people.  Toilet paper.

So instead of hurrying along to accomplish the rest of my to-do list for the evening, I grabbed my camera and sat down right there on the floor with her.  And I watched as my sweet, curious little girl discovered that toilet paper spins on a roll.  And comes apart in pieces.  And tastes funny.

And aside from being vaguely annoyed by the fact that my kid likes toilet paper more than the mountains of toys we've bought her, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Because in a lot of ways, I wish I was more like her, looking at life with that kind of wonder and excitement.  And so I watched her, completely captivated by my little love who was completely captivated by the white stuff that kept sticking to her hands.

Life has left its scars on me in lots of ways.  Sometimes I feel more jaded than hopeful.  And sometimes my to-do list and my schedule leave little time for slowing down.  But I've been blessed with this sweet girl, and, without a doubt, the Lord is using her to change my heart.  She finds joy in the little things.  She loves life.  She makes me stop and watch and engage.

So yes, my husband walked in the door tonight to find his two girls sitting on the bathroom floor in a pile of toilet paper snow.  Yes, the dishes are still in the sink (even though we ordered out...how does THAT happen?) and no, my daughter did not get a bath tonight.  She's fine.  I promise.

But we did life right today.  We had fun.  We spent time together.  We captured memories and shared laughter and taught lessons.  We lived.  And that, my friends, leaves me ending the day with a whole bucketful of hope and wonder and excitement.

All because of some toilet paper. :)

Do you have any toilet-paper-type stories?  How do your kids renew your perspective on life?


Thanks for taking over for today, Kayse! Head on over to Finding Hope to visit her :)

Disney with Toddlers and Young Kids - Guest Post

Hello Growing up Geeky Readers! I’m Rebecca, and I am an Agent over at Wishing Well Travel! I have been a Disney only Travel agent for quite some time, while it sure does take a lot of my time; I simply love making others dreams come true. I’m filling in for Mama G while they accomplish their move. (good luck guys!)

Mama G has asked me to give you guys a few tips on planning a Disney Vacation with toddlers and young children. And, I gotta say as an agent I get a lot of questions from parents asking if their kids are too young to take on a Disney Vacation. My answer is always ‘No!’ (with a smile of course). After all Disney is for families: including, young children and toddlers. But, as with everything you do with your kids it has its own set of rules to help make the experience go as ‘fit free’ as possible. I would like to go over a few of the most important ones here.

1. Pay attention to Naps - Nap schedules are also a big part about which hotel you pick. If your child is content to sleep in their stroller then this may not be a big issue for you. But if they are like my oldest and would only sleep in a bed – with you next to them. Then finding a hotel close or central to the parks might be your best option. Luckily, both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World have a wide variety of these to spare. So look at all your options, and if you are using a travel agent, fully express your needs on this. We all have a wide knowledge of the resorts around each Disney Park and can help you find the Perfect hotel for you!

2. Watch their cues with the Characters – Characters can be scary to kids, even the ones without masks on. They are larger than the tiny picture on their TV or in books. And because of that each kid treats them differently. One may be terrified of some, while being perfectly fine with others. Or your kids may be indifferent either way, each kid is different. That’s why it is important to watch their cues. And to be willing to get them out of there before the situation turns dire, no matter how much you want a picture of them with Winnie the Pooh.

3. Utilize the Parent swap –The parent swap is Disney’s brilliant way to make everything accessible for families and those traveling with the super little ones. Simply put, a parent swap is a pass given to families who have a small child that can’t ride a ride and needs a parent to stay behind with them. The Parent Swap pass gives both parents a chance to ride (and the older child a chance to ride twice) with only having to stand in line once. This is a huge help to families, and I truly cannot thank Disney enough for providing this service.

4. Know about restaurant selection and locations before hand – Weather you are dealing with food allergies or stubborn preferences it’s always smart to know a little bit about the food at the parks before you go. If you have a smart phone you can find several apps that will help you find the food you’re looking for. My personal favorites are Disney Dining by VersaEdge Software. They have one for Disneyland and Disney World, and each one allows you to search by Park and even by your current location. These apps allow you to pick favorites that you can come back to later and also shows a comprehensive menu and price list for each food location. Now if you don’t have a smart phone you can also visit The Disney Food Blog which is a great comprehensive resource for all things Disney Food (although the focus is mostly on Walt Disney World). Now, if food allergies are your problem, don’t worry Disney is absolutely wonderful on accommodating this. All you have to do is alert your server to your problem and they can help you through it and possibly find something that works. Now, not all places can make items special order, so make sure you ask before you get your heart set on Gumbo without Okra (that’s not going to happen). But, I think you will find that the Disney cast members can be very accommodating and helpful when it comes to things such as this.

5. Know your child’s ride limitations – Did you know that at the Disney Parks there are more rides that kids of all ages can go on then there are rides that have height limitations? However, just because kids can go on some rides doesn’t mean that they should. Every child should be prepared as much as possible for each ride before they ride. If you can have them watch the ride a few times before they board and talk to them about what they see and what they will experience. You can even do this before you leave on your vacation; by watching ride videos on You Tube to help get your kids ready. Even with all the preparations your Child's reactions may still surprise you, the big thing here is just to watch your Child's cues and make the best decision for them.

Most importantly, don’t forget to cherish every moment. A Disney Vacation is family a vacation full of everlasting memories, and, as much as you want to go on Space Mountain 20 times, your daughter really wants to meet Cinderella. And I guarantee you that her face when she finally meets Cinderella is worth 100 rides on Space Mountain. Find a balance in your vacation and I think you’ll find that you can fit everything in, while making those family memories that you will treasure forever.

Well that’s it from me! I have quite a bit more on this subject on Wishing Well Travels Blog. If you’re ever in the market for a Disney Vacation, drop me a line. My services are free, and I would love to help you plan a great Disney Resort Vacation.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!

M and I have decided to take Carina to Disney World next Fall, so I know these tips will come in handy in our planning. Thanks so much, Rebecca!

Martha Fake Out - Guest Post

Hello Geeky readers! I'm Ashley from The Stauffer Shenanigans, although for the last 3 years I've been mainly known as Momma. I don't mind the Jessie Spano reference because I get to be one to these 2 gorgeous girls...


I'm so excited Melissa asked me to guest post while she's away because it's giving me the chance to look like the next Martha Stewart to all her lovely readers.
See this meal?


Yeah, I made it. Took a whole 2 minutes to prep....I mean (FIB ALERT!) I slaved over a hot stove for hours preparing a delicious nutritious meal for my adoring family.
Psh. My crockpot did all the cooking for me on this one.
This is a total winner in our house. There definitely aren't any leftovers from this dish. Both girls have seconds & the hubs whines that I didn't make enough each time.
You're welcome in advance.

Cheesy Chicken & Stuffing - Printable Version!

--4 boneless chicken breasts (frozen or thawed, either works.)
--4 slices swiss cheese (is what the recipe calls for. Hubs isn't a fan, so we use havarti but any white cheese would do here.)
--1 can cream of chicken.
--Splash of milk.
--1 box of Stove Top stuffing.
--Half stick of butter.
Total cake walk. You just gotta build it. Put chicken breasts on bottom, slice of cheese on each piece. Thin out the cream of chicken a bit with some milk, pour that over chicken & cheese. Then put the dry stuffing on top, and finish it off with a few pats of butter. Cook on low until the chicken is done, which will be about 4 hours for thawed & 5 hours for frozen.
I'm telling y'all, the chicken just falls apart. The stuffing is perfect. It's happiness in a bowl. The comfiest of yummies.
But shhh....remember. Hours it took. HOURS!

Um....I'm totally ready to lick the computer screen. I make something very similar to this but it takes more work, so I will be giving this version a shot! Thanks, Ashley!

An Open Letter to my Three Year Old - Guest Post

Hi guys! I'm Tottums from The Froggy & the Mouse ... Mama G was awesome enough to let me guest post over here this week while she's moving (eeek! Good luck to her with that one!) If you're already a reader of mine, surprise! Double your pleasure today! If not, make sure you check out my little slice of the interwebz HERE when you get a chance!



Dear Mr. Mouse -

Let's talk about a couple of things that have been going on lately, shall we? I think a 'heart to heart' every once in a while is a good way to clear the air, to make sure we're all on the same page. Right? Right.

First off, we have GOT to talk about this whole 'morning wake up call' thing that you seem to be so fond of. The whole, creeping out of your room, only to sit in the middle of the hallway and start belting out 'Little Bunny FooFoo' or 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer'. Don't think I don't know that you do this in order to wake mommy and daddy up. While I appreciate the obvious musical talents you've inherited from your mother (:snort:), please, let's not be doing this at 545am. Okay?

Next - this whole night time wetting the bed regression thing is lame. I'm sorry, but it is. L-A-M-E: LAME. At 3 years old you were wearing underpants to bed and staying dry all night long. You would get up to go potty in the middle of the night. And now at 3.5 years? I'm changing the sheets 4x a week and putting you in PullUps at night. LAME I tell you.

Also, mommy understands that you're a curious little boy ... that you like learning and exploring and that you're WAY into arts and crafts and coloring these days. Hear me now though: Mommy's makeup is NOT, I repeat, NOT for coloring with. If I find you with my $14 Clinique lipstick and your Micky Mouse coloring book again, I might lose it kid. And by 'might' I mean I will totally punt something (probably you) over the back fence.

Love and smooches,
Your mommy.

Disclaimer - please don't call CPS on me. I would never punt my kid over the back fence. Maybe my dog, but never my kid. SHIT - don't call PETA on me either.


Thanks for taking over for the day, Tottums! Be sure to visit her over at The Froggy & the Mouse.