3 Things by Micaela Preston, Mindful Momma

Truth

People are like plants.

I heard an interesting talk recently that had me pondering my resemblance to the big Elm tree in my backyard. The discussion was about the similarity between people and plants. It’s an age-old comparison, but I was happy to sit and reflect on it for a while.

A summer storm in the Twin Cities, where I live, provided a great illustration. This ferocious storm uprooted many large, established trees in our neighborhood and around the city. Our big Elm survived, but plenty of neighboring trees did not. It begged the question—why did some trees survive the 50+ mph winds, and others fall prey? Those trees certainly looked healthy to me so why did they fall?

Perhaps it had something to do with these truths, which apply equally to people as they do to plants:

• To thrive, we need to be nurtured, watered and fed.
• To survive, we must establish strong, deep roots.
• Those roots must spread out far and wide, not winding around ourselves in false protection.
• Suffering (at least a little) makes us stronger.
• Even when we are neglected, we will usually bounce back with a little extra nourishment.

Our root system is more important than we might think. It’s what kept that big, old Elm tree standing. It’s what helps us persevere through tough times and allows us to grow and thrive.

When the big winds blow, will you stand tall or will you fall over? What are you doing to nurture your roots?

Tip

I like to call this an Easy Eco Tip. It’s something that is good for the planet and so simple that it seems silly to mention. But maybe you’re not doing it so I’ll mention it anyway.

Use leftover water from water bottles to water your plants.

The water you didn’t finish after your trip to the gym. The water your kids didn’t drink at school or during after school sports. That water. Please don’t pour it down the drain! Feed it to your plants instead.

Find

My 8-year-old son bought me the coolest gift for my birthday: a Rice Cube!

What is a Rice Cube and what does it do? A Rice Cube is a genius little plastic contraption that squeezes food into a cube shape.

First, you take some rice (sushi rice works best because it is sticky, but you can use any leftover rice really), then add another ingredient or two (salmon, avocado, carrots…whatever you want really), and finally, use the Rice Cube to squeeze everything together.

It’s cool. It’s cute. It’s healthy. And the kids can help make it. What more do you want?

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Contributor: Micaela from Mindful Momma
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3 Things by Heidi Gollub, Free Fun in Austin

Truth

All mothers struggle with balance.

Although I have five children, I do not corner the market on chaos.  In my experience, one little addition to the family is all it takes to make life topsy turvy. For me, things got crazy on day one of baby number one. Sleep went out the window, laundry seemed insurmountable, and the thought of bathing another human on a regular basis was overwhelming.

Gradually, after adding a second and third child to our crew, volunteer work started to pull me in all kinds of directions—PTO, HOA, school, church, a children’s shelter.  Every spare minute was spoken for. With the addition of a fourth child, I was forced to cut back on volunteer hours, but then I started working from home.

And so it goes, the push and pull of family, friends, work, and more.  The balance is ever shifting and almost always leaves you feeling like you aren’t doing it quite right.

I once read an essay by a woman who had been named Mother of the Year. She wrote that on the same day she received the honor, she forgot to pick her kids up from school. That little tidbit made me like her more. It’s encouraging to realize that we’re all a bit of a mess.

This morning, I raced out of the house barefoot, with wet hair, having not eaten breakfast, shoes in one hand and baby in the other, running late for a meeting.  En route to the meeting, I realized I was on autopilot, heading to my kids’ school. For a second, I couldn’t remember where it was that I was supposed to be going.  I figured it out and put my socks on while waiting at a red light, only to realize that my socks didn’t match. Most days I wonder at what point I will start to feel like an adult.

My mother has often told me to not stress out about cleaning when someone new is coming over, because my guest will feel more comfortable if the house is not immaculate. I struggle with this, but I see the truth in it. When I visit a seemingly perfect house, it makes me feel discouraged about the state of my own home. It’s easy to forget that pretending to have it all together can sometimes have the unintended side effect of making someone else feel inadequate.

And so, I will tell you that following this morning’s chaos, my son came home from school with his pants on backwards, my baby never got a decent nap, and I didn’t manage to get dinner made. Clearly, I haven’t gotten the hang of the balancing act, but hey, I did get to go out to eat tonight.

Tip

If you can’t handle the structure of chores charts, play Let’s Make a Deal with your kids.

Here is how we play the game at our house:

Kid says, “Can I play my DS?” I say, “Sure! I’ll make you a deal. Just fold one basket of laundry and then you can play until dinner.”

Another kid asks, “Can I turn on the TV?” I say, “You bet! I’ll make you a deal. Empty the dishwasher and you can watch one show.”

I love this game because I get to say yes a lot and the chores get done quickly, without any nagging. The kids like it because their reward is immediate—there’s no waiting until the end of the week for allowance and then waiting again for someone to take them somewhere to spend it.

My kids have caught on to the rules, and now often ask first what they can do to help, in the hopes of earning a reward. With the kids pitching in one odd job at a time, the house gets clean(ish) and I focus less on what has not gotten done. As an added bonus, the kids enjoy their video game time more when they feel like they’ve earned it.

Find

My favorite smart phone app is called RetailMeNot. Billed as “thousands of coupons in your pocket,” this app makes bargain hunting a cinch.

Basically a mobile version of RetailMeNot.com, the free app allows you to search for coupons on the fly. This past month, I saved 15% at H & M, 40% at Macaroni Grill, and $10 at Aéropostale, simply by showing coupons on my phone.  No advance planning, no coupon clipping, just saving money when you’re out and about.

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Contributor: Heidi, Founder and Editor of Free Fun in Austin
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3 Things by Jessica Turner, The Mom Creative

Truth

Women today do not make enough time for themselves.

Society today is so busy—and with over-scheduled lives, we miss out. I have learned that making time for me and the things that I love (reading, memory keeping, a monthly massage) has made me a better wife, mom, friend, co-worker… person.

Finding time doesn’t have to mean a getaway weekend for one. It can be as simple as waking up 30 minutes before the kids and reading that book that’s been on your bookshelf for 6 months. It isn’t always easy at first, but the rewards are worth it. You will never regret investing in yourself. You are worth it.

Editor note: Jessica is currently working on her first book and is conducting a short survey about women, their passions and how they spend their time. Take a few minutes and share your thoughts here.

Tip

As a working mom, the kids and I don’t get home until 6 p.m., which doesn’t leave a lot of time to cook a meal from start to finish. So I use the crock pot!

Seriously, it takes 5-10 minutes in the morning to prep—and when you come home, your meal is pretty much ready to go. (We usually will steam a veggie in the microwave to go with whatever has been cooking.)

A few of my favorite crock pot recipes:

Red wine pork
Easy tomato chicken
Beef stew
Chicken Marsala (be sure to double the sauce recipe)

You can make things even easier if you batch prep a bunch of crock-pot meals and have them ready in the freezer. Just dump the bag into the crock pot in the morning and you are done!

Find

I love crafting with my kids, but sometimes gathering all the right stuff for a project can be a headache.

This is why I LOVE Kiwi Crate, a monthly crafting kit subscription for young kids. It is our favorite thing to do together every month.

The crafts have an educational theme, are well-thought out and the crate comes with EVERYTHING that you will need—right down to tape and glue. When that green box arrives, my 5-year-old son goes crazy. He can’t wait to open it and see what he and Mommy are going to make. The time we spend with our Kiwi Crate is such a treasure.

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Contributor: Jessica from The Mom Creative
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3 Things by Princess Ivana, PrincessIvana.com

Truth

If you want to instill a life-long love of learning in your family, one of the best and most fun ways is travel. There’s no better education for children of all ages than a real taste of the great wide world and its delights: new foods, people, languages, and cultures.

My friends thought I was crazy when, last year, I planned a trip to France with my two toddlers, aged fourteen months and three years old. My son was still being potty trained; my daughter was in diapers. But I had been putting my dream trip off for a few years already, between the pregnancies and daily roster of life’s unexpected adventures. There came a time when I said, “Ready or not, here we go.”

Before we visited France, my children were picky eaters. But the more we traveled, the more they were forced to try new things. They even grew to love some of the very veggies they refused back home.

My daughter’s first complete sentence was spoken in Paris, inspired by a mouthful of Nutella chocolate crepe. “I like it,” she said in a husky, chocolately tone I’d never heard from her before. My son echoed her sentiments. Delicioso! he said. An Italian word I had been trying to teach him at home to no avail. But in Paris all things were possible.

In those few weeks, my children grew up. A certain confidence took hold. They became citizens of the world. We all did, sharing the transformation of new experiences together. My son even said he was going to come back to Paris and live there when he grew up. He loved the motorcycles, and the crepes, of course.

Tip

The logistics of traveling with young children can feel overwhelming, whether you are going near or far. We become Sherpa moms with giant bags and backpacks, baby slings and bottles. The younger your children are, the more tempted you may be to stay at home until they are eighteen and can drive you to your destination. But life isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment.

There are many perfect moments and sometimes the most imperfect moments turn out to be the best. The secret to travel is plan well, and be prepared to let it all go out the window, if necessary. Go with the flow and travel light.

Try not to over-pack or under-pack. If traveling by plane, pack a carry-on ziplock with medications your children might need, such as infant fever reducer, throat soothers, gas or allergy relief. Be sure your Magic Mommy purse has separate compartments for travel documents, baby bottles, kid treats and travel toys. I use one carry-on suitcase for both children. That way all kid items are on board and handy, including comfort favorites like pillow, blanket and snuggly bear.

Find

The “ride on-carry on” must have been invented by a savvy on-the-go mom. Perfect for airport travel, it combines a carry-on bag with a stroller, solving a number of traveling mommy challenges in a single go.

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Contributor: Princess Ivana Maria Pignatelli Aragona Cortes from PrincessIvana.com
(Princess Ivana became a princess when she married Adriano Pignatelli Aragona Cortes—Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and heir to a thousand-year lineage that includes kings of Sicily and Spain; Catherine of Aragon, wife of King Henry VIII; along with a pope and a bona fide saint.  Their two-year-old son and nine-month-old daughter are the latest additions to the line of succession.)
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Check out her book: The Modern Princess: A Simple Guide to Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year (co-written with her mom, Magdalene Smith, and sister, Marisa Smith)