Nix9to5

Good, Clean Fun

// September 16th, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies

Bear loves bath time.  I mean really, really loves bath time.  In fact, he may enjoy a good bath even more than I do, which is really saying something.  Of course, he dumps every single bath toy in the tub, so there’s hardly any room for him, but if we try to leave something out, he is . . . displeased.

I say all that to let you know that this project was completely unnecessary in our world.  Bear does not need any bath time bribery.  However, if your kids don’t share Bear’s affinity for a bath, you may just want to give it a try:

Shaving Cream Bath Tub Paint.

Bear has Crayola Bathtub Markers and Crayola Color Bath Dropz, but he’s never really shown huge interest in the markers.  I mean, he likes them, and he draws a little, but then he’s on to his eleventy thousand other toys.  (The Dropz, on the other hand, we use almost every time, which explains the orangish-tan color of the tub water in the pictures to follow.)   When I saw the idea for Shaving Cream Bath Tub Paint, I wasn’t sure it would be a huge hit.  Still, it was an easy enough project that I thought we’d give it a try.

To make Shaving Cream Bath Tub Paint,  simply squirt some shaving cream in a bowl, add a few drops of food coloring, and stir it up.  Give the kid a paint brush (or even better, different kinds of paint brushes) and let him or her go to work.  I think this would work well for finger painting, too, if your little ones are so inclined.  Bear, however, does not like his hands to be messy, and finger painting is a colossal fail at our house.

If I remember right, I used 2-3 drops of food coloring per shaving cream blob.  (A blob, as you know, is a precise mathematical measurement.)  The blue and green rinsed off the tub easily, but the pink took a little scrubbing, so be aware of that when you choose your colors.

Here’s Shaving Cream Bath Tub Paint in action:

All in all, this was a fun, easy addition to bath time.  I wouldn’t make my colors too vibrant, because even that pink was a little reluctant to come off.  When he painted his belly, though, everything rinsed right off.  I didn’t have to take a Smurf out in public.

Have you tried Shaving Cream Bath Tub Paint?  How did it work for you?

Box Car Children

// September 14th, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies

Most of the projects I’ve tried with Bear have been okay–fun, but nothing stellar.  A few have even been dismal failures (I’ll talk about those as well).  However, some of our projects are, like, the Best Thing Ever.  Now, the Sidewalk Chalk Paint ranked pretty highly on our funometer, but even it couldn’t compete with this:  Drive-In Movie Night.

I found on Pinterest (of course) the idea for a Drive-In Movie party (from Homemade Fun).  I didn’t think we were quite ready for all of that, but I figured there’d be no harm in us trying it for a movie at home.  Our variation on this project was to make a car out of a cardboard box, load it up with Bear’s “snuggly things” (his term), and watch the movie Cars, which until this point, Bear hadn’t yet seen.

To make the box, we simply took a box that I thought would be big enough to comfortably hold a lounging Bear and folded the top flaps in (you could cut them off if you want, but that’s just one more step and one more way I could mess this up).  I cut two circles from yellow construction paper and had Bear “help” me glue them on the front of the box for headlights.   (more…)

Kid Fun: Sidewalk Chalk Paint

// September 6th, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies

The whole reason I decided to quit my job to work from home was to spend more time with my Bear, to be involved in his daily life and not just feed him dinner and put him to bed at night.  However, working from home takes up more time than I expected–I’m not sure why I thought it would be less–and so I find myself feeling guilty when I take him to Mother’s Day Out or to his grandparents’ house while I work.

Over the last several weeks, I’ve made a concerted effort to be really present when Bear and I are together.  I’m trying to find new and different ways to play and interact with him every day.

One of the things that has helped to stoke my creativity (or helped to show me creative ideas when my own creativity is on E) is Pinterest.  If you haven’t seen Pinterest yet, it is a “virtual pinboard.”  You see an idea you like, and you “pin” the idea to your online bulletin board.  For me, this is much better than traditional browser bookmarks, because each idea is represented by an image, not a URL.  I warn you, though–it’s addictive.

My sister, Amanda (who you’ll meet later), and I have created a shared pinboard on which we post the ideas we have already tried and review them for each other.  While our boys don’t always agree on the fun factor of each project, it does help to get some real idea of whether or not the project works or how it can be adapted to make it more fun.

The first project Bear and I did has been one of my favorites so far:  Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint.  The particular “recipe” we used I found via Pinterest from Ohdeedoh.

Combine 2 T. cornstarch, 2 T. water, and about 5 drops of food coloring.  Stir it up until there isn’t any white cornstarch sludge on the bottom.  I mixed the paint in an old muffin tin because I figured it would be less likely to tip over than cups of paint.  Using the muffin tin method does cause more paint mixing, though–so depending on how freaked out you get about that, you may or may not want to use the muffin tin.  (I, for one, can’t stand it when the Play-doh colors get mixed.)

When we took this outside and Bear began to paint, I thought that the paint was too thin.  As he painted, it was very watery.  I was disappointed, but figured I’d heard people say they let their kids “paint” on the driveway with just water, so whatever.  BUT I was wrong.  As the paint dried, it was very vibrant and looked just like–duh–sidewalk chalk.  And it washed very easily off of both the driveway and the kid, so that was another big plus.

Here’s the Bear in action with the sidewalk chalk:

That pretty pink coffee mug in the background of the first two pictures is NOT a water cup for rinsing the brushes.  It is, in fact, my coffee.  I recommend doing this project after you have finished your coffee, because if you are not fully awake, you may accidentally dip your paintbrush in your coffee.  Or so I’ve heard.

See how watery the sidewalk chalk paint looks as he paints?  Here’s how it dries:

The true test of the success of this project?  He played with it for a longer amount of time than it took me to prepare it.

Now that we don’t have triple digit heat every day, I can’t wait for us to get outside and do this some more.

What’s Going on at Nix9to5

// September 2nd, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Life in General, Money Matters, Work at Home

It seems like everyone I know has already sent their kids back to school or back to Mother’s Day Out already, but Bear doesn’t start back for another week.  This has been good, because it means the sprayground, the park, the bounce house, etc. are not so crowded when we go.  However, it also means scheduled work time is harder to come by.

One problem with freelancing is that work (and pay) can be very inconsistent.  We’re coming off my lowest paying month coupled with a replaced roof and a tripled electric bill (from all of this triple degree heat).  It has concerned me that, if we aren’t careful, I’ll have to return to working outside the home next year, and I’ll be honest–now that I’ve been home for a year, I’m not seeing how I can go back and still be a decent human being.  Fortunately, this next month has lots of extra projects lined up, and with these projects in line and Bear returning to Mother’s Day Out, it should mean a higher paying month.  I’ll be looking at ways to budget and save for these feast or famine months.

As for Mother’s Day Out, last night was Bear’s “Meet the Teacher” night.  I was pretty worried about how Bear would do going back to school after being home and playing with Mommy and Daddy all summer.  I’ve been trying to talk it up, but he keeps saying, “I’d rather stay home with you, Mommy.”  Oh, heavens.  He’s already a master of guilt.

I also worry because I’m a mom last year, his teachers told me how quiet and reserved Bear is.  This is SO not the Bear we know.  Of course, my Bear is a genius, and I’m blown away by his vocabulary, how clearly he speaks, and his ability to have an actual conversation.  I mean, he uses adverbs correctly and everything (how that warms my little English major heart).  To hear that Mr. Live Streaming Newscast is quiet and shy concerns me.

When we showed up for Meet the Teacher last night, Bear shrunk against my legs and refused to talk to his teachers . . . until one of them about his Cowboy Woody that he insisted on bringing.  Well, Bear launched into a monologue explaining where he got Woody (from Maddie’s house), who Maddie is (his cousin), where Woody’s hat was (left in the car in his carseat), and whether or not Woody could still be a cowboy without a hat.  Then his teacher showed him a bag of treats.  WHAT?!  There’s chocolate at Mother’s Day Out?  Bear was sold.  Well, almost sold.  What really convinced him that the Sea Creatures class is the place to be was the POTTY.  ”It’s just my size!!”  Yep.  There’s a tiny little potty adjoining their class, and Bear told me on the way home, “I wanted to pee pee in that potty in the Sea Creatures class.”  Well, of course, you do, baby.  Of course.

Next week, as Bear is playing with his friends; learning about letters, numbers, colors, and shapes; hearing Bible stories and learning new songs; and peeing in a potty that’s just his size, I’ll be here working away uninterrupted.  In the meantime, we’re looking forward to a long weekend and perhaps a “drive-in movie night at home.”  If we do the drive-in night, I’ll post pics and details and let you know of its success/failure.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Groupon to Gymboree!

// August 16th, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Deals

I’m still lurking around here and haven’t been able to post in, like, forever, but this deal is too good to pass up!  If you are the Mommy of a little one, this Groupon is for you!

Save on a one month membership to Gymboree with Groupon

FREE Mott’s for Tots

// June 17th, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Deals

Head over to Vocalpoint and log in or create a new account and request a free sample of Mott’s for Tots!

Thanks, Simple Saving Savvy!

Diapers.com

// June 15th, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Deals

Some time ago, I wrote about how I love, love the concept of diaper delivery.  Once the Bear was a little older, and I figured out how to use coupons to get diapers cheap, we generally didn’t use the service, but when he was a baby, Diapers.com was a miracle.  I could order diapers, have them delivered to my door the next day, get free shipping, and pay less than I would getting a case at a warehouse club.  Awesome.

Diapers.com has, for as long as I know, offered $10 off for new customers, but now they are rewarding customer loyalty with $5 off every case for repeat buyers.  Again, I say, “Awesome.” If you have a baby–or babies, as the case may be–you should really think about Diapers.com for the convenience. We are in the midst of potty training at the Nix9to5 house, so our days of diapers are (finally) at an end. However, if we decide to add another little cub to our den, I’m all about diaper delivery.

Things I’m Trying to Accomplish This Week:

// June 13th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies, Life in General, Organization, Time Management, Work at Home

1. Potty Training
2. Clean House
3. Start Working Out Again
4. Eat Healthier
5. Reorganize Drawers, Closets, Pantry, etc.
6. Write Many, Many Articles, Blog Posts, Web Pages, and Product Descriptions
7. Do Some Fun Summertime Stuff

Score for Two Days:

1. Three potty stickers Sunday, three so far Monday, and several pair of wet underwear
2. Two and a half loads of laundry (getting the last load out of the dryer in just a minute)
3. Two “Couch to 5K” runs, one “Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred” workout
4. Grilled veggies, fresh strawberries and pineapples, egg whites, lowfat cottage cheese, turkey bacon . . . so far so good
5. Four of my clothing drawers organized, two of Bear’s clothing drawers organized, and some progress made on Bear’s closet
6. Two blog posts (three if you count this one) and three product descriptions written (still woefully behind)
7. Pool inflated and filled, but not yet played in

Well, I thought I wasn’t getting anything accomplished, but looking at this list makes me feel a little better.  Even though I am woefully behind, I am making progress, I guess.

Art Attack

// May 20th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies

One of the most common tips I hear for stay at home moms and work at home moms is to be sure to schedule some adult playdates (that sounds SO dirty, but not what I mean at all).  It is important to maintain connections with friends, and to go do things together that do not involve discussions of diapers, poop, toddler eating habits, or rashes.

Last night, a couple of girlfriends and I redeemed a Groupon for Wine and Canvas.  Wine and Canvas is a three hour art class held at participating restaurants in which participants paint a replica of a famous work of art.  Despite the title, wine is not included–if you do not drink, you will still be welcome at one of these events and will not be uncomfortable.  They even offer “Cookies and Canvas,” a children’s art class for ages 5 through 5th grade.

Johnny Carino’s was the host of last night’s Wine and Canvas event, and my friends and I–none of us with any experience painting anything other than walls–met to recreate Claude Monet’s Sunset in Venice:

I thought an impressionist painting might be the way to go, since things like straight lines are a challenge for me.  This is how my painting turned out:

I think I may have found a new career in art forgery, no?

Here I am with the girls, showing off our masterpieces:

I’m sure we will all be displaying our art prominently over our fireplace mantles . . . or burning them in the fireplace.  Whichever.

We had a great time, and even if I don’t think any of us are going to quit our jobs and move to Paris to become famous artists, I think we were all surprised at how well our first painting attempts turned out.

If you’re looking for something different to do, I recommend Wine and Canvas, which is available in Oklahoma City and Indianapolis.  I think there are similar events in cities around the nation.   The participants were a diverse group and included girlfriends, sisters, couples, and even a few guys that weren’t dragged there by their wives.  It’s a good way to exercise your creative side and try something new without having to venture too far outside your comfort zone.  The girls and I had a great time and plan on doing it again.

Visit the Wine and Canvas website or check out Wine and Canvas OKC on Facebook for more information.

Perks of Being a WAHM: Flexible Schedule

// May 19th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies, Life in General, Organization, Time Management, Work at Home

Being a work at home mom definitely has its challenges.  One of the drawbacks I’ve discovered is a difficulty in compartmentalizing tasks.  When I worked outside the home, “work work” was done between the hours of 7:30-3:30 or so; “house work” was done in the evenings and on weekends.  Of course, there was always “work work” that I could bring home if I wanted to/had to/needed to, but no one ever–EVER–expected me to vacuum the living room or do the laundry from 7:30-3:30 Monday through Friday.  Now, however, all of the work tasks and home tasks collide in one giant, messy, behind-schedule explosion that leaves a noxious cloud of stress that hovers over me like this:
Fortunately, this difficulty in compartmentalizing tasks is really a problem that can be fairly easily remedied.  My plan is to create a schedule for my day and work tasks are to be completed during their scheduled times, and housekeeping/bill paying/laundry folding tasks are to be completed during their scheduled times.  Having a structured schedule like this is really antithetical to the way I typically like to do things, but something’s gotta give.

Of course, the unstructured work day of a work at home mom is one of the blessings of being able to work from home.  If I want to wake up early and finish my work before 8:00 and play the rest of the day, I can! (Okay–that will NEVER happen).  If I want to procrastinate all day long and then work into the wee hours to catch up, I can! (Much more likely.)

Yesterday, Bear and I had nothing planned for the day.  I had some work that needed to be done, and I had some laundry that needed to be washed, and a plethora of any other tasks with which any other mom anywhere else is beleaguered.  As Bear ate breakfast, though, I thought, “Eh.  Let’s go to the zoo instead.”

So we did.

I love being a work at home mom.