Smart Home

I am 100% Hispanic, born to two Cuban immigrants. I am married to a predominantly Italian-American, who carries an Irish last name. He is 2nd generation Italian through one grandparent, and 3rd generation through two other grandparents. Both our families maintained cultural traditions as we were raised. We ate customary foods, sang traditional songs and celebrated holidays in culturally traditional ways.
Now it’s our turn to continue this respect and honor of culture. I want my children to have the same cultural experiences that my husband & I each had. Honoring Cuban, Italian, a little Irish and American traditions is an important message we need to share.
As a Latina mom, I want them to think of pork, black beans & rice when they celebrate Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) and know to have 12 grapes ready to eat at the strike of midnight on New Year’s. I …

I keep a bag of bags in my trunk. Do you? Reusable grocery bags have become an environmentally friendly fad over these last few years. I love everything about the bags, well, almost everything. They are lightweight. They make carrying heavy items easier. They don’t take up a spot in a landfill or litter street corners or parking lots. They appear to last for a very long time. However, they do harbor nasty bacteria. A Norovirus outbreak in Oregon has been attributed to the use of dirty reusable bags. Who would have thought that something we use to help the environment could actually hurt us?
Practice Safe Sacks
When you stow the gallon …

Life can be so not simple. The challenge is to keep it simple. Last weekend I attended the Mom 2.0 Summit in Key Biscayne, FL. It was a fantastic conference. Quite possibly my favorite to date. I met wonderful women and a few men. Many brands had the opportunity to showcase their latest campaign and innovations. A separate post about the brands to come. However, I must remark about one of my very favorite swag items. This small frame with the message KEEP IT SIMPLE was given by Similac in a gift bag that debuted their latest bottle innovation the SimplySmart bottle. Unsure as what to do with the frame, I perched it on my desk against my printer. I’ve glanced at it many times. I read it and think about it. Keep it simple. Okay. I can do that.

Yesterday was …

I’m a nostalgic person. All week I’ve been commentating about, “A year ago today I was …” I very much remember those last days before I gave birth to my beautiful Cecilia. As I write this, I’m thinking that a year ago right now I was in the hospital demanding more pain relief. Little did I know that I had nearly another 12 hours of labor to go. I remember it all, well as least most. It was such a special day. It’s also a very special day for Tom and I. During those long hours at the hospital we were 100% in it together. I may scream some obscene words a little later, but we were both in anticipation for the birth of our 2nd daughter. We held hands. He got me ice and we bonded like never before. He’s a great dad. He tears up. He won’t really …

A weekend away – without the family – is quite relaxing. But, there is a truckload of Mom Guilt that comes with it. Being okay that you missed the soccer game, the classmate’s water park birthday party or your oldest’s 1st tooth fall out is tough. In the last 3 months I’ve been away quite a bit for work and during these times I’ve missed some milestones and plenty of moments. It’s okay. It happens. There is just a lot of Mom Guilt that comes with each trip.
In March, as I enjoyed a few days in Northern California with the EBAY Parent Panel, my oldest lost her 1st tooth. I remember getting that email from my mom, sharing the excitement. It was such a bittersweet moment. My daughter was thrilled about her lost tooth. I was so sad not to be there with her. I was even more worried that the …

If it’s priced right it will sell. We hear that advice from selling a house, to a car to anything on EBAY.
Determining the right price for selling on EBAY is best done through completed listings in the advanced search. Through the complete listings, you learn the history of items similar to your item. You learn how they were listed, how they sold and much, much more.
Completed listings information is powerful for top EBAY sellers, believe me, it’s what the EBAY Money Makers are using.  Tristan, founder of TheEbayEntrepeneur.com, considers using the completed listing as his #1 selling tool. “Completed listing are a must-have for me. I faithfully use that feature on the EBAY mobile app when shopping for items to sell,” explained Windy, an EBAY Money Maker and blogger at WindyLou.com. …

Kerri Walsh began as a child-athlete, continued to become a collegiate-athlete at Stanford and now has taken on the most challenging career of all – a mommy-athlete. As a mother of two kids under 3, she has trained and prepared herself to compete in the most fantastic athletic competition – the Olympics. This summer Kerri will again represent Team USA when she partners with Misty May-Treanor in beach volleyball.
A two-time gold medal winner, she enters this olympics with a very different body. She now has the body of a mother - although by appearance, not the physical body of most mothers. She shared during a recent phone interview, that she has a new perspective on training since having kids. She believes that becoming a mother has made her a better athlete. She appreciates her body more than ever. She feels stronger. She is more …

You drop the kids off at school, maybe run to Publix or do other errands. You return home by lunch time and walk into your home in shambles. The back door window was shattered and someone has entered your home. Your feel completely violated.
This exact scenario recently happened to a family member. She was horrified, scared and saddened. How could someone rummage through my boy’s room? Go through my drawers? All when there was a tremendous chance that I could be walking through the front door.
Midday burglaries happen. They happen more than we like to think. Burglars are watching us. They are watching our patterns. They notice the time we typically leave in the morning and the time we typically return. They are smart.
As the mother of the home, we must be vigilant. We must do what’s smart and appropriate to keep our home safe for our …

A few bags of dried split peas are just what a mom decorator needs when wanting to add color to her home. It’s easy. It’s very affordable. It’s stylish. Dried beans come in all sorts of varieties. Browse your local grocer’s dried bean aisle and see the colors. Get creative. Maybe even mix a two different styles together.
See how I added a great color to my dining room with bags of dried beans.

Dried beans serve so many uses in this home. We use them to count, to act as a weight, in art projects and of course to eat! Have you found a clever way of using dried beans to decorate your home? Please share how you’ve done it!

Burst.It is Bursting with Simplicity in Sharing Videos & Photos to Groups 
Simple, efficient technology is a Smart Mama need. Burst.It knows that and has made an app and website for busy moms. Using basic one-touch technology a mom can send multiple photos and videos to an individual or a group. All media is instantly stored in the cloud, meaning days of back ups are over. Download the Burst.It app onto your phone to get started taking photos/video. Join the site and begin recommending to it others. You’ll be thrilled with the ease and functionality of the application.
The Soccer Mom Scenario
At the soccer game you take several photos and videos of the kids. You want to get them out to the team moms.

Traditional Texting:
Picture by picture and video by video you go through and text each to the moms you select in …

Rearranging your office can happen on a whim and other times forced. Whether you just get in that mood to rearrange everything – we’ve all been there – or you’re getting new office furniture, the opportunity to make some easy changes to the room you spend much time in can be very helpful.
Wireless is an Extra
A hard connection, using an ethernet cable, is the preferred method of accessing your network. We all love and depend on wireless but when at home and at your desk, it is ideal to have your router nearby so you can connect your desktop or laptop via ethernet. This is especially important when uploading/downloading large files where optimal speed is in need!
The router will serve as the “home base” of your network, allowing you to connect via ethernet or wirelessly as many components as you need. Both my router and modem sit …

I love my job because I don’t commute. Commuting is the pits. There are so many dangers faced in commuting – especially long commutes. The reality is that most do. My husband commuted 2 hours – each way – for several months last year. It was horrible. No part of it was good. I worried about him so much. Would he be too tired? Would he encounter a lot of traffic? Would there be a distracted driver alongside him? Those months have thankfully ended as he now has a much more manageable commute. I thank God for that.
Commuting is a fact of life. What are the pluses to it? I have to say if it meant the difference between having and not having a job, well then I’ll be the 1st to run to the car! The data is impressive. Commuters are impacted by their drive in so many …

Guest Post from designer Jessica Phan.
How to Create a Fun Easter Dinner that will Entertain your Children

For me, Easter is all about chocolate bunnies, egg hunts, and family dinners. Nothing gets me more excited about the holiday than the sumptuous aroma of Mom’s cooking as she prepares Easter Sunday dinner, and the many treats hidden in the garden for the kids to find.
What I loved most when I was a kid was when Mom would let me have a hand in all the preparations. I liked playing “grown-up,” setting the table and adding my own personal touch to the meal. It was a great way to bond with Mom, too. It’s a tradition I definitely want to continue when I have children of my own.
Here are a few tips on how you can build your own special Easter dinner memories with your kids:

Fun Food
One …

Make an Easter craft that will have the whole crew giggling! Adorable bunny rabbits have been a part our Easter celebration in the US since the late 18th century. (see Wikipedia article on Easter Bunny.)
This simple craft is loads of fun and the kids really enjoy it! Use a glue stick or school glue, unless otherwise noted, to adhere the different components of the bunny’s face.
Materials and Sequence of Creating the Bunny’s Face Mask
1. FACE
Print a large photo of the child’s face, so that the diameter of the face is about 6 inches. Cut around so only the face remains – no hair. Glue this to the center of a white paper plate.
2. BOW
Pink/Blue ribbon tied into a bow. Use a glue gun to glue it to the paper plate. Do this ahead of time.
3. EARS
Cut out and glue together oblong white ears and …

Shipping on EBAY can be intimidating. Believe me, I’ve been intimidated. With the right tools you’ll be set to correctly asses the shipping costs for an item you intend to list.  Watch and listen to my EBAY shipping essentials.

You may already have many of these items. Do you? Many of them are reusable from items you have received in the mail. You’ll start looking at packages that you receive as potential shipping tools for future EBAY shipments! Have you recently received packaging materials that can be reused?
A good shipping scale is the most important. They are relatively inexpensive and can save you a lot of money if you appropriately pre-pack and weigh the package ahead of time.  I’ve learned that the hard way. I’ve previously assumed the weight was such and such, the buyer paid the shipping based on my …

An afternoon of doing laundry. We’ve all been there. None of us like it. What we do like is the finished product. The basket full of neatly folded clothing, sheets & towels. The soft clothing, still warm from the dryer gives us a feeling of relaxation and happiness.
What’s your laundry routine? I know many of you throw a load in every day. I do too, but mainly just on the weekdays and on Sundays. I guess that means every day but Saturday. I have certain items that have more urgency, like school uniforms and soccer and ballet outfits. We’re also short a set of sheets for our bed, so it’s wash, dry and make the bed all in one day right now. I won’t even mention the stress of ironing.
I will proudly share that I don’t always separate whites and darks. Do you? I recently heard …

The content was amazing! I asked a million questions. I came back from the EBAY Parent Panel Summit in San Jose, California pumped to sell my treasures on EBAY! I have bags of clothing, stacks of plates, boxes of shoes and boxes of old random AV cords that will make me money when I sell them all on EBAY!

Are you excited? Have something you’re anxious to get out of your house and bring cash into your pocket?
Disclosure: This post has been created in connection with my appointment as an EBAY Parent Panel Ambassador.

Miami welcomed the affordable KIA this month! From the ever popular Calle Ocho festival in Little Havana to my driveway for a week – KIA has reaffirmed their commitment to make quality, affordable cars for families – big and small!

Mid-Sized KIA Sorento is a Mom-Friendly and Affordable
Riding luxury but paying economical. The Kia Sorento 2012 should be called a luxury car. It’s beautiful from the inside out, along with its modern technology, it sets itself apart from competitor mid-sized SUVs. It seats 7 and gets phenomenal gas mileage of 20 city & 27 highway. That’s difficult to beat with vehicles of its size.
Space Matters
The comfort stems from the front all the way to the third row, where my 5 year old raved about how much she loved it back there. Climbing into the KIA Sorento to do the …

Grab a friend and head to the theaters to see Friends with Kids, believe me, you’ll be laughing out loud! On Friday, March 9th, the Bridesmaids cast reunite in a hysterical comedy about a close-knit group of New York couples and their single friends.  As the couples with kids enter that stage in life where children begin to take center stage, the singles aren’t quite sure how they fit in and when will they find their “person.” Who can’t relate? We’ve all been the friend without kids.  Then, we all became the friend with kids.  We know how different the lives are and how we are always thinking the grass is always greener on the other side!  I laughed out loud throughout the entire film.

Official Friends with Kids Synopsis
Friends with Kids is a daring and poignant ensemble comedy about a close-knit circle of friends at that moment in …

The Garden Party is ready to start here! The thought of spring is refreshing!  The birds return from their time down south, the crocuses peep up in the garden and there is an overall happy feeling. We also need to be ready for the springtime fashion trends for kids!
Shopping for Fashion
In the fall, I talked about how we need to shop smart with Back to School on the horizon – opting for layers that can help keep the little students warm.  Now, florals, pastels, nautical print and gingham are the styles we associate with this approaching time of year.  We pack away the warm sweaters and pull out the spaghetti strapped sundresses and white sandals for our little girls.  Our boys are thrilled to toss the jackets in the corner and wear a pair of comfy cargo shorts and graphic t-shirt without the need of a warmer layer.

Friday night arrives and my daughter begs to stay up late. Her 7:30 PM school night bedtime is pushed to maybe 8:15. We would even let her stay up later but her eyes are typically half closed by 7:45. Our Friday nights consist of a family meal, often pizza, sometimes a movie and most commonly a game. The Murphy Family Game Night has really become a tradition.
Family Game Night is a great tradition to start in your home. Learning strategy, sportsmanship, competition and game play, many board games tap into higher level thinking – regardless of your child’s age. It has become one of the immediate request I make to a family member or friend who asks what to get my older daughter for a gift. She loves board games. We love board games. We love to play them as a family.
This winter we’re going “American Idol” …

Ebay can not only help you make money, but help you be a smarter wife and mom!
A Smart Mama not only knows the resources available to help her, she uses them too!  Try any or all of these ways to be a Smarter Mama through EBAY!

Support your family’s finances by earning a few dollars, a few hundred or even a few thousand, by selling items you no longer need. Cleaning out the basement and hitting up garage sales and thrift stores, a Smart Mama can make her EBAY inventory. The PayPal account receiving your payments will soon fill with dollars and cents to use for family financial obligations or even a fun vacation! EBAY pro Tristan O’Brien shared his remarkable story in the Ebay Money Makers video. He could do it, so can you!
Memorabilia galore! You can find …

It’s a new week. Let’s start it off right! Making little improvements in our home can have a lasting impact throughout the rest of the week.

Go make your bed.  I know that no one will even know you made it besides your kids and husband, but I promise that when you head to bed tonight it is much more comforting to see a made bed than the disheveled mess it was in the AM.
Buh-Bye stinky sponge. One of the worst smells is the smell of a stinky sponge. Bascteria filled sponges have no place in your home. Every two weeks you should be replacing or more regularly thoroughly clean your sponge. There are numerous ways to clean & disinfect the sponge. Try some of these ideas, or toss it and start with a new one this week.
Clean that microwave – without chemicals, please! Water and a bowl – that’s …

Need a Kleenex? A sneeze, a cough, a smear of something on the face, all instigate the automatic Kleenex offering. We share all sorts of things like clothes, toys, ideas, and Kleenex! Over these last few months I have witnessed unbelievable sharing in my home.  From the 1st day home from the hospital, Isabella has wanted to share anything and everything with her baby sister.  It makes my heart melt to see her be such a warm, loving sister to Cecilia.
I took my story to the Momversation camera recently, to share the warm, feeling I get when we share in our home.

We started a sharing chain at Kleenex.com by sending a box of tissues to Isa’s friend! You can do the same!
 

From Kleenex to baby dolls our home is a sharing home! Do you celebrate sharing in your home?
 
 
Disclosure: Compensation …

With the economic strains we’ve all endured these last few years, total home remodels aren’t typically within our plans. Smaller home improvements are now more within a Smart Mama’s budget.  A less expensive way to “remodel” a room is through its light fixture(s).  Changing the light fixture in a room can often dramatically improve the room’s appearance without breaking the bank.Capitol Lighting, aka 1800Lighting.com, is a Smart Mama’s resource and guide for all things lighting. 
Walking in and around Capitol Lighting in Boca Raton, FL you instantly wonder why you haven’t been here before. We often settle for the large hardware store when selecting a lighting fixture for our dining room – the room that tends to get the biggest fixture in our homes.  Yet, at 1800Lighting.com or any of Captiol Lighting’s 8 showrooms you’ll see so …

Homemade baby wipes can save money and are easy to make, but is it worth it? We all want what’s best for the baby.  Homemade or retail, at the end, it’s our decision.  With food, we want to provide our babies with homemade as often as possible.  We want to know exactly what’s filling the baby’s tummy and fueling his/her body.  However with clothing, sorry but my sewing skills would leave my youngest one dressed in rags!
How about wipes?  It’s a baby need that we use, and use a lot of.  From the moments of meconium to the last wipe during potty training, we rely on wipes to keep our babies and children clean from head to toe.  Wiping faces, sticky fingers and of course the remains of the poopy diaper, a wipe is a mom’s best friend.
They are made by tons of brands, from the generic …