August 2011
Back to School Time – 5 Ways to Make Your Morning Run Smoothly
On your mark. Get set. GO! Back to school time is here! Some of us have started. Some are anxiously waiting. Regardless, we all spend these weeks transitioning into the new school time schedule. It’s nerve-racking, but being a Smart Mama can increase your chances of a successful morning! Here are 5 ways you can […]
A Marco Island Vacation is an Ideal Family Travel Destination
This year’s summer family trip was a Marco Island vacation. This island sits less than 2 hours west of Miami, just south of Naples. Traveling to Florida, with the exception of Disney, is slow season during the summer months. Intense heat and possibility of hurricanes makes it not always ideal when traveling. However, slow season […]
Smart Food: Potluck of Produce, Chili Vegetable Ragout
Fresh local produce is something a Smart Mama LOVES! I’m sure you all agree! Whether you’re at a local farmer’s market, partake in a farm-share or have a great produce department at your grocery store, the freshness of good produce is something we all want for our families. My near 5 year old has developed […]
Smart Home: Fooz Kids and it’s valuable Parental Dashboard!
Thank you to Fooz Kids for providing me with an All-In-One pack to review. The opinions I’ve expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. It’s not often that you find a keeper. I’ve come across one that is most certainly a keeper for all parents, especially as we’re gearing up for […]
Smart Home: 5 Clothing Piece Dare and the ebay Parent Panel
I dare you. I dare you to go into your child’s closet, or better yet your own, and find 5 pieces of clothing that either still have tags on them or essentially are brand new. I’m thinking of those items that you bought and NEVER wore. Maybe they were never worn because of style changes, […]
Smart Food: Slow-Cooked Chicken Wine and Tomato
Another great slow-cooker YUMMY recipe for back to school days! I adapted this recipe from EatingWell.com. It tastes great with a serving of brown rice and salad. My daughter, the picky eater, LOVED it. The chicken comes out moist, which is a challenge for many of us when making chicken. Leftovers taste great, too. I […]
Smart Food: Pot Roast, a Back to School Favorite
As we get ready for the crazy back to school schedule, we need to stack our decks. We need to have plans in place to increase our chance of success. The slow cooker is a busy Smart Mama’s friend! It can be the sous chef that we have always longed for. Dedicating often less than […]
Cleaning the Remote Control, Why and How!
Up to 70 percent of remote controls are coated with illness-causing germs and an estimated one in five of these bugs are dangerous, drug-resistant strains, say University of Arizona researchers. – iVillage.com What would you rather lick: a toilet bowl handle, bathroom door handle or a remote control? Sorry to tell you, but the remote […]
Smart Home: Back to School, Shop for Layers!
Yes, it’s back to school time and I’m ecstatic – and it isn’t just because of the time I’ll get back during the day to get things done! Back to school means autumn is soon! It’s my favorite season! Shopping these last weeks of summer for the coming months can be overwhelming, especially without
Bed Time for Kids Getting Ready for School
How & when do you establish bed time for kids getting ready for school? We start at minimum a full week before the 1st day of school. Tomorrow is the big day. The day I’ve been waiting for. I can’t believe it’s actually here. Am I ready? Are they ready? What is the big day […]
Smart Home: Morning Routine, Searching for Tips to Establish School Day Mornings
A morning routine. I love it. I get very type-A at times and like to have things scheduled out to the last minute. Enter 2 children into that dream and it essentially flies out the window. With my near 5 year old, Isabella, a routine is necessary, it’s just not as precisely followed as I […]
Smart Food: S’Mores, the Perfect Vacation Treat!
What about a S’more isn’t to like? Yummy graham cracker, soft sweet marshmallow and chocolate… mouth is watering now. When I think of S’mores I think of summer evenings growing up in Long Island. Weekends typically included at least one night of my parents grilling on the Weber. The very best part, and my fondest memory, […]
Smart Home: Dinner Gets Tough, Sharing tips with Ragú® Mom’s the Word
Dinnertime doesn’t always have to be disastrous. Finding ways to encourage a positive dining experience is pretty much every Smart Mama’s dream. If adding a seatbelt to your preschool/elementary aged child’s chair would be appropriate, I bet half of you would use it no time. Or if every child was so excited to try the new vegetable […]
Smart Home: The Mom-nook, by Guest Poster & Interior Decorator Joanne Palumbo
This week I’m honored to have Joanne, interior decorator extraordinare, as well as high school classmate, provide some great tips to you on creating a mom-nook, instead of the man-cave we dreadfully close our eyes to. I am so honored to be guest blogging on one of my favorite and most useful blogs! Thank […]