Back from a very long break!

The holidays are always an exceptionally difficult time of year. I work in retail, so I have a tendency to "disappear" for a few months between October and February while the calls of the 70-hour work week keep me pulled in another direction. I hate it. I get away from everything I love, and I don't just mean my family - my hobbies, writing, having a normal schedule....

Anyway, that doesn't matter. I am rededicating myself to my blog (among other things) so hopefully those of you that still follow along, desperately awaiting my next update (hey, I can pretend!) are happy that I'm back.

Promising new reviews, new stories, and more, soon. Glad to be back.

How I outsmarted my stubborn preschooler. Part One: Cleaning

Something really baffles me about Bug sometimes. This kid loves doing chores - washing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning windows and tables, vacuuming, you get the idea. But for some reason, the request of "put your toys back in your room" is like a completely foreign concept, which is always met with the whining battle cry of "I don't waaaaaaaant to!" or "Can't you helllllllllllllp me?" (Parents, I know that you know how the emphasis lies on exactly those words!)

Some parents say the timer method works for them. You set a kitchen timer for, oh, five to ten minutes, and everyone scrambles to pick up the stuff. Ok, those of you who find that this method works, raise your hands. Damn, I knew that would be most of you! I don't mind the "timer scramble" for big messes, but honestly now - why should I be scrambling for ten minutes to pick up Bug's stuff? He's almost five! He can pick up the fifteen Matchbox cars and bring them to his room by himself, it's not that much stuff!

Well, after a few months of the aforementioned back and forth battle, I finally realized what the problem was. It's not the amount of stuff to be put away - it's that his hands are small, thereby requiring him to make 15 trips through the house for 15 toys. So, I had a moment of Mom Genius. Bug really, really, really likes shopping of any kind - especially clothes, but that's a whole 'nother topic - so on our last shopping excursion I had him pick out his own reusable plastic grocery tote bag. He chose one with a lion, disappointed in the lack of dinosaurs as an option. This is officially his shopping bag and no one is allowed to mess with it.

And basically how it goes now is like this: the official lion bag hangs on the doorknob to his bedroom. At the end of the day, or any time the mess has just overflown too far into the rest of the house, I announce "shopping time". Bug goes to town "shopping" for all of his toys to take back "home" to his room, and when he gets back to his room he just has to dump the bag back into the toy box, and hang it on the doorknob for next time. Clean up now takes under five minutes, and everyone is less frustrated. I highly recommend this if all else has failed for you so far too!

Mom Reviews: First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowl With Lid

Finding adequate tableware for a two year old boy who now wants to do everything himself is a headache in and of itself. I admire my son’s desire to feed himself with a fork and spoon and use his own “big boy” plate. Our kitchen, however, was starting to resemble an elementary school cafeteria after a food fight after every meal, as my son would inevitably throw his plate across the room as soon as he declared himself “all done” with his food. With the intention of saving the paint on the kitchen walls - and my sanity - I picked up two First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowls while shopping.

What it is...
The First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowl with Lid is basically exactly what it sounds like - a bowl, a suction cup, and a lid. The bowl is hard plastic and is proportioned just right for a toddler-sized meal, about the same size as a standard soup or cereal bowl. Attached to the bottom of the bowl is a large rubbery suction cup, and also included is a hard plastic lid that snaps securely to the top of the bowl for travel. The set comes in a variety of color combinations - I have a red/blue and green/yellow. Many others are available, including more feminine combinations if you have a little princess rather than a little prince. There are two small handles on either side of the bowl which help when you are trying to get the suction cup to grip the surface.

The bowl...
As I mentioned earlier, the bowl is just the right size for toddler meals. While it doesn’t have a divider, it does have a little ridge in the center to somewhat divide the foods. The bowl comfortably holds several cut up chicken nuggets with carrot dices and applesauce - a favorite combination in our house - with no problem, and the little ridge keeps the applesauce from seeping under the chicken. The bowl is a very sturdy hard plastic and is dishwasher safe. It has been used for many other things by my adventurous two year old, including a mini stepstool, a hat, a drum, and a frisbee and it has held up wonderfully.

The suction cup...
The suction cup on the bottom of the bowl holds it reasonably in place. I usually have to wet it slightly to get the initial grip onto the high chair tray, but it holds well. On an extremely stubborn day, my son has been able to yank it from the tray, but it takes him long enough to do so that I usually catch him before it goes flying. If the surface underneath is wet, he is also sometimes able to scoot the bowl around without losing the suction as well. Overall, it does its’ job. It holds up well from the dishwasher as well, and the rubber has not dried out at all, even after several months of frequent use and washing.

The lid...
The lid is made of an identical hard plastic as the bowl and snaps securely to the top for travelling. While I do not recommend travelling with a full bowl of food, as tupperware holds up much better, the seal is tight and it has not leaked, even when accidentally tipped sideways in the diaper bag. Affixing the lid to the bowl also makes for a good toddler-sized drum, should you need emergency entertainment.

Overall...
This bowl has been a lifesaver on many occassions. It is an absolute necessity for restaurants, where plastic dishware is often nonexistant - nothing says “Time to leave the restaurant!” like a couple of broken salad plates. Cleanup is a snap - when travelling the parts can be wiped clean with baby wipes, and all parts are easily cleanable by hand or dishwasher. I would be happier with a slightly stronger suction cup, but this one does get the job done 90% of the time, which is good enough for me. The price is reasonable at an average of $1.99-$2.50 depending on where you buy them, which is cheap enough in case you accidentally leave one somewhere. I feel that I have more than gotten my money’s worth out of them, and I never leave home without it.

Price $1.99 to $2.50 (varies by store)
Available at.. Target, Wal-Mart, Babies R Us, many others