How to create a distraction-free vacation

In this fast paced world, filled with all sorts of distractions, it can be challenging to keep your family focused during a vacation. Here are some tips to eliminate distractions and keep everyone on the same page. TwitterMoms and Alamo are sponsoring a blogging contest to share your 10 tips for creating a fun-filled family vacation free of distractions! Below are my tips. I hope they come in handy during your next vacation!

1. Ditch the electronics. We allow the Nintendo DS and iPods on the airplane. Once we get to our destination, those things get packed until we are ready to leave.

2. Keep cell phone/smart phone and laptop use to a minimum. I understand that my husband needs to check in each day. As an executive, it is important for him to keep his pulse on what's going on back at the office. Schedule certain times of the day when laptops and smartphones are permitted. Otherwise, it gets out of control and you never get out the door.

3. Take lots of video and photos, but don't let your camera control you. I'm an avid photo taker, but I recognize that I'm a puppet on a string with my camera. It will rule you if you let it. Put it down to enjoy time with your family.

4. Keep the TV off. Period.

5. Take advantage of kids programs. They offer a taste of the local scenery and are more often than not, educational. Throw in some learning with all the fun.

6. Don't overschedule your time. Everyone needs some downtime to relax by the pool, on the beach or curl up on the patio with a book or magazine.

7. Ask the kids to do some of the planning. Allow them to schedule a special meal out or a sunset walk or cruise.

8. Bring travel board games, puzzles, and coloring books for the kids (and yourself). These games, unlike handheld electronics, offer enjoyment for the entire family.

9. Allow everyone time to enjoy his or her personal activities. No one likes being forced to participate in an activity that he/she doesn't enjoy. Encourage individual participation.

10. At the end of your vacation, recap your favorite and funniest moments.




Travel Tips for Moms & Families Reserve Now

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To view more tips for a distraction-free vacation, visit TwitterMoms.

Stained glass hearts

After searching for an easy and inexpensive Valentine's day craft, I finally found one. Surprisingly, it was one of Martha Stewart's idea...easy and inexpensive? Doesn't sound like Martha, but I'll try it.

Here's what you'll need:

Crayons (varying shades of red, purple and pink)
A pencil sharpener
Snack size storage bags or small bowls/containers
Wax paper
Heart templates (for tracing) and a pencil
An iron
Paper towels
Newspapers
String or embroidery thread

1. Remove the wrappers from the crayons. Sharpen the crayons and place the shavings into bag or bowl. You can mix colors or keep them separate.
2. Place a few layers of newspaper on your work surface to make cleanup easier and to keep wax from being tranferred to work surface during the ironing process.
3. Tear off a piece of wax paper making sure it is large enough to fold in half to accommodate the size heart you wish to make. Fold the piece of wax paper in half. Open it making sure the crease is visible.
4. Sprinkle the crayon shavings on one side of the wax paper. Fold the empty side of the wax paper over the shavings side.

5. Cover the folded wax paper with a paper towel.
6. With the iron set on the lowest setting possible, iron over the paper towel being sure to keep the iron moving so the wax paper does not burn. Continue ironing until all the crayon shavings are completely melted.
7. Remove the wax paper and place on a wire rack to cool for a minute or two. Once it has cooled, trace your template onto the wax paper, cut and hang by a window.

Snowpocalypse now

It's crazy! It feels as if the snow is going to envelope the house. It's piling up all around us at the rate of 2-3 inches per hour. And we are still a few hours away from the end of the storm!

I took this picture early this morning. There was probably about a 7 inch accumulation at that point.

Before going outside to play with the girls, I made breakfast...homemade waffles. Yum!

We braved the elements to take a snow walk...

Everything looked so pretty. The only thing missing from this picture is a little brown bunny off in the distance.

A game of snow hide-n-seek...

After their fill of snow (and I mean that quite literally as they were eating it!), the girls were ready to come inside to get warm and start the Valentine's Day craft, which I will include in a separate post.

We also made cupcakes, and homemade pizza is on tonight's dinner menu. A fun but busy day!

There's just something about snow days!

I love a good snow storm!

We've been waiting a few hours for the snow to start falling. The kids are jumping out of their skin. I, for one, am looking forward to hunkering down for the weekend. I've got a nice, warm house and some good wines to sample.

As for tomorrow, while the kids are playing in the snow with the husband, I'll be printing, framing and hanging some pictures. When the kids come in to get warm and re-fuel, we'll be doing a stained glass hearts Valentine's Day craft. We'll also be making Valentine's Day cupcakes. It will be my turn to go outside and play after the crafts and baking. It won't be long before I'm too cold to tolerate the outdoors. We'll come inside for hot chocolate, but not before I've had a chance to take lots of pictures. I love snow pictures!

I love snow days. They promise the opportunity for a day at home to do lots or nothing at all.

What's in a name?

The problem with unisex names is that someone who has never met your child doesn't know whether said child is male or female. Obviously, we never encountered this problem with Emma. But with Harper, it has been a completely different can of worms. It's been random, mostly when the dentist's office calls, Harper is always referred to as "he". It's totally annoying.

More recently, the ENT and surgery center have been calling to check up on Harper's post-op state. Very courteous phone calls and incredibly nice personnel, but all that is lost on me when they ask how "he's" doing. I've been very tactful about it. Thanking them for their concern, and oh by the way, Harper is a female, I tell them. Hoping they don't make the same mistake twice. But, much to my dismay, they do the very next day. Now it's getting really annoying.

On a slightly similar topic, my husband was in Dallas last year for a trade show. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were at the convention center signing pictures. Of course, my husband stood in line, more than likely to get a glimpse of the gorgeous ladies rather than a signed picture, but anyway. He makes it to the front of the line and tells one of the cheerleaders the girls' names, Emma and Harper.  She writes, "Dear Emma and Harver...." Are you kidding me? Harver? Who would do that to their child? I know these cheerleaders aren't rocket scientists, but puh-leez!

One more name story. Every year we send a Christmas card to acquaintances. Every. Year. And every year they send one back to us addressed to Henry, Sheila, Emma, and Parker. Parker? Again, are you kidding me? Do they even take the time to look at our card? Obviously not. That's annoying.

The saga continues...

If you remember, a few weeks ago Harper's preschool teacher approached me with this issue. I was distraught and overwhelmed. My head was spinning. Where do I start? What should I do? Who should we consult first?

Since she had a follow-up visit for an ear infection just days later, we decided to start with her pediatrician. The pediatrician examined Harper's ears and told us that there was still quite a bit of fluid in her ears but no more infection. It could be residual fluid from the ear infection and is still in the process of draining. Or not. Meaning the fluid wasn't draining on its own. She also performed a hearing test which Harper failed.

She then examined her tongue. Nothing changed from a year prior when it was last examined. She was still tongue-tied. She recommended that we take Harper to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for a full evalution and hearing tests. And referred us to a speech pathologist for an assessment.

I immediately made an appointment with the ENT. The appointment was last Wednesday. Harper had a series of hearing tests performed with the result that she's hearing at 70% capacity. Not good. The doctor said she'd had to have ventilation tubes placed in her ears and her tongue clipped to enable mobility. Oh and by the way, all this would be done the following Monday (yesterday). Ugh! How would I mentally prepare myself in 4 days?

But I did. As for my little Harper...she was superstar! No fussing when the doctor and nurse took her away from me and up to the operating room. Such a brave little girl she was. Her momma? Not so much. I sat in the waiting room with my sister-in-law Bev and cried. But just as I stopped, the doctor came in to tell me that the surgery was completed and a nurse would escort me to the recovery room. Less than 15 minutes! I'm so proud of my baby!

Next up? A follow up in 3 weeks with the ENT who will assess whether she needs to work with a speech pathologist.

It's definitely not a dull life!

A new family member

Yes. I'm a pushover. I admit it. Today I allowed the girls to convince me to buy them another betta fish. Another fish that I will feed. Another bowl that I will clean. Another pet in my care. They were so excited. Ever since the hermit crabs left us for hermit crab heaven, there's been a void that the girls had been looking to fill.

Introducing Miss Ruby Redfish...

Friday Fun: Freebies!

I love the free stuff! Here's a goody I hope you enjoy!

A $10 coupon book from Pillsbury. Go HERE to get yours.

Tea time

I'm a tea drinker. Not a big fan of coffee unless it's a Starbucks drink that's made with mostly foamy, steamed milk, tons of whipped cream and tons of packets of sugar substitute. Regular coffee? Too strong. Yuck!

The only problem with tea is that you just can't get a good cup of tea this side of the Atlantic. It's almost impossible. There are, however, tea houses and shops popping up all over, and that makes me happy. I prefer loose tea leaves to bags. The flavor is much more intense with loose tea. I have found some fabulous loose tea at Wegmans.

I've also found these items that would go perfectly with my loose tea!

A tea press, available here.

And don't you think this would be the perfect mug to use for my tea? Available here.

Fun swag

Two weeks ago I attended a Twitter party* for Episencial, the first company to develop all natural and sustainable skin care specifically for today’s actively healthy families. I am always on the lookout for natural skincare products for the girls. I was attracted to Episencial's company philosophy as well as their fun products. They were tweeting from the Boom Boom Room at the Golden Globes.

Several days after the party, I received a message from a representative of Episencial who informed me that I would be receiving a gift from the company for my participation in the party. I figured it would be one or two products to sample. Nope. So much better than that! Here's what was on my doorstep today! It was the exact same swag they were giving to celebrities who visited the Boom Boom Room. How cool!

So much fun! An Eric Carle themed t-shirt, a stuffed Hungry Caterpillar, The Hungry Caterpillar book, flash cards, mini library (4 storybooks), Episencial better body butter, and Miracle Lips lip salve. It was all placed in the reusable Hungry Caterpillar bag at the top of the picture. I absolutely love it!

You must check out Episencial for a great selection of all natural bath and body products that are made with solar power. You can't beat that!

*A twitter party is a fast and fun virtual party, using the twitter platform. Usually held in the evening, twitter parties typically last 1-2 hours and are a wonderful way for people to connect and discuss a topic of choice. Most twitter parties have an expert panelist and party host to keep the party on topic.

For more information on Twitter parties, click here.