WFMW - Barbie Cart

Many of you commented that you were looking forward to finding out some of my other uses for the Sterilite Rolling Cart - so here's another to add to your list.

The Barbie Cart -
Thanks to Santa and a host of relatives, Tater and Tot got their first round of Barbie and associated paraphernalia for Christmas this past December. Now while I was totally excited with Santa and his choice of the Barbie House, along with the fifty eleven Barbies that the grandparents, aunts, and Sunday School teachers provided to live in said house, I was not prepared for the amount of "stuff" that comes with each boxed up girl. It didn't take me but a few post-Christmas days for me to declare "oh my good grief if I kick one more miniature pink goblet or gouge the bottom of my foot with another high-heel or almost vacuum up another dog bowl I'm going to find Barbie and her friends a new home at the Goodwill," before I decided that some sort of capturing mechanism was in order. All of that said to tell you that in my den/playroom sits one of the largest carts that could be found. Inside you will find every Barbie doll, dress, shoe, pet, pillow, fork, toothbrush, and lipstick to have entered into this house. It's great for the girls because there is no rhyme or reason to it - and frankly who would want to have to organize all of that miniature stuff every day? It keeps things at least in a place and, most importantly, out of my floor and my sight. I'm sure that there are other Barbie storage solutions out there, but for right now, this is what Works for Me!

Many thanks to Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer for organizing these tips. Check her site out for many more tested tips!

Yes, We Have No Bananas.

So, today is the day that I have to make a confession. Well, two confessions. Everyone here knows that I have a 2 year old and a 3 year old, right? That's not the confession.

No, wait. I have an almost 3 year old and an almost 4 year old. That's better. Still, not the confession.

So, I have an almost 3 year old and an almost 4 year old - and neither of them are potty trained. There. Those are the two confessions.

Oh, yes ma'am, you heard me right. They are both in "training pants." But that is a lie. There is no "training" in "training pants." They are actually just diapers that go on a different way.

So, both girls are in diapers and I am pregnant with a 3rd little sprout and I guess it hit me about 2 weeks ago that if nothing changes that come early September I will have three, count them 1, 2, 3, in diapers. That is the hugest run-on if ever there was one. But again, 3 in diapers.

And, well, I kind of freaked.

Not the traditional "well, let's get this show on the road and get these kids trained" freaked. But more the "I'm a horrible mother and I've lost all control and I've missed my chance and I wonder if I can at least have them not wearing adult diapers by the time they start having to change into gym clothes in front of their classmates in junior high" freaked.

Now, I could go into a lengthy essay full of excuses as to why the Tater is almost 4 and not trained. But, basically, mommy guilt tells me it's all my fault. And the problem wasn't the peeing in the potty, but the poop. Oh.my.good.grief. the poop.

Sooo, the PaTato and I decided that it was time to take this thing head on. A smorgasbord of pretty underthings were laid out in plain sight in the living room. Threats were commanded. Promises were made. Praises were lavished.

No poop.

The girl would hold it for two days and then sneak, hide, and poop. In the two seconds that I would turn my head or the five minutes that I wouldn't remind her that she had to poop in the potty she would find a way to trick me. She obviously had a well laid plan.

So, fast forward to yesterday. Oh my good grief, you all are saying, please for the love of all things fast forward.

Tater hadn't "gone" for a day and a half, and we had pretty much beaten into her head that if she "went" on herself, there was big trouble. At lunch time yesterday, I decided to gorge her with food. The afternoon consisted of Spaghetti-O's with cheese, chips, juice, milk, pineapple, and apples, not to mention it had been a day and a half. No one little body can hold that much. Something was coming out one way or another.

It played out like this: she had to pee, she went to pee, she accidentally let loose of one little "poop ball." (her words, not mine) We celebrated. We yelled. We screamed. We called family. We ate M&M's. We ate a cookie with M&M's. We were excited. She went to play.

Then it hit her. She really had to poop. She ran to the potty. She sat. She pooped. She yelled for me. Then she said them - what have to be some of the funniest words I have ever heard come out of such a little mouth.

"MOMMY! I! POOPED! I! POOPED! IN! THE! POTTY! AND! IT'S! A! BANANA! POOP! A! BIG! BANANA! POOP! A! TEN! DOLLAR! BANANA! POOP!"

And it was. And, just so you know, I want to share with you what this Tater scored for a poop ball and a banana poop in the potty.

• M&M's
• M&M cookie
• a promise of underthing shopping with Mommy
• a promise of underthing shopping with Nana
• a one night slumber party in Mommy & Daddy's bed (can you tell we're selfish sleepers? this has never happened before!)
• a new book
• a promise of at least $2 from Nana
• a prize from Papaw
• ten crisp one dollar bills from Daddy

So, I'm proud, PaTato is proud, but most of all, Tater's proud. And I guess that is a step in the right direction.

One down, one to go.

Confessions are good for the soul, right?

WFMW - The Art Cart

It's that time of the week again - to find out what Works for Me! This week I want to highlight one of my favorite products in the world - the Sterilite Drawer Carts. Oh my, oh my, I use these for so many different things. I have decided, however, that instead of using up all of my potential WFMW drawer cart posts , I'll just pick one of my uses for them.

This week - the Art Cart. My girls, like their mama, love to craft. I love to craft with them. What I don't love, however, is having the craft department from one end of my house to the other. So, instead of constantly finding open Play-Doh containers in my new couch and smooshed up crayons in the toilet, I decided that a one stop spot for crafts would be in order. Sooooo, I put a handy dandy rolling drawer cart in the breakfast nook off of my kitchen. The girls use the small nook table for their craft time, and the cart holds all of the essetials for making fun stuff. The drawers hold paper and coloring books neatly, crayons, markers, and the like are contained nicely in another drawer, Play Doh and rolling pins take up the third, and cookie cutters fit perfectly in a shoe-box size clear container on top. And, with it being against a wall in the nook, it's not in my way or an eyesore. I'll tell you more uses for those rolling carts later, but, for now, that's what Works for Me! Check out other clever ideas with Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

Question: What Do You Get When You Cross a Pregnant Girl and a Dog Food Commercial?

Answer: A poodle of tears. I mean a puddle of tears.

Have you all seen these Pedigree Adoption Commercials? They KILL me! "I know how to sit, how to fetch, and how to roll over. What I don't know is how I ended up in here..." OH. MY. GOOD. GRIEF! Have you met little Oliver? He's a good dog and he just wants to go home. I cry Every.Single.Time.

But, wait, there is good news. The newest commercial shows little Oliver getting adopted! It is so exciting! Do you know what I do when I see that commercial?

I cry.

Anyway, the point of this post is, if you have any pups at your house that you have to feed, consider buying Pedigree. They donate money to help shelter dogs find homes.

Shelter dogs like little Oliver.

*photo of little Oliver courtesy of Pedigree.com.

A Little Laugh.

A friend showed me this the other night, and I couldn't help but share it with you all. It gets me so tickled! If this doesn't make you start your weekend with a smile on your face, I just don't know what will. Enjoy!

WFMW - Kitchen Edition!

This is my first Wednesday jumping on board the Works-For-Me Wednesday train, but seeing as it is so fun to read, I just can't help but join in. Today's topic is kitchen tips, and I have one that really works for me.

We love to use tongs in our kitchen, but sometimes the springy-openess (fun - new word!) of them really gets in the way when trying to store them. So...an empty paper towel roll (just the cardboard part) is a perfect tong holder! The tongs fit perfectly inside, it takes care of the springy-openess of them, and makes storage in a drawer or utensil caddy a breeze. All in all - it Works for Me!

To check out other awesome bloggers with ideas that work for them, head over to Shannon's place at Rocks in My Dryer.

Hungry.

I threw dinner in the crock pot earlier this afternoon, and the smell is absolutely wonderful! I just can't help but share the recipe with you all...

Creamy Italian Chicken

2-4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (I use frozen)
1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing and Recipe Mix
1/4 cup water
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 8oz. block cream cheese

Put chicken breasts, dressing mix, and water in crock - make sure you spray it with Pam! Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4. About 30 minutes before serving time, add soup and cream cheese. I take the chicken out and stir the soup/cheese mixture with the Italian water in the crock to smooth out any potential lumps. Add chicken back in, let warm through, and enjoy! We love it best served over egg noodles!

It just doesn't get any easier (or tastier) than that!