Works for me Wednesday Follow-Up

In my "Works for Me Wednesday" yesterday, I mentioned using baby powder to get sand off your body. Someone asked how to use it in one of my comments, and I thought I would post on how I use it. One way is after your little one is done swimming and you're putting a diaper or undies on them, use the baby powder to get sand out of those private parts. The powder makes the sand fall right off, and of course its safe to use there. Once when my oldest was a toddler, I brought his nude little self down to the water to rinse the sand off. The lifeguard told me he needed to get dressed (yikes!). So this solves that problem for beaches or pools with that rule. Also, once I get the sand off everybody, there is still the issue of getting it off your feet so you don't drag it into your car. So I clean off the feet last in the parking lot, using the baby powder. Try it - it works amazingly!

A word of advice - be kind when sprinkling the powder. If its a windy day, that powder can really blow around! If your husband, an older child or a friend is with you, have them hold a towel to catch the flying powder!

Also, as for the other items I pack in the bag that I need on a day to day basis around the house, I buy double of it rather than remembering if I took it out of the bag. For instance, I have sun screen, a comb, diapers, wipes, etc. that stays right in my beach bag.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Blessings,

Jen

Works for me Wednesday

Well it seems like Works for me Wednesday is the only way I get blogging sometimes! Check out Shannon's blog for some great tips.

I've found a great way to get out the door fast in the summer for last minute invites swimming or to the beach. I have a gigantic LL Bean-style bag that I keep our beach towels and all our swim suits, swimmie diapers, sun screen, powder (to get sand off feet and other body parts-another Works for Me tip!), hats, extra clothes for the kids, a book, some sand toys, diapers, wipes, comb, hair clip, etc., etc., ETC. (yes the bag is HUGE!). When we get home from swimming, the bag goes right by the washer and dryer, and as soon as everything is cleaned, it goes right back in that bag so I'm ready for the next time. Its been a huge time saver.

Works for me!

Blessings,

Jen

Works for me Wednesday

With the rise of gas prices (gulp!) I know we all could use some good tips on how to save money. What has worked for my family for the past few summers was placing our satellite TV on hold for the summer. With the provider we have, we do not pay anything to do this - no fees, and no monthly bills. For us we don't watch TV in the summer anyway, so I was so excited to find that I didn't have to pay for something we weren't using! Then come the middle of September, we usually reactivate the service without any cost whatsoever! Call your cable or satellite provider to see if they offer this.

For other great tips, check out the blog Rocks in My Dryer.

Blessings!

Jen

Works for me Wednesday

A few weeks ago, someone posted about buying colored undies for her hubby because colors get washed more than whites, etc. (thank you madridmom for writing back letting me know this was your WFMW tip!) Anyway, whites take longer to make a full load for me as well, so recently I purchased a large quantity (I'm guessing 18-20?) of white washcloths from the dollar store. I use these cloths for EVERYTHING - dusting, cleaning bathrooms, daily wiping of counters, spot mopping, etc., etc., ETC. I have so many of them, I just toss them into my whites, and it helps make for a larger white load sooner, since the colors get full fast enough (too fast if you ask me:))! Its also better for the environment! Works for me!

Works for me Wednesday

Two posts in one day? Yikes!

Today is a birthday theme over at Works For Me Wednesday. I've been thinking about birthdays as my baby girl is turning 1 at the end of May! Well, what works for me is keeping it simple for their first birthday "party!" For my first son, I went all out, invited any and everyone - and you know what? He slept in his highchair most of the time! I was a bear because I over-did it, and all in all, it just wasn't what I had dreamed of! For my second son, we didn't have a "party" we just went to a train museum and had cake at home and he opened gifts at his own speed. It was so fun and enjoyable! So as my daughter approaches 1, we are teaming up with my brother's daughter who is turning 1 at the end of June, and just having our parents and our sister and her family over to my place for a simple gathering and just enjoying each other!

Works for me Wednesday

I've been lurking over at Rocks in My Dryer for sometime, and love reading what "Works for [Others] Wednesday! So today I decided to also jump in!

A great thing that has proven to work for me (and I kick myself on mornings I don't do this) is every night before bed, I run the dishwasher. The next morning I RACE the coffee maker and try to empty the dishwasher before the coffee is done. One thing I've discovered about myself is I have a real competitive side, and I actually try to make a race out of most chores around my home (works great with my preschooler too!). Also, I'm such a coffee junkie, that my reward for quickly emptying the dishwasher is a nice cup of coffee (or 2 or 3!) Then once I'm done with my coffee and my kids are done with breakfast - the dishwasher is all ready to start filling up with those dishes.

It works for me!

Blessings!

Jen