March 2009 Archives
Last fall Suze Orman issued a three-pronged challenge to her viewers to help them weather the economic environment in 2009:
1) Do not spend money for one day, 2) Do not use a credit card for one week, and 3) Do not eat in a restaurant for one month.
The audience was going along with the first two challenges, but there was a collective gasp when the third was announced, and it was apparent many of Suze's converts to frugal living instantly lost their resolve. Evidently people could fathom not spending money or using a credit card for a finite amount of time, but give up restaurants for a whole month? Now that's asking too much.
Well, maybe not. There's a new web resource developed by the Alabama Grocer's Association called Eat at Home Alabama (AGA has a vested interest, of course, but we're all on the same page in wanting to save money). They've recognized that this is the moment to break many of us from panicked trips to the drive-through, and while few things are more nurturing than a meal cooked by someone else, it is also true that a harried, thoughtless trip to a restaurant isn't fully enjoyable, either.
The website provides general information on saving money using savvy shopping techniques and coupons. It's likely almost every BirminghamMom has developed her own method for couponing by now, but you will appreciate the additional features on food safety, Alabama products, and links to FDA recall announcements. Sadly, foodborne pathogen scares are becoming more commonplace as affected ingredients are distributed to wider markets. (It wasn't enough we had to worry about a kid choking on a peanut or having an allergic reaction; more recently it's been peanut butter and salmonella. What's next, pistachios? Oh, wait...)
Going cold turkey without our favorite meals out might be too extreme, but at least preparing meals at home can be a bit less daunting with some of the tips suggested on Eat at Home Alabama. Look for the featured recipes that feed for four under $20 courtesy of Publix Apron's program.
There seem to be two prevailing Easter basket traditions: First, having an official Easter basket that is used every year (the ultimate in recycling), or second, a new container which may not be an actual basket.
The option you choose for your family depends on how much a factor the Easter bunny is in your traditions. Some kids set their baskets out the night before Easter and find them filled the next morning, and some receive stuffed baskets simply as celebratory gifts, no bunny agent needed.
Back in the day, the most common baskets were brightly colored with long handles far disproportionate to the basket itself. (Most likey this was so that the contents for those pre-made baskets from the store were always in view, never buried behind a row of basket weave). These are still around today, and they may look impressive but the baskets themselves are a pain to store and the handles are prone to breaking. Besides, these baskets do anything but contain eggs during an egg hunt; eggs bounce out of the basket to the complete distress of the kids. Most moms now invest in sturdier, deeper baskets that will stand a few years' use and abuse.
The argument for a container such as a colorful bucket, tote or canvas bin is that kids' interests change, and as they get older a wicker basket just doesn't have the same thrill. Also, the variety of containers allow for personalization or a theme that match the child's current activities. If you have a bona fide egg hunt, a "basket" needs to hold the eggs well or it will be a handicap in the race for the most eggs.
Here are a few good sources for Easter basket goodies around Birmingham:
1. The cute felt bag with the appliqued doggie is $2 at Wal-Mart. It's actually intended for a pet's goodie basket (naturally, if pets have stockings it must follow that they will start dealing with the Easter Bunny himself, even if they would give chase to a bunny any other time...). Besides Fido, this is perfect for a little boy.
2. If your child is older, consider a practical lined basket in hopes he/she will store CDs/games/books inside.
3. Although no one needs more junk in the house, a novelty or two is a must for a proper Easter basket. Target has some of the best:
The Barnyard Clucker, a hen that lays jelly bean "eggs" with the turn of a small crank. This was cute enough, but someone had the bright idea to expand the use of this design and develop the...
Barnyard Pooper - you guessed it, this one is a pig that poops jelly beans. I was mortified but noticed kids who figured it out couldn't stop laughing. Therefore, my recommendation is that young kids who are potty training and young boys from say, ages 5 to 8 will love it. Less than $3.
4. Single sports-themed eggs stuffed with candy are $1 or less, and there is a good selection of them at spots like Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and CVS. Don't forget these stores for unusual seasonal items that are promotion priced. Come to think of it, a lot of merchandise at these stores is best suited to novelty uses, so browsing is entertainment in itself.
5. No time to spare? Look at Target for 48 pre-stuffed eggs for $9.99. The set even incudes a silver prize egg, but know that among kids old enough to earn an allowance, no toy prize is better than a few dollar bills wadded up inside the prize egg.
6. Do you remember the days of prize eggs that were L'eggs Hosiery containers? No other eggs could compare. The closest thing now is pre-stuffed, large-sized plastic eggs each containing a small toy from My Pony, Disney Princess Collection, Cars, etc. Find these four to a package also at Target. Use these for Easter baskets rather than prize eggs; after all, you can't have more than one kid find a prize egg. Hellicopter parents, resist the urge to give everyone a prize egg just for showing up to the hunt. Where's the glory in that?
7. Michael's has several great choices and you really should check them out. Start with the clearance bins up front, where small notebooks, pencil packs, sticky notes and stamps are reduced to 50 cents. Move on to the $1 bins for jotter pads, notecards with googly eyes (barnyard theme again), and magnetic list pads. Then hit the $5 and under aisle, where you'll find clip-on flexible book lights ($2), kid-size cooking utensils, small art kits and other inexpensive but useful items.
The Crayola craft section at Michael's is extensive and almost any interest is represented in some form. There are also the classic kits like those for hooked rugs, model airplanes, and looped potholders. Come on! Childhood isn't complete without a few of these experiences. Besides, every mom or grandma needs an imperfectly square potholder. Don't forget the 40% off coupon in Sunday's insert; it can be used on any non-sale item.
8. Cracker Barrel - still a favorite for old fashioned candies, yo-yos, and the old Wooly Willy magnetized face (use the magnetic pen to deposit iron powder to create hair, beard, etc.).
9. Finally, Dollar Tree is a stand-by for egg-shaped sidewalk chalk and bubble wands. Be cautious about buying things just because they're inexpensive; don't spend another dollar on something you'll be picking up off the floor the day after Easter.
Easter Sunday/season has got to be the time when a BirminghamMom gets to see all her childhood hours spent playing with baby dolls "spring" to life. If you were the type who loved sweet dresses, ribbons, and bonnets, this is your moment. You get to dress your little ones up in the quintessential southern uniforms of john-johns and knee socks for boys or smocked bishops with ruffled bloomers for girls.
If you haven't found the perfect Easter ensemble for the kids, there is a wonderful selection at Sew Precious in Hoover's Patton Creek shopping complex. Whatever your baby's complexion or hair color, there is something among the full spectrum of pastels, ginghams, and contrasting trims that will set him or her off in portraits and the inevitable snapshots. (Aren't the chocolate bunnies in this smocked neckline adorable?)
Several of the outfits have appliqued panels that can be removed, making these outfits wearable all summer. If you prefer to add an applique to a jumper or shirt you've already found, any favorite motif of the season - bunny, eggs, duck, lamb, cross - is available. Even pacifier holders and hair ribbons boast the springtime theme, and if your boy has just moved from the bubble to the john-john stage, remember to grab those dressy knee high socks as soon as you find them. A white cardigan is also a safe bet since we tend to have blustery, unpredictable weather.
Alas, the days of mary jane shoes and white walker boots don't last for long, so enjoy every minute and take lots of photos. Soon enough they will be refusing to wear these sweet clothes and your doll-dressing jig is up.
Sew Precious is on Main Street next to Zoe's (205-444-0005) with a second location that recently opened in Calera. A little Easter chick told me Sew Precious will be having a sale the last weekend in March that will include their Easter selection.
All the big retailers are selling reusable totes now to offer an alternative to plastic bags and, frankly, to advertise on your shoulder. For the most part they're pretty servicable, but the fiber fabric isn't particularly sturdy, especially for carrying items with any weight such as canned goods. If they get soaked by rain or a spill, forget it. You have a paper towel's chance of using them again for anything heavier than potato chips.
That's why this bag is such a BirminghamMom find:
*It's honkin' big and can easily hold two or more typical bags worth of stuff
*Lightweight fiber fabric with a water resistant coating
*Hobo style with a spacious base and comfortable straps that don't flop down; folds away flat
*No ads (does anyone else feel a touch mismatched taking a Walmart logo bag into Target? maybe that's just me)
*Keep a few in the trunk and you can lay them beneath plants or bags of topsoil without needing paper liner
*Anything but dowdy
Best of all, this baby is only two bucks at Michael's in the "Finds under $5" aisle. (Fair warning: You will find more to like on this aisle, especially for Easter basket goodies...more on that later). The bag is labeled as a "beach bag" but it's far more servicable as a reusable tote.
Use the 40% off coupon in almost every Sunday's paper and snag this bag for only $1.20. You'll probably even get another coupon printed with your receipt for use a later date.
When it comes to the price/value continuum, not all moms think alike.
An old bunco buddy confessed years ago that her family didn't eat leftovers since she considered them "used food."
"Even spaghetti casserole? Even leftover pizza?" I had to ask.
"You name it, we only eat it once," she said. For this reason she had mastered the art of portion planning so that less was left over to hit the garbage bin every evening. (She was also a great bunco hostess, since she sent every last bite of food home with the guests that night). Still, it seemed like such a shame. I personally love the feeling of coming home to a dish that was proven tasty last night and is anticipated to be even better tonight. Where else can you free 30 minutes of time so easily?
Likewise, I know a lady who was offended during the early days of the housing boom when her realtor slapped a "reduced" topper on the "for sale" sign in her front yard. "What does that say to a buyer?" she remarked in disgust. "I told her to take it down. It makes the house look cheap now." This astounded me, since I generally have a positive reaction to red tags and the words "sale" or "clearance." But unlike my excitement over a markdown, a buddy of mine used to say she hated "tag shopping," meaning looking at the tag first. Furthermore, concerning clearance racks, her philosophy was, "Why would I want the stuff nobody else wanted?"
I suspect everybody is having to reevaluate their positions on value/basic utility vs. price/luxury.
Having always been closer to the value side than the pricey side, I am somewhat amused seeing the mindset come into fashion. When I receive a compliment on something that was a great deal or came from an unexpected source, the transaction isn't over until I've shared the thrifty aspects of the purchase. This can range from "Thanks" followed by a whispered "Target!" with a wink, or, if we're good friends, a condensed version of the epic journey that brought the Amazing Purchase into my hands. Isn't this a custom that goes back thousands of years among all mighty hunters?
Now it's become trendy to be thrifty, fashionable to be frugal. If you are new to the game, welcome. Being value-oriented doesn't mean you don't appreciate fine things; sometimes the most expensive items are actualy the better value because they last longer, require less maintenance, and are not subject to whims of fashion.
Think of this mode of operation as allocating resources: Money saved in one area means funding for another, more useful purpose, such as a savings cushion, college fund or a guiltless small treat. (The same argument applies to your time; a cleaning service may be money well spent if it frees your whole family to enjoy the weekend or have guests over.) Nowadays it's a commonly accepted excuse that everyone is trying to cut back, so you can forego some of your previous indulgences without feeling deprived.
Now is the time to try things you might not have tried before. Explore consignment sales, either for buying or selling. Try a meatless recipe. Repaint a tiresome piece of furniture. Be reckless! When you're less invested, you can take a few more chances and experiment.
Bring on the doggie bags. Think of it not as used food, but as food that has already been prepared and paid for. Fire up the microwave and leave that money in your purse for another day.
As a general rule, I regard fortune cookies as a benign little amusement after a filling meal, perhaps not as good as the classic dinner mint but clearly a superior marketing gimmick. When I was very young I fancied the fortunes inside the cookies were a bit of ancient Chinese wisdom passed down through a formal ritual, but as an adult, it's apparent they are written by some guy sitting in a cubicle. Any further delusions I had were certainly shattered when I realized most fortune cookies we have in the south were manufactured in Stone Mountain, Georgia. (Surprised? Read the fine print on the wrapper next time.)
However, a recent fortune cookie offered an unexpected bit of wisdom I found so compelling, I had to share. It said,
"Stop worrying about the market. Investing in your family will yield priceless returns."
Maybe this seemed like a small revelation because of the exhausting minute-by-minute news about every micro movement (and some unfortunate macro movements) of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. This little slip of paper offers a calming bit of advice amidst the today's unsettling mood of panic and fear. The constant undercurrent of mom thoughts like "Were the kids dressed for this weather?" and, "Do we have any milk?" have a new chorus of, "How will we pay for college now?" and, "Will I wind up a bag lady after all?"
Investing in our families is exactly what moms do best, and maybe the measures we've taken to save money such as staying home for entertainment or dining at our table more frequently are way better than money in the bank. Perhaps we will discover that the real dividend is this time together, with a return that will stretch for years and years.
This fortune cookie message is as solid as any registered broker's expert advice. The guy in the cubicle, be he a neighbor in Georgia or in a distant Chinese province, got this one right.
Fun Idea:
These clear, acrylic frames (this came from Target) are perfect for displaying a small note or photo. The frame is about 1" thick with a black magnetized back. Because it doesn't require a stand behind it, it takes up very little space and is perfect for a narrow ledge or book shelf to break up all those book spines. It's also unbreakable, a plus if a wayward ball or toy strikes it.
The black back plate creates a neutral background for whatever you display, but paper such as this silver cardstock can add emphasis. The back clicks onto the acrylic with no effort, so it's easy to change out your display on a whim, whether it's a current photo, witty saying, birth announcement, etc.
Here's an easy way to add an extra dose of finish that is both functional and pretty to your space.
This clear plastic drawer liner is called LifeLiner and sold at home stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond. This product is aptly named because it will not just contribute to the longevity and functionality of your cabinets, it will likely outlast them.
This thick-but-not-too-thick liner has small ridges designed to allow air flow beneath dishes, helpful considering there is always a bit of water clinging to the base of each glass coming out of the dishwasher. The liner prevents moisture or scratches on the inside of your cabinets, especially important when most builder grade and mass merchandised cabinet boxes are made of fiberboard with wood veneer (even though the cabinet face may be solid wood). Moisture damage is damaging to solid wood and downright deadly to fiberboard or MDF, which swells and can't be sanded to a smooth finish.
LifeLiner can easily be cut to fit a cabinet or drawer and is wiped clean with the swipe of a damp cloth. While that's reason enough to add some LifeLiner to your shelves, I submit that one of the best of all is that it is wonderful for adding an unexpected grace note to the inside of your drawers and shelves.
*Extend a theme in your bathroom cabinets by cutting a wallpaper remnant to fit your drawer, then placing LifeLiner over it. Now even your drawers are "papered" to match the walls.
*Instead of scented paper liners, cut coordinating fabric to fit your bedroom or nursery drawers and cover the drawer base with LifeLiner. Tuck a sachet or dryer sheet into a back corner to replace the paper liner's scent.
*In a desk drawer, start with a favorite wrapping paper (some of them are so pretty, it's sad to see the roll end) before laying over with LifeLiner. Need a spot to put frequently used numbers or contacts? Place that info underneath the clear liner, provided the drawer isn't so full you will have to excavate to read it. Dismiss the thought of placing password and account info under the liner; that's as risky as putting it on a post it note under your mousepad (to you password-under-the-mousepad moms: the house key under the doormat isn't a secret, either).
*This liner is a great way to use extra photo prints, postcards, or other little notes that you don't care to have always on display. Just place them under the liner and you have the makings of a smile winking at you whenever you open your drawer. A recipe in a special relative's handwriting would be sweet under the liner in the drawer for your baking utensils.
*For the OCD moms out there, how about placing a label beneath the liner? Better yet, an outline of the object that belongs in the space. A label or outline beneath the liner will make putting things in their proper place irresistible and let you know right away if something is out and in use.
*If pattern or pictures would just make you feel more cluttered, choose a solid linen or a textured paper to go beneath your liner. I have a black desk with a single shallow drawer that I lined with a shock of magenta paper underneath the liner. It looks so much better than the plain black drawer bottom, and it's easier to keep clean; I just wipe the liner or pull it out for a quick shake and a rinse under the sink - no little eraser debris or errant staples rolling around.
BirminghamMom Tip: Make this purchase when you have a Bed, Bath & Beyond coupon for 20% off any one item or $5 off a $15 or more purchase.
BirminghamMom Kristin didn't waver in her determination to provide home made food for her daughter. Kristin says she made almost all of her daughter's baby food with the help of the book Superfoods by Annabel Karmel, a British mother of three. This book of recipes for children of all ages incorporates the acknowledged "superfoods" considered high in health benefits (blueberries, carrots, etc.) into a variety of preparations to appeal to kids and even has healthy meal plans for families.
While there are a few popular cookbooks suggesting ways to sneak fruits and vegetables into your child's diet, Superfoods doesn't aim for mild deception such as prunes baked into brownies. Instead the book relies on old-school marketing tricks like bright colors and fanciful names to entice the kiddos to eat (I'm sure any mom, having invested her time in making the food, is bound to add a few threats of her own as well).
Kristin admits making baby food from scratch is a commitment and compares it to breastfeeding in terms of effort. One big payoff, however, is the cost, which she found to be one-third to one-fifth the cost of store-bought baby food. As for convenience, she says she filled tons of ice cube trays with pureed food and just popped individual cubes out as needed.They held up well during the day in an insulated container and were thawed out by feeding time. When a frozen cube wasn't workable, she resorted to pre-packaged foods, but found she seldom needed them.
Now that her daughter is eating finger foods, Kristen says serving her vegetables is easy. For example, she takes a small package of baby carrots, places them in a microwave safe dish along with a tablespoon of water and a teaspoon of butter, and places a plate on top to retain the moisture. After microwaving three minutes, she inverts the carrots onto the plate and voila - her daughter has softened but fresh carrots.
Kristin and her husband both have full-time jobs, so she took a block of time every other week or so to prepare the baby's food and freeze it. In cases when fresh produce wasn't available, she also had great results with frozen. Just imagine all the tiny jars and lids she didn't have to haul in from the grocery, stack in the pantry and throw away or recycle.
Author Annabel Karmel has also published books with recipes for picky eaters, packed lunches, and kids' parties. We're picking up some good ideas from the Brits on how to discipline the kids (nanny TV), why not some advice on feeding them as well?
Math enthusiasts around the world celebrate Pi Day on March 14th (corresponds with 3.14...get it?). I don't claim to be a math enthusiast, but the event did start me wondering whether there is a mathematical equation of some sort that I have found helpful. I've decided to give this honor to the Golden Mean or Golden Ratio, a concept I wish I had learned about much earlier.
If you've formally studied art or architecture, you know the Golden Ratio well. If it doesn't ring a bell, you've still no doubt noticed objects that were pleasing to you or have felt comfortable in rooms that felt satisfying although you couldn't quite describe why you found them to be so. Most likely your positive impression was a result of the Golden Ratio at work; it is the classical proportion that is evident in nature and the basis of many designs.
Where is all this leading? Once you are aware of the Golden Ratio, you can use it on any rectangular shape to be sure it is not too wide or too narrow. Determine with confidence, for example, the most appropriate length for a backyard deck, the best proportion of rug to floor, or the most pleasing size and positioning of shelving on a wall.
This specifc ratio is 1 to .618 (and then some), but forget that and think in terms of two-thirds to one-third. Two-thirds of the floor should be covered with one-third hardwood exposed around the perimeter, and the shelves should cover no more than two-thirds of the wall, as two overly generalized examples. Just as easily, you can multiply the width of a feature by 1.5 to find its best approximate length or divide the length by 1.5 to find its best approximate width. A 10 foot wide deck would look best built to a length of about 15 feet.
When you're determined to notice these proportions, you start to see things click into place. While a professional designer can certainly help you use proportion to create a pleasing environment, anyone can enhance her space with awareness of the Golden Ratio. Unlike Pi Day, you don't have to be a math nerd to appreciate the beauty of 1.618.
Last Friday I was loading purchases into my trunk at Target when a woman with a stroller and two young children approached me. "We've been staying at homeless shelters the last few days," she said sweetly, "and I'm trying to sell this jewelry I've made to earn some money." She held out a small box full of earrings and bracelets strung through imperfectly cut cardstock paper.
Almost subconsciously, I started sizing up the situation: she had a school age child, a preschooler, and an infant. They all looked healthy and she was dressed simply, devoid of makeup, and seemed sincere. I started saying, "Well, I really have enough jewelry..." even as I was reaching into my purse for my wallet. Am I the only person who reflexively wonders whether I'm being scammed even when my intuition tells me that no mother would be wandering a parking lot with her three kids if she could possibly help it?
I pulled out the cash I had - a five dollar bill, and lucky at that since I never have cash - and as I handed it over, her school age daughter exclaimed, "That's enough for some jewelry! Take some earrings!" and the mom nodded her head. The jewelry really was pretty, with little polished stones dangling from ear wires. It could have cost $15 or more in a department store. I took my earrings, she thanked me, and as I got in the car I knew this would haunt me if I didn't give her some sort of information that might help her.
Oasis, a counseling center downtown, came to mind and I jumped out of the car to tell her the name. She made a note and we parted, with me feelling no better but not knowing what else to do. It wasn't as if she had wanted something for nothing; in fact, her jewelry was a bargain. And what would my five dollars do for her? Nothing!
Two days later I was serving my plate from a pizza buffet on Hwy 280 when I heard a loud thud. Looking toward the door, I saw a girl in her mid-20's rising up from the sidewalk as a guy then grabbed her arms and pinned them behind back. As the manager shouted, "Call 911!" to the staff, at least a dozen construction workers and lawncare guys rose up to her rescue (this guy picked the wrong place to be bullying a girl) and the fellow released her quickly and left in his car.
I had to know something was going to be done about this, so I watched from my table as person after person came up to the tearful girl to ask whether she was okay, what could they do, etc. She was eating with an older woman (mother? grandmother?) and she responded to inquiries by shaking her head, motioning that she was fine, and I wondered where was the outrage? Surely she wasn't going to let this go. Was grandma going to allow this?
A policeman arrived and, to my relief, she went outside and appeared to describe whatever had happened. After taking notes and further discussion, he left, and it was my turn to leave (who could choke down anything anyway?). I also stopped by her table and found myself once again describing the counseling services available through Oasis, trying to strike a balance between concerned bystander and meddling stranger. She thanked me quietly and I left wondering if there was such a thing as "meddling" when someone's safety was in question.
This girl was so young, why was she even around such a loser of a guy? If a man would behave like that in public, what would he do in private, without the outrage of an upset crowd or law enforcement? (Note the girl didn't call the police; someone at the restaurant did). And isn't that so often the story of women in abusive relationships, regardless of socioeconomic level (Rhiana and Chris Brown)?
So it is that I've decided not to be caught again without a short list of the resources in Birmingham for women and children in need of assistance. These are on an index card in my purse now, where they may be of more help than my meager cash offering:
Oasis 1900 14th Avenue South, 205-933-0338
YWCA 309 North 23rd Street, 205-322-9922
Pathways 409 N. Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., 205-322-6854
United Way - easiest of all to remember, dialing 211 takes a caller directly to an operator who determines the most appropriate available counseling and resources
Next time, instead of ruminating about what I shoulda, coulda done for a woman or child needing help, I'm pointing them in the direction of real resources and a referral to a professional.
Here's a cute little tote that could be used for so many things.
Everybody has little stuff that rolls around in drawers, and even if it finallly gets corralled into a basket or container, it manages to wind up in the same tangle at the bottom of its new home. This small tote can prevent the annoying problem of hunting around for all that little stuff. It has a sturdy center compartment along with pockets of all sizes around the outside so you can get your hands on exactly what you need. It's perfect for things like stationery/stamps and pens, cosmetics, or your daughter's hair accessories (detangler, brushes, elastics, etc.) that need to be pulled out from the cabinet every day.
The fabric has an easily cleaned plastic cover and comes in black paisley (shown), hot pink and lime green. The tote is as cute as anything you'd find at a nice boutique but you'll find this at Michaels, the craft store, for $14.99.
Of course, we know better than to ever pay full price. Buy when it's on sale or use the 40% off regular price Michael's coupon that comes in the Sunday paper insert. With the coupon you can have this tote for less than $10 including tax. This tote is labeled as a "desk organizer;" there is also a larger version that could be just as handy for larger items.
It's time to be making plans for what the kids will do during the summer. If you're cobbling together a summer schedule to include half-day camps, sports or special interests, and overnight camps (including grandma's house), it can be a challenge just to keep up with who is supposed to be where.
Super organized BirminghamMom Jeanne has two boys who attend a variety of special interest camps each summer. She has generously shared the basic tracking spreadsheet she uses to plan the summer and keep up with details such as lunch arrangements, drop off and pick up times (as well as whether mom or dad is on transportation duty), etc. Print this Summer Camp Schedule Base Doc.doc and post it on your refrigerator to keep your family on track for a great summer.
Don't forget to allow for vacations, time at grandparents' houses, and any church events like VBS if your child participates. Most day camps end in July so pay particular attention to the last weeks of July up until August when school starts; those weeks may be your best bet for taking vacation since you have fewer childcare options anyway.
Southerners love monograms, and children's clothes are particularly good candidates for initials and names in all sorts of fonts. You may have thought customizing an outfit through monograms would preclude your ever handing it down to another child or selling it through consignment, but this isn't so.
1. The first option is to remove the stitches alltogether. Most monogramming machines use a fusible webbing on the underside that helps hold stitching in place, Once the stitches and the webbing have been removed, laundering the garment and then ironing the monogrammed area from the underside helps remove and straighten stitch marks so the fabric is ready for new stitching.
2. If the monogram is hopelessly complex or difficult to remove, it can be covered with a fabric plate in a coordinating or contrasting fabric. In the example at left, a monogram was completely covered over by the new fabric plate, which still sets off the monogram (incidentally, a fabric plate can be removed and replaced easily, yielding yet another wear for an item). Likewise, an applique can cover a monogram and need not be personalized with initials. Monogram shops can provide this service.
3. If you wish to consign a monogrammed outfit, it is not necessary to remove the monogram for many stores to accept it (call ahead to see whether a store will accept the item). If the clothing is monogrammed with a common given name, it is likely to sell without any modification and may go for a premium price. If it has a single initial, it is generally easy to sell without further embroidery work.
4. If you purchase a monogrammed outfit intending to remove or cover the existing stitching, look closely to see that the thread color has not bled into the surrounding fabric or that there is enough margin to allow for a plate to be affixed over the current stitching. Block style letters are easiest to remove; script styles may be more difficult.
Special thanks goes to Karol Leggett of Kidz Closet Consignment in Vestavia for sharing these tips. Kidz Closet provides monogramming (name, initials, or plate as shown above) for a $15 flat fee.
True story: My husband and his two brothers share the same three initials. My mother-in-law insists a family monogram was never a consideration when she was naming her sons, although it did make it impossible for the boys to fight over whose (initialled) basketball was whose. She never seems to call the wrong name, but the rest of us do a stuttering roll call for all three whenever the boys are back at home to visit.
Inside most kids' diaper bags or atop most kids' beds is the one thing that the child has chosen as his attachment object or "lovey", the single item between him and an all-out, come-apart fit. Unlike most any other precious object you may treasure, this one is rarest of all because it is almost impossible to replace. The touch and even the smell may be thrown off by a decent washing, and how many of us have had to hustle a lovey through the spin cycle during a short nap?
There is no accounting for what item will reach lovey status. Your kid will not care about the price, pedigree, or tag on this item. It may not even be commercially available. The moment you think you have misplaced it is when you know the real, heart-thumping panic of losing something essential to peace in your home and quite possibly your own sanity. You will turn around and drive miles to look for it, incur overnight postage charges to have it shipped, and generally pay any ransom for its safe return.
So you can understand what a service Plush Memories Lost Toys is for desperate parents. The website is based in central Alabama and is free to anyone searching for a particular toy, plush, or blanket for a child who has lost their special one. You will relate so well to some of the posts - several have a cropped, magnified photo of a plush toy clutched by a tiny hand - and the sense of guilty self-blame in the pleading tone of some parents ("we were in a rush to leave and when we got home we couldn't find it; we've looked everywhere").
If you're in a desperate search for an identical replacement lovey, you can use the site to post as much detail as you have in hopes of a possible source. You insurance company encourages you to catalogue the serial numbers on your electronics; you'll see from this site that there may be merit to noting the manufacturer of your child's lovey. Heaven help the parents in one post who cut the tags off a stuffed animal and now have no idea of its origin.
Since the site matches seekers with finders, you may also be able to help someone else as you're clearing out the plushes and toys your kids don't care for. Even a standard issue hospital blanket that you have ready for the giveaway bin could delight a young child. Some of the stories on the site are heartbreaking, such as those of kids battling health issues whose parents are trying to find once-loved objects that might be of comfort now.
True stories that may horrify parents of children with loveys: In college I roomed with a girl who still had her cotton blanky from when she was an infant. She kept it under her pillow and washed it carefully every week. It was so worn, it looked like a thin web of string hanging over the shower rod to dry. This was an outgoing, social girl who made excellent grades and was active in her sorority. Maybe the blanky wasn't a bad idea. The last time I saw her she had twin boys, so if the blanky helped her cope, I'm sure it's been needed nowadays more than ever. Bet her husband wouldn't dare complain about that blanky!
Strangest of all, I once worked with a girl - make that a thirty-something woman - who kept her blanky in her cubicle storage tower. It was a small scandal when we realized she kept a blanky at work (apparently she swiped a touch from it periodically throughout the day). I ultimately reasoned this was surely a better "habit" than something like smoking, especially if it helped her concentrate. I also vowed that Taffy II was not going to be college material just incase there was ever a thought of taking her off to the dorm.
Last year when gas prices were narrowing all our Spring Break travels, BirminghamMom Lisa decided to embark on a tour of an otherwise unlikely destination: Alabama. With three kids (ages 9,7, and 5) out of school, her husband worked while Lisa took the week off to shuttle her brood to a different spot almost every day, never requiring a hotel stay.
Every morning around the breakfast table at McDonald's, Lisa presented the destination of the day along with a map so the kids could help determine the best route for driving there. As she says, "I wanted the kids to get some map skills out of this also - I can't handle having three kids without direction!"
The itinerary might inspire you to look for the wonders that are only a short distance from our everyday existence.
Day one: Anniston to see the World's Largest Office Chair and the Anniston Museum of Natural History.
Day two: West to Tuscaloosa to the Children's Hands-On Museum, Northport for lunch on Main Avenue at the City Cafe and to see the big red dog above Stephens Studio (one block down the street), then the Moundville Archaeological Park (right now the museum is closed for renovations but the rest of the park is open). There is a nature trail as well as a boardwalk hike to stretch your legs.
Day three: A day of doctor visits made more palatable for being sandwiched among the daily adventures.
Day four: North to Huntsville's Space Museum, returning down I65 to stop in Culman at Ave Maria Grotto.
Day five: The most ambitious day, heading Northwest to Rickwood Caverns cave tour (note weekday tours this spring are only available April 13-17 this year), Natural Bridge, then Dismals Canyon to see the glow worms, or dismalites, which are known to exist in only a few places outside Australia and New Zealand. Lisa says this is a great destination for kids who can't sit still, since there is plenty of hiking and the fun of the flashlight tour at night. (Note the spring tour schedule for dismalites hasn't yet been posted; last year the tour was only available on Fridays).
Leaving the glow worm tour at 10 p.m. Lisa took the kids to McDonalds for a restroom break and a change into PJs, and she adds "They were asleep before I found the road out of town."
There are many, many worthy destinations that are within an easy drive from home. If you're going to pare down the distance you travel during spring break, there's no need to expect less enjoyment. Let this be the year you discover what lies down those exit ramps you normally breeze past.
For other ideas and amusements that are off the beaten path, Lisa recommends Roadside America. See what all those folks in their Airstream RVs have been discovering.
A Saturday spent shuttling kids from place to place, waiting through dance class or ball practice, and running errands all the way home isn't glamorous stuff. Yet even if it is essential to be comfortable for a full range of activities, none of us wants to cross the line into frumpy. (Isn't there some cosmic law that dictates you will run into your friends and neighbors when you are most rushed and least groomed?)
I pondered the universal "what to wear" question recently as I considered the many days and evenings scheduled for the ball park this spring. Nobody's trying to be a fashion icon, but it would be nice to feel presentable and ready for whatever the day holds. Where could BirmighamMoms turn for some practical suggestions for mom chic?
It turns out we actually have our own Rachel Zoe of sorts (mom fashionistas will recognize that name as a celebrity stylist). Tracy Robinson of chicmadesimple is a stylist who has worked with designers, retailers, and individual clients across the southeast. Fortunately for us, Tracy caters to "budget savvy and time constrained individuals" (sounds like every mom I know) and, when I asked her for advice, she was happy to oblige.
Tracy shares several fashion dos & don'ts for this spring, including:
- Alternatives to the "soccer mom" uniform
- The best tee shirt style for your body type
- Selecting the right denim (and avoiding "mom jeans")
- The pair of pants every busy mom needs to own
Read and see examples of all Traci's tips in: Spring Style Tips for Moms.pdf , specially developed for BirminghamMoms. You are going to love her ideas and be ready for whatever a Saturday has in store for you this spring. Thanks, Tracy!
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P.S. (May 2009) - Traci is heading up a Fashion Camp this summer at The Summit! Visit www.thesummitonline.com or call 205-967-0111 for more information.
"We need to be saving money."
"We should eat at home instead of going out."
"Why do we need a cleaning service?"
Heard any of these in your household lately? Of course we agree that we need to be particular with our spending, especially nowadays. But let's dig a little deeper. Who is the "we" in your house? Is anyone other than you schlepping that cart up and down every aisle, sorting dog-eared coupons while comparing the cost per ounce and keeping said cart politely out of traffic? What about planning the meals, making sure the kids have suitable coats/swimsuits that fit, depending on the season, and ensuring the toilet paper supply is fully stocked?
As I've heard one mom say, "When does anyone in this house REACH and not find the next roll? Do they think it happens by magic?"
So it's no surpirse that when the belt gets tightened, it feels tightest to us. It is we moms who are mindful every day of what it takes to feed the family, dress the kids, cover co-pays and get the dog to the vet. Maybe that explains the sensitivity to talk about cutting back, since it already feels like it's All Our Fault that it costs money to keep up a household. Moms are caught between holding the pocketbook tightly and somehow spending all the time. So the "we" (as in family) in these statements sounds less like a cooperative undertaking than a criticism of what "we" (as in moms) are already trying our best to accomplish.
It's exhausting to feel pressure with every purchase, especially when you're the agent for the entire family. A single shopping cart can hold upwards of 50 purchasing decisions made by mom, and even if she doesn't execute the purchase, she's brought in for consultation. This role requires her to know the size and condition of most all family possessions (Have the kids outgrown their tennis shoes? Do we have AAA batteries at home?) as well as a competitive cost for replacement (is this a good price for a vacuum?). If it's not the husband needing a consult, it's the kids themselves ("Your birthday is only a week away, why don't you wait to buy that game?").
Even the best intentions can have the effect of punishing mom. For example, dining out. It may sound prudent to forego the usual Saturday night out and eat at home, but there are consequences for mom. Practically speaking, that means another meal to plan, provision, thaw, prepare, plate, and possibly even clean up after, depending on the reliability of our helpers. No wonder it's so easy to "give up" eating out - who besides mom notices any difference? After all, the rest of the family sits down to a hot meal and all they have to do in return is load their dishes in the washer. Why pay for a meal out when you can have it at home? Why, indeed?
So when the inevitable subject of cutting back or trimming somewhere comes up, don't dread it so much as remember how you have been doing your part and are well aware of the challenge. Let the toilet paper stash be a reminder that maybe we only had to reach for the next roll, but you bought it in bulk, on sale and with a coupon.
If you're in one of those charming older homes that is growing a bit cramped for your family, yet you know you won't be moving anytime soon, you have another option for storage space that can be both attractive and servicable.
Make do with some standard shelving and a cover like this from Let's Get Organized in Homewood. This shelving can be purchased at a number of stores and is usually sold in a flat box ready to assemble (don't worry, these things are easier to put together than snaps on a onesie) and they are sturdy enough for even heavy objects.
The shelving cover transforms open storage that could be an ugly distraction into something downright cute. Here is the pink striped version; there is also a blue one (like the bin on top right of this unit). There is also a plain canvas version that is perfect for a kitchen pantry or utility room. Doll it up with a monogrammed initial or some glue-on gross grain trim and you'll have a statement piece instead of stuff to hide.
These covers are $69.99 and I've already done the math: you can't make one for less, considering the costs for approximately seven yards of fabric and your time.
One of these will have you pondering whether built-in closet space would really be as satisfying as having a cute little house with a history. If you do move one day, you're sure to find another use for your storage unit, perhaps in a basement or garage. Either way, it's a practical and stylish investment.
Let's Get Organized is at 2844 18th St. South in Homewood. Take a look at the coordinating canvas totes and the days-of-the-week hanging shelf set as well.
