All posts by Alicia

‘Not A Perfect Parent’ Discussion Series: The Almost Daily Big Time Freak-Out

February 12, 2014Not A Perfect Parent Series'Not A Perfect Parent' SeriesAlicia

This is part of my new ‘Not a Perfect Parent’ series because much to my dismay, I am not a perfect parent and I need advice ~~sometimes~~ often.

Not A Perfect Parent

I need to come up with a solution to a problem my 7-year-old daughter and I are dealing with. I would love to get your thoughts and advice on how to deal with this problem that we’re having. This is not a serious, life-changing problem.. just one that my daughter and I have been dealing with for a few years and I am tired of it! That being said, let’s move on to the problem.

When it’s time for the kids and I to go anywhere other than to sports practice I get panicky because Madelyn, my 7-year-old daughter, gets it a tizzy about which shoes she’s going to wear, what socks to wear and what jacket to wear, and finding them all is a hassle much of the time.

The clothes she wears don’t matter. She doesn’t get flustered about her shoes, socks, and jacket because she can’t find the right items to look fashionable oor stylish; she’s not one of those girls yet. She has her days when she puts together a really cute outfit with layers and great color combinations and even a nice mix of patterns, but that’s not the norm.

Here’s what happens…

She either can’t find the shoes she needs to wear because by the time we leave to go somewhere she doesn’t remember where she put her shoes or her brother puts her shoes somewhere to get them away from the puppy, or one shoe gets stuck under the shoe rack in the coat closet and the other shoe got tossed into one of my teenager’s or husband’s shoes and she can’t find it…the list goes on and on.

This happens despite what I consider to be my best efforts to have a routine which includes immediately putting her school shoes in the coat closet right next to the front door as soon as she gets home from school so she knows where they are when she needs them. The jacket situation is a bit different in that she has a few jackets and which jacket she wears is very dependent on the weather or so she says anyway. If there is a slight breeze, she wants to wear her purple light-weight jacket but if there is a chill in the air she wants her pink fuzzy jacket. If it is warm she wants her cream sweater with the wrap around tie. Again, despite my efforts to keep all of her jackets on the coat rack in the foyer, 80% of the time she can’t find *the* jacket she’s looking for.

So the drama begins when she looks for another pair of shoes because she can’t find her favorite shoes that she wore to school earlier in the day then she gets frustrated because she can’t find the *right* shoes.. you know, the shoes that fit just right and don’t rub her ankles the wrong way or squeeze her toes a little too tight. Before she puts her shoes on she has to find socks. Finding matching socks, despite that I put all of her socks in her sock drawer with a match, can become quite a predicament. Maybe she has too many socks.

Within about 3 minutes of me telling her that she needs to get ready to leave the house, she starts freaking out then I freak out because I don’t understand why this happens time and time again, then we’re both a a big bundle of freak-out! Then, we get to get into the car together and enjoy a fun ride to wherever we’re going. 😉

It’s been like this for years and I swear I make an effort to help keep up with her things.

Since writing this post, I have come to the conclusion that the real issue may be that I allow myself to get worked up. I have a tendency to get anxious about things which is exactly why I make an effort to keep things organized and planned; so that losing things and having a crazy freak-out doesn’t happen. But it still does.

Oh, and when I say I “freak out” that means I get a little flustered. I sound like Fancy Nancy don’t I? I don’t raise my voice or get angry. I just get frustrated that the same thing happens over and over despite what I’ve done to keep it from happening. Do you have that issue too?

Is this something that parents just have to deal with because we can’t completely control our children as if they were robots?

Thanks for listening,

Alicia

Do you have a question you want to ask in the new ‘Not a perfect parent’ series? Leave it in the comments below or email your question to me at alicia @ themommyinsider.com, no spaces.

4 Children’s Sneakers That Will Add Color To Your Child’s Step

February 7, 2014Fashion & Style, Shoes, Style GuideChildren's Sneakers, Fashion, ShoesAlicia

Sometimes a kid’s outfit needs to be jazzed up with a little color and style.

These four children’s sneakers adorably colorful and super in every way!

1 Burberry Tom Check Hi-Top Trainers
Don’t let ‘trainers’ fool you. These Burberry sneakers are available for infants and girls up to size 35 (U.S. 3 1/2 girls)
– $195

2 Melissa Shoes Mini Polibolha II Jelly Sneaker
Does your child need a little more tread on their shoes.. everywhere on their shoes? How adorable are these jelly sneakers? They come in other colors. These are available in toddler sizes 5 through 10.
– $55

3 TOMS Colorblock Botas Shoe
These colorblock canvas shoes are sure to be comfortable and easy to wash, a plus in my book! With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.
– $44.00

4 Nike Girls’ Air Max 2013 Running Sneakers
If you are looking for a more traditional shoe these colorful Nike sneakers would be a great fit. These are available in sizes 6 and 7 now.
– On sale now for $109.98 from $139.

Would your child wear a pair of these sneakers?

Monitor the health of your car with Zubie! @GoZubie

January 15, 2014New postsAlicia

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zubie. All opinions are 100% mine.

From wiper blades and oil changes to new tires and brake pads, my husband always forgets to do these regular maintenance items on his vehicle. Ultimately, it costs us a fortune in the long run because it ends up causing other costly issues. You know how stressful it can be when you are on a strict budget and have unplanned car repairs to deal with. This year we’ve made a resolution to be better about getting our vehicle maitenance done on time. Is that one of your New Year’s resolutions?

I came across Zubie, an amazing new tech product, the other day and I am buying this for both of our vehicles to help monitor their health. Zubie is a wireless service that helps you track and improve your driving behavior, monitor the health of your car of your vehicle and save money on repair and maintenance. Zubie is a great idea for families like mine with a soon-to-be-driving teenager.

What Zubie does:

The Zubie service allows you to track and improve driving behavior and also provides you real- time information on the heath of your cars systems and condition all with the easy-to-install Zubie Key and mobile app!
Monitors and tracks speeding, sudden acceleration, hard braking, vehicle location and more
Great for families with teen drivers!
Save money on car repairs and prevent breakdowns including low-battery alert and simple translations of engine codes.
No more Where R U? texts. Stay in touch with your family and friends with our secure location sharing and trip coordination features.
Zubie is a service – not an Accessory – that uses a cellular connection to keep you, your car and it’s on-board systems always in communication.
Share-worthy driving scores and badges make safe driving more fun!
Zubie always-connected service works with our free Zubie app for iOS 4+ and Android 2.3etive

If you’re a competitive person, you’ll appreciate share-worthy driving scores and badges which will motivate you (or your husband) to drive safe. The Zubie app is compatable with iOS 4+ and Android 2.3+.

Zubie Discount Code:

Have a Zubie New Year and order today with code SAVE20JANand SAVE 20% on one year of Zubie always-connected car service and a free Zubie Key! Offer good through February 28, 2013. Shipping charges may apply.

For more information on Zubie you can follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook

Plus don’t forget to visit the Zubie website to use the discount code and save 20% off.

TASSIMO T55 Review + A Quick Giveaway! {Enter through 12am Jan. 15}

January 10, 2014Contests, Food and Drink, GiveawaysCoffee, giveaway, TASSIMOAlicia

My husband, the kids and I love hot chocolate and I love a good cup of coffee that tastes like hot chocolate. 🙂 I was excited to be given the opportunity to try out a single cup coffee brewer by TASSIMO when they invited me to ‘Unlock a Perfect Cup this Holiday Season’ by sending me one of their new T55 brewers and a selection of T-disc’s to try out with it. I tried so many kinds of coffee in a span of a few hours that I was ready to conquer the world. (Don’t worry, I took sips of the different flavors and shared with my husband. I didn’t drink like 9 cups of coffee.) Then the kids got home from school and I was conquered.

The Tassimo T55: Easy High-End Brewing at a Mid-Range Price

While there are many high-end, feature-rich coffee makers available on the market, most tend to be extremely pricey for the average consumer. What’s more, many tend to be highly specialized and really excel at only one or two tasks. In truth, the vast majority of hot beverage fans are looking for a machine that’s a bit more flexible and middle-of-the-road. If you find yourself in that camp, the Bosch Tassimo T55 is more than worthy of your consideration.

Main Features & Functionality

For such a versatile appliance, the Tassimo T55 is surprisingly compact at just 8.7 inches deep, 11.26 inches wide and 11.14 inches high. Like its competitors from the likes of Keurig, the T55 boasts instant heat-up and zero power consumption on standby. It also features a removable 68-oz. reservoir fitted with a Mavea Maxtra filter for the purest water possible. In addition, it has a height-adjustable drip tray. Operating at 1300 watts, it can heat beverages to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Tassimo T55 In Action

The real magic of the Tassimo T55 lies in its propriety T-Disc pods. To make the perfect chai latte, hot chocolate or cappuccino, just insert the appropriate T-Disc and press a button. The T55 will read the barcode on the T-Disc and adjust water quantity and temperature to ensure a perfect brew. A simple +/- button allows users to make their beverages stronger or weaker as they may prefer. I prefer a weaker coffee so I’m not found cleaning the carpet and painting the walls while my husband likes a stronger taste.

Overall Quality and Value

In terms of build quality, the T55 is a particularly rugged machine. Its attractive exterior is rather minimalist but sports chrome elements that make it look more expensive than it actually is. As a whole, this machine just feels incredibly solid and put up with quite a bit of use in a short period of time even at the hands of my 14 year old. I heard no complaints from the T55 so all is good! In the bargain department, the T55 is fairly competitive with other single serving coffee makers currently available. While the T-Discs are a bit expensive, they save quite a bit of time when you’re in a rush.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a brewing powerhouse that can quickly churn out a variety of hot drinks that every member of the family can enjoy, the Tassimo T55 is a safe bet. Besides a high degree of versatility, the T55 boasts convenience and value as additional bona fides. Few coffee makers out there can match its combination of value and beverage quality. Pound for pound, it’s one of the best single serving machines you can buy.

Where to buy the TASSIMO T55

You can purchase the TASSIMO T55 on the TASSIMO website here or on Amazon.com here. Amazon.com offers prime shipping on the TASSIMO T55 through the link provided!

TASSIMO T55 Giveaway!

Thanks to TASSIMO, we are giving a lucky readers a TASSIMO T55!

This is a quick contest so enter today!

Follow the instructions in the form below to enter. Entries accepted through 12am January 15th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Moleskine Mickey Mouse Notebook

January 7, 2014Disney, Organizationdisney, Mickey Mouse, moleskineAlicia

It’s hard to believe but Spring Break is coming up in less than 3 months and school will be out in about 5 months. With school breaks comes vacation and many, many families travel to Disney World and Disney Land during school breaks each year.

When planning your trip to Disney, keep track of your Disney to-do list in a limited edition Mickey Mouse notebook from Moleskine! Available in 3.5×5 inches and 5×8.25 inches, these notebooks are the perfect size for carrying in your handbag, diaper bag, or backpack during your Disney vacation.

Here are a few ideas on ways to use your Mickey Mouse notebook:

Most importantly, write your Disney packing list
Make a list of what each of your children are most looking forward to doing at Disney (use these stick notes to clearly mark each child’s list page)
Write down everyone’s dining preferences
Write down all important addresses (hotel) and phone number you’ll need during your trip
After your trip, stick a few photos of your Disney trip inside the notebook

Keep the notebook in a safe place after your trip to Disney and pull it out every few years or add it to next time you visit. I guarantee it will be fun to take a look at every so often.

Moleskine, a classic in its own right, meets Disney’s best-loved character, Mickey Mouse. A favorite of all ages, the famed mouse is right at home on a Moleskine notebook, depicted playing and creating with reading and writing tools. Decorated inside and out with Mickey’s iconic image, this notebook includes a drawing guide so you can create your own Mickey Mouse. Black cover with themed debossing; themed flyleaves; inner pocket in black fabric, same color for elastic closure; bookmark ribbon.

If jotting down notes about your upcoming trip to Disney isn’t enough, use the included Mickey Mouse drawing guide to create your own art!

Moleskine Limited Edition Mickey Mouse notebook