Is This Thing Still On?

Check, check - one two, one two.  Is this thing still on?

I know, I know - I've done it again.  Completely abandoned "the blog" after a few posts.  I don't suppose you can even call this a blog anymore - that would requiring it on even a SEMI routine basis.  So, because of that, I'm not even going to post that I've updated "the blog." 

My New Year's resolutions 2014 included getting my s#!t together...that includes this blog.  So, here is my resolution: I will update the blog at least once a week. Until I can do that on a routine bases, I won't advertise that I'm updating at all - let's see if I can make this commitment to MYSELF stick!

Toddler Problems Tuesday

Welcome to our first "feature" here on At Home in the Burbs....Toddler Problems Tuesday!  Parents, admit it - when you're kids are throwing a fit or getting themselves into trouble, sometimes all you want to do is laugh and take a picture.  I.CAN'T.HELP.IT. At least 5 times a day if you ask my kids, I'm the worst mom in of the year.

 

Each Tuesday I'll add a post with picture from the previous week showcasing just how "miserable" I've made my kids of the last week....or pickles they've gotten themselves into.  Yes, I DID just say pickles they've gotten themselves into.

 

 We forced him to get his hair cut. And sit in a cool rocket chair. And watch cartoons.

 "Oh, man.  I'm stuck in this truck! How'd THAT happen?!"

 

 She had to share her chair with her brother. 

 

 I wouldn't let her drink Mountain Dew.  Most of you have seen this one on Facebook.

 

Daddy wouldn't let him pull the iron off the ironing board and on to his head.

Let's Get Organized!

Picture me dancing around to Olivia Newton-John as I type this: "Let's get organized! Organized! Let's get organized! Let's go get organized."  Here's hoping someone else get's that reference!

 

Life with 1-year old twins is chaotic, to say the very least.  Most days, I'm lucky to make it to the office with my shirt on the right way (though not always smushed-banana or peanut butter free).  By the time we make it home after work and picking up the kids from the sitter, it's nearly 6:00pm and I'm frantically scrambling for something to throw together for dinner.  While we're on that topic, by the way, do any other toddler parents suffer from the we-can't-keep-food-in-the-house plague?  Pre-kids I religiously clipped coupons and categorized them, scoped out the best deals, and made some pretty decent dinners.  Grocery shopping these days includes rushing  through Meijer with Brooke (she's the most patient) while Brad keeps tabs on Aiden.  Needless to say, because of this fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants shopping style, most nights include some form of processed chicken, peanut butter and jelly rollups, or *GASP* frozen pizza.  "Mom of the Year" award I will NOT win!

 

In order to bring some BIT of organization to our lives, I am going to attempt meal planning.  Enter Ziplist! I'll admit it, I found this website on Google, but I'm officially obsessed.  Ziplist contains literally THOUSANDS of recipes - seriously - I was even typing in restaurant recipes to see what would pop up (Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken, you get in my belly!).  You can save recipes and create your shopping list based on recipe ingredients.  There's even a feature that allows you to create meal plans for each day of the week.

 

Brad and I have committed to sitting down together every few weeks and planning out our menus for the upcoming 2 weeks.  I think it will be a great tool for controlling the chaos, sticking to a budget, and adding some variety to our meals (seriously, one can eat so many chicken nuggets!).

So here's our "checklist" if you will:

1. Decide what sounds good. Browse recipes
2. Plan meals and snacks for each day at least two weeks in advance
3. Create a shopping list based on recipe ingredients
4. Search stores (also on ZipList) to find best deals

 

Check it out for yourself: http://www.ziplist.com - let me know how it works for you! I'd love to know your tips for organizing your life; feel free to share what works for your family!

 

 

Third Time's A Charm

My name is Jaymie and I have commitment issues.  I tried to tell you that in my last post some 9 or so months ago, so if you're back for more, you've got no one to blame but yourself.

 

Ultimately, I think the problem is that I'm scared.  Scared I won't be funny enough.  Scared my life isn't interesting enough.  Scared I'm not creative enough for blogging.  Deep down, I know none of these are true.  Why do  I want to blog?  Ultimately, I'd like a living, breathing, yearbook, of sorts, for our family.  Something we can look back at together and see what was happening in our lives throughout time.  Let's be honest, I'm not artsy enough for scrapbooking - so this could be my outlet.

 

I don't promise to update this everyday.  Heck, I don't even promise to update it once a week.  But I will update it, I can now promise you that.  You don't have to look at it if you don't want to; I will update this for us - for Brad, Jaymie, Brooke and Aiden.  If you're interested, I welcome you into our world - every chaotic bit!