Author: momonthegoinholytoledo

Huge fan of living life to the fullest! You're only given one life, it is a gift, don't waste it! I'm a mom of 3 and enjoy sharing and living this philosophy with my kiddos...I share our adventures, experiences, the extraordinary and mundane.
Here is to Licking the Spoon!

Here is to Licking the Spoon!

momonthegoinholytoledo

Here is to Licking in the Spoon!

While the kiddos were making their lunches last night my four-year-old nonchalantly expressed that the best part of a PB & J sandwich is licking the spoon.  Interesting I thought, not making the sandwich, or eating the sandwich, but licking the spoon.  Then I remembered when I was kid, and the best part of brownies was licking the spoon from the brownie mix. Then darn salmonella came into the picture and took that enjoyment out of childhood.

As I carried on with my winding down the evening routine (clean kitchen, double-check the clothes for tomorrow, GPS the book bags & folders) my little Power Ranger’s comment radiated in my mind.   Licking the spoon did bring so much joy as a child. Partially because it was a huge spoon with yummy chocolate, but also because it allowed for a brief reflection and appreciation for how far we had gotten with the brownie mix and added to the anticipation for the cooked brownies.  Just like the age-old saying, life is a journey, not a destination.  Well, in the Brownie mix bowl or PB & J sandwich that is life licking the spoon is a vital step on the journey, one that should not be skipped. Unfortunately somewhere between childhood, salmonella, and adulthood licking the spoon has been left out of life.

Moms are often the worst offenders; we get caught up in the logistics of motherhood. We are often so focused on laundry, dishes, and planning for future events both big, and small, (school lunch, trick-or-treating, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday Party, etc.) that we forget to slow down and lick the spoon.

So, I am declaring today the day that I lick the spoon (metaphorically speaking, salmonella is real people!). I am stopping, sitting, and sipping on some tea while I reflect on the past few weeks, appreciate the time spent with family and friends, and anticipate the future.

Here are my licks…..

We had so much fun at the zoo’s Pumpkin Path
It was really crowded but they did a great job of moving everyone along the path.
I wonder if they take timeout to lick the spoon.
Fisher Price gave these away and coupon for $10 off $50. All three of the kiddos love them!

 

I have enjoyed Wednesdays at the Farmer’s Market remote location.

 

 

Grabbing a snack and getting some fresh veggies, nothing like it!

 

Goodbye, see you in the Spring!

 

Story time fun at the Library

 

I am going to miss this, yes, even the tantrums. (No bubbles)

 

Anticipating the Future, Potty Training on the Go!

Moms with the holidays quickly approaching remember to take a moment to slow down and lick the spoon.

 

Taking On Too Much Tuesday

Taking On Too Much Tuesday

momonthegoinholytoledo

Taking On Too Much Tuesday

Ever feel like you have bitten off more than you can chew?  Wish you had a mommy assistant? Today is one of those days for me.  I am just praying for a level-mommy head while I complete the necessary Tuesday tasks.

This mama’s to do list:

  • Morning drop off
  • Work on maintaining my professional credentials
    (time to put on the career cap)
  • Preschool pick-up
  • Costco Stop
  • Wash costumes for Story time tomorrow
  • Assemble Daisy Girl Scout Tunic for tomorrows meeting
  • Address remaining sticker club envelopes to be mailed (ASAP)
  • Elementary Pick-up
  • Post New Book for Book Club
  • Make cupcakes for Halloween Party
  • Dinner, baths, bed(thank GOD)

And we are off……

Gotta run in and get a few necessities, eggs, milk, cream, juice boxes for meeting tomorrow, and laundry detergent.

Okay, wish me luck with the assembling. If you noticed I purchased everything as iron-on.  As my grandfather so eloquently pointed out to me yesterday the sewing gene skips a generation.  My great-grandmother was an amazing sewer and my grandmother, not so much. My mother was the mom who sewed costumes, hemmed pants in seconds, made her own tablecloths and placements, etc. The gene has skipped me; I am the mom who would use duct tape to replace buttons if I could.  Since Iron-ons don’t always stay I also purchased a package of precut adhesive that you simply add to the patch, place on tunic, and then place the tunic in the dryer. It is supposed to really hold those suckers on there, I am crossing my fingers.  Here is to hopefully not burning down the house in the process.

 

This is such a fun idea. My two older kiddos each received this stick club information in the mail about two weeks ago.  The problem is the sheet request that you send it within 6 days, ahhhh.  So, it has taken me a minute or two to kick it old school and get ink, paper, envelopes, and stamps.  It just occurred to me as I type this that I could have scanned it and sent it via email to the other kiddos (but that would have been too easy and cheap).  So, keep your eyes open for an envelope in the mail, chances are good your kiddos might receive one and if they don’t you could start one.

I am so looking forward to starting this book. And I think the other moms in book club share similar feelings. Our last book was a bit more serious and we need lighthearted.

Product Description

“I don’t know how she does it!” is an often heard refrain about mothers today. Funnily enough, most moms agree, they have no idea how they get it done, or whether they even want the job. Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile spoke to mothers of every stripe,
working, stay-at-home, part-time and found a surprisingly similar trend in their interviews. After enthusing about her lucky life for twenty minutes, a mother would then break down and admit that her child’s first word was “Shrek.” As one mom put it, “Am I happy? The word that describes me best is challenged.” Fresh from the front lines of modern motherhood comes a book that uncovers the guilty secrets of moms today . . . in their own words. I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids diagnoses the craziness and offers real solutions, so that mothers can step out of the madness and learn to love motherhood as much as they love their kids.

 

Dinner tonight, Freaky Hot dog fingers, gives a whole new meaning to Finger Food. Granted it is not the healthiest but it is a fun treat to have around Halloween time.

I found this in a Parenting Magazine and thought the kiddos would get a kick out of it.

Hot to make:

1. Cut hot dogs in half, widthwise, and then lengthwise into quarters.

2. Open a package of crescent-roll dough and roll until very thin. Cut the dough into strips, and wrap around each piece of hot dog,
leaving a little bit of the tip uncovered. Bake as directed.

 

So, do you feel like you have taken on too much? Are you a serial Yes Mom? Remember the movie that Jim Carrey stared in call Yes Man?  Perhaps they should have a similar idea only focus on Moms that need to say no, they could title it No Mom?

 

Momup! Monday

Momup! Monday

momonthegoinholytoledo

Mama’s to do list:

  • Morning drop off
  • Change sheets
  • Vacuum
  • Clean bathroom (Soo looking forward
    to this!)
  • Momup! Monday
  • Get Girls Scout tunic, troop numbers, book, etc.

Okay, the toilet is sparkling, beds all have clean sheets, most of the dog hair has been vacuumed, just made myself an iced coffee, and I am ready to momup!

So please, join me, you deserve a five-minute break (maybe even 10).

This week’s  Momup! Topic is: Little lies Moms tell their Children (for a good reason of course)

Watch the clip and comment below.

The little lies we tell our children, often times for their safety, or our own sanity?  I know I am guilty of telling a little lie or two to my kiddos.

One that comes to mind is the good old we need an appointment lie. Whenever the children say they would like to go somewhere like Chuck E. Cheese, Build-a-Bear,  Sylvania Playland, or any other child friendly and fun location that cost money, that is not in our budget, I tell them that we need to make an appointment.  I then explain that we can call and make an appointment for a future date when “they” have a time slot available. It has been doing the trick for the last 3 years.  I do worry however, our eldest is a smart cookie and one day one of her friends are going to say that they don’t require an appointment and blow the lid off my entire story.   Oh well, I will worry about that when the time comes.  Till then I am making appointments.

What little lie have you told your child or perhaps your child overheard you tell someone?

Please share.

Friday fright fun!

Friday fright fun!

momonthegoinholytoledo

Mama’s to do list:

  • Empty litter box & Clean dirty diapers (I like to take care of my crap in the morning)
  • Laundry
  • Drop off lunch money at school (someone forgot their lunch money)
  • Grocery Shopping (sorry again to the gentleman behind us for the wait, I am a coupon mom)
  • Friday Fright Fun!
  • Date Night

It was a crazy somewhat hectic day today but the pay off was exceptional. I am a firm believer in the work hard play hard motto.  So after putting my time in with all the boring mommy chores it was time for some Friday fright fun!

So to start off our Friday Fright Fun we popped the Walt Disney Halloween Songs & Sounds CD into the player, the kiddos raided the make-believe basket, and we boogied.  The kiddos continued to boogie while I made us some yummy fall Carmel apple sundaes.

Carmel Apple sundaes

Ingredients:

  • Two scoops vanilla frozen yogurt
  • ½ a medium-sized apple (which ever you prefer though, the granny smith contrast the caramel nicely) rinse and slice apple into bite sized pieces
  • 2 tbsp of caramel topping

Directions:

Place two scoops of yogurt in the sundae dish.  Place apple pieces on top of the yogurt then drizzle the caramel over the apples. Enjoy!

After our sundaes it was onto the craft.  The craft was a trick-or-treating bag.  I underestimated how much fun it could be doing a craft with the kiddos.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I thank God for moments like these, true quality time.

Trick-or-Treat Bags

I purchased everything from Hobby Lobby on Monroe Street.  This craft is economical so there is no need to break the bank.

What you need:

How to assemble:

Have your children trace from the template.  Then have the older ones cut out the figures, you will need to help the younger children.  Then let their imaginations run wild.

I had such a fun afternoon.  The kiddos will be using their trick-or-treating bags at the pumpkin path at the zoo tomorrow.  We can’t wait!

Well I am off to try to make myself presentable, date night!

Ghost of Halloween Costumes Past

Ghost of Halloween Costumes Past

momonthegoinholytoledo

Mama’s to do list on this wet Wednesday:

  • Coffee, Coffee, Coffee
  • Drop off at school
  • Baby story time at the library
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Figure out where that weird smell is coming from
  • Go through Make-believe Basket
  • Go Buy a Wet Suit
  • Snack & Craft time

Well, it is that time of year again, time for the semi-annual review of the make-believe basket.  Our make-believe basket started four years ago when our eldest was almost two years old.  It started with her Halloween costume from that year and it has taken off and now includes over a dozen costumes and dress-ups.  Most of the make-believe clothes are from past Halloween’s but we have also accumulated a few from great deals after Halloween.  After Halloween the costumes are a steal from most of the second-hand stores.  I also like to stock up on accessories for future birthday parties examples include, tiaras, crowns, wands, pirate eye patches, masks, etc. There are often great deals on Halloween decorations too.

There is a method to this mama’s madness… I have decided to lay each costume out with accessories so that I can carefully review each for any holes, stains, missing pieces, etc. After the review each will be sent on their necessary mission, whether it be to the laundry room, rag bin(future hairball/dog puke cleaner-upper), patching place (nana’s house to be sewn), or, for those few fortunate costumes, on to next years inventory.

So, on with the show!

Holy Toledo, there was a lot of additional random stuff in this basket.  It was obviously the catch-all location for the random game pieces, legos, building blocks, ½ eaten apple (Oh dear, that must have been the smell. Alleluia! I can cross that off my to do list), my underwear (Really!?! I do not want to know), hair clips, and much more.

Mission complete! Our make-believe basket is back in top-notch condition and the kiddos now have some backup costumes should theirs fall prey to the random mud splash during the school Halloween parade or candy induced vomit fit, or whatever may attack their costumes.

Do tell, what are your kiddos going to be for Halloween? So, do you have a backup costume for your little one?

Fashion for a Cause

Fashion for a Cause

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Mama’s to do list this past weekend:

  • Fashion for a Cause at Treo in Sylvania

I had a magnificent time at the Fashion for a Cause event that benefited Beach House Family Shelter of Toledo. Beach House has been a critical refuge for thousands of individuals at a time in their lives when they desperately needed a place to turn, providing a place to sleep, food to feed their children, and a place to begin again. Thus, offering women and families a new lease on life!

The event was held at Treo which is located downtown Sylvania and began at 11:30am with cocktails and lunch followed shortly after.  The tables were decorated in an exquisite fall theme. The food was delicious; the pumpkin soup was a fall festival for your taste buds.

While enjoying the main course the fashion show began with styles from Lady C and Juni Boutique. It was so much fun and a relaxing time to enjoy with friends.

Though none of the moms in our group won the raffle we all had a lovely time and enjoyed the fact that the event  benefited a great cause here in Toledo.

Beach House Family shelter depends on the kindness, donations and gifts from others. There are so many wonderful ways in which you can give. Hope Totes are one great way to show your support and share information about the Beach House with others whom you may come in contact with while running errand with your hot tote on your arm.

It is sure to be the hot commodity for this winter. Don’t be seen without yours! Also makes a great Christmas gift, the gift that keeps giving.  So call today and get yours!

Tip: if you are a stickler for time management, go pick up your tote and drop off donations at the same time.  For a list of items they commonly use and need click the following link, http://www.beachhousetoledo.org/Default.aspx?pageId=125286

 

The Apple of My Eye

The Apple of My Eye

momonthegoinholytoledo

On this mama’s to do list:

  • Field Trip to Erie Orchard
  • Make Apple Bake

Field Trip to Erie Orchard

It is funny, looking back on my own childhood, I can’t
remember what I got for Christmas most years but I do remember making a snowman with my father, baking cookies with my mom, and decorating the tree as a family.  I don’t recall ever having any game system or fancy gadgets to lull us to sleep but I do remember the way my mom would sing a song and say our prayers with us before bedtime.  I remember all the local adventures we would have, story time at the Reynolds Corner branch library, art classes at the art museum, trips to the zoo, the park, and much more but my favorite, class field trips.  I always thought it was so cool when my mom chaperoned the field trip, it was special. This past week I was thrilled to have the opportunity to chaperon my first field trip. In my mind it was such a blessed event, it was like a passing of the torch type of moment for me.  You know the type, emotional; hold back tears, lump in your throat type of moment.

While on the field trip I had an unexpected collision with the good old emotional roller coaster. It hit me while the group was gathered around listening to the leader explain how they shine the apples.  It was at that moment I thought about how my baby girl was the apple of my eye. How much I was cherishing the time I was spending with her while at the same time recalling the memory of my own childhood and my mom chaperoning.  I was thinking about how fast we really do grow up.  I was thinking a whirlwind of emotional stuff about growing up, my youth, my daughter’s youth, and how before I know it she will be chaperoning her child’s field trip, and then it happened.  A tear escaped my eye.  I could almost feel the sobbing coming on, or worse, that weird gasping for air sound.  NOOO! I felt like I was going to lose it and I am not talking a cute little cry, I am talking full-blown, hot mess, type of crying.  Just them my daughter asked if I was okay and I said yes, I just really, really love the apple of my eye. To which she replied, “How did you get apple in your eye?” It worked, she had me smiling in no time. I learned my lesson, I will try not to think about anything remotely sentimental while on a field trip. I guess it could have been worse; I could have been near a pile of pooh at the zoo. Crying over apples suddenly seems much more appealing.

Now, what to do with all those apples?

Apple Bake

Ingredients:

  • 12 apples
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • Stick of unsalted butter (cut into ½ inch squares)
  • 2 cups oatmeal (not cooked)

Directions:

Spray crock pot with Pam. Rinse, peel, core, and cut apples into slices.  Place apple slices in crock pot.  In bowl mix together brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, butter, and oatmeal. Sprinkle mixture over apples.  Place on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours
until apples are tender.

Apple bake is so delicious and can be used with a meal or as a desert.

Brinner (Breakfast for Dinner) is a favorite in our house and the apple bake is truly the icing on the cake, pancake that is.  To assemble the sandwich you will need two pancakes, 2 eggs sunny side up, ¾ cups of apple bake, and a drizzle of dark amber maple syrup.

Or serve the apple bake for desert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a dash of cinnamon on top. Your taste buds are sure to thank you.