Rummage Sale: Spring 2009

Posted on November 29, 2008 by Heidi

I have been working slowly and steadily to reduce the amount of “stuff” in my house.

Something I have been avoiding like the plague is the mountains of toys in almost every corner of my house.

I’m on a mission to do this now. It is unfortunate that rummage sale season is over, since there’s no other good way (is there?) to unload these things and earn a little return on the initial investment.

It is also unfortunate that I would prefer sticking hot pokers in my eyes to actually assembling, organizing, and facilitating a rummage sale. I’m almost positive that last year I said “I will never do this again,” in fact. My personality doesn’t allow for a whole lot of dickering over items that are marked .50.

The kinds of things I’m looking to get rid of are arguably “hot sellers” in the rummage world. Toys, toys, toys.

I’m looking for tips and tricks to maximize my big blowout. Or, is there a better way? Please submit in the comments area below!

My plan is to start collecting apple boxes at the grocery store (free, sturdy, and with lids) and filling one or two each weekend. As I do this, I am going to price the items. Theoretically, when the time comes, I can carry up the boxes and only have to set up tables and fend for myself when it comes to the customers.

Product Review – Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Heidi

Last Christmas, I bought the kids a Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Waterproof Digital Camera.

It is the perfect camera for fledgling photographers in the 3-7 year-old range.

It has a flash, a simple interface, and comes with all the tools you need to transfer their photographic masterpieces to your computer. The image quality isn’t that great, but the camera is (so far) indestructible. Considering the beating it gets from my son, that is a critical quality. *Note – since I bought ours, they have also waterproofed the camera! Awesome.*

Every now and then, they go off and set up still-life pictures, as well as inventive trick photography.

Trick photography case in point: One night, as I cooked dinner, they were playing in the yard with the camera. They came running in, gasping for breath and shouting that they saw a real giraffe in the back yard. I looked at them and asked, “A real giraffe?”

“Yes! Mom! We can prove it!”

With that, they showed me their astonishing proof.

Funny... I never saw any news reports about an escaped giraffe!

This picture led me to think instantly of the famous photo of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. I feigned shock, the three of us tried to figure out what a hungry lost giraffe might like for dinner, and then all had a good laugh.

A carefully arranged still-life.

I think this camera is well worth the investment. We have a lot of fun uploading their pictures to Walgreens, then printing them and putting them in albums. An amateur photographer myself, it excites me greatly to see them developing their own techniques.

Creative Uses for Clear Packing Tape

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Heidi

I’m all about simplifying my life. As any parent knows, the electronic toys of today require many batteries, tools, and an iron determination (as well as at least twenty minutes) when it comes to replacing those batteries.

My kids are now beyond the point that I have to worry about them removing a AA battery and trying to ingest it, so I have started using clear packing tape to hold the batteries in on such fun toys as the Vtech – V.Smile Pocket Learning System.

Hold in batteries, change and more...

Another notable implementation of clear packing tape is to replace a lost piggy bank plug. If you keep a tiny piggy bank from Las Vegas on your dryer like I do, you might find that you have to empty it into your Disney fund frequently. The tape provides easy access to your ching-a-ling.

Finally, if you are late to work and notice a major lint or fuzz invasion on your black pants, a strip of clear packing tape can be a fast alternative to more costly (and often missing) lint rollers.

Snow Removal 101 – Start in the Middle

Posted on November 25, 2008 by Heidi

Welcome to November in Wisconsin. My kids woke up yesterday, thrilled and screaming because there was snow on the ground. My first thought was “I hope it melts while I’m at work!”

Last year, I had a snow removal service, which was perfect, convenient, and ultimately too expensive.

As a result, I will be doing my own snow removal this winter, and was lucky enough to acquire a darling Yard Machines 31A-2M1A700 21-inch 123cc OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Single Stage Snow Thrower (Non-CARB Compliant) for the season. True, most would not think to describe a snowblower as “darling,” but this thing is tiny, compact, and easy for me to turn on as well as control.

My neighbors probably thought I was berserk for using a snowblower on about .5 inches of snow, but I wanted to practice. After all, someone had to clean up the giant pile of snow my four year-old so helpfully shoveled off of the grass and onto the driveway…

My little helper.

I quickly learned that you have to start in the middle of the driveway. Doing anything else will result in having to re-blow previously-blown snow. We all know that’s not cool.

I could see my neighbor silently watching me learn this lesson, and am sure he got a kick out of it.

Live and learn, right? I’m not quite ready to challenge Mother Nature to “bring it on,” but I do feel more prepared for a big one!

Cheap Thrill of the Moment: Swirly Ball

Posted on November 24, 2008 by Heidi

You know how the kids are always entertained by the cardboard box the expensive toy comes in? Well, I for one am scaling way back for Christmas this year.

They find a great deal of entertainment in things like a strainer and a ball… And it encourages creativity!

What fun and creative activities have your kids come up with? Tell me about your ideas below and I will feature the most popular in future posts!

The “Use It Up” Challenge

Posted on November 24, 2008 by Heidi

I’m a product junkie. I am a sucker for packaging, smooth-talking hair stylists and advertisements.

The other day, it occurred to me that I would be crazy to buy ANY MORE PRODUCTS until I’ve used up the hundreds of half-used bottles in my bathroom.

$This is only a fraction of the insane amount of products I have.$

This is only a fraction of the insane amount of products I have.

I will be keeping track each time I kill a bottle, and will tally up the dollar amount of each product I finish. Each time I do this, I am going to put that dollar amount in the Disney fund!

Have you created a similar challenge for yourself? If so, comment below!

Well, and once all of those items are gone, I guess I’ll need some new shampoo…

Do you feel alone in your single working mamahood?

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Heidi

You aren’t alone. We are everywhere. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem like that is the case, but every day more and more mamas are facing the world solo.

It’s a tough job, but the rewards are immeasurable. Some days are easier than others, but as time goes by it gets easier on the whole.

My goal in creating this site is to provide resources, platforms for discussion, a place to exchange tips and tricks, as well as share parenting, dating and work advice.

Single working mamas unite!

SingleWorkingMama

Like a reality show, only Real.

Monthly Archives: November 2008