Lazy Mom Tip #43

So yesterday in my random posts about my latest and greatest Tweets, I mentioned that I had kicked my kids out of the house. 

Believe me.  It was necessary.

Well this weekend was so beautiful, I kicked them out of the house again.  (Aren't I a good mother?)  But this time I sent them packing.  Packing with toys. 

I don't know what's happened with my kids.  They used to LOVE to play outside.  I could hardly ever get them off their bikes.  But now, if they go outside and their aren't any neighbor kids to play with they're "boooooored."

So this weekend I threw them out of the house with a bunch of their toys.  And low and behold if those toys didn't seem like brand new toys just because they were in a different environment outside.

So Lazy Mom Tip #43 is this.... give your kids' toys a change of scenery sometime!  Especially if they seem bored with the toys they have.  Move them to a different room, put them outside for a sunny afternoon, re-arrange their play room.  Whatever! 

I know some moms that rotate their kids' toys.  They'll put some toys away in storage for a while and then when the toys that are left out seem old, they put those away in storage and bring out the ones that were tucked away for a while.  I always hear these moms say that it "feels like Christmas morning" when the new toys come out of hiding.

So there's a quick tip for you!  I have lots more tips lined up for the coming weeks thanks to all of you wonderful lazy moms sharing them with me.  So stay tuned!

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Psssst! While you're here, why not 'click to vote' for us at this link?  Just one teensy, weensy click and you're done!  You could even do it daily if you wanted to.  We'd sure appreciate it

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I Tweet.

So last week on Twitter I tweeted about some things.

Isn't that a powerful statement?

And I don't know, I thought it might be fun to do a little recap of some things I tweeted about. 

The key word being, thought it might be fun.  It might be...but it might not be. 

Aren't you glad I broke that down for you? 

Your welcome.

For instance.  One day I posted this. 

That tweet was on the last day before school started. And let's just say, THE KIDS WERE DRIVING ME CRAZY, okay?  So I kicked them outside of the house and forced them to enjoy the beautiful weather before sub-zero temperatures come back with a vengeance.

And you know what happened when I kicked them outside?  They all snuck back in.  *sigh*

On another day, here was a tweet where I confessed a deep dark secret. 

And don't tell me you haven't done the same. exact. thing.

No really, don't tell me you haven't, mkay? Because then I would be all alone in my pathetic-ness and I just can't have that.

Now THIS tweet ended up rocking some peoples worlds.  Seriously, I've never gotten such a big response from one of my tweets before.  I felt loved.  I felt admired.  I felt like my water-tight theology was going to change the world!

But it didn't.  So to help it along I tweeted out this after it.  I thought FOR SURE this would bring about world wide change (and possibly a whole new religious sect) but alas it didn't. *sigh*

On the first day of school I tweeted out this.  It really was a beautiful day. 

And this tweet was mysteriously the night after I had polished off that ice cream in my room. Hmmmm.

With this tweet I was just seeing who was awake out there.

This tweet was just trying to help a sista' out.  Not that I was looking for a man.  Or eating at both places at the same time.

And as for this tweet? You still didn't hear that from me, mkay? 

And to finish the really random post off, I thought I'd point you to THIS TWEET where you can win something!  Go ahead.  Enter it already.  You're family might just THRIVE because of it.  That's all I'm saying.

Oh. And in case you are wondering, you can follow my tweets here on Twitter.  Or you can see my latest five tweets on the sidebar of this blog.  Or you can sometimes see my tweets on my lazy facebook page.  Although the facebook page doesn't always get them all. 

What?

I like to have options in life.

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Do You Want a Thriving Family? {Giveaway!}

Oh boy!

Have I got a great giveaway you would all enjoy! 

You'd really enjoy it because it's a gift that keeps on giving... all year long!

How'd you like to win a gift subscription to Thriving Family Magazine?!

YOU WOULD?!

Well then leave me a comment on this post telling me why you'd love to get this magazine and you'll be entered, mkay?

I just love this magazine and have told you so before.  It has great tips and family activities in it!

So, go ahead, leave me a comment and you're entered!  I'll be drawing THREE winners, so you're odds are good!

And if you'd like some extra entries you can do the following (BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE YOU DO OR ALREADY DO)....

• Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom in a reader OR Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Google Friend Connect (over there on the side bar) OR Email Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom (you'll get our inspiring posts delivered to your email inbox)
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Twitter 
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Facebook 
• Follow Thriving Family on Twitter
• Follow Thriving Family on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway using the following: The Lazy Mom is giving away 3 Thriving Family Magazine Subscriptions! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2ec8c3j @imalazymom @ThrivingFamily
• Post on facebook about this giveaway by using the following: The lazy Mom is giving away 3 Thriving Family Magazine Gift Subscriptions! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2ec8c3j

And viola'! You have extra entries!

The fine print: Open to U.S. and Canada. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on September 10, 2010.  Thank you to Thriving Family Magazine for sponsoring this giveaway! I received no compensation, I just love the magazine and want to help spread the word about it!

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Lazy Hershey Pie

You know what I love about our little lazy mom community?  The FABULOUS lazy mom recipes you all share.

And you know what I love even more than fabulous lazy mom recipes?  Fabulous lazy mom DESSERT recipes. 

Albeit, my arteries and my thighs are not so thankful, but my stomach and mouth sure are!  And isn't that all that really matters? 

What?

My priorities are totally straight.

Anyway, our latest Lazy Mom Recipe comes from lazy mom Carissa.  And wait till you see how easy this dessert is to make.  You might just make two... one for each thigh.

Here's what Carissa had to say...

I first tasted this sweet goodness the week after my son was born. Several generous ladies from our Sunday school class brought us a meal everyday that week. One lady brought this great mexican dish that I hardly remember, because of the lip smakin' pie that was with it. She simply called it Hershey pie, whatever the name is- it is gooooooood! When I asked, "What is in it?" She replied, " I am almost ashamed to tell you it is so easy to make."

There are only 3 ingredients. All other ingredients added are optional.

Lazy Hershey Pie

1 tub of Cool Whip (I get a large tub. Cut it in half and make 2 pies)
1 giant Hershey bar or 6 pack of Hershey bars (you do not need to use all of them)
1 graham cracker crust or oreo crust

1. Melt the chocolate bar(s) in microwave safe bowl for 30 second intervals. Stir in between times. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. Sometimes I add semi- sweets for richer taste.

2. You add the tub of Cool Whip a spoonful at a time to the hot chocolate. Do not pour the chocolate into the Cool Whip tub. It will not mix well.

3. Then mix well with a spoon or spatula. You can use a mixer. It will save you a bicep workout, but a lot of the sweet goodness is stuck in the mixer blades.

4. Pour into graham cracker crust

-If you want to stop here you can or you can decorate your pie with whatever you think will go great with chocolate. So let your mind think on that for a moment, while I give you some ideas that I have done.

Mint Chocolate- Ande's mints and chocolate Magic Shell

Heath Bar- toffee bits and caramel Magic shell

Reese's- peanut butter chips or Reese's pieces and peanut butter ice cream topping

Cookies & Creme- I use Hershey's cookies and creme candy bar melted with the Cool whip, crushed Oreos, and chocolate Magic Shell

5. Last step put it in the freezer for later or refrigerator for the near future. If you put it in the freezer make sure you let it thaw some before your guest arrive.

Oh my! I think someone needs to make this, like immediately, and leave it on my doorstep already!

Or I guess since it's so easy I could make it myself. 

Or you could make me one. 

Or I could do it. 

Or you could make me one.

Or I could do it.

Or you could make me one.

Gosh, I'm conflicted.

Well okay, if one doesn't show up by this evening, I'll know what I need to do.

Thanks Carissa!  Do YOU have a lazy recipe to share?  Find out what we're looking for and it might just be posted!

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At Last!

Do you all remember THIS POST I wrote way back in April? 

It was a desperate cry for help. And try as you all might, no one knew the movie I was talking about.  I even asked my brother and sister with the hopes that since we did all grow up together surely they would remember the movie that has haunted me for years, YEARS people.

But alas even they did not know what I was talking about.

*sigh*

Then.  Out of nowhere on August 16th my brother texts me...

Watching an old movie I got of Ebay.... girl drying her hair out of the window! Didn't you ask about that a while back?

To which I responded...

Ahhhhhhhhh! Yes!

And then it happened.  My years of name-that-movie-where-all-I-can-remember-is-the-opening-scene-that-haunts-me ended in the next text...

It's called Lot's of Luck! A Disney movie where Annette Funicello enters lots of contest and wins big but then loses it all.

And it all came rushing back.  Yes.  Yes, by golly.  That WAS the movie!  My search was over.  My life made sense again.  My world was set to rights.  It was a glorious moment.  A moment I will treasure forever.

*contented sigh*

Now if I could just get my hands on that movie. The library doesn't have it, and I despise movie rental stores remember? Maybe my dear ol' brother will send me his copy? 

Oh, Broooother?

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Lazy Mom Tip #42

How about another great Lazy Mom Tip?

This tip comes from lazy mom Kristina and it might just save you some trouble one of these days!

A few weeks ago I picked up a couple of packs of travel sized wipes that were on clearance at CVS. It's a pack of 16 and I got them for something ridiculous like $0.47. I planned on sticking one of these and a couple of diapers in both my car and my husband's car 'just in case'. Unfortunately (as is usual with me) my intention did not quickly enough become an action... Sure enough just a couple of days later we ended up leaving the house with NO diaper bag - gasp! If I had my handy dandy emergency pack ready it would have been no problem! But, since I didn't we had to run into the drug store and pick up an entire pack of cheapy diapers to have some, since you really can't drop your 10 month old daughter off at the church nursery with no diapers. So, needless to say, we each now have an emergency stash in our car. The little travel pack of wipes and 3 diapers fit perfectly into a gallon size ziploc bag which fits neatly into the glove box. Problem solved!

Very nice tip Kristina!  Thanks for sending it to me. 

So tell me, is this something you do already?

And if YOU have a great Lazy Mom Tip to share, find out how to submit yours!

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Winners!

So who's ready to see who won a Flirty Apron and some Piggy Paint?

You can find the winner of a cute Flirty Apron here

and the Piggy Paint winner here!

If you'd like to do some shopping for a Flirty Apron or for Piggy Paint visit my Open Sky shop!

Thanks to all who entered!

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EcoStore USA

Several weeks ago I received a fun package in the mail from a place called EcoStore USA. 

Inside my package I found some GREAT cleaning products (I'm telling you the word has gotten out about how much I hate cleaning!) and I can't wait to show these products to you!

The thing that makes these cleaning products GREAT is that they are plant-based, non-toxic and contain no nasty chemicals.  SCORE!

This All-Purpose Cleaner was my favorite item in the box! I love the light orange scent it has and it cleans great!  Plus, I didn't have to be careful about where I sprayed it because it is totally safe for my kids!  You could easily clean a baby's crib with this cleaner and not worry about your baby chewing on the railing afterwards! 

I also put this cleaner in my great new ProMist Floor Cleaning System and it worked GREAT on my floors.  And again, I wasn't worried about my kids crawling on hands and knees all over the floor afterward!

The next item in my box of goodies was the Auto Dish Powder.  I was SUPER excited to try this one out because I had been having some dishwasher issues with my dishes not coming very clean lately. 

I'm happy to say that this powder goes a long way.  You only use a tablespoon of it each time and it seems to work well.  My dishes-not-coming-clean problem improved each time I used it and overall I was happy with the product! 

And again, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed using a product that I knew was non-toxic and had no nasty chemicals in it.  It really does make you feel good to use products like that!

The last product in the box was EcoStore's Coconut Soap. This is a bar of soap and I seriously haven't used a bar soap in AGES.  However, I put this bad boy straight in the shower and I've been faithfully using it since. 

This soap leaves no soapy residue behind and it seems to last a really long time!  I feel like it's hardly changed in size since I originally started using it. 

And it must be a mild soap because I used it to take my mascara off in the shower one day and it didn't hurt or sting my eyes at all!


I would highly recommend these great SAFE products to anyone and everyone!  You can see all of their products here and get free shipping on orders over $25 right now!

You can also find EcoStore USA on Twitter and Facebook.  So stop by there and tell them The Lazy Mom sent ya!

A big thank you to EcoStore USA for sending me these complimentary products in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.

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I've got a confession!

Oh boy!

I've got a Lazy Mom confession and I'd say it's HIGH time for one!  Lazy mom Jenny sent this in and I think you're gonna liiiiiiike it.

The other day my 3-year-old convinced me to pull out the Wii Active. About 10 mintes into our 20 minute "workout," I was dying. Legs were cramping. I was super sweaty. My arms hurt. I was done. Meanwhile, Carter was totally into it. I stopped and said, "Oh man! Carter, look! It froze. I can't get it to work anymore! Guess we will have to finish tomorrow!" He bought it! :)

BLAhahahahaha!

Thanks for the laugh Jenny and for making me feel like I'm not alone in the world. I mean I would NEVER do what you did. Never I tell you. Never. Ever.

Okay. 

I totally would.

So, anyone else out there need to confess your lazy mom moments to us?  Find out how to get them to me!

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How a Lazy Mom Cleans Carpets

Have you been wondering how a lazy mom cleans her carpets? 

You have?!

Well I've got the answer for you from lazy mom Becky.


Step 1. Load Kids into car on the way to run errands.


Step 2. Run back into house. Spray this stuff all over the carpets.

Step 3. Run errands.

Step 4. Run back into house, hopefully kids are napping from running said errands. Vacuum carpet as fast as a lazy mom possibly can.
 

 
And there you have it!  How a lazy mom cleans her carpets!  Thanks Becky!
 
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Don't forget to enter our Flirty Apron giveaway AND our Piggy Paint giveaway!  Somebody's getting a cute new flirty apron and somebody else is getting 15 bucks to spend on Piggy Paint's website!

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Help a Lazy Mom

So several weeks ago I got an email from a lazy mom who is in desperate straights for some advice.  Basically she has two very big problems that continually face her daily and she needs a solution for it and fast. 

She emailed me her problems with the hopes that maybe other lazy moms out there might have walked in her shoes and have come up with some wonderful way to stop these things from happening.

And YOU might just be the very one who can help her!

Here's her two problems...

1. Kids continually getting their hands on crayons and marking on the walls.... solution not for the cleaning up off the walls, but for stopping it in the first place!
2. DVDs everywhere... and constantly getting scratched!

Sooooo, who out there has dealt with these same problems and has licked them with a great solution?  Or maybe you've heard of a great idea for these things and can suggest them for her to try? 

Either way, weigh in with your opinion at the comments link below and let's help a lazy mom out!

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Have a problem you need solved? Email it to me and we'll see if our great community of lazy moms can help a you out!

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Lazy Mom Tip #41

So I fell off the face of the earth at the end of last week.  But don't worry, I'm back and I have a great Lazy Mom Tip with me!

We've been getting some great baby/toddler tips lately and I love every one of them!  But I thought we'd take a break from those for this week and I'd post a great back to school tip.  Because guess what? IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR KIDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL!

Now I know we have a wide mix of lazy moms out there... some of you homeschool and some of you have preschoolers, but this tip will really benefit you ALL, so read on!

This tip comes from lazy mom Sarah.  Although she says she can't take credit for it because she read it somewhere, but I'm giving her FULL credit for it because it's a great tip, she has proven it totally works and because it's my blog and I'll credit who I want to.  Or something like that.

So here you are lazy moms... Lazy Mom Tip #41!

Take a loaf of bread, and make it 100% into peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the jelly side before you put the jelly on to keep the bread from getting soggy. Put all the sandwiches back in the bread bag, and throw it in the freezer. When packing lunches, pull out the frozen sandwiches and pop them in the lunches - they are thawed by lunch time, and you'd never know they were even frozen.

I love this idea!  Mainly because the humdrum of packing school lunches every day gets quite old.  And quickly. 

But I also love this idea for homeschooling moms and preschool moms!  Why not plan ahead like this and then on a day you just don't have any energy or are out of your routine you have back-up sandwiches totally ready to go in a pinch!  It reminds me of Lazy Mom Tip #19 (although excuse my daughters hair in that picture, It was a SUPER bad hair day and it is a horrid picture!).

So there you go lazy moms!  Enjoy the laziness this school year!

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Have a tip to share? Find out how to get it to me.
Enter our Flirty Apron giveaway!
Enter to win a $15 Piggy Paint gift certificate to spend on Piggy Paint's website!

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MMM-chaladas!

Oh. My. Heavenly. Day.

Are you gonna love this recipe lazy moms! For realz.

Lazy mom Latoya sent it in to me and just wait until you hear what she calls it because it is so stinking cute!

I like to call these my mmmm chaladas because enchilada doesn't do them justice! Its not an exact recipe but rather a method depending on the size of your family. This version of the recipe makes an 8x8 pan and can feed 4.

I don't know about you, but she had me at Mmm-chiladas and I can't wait to make these one glorious day.

MMM-chaladas

1 pack tortillas
2 cans chicken
1 large jar salsa
1 pint heavy whipping cream
shredded cheddar cheese

*I know that you said you will make exceptions for a yummy 6th ingredient. I like to add refried beans*

Pre-heat oven to 375.
Spray bottom of pan with non-stick spray.
Coat bottom of pan with heavy whipping cream, just enough to coat.
Mix chicken and salsa together in bowl.
Put heaping spoonfuls of chicken mixture in tortillas and roll up (this is where you would also add the beans) and place seam side down in pan.
Fill pan with rolled mmm-chaladas.
Cover with remaining heavy whipping cream. Make sure it gets in between all the rolls.
Cover with shredded cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Let sit for 10 minutes before you serve. Gives the sauce time to settle so it doesn't all ooze out with the first slice.

The heavy whipping cream gets thick and creates a yummy, creamy, cheesy sauce!

Uh, are you licking your screen yet?

Because I tried it.  It doesn't work. 

Letoya, I think I love you, yet my thighs hate you.  It's a love hate relationship we have girl.  But THANK YOU for sending this in!  Many lazy moms are forever indebted to you.  Forever.

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Have a recipe to share? Find out what we're looking for.
Don't forget to enter our two giveaways right now! Flirty Aprons and Piggy Paint!

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Open Sky Grand Opening Day 2 (and giveaway!)

Everyone seems to really be liking the Flirty Aprons I posted yesterday for our Grand Opening Day 1!  Aren't they just too cute?!  And believe me when I say, it really DOES make you feel cute wearing it! 

Well today, I'm doing another giveaway in honor of the Grand Opening of my Open Sky Shop!  So get your comments ready, because you have another chance to win something today!!!

Have you lazy moms ever heard of Piggy Paint? 
You haven't?!

Well let me tell you a little bit about them...

Piggy Paint is a water-based, non-toxic, odorless, kid-friendly nail polish!  And I think their tag line is so cute... "Natural as Mud."  Get it?  Mud?  Piggy Paint?  Pig.  Mud.  Please tell me you get it.

I tell you what impresses me the most about Piggy Paint though, is that a stay-at-home mom started the business after she painted her little girl's toenails and discovered that a glob of the traditional nail polish ate through the styrofoam plate she was painting over!  She decided if it ate through a plate like that, then it had no business being on her daughter's hands!  Especially if she put her hands in her mouth!

So she decided to do something about it and made Piggy Paint!  Each nail polish at Piggy Paint is made with natural ingredients and is hypo-allergenic.  Score!

Sooooo, who loves Piggy Paint as much as I do now?  Because I LOVE it.  And I love it so much that I'm putting it in my Open Sky Shop!

AND Piggy Paint was so generous to us, they are giving away a $15 gift certificate to a lucky Lazy Mom reader! PLUS, it's open internationally, so anyone in any country can win!  Woo-hoooo!

**This Giveaway is now Closed!**

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what you love about Piggy Paint!

And you're entered to win!

If you'd like extra entries you can do the following (BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE YOU DO)....

• Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom in a reader OR Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Google Friend Connect (over there on the side bar)
• Email Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom (you'll get our inspiring posts delivered to your email inbox)
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Twitter 
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Facebook 
• Tweet about this giveaway using the following: The Lazy Mom is giving away non-toxic Piggy Paint Nail Polish! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2wwfqhu @imalazymom
• Post on facebook about this giveaway by using the following: The Lazy Mom is giving away non-toxic Piggy Paint Nail Polish! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2wwfqhu

Thanks for entering!

The Fine Print: This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY! All comment entries must be in by midnight (ET) August 20th.  Thank you to Piggy Paint for sponsoring this Giveaway for our Grand Opening event!

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Open Sky Grand Opening (and Giveaway!)

Whoop! Whoop!

My Open Sky Shop is now open!  And I've got a giveaway to help celebrate it's Grand Opening! 

Check out what I got in the mail back in July...

Ladies and Gentlemen (all two of you) this is what is called a "Flirty Apron."  I know this because that's the name of the company that makes them!  Aren't I all smart and stuff?!

So I got this cute little apron in the mail right before our big Party @ Pastor's Fourth of July bash at our house.  As I was getting ready for a mass amount of people to come to my house I thought to myself, "Self. I think we should wear this Flirty Apron because it's so darn cute."  And so I wore it while we were serving food.

True story.

Anyway, the reason I picked this cute little apron for my Open Sky Shop is because it does something amazing... it helps make a mom who LOOKS like a lazy mom (which I tend to be an expert in) NOT look like a lazy mom! 

Yes my dears, wear this apron when you're feeling frumpy and you will no longer feel frumpy!  Believe me, I tried it, it works.  It's so stinking cute that you can't help but feel cute in it!

Now unfortunately, the exact apron I picked is out of stock at the moment.  Bummer. 

But don't worry! There's other super cute Flirty Aprons to choose from!  Like this...

And this...

And this....

Ooo, Ooo!  And there's even GIRLS aprons!!

So cute!! And if you visit my Open Sky Shop there's even more styles to choose from! PLUS, there's free shipping from now till August 16th when you use the coupon code FREESHIPPING at check out!

Now WHO would like a chance to WIN an apron for themselves?!  The frumpy Lazy Mom in you wants it and you know it!!

**This Giveaway is now closed!**

To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me which apron you think is the cutest!

And that's it! You're entered to win a Flirty Apron for yourself!

If you'd like extra entries you can do the following (BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE YOU DO)....

• Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom in a reader OR Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Google Friend Connect (over there on the side bar)
• Email Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom (you'll get our inspiring posts delivered to your email inbox)
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Twitter 
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Facebook 
• Tweet about this giveaway using the following: The Lazy Mom is giving away a super cute Flirty Apron! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2etl9b4 @imalazymom
• Post on facebook about this giveaway by using the following: The Lazy Mom is giving away a super cute Flirty Apron! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2etl9b4

Ta-da!! The first Grand Opening giveaway item has been released!!! Tomorrow there will be another one, so come back then!

The Fine Print: This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. It ends at midnight (ET) on Friday, August 20th. Thank you to Flirty Aprons for sponsoring my Open Sky Shop Grand Opening with this giveaway!

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Winner of the Fridge-to-go!

Comment number 32 won our Fridge-to-go giveaway!

Find out who number 32 is here!

And remember, you can buy your own Fridge-to-go here!

Thanks to all who entered.

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Dresser Confession

What I'm about to show you may make you cringe. 
It may make you look upon me with disgust. 
It may make you scream in horror.

But one thing it WILL make you do is stand in awe of my laziness.

*sigh*

This was the current state of the top of my dresser on Friday...

Have you screamed in horror yet?

*hangs head in shame*

I just don't know how this happened. 
I just don't know where things went wrong.
I just don't know what caused such a major fail as this.

I blame the dresser. 

Why O why, dresser, did you have to be so conveniently bare and easy to dump things on?  Why did you say to me, "Come! Dump stuff on me before company comes over tonight! Then you can lock the door and no one will ever know!"  Why did you taunt me and tempt me to do such a thing?  I thought you were better than that dresser.

So on Friday, I had a rare spurt of energy and decided to teach my dresser a lesson.  I was going to declutter it and get to the bottom of when on earth I let this dresser get so out of control on me.

Here's some of the interesting things I found on top of it...

These two items were patiently waiting to go in the recycling bin.  Both are plastic.  One is empty and the other is broken.  I have no idea WHY these are on my dresser.

This is my card bin.  I keep all my cards from Christmas cards to Birthday cards and everything in between in this bin so I can send a hand written card out in a moments notice.  And yet, even though I HAVE a card bin, I still don't always get cards out to those that I should.  Shameful.  I know.

I do however know WHY this is on my dresser.  I got tired of tromping down the basement stairs to retrieve a card when I needed one, so I grabbed the bin and plunked it down on my dresser for easy access.  *sigh*  It's a pathetic life I lead.

A phonebook.  No idea why this is on my dresser.  I don't even have a phone in my bedroom.  I'm blaming the bin of cards on this one.  I must have tried to look up an address so I could send out a card???  Okay, not likely seeing that I just told you I rarely get the cards out that I should.

So as I was cleaning off my dresser I found various clues as to WHEN this dresser catastrophe happened. 

The first layer revealed that it happened before The Lazy Dad and I ran away together for our anniversary at the end of July because I found the DVD case we took full of movies for us to watch...

The next layer revealed that it happened before my son's ninth birthday in mid-July, because I found his birthday wish list...

The next layer revealed that it happened before we handed out candy and flyers for our church's VBS in a parade in late JUNE.

Layer after layer I counted the months back... I found stuff I put on the dresser in early June, then May, then low and behold I found the reason why my dresser looked the way it did.  I found where it all started, where my slow spiral down cluttered dresser lane began...

April.

It all began in early April when my gallbladder went AWOL (or in other words, my gallbladder was removed).

I was ashamed.  I was confused.  I felt betrayed. 

Okay, not really, but it sounded nice and dramatic didn't it?

In case you need help counting, that would be four, FOUR months that my dresser has been on a path to needing rehabilition.  Wow.  Even I am in awe of my own laziness. 

So there you have it.  I'm baring my cluttered dresser soul to you all.  I confess that I failed miserably in this area. 

But don't worry.  The dresser and I are back on speaking terms again.  Doesn't she look pretty again?

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Have a Lazy Mom confession to share? Come bare your soul to me!  Muahahahaha!

Ooo! And don't forget! Tomorrow my Open Sky Store's GRAND OPENING event is starting!!

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A Whole Week

I just said goodbye to my kids for a whole week.

Everybody just take a moment and let that sink in will you?

Now everybody breath in..... and out.....

Then pass around the breath mints if you would.

Anyway, that's what I'm doing a lot of right now.  Breathing in......  because my mommy heart is a little worried.  Worried I won't be there if they need me.  Worried something bad might happen.  Worried I'll miss a great moment.

And breath out......... because God is in control of my kids' lives, not me.  God can protect them way better than I ever can.  God will never leave them nor forsake them.  (Like I just did)  (kidding)  (I think)

But on a bright note... I NOW HAVE NO KIDS FOR A WHOLE WEEK!!!!  Let the part-tay begin already!  I've been waiting for this party for 9 years!  Wooo-hoooo!

I've got big plans in store while the kids are gone.  My to do list is a mile long!  This is the first time ever that the kids have left ME at the house.  It's always been the other way around.  So break out the trash bags, mama's throwing out everything I can get my hands on!

Other top priorities while they're gone are as follows...

1. Sleep in EVERY day.
2. Go out to eat with a friend.
3. Walk around my house in the buff (wait, that's going on the 'maybe to do' list).
4. Take naps.  Whenever I want.
5. Buy all the stuff at the grocery store that I really want, but never buy because the kids would eat it all.
6. Go to a movie all by myself and NOT share my popcorn.
7. Take a five hour long bath.
8. Read a book.

Among other things.

So in honor of this most momentous occasion of my kids being gone for a whole week, I'm hosting a giveaway!  Remember when I posted about our handy dandy Fridge-to-go here and here?

Well we brought it along with us on our road trip to hand off the kids.  I packed it full of juice boxes and a juice drink thingy that I really like.  (Thingy IS a technical term in case you wondered)

It did a fantastic job of keeping our drinks ice cold with it's great Surround Cooling feature! 

And it's size was very convenient to fit in our packed down car! 

So... who'd like to win one?! 

**This giveaway is now closed!**

All you have to do to be entered to win is to leave a comment on this post answering the following question...

What will you pack in your Fridge-to-go?

And that's it!  You're entered to win!

If you'd like additional entries you can do the following (BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE YOU DO)....

• Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom in a reader OR Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Google Friend Connect (over there on the side bar)
• Email Subscribe to I'm a Lazy Mom (you'll get our inspiring posts delivered to your email inbox)
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Twitter 
• Follow I'm a Lazy Mom on Facebook 
• Tweet about this giveaway using the following: The Lazy Mom is giving away a Fridge-to-go cooler! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2cq3yq4 @imalazymom
• Post on facebook about this giveaway by using the following: The Lazy Mom is giving away a Fridge-to-go cooler! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/2cq3yq4

And there you have it.  Extra entries for all! 

The fine print: Open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends at noon (ET) on Monday, August 9th. Thank you to Fridge-to-go for sending me a complimentary cooler bag in exchange for my honest opinion of their product.

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The Inside Scoop!

Forgive me for going down Swag Bucks lane again... but I've got some inside scoop you might want to know about!

Starting NEXT week Swagbucks is fighting the Back-To-School blues with lots of fun promotions!

• First, you'll have the chance to win five different limited edition back-to-school themed Swag Bucks - if you snag them all, you'll earn a 50 Swag Buck bonus!
• Take advantage of sales in the Swag Store on all School Supplies and Cookie's Kids Merchandise.
• Plus, they're having another Swag Code Extravaganza next Thursday, a day in which they'll put out no less than 5 Swag Codes!

If you're not already searching and winning with Swagbucks, head over now and enter the code BackToSchool for 40 bonus bucks during registration giving you 70 Swagbucks to start off with instead of 30!  This code expires 11:59pm PDT on Sunday, August 15.

Okay, thanks for humoring me with the Swag Bucks talk! 

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Lazy Mom Tip #40

Let me just preface this great Lazy Mom Tip that was sent in by Shiloam by saying..

THIS IS TIP NUMBER 40!

We have 40 tiiii-ips, we have 40 tiiii-ips!

[happy dance]

And in honor of our 40th tip I just had to share Shiloam's GREAT advice on what they do at her house when one of their children is sick.  I have to say I'm super impressed and I think you will be too....

Every time we have a sick child, we do the sickness routine. My kids all know the routine too. (ages 3, 6, 8) And depending on how sick our children are, we know that one parent gets the child, while the other one gets the puke. And once that has happened we go into sickness routine mode.

A child will wake up and tell me they're not feeling well. (Or they've already puked and need help.) They scoop up their comforter or blanket and head in to Mom and Dad's BATHROOM. Yep. Bathroom. I've placed a thick blanket on the floor and then a couple of old towels on their pillow and a crib mattress with a sheet on it. We specifically purchased another crib mattress and used the old one for the sick nights/days.

My kids usually grab the barf bucket, while we're getting a pillow with a plastic cover n' pillow case, and some Clorox wipes---just in case. The mattress lays right next to the tub and the door that goes into the toilet area, which we keep open. We do this for a few reasons. One, we keep either that light on or the shower light on. They're bright enough to see what they're doing without keeping us awake too. And two, timing is everything when you're sick. If they're going to puke, the toilet is right there. This also works for when they're unable to keep anything in them from both ends. If that's the case, a quick wash in the tub and a single sheet and comforter usually does the trick. If they vomit on the old mattress, we take the sheet off and wipe it down with Clorox wipes. If they miss the bucket and hit the towels, they go right into the washer---that night, right then and there. (Nobody wants to wake up to the smell of old vomit in their house. And lets face it, you'll probably be up again to check on the sick child, so switching the laundry isn't so bad. Wrinkled sheets don't matter at this point.)

If they get super hot, we open the bathroom window. If they get too cold, we have a second blanket sitting on the counter. We also use the Vics plug-ins for the times they just can't breathe or are fighting croup. Our master bathroom is large enough that we can close one door (french doors) and still see them if needs be, or we can close both doors and keep them secluded from the rest of the family. They know they don't get to leave the bathroom until Mom says.

My kids like the fact that we bring in books, a portable DVD player, movies, crackers, soup and water or flat soda to help time and the flu pass by. They also know that if they need me, I'm right there.

Wow.  Isn't that SO impressive? The way they mobilize, the way they quarantine to keep it from spreading to the other children, the way they have a "sickness plan." I just love it.  I now feel the need to have a sickness plan like this so that I can be super impressive as well. 

Thanks Shiloam!

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Have a Lazy Mom Tip to share?  Find out how to get it to me!

And remember! Only this many days until our Grand Opening Giveaway Event!!

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Who's Ready for a Confession?

This Lazy Mom Confession is from lazy mom Valerie at Family of the Vine.  Who may have just won the Most Creative Mom Under Pressure award. 

What?

Haven't heard of that award?

Well I have.  And I think she should get it.

You will too once you read her confession....

The other morning I found myself running my husbands wallet to him, my kids unfed.
I drove to McDonalds with feeling of guilt for being a "bad mommy" and shoving fast food into their mouths!

My 3 year old screamed from his "throne" in the back, " Mommy, I want some ice cream!"

The "good mommy" light flicked on...cue angels singing... and I ordered a parfait and 2 cones...empty cones! I mixed the parfait and scooped it into the cones!

Viola!
No mess!
Quiet kids!
Breakfast served!

NOW you agree with me, don't you?  Great idea Valerie! Here's your shiny new Most Creative Mom Under Pressure award.

Your welcome.

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Lazy Dad Works

Despite Lazy Dad's name I thought you all might like to know that he DOES work.  In fact, he works a lot.  As in, alot alot.

This is due to the fact that the Lazy Dad currently has two full time jobs.  Yes, one full time job apparently wasn't enough for him, so he ran out and got another one.

Well, that's not quite why, but it sounded good when I was typing it.

On a side note, you may now see why we had so much fun running away with each other for our Anniversary last week. It was the first time in a LONG time that I can remember waking up and him still being there!

Anyway, yesterday the Lazy Dad was at his second full time job (bless his heart) and he packed a lunch to take with him in our Fridge-to-go.

He was able to fit two (yes, two) sandwiches, two string cheeses, pretzels and M&M's in his Fridge-to-go which I thought was pretty good.  The water bottle did not fit because of it's height, however it would totally fit a can of soda very nicely.

While you're here and we're on the subject, let me just tell you what the Lazy Dad and I really like about the Fridge-to-go. 

Our absolutely FAVORITE thing about it is the fact that the freezer packs are built in to the lining! 

*gasp!*

I know.  It's wonderful.  No more hunting around our freezer for freezer packs in the pre-dawn hours when you need to pack a lunch. Well, I may never ever be up at the pre-dawn hours, but the Lazy Dad is, so I'm speaking on his behalf people.

Now, with a Fridge-to-go all you have to do is pull out this nifty storage pouch from the freezer...

Pull out the collapsed Fridge-to-go...

And pop the panel down in place to make it a perfect square!

THAT'S what we love about the Fridge-to-go.  Easy as a peasy AND all the freezer packs are sewn in the fabric.  LOVE that.

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Watch for a future post about the Fridge-to-go and you'll have a chance to WIN ONE!  Woo-hooo!  Until then, you can buy a Fridge-to-go here (they have such a great variety!)

Thank you to Fridge-to-go for sending me a complimentary luncheon cooler bag in exchange for my honest review of their product. No other compensation was received.

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