kids Archives - Musings Of A Multi-Tasking Mom

Managing Your Time When Working From Home

July 19, 2015 | Leave a Comment

I always get asked how I manage to work from home with 3 kids with me all day. The truth is, it takes a lot of flexibility and to do lists!!! I get up before the kids, am up after them, plus answer emails/do work during their nap/quiet times. One way Im able to do this is my having a few different to-do lists. I know that sounds crazy, but its true haha.
I have one list for tasks I need to do each day, one for the monthly goals, and one for random things I wish to accomplish when I have time. For my daily list of things that HAVE to get done that day in related to work, I prioritize them in this order:
1) Close Friends
2) Paying Clients
3) Potential Clients
4) Business Building
5) Everything else
I break it up this way because the time I spend away from my kids is for the sole purpose of working and helping with their college funds and being debt free. So I always try and do the money making tasks first, and then everything else comes last and sometimes those other items don’t get accomplished that day, but its ok!

I usually have about 3 hours (if Im lucky) broken up throughout the day to do work, so I make sure to always get to my clients first as they pay for me to help them. I do put my close friends first as those relationships are very important to me!!! I don’t open browsers with facebook, pinterest, etc as those are just distractions. I make my list each morning of things that HAVE to be taken care of that day. The list is important as it helps me stay on track and keeps me from forgetting important things. Plus I prioritize it with numbers as what needs to be done first, second, third, etc.

Another thing that helps me is I have certain days each week I work on the same tasks. For example, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are the days I post blogs. The 5th and 20th of the months are the days I send out newsletters for my clients and page followers. Doing the same tasks each week/month helps me not to forget them. Plus when I plan my week out, I know those are going to be my busy days.

Different things work for each person, but for me, staying organized and having lots of lists is what helps me the most! Its taken time to find a system, and some days I get behind and other days I have evenings to just read and relax! Part of being a work from home mom is learning to go with the flow, just do your best, and remember your goals! For me, my kids come first, and work comes second.

Graham Cookies

March 4, 2015 | Leave a Comment

As a parent, it is always a struggle between finding foods my kids will eat, and my desire to have them eat healthy foods. Lately as I have noticed that effects sugar have on my 4 year old, I’ve been working hard to find healthy foods that I can make. And that he will still enjoy haha. One recipe I recently found that everyone loved, is home made graham crackers! These are very easy to do and delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup whole wheat flour or flour of choice
1½ cups all purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup butter, cold
¼ cup honey
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a blender combine the ingredients.
Next put in the chilled butter.
Scoop the mixture onto a piece of wax paper, with another sheet onto and roll out with a rolling pin or cup
Roll dough out and use cookie cutters to make shapes or a cup just for circles.
Place cookies on parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

To Freeze, simply cut the cookies into shapes and then place them onto a baking sheet and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Then you can place them in a plastic bag and you can freeze them for up to 3 months. When you are ready to bake them, just cook them with an additional 1-2 minutes of bake time added on and keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.

Skinny Peanut Butter Cookies

February 9, 2015 | 6 Comments

I’m a personal trainer, sports nutritionist, and have lost over 80 lbs. How did I do it??? By not depriving myself of treats! I simply found healthier ways to have foods I loved, and that helped me stick with my plan. Many people cut out the foods they love, so then they feel deprived and binge eat. When they do that, they gain weight back at a faster weight and are farther behind on their goals than when they started. The fix for this??? Don’t deprive yourself! Have the foods you like in moderation and try to make them healthier.

Peanut Butter cookies are one of my favorite treats, and this recipe gives you 24 cookies at 36 calories each!!!! This is a great way to have a snack that doesn’t ruin all your hard work. Not to mention kids loves these too!!

INGREDIENTS:
1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
1 Cup Sugar (I used stevia)
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Egg

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. Combine ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until well blended. Form into quarter shaped balls and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for approx 10 minutes.

Add a chocolate kiss and bake for another 2 minutes

With kiss: 58 calories

Live Like A Girl

February 4, 2015 | 1 Comment

I am a very structured person. I like lists, I like plans, and I like order. And I have 3 kids under the ages of 5. Having kids has been a great lesson to me on living in the moment, knowing whats important, and getting my priorities in order. My middle child, Adalyn, teaches me that daily!!! At 3 years old she dances to the beat of her own drum, ignores rules and order, is her own boss and lives like a fierce and fabulous girl.

If you need a giggle, here is a normal week with Adalyn.

Going into Lowes to use the restroom, she announces “I’m wearing boy underwear today!! I stole it from Will!”

De-cluttering my closet, she pulls everything from the trash pile “Mom, can I keep this?? Yes or No.” “No, put it back in the trash” “Mom, Yes or No. But NOT No!”

“Mom, while you put Liam to sleep I colored my belly. Its pink!!”

On what to have for breakfast: “CHOCOLATE!!! Lots of CHOCOLATE!”

“For Halloween, Im going to be Astrid!!! Not a princess! A dragon rider!” (From How To Train Your Dragon)

On why she was closing all the doors in the house ” BECAUSE I WANT TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Her Current Favorite Songs: Timber, Shake It Off, and Let It Go

Her Favorite Activity: Taking care of her “one baby Liam”

On what she wants to be when she grows up “I want to wear Lipstick and give shots!”

Favorite Superhero: Pink Ones

Favorite Food: Ice Cream and Broccoli

Spending time with Adalyn reminds me that being yourself is the best person to be. She is the middle child with an older and younger brother, and boy is she FIERCE! Sure she is only 3, but she sings even when she doesn’t know the words, she dances to her own beat, she dresses like she is a superhero princess, she tries to fly and doesn’t cry when she fall, and she says whatever is on her mind. My wish for her is that she never changes and always embraces every part of herself that makes her different from others. And that she always remembers that being a girl means she is strong, fierce, beautiful, and capable of anything she wants! #likeagirl

Skinny Puppy Chow

January 30, 2015 | Leave a Comment

I love sweets. Forget pizza and pasta, sweet snacks are my go to item!! I can eat salad all day long if need be if it means I get chocolate for dessert haha. I’m always on the hunt to find ways to make my favorite treats a bit healthier, and this week I made Skinny “Puppy Chow”. No its not dog food, its peanut butter chocolate covered chex mix. SO GOOD!!!! Its also a great sweet snack for kids!!

Here is how I made it:

INGREDIENTS:

2 Cups Wheat Chex Cereal (you can use regular too)

2 Tbsp Natural Low Fat Peanut Butter

2 Tbsp “I Can’t Believe Its Not Butter”

2 Squares Sugar Free Dark Chocolate

1 Package Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding

1 Tbsp Powdered Sugar (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the butter, peanut butter, and chocolate in a large pot on the stove. Melt over low heat and stir consistently to prevent it from burning. Once it has all melted, remove from the stove. Pour the chex mix in the pot and mix it up well. Dump the chex onto a foil lined cookie sheet to cool. Once it has cooled (approx. 20-30 minutes) pour it into a large Ziploc bad and add the pudding and powdered sugar. Shake gently to mix. Store in an air tight container or bag for 3-5 days.

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