8 Tips For Surviving Your School's Fair

This evening, I'm sitting in a lawn chair parked in front of my daughter's elementary school. After seven hours of being cooped up learning on this lovely Summer day, she sprinted back to school for this, the event of all events, The Spring Fair. This annual gathering promises an evening of delight complete with inflatables (water and dry), a tiny train, carnival games, crafts, and the opportunity to cavort with her friends.

I'm less enthusiastic. Because she is my second child, it's my 10^th year at this fair and they haven't changed the line-up in all of those years. So as I sit in my chair, let me share

8 Tips For Surviving Your School's Spring Fair

1.  Review With Your Child That They Are ONLY To Go Home With You (or whomever you designate). Our community is pretty safe, but I don't want Diva thinking that if she can't find me she can leave with someone else. Stress this before you even GET to the venue. 

2.  Prepay if you can. I ordered armbands the day they were announced. Kids are so excited by the prospect of fun, fun, fun that all they want to do is run off. Save yourself trying to find exact change with a hyper child by your side, grab a pre-paid armband, and set your kid free. 

3.  Set Up A Base Camp So They Can Find You.  If your child is old enough that you don't have to follow them, set up a base camp, preferably near some sort of reference point like a big rock, tree, bush, window, etc. Tell the kid where you're going to be and stress that they MUST check in periodically. They'll have to anyway if they want to buy food.

4.  Bring Cash.  Don't kid yourself that you're going to get away without buying anything at this event. Sure, you can bring all the organic, GMO-free stuff you want, but all that will happen is that your child will either A) wind up staring at his friends who are eating pizza or B) begging their friends or you for the crap they're serving. Bring water and maybe a snack or two, but resign yourself to the fact that you WILL be buying something. 

6.  Sit AWAY From The Loudspeakers.  For some reason, PTA people and school personnel don't like telling disc jockeys and entertainers that they're TOO FUCKING LOUD and that the noise level is GOING TO MAKE OUR KIDS HARD OF HEARING. Make your base camp away from the speakers and you can mitigate hearing loss for the both of you. You might even have a prayer of talking and listening to other parents.

7.  Be Prepared For A Tantrum When You Leave.  Understand that if you try to drag your kid away from the event before it officially ends, you're pitting yourself against a tired, wired-up kid who IS going to have a tantrum. Fortunately, it will probably be so loud there that no one will hear you arguing.

8.  Enjoy! The time is coming when you'll be dropping your kid off at an event and you won't get to see them having fun with their friends. Take some photos when they're not looking and remember how they look now. They'll only be this little once. 

We're home, and the Fair is now a memory. After being covered in foam and having her hair sprayed red and white, she's upstairs recuperating. Watching her have a blast was wonderful for me; I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Use these eight tips and you'll get through the Fair with a minimum of problems and, hopefully, a good amount of pleasure!

THANK YOU FOR READING! 

Yeah.  That's me...right....

9 Unexpected, Delightful Uses For Epsom Salt

Everybody is always touting the magic of white vinegar and baking soda. And while I'm a HUGE fan of both because of their versatility...

 I'd like to call your attention to one of my favorite, frugal substances with a MULTITUDE of purposes: Epsom Salt.

Save your pennies by using Epsom salt

 At under $2 for a 16 ounce bag of this stuff, you'll find it does so many things, such as:

Foot Soak – Sure, this is probably the most well-known use for these amazing crystals and as the mother of a gymnast, I've become well-acquainted with this use because sometimes Lily comes home with achy feet. Just add ½ cup of Epsom salt to a large pan of water and soak for 20 minutes or so.

Hair Volumizer – Mix equal parts of Epsom salt with water and work the mixture through your hair. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse. 

Face Cleaner/Exfoliant – Mix ½ teaspoon into your cleansing cream and massage into the skin. Rinse afterward with cold water. It's also great for fighting blemishes.

Splinter Remover – I recently got a splinter on the bottom of my foot. After a 20 minute soak in Epsom salt, the splinter was drawn out. Amazing!

Epsom salt is so cheap, too!

Relieve Itchy Skin or Bug Bites – Dissolve a tablespoon of these crystals in a ½ cup of water either apply as a wet compress or spritz onto itchy skin.

Fertilize Houseplants – Your houseplants will thrive by adding 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts per gallon of water and using it monthly.

Fire Starter – I LOVE this recipe, courtesy of Martha Stewart, for making a fire starter. 

Fabric Softener Crystals – Mix one cup of Epsom salt and 10 drops of essential oil to make fabric softener crystals. Use ¼ cup per load and add it at the beginning of your wash cycle.

Sea Salt Texturizing Hair Spray – Wish I'd known about this one BEFORE I spent $4 on texturizing spray! Mix one cup of hot water, 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt, 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and ½ a teaspoon of conditioner in a spray bottle. Spray the mix into your hair and scrunch for beachy-waves.

One thing I didn't mention is using Epsom salts as a laxative. Honestly, I've never tried it, so I personally can't recommend it. PLEASE check with your doctor before ingesting anything.

As you can see, Epsom salts are one of those incredibly cheap, multi-purpose substances that people have been using for hundreds of years.  Give the uses above a try and let me know what you think.  Now excuse me. It's time to grab my carton of Epsom salts and cater to my houseplants! 

THANKS FOR READING!  

---

Sources for this post included: /www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com; http://wellnessmama.com;  www.care2.com; www.treehugger.com;

Discovering YOUR Look After The Diaper-Bag Years

Recently, I admired an acquaintance’s shoes while we were waiting on the blacktop. “Oh yeah,” she said. “I decided, now that my youngest is in kindergarten, to finally get 'grown-up' shoes again. It was a lot harder than I thought. I don't know how to find a new look!” I immediately understood. Once a mother is past the diaper-bag and toddler stages of her littlest one's life, she often realizes that that all of her clothes, shoes, and accessories are utilitarian, rather than fashionable. They're designed to hide spit stains, are easy on/easy off, good for wrestling and chasing children in, and have enough room for diapers, snacks, drinks, extra clothes, toys, etc.

Discovering your look at different stages of your life can be VERY challenging!

 

In Charise's case, not only were her clothes more practical than pretty, but she had no idea who she is now. We aren't the women we were before we had our children. We're older and possibly in a different decade of our lives. We may not be working while our wardrobes are still predominately business attire. We often have a better idea of what the other people in our lives think we should look like (husbands, partners, parents, friends) rather than knowing what WE like.

So how to you discover your look NOW? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Look at magazines and websites. Put down the parenting rags and look at sources designed for people of your own age and situation. For example, Charise is no longer a working, 30-something Wall Street manager; she's now a 40-something stay-a-home mother whose needs are different than they were before. She wants stylish clothes that fit her daily life. You'll find a list of helpful sites at the end of this post.
   
   
2. Take some time to yourself to investigate stores you like and try on different clothes. Yes, this is time-consuming and I, for one, find it unpleasant, but it's necessary. You don't have to buy from those stores, but trying garments on will give you an idea of what looks good on you and what you like. Take pictures with your camera phone. You can always order styles online, often at a fraction of the cost of store inventory.
   
   
3. Notice women you admire who might be in situations similar to yours with similar body types. I've admired women on the blacktop, in the grocery store, and even waiting for my daughter at gymnastics. I keep watching them to see what pieces they have in their wardrobe that I like and try to remember for when I do go shopping for myself. 
   
   
4. Don't be afraid to shop in the mens or other departments. Some of the best flannel shirts I've ever bought, good for hanging out in on snowy days or wearing over leggings to a friend's house have come from the mens section of a store. 
   
   
5. Look for multi-purpose pieces. Large scarves are not only fashionable, but can be worn as shawls on cold days. Scarves themselves add a sophisticated touch to any wardrobe. Intimidated by how to fold them? Here's a link that will show you 38 (!) ways to tie a scarf.
   
   
6. For hairstyles, again, check out websites or go to a hair salon you trust and ask what they suggest. Now that you're no longer limited by the prospect of a baby hanging on to your locks for dear life, you have many more options. (One of my most liberating moments was when I realized that could, once again, wear dangle earrings without the fear of a baby tearing off my earlobe.)
   
   
7. Find out what a store's return policy is before you buy those heels. I think fashion should be practical and without pain, so even though you don't have to dash after a toddler anymore, nor should your feet suffer with blisters just so you can look good. 
   
   
8. Don't forget to check your closet for pieces you can use. I have so many purses that are still useful. I've glued on flowers or other decorative pieces to update them and make them coordinate with what I'm wearing. Here's where you can put your creative juices to good use!
   
   
   
   

   

   My formerly-stained purse.  I just glued a flower over the stain and now it works!

   
   

And again, think about what YOU like! Just because your mother says you should dress in black because “it looks slimming, Dear” doesn't mean you have to. If your husband wants you to wear heels when you go out, but they kill your feet, invite him to wear them instead! Your appearance says everything about you, the real you, not the “box” others have placed you in. Embrace yourself for the person you are NOW, not the shadow who you once were. The diaper-bag and toddler years are over – go find yourself!

Here are some resources to find the look you want at any age:

Hairstyles For Fall/Winter 2014: http://www.fashionisers.com/trends/fall-winter-2014-2015-hairstyle-trends/ (Hint: variations on the pony tail are hot this season!)

Fall/Winter 2014 Fashion: http://www.thekeytochic.com/2013/08/fall-winter-2014-2015-fashion-trend.html and http://thebestfashionblog.com/womens-fashion/fall-winter-2014-2015-womens-fashion-trends

How To Update Your Wardrobe When You're On A Budget: http://budgetstyle.about.com/od/styleessentials/ht/How-To-Update-Your-Wardrobe-On-A-Tight-Budget.htm

 👣👣👣👣👣

Thanks for visiting! Please come again! 

Please note that this post originally appeared, as a guest post, on the website htttp://welcometothewackadoodles.blogspot.com.