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Outgrowing Time Outs

The day has finally come. What has lasted for more than five years has reached a sad conclusion. R.I.P. time outs. My six-year-old has officially outgrown the punishment made famous by a TV nanny. So long time out and the seat that forced my child into submission. You restored order in our home for more than 2000 days, and helped preserve my sanity by removing my kid from activities in which she exercised inappropriate behavior. So now what? I relied heavily on time outs to discipline my child. They were effective in that they provided consistent consequences and the place … Continue reading →

Snowing in Spring…Adjusting Our Frugal Plans

It is a few days past the official start of spring, and I am looking at a wintry wonderland just outside my window. The salt trucks and plows have been by, but they have to be diligent. Already the driveway and roads are covered with white. Despite about three inches of snow on the ground already and more to come, schools are not closed today. There is no excessive wind, and we are used to snow. The weather has been wrecking some havoc with our spring frugal plans. We can’t get started on our garden, and may lose out on … Continue reading →

Different Stages Of Parenting

It’s amazing how our role as parents change in ways we could have never predicted. When my daughter was born I was full of sunshine and lollipops. This was the best, smartest, most beautiful baby ever! My baby would never throw a temper tantrum or disobey; she would always be reasonable and willing to listen to Mommy and Daddy because we know best. We were going to be best friends, my baby girl and I, always doing things together, painting our nails, talking, baking, decorating the Christmas tree, pure bliss I tell you. Those first few months, when really, she … Continue reading →

Do You Have an “Open Door” or “Closed Door” When You Work From Home?

Many traditional companies and businesses will state that they have an “open door policy”—meaning that the doors stay open—either literally or figuratively and that anyone can talk to anyone else about work-related matters. I thought it might be fun to explore how this works in our home businesses—whether or not we can work with the chaos of having any and every family member come in and out of our work space, or if we need to sequester ourselves in order to get work done. Since I do not have an office with a door that closes in my home, I … Continue reading →

New Uses for Old T-Shirts

I love my t-shirts. I use them to sleep in during the summer and to layer under my clothes in the winter. My husband and son wear t-shirts all of the time, too. There is just something about the soft cotton texture and easy wear that make t-shirts a real favorite in my house. Eventually, though, the t-shirts start to show signs of wear, from shrinking into a square shape to getting holes at the collar and seams. One frugal motto is Reuse! Reuse! Reuse! So, what can be done with old t-shirts? Here are some new uses: Pillows: Although … Continue reading →