True Confession

I can't make my kids Halloween costumes this year!

This year my boys are making their own...it won't be the "WOW Look at the super cool Edward Scissorhands costume Lily is wearing!" (that her dad obviously spent days making). Instead, their Halloween costumes will be "Hey guys, look at what I made!". They all starting cutting up fabric, cardboard, wrapping with foil and creating wild costumes

I just don't have time (nor motivation) this year and I feel a huge sense of relief instead of guilt! I feel I've made huge strides as a parent--accepting that I can not/will not do "it" all.

And guess what? My kids don't care who makes their costumes!

I am less stressed out and they are excited that I am happy! So no Martha Stewart moment but a better moment in the end. Now I need to figure out Thanksgiving!

Living in Candy Land

Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of the year. No pressure to pick the perfect gift and every excuse to EAT candy. I love candy, and between my kids and I it’s a battle to savor the flavors! But is it just me, or are the treats TOO sweet?

I had to think to myself: Does this mean I've outgrown candy? Impossible. I decided it was time for me to discover new, better MOM candy.

So my friends, after long day of ghoulish antics, you deserve to treat yourself to the delightful confections from Cowgirl Chocolates. My friend Marilyn specializes in spicy and non-spicy chocolates will have you tossing your Snicker's bar stash. Go ahead and let your goblins gobble up the year old candy corn while you hitch your wagon to your own special stash.

Some of Marilyn's must trys include:
Spicy Pumpkin Caramel Corn, Caramel Nut Clusters and her 10th Anniversary Truffle Collection

Take advantage of a special Warm Biscuit Bedding treat...save 20% on charming new Mom bracelets and Mom necklaces!

The Top Banana

We hosted a birthday brunch this weekend for my old friend Tom. Instead of a traditional cake his wife made one of the most scrumptious pies: Banana Creme. I haven't tasted one in years and was suddenly annoyed with what I've been missing! With the first bite, I was taken back to my childhood.

I don't know about you, but I am always trying to make fancy desserts with hard to find ingredients that truthfully, are not so tasty. I do it not so much to impress, but because I feel like a simple treat in today’s society will be dubbed passe. For some odd reason we all have been bitten by the Foot Network Challenge bug, and fortunately my life is not a fabulous reality TV show. So, this simple girl is choosing the simple life.

Our mothers had it right. My mom always made banana creme pie, my grandma made banana creme pie and now, I vow to start!

So, pull out mom's recipes, put on an apron, crush some graham crackers, smash a few bananas, stir together eggs and milk and swirl in some sugar. Make this timeless favorite this weekend and be yet another generation that can pass on a timeless favorite.

In Search of My Inner Organizer

3 boys + 1 traveling parent + 1 small business owner parent + 2 schools + 2 soccer teams + 3 after school schedules + 1 part time nanny

Equals One HUGE organizational challenge

Keeping the kids’ schedules in order is one of my biggest headaches. I marvel at moms who seem to “have it all together.” (In fact, I am convinced I am missing a gene!) My head spins off my shoulders when I think of my grandmother who raised 6 kids, and my great grandmother who raised 10!

How did they do it without the help of a family white board, fancy day timers, personal hand held devices, nannies, etc?! Well at the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co., we have several bestselling mom and baby organizers to lend a helping hand.

My favorite tools are the School Years Memory Book and the Birthday Book. Each page is easy to fill out and has secret pockets to store important mementos. I have one for each child and we love looking back over the years.

The other family favorite is the School Years Frame (K through 12). Capturing their hair styles alone is enough to bring a smile to my face! Let me know some of your organizational tips…I am ALWAYS in the market.

Where have the Chores Gone?

I grew up in a household where my brother and I each had to do things around the house. (cook dinner, rake leaves, mow the lawn, set and clear the table, etc.) Eventually, our chores became daily habits.

Thinking about my grandfather growing up on the farm...breakfast couldn't have been made without the eggs or milk. Today, we have macaroni and cheese that magically appears from a box! No churning of butter...Most families today don't have as much WORK to do around the house (with vacuums, dishwasher's, etc) However, it's just as important today to have kids contribute. By all of us working together, we ensure our family runs properly.

So we have daily chores in our family. My oldest, sets the table and pours the water for dinner. Henry clears the dishes and fills the dishwasher. Wesley takes our the recycling. All of these are family habits that make our house run better. The lesson we want them to learn? Responsibility!

Rooting for the Home Team, Twice!

Of course, our household would be split down the middle in the New York Yankee vs Cleveland Indian series. (FYI, my husband and I also cancel each other's vote politically--he a Republican and I a Democrat)

Brad was born and raised in Cleveland, is a die-hard Indian fan...and I've been a Yankee fan since moving to New York over 20 years ago. I love pretty much everything about the Yankees...the history, the classic uniforms, their coach, Joe Torre, the players (both old and new).

My boys love baseball, especially playing it. Our entire family spends a lot of time at the fields. So now, it's up to our kids to choose their baseball team. Let's Go Yankee's! (And...Go Tribe...) In the end, we all win somehow.

Dinner with Mom

I’ve been having weekly breakfasts with two girlfriends for over 4 years now. We share mom advice, swap stories about our kids, careers, husbands, analyze life and basically support one another.

A few weeks ago, my friend Alison was enthusiastically recommended a new book, Dinner with Dad. In a nutshell, it’s about how a workaholic dad made a life altering decision to join his family for nightly dinners. Because of these dinners-- his perspective on life changed, it reconfirmed his belief in family and he altered his work habits.

For years, I’ve thought it would be next to IMPOSSIBLE for our family to have nightly dinners. As my husband travels 3 out of the 5 nights and while I’m in town, I work long days. In fact, I can barely make a grocery list, needless to say a meal made!

But this struck home, if this dad could do it, so could we!

So for the last two weeks, we’ve managed to sit around our family dining table a few times and share more than a simple meal. Our boys are learning how to put dishes on the table, pass the bread, and use a napkin! We’ve had a few false starts (whoops, no vegetables!), however all of us are committed to slowing down and taking time to listen to one another.

And now, I have another important meal to look forward to sharing! My kids have been helping me cook...and I've seen a big trend with kid's cooking--we've seen bigger interest with our kids aprons, cookbooks, stoves, and kitchen sets this year. I am super excited about our new custom stove and would love to know what you think.

Halloween Countdown Begins

It’s no surprise my kids love flipping through catalogs with our passion for them! (I can remember scouring the Sears Wish Book for hours with my brother).

We recently got an entire book of Halloween costumes, candy, tattoos, décor, etc. and they went nuts. “I want that, ooohhh, freaky! Mom, can I PLEASE have this one!”

Halloween is the second Christmas!

So let the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co help you gear up for the Goulish Day—we’ve got your personalized Halloween bowls for candy corn treats, vintage Halloween party décor and garland, and loads of fun vintage fabrics to make your perfect Halloween kids costume!