"For a lot of people, the weekly paycheck is "take-home pay" because home is the only place they can afford to go with it." ~Charles A. Jaffe

Cranberry Orange Pecan Salad {Recipe}

Ingredients:

1 c pecans

4 T sugar (divided in 1/2)

10 oz. bag romaine or your choice of lettuce

11 oz. can Mandarin orange segments, drained

1/2 c dried cranberries

1/3 c olive oil

3 T white wine vinegar

1 t Dijon mustard

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

In a small skillet place 2 T sugar and pecans. Heat on medium until sugar caramelizes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Meanwhile, place bagged lettuce, oranges and cranberries in large salad bowl.

To make vinaigrette whisk together: olive oil, vinegar, 2T sugar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Add to salad just before serving.

Toss and serve.

Recipe author: unknown

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others." ~Audrey Hepburn

Book Review #1 - On Becoming Babywise

Before I get started, I want to say that I know there is a lot of controversy out there on this book as well as its author. However, most of the sites that I've read regarding "the controversy" are regurgitation's of each other. On top of the fact that they are assuming it is the only information your going to read or consult about caring for your baby. As with anything in life you must read and use the information that works for your particular situation. Also, think about why the doctors, lactation consultants, and churches might have reasons to try to sabotage. I'm not saying that they're incorrect because I don't know, but I am saying there are always two sides to every story and the controversy websites are very one sided.


Title: On Becoming Babywise: How 100,000 new parents trained their babies to sleep through the night the natural way
Authors: Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam M.D.
Review by: Kayla Dionyssiou


Basic Information

• Copyright date: 1995 (I did not review the newest version)
• Book type/genre: Parenting
• This books general subject matter is on caring for a baby from birth to 12 months.
• Special features: Questions for Review at the end of each chapter, Healthy Baby Growth Chart, Sample Schedules, Subject Index, Notes Pages.
• Price: $10.04
• ISBN: 0-88070-909-X

Review

Doctor Robert Bucknam through his own personal experience has come to trust the techniques provided in Babywise. He has observed during his practice in pediatrics "that parents equipped with the right information do make a difference." Dr. Bucknam uses the principles of Babywise as a part of his regular care. "When parents come in looking exhausted and discouraged and tell me their woeful stories of sleepless nights and fussy babies, I can give them a positive prescription that cures the problem---I hand them a copy of Babywise." (pg. 15)


Gary Ezzo provides techniques, perspectives and concepts to help you in your new position as a parent. He states, "What you do in the first days, weeks, and months of your baby's life will impact all the rest of your parenting years." He explains that this book is not just about getting your baby to sleep through the night but about setting up solid foundations for training and later on relationship building. "Babywise is more than an infant-management concept; it is a strategy for responsible parenthood." (pg. 17) Most importantly the book is designed with the family as a whole in mind, so everyone is happy, healthy, and cared for.


Here is an overview of the chapters:

Chapter 1: Baby Needs a Family cover two main points "the significance of the husband- wife relationship... and... the danger of child-centered parenting." (pg. 19) That is not to say that if you are a single parent that this book is not for you, it is! The information provided will still be useful. The couples, however, will need to use the strategies to create a strong home environment. This chapter offers two mini-stories that allow you to peek at the outcomes of children in the different styles conveyed here. This chapter is not to be skipped!

Chapter 2: Feeding Philosophies defines terms used by the author's as well as by the rest of the baby care world (i.e. doctors & midwives, lactation consultants, other parents and grandparents, etc.). It offers historical and psychological perspectives of the past & present. The major philosophy used in this chapter is called Parent-directed Feeding (PDF). "Parent-directed feeding is an infant management strategy designed to meet the nutritional, physical, and emotional needs of the baby, as well as the needs of the entire family." (pg. 38)

Chapter 3: The Benefits of Order reviews the child's need for structure and routine, as well as the negative connotations these words have come to have. It goes over parent-directed feeding again include its advantages for the child, mother and father. This chapter also continues the mini-stories from chapter 1.

Chapter 4: Hunger and Sleep Cycles connects how the parent-directed feeding program influences nighttime sleep. It explains hunger patterns and sleep/wake cycles and routines. It touches on sleep deprivation and sleep props. "One of the most obvious benefits of parent-directed feeding is the establishment of stable nighttime sleep patterns. That means your baby sleeps all night, along with the rest of the family." (pg. 51)

Chapter 5: Facts on Feeding emphasizes that the method of feeding "is not as important as the gentle and tender cuddling you give him during feeding." (pg. 63) It reviews both breast and bottle feeding. Breast feeding topics include: Milk Production, The Let-down Reflex, Breast milk and Baby's Digestion, Nursing Your Baby - positioning and nursing periods. Bottle feeding topics include: Formula and Burping Your Baby. "If you choose not to nurse, or can't nurse, or if you decide to discontinue nursing within the first twelve months, that in no way reflects badly upon you as a mother. Just as breast feeding doesn't make you a good mother, bottle feeding doesn't make you a bad one." (pg. 77) I personally loved this statement! It seems to me that society has a double standard here. There is significant pressure to breastfeed to be a "good mother" but if you are seen in public breastfeeding you are given looks of disgust.

Chapter 6: Monitoring Your Baby's Growth covers all the things you need to know to feel content your baby is eating well and what to do if he/she is not. Topics include: Signs of Adequate Nutrition, Weight-Gain Concerns, Babies Who Fail to Thrive, Insufficient Milk Production, and If You Question Your Milk Supply as well as a Healthy Baby Growth Chart for tracking diapers and feedings.

Chapter 7: Establishing Your Baby's Routine goes over how to include feedings, wake and sleep times into a routine that integrates the baby into the families routine. Topics include: Your Lifestyle and Your Baby, Your Baby's First Year - Phases 1-4, General Guidelines, Feeding at Intervals less than Two and One-half Hours, Sample Schedule, and How to Drop a Feeding. "During these moments of nurturing, you are doing more than just filling up a little tummy; you are integrating life into your child and your child into life." (pg. 97)

Chapter 8: Waketime and Naptime covers the other two major activities of your baby's day. It explains the importance of the order of the activities being feeding, waketime, naptime. Waketime can be with family members and include activities such as: feeding, singing, reading, bathing, walking, and playing. Waketime activities for the baby to do alone (or independently alongside others): Pictures, Mobiles, Gym, Swing, Infant Seat, and Playpen. Other topics include: Sleep Patterns and Waking Up Happy. "When your baby gets enough sleep you will notice a happy disposition; the baby will make happy cooing sounds, letting you know it's time to get him or her up." (pg.122)

Chapter 9: When Your Baby Cries discusses the various reasons babies cry and how the cries are often misinterpreted. "There are many reasons babies cry, but hunger often is the only reason people consider." (pg. 125)

Chapter 10: Multiple Birth: The Endless Party discusses various topics such as: Bringing Them Home, Cribs, Diapers, You Need Help, Let's Talk About Sleep, Let's Talk About Feeding, Routine for Multiples, Waketime, and A Word to Husbands. "When you bring home a multiple birth, you really have to think and plan, because when the unexpected happens, it happens in multiples." (pg. 141)

Chapter 11: Parenting Potpourri: Topics of Interest to New Parents might be the chapter to read first. It covers topics such as: Achievement Levels, Baby Blues, Baby Equipment (Baby Monitor, Car Seat, Crib, Infant Seat, Infant Sling, Playpen), Bathing Your Baby, Bonding with Your Baby, Cesarean Birth, Church Nurseries and Baby-Sitters, Circumcision, Crib Death, Diapers, Diaper Rash, Grandparents, Growth Spurts, Immunizations, Jaundice in Newborns, The Microwave and The Bottle, Nursing Twins, Pacifiers and Thumb-sucking, Sleeping with Your Baby, Spitting Up, Starting Solid Foods, Teething, Weaning Your Baby (from Breast & Bottle). By reading this chapter first I expect readers would get answers to their burning questions and be better able to focus on the rest of the material the book has to offer.

Chapter 12: Newborn Q&A is a compilation of what we commonly call frequently asked questions (FAQs). Eleven questions and answers total asked by mothers like you.

Chapter 13: Principles for Starting Late offers general rules and guidelines for getting your baby on track. "Retraining is always more difficult than training correctly from the start, but it needs to be done." (pg. 187)

Chapter 14: Next Stop: Babywise II: Parenting Your Pretoddler, 5 to 15 months discusses patterns of learning and development so parents can determine age appropriate activities, learning and behaviors.

Overall, I feel that Babywise is a quick, easy read that can be completed in a few sittings, while highlighting or tagging pages to bring easy reference to points you want to review. I have used some of the concepts in this book and will do so right from the start with all my future children. I have already recommended it to friends and it will be something I keep in mind for a gift at Baby Showers.

If my review has inspired you to read Babywise for yourself, you can purchase from Amazon here.

Copyright 2010 Kayla Dionyssiou

Towel Folding Time-Saver

Folding your towels in this manner saves you time from re-folding them to hang them over the towel bar. This is not my own brilliance but that of my Best Friend Gabrielle West.

Lay towel out flat. Fold in thirds length wise. Then fold in thirds again. Towel ends up a great size for storing on typical shelves but you only have to unfold it half way to hang over your towel bar. Pictures to follow!

Eliminating Some Fatigue: Laundry Week

Last week I posted this quote at the end of my post:

"It's not what we do that makes us tired, it's what we don't do. The tasks we don't complete cause the most fatigue." ~Steve Chandler

It got me to thinking about what I have undone around my house that's causing me fatigue. I think the #1 thing is laundry. Specifically what I call special laundry. Special laundry is anything that is stained, needs to be hand washed, or washed on delicate cycle, mending and ironing, also fall in this category. I have a special basket just for the special laundry and because it takes more work to get it done and we tend not to need those items as often it gets put off. As we all know tomorrow never comes. So starting tonight I'm going to soak all my stained laundry in the washer with detergent and a couple of tide stain release packs. One just won't do it for a whole load of clothes with stains, I tried it and was quite disappointed. I thought I'd had a brilliant idea on how to get more for my buck, but it didn't work as I had hoped. Then starting Monday (I'm going to my niece's birthday party in California this weekend) I will start with one hand wash load in the sink, one delicate load in the washer and while I wait I will alternate mending and ironing. I would like to get it all done in one day but with a toddler running around I'll be lucky to get it finished by the end of the week. Pick one project and get it done! Enjoy eliminating some fatigue.

My New Filing System!

Photo: © Courtesy of Katespaperie.com

For years I've used these elaborate filing systems, with a file for every category and sub files for each company or whatever. And every year I say why don't I just set aside a file and put items for taxes in it and every year tax time comes and here I am digging through files for possible deductions. And other than taking stuff out of files for taxes those files are virtually untouched. So here is my new and improved file system for 2011: 3 Files! Taxes, Monthly Bills, General File.

Anything I can use for a write off will go in the Taxes folder. Monthly Bills will go in the Monthly Bills file until the next bill comes and confirms last months bill was paid. Then the old bill gets shredded. Everything else for the most part will go to the General File. Anything that seems really important or frequently referenced will be scanned to my computer using Neat Receipts. All my filing can be done as it comes into my house and hopefully that will eliminate paper piles, my nemesis!

And in case it isn't clear, at the end of each year there needs to be a new taxes file and a new General File. You can then keep them labeled by year and dispose of them when you no longer need them. More on what to keep and how long to keep it in another post.

Note: My filing system isn't where I keep my warranties or instruction booklets for our home appliances and gadgets. You should set these aside and come back for my post on how I keep warranties and instruction booklets, easily accessible and neat.

National Procrastination Week: March 7th -13th!

As a child I read the book "Goose Goofs Off" by Jaquelyn Reinach and Richard Hefter in the Sweet Pickles Series. Goose's favorite line is, "I'm taking it easy today, I'll do it tomorrow!" Much to the dismay of her neighbors and the postman. And as nice as it would be to think we could put everything off for one day that really only compounds our problems. You can see by the illustrations that it's not paying off for Goose either. She's got more stuff on her floors than she has put away, her tv's broken and the food is spoiling all over the kitchen. She can't even enjoy a relaxing day because she can't do the things she wants to do. Does this sound like you? Are you overwhelmed with the amount of stuff you have to do? Do you think if you just had a little while to enjoy some fun that you would be able to get it done? That rarely works out. One of the best things to do is to accomplish something small and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment. I've read lots of books on organization and time management as well as numerous blogs and online articles. I particularly like some of the tips the "FLY Lady" gives on her website: http://www.flylady.net. Her "shine the sink" activity is meant to apply the quick feeling of accomplishment and to help you wake up to a feeling of accomplishment. She also suggest working on assignments in 15 minute increments, for 3 sessions (45 minutes) then taking a 15 minute break and rewarding yourself with a cup of tea or some time reading a book. Then if you have more time repeat. One note of caution: There is a large volume of email to read if you sign up for her daily emails, if you are already inundated with email skip this and check her website every morning for tips and missions, even if you get the daily digest it's a lot to read. My favorite quote from Flylady is: "You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where you are." I think this is a great reminder for all of us. I think we're all likely to let the big picture cloud our ability to just do one small task and be relieved by it. The best thing about doing 1 thing is that it has the ability to inspire you to do 1 more thing and soon 1 thing has become 10 things or 1 whole room and soon 1 whole room, becomes your whole house.

Two last quotes to think about:

"Nothing is more fatiguing than the hanging on of an uncompleted task." ~ William James

"It's not what we do that makes us tired, it's what we don't do. The tasks we don't complete cause the most fatigue." ~Steve Chandler

Welcome

Hello & welcome to Housewife How To's. Honestly I am mainly creating this blog as an online (aka not easily lost) place to store ideas, recipes, tips and tricks I don't want to forget. If this information comes from a known source I will cite it and give proper credit. If the info is mine I will note that and would appreciate that you link to my site as opposed to copying my material. If I don't know where the info came from it will say unknown. I really hope you find my recipes delicious and my tips handy! Once again Welcome!

If your new here and would like to check out my all time most popular post here they are: 

How to make a diaper cake

Overnight cure for a sunburn

How to make crumbled bacon ~ Easy and Economical

Enjoy!