The Mommy Games

Mommy Happy Hour

Aug92013

Happy Friday loves! This week has been nothing if not monotonous. We’ve been in the midst of potty training, which essentially means we’ve been locked indoors, and that our Saturday looked about the same as Tuesday. There were many times when I had to consult my phone just to see what day it was. Sad! I hope to shake things up a bit next week and have some fun outings for the kids planned. Seeing people post first day of school pictures on Facebook and Instagram has given me a push to get moving on our summer bucket list while we still can. Do you have anything fun planned for these last weeks of summer?

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Happy Hour · Tagged With: abc cocina, downton abbey, keurig, renee carlino, sweet thing

Let’s Get Organized: Babysitter Printout

Aug82013

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these Let’s Get Organized posts. Honestly, I’ve been on a sort of mental summer break myself and have felt anything but organized. I sat down the other day and made a list of all the closets I want to reorganize and various things that needed to be done around the apartment. This list ended up being over 30 items long. I then proceeded to open my kindle and get lost in new book, because really, it was just too much for my checked out brain to handle at the moment.

As much as I would like to just snap my fingers and everything be done, sometimes the only way is to just chip at it bit by bit. So I started with one of the easiest points – redoing the list I leave for our babysitters that is always on the side of the refrigerator. Do you use an information sheet like this? I think it’s so helpful to a sitter, and also makes life more convenient for you since you won’t have to scramble to remember and write out all this every time you need to leave the kids. This one includes important numbers (I always include the pediatrician, vet, and poison control, as well as any necessary family members), home address, major schedule points, and also some extra information that might be helpful to the sitter. I started writing favorite toys, foods, etc. at the suggestion of one of our sitters who says this is the one thing she wished parents would share more often.

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Know How, Organization · Tagged With: babysitter, contact list, emergency numbers, printout

S’mores Icebox Pie

Aug62013

Is there any more quintessential summertime dessert than s’mores? Just type “s’mores” into Pinterest and you will be privy to a variety of desserts that have all gotten their inspiration from this much loved classic. There’s just something about the whole graham cracker, gooey marshmallow, and chocolate combo that wins over adults and children alike. This pie combines all of that, with the addition of ice cream. In my book, everything is better with a little ice cream. This took no more than 10 minutes to put together and there’s no actual cooking involved, just a little microwaving and assembly. This was such a light and refreshing dessert, with just a hint of decadence from the chocolate and marshmallow layers. A great spin on a classic, and one I know your family will love.

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Recipes, Sweets · Tagged With: chocolate, dessert, frozen, ice cream, pie, s'mores

Mommy Happy Hour

Aug22013

Happy Friday! I am ready to get this weekend started, so let’s go ahead and jump right into some good reads (and exciting news!), 2 new must-try restaurants, and a few random things that my life simply wouldn’t be complete without. And don’t forget that you just have this weekend to enter to win $100 to Sephora! We all deserve a little extra pretty in our lives, so be sure to enter!

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Looking Good, Mommy, Mommy Happy Hour · Tagged With: articles, books, hair ties, make-up, nyc restaurants

10 Things To Do When Your Kids Are Driving You Crazy!

Aug12013

We’ve all been there. Your child, despite disciplinary repercussions, has been incessantly whining, emptied all of their dresser drawers (and yours), spilled the dog’s water everywhere, and capped it all off by scattering garbage throughout the house. Oh, and did I mention that your newborn appropriately picked this minute to have a major blowout that has left both you and him…decorated? Yep, even the most patient of moms meet their breaking points at times. Before you get ready to ship your little angels off to Grandmas, let’s talk about some strategies to use when you need to reset this chaotic, manic vibe.

As a bit of a warning, I don’t suggest using these on a regular basis, just when you truly are at your whits end. You don’t want to constantly be teaching your child that by behaving badly they will actually be rewarded, but let’s face it, there are times when small indulgences are well worth a little peace. So here’s my go-to, “Save Mommy’s Sanity” moves:

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Know How · Tagged With: crisis management, going crazy, kids, mom, tantrum, what to do

Blackberry Lime Sorbet

Jul302013

I have a confession to make….I pretty much hate doing anything artsy with my kids. Yep, play-doh, painting, markers – I could live a happy life without any of it. Every time I get brave and bust out the arts and crafts, we end up with spilled paint, crayons in the mouth (repeatedly), stickers stuck to the floor, and a very stressed out momma. My type-A tendencies just can’t handle it. Thankfully, what the kids miss in the arts department, we more than make up for with our culinary adventures. For some reason making a mess in the kitchen is so much easier to handle. Like the kitchen is meant for messes (not to mention, everything is at least somewhat wipeable).

There are still days when I really don’t want to deal with spilled flour and sticky floors though, and on those days, we make sorbet. Sorbet is the perfect thing to make with your littles because there is little mess involved, and a lot of cool gadgets. Just make the simple syrup during nap time, so that way all you’re doing is a little blending (do your kids love to push the buttons as much as mine?), straining, waiting (admittedly, the hardest part, but I consider this a teachable moment about patience), and the most fun – watching the ice cream maker turn our bright purple liquid into a frosty treat. It’s like magic in their kiddo eyes. So go ahead and try making this super refreshing, and very pretty sorbet with your kids. If I, in all my neat-freakness can handle it, then I’m sure you can too.

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Recipes, Sweets · Tagged With: blackberry, cooking with kids, dessert, lime, sorbet

Mommy Happy Hour

Jul262013

Friday, you could not have come sooner! My husband was away on business most of the week, and let me tell you, being a single parent is no joke. I am utterly spent. It’s amazing how having an extra pair of hands at the end of the day can make life so much easier. I definitely needed a little pep talk around dinner and bath time, and quickly reached for a cocktail once everyone was tucked away for the night. My hats off to all you amazing women who do this on a regular basis. I will happily give you a virtual cheers for this Mommy Happy Hour.

I have some awesome stuff to share with you, and don’t forget to enter to win $100 to Sephora in my blogiversary giveaway!

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Happy Hour · Tagged With: books, love, make-up, mommy, NYC, Restaurants, what to read, where to eat

Brandon 3 Year Summary

Jul252013

Brandon 3 Year Summary 2

It’s official, we have a 3 year old. Is it shocking that him turning 3 makes me feel older than the fact that I’m turning 30 in a few months? Three is most decidedly not a baby. Brandon talks in full sentences, voices his own opinions (loudly), drinks from a big cup without spilling, has friends of his own choosing, picks out his clothes, and can actually remember (and retell) what he did on a given day. It’s not like he’s off to college next week or anything, but I do feel like we’ve made a pretty big jump.

[Read more…]

· Filed Under: Mommy, Our Family, Toddler Summaries · Tagged With: 3 year old, preschooler, schedule, toddler