July 28th, 2010 08:00am

Time Saving Tips

by WineCountry.Mom


Show me a working mom, and I’ll show you someone who has less than enough time to get everything done in a day. With little ones underfoot, there are some days when relaxing is a foreign word that only exists someplace exotic. But in my own experience, I have found several time-savers that have allowed me at least a few minutes to sit before I’m off and running again. (read the article…)
June 28th, 2010 03:16pm

Because of Grandma

by WineCountry.Mom

Two weeks ago my grandmother passed away. It wasn’t a surprise, we had known it was coming. But once it happened, the overwhelming sadness that came with it was inescapable. And I was actually surprised to be overcome with tears upon the news. (read the article…)

June 2nd, 2010 11:36am

The Family Meal

by WineCountry.Mom


Family meals. A recipe for success? Or a recipe for disaster? (read the article…)
May 11th, 2010 10:11am

What’s up for summer vacation?

by WineCountry.Mom

Summer vacation is right around the corner. So how are you going to entertain the kids? (read the post…)
March 20th, 2010 11:27am

Representing the Family

by WineCountry.Mom

When my sisters and I were small, my dad was adamant that appearances went hand in hand with being considered a good kid.

“You’re representing our family,” my dad would say to us gruffly whenever we were out of line, or when we decided that the wrinkled clothes on our bedroom floor were perfectly acceptable to wear to school. I still remember the look on my dad’s face, and the way he couldn’t speak to me for days, when I shaved the bottom of my head for a more punk look. I was only trying to find myself, to separate myself from the drones of prep students who I didn’t fit in with anyway. My mother was irritated at the action I chose to took, but decided that it was just hair, and that it would grow back. My dad, on the other hand… “You look like a butt,” my dad said when he could finally talk to me. (more…)
February 9th, 2010 01:38pm

10 things I learned as a parent

by WineCountry.Mom

As parents, it is our job to guide our children and teach them important lessons in life. But sometimes it is our kids who are teaching us. Here are some very important lessons I have learned from my children.

1. Girls don’t always dress like girls. My daughter was the very first girl of the family. This resulted in piles of pink clothes with frilly lace being thrust at me from all directions. Me? I was never a girly girl. I preferred to dress my new little girl in neutral colors and overalls. And when she got older, she abhorred pink with a passion. But her grandparents always tried. She’d receive pink shirts and pretty dresses – all of which would end up in the back of her closet or in a pile of clothes to return that would just end up going into the Goodwill bag because I was too lazy to make it to the store. Did I wish she would dress more like a girl? Have I tried to sell the idea that pants can still be worn under dresses to make them somewhat less girly? (more…)

January 26th, 2010 12:00pm

The difference between moms and dads

by WineCountry.Mom

Growing up, I was fortunate to have both my parents in the home. My dad is a real estate appraiser, and though he worked a lot, we were often able to accompany him on local road trips when he went to look at houses. Sometimes we’d ride along with him, fascinated by the beauty of some areas that we never would have seen otherwise. Other times he would drop my mom and us three girls off at the park so we could have a picnic. He’d join us when his appointment was done.

Dad was the one who had the ideas for fun places to go and things to see. Who knew that sitting in the lobby of a fancy hotel, as if we were guests, enjoying hot chocolate by the fire could be so much fun. But with Dad, it was his way of instilling make-believe in us. (more…)
January 25th, 2010 11:52am

10 steps to a cleaner home

by WineCountry.Mom

There was a time (a couple weeks ago) when cleaning was the last thing on my list, and the first thing to get skipped. Just looking at that huge mountain of tasks to be tackled was overwhelming, and enough to keep me from actually doing anything about.

Perhaps you can relate.

Are you embarassed by your house? Have you stopped inviting people over to your home? When anyone knocks at your door, do you only partially open the door so that your visitor can’t see the full extent of the mess? Do you feel scattered, unable to find even the simplest of items because they aren’t where they’re supposed to be? Are you being relied on to finish all the housework and it is just getting to be too much? (more…)
December 14th, 2009 03:02pm

Creating Good Family Habits

by WineCountry.Mom

As a parent, I am very concerned with making sure that our home is based on the well-being of our family. I strive to make sure that we all eat the right foods and limit the foods that don’t promote good health. I have kept cable television out of my house so that we aren’t stuck in front of the TV in the evening for hours on end. I have a strict 9 o’clock bedtime for the two of them so that they get a proper 10 hours of sleep a night. But sometimes, even with my best intentions, life gets in the way of keeping to the simple guidelines I have laid out. (Read more….)
September 11th, 2009 01:39pm

Best Bets for the Weekend: 9/12-9/13

by WineCountry.Mom

Best bets for the weekend: Katmandu Fall Festival Saturday Sept 12th, 11 am – 5 pm (Photo courtesy of childrensmedaid.org) Celebrating Nepalese culture, the Katmandu Fall Festival is a benefit for the Children’s Medical Aid Foundation. Enjoy the many cultures of Nepal, India and Tibet with exotic food, world music, and ethnic dance performances. The event is kid friendly, and is even located near a playround. Located at Depot Park, 270 1st St. W … Read More »