I just found my favorite new store here in Boise.
And of course it is not for me.
I truly believe that buying good shoes will affect your child’s future…their foot future. With Ella, she wore NOTHING but Robeez for the first 12 months. They were tough, they stayed on, they let her foot develop & of course they are so damn cute! Since then, we have purchased cute sandals, but nothing that I felt good about. About a month ago we went to REI for the sole (no pun intended) purpose of buying Crocs which didn’t fit due to the funky sizes (they go up 2 sizes at a time). We did buy her a GREAT pair of sandals for the summer: Keen – they are so so so cool!
ANYWAY…my favorite new store eliminates us running around to at least 3 different stores, one being online to get what we feel is the best for our kids…and reasonably priced. So this morning before a Starbucks meeting at Eagle & Fairview in Meridian I went into Little Feet & was amazed. I thought it was going to be $100 shoes & no variety…WRONG!!! They have everything! Robeez, Keen, Pediped, Teva, Croc type shoes that go up one size at a time…etc., etc., etc!!! I am so excited! Can you tell?
Anyway, go visit this store…there is something to be said about experts in their field & a SELECTION that is incredible!

How do YOU work from home?

So yesterday my plan was to take it easy since my body was letterally shutting down from the lack of consistant sleep. All I really want in life right now is 5 hours of sleep in a row...luckily, I found these green tea pills that not only have CAFFEEEENNNEE in them, apparantly they help you loose weight...yea, we will see.

Anyway, I ended up working in the morning for about 3-4 hours from home. My computer had to "think" for a bit...so I went outside & picked weeds. Then, I started the dishwasher, let the dog out, ran a load of laundry (didn't fold it though) & had lunch.

My question....

HOW DO YOU WORK FROM HOME?

For those that do it, congrats...you have a lot more will power than I do. My best friend tried working from home w/her first baby & it was fine while the baby was a "blob"...and I say that in the most loving way a mother of 2 progressing "blobs" coould...But once he started commanding more time (which is what should happen if you are a stay-at-home-mom) she had to work at night.

My very passionate point: if you want to be a part of the "work at home" type moms...do it while the kids are at school/daycare...being a stay-at-home-mom does not mean stay at home & work while my kid is plopped in front of the tv.

Nikki Rae (& Others)...This is How you Blog

Ok-this is easier than burning toast.

You visit Caffeinated Mothering in a variety of ways...

1. you received my email announcing my new post
2. you have the blog in your favorites http://caffenatedmothering.blogspot.com/
3. you have subscribed to an RSS feed (at the very bottom of the blog are the words "Subscribe To: Posts (Atom)" click on the purple words & follow the directions. This will automatically get you the blog every time i post & obviously you will be notified through email & this will be under favorites (that nifty star at the top by your browser tabs).

Now that you have visited, you are amazed by writing abilities & have this undeniable urge to write & share w/others about the same thing....
YOU CLICK ON "COMMENTS"
and you do just that.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR COMMENT!!!
xoxo
-jen

The Mom Jean

At 34 & the rescent graduate of squeezing 2 babies out of my body in 22 minutes flat...I swear I will never wear the mom jean. I actually just put a brand new pair of Eddie Bauers in the "give it to someone who will wear it" pile because despite the fact that it DID cover the muffin top, here was my major concern...THE POCKET PLACEMENT. Now if the Mom Jeans would just change this & this alone, all moms would have a killer badonkadonk! The pockets need to be closer together & not as big...this would solve Mom Jean-itis & would make Stacy & Clinton proud.
My solution not to fall victim to this? Work it off. Have not started yet, but swear I will as soon as I can sleep for 5 hours/night.
What's your greatest "now that I am a mom, I HAVE to wear this..."

Guilty Mom Does Not Live Here

Who: Wife of Greg, Mom of 3, Woman of the working world
What: 3 1/2 girl & 4 monoth old boy/girl twins
When: Pregnant since 4am on Christmas morning 2002...

Where: Suburb of Boise
Why: Lived our life to the fullest & thought that at age 30 it was about time...

I read frequently in my Working Mother magazine (highly recommended) about mothers who feel guilty about working. I am NOT one of them. I love, love, love my 3, but really love my job too! There is a way to balance & here is how I do it...

1. 1. "Day Care" (we call it school...Day Care just sounds like Ed Bradly is going bust in w/cameras & do an expose' on dirty toilets). Our school is AMAZING! Education Station has great teachers at all levels, they are very strict w/the kids (no Montesori School here!) & they absolutly love them. I truly believe that I am not the only teacher in their life & that they will learn from others, but will be guided by the morals & values that we instill in them. FYI: our 3 1/2 year old gets praised all the time by the teachers because she does what she is told & keeps the other kids in line when they act out. She knows right from wrong already....because that is how we have raised her so far.


2. 2. 50/50 Balance: Greg & have never said..."oh, that is X's job". We both do everything. If you don't have this, you must get it. Bottom line.


3. 3. I LOVE my job! My marketing company, BlueLine, is a dream job. I am an account manager & also do sales when needed. Couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to work with.


4. 4. COOOOFFFFFFFEEEEEEE! Greg makes the best pot of coffee. My 2 mugs in the morning, an Oregon Chai between 11-2 & then sometimes one at 6 on the way home...and then at least a cup of "leftover" coffee about 7pm. I will cut back once I can get more than a 3 hour block of time in sleepy-ville...until then, NO GUILT!

So guilt is what you make of it. I know that my children are SMART, loved, disciplined, fed & taken care of while I go out & make a living for my family. I love not only being a financial contributer in our family, but a strong one at that.