When I think of my life as a mom and wife the first thing that comes to mind is my wonderful chaotic life. Raising a toddler and being a wife can tend to get overwhelming at times. I remember my life before I became a wife and mom, it seems like a million of years ago now, and had thought that I had it all under control and nothing could get better than that. Until my Husband and Daughter came along and now I think nothing can get better than this, my chaotic semi-organized completely crazy life.

On any given day you can probably find me at home with my toddler, struggling to find balance, cleaning my house, doing dishes, trying to get my picky toddler to eat something other than princess fruit snacks and Cheetos, and barely finding enough time to get dinner on the table by 5:30. I am a recovering perfectionist who has finally realized that life is not perfect by any means and that it is OK to be chaotic.

As I sit here writing, I am looking around at the toys that are thrown all over the house, the sink full of dirty dishes, that pile of laundry that needs to be cleaned, and the only thing I can think of is I need to make a list. I am a list person, I make lists for everything. Lists for cleaning, grocery list, lists of to-do’s, lists of daily activities, lists of things my heart desires, lists and more lists for every aspect of my life. If it were not for my lovable lists I would not be able to function.

I have tried to use technology to my advantage when it comes to my lists, but I always seem to fail at updating them or even saving my lists. I consider myself technology friendly except when it comes to my lists, give me the old fashioned pen and paper any day. I make a new list every morning and cross things off as I get them done, if something did not get finished the day before it goes on the top of tomorrow’s list. My hubby makes fun of me because of my lists, but it is the only thing that keeps me semi-organized and sane.

Lists are not the only thing that keeps my life semi-organized, I label everything. I love to buy new toys and goodies for my Daughter, but with her ever growing social life, I am finding it harder and harder to keep track of her toys. I label anything that I think will be attractive to her little clepto toddler hands. Now, before you get all shocked that I would call a toddler a clepto, just think about it! How many times have you gone on a play date and come home with someone else’s toys? How many times has your child claimed that toy was “mine”? I have done it many times, my daughter became such a clepto from the age of 8-15 months that it was embarrassing having to call a friend after we got home to apologize yet again for my daughter bringing home their toys.

That’s why I label. I cannot tell you how many toys we have lost, or how many toys I have at home that do not belong to us and what’s worse is that I have no idea who they belong to. I label toys, sippy cups, binkies, shoes, socks, blankets, baby dolls, clothes, hair bows, just about anything that my toddler may lose. It makes a chaotic life seem just a little more organized and gives me peace of mind when I send her on a play date that she may actually come home with the right sippy cup and baby doll.
 

Life as a stay at home mom and wife may be completely chaotic most days, and some days I even consider going back to work because it just might be easier than being a stay at home mom, but lists and labels are my top 2 keys to success in this crazy life I call mine.
Jamie
http://www.lovetoshopmom.com
Twitter@lovetoshopmom

                          

It is?

Well, too bad. You’re getting one anyway.

Time flies when you’re having fun. Time also flies when you’ve had an amazing time in New York City, and then come home to a house full of more “fun” (as in whiny kids who are secretly holding a grudge against you for leaving them for almost a week), followed by finding out you’ve been accepted to start training for an about.com job that could possibly throw you into freelance writing further than you’ve ever been thrown before.

(More about that one later, it’s awe-some!)

So yes, time has flown.

That’s not to say I have pushed aside the BlogHer10 trip as if it were some hot one-nighter. As a matter of fact it was so incredible and overwhelming, I haven’t even really been able to process it until now. The entire conference has helped me to reevaluate what I’m doing with my writing career. It has both motivated me to work harder, and scared the pants off of me wondering if I’m good enough. I think that’s a good place to be, when you’re striving for success. It’s no good to be completely unmotivated or feel like you’re the best thing to grace the blogosphere with your presence.

I owe all of the opportunity for refocus and re-motivation to the Lovable Labels crew that made it possible for Michelle and me go to go BlogHer10.

{Excuse Michelle’s and my obvious sleepy-eyes. This was the morning post stripper shoe-napping.}

We had so much fun with these guys. They spoiled us with bringing us to New York, they worried about us and hoped that we were having a great time (we definitely were), they didn’t ask anything from us other than we enjoy ourselves, and wear our super adorable shirts during the conference.

Oh no. I take that back. They did ask one more thing of us…

That’s us, on a stage in front of anyone who was walking by in the expo hall, dancing to Rockafella Skank by Fatboy Slim. Hi-freaking-larious.

I don’t dance. I especially don’t dance in front of other people. I am incredibly self-conscious, perpetually that chubby humdrum-looking girl standing awkwardly on the edge of the dance floor trying not to look like a dork.

Dancing with them, though… that was fun.

And, to my surprise, I totally Rockafella’d their booties and got the highest score.

Go figure.

Alright, there’s one short and sweet recap from my BlogHer10 trip with Lovable Labels. I’ll have at least one more in the next couple of days. I have so many pictures to upload to share, I think a photoblog is a must!

                          

Vacations are a fun and exciting time but they can also be a big cultural eye opening experience. Sometimes we tend forget that the world that we live is not quite the same as the world other people around us and across the wold live. This is why this vacation was so important for me and my family! During my exciting experience in Italy I learned many new things and thought to share with you.

Here are 30 things I’ve learned while on my road trip accross Italy:

1. Italians are very superstitious
2. Caribineri (Police) jokes in Italy are like blonde jokes in America
3. How to curse properly!!
4. Soccer is not just a past time – it is life
5. Pancetta & Porchetta are the best things on earth
6. Water is not to be taken for granted
7. Stone houses are very cold in the winter, but perfect for the summer
8. Time is flexible…
9. Don’t drive through the center of any city or you will surely get a ticket
10. How to drive like an Italian – using both lanes & passing like crazy
11. Mid-day naps are great!
12. The weather report is never right
13. The obvious … tons of recipes
14. Italian TV is hysterical and full of collagen & botox
15. Italians love festivals! They celebrate everything!
16. Italian coffee is the best on earth
17. Red wine is a remedy for many ailments
18. Wine is cheaper than Coke or water
19. Everyone knows about gardening, plants & wild edibles
20. Energy in all forms is crazy expensive
21. On any given day, any given town may be closed to honor a saint
22. Posted business hours are just a suggestion
23. How to make sausages from scratch
24. Italians have not forgotten about WWII
25. Just because it is a nice restaurant don’t be surprised if the bathroom consists of just a hole in the floor (see pic as proof)
26. There is a proper outfit for everything – motorcycling, biking, hiking, shopping, soccer games, hunting & yard work
27. They report on the pope’s health everyday in the paper
28. Prices are negotiable
29. They will always have coffee & something sweet for unexpected drop-ins
30. Although we are actually “Canadians” they refer to anyone from this part of the world as “Americans” or as they say “Americanos”

(Interesting Bathroom in an Italian Restaurant)–Interesting to say the least!

                          

Introducing routine in your child’s life

Daycares are very routine-based.  If your child has not been on any routine up until daycare, he will be once he attends his very first day.  Remember that there are many children in the program so a routine is necessary in order to establish structure and accomplish daily activities and programs.  Routines are excellent for children; it helps maintain order and brings a sense of security to children as they will know what to expect on a daily basis.

Routines within daycares are very consistent; children will eat and sleep at the same time every day.  Diapers will be changed around the same time every day and educational programs – while typically on a rotational basis – will also occur each day.  While daycare center programs may differ, the curriculum are very similar so your child will learn things such as the days of the week, months of the year, sing lots of songs, learn about colors, learn name recognition, phonics, exercises to build fine-motor skills; basically everything they need to know in order to prepare them for preschool in the following years.  There are also daily walks and free play outside (weather permitting) so children also get exercise on a regular basis. 

Even when your little one has adjusted to the daycare routine, keep in mind that after a weekend at home, Monday mornings can sometimes still result in good-bye tears.  Even if your child has been attending daycare for several months and from Tuesday to Friday drop-off is easy-peasy, Mondays can sometimes seem like The First Day.  Just know that although your child may cry when you leave, the crying pretty much stops once you’re out of sight.  I have witnessed this myself and my daycare provider has told me this as well.  Continue with your cheerful “good-bye!  See you soon!  Have a good day!” and leave.  The tears will stop once you’re out of the room.

Daycare Tip:  try and maintain a similar routine at home.  While all children are able to adapt to two different routines (one at home and one at daycare), it may be easier on you and your child if you adhere to the routine that your child is used to at daycare.  Find out when the daycare serves their meals and snack and also when they nap the children and try to establish a similar schedule at home.

Follow Kathy’s blog on www.dreamybabies.ca

                          

On a recent trip to Italy I was on a tour bus when the bus got boxed in by an idling car.  In a flash the driver was in the other guy’s face.  They screamed, slashed the air with their hands, and turned purple.  All in six seconds.  Then it was done.  The driver, whistling, popped back into his seat.*  Off we went. Nothing to it!  Now, it seems to me that Italy has life aced.  I think here in North America we are too quick to angry but here’s the killer – we stay angry and carry that around for days, sometimes longer.  Maybe we need to chill out a little.  We all have our ups and downs but I believe it is how we vent that can make all the difference.  Shout, stomp your feet, cry, write, whatever it is, get it out but most importantly, get over it.

                          

This was my first time participating and I must admit that I had a LOT of fun!!! BlogHer’10 did not disappoint at all! All the buzz really did the conference justice! As you all know I blog on Label Me Crazy! on a regular basis and although blogging is something new to me, I am appreciating it a lot more now!

I have been writing articles, essays, reports, and many other types of papers for many years now but I have never had the chance to pick my own topics. I believe that the topic is what ignites that desire for someone to read your content and without a good topic you are better off not writing at all.

I have always been obsessed  with Facebook and Twitter but had a hard time thinking that anyone would be interested in reading something about me that would be  longer than 140 characters!

As excited as I was to meet a lot of bloggers IRL, I wanted to really learn something new at the sessions and not only did I learn an abundance of information, I also found a new passion!

I learned that I need to write about what I like but with a purpose. Writing about what I did from the moment I woke up, to what I had to eat, or how mad I am at something is not really a topic. Maybe finding a relevance is what makes a good topic. Many mom bloggers have found their content useful because other mothers go through similar situations with their children. I haven’t quite decided on what angle I want the blog to go but at least I can start gathering ideas! (Everyone starts somewhere).

Besides meeting so many wonderful women and a few men…I also had the pleasure to meet Lindsay and Michelle. Lindsay Maddox was the Lovable Labels Getaway Contest Winner for BlogHer’10 and Michelle was her lucky friend that was chosen to accompany her. I absolutely loved both Lindsay and Michelle! It felt as if we had known each other for years! Lindsay even came out with the Lovable Labels team the last night (Saturday) for a long walk to Time Square. The shock here is that she had a flight at about 6 am and had to be at the airport at around 3:45 am! She is a true partier!

I didn’t get to take many pictures but here are a few….More will come from the rest of the Lovable Labels team cameras!

Radio City was right by our Hilton hotel!

With Bev and Ronald McDonald!

The Brooklyn Bridge! The night we went to the nycnite bus tour party!

                          

Easing your child (and yourself) into daycare…Part 1

Enrolling your child in daycare can be a nerve-wracking thing for many parents.  While many of us would love the opportunity to stay at home with their children, the reality is that most of us have to go back to work. Regardless of where you live, if you have to return to work you will need to find alternate care for your child.  Family members are certainly the preferable option; after all who can you trust more to take care of your little angel other than a beloved family member?  However, not all family members are available to care for your child so parents have to turn to daycare.  Not only is there the stress of finding the right daycare for your child but there are waiting lists, monthly fees, policies, and safety regulations that we have to carefully analyze and scrutinize. 

Then there is the scariest thought of all:  how will my child respond/adjust to daycare?

I have been there before, as millions of other parents have and no matter how much you research on the internet, no matter how often you visit and scrutinize the center, your fears aren’t dispelled until your child is enrolled and actually attending the center on a regular basis.  From a mother to a mother; parent to a parent, here’s some information that may hopefully dispel some of your anxiety.

Make the transition easier for your child

Once you decide on the center in which you’re going to enroll your child, bring him to the center a few times, let him look around and explore the area.  Ask if your child can play with some of the toys and interact with the children.  Check with the center director when is the best time to bring your child for a visit – usually during ‘free play’ is a good time – so that he can become familiar with the environment and other children.  Do this a few times about two weeks leading up to The First Day so that when you do drop him off, the surroundings won’t be as foreign to him.

The First Day 

Dropping your child off at daycare on the first day is the hardest part for both parent and child.  Some children don`t even bat an eye when mommy or daddy say good-bye; they see other kids and all they want to do is play however for the majority of families, this can be quite difficult and usually results in tears for both parent and child. 

Your child reaching out for you and not wanting you to leave is part of the process and as difficult as it is, try not to make a big deal about it.  You want to show your child that the separation is only temporary and that you will be back soon.  Remember that children gauge situations based on their parents’  reaction so if you are crying alongside him, he will only become more frightened and anxious and may feel that ‘something is wrong’.  If you remain calm and cheerful, that will show him that daycare is a safe and secure place while you’re away.

When you leave, always remain cheerful, wave and say “good-bye! see you soon!”  and then leave, even if your child is still crying and/or reaching out for you.  I know it’s hard but the longer you linger, the harder he will cry and the longer it will take for him to settle down.  

Daycare Tip:  Use distraction techniques if you start to see your child getting anxious.  If you have to give the teacher something such as your child’s diapers, wipes, extra clothes etc, let your child give it to the teacher and give lots of praise as he does it.  Another way to distract your child is to ask him to show the teacher his ‘cool shirt/shoes/shorts’ and make a big fuss over how great it is.  Using such distraction tactics can make the (first) good-bye less difficult because children are eager to help (giving something to the teacher) or showing things they like to others (his cool shirt/shoes etc).  Once he’s showing them or giving an item to the teacher, cheerfully say your good-bye and leave.  Never sneak out without telling your child!  While it may seem easier and tear-free, it will only cause future battles and sabotage your efforts in helping your child adjust to being dropped off at daycare. 

Follow Kathy’s blog on www.dreamybabies.ca

Also make sure to stay connected with us through Facebook….

                          

I just returned from an amazing trip to Italy. There it was all about the food, the sights, the culture, the people — all as rich as the tomato sauce on my pizza at dinner.

Italy was an organized chaos! You can find Fiats and Vespas running wild on the streets, Italian grandmothers yelling from restaurant kitchen windows and a bus system that makes sense to only a selected few. 

But at the same time, the country that gave us the Ferrari, pasta and the Sistine Chapel is one of my favorite places in the world. The people were friendly, the landscape was stunning, and the food was phenomenal.

Along the way I leaned five life lessons that I will share with you:

You can do anything in heels.  It is not uncommon to find women riding scooters, walking the cobblestone roads or hiking up the Leaning Tower in Pisa in heels.  I think they must make better shoes in Italy because there is no way my heels would let me survive that.

Life is short – live it up.  While the rest of us worry about gas prices, the health care system and economic times the Italians are living relatively carefree.  Leaving work or closing down shops from Noon to4 in the afternoon is called a “siesta” – basically it is nap time. Yes, “nap” time.  Residents actually go home, have lunch and take a nice snooze. I am not sure about you but I could definitely benefit from a daily afternoon nap!  It seems the biggest worry I heard from people was if they should have red or white wine with their dinner.

Keep it simple.  Family and friends are always “dropping by” and homes are always equipped with coffee and sweets for this reason.  I think we are too caught up with having a clean house, what to make for that perfect dinner before even thinking about inviting friends over.  Italians know how to keep things simple – no fancy place settings or complicated foods – just good conversation and some home-made wine is the main criteria.

 Driving is an art.  Driving is undoubtedly one of the best – and most adventurous – ways of discovering Italy. However, before you hop into the driver’s seat and head for the mountains you need to be ready for some unusual practices.  Italian drivers are comfortable driving much closer to other vehicles than North American drivers. ‘An inch is as good as a mile’ is easily translated into ‘A centimeter is as good as a kilometer,’ and they think nothing of getting that close. If you know to expect this and do not panic, you will be fine. Although driving in Italy may seem like a trial run for the next Grand Prix, there are surprisingly few accidents and what seems haphazard at first soon becomes a highly sophisticated art form.

If you want something, go get it.  I have to confess and say that I found the pushing and shoving I encountered while in line, getting something to eat or in the shops a little rude and hard to get used to.  Here in Canada and the US we line up for everything – lines don’t exist in Italy – it’s a “see who can get it first” kinda deal.  When you step back and realize that perhaps the people of Italy had to fight for everything in the past it is the only way they really know or are accustom to. I think that in life if you truly want something you need to be assertive and go for it.

My experience in Italy was truly amazing! I enjoyed spending time with family that I haven’t seen in a few years and I cannot wait to go back to learn even more about the culture, people and history. Have you been on a trip that was also a great learning experience? Do you have any travel tips that you would like to share? 

Remember to follow us on Facebook for more info on our products, deals, and giveaways!   

                          

Check out Lindsay’s great entry!

Thank you to all that participated. We truly had a hard time picking just one winner. We know you all worked hard on your entries and we laughed, cried and really enjoyed reading all the blogs!

As a thank you, Lovable Labels will be providing the finalists with a $100 gift certificate! We will email you shortly in regards to your information so you can start labelling all your stuff!