The Organized Working Mom

It's Not Too Early...Really!

2011-11-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, so maybe it is a little early to be thinking about Christmas! But justify it this way -- you're just being a good mom, thinking of activities to keep the kids entertained. Here's some ideas for Christmas craft activities for kids, including home-made wrapping paper, ornaments and advent calendars. And hey, the advent calendar HAS to be done before December 1st, so why not start now. Right??? :p

Have a great day! TTYL

Today's the Day

2011-11-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

If Santa's planning on bringing anything LeapFrog to your house this year, don't forget to check on the LeapFrog early Black Friday event today at 10 a.m. PST.

You can find all the details on their Facebook event page. Unfortunately, the offer only applies for U.S. residents.

Happy shopping!

Walmart Black Friday Ad

2011-11-10T00:58:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I'm a little disappointed in the Walmart Black Friday ad. (In case you haven't seen it yet, Walmart released the full ad on their site at midnight.)

The last few years have seen me setting my alarm on Black Friday with a list of deals to buy online, but this year I think about the only thing worth getting is the $4.47 PJs.

I'm going to hold out hope that Toys R Us, LeapFrog or Amazon has a good deal on the LeapPad and Amazon or Best Buy has a great DSLR price...

LeapFrog Early Black Friday Deals

2011-11-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

Head over to LeapFrog's facebook page to RSVP for their early Black Friday event. Starting at 10am on Friday, through midnight on the 14th, a fans-only event will give access to exclusive savings on LeapFrog products. There's no word yet which items will be on sale, but I'm personally hoping for deep discounts on the LeapPad.

Phobias

2011-11-09T01:11:00.000-08:00

My 4-year-old has some strange phobias, but the weirdest is the most recent addition -- The Lion King. I'm talking serious phobia here, she can't even look at a Lion King picture in a book or a toy in the store in case it reminds her "about the dad."

This is probably my fault. What was I thinking, suggesting a child with a stay-at-home-father watch that movie anyway. Although I can't help be a little disconcerted at just how supremely unconcerned she was when Bambi's mother died. Hmmm.

I can't talk, though. I have my own weird phobias, like my insane fear of dead flies. I am literally terrified by them. Even writing this is making me break out in a sweat. Think you've seen fear? Just watch me around a fly paper. LOL. The weird thing is, my son already has the same phobia and he hasn't even seen mine...I think...I guess it's one more thing to feel guilty about!

Do your kiddos have any strange phobias?

The Holidays are Here!

2011-11-08T04:01:00.000-08:00

Ok, not quite. But I'm feeling the holiday spirit already. So much so that I even made eggnog pancakes for the kids yesterday!

It's an easy way to get some festive cheer -- just substitute eggnog for about half the water in your instant mix (yes, I said mix -- I promised to be organized but I didn't say anything about cooking :P )

Even better if you can make the pancakes with a holiday print. I found a Christmas pancake griddle at Target so I foresee lots of pancakes over the next few months!

FREE Firecracker Chicken at Panda Express!

2011-02-02T18:58:00.000-08:00

This deal is valid on February 3, 2011 only!

Simply click on this link and print the coupon to receive a single serving firecracker chicken completely free at Panda Express tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Organized Working Mom

Working Mom Guilt

2011-02-01T20:54:00.000-08:00

Do you ever get that overwhelming feeling of guilt about being a working mom? I know I do. The days when work has gone badly, you see the kids for barely an hour in the evenings, the worst possible point of the day when everyone is tired and patience is short. Once everyone is tucked up in bed I feel guilty and regretful about who I snapped at or that I didn’t make the most of my limited time.

Conversely, I also feel guilty when we’ve had good days. I find myself wishing I had more time, and imagining what life would be like if I could do this every day. On those days I am deeply envious of stay at home moms. That life seems so carefree and fun (rationally I realize it’s not, but that isn’t what it seems like at the time).

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my job. I enjoy what I do, and who I work with. But in those moments of guilt, I wonder if I made the right choice.

Questioning if our decision was the right one isn’t limited to working moms. This article from a stay at home mom shows the regrets from the other perspective. I thought it was very interesting and on those days when I’m feeling too guilty, will be a good reminder of one of the upsides to working.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Equality After All...?

2011-01-31T20:29:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to see this blog post from the New York Times, explaining why a study out of Ohio State University (claiming that parents bicker less when the woman takes on a traditional role and does most of the work) isn't necessarily as black and white as it may seem from reading the news articles flying around the web.

Because, really, it would just be WAY too depressing to know that the only two choices are:

1. Share the parenting tasks, but ruin your marriage; or
2. Do everything yourself

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Sunday Deals

2011-01-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking of starting a Sunday tradition where I post the best deals I've found around the web that week. What do you think?

Here are a few deals for this week:

Free laptop from Google Chrome. Visit this link to apply. If you're selected, Google will send you a laptop completely free, in exchange for you using a providing feedback on the product.

Use this link to go through Bank of America for a Turbotax discount, for those of you doing your taxes early (I did mine last week). Just click continue and it will take you through to the Turbotax site, where you should see the discount (Deluxe Federal is now $19.45 instead of the original price of $29.95).

Sign up here for a free Maggi chicken flavored pasta soup.

Request a free sample of Maybelline FitME foundation from Target's website. Just click this link then click on the gray box under the sample.

Enjoy!

Organized Working Mom

Disney on Ice

2011-01-29T10:43:00.000-08:00

My daughter and I went to see Disney on Ice for our Mommy and Me day yesterday and I cannot recommend it highly enough! The show was amazing, it was very high energy and kept my daughter's attention throughout. She loved all the participation, shouting at Mickey not to eat the poisoned apple and helping the fairy godmother do magic.

We are Toy Story fanatics in this house so needless to say the finale when all the Toy Story characters came out (even including Rex and Evil Dr. Pork Chop) was a huge highlight. And we both loved all the princesses, they did some amazing lifts and spins during those routines.

I thought it was really reasonably priced (we paid $15 with a promotion and were practically front row) and great value for money. Of course they make it back with the extortionate concessions ($10 for cotton candy, really?!) but even so, I would definitely recommend it. We had a great time!

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Excited!!!

2011-01-28T06:02:00.000-08:00

So a while back I posted about wanting to do a Mommy and Me day. Well, today is the day! I booked the day off work and have a whole day of fun planned with my daughter (who got up wide awake at 5am because she was too excited to sleep!)

I'll be back later to update!

Happy Friday!

Organized Working Mom

Making Eating Out More Affordable

2011-01-27T04:50:00.000-08:00

No matter how organized you might be, there are some days when work has been rough, everyone is tired, everyone is grouchy and the last thing anybody wants to do is cook.

Eating out is really expensive and seems to have gotten even more so over the past few years (or maybe that’s just because I’ve gone from paying for a meal for two to paying for a family of four). Anyone who eats out with kids knows that kids meals can be expensive and definitely add to the cost of the meal.

Many restaurants offer a “kids eat free” night. But the trick is finding out when those nights are. Some restaurants will also let you combine a kids eat free night with a coupon (not all do, so check this before you go). You can very occasionally even stack a gift certificate from restaurants.com (wait for them to have their $2 gift certificate sale) with a coupon and the kids eat free night. Be sure to check the fine print for each of the offers first.

Here are some websites where you can look up your area to see what restaurants have a kids eat free night, and what time they are at.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Hot Coupons and Freebies

2011-01-25T02:49:00.000-08:00

So, my resolution was to get better at couponing. Lets just say it's a work in progress!

However, I found a few coupon deals and freebies I thought I would share:

Online coupons:

$1.49 for a year's domain name registration (.com, .org, .biz and more) at GoDaddy.com. Use code WINTER149. Expires 1/31/11.

$10 off $50 at birthdayexpress.com with code birthday. Expires 1/31/11.

Freebies:

Free box of Clairol Color Blend Foam. Clairol is giving away 25,000 boxes each day through January 27, 2011. Just click "like" on their Facebook page, beginning 12:00 EST each day.

Free box of Quaker Oatmeal Squares. Sign up here, the limit is one per household.

Also, don't miss signing up for a free subscription to American Baby and Baby Talk magazine. Both publications have had some great discounts for diapers through Amazon recently. Combined with savings from Amazon Mom this makes for significant savings.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Yogurt Freebie!

2011-01-23T18:02:00.000-08:00

Lots of freebies today!

This one is for a free cup of yogurt from Yoplait (or, if you're in California they send other coupons because of CA dairy laws).

Check out the offer here!

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Free year subscription to mightybookjr (reg $99)

2011-01-23T12:02:00.000-08:00

How about this for a great deal:

Visit the signup page at mightybookjr.com and enter the code 'learntoread'. You will get a free annual online membership! Regular price is $99.

This looks like a fun site to teach reading skills for grades K-6.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Giftcard Winner!

2011-01-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Crave to Save, who is the lucky winner of the $15 gift certificate from CSN Stores!

Please email me at organizedworkingmom@gmail.com to claim your prize!

The winner was drawn by Random.org:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:30Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The winning comment was #30:

the Crave to Save said...

http://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/27323214401118209

January 18, 2011 3:16 AM

Last Chance to Enter!

2011-01-22T11:48:00.000-08:00

Don't forget, today is the last day to enter the $15 gift certificate giveaway from CSN Stores!

Check out the giveaway here. The contest will close at 11:59 PST tonight, and I will announce the winner on the blog tomorrow!

Good luck!

FREE Snapfish photo book and prints

2011-01-21T06:21:00.000-08:00

Check out this free photo book offer from Snapfish and Soap.com:

1. Click here to choose your photobook.

2. Create your book.

3. Enter the code SOAPBOOK at checkout (note: the book is free, but you will have to pay shipping).

4. If you're new to Snapfish, you're also eligible for 50 free 4x6 prints!

The deal is good through Saturday 1/22, while supplies last.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Business Trip Guilt

2011-01-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

San Francisco...I love this city. I get to come a few times a year on business and I'm reminded every time how much I like it. Last night after work I had the most delicious dim sum in Chinatown and bought some cute gifts for the kids. It was a fun night, I almost managed to stop whining about being sick.

My working mom guilt means I buy something on every work trip I go on. Yes, I'm aware that monetary gifts can't make up for time with mom and that I am probably setting a horrible precedent and spoiling my children. But I get SO guilty every time I leave, even when the trips are just one nighters, like this one. The men I work with never seem to get the same guilt, so maybe it really has more to do with social programming than anything else. Regardless, I feel like a horrible mom every time.

So, to make myself feel better, I've been reading this link about Toddlers and Tiaras. If you ever want to feel like a GREAT mom, this is the program to watch. Yes, I may be neglecting and simultaneously spoiling my kids while on this trip, but at least I don't make them wear cone bras at the age of two (yes really). So, enjoy this summary of the three worst parenting fails from the show!

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Got flu?

2011-01-19T03:56:00.000-08:00

I'm sick. Siiiiiiiiiiiiick. Ugh. I knew this was coming after the coughing, congested baby sneezed in my food and my feverish preschooler, loudly shouting a question that I had answered at least four previous times, managed to spray spit directly into my eye. It was like an expertly targeted double strike attack. I stood no chance.

Now for my dilemma. There is no preschool or other activity today. Do I drag myself into work, sicker than a dog, trying to ignore the irritated sighs from fellow coworkers and subtle (or not so subtle) accusations about bringing germs into the office?

Or do I stay at home, confined with the sick kids, passing super mutant strains of our various germs back and forth, watching helplessly while they run around crazily during that period of the day where sick kids seem to have a manic, hyper recovery?

In my experience, this recovery period usually happens as you arrive in the parking lot of the doctor's office. Suddenly, your previously limp, lethargic child leaps and bounces around with abandon. They continue their spree in the waiting room, doing laps around the toy section in an effort to touch as many germ filled surfaces as possible.

Once back in the exam room, your child spends the interminable wait for the doctor asking question after question (What is that stick? Why do they put it in your mouth? What do they want to see in there? Why do they use a wood one instead of plastic? What do you mean you don't know?!)

The doctor arrives and looks skeptical as you explain the now non-existent 105 fever, lack of appetite and general lethargy. You are clearly being perceived as a hypochondriac, over-reacting, helicopter mom, and any attempts to convince the doctor otherwise are generally thwarted by your child hopping around the exam room singing "I'm fine, I'm fiiiine, I'm FIIIIINE".

Back in the car, having paid a $20 co-pay for a lecture from the doctor and no prescription, your child limply falls asleep in the back seat. By the time you reach the driveway, you have to carry their hot, feverish body into the house. Usually this is the point at which they vomit on you.

Hmmmm. I think I'm heading into work.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Judgemental Parenting and Moms Lies

2011-01-18T02:19:00.000-08:00

A new study has revealed, perhaps not surprisingly, moms feel under so much pressure to be the 'perfect parent' they resort to lying about the amount of TV their kids watch, what they cook for their families, and even how much "quality time" they spend with their partner.

Netmums, a UK parentling website, surveyed over 5,000 moms and found that we lie in overwhelming numbers. Two thirds of mothers fib about how well they were coping with the stresses of motherhood, half covered up financial problems and one fifth of moms lied about how long they spent playing with their children.

Peer pressure and the modern-day culture of perfect parenting was identified by Netmums as being a major cause of the perceived pressure. More than 9 out of 10 moms compared themselves to other parents, and reported feeling inadequate as a result.

This week Netmums launched a campaign 'The Real Parenting Revolution' which aims to remove the illusion of 'perfect' parenting and increase support for parents.

The webiste has developed a parents code, calling for parents to 'get REAL':

R - Relax and trust yourself
E - Enjoy being a parent
A - Accept each others' choices
L - Look out for each other

Anyone who has ever visited a parenting forum or even had a random conversation at the park knows that the pressure on moms isn't isolated to British women. I'll be interested to watch how this campaign develops over the coming months and if any real changes are made to parenting culture in the UK.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Celebrating Martin Luther King

2011-01-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate and honor Martin Luther King day today, I have to wonder what the man himself would make of our nation's current employment situation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that as of January 7, 2011, the unemployment rate for the country as a whole stands at 9.4%. However, the white unemployment rate is at 8.5% in contrast with the black unemployment rate of 15.8%.

An article in the New York Times highlighted that the unemployment rate for college-educated men aged 25 or older was twice as high for black men than it was for white men. This information cannot simply be explained away. As an article on the black-white earnings gap observes: "numerous studies, in fact, find that not even half of the racial differences in test scores can be explained by family background and school quality. They also show that the economic returns to the test scores and their determinants vary by race and that even when test results are effectively equal, racial earnings gaps remain. So, plain discrimination remains part of the story."

A study of social networks found that more job leads for high level positions are received by white males than women and members of minorities, lending credence to the old adage that it's not necessarily what you know, but who you know that makes a difference in job hunting.

The gap between men and women continues despite the introduction of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. An article in Time magazine noted that women earned less than men in all industries and occupation groups surveyed by the Census Bureau in 2007, even in fields in which their numbers are overwhelming. This trend shows no signs of abating.

The mommy track has an even greater effect on pay. Mothers not only earn less than men, but they also earn less than their childless female counterparts, according to recent research.

We have come a long way as a nation since Martin Luther King Jr's infamous speech. But it's not time to stop dreaming yet. All the evidence shows we still have a long way to go.

Have a great Monday, whatever you're doing today.

TTYL

Organized Working Mom

Diet friendly football food

2011-01-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

I love me some football. I also love to eat some tasty football snacks. But considering the time period between thanksgiving and the new year was a complete blur of over-indulgence, I really need to make sure my diet stays on track today.

Incidentally, I have now lost six of the ten pounds I put on over the holiday season. I probably should have made that my resolution instead of the two that I actually did make, but haven't made any progress towards whatsoever!

So, here are my strategies for eating healthier football snacks:

Make your own pizza instead of ordering some. This cuts the calories by over 2/3 and is just as delicious (plus it's a fun activity for the kids).
Eat plain chips instead of ruffled chips. I LOVE ruffled chips, but the ruffles increase the amount of potato into a smaller surface area so it automatically adds calories (if you think about stretching the chip out, it would be huge compared to a regular chip).
Trade in the creamy, ranch dips for hummus or salsa. Lower calorie, and healthier too.
Make your own guacamole. Guacamole is actually a very healthy spread and with it's pure ingredients, can lower cholesterol. Unfortunately, what is in the fridge at the grocery store might not even contain avocado.
If you are a grazer like me, have fruit, veggie sticks, and edamame available to snack on.

Enjoy the football today! Since the Chargers (my team) didn't even make the playoffs, and the Eagles (hubby's team) already got eliminated I think I'm going to have to root for LT and the Jets.

TTYL,

Organized Working Mom

Mommy & Me Days

2011-01-15T05:09:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about where I can take my daughter on a fun mommy and me day. Occasionally the hubby and I trade off and take each of the kids for some one on one time, but it's been a while since we did that so I'm trying to think of something special for us to do.

If you have any ideas for activities I would love it if you could leave a comment! Thanks!

On another note, don't miss our $15 gift certificate giveaway! There's just one week left to enter.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Organized Working Mom