I remember when I was nursing, I absolutely could not nurse without my nursing pillow. I had to schelp the HUGE "My brest friend" pillow everywhere I went.

And then there was the cover up issue. I hated the usual cover ups.  I couldn't nurse my baby and see him at the same time -- and I really need to be able to see him in order to latch on.

Well, one smart mom finally invented an incredible, very portable, nursing pillow and cover up in one! You have GOT to check out the Go Pillow! from Simply Necessary Inc.

 This amazing product functions as:

- A nursing pillow with built in cover up

-  A changing pad

- A Pillow and body wrap for babies

- A Portable toddler pillow and blanket

- And More!

Look at the video demonstration here to see how it works!  

You can get more information and order online by clicking here

If I'm blessed with another child you'd better believe I'm ordering this! Meanwhile, this is going to be my new baby shower gift!

Okay...I'll admit it...I've been 'teasing' you with those last few blog entries.  (Forgive me?)

No more suspense, I want to tell you what I have found, tested and LOVED!

Many years ago, I saw Kathy Peel, "America's Family Manager" on Oprah.  Her ideas and book seemed great, but I wasn't a mother yet, so it didn't apply to me much.

More recently, I heard her on a podcast, and I got excited about the Family Manager system she created.  What she said just made so much sense!  

She explained that the same priniciples which create successful organizations and businesses, when applied with the 'family manager touch' will help you to create the warm, nuturing, and organized home you've always wanted.  She talked about using business priniciples like managing  your it by department, team building, delegating  and establishing  standard operating procedures  to create a household that runs smoothly and is a pleasure to live in.

This goes beyond traditional home organzing and is not about creating a Martha-Stewart like perfection or a cold corporate environment. Rather, this is about making it much easier for all of us to feel great about our families, and where we live.

One thing that really caught my attention, is when she explained that a Family Manager could manage their home more effectively by "departments"  The seven departments of of any household are:

* Home & Property -- The maintenance and care of all tangible assets, including belongings, house and its surroundings, and your vehicles

* Food/Meal Prep -- Meeting the family’s daily food and nutritional needs of your family.
   
* Family & Friends -- Dealing with relational responsibilities as a parent and spouse, and with extended family, friends, and neighbors.
   
* Finances -- Managing the budget, bill-paying, saving, investing, and charitable giving.
   
* Special Events -- Planning and coordinating occasions--birthdays, holidays, vacations, garage sales, family reunions, and celebrations -- events that fall outside one’s normal routine.
   
* Time & Scheduling -- Managing the family calendar and daily schedule; dispatching the right people to the right place at the right time with the right equipment.
   
* Self-Management -- Caring for one’s body, nurturing the mind and spirit so you can run your home without running yourself into the ground.

I have found it so helpful to organize my household around these "departments!" In fact,  I’ve found in my own family that the Family Manager strategies help reduce clutter, chaos, and stress in huge ways. Kathy offers a myriad of time-tested, mom approved solutions for each of these departments.

***** 

On a more personal note, you know that I make it my mission to seek out great solutions for busy moms.

I've seen it all.

It takes a lot to impress me.

But this time I was so impressed, I did just want to tell you about it, I wanted to be a part of the company that offers this solution as well!

Now I am qualified and authorized to teach you the Family Manager System through your very own Family Manager Makeover!  Just click here to learn more about the Family Manager System and Makeover!

PLUS...

To celebrate my new coaching certification, later tonight I will be starting simple contest where one lucky winner will get a FREE Family Manager Makeover...so check back soon to enter to win a FREE Family Manager Makeover! 

When we were new moms, we all heard it said at least once, "Babies don't come with instruction manuals, you know"

But that didn't stop us!  We STILL bought every baby book, hoping for a magic manual, or combination of manuals, to help us get motherhood right, and demystify the learning process of that first year.

As our kids grew, we never stopped reading those parenting books, searching for solutions...

And if you are 'domestically challenged' like me,  you probably also kept reading books and magazines, trying to figure out how to keep your home neat, clean and clutter free.  

If you grew up with household help, like I did, you may have also  assumed, that one person should handle pretty much everything related to housekeeping -- and never got your husband to help or taught your kids to pick up after themselves.

And if you're anything like me, you ended up hating the housework and, yes, a little bit resentful of your family (Even though it wasn't their fault -- they were behaving the way YOU trained them to.)

If you're anything like me, you kept searching and searching for "solutions" that "magic bullet" to make managing it all (almost) effortless! You kept looking for the "Missing Mom Manual"  You watched videos, joined flylady, read books on housekeeping and organizing -- and not much changed. You were seeking something that would make homekeeping so simple that it would just "CLICK" into your life (and maybe you could even get your kids and hubby on board)...

And nothing ever "Clicked"

Until now...

Ladies, I started to tell you about this the last time I posted...

And I am still doing a bit of work on it...

But I am so excited that I just wanted to tell you...

Relax Mom. The search is over. I think that I have FOUND "The Missing Mom Manual"   That ONE book, that ONE system, that we should ALL be handed the day our chilldren are born.

You all know how I love to find and share solutions -- and  I don't take that job lightly either.   When I say I have found something this good...I really mean it!

This is  NOT another baby book.  Rather it will help us manage our home and familes, much more easily  THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE LIVES.

And I am PROUD to bring it to you...

In my next post!

You CAN communicate with your baby, even before s/he learns to talk!

People in the deaf community have known for years that babies could communicate through sign long before their vocal cords allow them to speak, but the trend didn’t really catch on because of the false assumption that signing led to later verbal language development. Three seperate studies have shown that not only does signing not keep a baby from talking; it actually helps them to start talking sooner and have better language skills.   

By using sign, children learn how to express themselves with words, and some will even start to put words together in sentences before they turn one.  Sign is also great for relieving some of the frustration you and your child face because they can tell you exactly what they want.  This is especially helpful if your child is ill.  Imagine a child under a year being able to tell you not only that they’re in pain, but where it hurts.

Before you start teaching your baby to sign, you should decide what signs to use.  I used sign language with both of my babies and found that it was REALLY helpful. I  am trained sign language interpreter, but I found that I only needed to teach my children about 10 - 15 signs to make life easier for all of us.  Think about how great it can be if you teach your child the signs for: More, food, drink, nurse,  pee, poop, "I have pain here"  (which is done with one gesture) etc.

Once you’ve decided what signs you are going to use, you need to take the time to learn them.  If you do decide to use ASL, there are many resources online to learn from.  Not only are their online ASL dictionaries; there are also specific resources that include only signs babies will need.  They even have videos so you know you’re doing them right. I recommend the ebook and videos called Sign Language For Babies and Beyond!

To learn the signs, you may want to start using them even before your child is ready.  This way you’ll be in practice when they are.  The important part is to be consistent.  Once you choose a sign, stick with it.  And use it whenever the baby is in the room.  That way, they think it is a normal part of communication.  

Teaching a child sign language takes a little time, but is fairly simple.  If you use hand signs, you can start around 7 to 8 months; however signs involving the lips and tongue can be taught starting at birth.  You can teach your child to stick out their tongue for pacifier, or purse their lips if they want milk.  To teach a sign, simply make the sign or facial expression every time you use a word.  To keep your child from getting confused, teach them one word at a time.  Once they’re successfully using that word, add another.  Since this process might go slowly, teach them the most important words first, like: milk, wet (diaper), and ow (pain).  These will also be the most useful words to you. 

Sleep deprived moms - listen up!

This one of the best, yet little-known solutions, I have to offer.

If you do not get enough sleep at night, for whatever reason -- you MUST learn the art of the powernap.

I think it's so vital, it should be taught in prenatal classes!

Why it is to so important for moms to learn how to powernap? It's simple. If you learn how to do it right, you can be re-energized in just 20-30 minutes. It's just what you need to keep up with your active child!  It's better, and healthier than depending on coffee for energy!  It is nontoxic, has no dangerous side effects and is absolutely free.

A Proper Powernap Can Help You:

• Increase alertness
• Boost creativity (which you need when dealing with toddlers!)
• Make better decisions
• Reduce stress
• Improve perception, stamina, motor skills & accuracy.

 I'm not making this up! Check out these facts!

• NASA STATES... "An afternoon nap increases productivity by 35% and decision making ability by up to 50%"
• Organizations such as Nike, British Airways & The US Army ALL encourage napping on the job!
• Successful people such as Albert Einstein, Lance Armstrong, JFK, Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison,  and Bill Clinton are just a few famous advocates of napping.

Why am I such a strong advocate of powernapping? Well, it pretty much saved my sanity!

My wonderful little boy has NEVER been a wonderful sleeper. And when he was about a year old the sleep deprivation was REALLY taking it's toll. I thought I was going to lose my mind.

It was then that I stumbled on a powernap cd created by a hypnotherapist.  I was desperate. I ordered it. I used it.  I loved it.  I found it made a HUGE difference in my life. If I could just take those 20-30 min -- I'd be refreshed for hours. No more "Monster Mommy!"

I've reviewed that powernap CD here before, but now I have found an even better solution that I want to share with you.

I have tested, and throughly enjoyed the customizable & downloadable Pzizz powernap system.  I love Pzizz because you can  set pzizz to mix specially recorded words, music and sounds to create a unique soundtrack every time you use it's sleep or energizer modules. It's compatible with Windows, Macintosh and can be downloaded to your MP3 player.

Mom, if you're chronically exhausted, surf over to pzizz and check it out. They do offer a free sample.  Try it at http://www.solutionsforbusymoms.com/pzizzpowernap and let me know if you feel refreshed after your powernap.