Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I Love Patemm


Ever since I had my twin girls a couple years ago I have been very picky about what type of gifts I bring to a baby shower.  As a first time parent, I learned which baby products are great and which ones were not so great.  Considering I have twins, I needed products that made life more efficient and that accommodated the needs of two babies.  One of the many baby items I LOVE is the Patemm changing pad.  You can see them here.  The large and round design makes changing little ones easy because you are not trying to change them on a tiny rectangle pad that is just slightly wider than them.  Patemm pads come in a couple different sizes and several beautiful designs.  I have one of their laminated cotton pads, which are waterproof and wonderful because they wipe down easily as well as being machine washable.  They also carry non-waterproof cotton pads that are machine washable.  The pads are designed with pockets on the inside for storing diapers, wipes, diaper cream, extra clothes, etc.  The best feature is that the pad folds up to the size of a small purse that can be carried by its handle or stored in your diaper bag.

If you're looking for the perfect baby shower gift make sure you check out Patemm.  Their pads are safe and free of chemicals.  They also carry an organic cotton collection.  I think every mom needs a Patemm and this has nothing to do at all with me being germ phobic.  (I promise!)

Who has one....Who LOVES it?

Saturday, April 3, 2010

15-Minute Sweep

Nothing starts my day off worse than when I wake to a living room full of toys, a kitchen sink full of dishes, or a laundry room full of piles of laundry that need to be folded.  This is rare in my home, but indeed it does happen.  I like to wake up to a clean slate so my mind is fresh and full of clarity not weighed down with a list of chores from the previous day.  Here is a quick tip I use to maintain some order in our home.

15-Minute Sweep:
Take 15 minutes a day to quickly sweep through each room of your home throwing away garbage, picking up laundry, hanging up coats, putting away shoes, putting away toys, piling up paperwork/mail, and placing items in the room where they belong.  You are not organizing or sorting in this process, you are simply restoring order to each room.  This task can be done at anytime during your day.  For me, it works best at the end of the evening before I go to bed so I know I can wake the next day with a sense of order and clarity.

Being consistent and completing this task EVERY day will minimize feeling overwhelmed by clutter in your home.  If you struggle with being consistent in the beginning, write down your "15-Minute Sweep" goal somewhere you will see it and read it everyday.  After a couple weeks of consistency your 15-minute sweep will be second nature.  Happy Sweeping!

Photo:

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Lilac Buds

I love early April because I wake everyday to rush to my kitchen window to gaze over at the Lilac tree in my yard that is filled with bulging buds waiting for that precise moment when each bud will burst open with beautiful fresh petals filling the entire yard with that sweet aroma.  Lately, I've been daydreaming about composing all of the thoughts and ideas that I have running through my head in hopes that something I have to say will inspire or simplify someone else's life.  I realized my mind is just like that Lilac tree in my yard...waiting to burst and share everything inside.  This is my precise moment!  Now I can only hope that everything inside is just as beautiful and sweet as what those Lilac buds have to offer.  Wish me luck as I enter this new and exciting adventure.