5 Mother’s Day Sanity Saving Should Do’s For Life on Hysteria Lane
May 9, 2012
Ahhhh Mother’s Day – a day filled with lots of “I love you and best mommy in world” hand made cards, flowers, breakfast in bed, and perfect children. And, then Mother’s Day quickly becomes like every other day – filled with chores that bore: cleaning up, getting our kids ready for grandma, and finishing another load of laundry before collapsing at 9:00 from exhaustion. Not this year! Here’s how:
Tell ’em What You Really Want:
Though it’s nice to receive a diamond necklace or earrings, that’s not going to come from your children unless they’re Richie Rich. Besides, those gifts are not really what we need, nor are they kid-like. What we need are things that show their appreciation for all we do and most of these cost nothing. So suggest to your hubs that they make you “I LOVE YOU” Gift Certificates for things like:
- an hour or two of peace and quiet (no screaming ‘mommy’ I’m bored or hungry) or free time (hubs takes the kids out for an afternoon)
- cleaning up their room (alternatively engage someone to clean your home)
- doing x number loads of laundry
- answering immediately when spoken too
- a spa, manicure and/or pedicure
- night out alone for Mommy and her friends
- every season (i.e. 4 days a year) saying “thank you” and “you’re a great mom” ad nauseum
- and if your hubs wants to include a certificate for those sparkly diamonds since you’re such an amazing mother to both he and your kids … here’s a good chance!
Say “Honey Please Do”:
To insure that you aren’t left doing all your usual chores Mother’s Day, make a to-do list for your hubs that includes shopping needs for that yummy Mother’s Day breakfast (see MOTHER’S DAY MENU ‘N RECIPES at the end for a fun and simple brunch menu your kids and husband can whip up together), what they should wear, homework due Monday, and even have him make their school lunch so you get a bonus 15 minutes in the morning to drink (vs. gulp) your coffee.
Forget Breakfast In Bed:
Sure it sounds like a luxury, but it’s not when the crumbs, OJ, and syrup find their way onto your sheets. Instead opt for it anywhere else that won’t have you cleaning.
Take a Half-Day-Cation:
As an alternative (or even better yet … in addition) to having your kids make you I LOVE YOU Gift Certificates have them give you a ticket for a HALF-DAY-CATION. It’s up to you whether you want to spend it with them going for a bike ride and picnic but my advice is that you go it alone. Spend it pampering yourself, checking out that yoga class your best bud’s been trying to get you to, or just do nothing in peace and quiet.
Hammer Out Poverty:
Every year, the week leading up to Mother’s day is Habitat for Humanity’s and Lowe’s Women’s Build Week. Builds are held all over the country and I’m personally hosting two builds – one in NJ and the other in NYC. It’s an amazing experience and a totally different kind of Mother’s Day gift where we women and moms help hammer out poverty by building homes for those in need. It’s also incredibly empowering to see what we can do as a community not to mention with a hammer! And, depending upon the age of your kids they can help too. So please go to www.womenbuild.org and see where one is in your area. Here’s a link with moi ‘spreading the glove’ two years ago helping build DeMatia’s soon to be new home!
HAPPY MOMMY’S DAY SOCIAL MOMS!
Please share any Mother’s Day sanity saving tips and tricks you have here, my FB, tweet or www.juliestips.com.
Honey ‘n Kids Do Mother’s Day Brunch
Gooey Heart-shaped Biscuits
Easy Cheesey Scramble Eggs ‘n Ham
Ice Cold Berry Orange Punch
SHOPPING LIST:
Punch
- box of fresh strawberries
- quart of cranberry juice (regular or light)
- quart of orange juice with or without pulp (if you prefer to squeeze your own you will need 12-16 oranges, cut into halves)
- 1 can or small bottle of ginger ale (champagne optional and generally preferred by/for Moms only)
Biscuits
- box of biscuit mix
- quart of milk (will use for other recipes as well)
- stick of butter
- flour for dusting
- strawberry preserves
- heart-shaped cookie cutters
Scrambled eggs:
- dozen eggs
- ¼ lb lean ham
- ½ lb sharp cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice), grated
ICE COLD BERRY ORANGE PUNCH
Ice Cubes:
- PLACE one strawberry half (sliced to look like a heart) into each compartment of ice-cube tray
- POUR cranberry juice into each compartment
- FREEZE for two hours or until juice freezes
Punch:
- POUR orange juice into a pitcher
- ADD one cup cranberry juice and one cup of ginger ale (or champagne if making for Mother’s Day and Dad only version). STIR.
- PLACE a few strawberry cubes in glass and pour
- GARNISH with a strawberry on glass rim
GOOEY HEART SHAPED BISCUITS
- PREHEAT oven: 450 degrees.
- MIX until following forms a dough with a wooden spoon:
- 2 1/4 cups boxed biscuit mix
- 2/3 cup milk
- ½ tablespoons butter melted
- PLACE dough on a lightly floured, flat surface
- FOLD and push dough down 10 times
- ROLL dough with a lightly dusted rolling-pin until it’s about as thick as your thumb (1/2 inch)
- USE heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out 8 heart-shaped biscuits.
- GENTLY place on greased baking sheet
- PRESS thumb down in center to make a dent
- SPOON ½ teaspoon of strawberry preserves
- SET timer for 9 minutes
- PUT in oven and bake until timer rings or golden brown
EASY CHEESEY SCRAMBLED EGGS
- MIX:
- 8 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- BEAT with fork
- TEAR 2oz ham into bite size pieces and add to eggs
- ADD ½-1 cup grated cheese depending on how cheesy Mom likes it and stir
HONEY DO ONLY:
- MELT 2 tbs. butter in frying pan, medium heat
- POUR in eggs when starts bubbling and reduce to low
- STIR in eggs with wooden spoon
- COOK until they look bumpy and don’t jiggle a lot
SERVE Immediately with HEART SHAPED BISCUITS ‘n BERRY PUNCH!
