LadyPens » Stephanie Martin

Making Time to Spend With Your Husband

Stephanie Martin — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:45:36 +0000

As busy moms we tend to get caught up in our children’s lives putting all of our energy into that, but you also need to remember that there is someone else in your life that craves some one-on-one time with you, and that is your husband. We, as moms, tend to put all of our energy into planning everyone’s day, making sure everyone makes it to their intended destinations, is picked up, fed, bathed, put to bed, and the house is clean, but we forget to save a little of that energy for our husband. I know that this is the last thing that you want to hear, but hear me out. You not only need to make the time to spend with your husband, but you HAVE to. Remember back to when it was just the two of you, before children, and how much you enjoyed spending time together and just being together. Just because you have children does not mean that you can never have that again. I am here to tell you that you can! But, you really have to make an effort. Here are a few things for you to try: Full Article

The Importance of Spending Time with Your Children

Stephanie Martin — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:40:40 +0000

How many times a day do you catch yourself saying, “not now” or “I don’t have time”? Now, how many times a day do you catch yourself saying this to your children? Too many times we, as busy moms, get caught up in the daily grind of our family’s lives and trying to get everything done that needs to be done, but we forget the real reasons why we’re trying to bake 4 dozen cookies, schedule a doctor’s appointment, make out a grocery list and go to the store, make sure our child’s soccer jersey is clean and ready to go for the game that is scheduled at 5 p.m., have dinner ready before leaving for said soccer game, and squeeze in homework – all before putting our children to bed. Then, we take the next few hours to get caught up on housework such as dishes, laundry, and general tidying up when one of our children, or even your spouse, comes up and reminds you that you have a family get-together the next day that you are supposed to cook 3 dishes for! So, you stay up half the night preparing for the next day knowing that you are going to be completely exhausted but expected to put on a happy face. Full Article

How to Keep Your Children Occupied Once School Is Out

Stephanie Martin — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:51:33 +0000

I do know that I am very fortunate to be able to work from home and, in turn, be home with my children and not have to worry about childcare. I am very blessed to be able to be involved in my children’s lives on a daily basis like I am. However, they are still kids and will still “get bored” and “have nothing to do”. But, I do not plan to let boredom turn into watching TV all day or playing on the computer/Wii all day while they are home from school. I do not allow that during the school year and I definitely will not allow it during the summer months. So, what do I do to keep my children occupied? We do have season passes to a local amusement park and a local aquarium, but we do not plan on spending all of our time inside. Full Article

Gifts For Cooks Under $10

Stephanie Martin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:33:01 +0000

I love to cook and bake. My favorite place is to be in the kitchen cooking meals for my family. And I’m always looking for new gadgets or replacement utensils for my kitchen. I’m sure that there are many of you out there that also have cooks/bakers on your gift lists and you’re not sure what to buy for them, so I thought I’d give you a few ideas: Full Article

Gifts For Crocheters Under $10

Stephanie Martin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:22:28 +0000

I, myself, love to crochet, as does my oldest daughter. But, it can be a very expensive habit hobby to have. I would love it if someone were to give me a gift that would help me support my habit hobby. It’s one of those hobbies that I find very relaxing, and I can take it with me just about anywhere. So, I thought I would share with you some of the things that I would enjoy receiving as a gift that you might give the crocheter on your gift list this year. Full Article

Alternative Idea To Dressing Up For Halloween

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:25:08 +0000

Every year at this time, the stores are filled with a wide variety of assorted costumes from cute little pumpkins and lady bugs to scary witches and vampires. Growing up, I did dress up and go trick-or-treating. My husband and I took our children for a few years, but then decided that it was just not for us. We’ve never really lived in a subdivision where we knew a lot of people who were handing out candy so going door-to-door was not really an option for us. Also, I’m not a great seamstress, so trying to sew a costume was not really an option, even a simple one. So, we came up with an alternative plan that has worked really well for us and our children love it! Full Article

Making Your Slow Cooker Work for You

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:05:47 +0000

If you have never tried using a slow cooker, you don’t know what you’re missing. It can be your best friend in the kitchen. They now come in many different sizes, from a small dip crock to a 6-1/2 quart crock. You can easily find one that fits your family’s size and appetite. Some of the newer ones have lids that lock in place for more ease in transportation. And some even come with an insulated cover. Full Article

Tips for Making Your Holiday Dinner a Success

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:04:13 +0000

Everyone enjoys going getting together with family and friends for a big holiday meal, but sometimes the stress of preparation is almost too much to bear. But, there are just a few simple things that you can do to help reduce and/or eliminate the stress. Full Article

How To Make School Morning & Lunch Preps Less Stressful

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:56:46 +0000

It’s that time of year again – BACK TO SCHOOL! Besides what seems like endless shopping for school supplies, there’s the never-ending school lunches to prepare x 3 (well x 4 counting my husband, LOL). It takes a lot to make sure that everyone gets a well-balanced meal plus something they like. My children take lunch every day instead of buying lunch. This way, I know that they have something that they like AND they’ll eat it instead of throwing it away. And most of the meals that I send with them cost me considerably less than school lunches anyway. Full Article

Menu Planning, Not As Hard As It Seems

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:55:59 +0000

I’ve noticed that a lot more people are talking about menu planning here lately. Some have been doing this for years, others a few weeks/months, and still others just flat out refuse! I love the excuses that I’ve heard for NOT planning a menu: Full Article