Midweek Mommy Tip # 4

Get a babysitter. This is a crucial part in maintaining sanity, especially for all the SAHMS and WAHMS out there!! Make it a monthly/2 monthly/bi-monthly event. Get a babysitter (someone who is capable, that your kids know and that you can totally trust), get dressed up (don't forget the make-up and perfume!) and take your man on a date. Even if it's just to a coffee shop down the road. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!! Just go and have a coffee/dinner/see a movie/whatever and make a rule not to talk about the kids, laundry, housework, homework, cooking etc etc etc at all. This is incredibly difficult and you'll be shocked to find that for the first 10 minutes of your date you might not have anything to say to the sex muffin sitting accross the table from you. Take a deep breath, be creative and soon you'll be chatting away and you'll remember what it was like when you were wild, free and just a couple. It's fun and most importantly it really does keep that love spark going between you and your man. Have fun!

PS Whatever you do, don't get into an argument. Just for this night, wear your push-up bra, bat your eyelids and say "yes dear" to everything he says (he'll think you've finally come to your senses!). You'll score major points and will probably be ravaged when you get home!

Midweek Mommy Tip #3

Grobag - Last night was the first night that I really felt a winter chill in the air. So Sunshine and Angel Starr were put into thin winter pyjamas for the night. I'm assuming that it's already been like this for a while in most parts of America. I didn't bother putting a blanket on Sunshine as I know that even though he's only 2 months old, that blanket would have been kicked off in just a few short minutes. Or worse still, he could have got tangled up in it or pulled it over his face. I learnt these facts when Angel Starr was a baby. She was impossible with blankets. The solution - Grobags (or something similar). I've just inherited one for Sunshine for this winter and can't wait to try it out. I'll let you know if practice is as good as the theory.

Midweek Mommy Tip # 1

Freeze, freeze freeze!! I have recently discovered (yeah, I’m a slow learner) that making meals ahead of time and freezing them is the only way to stay on top of things AND give your family healthy, nutritious meals. There just isn’t enough time in the day to worry about cooking as well. Just freeze the basics for a week or so and you’ll see a huge difference, time management wise. By making your own meals and freezing them you are able to give your family healthy, nutritious meals and avoid those high salt, high fat, additive and trans fat ridden microwave TV dinners. I’m a big fan of Annabel Karmel and like her child and family friendly recipes. I agree with her that your child can eat what they like (OK, to a point!) as long as you make it. This helps cut out the high salt and additive content from your family’s diet. It’s also a lot of fun to get in the kitchen (while someone’s minding the kids for you) and cook up a storm. I’ll be the first to admit it, cleaning up is a bitch, but such is life!