Our Potty Chart

Our 6 year old daughter has had problems with her colon since she was an infant making potty training difficult especially when you combined the medical problems with stubbornness, that she of course gets from her father.  (Laugh, laugh)  We tried everything to get her potty trained.  We used one piece of candy, two pieces of candy, a potty that played music, reading books on the potty, using a timer so she would try to potty every time it went off, and so on......

I searched article after article for ideas on potty training and I finally came upon the potty chart idea and it worked well for our daughter.  So, when our little man quit using the potty for us we made him a potty chart.  Today, he filled up his first chart!

To make a chart all you need is a small sheet of poster board, a marker, and stickers.  We give him a sticker if he actually goes to the potty because we know he has a good understanding of the concept.  For younger kids, I would suggest giving stickers if they try to use the potty and work up to giving them stickers only when they go in the potty.  Maybe this idea will help other potty stressed moms!

Spring Cleaning Challenge: My Closet

We only have a few closets in our home and my husband is really anal about his closets.  So, all the "extra stuff" has ended up in my closet.  Kids clothes that are still too big, books, and items that need to go to the dry cleaner are all stacked on top of my shoes, which were miss matched and sperad all over the floor of my closet.  Today as part of the Spring Cleaning Challenge, I cleaned and organized my closet floor.  YIPPEE.

Here is my after picture.

Spring Cleaning Challenge

I am going to be adventurous and join the Spring Cleaning Challenge.

We will see where this adventure takes me. Maybe it will take me to at least one clean closet!

Monday Book Mania: The Swan Thieves!

This past fall I picked up a great book by Elizabeth Kostova. It was her first book and is titled The Historian. Upon completing this book, I quickly purchased The Swan Thieves Kostova's second and most recent book.
The Swan Thieves is an awesome book that has something for everyone: Star Crossed lovers, mental illness, art, an intense look at family life and a journey across a span of several hundred years. Happy reading!

Blogging...What I have learned

Yesterday I returned from BlissDom, a blogging and social networking conference. (I attended the meeting because we have blog we are doing for our office.) I had a great time at the Gaylord Opryland hotel and the conference also had LOTS of great entertainment. Most importantly,I learned many important things about maintaining and building a blog. Things I learned:
1. There are many, many lovely women who are choosing to share ideas on writing, decorating, frugal living, being a mom and several other topics.
2. Twitter should not be used for just updates on Blake Shelton and The Twilight Saga.
3. I will grow as a person if I spend more time blogging.

So, to fully benefit from the days I spent in Nashville I need to:
1. Post 1 to 2 times each week.
2. Start a Facebook page for my blog. Which I did before I wrote this post!
3. I will comment on other people's posts.
Wish me luck.

BlissDom Conference

Today I have started on a new adventure with GalintheMiddle and Going Jane. I am at the BlissDom Conference for bloggers at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. I am looking forward to learning lots of new things!

Blogging from my iPad 2

I got an iPad 2 this week and wanted to try it out with my blog. The iPad has to be one of the greatest inventions ever. My kids pitched in by being patient while I figured out the camera