Easy Organization for Frozen Breastmilk

After building up a breastmilk stash I found that this was the easiest way for me to keep it organized in the freezer. 

What you'll need:

• Breastmilk storage bags
• I've tried a few different bags, these are my favorite because the tops do not tear when you open them and I have never had any leakage issues with them. 
•  Sterilite Storage Trays
• Check your local dollar store for these trays, I bought ~6inch trays and ~12 inch trays.
• Storage Guidelines
• KellyMom is THE resource on all things breastfeeding.  

What to do:
 
1) Label the bags with the date and the amount of milk.

2) Lay the bag in a 6 inch tray in the freezer, this will ensure the milk freezes flat which makes it so much easier to store.

3) The easiest way for me to keep it organized is to use the 12 inch tray to "file" the bags by laying them on their side, or you can use the smaller bins and stand the bags upright.  Just add the newest frozen bags to the back.

Shout out to all of you mommas out there, it isn't always easy but it is so worth it! 
~D&H

Sick Kid Mode: Routines & Helpful Products for When Kids Are Sickies

For prevention:

Look, we all know the sicky season is coming.  Good habits now will payoff big...at least that is what I am telling myself.  Lysol Wipes are a must. I try to wipe down the bathrooms with these at least a few times a week.  I also use them on the TV remote, crib, chair backs, light switches, phones, fridge handles, cabinet handles and ALL doorknobs. 

For instant relief:

The steamy bathroom
This is my number one remedy and probably the only one that the kids don't mind at all.  The kids don't even need to be the ones in the shower, I got my kids dressed in the bathroom just so the steam could help loosen up the gook in their noses. Gross, yes. Effective, YES. 

Aspirator (from the hospital) 
Drug store aspirators we've had just don't work as well, but the one from the hospital is legit.  I've heard some people say things like "ew, if you open one of those aspirators they are DISGUSTING inside, that's why I don't use it anymore" and I am just wondering if I can buy some of their time because clearly they are using it wrong. Why would you open it?  Why were you surprised it was disgusting?  OF COURSE IT IS DISGUSTING!  The ENTIRE idea is for all of my kid's snot to be out of their nose and into this little bulb thingy, so I would be more disappointed if it wasn't gross in there. Anyway.  Another aside: I am not a fan of the nose frida. I know some people that swear by it but really, I am trying to be like a navy seal with the snot sucking situation, I need to be quiet, quick and effective. Setting up a changing table surgery center with the nose frida cord, vacuum, filter gizmo just has never worked for me.  The kids see it, hate it and fight back. Nah uh.  That is a lot of writing for a snot sucker, but you know what, I've got opinions. 

Baby bottle medicine dispenser
I can't say enough for this little product, it is genius.  MUST. HAVE. 

Sympathy
Sometimes I keep the bathroom light dim, light a eucalyptus candle and play spa music during bath time.  Other times I give my big kid a popsicle during bath time and afterwards let her cuddle with us on the couch instead of story time before bed.  

Give kids comfort in more ways than just pain or congestion relief. 

Saline spray drops  
These are for nasal congestion and are kid hated, but they actually work and I find myself keeping the spray in the diaper bag all the time. 

Carseat
One of the best times to get after your kid's nasal congestion without worrying about them squirming out of your arms is when they are safely in their carseat.  You can see what you are doing and hopefully make it as quick as possible. 

For night time:
Cool mist humidifier
These add moisture to the air to help relieve congestion and coughing, they are also good to have going all the time for kids that have eczema - especially in the cooler months of the year when the heater in your house is running.  

Cleaning them can be a little annoying - I just fill the base of ours with vinegar and let it soak for about 10 minutes, then take an old toothbrush to scrub it clean, then rinse with water.  For the reservoir I fill it with warm water and 1tbsp of bleach, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it.  

Hope that is helpful. If you have other things that you do when your kids are sick, I would LOVE to hear it. 

Stay healthy! 
D&H  



 

Mind Over Makeup

#always #everyday

Worth Listening: Lara Logan

I've realized that topics resonate more with me when they are presented by a working mother.  Like a talented pianist, there are combinations of notes that only they know to play, and which I need to hear.  

The podcast I have linked below is an interview with the fearless Lara Logan, one of the most intelligent, perceptive, articulate and genuine people I have ever heard.  

 

If you are unfamiliar with her, she is the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News, and her work is not from an ivory tower, there has been no privilege of safety or respect for her.  She is grounded, thoughtful and has incredible optimism.  

A lot of people are full of crap. They say things they don't mean, or understand. They speak to situations or statistics that they heard or read. She is different, she speaks only from experience. 

She is raw data, crunched by a kick-ass computing machine then summarized like a poet.

Everyday I listen to various podcasts or lectures, some are for my work, and some are just for myself - to have the benefit of other experiences and expertise.  Regardless of how challenging and infuriating work can be, I want to keep it in the forefront of my mind that so many women around the world do not even have the opportunity to work or the ability to choose their work as I do.  It is easy to be complacent, to be so caught up in our everyday challenges that we forget the big picture.  Her work is always a reminder for me that there is so much to learn, to be thankful for and to strive for.        

If you have an hour, during your commute or even just catching up on laundry, this is absolutely worth the listen.   

Link: Interview with Lara Logan 

~D&H

Gifts

Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing. This is right and pleasing, for it restores society in so far to its primary basis, when a man's biography is conveyed in his gift, and every man's wealth is an index of his merit. But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy me something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

A reminder to give something of yourself today.

Give your talents. Your time. Your hands. Your full attention. Your compassion. Demand of yourself to give an unselfish gift.

"It is better to give than to receive"
~D&H

Toddler Room: Little DIYs for a Big Girl Room

The transition from a crib to a big girl bed is not easy.  We thought the adjustment may be easier if the big girl bed was awesome. 

It was not easier. 

BUT the bed is awesome. 

Bed DIY:
It took D about a weekend to build, prime and paint the bed.  We found free plans for the bed from Remodelholic's Blog.

He added these copper string lights that make it feel so magical at night during story time. 

Table DIY:
I wanted a place for her to color and work on puzzles so we found table a table at Goodwill that was a height suitable for kid chairs (~18 inches), then found an adorable set of chairs from Homegoods and went to work getting the table just right.

I sanded it then made a chalk paint that was a little lighter than the wall color by mixing a 2:1:1 ratio of wall paint, white paint and plaster of paris.  

After sanding it again to bring out just a hint of the old color I used this Minwax Finishing Paint Wax to complete it.  Cutest $11 table that I've ever seen. 
 

 

Dresser DIY: 
This chest was given to us by my late grandmother and she would probably die again if she saw what we did to it; although I know she would've loved that it is in E's room and is used everyday.

In our defense, we did love this chest, we just didn't have a functional place in our house for it.  So it lived in our garage for a little while until we needed to get E into a big girl room and inspiration (necessity) came knocking (kicking in my belly). 

We found wood trim pieces at Home Depot, D added the trim pieces and sanded it. 

I painted it with a white chalk paint on the outside and a pink on the inside.  I used storage bins to keep her clothes organized.  Since we had the paint this dresser only cost us the trim, knobs and storage bins.   

This dresser has actually been a great tool as we teach her independence; the bins make it easy for her to pick out her clothes for the day and put away her own laundry.       

Decor DIY:
Speaking of my grandmother, when E was born my grandmother's gift to her was animal sketches that she did for the nursery.  

My grandmother was the kind of artist that would sit in a coffee shop and sketch the face of patrons with an impressive acuity for capturing their demeanor.  She kept saying that animals were not her forte, but I beg to differ, she managed to give character to the sketched animals in a way that only she could.        

I had never seen my grandmother be affectionate until the moment she met E, after that I saw a side of her that I had not known before.  

 

E and I would visit her regularly until she passed and I am so thankful that we have these sketches to remind E of the love that my grandmother had for her.  

I made the floral E by hot gluing fabric flowers to a 13" wood letter from Michaels. 

We created the butterfly using shims and mixing paint colors for the different pink and purple tones. 

I use baskets on the open shelves to keep her toys organize and also separate toys she can play independently with and ones that I do not want her to have immediate access to.

 

We came across this beautiful three story dollhouse peering at us from a garage sale on our way down to the river one morning.  This one is not a DIY but it is one of my favorite finds...ever and for someone that doesn't typically do the garage sale thing, I feel like we hit the jackpot. 

We had so much fun with each of these little projects for her room and hope that each time E is in her room she feels completely surrounded by love.

~D&H

 

 

Currently Loving: Glidden's Dusty Miller Paint Color

If peace was a color, I think it would be this "Dusty Miller" color by Glidden.

This paint color perfectly reflects it's leafy namesake, a hearty plant that is worth adding to your garden, and both are my current obsession.

D painted the nursery this color and the more time that we spend in there with our girls, the more we love this color. 

The airy sage tone changes with the light throughout the day to a peaceful gray in the evenings. 

If you're looking for inspiration for your next paint project, definitely give this color a try! 

PEACE!