Rosey Bear Boutique®

A Mother’s Day Wish

RoseyBear — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:24:04 +0000

Ah, well, you know how it goes, that idea in your head about talking to your kids calmly and reasonably, you know, like a real conversation, turns into a lecture. Today was no different. I got to thinking about Mother’s Day and started almost dreading it because it never seems to turn out the way I would like. You’re probably thinking that I want the world on a platter, but all I really want is for the kids to get along and for me to be able to enjoy my time with them. Lately, that seems to be a lot to ask!

So, the lecture. It’s 3 days ahead, and with their short attention spans, I thought it was good timing. Give them time to absorb what I’ve said and figure out how they are going to make it happen. I seized the opportunity when all 3 of the big ones were near, plus hubby, so that was a bonus, and I began my 2012 Mother’s Day Speech.

“I am instituting a new policy this year for Mother’s Day, which will be in force for ever more.” They all groaned. “I’m giving you 3 days notice, so that you have ample time to prepare. There will be no fighting, arguing, bickering or yelling on Mother’s Day. There will be no touching of one another in a way that makes anyone whine, scream, cry or say (in my best whining, long, drawn out way) “StaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhpppppiiiiiiTT!” You will NOT make me referee, negotiate or use any other peace keeping measures that really only serve to cause inner turmoil for ME. When you are asked to do something, you will do it.” Lots of weird little faces and smirks. Then to my husband, I repeated one thing, “No yelling!” “All I want is to enjoy being with you guys on Mother’s Day instead of like the last few years, when I have felt like the worst mother in the world.”

Now, in their defense, they are very excitable children. I think they get so wrapped up in the anticipation of giving me what they’ve made at school and the significance of the day — a day to show Mom how much we love her — that they, well, blow it … LOL They are so hyped up on the excitement that they just can’t calm down or pay attention to directions. The major holiday or birthday syndrome.

So, that was it. My Mother’s Day speech. I was calm, and they found it humorous. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing if it keeps their attention. We shall see if it has any real effect. Honestly, I don’t want breakfast in bed or lots of presents or much of anything, really. I just want to have a little time to relax and not feel so stressed. And when I lay down at night, I want to feel good about myself as a mother and feel proud of how I handled the events of the day.

There is nothing worse than being pushed to your limits so that you handle a situation in a way that you know you don’t want to. While this is most definitely MY job to control, even mothers have their breaking points. With 4 kids, the average day brings me very close to that point on a regular basis! The thing is, that point is always moving. Every time I successfully “win” by maintaining calm through a “tough one”, the next one is just more challenging. Although they don’t consciously do it, the kids recognize that you didn’t blow your stack this time and they just push harder next time. They push, we conquer, they move the bar! So, THAT leaves us feeling ‘on the verge’ all the time.

Perhaps this realization can help me feel like less of a failure, but I hear that may be the fate of a mother. That, and guilt. That would have to be topic of another post (perhaps a whole series?) So, I’ll take this realization and my expectation of an effective speech into the weekend and hope.

Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies … Wear Slips?!

RoseyBear — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:08:56 +0000

I guess you could say that last week was the ‘straw that broke the mother’s back’, if you will. We’ve heard them over and over — the excuses that our customers hear from the big department stores when they go looking for slips. “Slips are old-fashioned.”, “No one wears slips anymore.”, “You don’t need a slip if the dress has a lining.” and a few more. But last week a new customer shared a remark that outraged her and frankly, turned our heads a little. An employee of a LARGE department store told this customer that “…mothers don’t dress their daughters in slips anymore because they want to show their bodies.”

Girls Adjustble Strap A-Line Slip

Rosey Bear Boutique was founded on the idea that children should be allowed to be children for as long as possible and our mission is to provide modest, age-appropriate clothing, to that end. We knew that times were changing, but do any parents really want to “show off the body” of their 6 year old daughters?! Call me naive, but I’m just going to have to dismiss this as an unfounded opinion of an immature store clerk.

Regarding the other misguided beliefs about slips, we’d like to take a few moments to address them. The best way to do that is to give you a little insight into the many reasons that you may want to consider a slip. Every dress is different and so is every little girl, but you’ll probably experience at least one of these.

Clinging Fabrics
There are a variety of fabrics out there, each with different characteristics, but many can be clingy under different circumstances. Whether it is susceptible to static cling or it just tends to ride up, a slip will help keep the dress down where it belongs and keep it from clinging to the body. In warmer weather, there is nothing worse than a skirt that keeps sticking in all the wrong places.

Cotton Blend A-Line Slip With Ruffle

Sheer Fabrics
It’s not only your true sheer fabrics, but even some of your cottons and poly cotton blends these days that are often more sheer than we would like. Fabrics are becoming thinner and more lightweight and therefore, showing a little more than we like. A slip adds another layer for those who prefer a more modest look.

Colorful Undergarments
Who doesn’t love the modern fun prints that are now available for little girls’ underwear, undershirts and training bras? However, we’d prefer to keep them to ourselves rather than have red heart print or the Disney princesses shining through the dress! Again, a nylon slip or cotton slip will help keep their unmentionables unmentioned!

Seams
Regardless of the fabric of the dress, it still has seams. If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a hundred times, “it’s itchy!”, “it’s scratchy!”, “it’s pinching me!”. With such delicate skin, it doesn’t take much to irritate them and let’s face it, what irritates them, is sure to irritate us! A full length slip (shoulders to hem) will give a nice, smooth layer against that sensitive skin and protect from any of the seams, threads, zippers, buttons, etc. that could be bothersome. Grab a slip to help ensure that special day is as happy as can be!

Linings
You may be told that you don’t need a slip because the dress is lined. While it may be lined, do yourself a favor and take a good look at the inside of the dress. Many, many dresses do have either a full lining or from the waist down, but you’ll notice that the seams are still against the skin. Unfortunately, only your higher end brands put in the extra care to reverse the seams on the lining so that all the seams are sandwiched between the dress and lining layers. So, if you’re counting on your lining for comfort, check out the way the dress is constructed before you decide to skip the slip.

Girls Cotton Blend Full Pettcoat Slip

Built-In Crinolines
A fabulous addition to special occasion dresses! They are built-in near the hem and you don’t have to worry about keeping it in place so that it doesn’t stick out. However, this is another source for discomfort for your little one. Built-in crinolines are usually made of stiffer tulle and can be very prickly. Most often, the tulle is between the dress and lining layers, but you still need to be careful. Reach under and grab hold of the lining and the crinoline together to see if it could be irritating. Depending on the thickness of the lining, you may find that it feels prickly, even through the lining. Adding a slip usually does the trick!

So, old fashioned? Well, I suppose, since these kinds of undergarments have been around for many years. But, so have socks and tights and we don’t think THEY’RE going away any time soon! Who wears them? Our customers do! And honestly? I think we’ve all seen someone who could stand to add a slip at one time or another.

Trust RoseyBearBoutique.com when you need a girls slip or petticoat. We’re here to answer your questions and offer you tips and advice on your Special Occasion attire for your kids.

A Fresh Twist on The Classic Sailor Dress

RoseyBear — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:56:45 +0000

Pink Sailor Dress with Matching Headband

The Sailor Dress – a look that never goes out of style. From babies to toddlers to little girls, you can find an abundance of styles in all size ranges including newborn, infant, 2T-4T and 4-6X. And you don’t have to give up the sailor dress tradition too soon because girls sailor themed dresses can be found in sizes 7-16 as well.

In this economy, we have to make some tough choices when choosing kids clothes. While a beautiful frilly dress may be perfect for the special occasion, sometimes we need a dress that can be worn more than once. Certain special occasions do require a certain style, but for less formal occasions, consider a dress that she’ll get more use out of.

Americana Baby Dress with Hat and Bloomers

A well accessorized sailor dress or outfit makes a fantastic statement and is very fitting for a Birthday dress or for patriotic celebrations. You can’t go wrong with a blue and white sailor dress with red accents!

Often available in fully accessorized sets, sailor outfits are an easy choice. Baby sailor dresses frequently include matching bloomers. RoseyBearBoutique.com has sets that include matching bloomers and hat or matching bloomers and headband. Our toddler and little girls sailor dresses have matching dolly dresses for the perfect gift outfit.

Ivory Smocked Sailor Romper and Hat

Remember that ‘Fresh Twist’ that we mentioned? Some of our latest seasonal styles have brought some great updates to this timeless look. Whether it’s the new colors of pink or ivory in the classic sailor dress style or Americana baby dresses and sundresses in red, white and blue, you have many updated styles to choose from if you want to change up that sailor theme.

Don’t think we’ve forgotten those baby boys! Our sailor rompers bring in some wonderfully soft looks in our ivory smocked romper and hat and our 100% cotton light blue sailor shorts set.

Do you want to dress your kids in matching outfits? You’ll find great sister looks with sizes from newborn to 6X and a great brother sister outfit with our matching ivory smocked sailor dress and ivory smocked sailor romper.

Farmer’s Market – Fun For Kids

RoseyBear — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:18:46 +0000

There’s something about shopping outside that turns a normally boring experience into an adventure for kids. Whether it’s a garage sale or a booth at a fair, they approach it as if they are inside an episode on the Discovery Channel.

Among our favorites are the Farmer’s Market and the local farm stands. We have one of each very close to our house, so it’s an easy outing. The farm “stand” is actually inside of a permanent building, offering quite a large variety at any given time.

The kids always seem to be fascinated by the assortment of fruits and veggies, which is odd since they take no notice at the grocery store. At the farmer’s market, they love to go from table to table to survey everything that’s there. We take note of which tomatoes or potatoes or strawberries look the best and we check out the prices too in case that’s the deciding factor. I guess it’s a game of sorts, a puzzle, a challenge to be won. Of course, we take every opportunity to learn about new foods that they may not be familiar with. They also get a kick out of seeing the same fruits and vegetables in different packaging. I’m not sure why, but some of the things that we normally buy in plastic bags from the freezer section look different to them when displayed in those little cardboard quart containers. They might say, “Eeew, what’s that?” to the fresh version of one of their favs or even think another looks yummy when they normally turn up their nose at the frozen counterpart.

Overall, this is a great opportunity to learn new things. We practice money counting skills the ‘old fashioned way’ in this world without cash registers and plastic money. We have to add up our items to make sure we have enough cash, count out the right amount to pay and then count our change.

We find that it helps us introduce new things too. Kids just seem to be more willing to try the things we get from the farm stand or farmer’s market. They also come home eager to help prepare these things we collected during our hunting and gathering.

Living in the climate we do, there are many foods that we just don’t get fresh during most of the months of the year. We all look forward to the few weeks in the summer when we can get huge, beefsteak tomatoes ripened by the real sun and mouth watering corn on the cob. With the kids growing older and becoming more discerning, they are starting to recognize that very often it’s not the food itself they don’t like, but the way it was prepared or the brand or whether it was fresh or frozen. These lessons are best learned through experience and the farmer’s market is a great way help them with these discoveries. It makes us laugh when we’re at the table and one of them says, “Wow, I didn’t think I liked these!” or “Hey, these are a lot better than the ones we normally have!”.

And there’s an added bonus to parents. We get one of our mundane chores (grocery shopping) done (or some of it at least) and get help from willing participants! You just can’t say that every day! So, check out the farmer’s market as a great learning tool and a way to engage your kids in household activities.

Quality time comes in many forms that don’t involve large expenditures or over-stimulation. Take a new look at the ordinary things you do every day and you might find some of your own opportunities to share a new experience with the kids.

RoseyBow™ Hair Bows: Unique Gifts and Amazing Gift Wrap!

RoseyBear — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:24:58 +0000

Let’s face it, being creative takes time and most of all, energy to fuel those creative brain cells. With today’s lifestyle, it’s getting harder and harder to get a moment to complete a thought, let alone come up with a great idea.

A big RoseyBow™ hair bow makes a great package topper!

One of the challenges I always encounter is wrapping gifts. I don’t like paying a store several dollars to wrap a gift for me, especially when it’s being shipped to me (or the recipient), because it’s never anything short of ordinary. Don’t get me wrong — it’s no better when you try to purchase quality wrapping paper. The stuff is just expensive. Too expensive for something that’s going to be torn off and discarded in the blink of an eye! And if you want it to be extra special, then plan on shelling out extra cash for ribbons and bows or other adornments that will make that package picture perfect.

There are lots of neat ways to create your own, custom gift wrap at home. Many of these take some time, but can be part of the gift itself. I like these for gifts for grand-parents or special people in your kids’ lives. You can make several sheets at once and just save them for when you need them!

1) Have the kids use paint and scatter their own hand prints all over a basic piece of butcher or brown paper. You can use lots of colors for a rainbow effect or choose a nice mix based on the recipient’s favorites. This one also works with fingerprints or footprints.
2) Let the kids pick out rubber stamps or foam stampers from their collection and use paints or inks on butcher or brown paper.
3) Print out photos of the kids onto whatever paper you like and attach them to any roll paper or even tissue paper. They’ll definitely know who that gift is from! The kids can even write their names under their pictures.

Special Hair Bows for Special Occasions

Another idea is to use a part of the gift as the package topper and choose a simple, solid color tissue for wrap. This is a great option when you are short on time or you aren’t looking to create a keepsake out of the paper itself. Tissue paper is very economical and comes in a large variety of colors.

One of our favorites is to add one of our unique RoseyBow™ Hair Bows to the top of a gift for a little girl. Choose a tissue color that complements the hair bow you have chosen or try basic white. This will help your RoseyBow™ topper really stand out! Attaching the hair bow is simple. You can either let the seam lay on the top of the package and clip a pinch clip style hair bow to it or you can tie a single ribbon around the package in one direction. Then, you can attach a pinch clip or a barrette style hair bow to the ribbon.

Presentation is everything and for very little cost, you get a stunning package! On top of it all, the guest of honor receives a unique hair bow that she can wear again and again. You have a unique gift, both inside and out!

Need a hair bow to match the outfit inside? Give us a call and we’ll work with you on your custom hair bow request!

Wordless Wednesday w/ Thumbnail Linky

RoseyBear — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:00:37 +0000

Are we out of toilet paper AGAIN?!

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Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 8)

RoseyBear — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:05:13 +0000

This is a continuation of our series, ‘Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House’. If you haven’t done so already, you may want to read parts 1-7 first.

Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 1)
Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 2)
Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 3)
Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 4)
Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 5)
Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 6)
Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 7)

Rewards, Rewards, Rewards

You’re going to have to pull out all the stops on this one! Be generous and lenient. And I mean to everyone. Reward your kids. Reward yourself. I’m sure I’ve said it once or twice before in this series, but buying and selling a home is a very emotional and stressful process for the whole family. Not to mention, a serious amount of hard work! You owe it to yourself and your family to find ways to relax, enjoy a special treat together and reward everyone for their hard work.

I have lost track of the number of times we ended up showing our house, but we had at least 13 open houses and another half a dozen private showings. We all worked our butts off and sometimes this meant not doing something we had planned or missing out on some quality time. We even had to adjust birthday party plans. Find a way to reschedule or substitute for the missed opportunities.

The most important thing to remember is to cut everyone a break and treat yourselves together! Although we were surprised to gain some treasured quality moments with our kids during the work, the down time together was the best. We tried several different things, but we found that during the open was a great time to celebrate a job well done. We were often evicted, so to speak, right around lunchtime, so taking the kids out for a bite to eat was a very popular treat. We don’t normally eat out very often, so this became a must-have for them!

If we stayed fairly close to home, we had time to eat and then do something else. Other times, we would get sandwiches and eat in the car while we took a drive somewhere. A couple of times we went to other open houses, but we settled in to more entertainment activities as time wore on. Here are several ideas for things we have done that you might enjoy as well.

Early dinner at Ruby Tuesday – the kids love getting the salad bar!
Sandwiches at a local restaurant that had a great view of the summer airshow
Quick lunch, Starbucks for coffees and then off to the playground where we sipped and they played
Light sandwiches and then off to Big Lots for some cheap new outdoor toys for the summer
Quick lunch and then to the library to take out some new books
Off to Grandma and Grandpa’s for dinner
Lunch and then ice cream at the local ice cream stand
Quick lunch and then shopping so the kids could spend the money they’ve been earning

Chuck and Friends Set of 6 Vehicles

Depending on how things were going with the buying and selling process, there were times when the kids really needed a pick-me-up. There were disappointments along the way and points where things just weren’t looking too promising. One weekend we were all pretty bummed and we could tell that the kids were really not feeling all that jazzed about this whole endeavor. So, we took them over to Big Lots to let them pick out a new toy. Summer was about half over and during that week we had several times when the kids wanted something that was packed away or they were just missing their stuff. The girls went for mermaid dolls and my son picked a couple of small vehicles that did cool things. For the baby, it was a set of Chuck and Friends vehicles. All were big hits and although they thought they were buying them out of their own money, we surprised them at the register by paying the bill. We made sure to let them know that it was for their hard work.

Encouragement is the key to long-term participation from the kids, especially when they get down right sick of all the fuss. We do this with words of praise, many thank-you’s, lots of affection and even extra money (other than allowance) when they really work hard. Whether it’s eating out, going somewhere cool, a sweet treat or a trip to the store, they know that it’s a reward for all of us. We are very confident that they know how important they are in the process, how important the work they do is and just how much we appreciate them toughing it out with us.

And don’t forget the grown-ups! You guys need a break too, so don’t be afraid to plan in a treat for yourself. I know that I always enjoyed having a meal out instead of cooking, and it was certainly nice to come home to a house that was immaculate, so those were pretty nice perks for me. However, a nice coffee and just sitting and relaxing with nothing to do for a little while but enjoy my family was something that I began to look forward to as time went on. Making sure everyone gets a little something will help re-energize your team and get you to the goal!

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Organic Cotton Dresses for Any Season

RoseyBear — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:30:04 +0000

Organic Cotton 'Earth Jumper'

Looking for a versatile all season organic outfit for your toddler girl? Rosey Bear Boutique carries a couple of great Bossy Baby organic outfits that can be dressed up or dressed down to fit the occasion.

The organic cotton earth jumper set is a 2 piece set that includes a sleeveless jumper style top and capri bottoms. Great for fun in the sun or layered over a tee for cooler days. Embroidered ribbon accents along the bodice and hems give this organic outfit a sweet feminine touch. Crocheted lace hems create a dressy casual style.

Organic Cotton Ribbon Dress with Lace

The organic cotton ribbon dress is also sleeveless in a comfy a-line cut. Crocheted lace dresses up the bodice and hem along with embroidered ribbon trims. This dress can also be layered over a tee when it’s cool or even a long sleeved top in winter.

Add some accessories to either outfit, such as lacy socks and a hair bow and you have a great little ensemble. Or, just add a sunhat and head to the beach!

Both outfits are made of 100% organic cotton in an ultra soft natural shade. This fabric is a great durable weight to last wash after wash. With its versatile wearing options, it will last season after season as well! You may also want to check out our other organic kids’ clothes for baby and toddler girls and boys.

Organic Ribbon Dress Lace Bodice

Italian Poultry and Spinach Roll Recipe

RoseyBear — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:07:19 +0000

Low Sodium Italian Poultry Spinach Roll

This is an awesome recipe that I’ve perfected over time to meet my family’s low sodium needs as well as their tastes.

It’s not really that bad for preparation time at only about 20 minutes, but it does take about an hour to cook, so it’s not one that I make when I have negative 10 minutes to prepare dinner! My kids LOVE spinach, so believe it or not, this is one of their favorites. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they think it looks cool, and we know that presentation is everything!

Ingredients

Meat Roll 1 lb. ground turkey 1 lb. ground chicken 1 c. low sodium bread crumbs ⅓ c. shredded Italian cheese blend 2 eggs ½ tsp. ground black pepper 1 tsp. Italian seasoning	Spinach Filling 1 10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained 1¼ c. shredded Italian cheese blend 1 tsp. Italian seasoning ¼ tsp. garlic powder
1 14½ oz. can no salt added diced tomatoes with basil, garlic & oregano

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a roasting rack into a broiler or roasting pan. Spray rack lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Add about ½ inch of water to the bottom of the roasting pan. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface for later. You will use this once you create your meat mixture.
In a medium sized bowl, mix together all of the Meat Roll ingredients until blended. Turn the mixture out onto the parchment paper and pat into a 10×14 inch rectangle.
In a small bowl, mix the Filling ingredients with a fork until blended. Spread the spinach mixture over the meat, leaving ¾ inch margin around the edges. Pick up one of the 10-inch edges of the parchment paper and roll it over onto itself. Continue rolling up firmly, all the way to the other end, peeling back the parchment paper as you go. Pinch along the seam and the ends, sealing them up to keep the filling inside. Carefully pick up the roll and place it seam side down on the roasting rack in the roasting pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until the roll is cooked through and the juices run clear, approximately 50 minutes. A meat thermometer inserted into the center of the roll should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C) when done. Remove pan from oven and let stand.
Pour the tomatoes into a microwave safe container and heat until warm. Remove the roll from the pan and place it on a platter. Pour the warmed tomatoes over the top of the roll. Serve hot.

This dish is great served with steamed carrots and brown rice for a well balanced meal. During the summer, instead of using canned tomatoes, try substituting your own diced fresh tomatoes and add some Italian seasoning and garlic. When the tomatoes are fresh, I don’t heat them before putting them on top — just use them at room temperature. Yummy!

The following products were used in this recipe.

Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 7)

RoseyBear — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:02:13 +0000

This is a continuation of our series, ‘Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House’. If you haven’t done so already, you may want to read parts 1-6 first.

Work With Your Real Estate Agent
Remember that your agent’s job is to represent you and act on your behalf. You can certainly rely on him/her for advice on real estate matters and staging your home, but you know what’s best for your family. Discuss ahead of time what will work for your family for showings and open houses. If you feel that you need 24 hrs. notice to get the house prepared for a private showing, then tell them that.

Can you have the house ready to show every weekday by the time you leave for work? If so, then your agent can show your house during the day. If not, he/she will need to know that up front. You probably can’t just drop everything at work to head home and prep the house. Figure out the best time to schedule showings in the evenings. What time can you reasonably be out of the house, considering dinner, homework and any other kids’ activities that you might have. If you think that 5:30 is good for all days but Wednesday or that Mondays just won’t work, then tell your agent. How do you want to handle weekend showings? Do you want to hold your house open for inspection every weekend? This is what we did because we agreed that people aren’t going to want to buy it if they can’t see it!

It’s best to try to provide a static schedule for weekdays that your agent can refer to when fielding calls from prospective buyers and buyer’s agents. You will make his/her job much harder, especially in the early days when activity is higher, if you have to be consulted for every call. We left our agent to work it out with the interested parties, with the understanding that we needed 24 hours notice. It was often still inconvenient, but we knew that we had to do it and that we left ourselves enough time to get the job done.

Open houses can be on Saturday or Sunday, and times can vary a bit. We’ve seen Noon-2, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4. Pick what works for you. It can be different from open to open, depending on what you have going on. Open houses can be decided on one at a time, rather than the same day and time for every one, unless that is what works for you.

After a few showings and/or open houses, if you find that the time you picked isn’t working out, let your agent know and adjust it. They should be willing to accommodate you as long as you are being reasonable. Buyers can’t buy your house if they can’t get in to see it, but it’s still YOUR HOUSE and you have your family to consider.

Stay tuned for Part 8 of this series…

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Wordless Wednesday!

RoseyBear — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:00:54 +0000

Baby's New Car - Compliments of His Siblings :-)

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Face To Face Banking … UGH!

RoseyBear — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:34:49 +0000

Here is a completely pointless post. Well, it’s likely to make me feel better, but I’m sure it will accomplish little else.

I needed to deposit some money into a checking account to cover a debit that will be coming out this week. We normally do everything electronically, such as direct deposits and automatic transfers, so going to the bank is not the norm for us. Perhaps this is the reason for my false expectations.

It was the 25th and the charge will be on the 29th. Electronic transfers can take 3 days or more with the banks in question and I have completely given up on the chance of ever depositing a check and getting access to my money within a reasonable time frame. Everything is held, no matter what, and things that are “up to the teller’s discretion” never work in our favor.

Nutella Cupcakes with Nutella Cream Cheese

I needed to deposit cash to make sure it would be available right away, but I didn’t have enough. So, I loaded up all 4 kids and headed over to the grocery store to purchase something so that I could get some cash back out of my checking account with Bank A and not incur a charge. I wanted to make DoubleDutyMommy.com’s Nutella Cupcakes with Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting anyway, so this was a good opportunity to kill two birds, so to speak. At the register, the little machine had cash back options in $20 increments and then the choice of ‘other’. So I picked ‘other’ and entered ’50′. So I finish up and the cashier finalizes it, asking if I have a preference on how my cash back is broken up. (Like, what size bills or whatever.) I said, “No.” and then she says, “Did you mean to ask for 50 cents cash back?”. Well of course I didn’t! Since when do you enter a fraction of a dollar when asking for money from a machine?! Please, no comments on how out of touch I am, but as of the last time I used cash back or an ATM for that matter, you could only select your money in $10 or $20 increments, depending on the bank, store, etc.

So then she said, “You’ll have to buy something else and try again.” However, she’s already given me my receipt and started scanning the groceries of the guy behind me, so I have to go around. Ugh! So I think, well, I’ll get the kids some gum. That will be fine. I walked around and all 4 lines are 5 people deep! I don’t know where the heck they came from, but there they were, guaranteeing me a good 15 more minutes before I could get out of the store with my $50. Mind you, I’m trying to get to the bank before 3pm so that the deposit is credited the same day.

The thought of waiting in line with 4 kids AGAIN for 15 minutes is not appealing, so I wrangled them all and headed over to the customer service area to just use the dang ATM. I’ll pay the $1.50 just to get on my way. And there it is. A big sign that says, “Out of Order”. Of course it is. Why would it be anything else?

Well, I wasn’t going back in that line and couldn’t get any money there, so I decided that I’d just head over to Bank B where I have an account and where I intend to deposit this $50 if I can ever get it. I figured I’d just do the drive up ATM and then go around again to the drive-up teller window. The kids would be happy in the car for a little bit and it shouldn’t take too long. Yeah, well, in a perfect world.

Bank B only has a walk up ATM, so I parked the car, unloaded the kiddos and walked up to the ATM. Here, I paid $3 to Bank B to take out my money from Bank A just so that I could give it right back to Bank B, where I am a customer with several accounts, including the checking account into which I will deposit this stupid $50.

Back to the car, buckle up and drive around to the teller window. I could have walked in, but at least in the car there are toys and windows I can close when the children who are so done with this “quick trip” start to revolt.

So around to the drive-up teller to deposit my funds. The rest was remarkably uneventful, thank goodness.

This experience just proves that doing everything electronically and over the internet is just the best way to go, as long as you don’t cut your dates too short like I did this time! I’m sorry face-to-face world, but you’ll have to do a lot better than this to win me back from the convenience of the cyber world. Doing things in person is just such a hassle!

Do you prefer to do your banking and bill paying in person or online? What about your shopping?

Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 6)

RoseyBear — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:09:54 +0000

This is a continuation of our series, ‘Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House’. If you haven’t done so already, you may want to read parts 1-5 first.

Communicate your plan
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in business is that communication is key and almost no one (in business) seems to know how to do it! The greatest plan every conceived will fail miserably if the people who are supposed to execute it don’t know about it or understand it.

Through the house preparation process, you will no doubt be explaining to everyone the different categories and what you will do with them and for how long. The next thing to communicate is your plan for when it’s time to show the house. Make sure that all family members know the following

- What items need to be stashed in each room
- Where the designated stash spaces are for each item (it’s best not to put things in a different place every time)
- What the tidying jobs are
- What the cleaning jobs are
- What to lock/unlock
- Which lights are to be left/turned on

The lock/unlock item may require a little explanation. We normally keep the doors to the attic, basement and garage locked, but these should be unlocked so that prospective buyers can see all of the areas of the house. We also have childproofing devices on everything but our belly buttons these days and man are some of those hard to work! Especially hard are the doorknob covers. We have a few different styles and some are easier, but most are just a pain. We take these off and stash them so we don’t aggravate our “guests”. Then we have some lockable file cabinets that we use to store valuables. We always make sure to lock those before we leave.

Lists are very helpful for preparing the house, especially in the beginning. If everyone is participating, you will also find that some people might handle the same jobs every time or are good at one thing over another. Especially with the kids, if there is something they like doing, make that their designated job! One of the most important management tasks is to learn what your people like/do well and let them do it. It will make the process much smoother. If you do decide on some assigned tasks, update that list! We all have good days and bad and take it from me, holding your house open every weekend will take a toll. Every person is going to have a day when they are just not in to it, so that list will help you all stay focused on the plan.

Stay tuned for Part 7 of this series…

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Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House (Part 5)

RoseyBear — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:04:38 +0000

This is a continuation of our series, ‘Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House’. If you haven’t done so already, you may want to read parts 1-4 first.

Develop Your Plan
Now that you have those categories identified, you need to figure out how you are going to deal with each of them.

The ‘Gotta Go!’ Category
If you are like most of us, this will include things that need to be thrown out, give-aways, donations and things you could sell.

Throw out the stuff that is just junk. This can be the hardest part if you are attached to things that have memories but are of little use or value to anyone. Buck up and decide what you really have to get rid of and just do it!

Think about family and friends who may be able to use the stuff that’s in good shape. Don’t pass up the opportunity to help them out. Some folks don’t like to take used things, but others really appreciate being able to save on a few things for a new place or new baby.

For donations, contact your local thrift shops or other charities to find out what items they will take. Be sure to find out any requirements they have for the condition of used items. And don’t forget your receipt if you itemize your deductions on your income tax!

You may not want the hassle of trying to sell any of the things that have value, but this is certainly an option that could make a few extra bucks that might come in handy. Check out your local consignment stores, online auction sites, local and online classified ad resources to help find buyers for all of your still ultra cool stuff!

Long-Term Storage, Short-Term Storage and Seasonal Categories
These will all basically be stored, but depending on what you have available to you, they may not all be in the same place. In our case, we had significant storage space on our property, but we were very short on actual living space. We needed to free up the on-site storage for the things we needed close at hand, so we rented a storage unit of the appropriate size to store all 3 of these categories. If you can find a family member who is willing to let you store things at their place and you are comfortable with this, go for it! Any money saving options are a real plus. Figure out how much space you will need and where you can get it. Next, decide which categories will go where, depending on how likely you are to need them and how easy they will be to access in a given location.

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Save Your Sanity: Organize Your Packing!

RoseyBear — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:52:14 +0000

Moving house is a huge project! The complexity varies with house size, family size and the amount of stuff you have, but I would dare say that something gets lost with every move.

In our case, we had a giant move on our hands with a ton of work to be done before we could show the house. You can read the entire series, “Moving With Kids: How To Survive Showing Your House”, to find out just how big it was.

We started packing up some of the really long-term things the year before we listed. We expected our move to be a long, drawn out affair. This meant that many of our belongings were going to be stored for a very long time. I needed a way to keep us organized and make sure we could find things if we needed them.

Packing Inventory Book
I created a log book where I entered every box that we packed up. I noted the contents of the box and the label that I had assigned to it. For longer term projects, it also helps to date the entry so that if you do have to go searching for a box in a storage unit, you have an idea of where it should be in relation to other boxes.

Organize Your Boxes
Make sure that you pack like things together or you will create a new nightmare of a different flavor. These groupings should be things that make sense to you. If you’ll likely look for things based on where they used to be located, group them that way. You may also want to group all of one kind of thing together.

For example, you could box up the contents of a cupboard together and note in the book that it contains “all the stuff from [place A]“. I grouped the books we packed up by the room/shelf they were on where possible. That way I don’t have to list individual items, but rather “books from tall living room bookcase”. Now, I ended up with several boxes with that notation, but each box contained books that had been stored together on the same shelf, or very near one another. This really does make it easier to find things. When the box is opened, you’ll see them and be able to say, “oh these are the ones we had on the top shelf so it should be in here”. Other groupings were things like, “Family Sandals”, “Winter Boots”, etc. These were especially helpful when we were swapping out our seasonal boxes from the storage unit through the ordeal.

For very important things or those that you think may get lost in the shuffle, make a special note in the book that they are contained in the listed box. I did this when I packed up some of the kitchen things that I thought I might need to get at right away after the move.

Labeling System
Being the super careful person that I am, I didn’t feel comfortable labeling the boxes themselves with their actual contents. When we started packing, we didn’t know where we were going to end up, so labeling boxes with their destination room didn’t make sense. So, I made up alpha codes for certain types of items and then appended a number to it that just kept incrementing with each new box.

I’ll give you an example of how this worked. We do lots of crafts in our house, so there was a lot to pack. The prefix code CFT was used for those boxes, so starting at 1 they were CFT1, CFT2, CFT3, and so on. In our old house, we had a nice little crawl space right off our laundry room in the basement where we kept much of the craft stuff. In one house we looked at, there was a small basement room that looked ideal for crafts. In another, the master bedroom was large enough that I could put a little sewing area in an alcove. So, where the boxes went was very dependent on which house we ended up in. With this system, you don’t need to know when you pack. Just use your inventory book on moving day to direct the boxes to the appropriate rooms. Our craft category contained general crafts, kids’ crafts and my sewing stuff, so using the book, I could split that out between rooms or send it all to the same place, depending on the new house layout. Plus, I found it so much easier to just put a few characters on each box rather than writing the contents or room names.

Organize the Storage Unit
A few things about storage units first. Do yourself a favor and get a climate controlled unit if at all possible. For our long-term needs, we wanted to be able to store anything and not worry about it getting ruined. It was also one of those places where you drive right inside the building to your unit. It was very clean and secure. We did get a unit with 2 different doors, so that we had better access given our circumstances. We knew it would be pretty full because we didn’t get an overly large unit (to save money), so a single door on a stuffed unit would have been too difficult.

We used a systematic approach to the packing, which led to a much more organized storage unit. We packed the longer term stuff first and this went into storage first. As time went on, we moved on to the short-term and then seasonal categories and these went into the storage unit in that order. This way, the more likely a box was to be needed, the closer it was to the outside, and easier to access.

The labeling system, specifically the incrementing numbers, did help with locating boxes later. We had to go looking for things many, many times over the course of the year. As we picked through the boxes, the numbering helped us figure out if we were heading in the right direction – like an annoying game of Hot and Cold!

Moving Day!
All this nonsense leading up to the big day! Whether you are using movers, friends or just going DIY, you’ll appreciate your packing inventory on this day. You are not likely to want to dump every box into the house all at once. There are things like cleaning carpets, painting and perhaps some other small jobs that you’ll want to take care of before you move everything in. The log book will help you direct the right boxes into the house versus to the garage or storage shed for a later date. For those boxes that do go into the living space, you can easily get them to the proper rooms.

Now keep that book handy because you’re going to need it until you have everything unpacked! There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find things in the new house. Are you sure you packed it? Did we forget a box? Did we leave something in the truck? Save yourself the headache and try a packing inventory book the next time you move!

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