A lot of these type of "favorite things" lists that I've seen out there are nice and all...but they have one problem. They're not completely practical. Their favorite soap is some random fully organic probiotic wipe that can only be found and a specialty store 50 miles away. So, for my people out there, here is a list of some of my favorite things. Oh, just to throw in there, I'm not getting paid by these people or anything, which would be great, but alas no, my advice is unbiased.
Favorite TV distraction. The Wiggles.
Ok, I love the Wiggles. I know they aren't as "cool" as Yo Gabba Gabba but I think they're fantastic. Men who all met while going to college for Child Development formed a band aimed at helping children. If you pay attention to their songs and movements, they all have basis behind them. Such as "moving like an emu". The motion for the song requires the child to cross their arm in front of their body to the other side and make a half circle. For a child, crossing your arm in front of your body to the other side is very difficult. Most arm movement will stop in the midsection. It's called crossing the midplane of the body. Go on...see if your under 3 year old can make a full circle with their arms, most likely they will stop at the midplane, making a kind of crooked half circle. The Wiggles teach them these things.
Favorite bedroom item. The Conair White Noise machine.
The only con is that the clock light is too bright. I put black electrical tape over it. This guy is super loud and has multiple settings to keep everyday noises (and doorbells!) from waking the kids up. The second picture is the other kind they sell that is smaller and has no clock...yet is more expensive? Same thing though.
Favorite coffee/snack spot. Starbucks.
If you need a pick me up during the day, or are on your way to the park and don't want to pack a whole bunch of stuff, you can drive through to get your coffee and grab a Child snack pack. These snack packs have great food items in them. All practical...all stuff the kids will eat.
Favorite weekend non-trip trip. Petsmart.
Don't want to spend money? Need to take the kids out of the house and kill an hour? Heading to Petsmart on Saturdays is great. There are tons of puppies, kitties and fishies to entertain them and most likely the dogs are barking so loud that if the kids throw a tantrum, no one will notice or hear them. You can go during the week too and just look at the fish or see if there are any dogs in the pet play area.
Favorite cleaning product. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
The thing is a miracle. One swipe and it takes crayon or marker off of anything. ANYTHING. You don't even need to use soap, just plain water. It also helps in getting stuck on food off of your table or chairs. This is a marvelous invention. I always have two packs in the house.
Favorite Microwave Meal. Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers.
By far the best tasting and easiest meal out there. It's pretty decent calorie/fat wise too. Just throw it in the microwave for 5 minutes and you've got lunch or dinner (when daddy's out of town).
Favorite Fancy Microwave Meal: Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake.
This thing is delicious but it's expensive as far as meals go. Polenta, plantains, black beans, pumpkin seeds, root veggies in a chipotle sauce. So good. But not easy on the stomach. Just a warning.
Favorite Fast Food. Chick-Fil-A.
Chick-Fil-A has got McDonalds beat hands down. Not only is their food healthier (well depends what you substitute for what ie fries vs fruit cup) but the staff is geared towards mom and kids. They give you plastic sticky placemats, come around to refill your drink, deliver your food to you and sometimes will give the kids free samples of yogurt parfaits and whatnot. Their playground area is definitely for kids over 2 (most of the time) but there are a few out there that have outdoor playareas with stuff for small kids to do. Zane and Lily are the exception because they can scale the play structures with ease, but then again, they're monkeys.
Favorite bath product. Johnson and Johnson bedtime bath.
When the kids were newborns I hated this stuff and would not use it. The lavender smell was way too much for their systems and I swear kept them awake. I vowed never to use it. Then one day we ran out of the perfume free soap and I dug around in the cabinet and found bottles and bottles of this stuff. The kids were older (12 months) so I said, oh well, they're not all over-stimulation crazy now.
I started using it and I swear it really does help them sleep. And it makes them smell pretty and is way cheaper than all the fancy baby soaps out there.
And that is a list of some of my favorite practical things. There will be more later, but this is all I could come up with on a whim.
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