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Erin Phillips is a stay at home mom (SAHM), student and former makeup artist.  You can find the daily exploits as a wife, mother and student on her blog, My Vocations , as well as instant updates on her Facebook page.

Accessories and Jewelry

They can make a simple black dress breathtakingly sophisticated. Think about Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) in that beginning scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s… what would that black dress be without those lovely pearls, the tiara barrette in her perfectly coiffed hair, or those fabulous opera gloves? Just a sheath dress in black. They can instantly take a v-neck tee and khaki capris from backyard to date night with a few lobster clasps.

Accessories. Since Cleopatra’s time women have been adorning themselves with jewels and trinkets to enhance their ensemble. And they change with the tide, but a few key pieces will translate well regardless of what’s coming out of Paris or New York this season.

1.  A simple strand of pearls. They don’t have to be real, just make sure they’re real good looking. Sometimes fake pearls are just plastic beads covered with a pearescent foil… this can chip off quite easily, sometimes with prolonged exposure to the moisture from your skin, body oils or lotions. Simulated pearls are more commonplace and last a bit longer. And good places to get quality costume jewelry is QVC.com, HSN.com, or a big box store.

2.  A nice pair of stud earrings. These don’t go below your earlobe, and you can wear them any time, with anything. The traditional choice- diamond (or nice looking CZ). Don’t take this to rap star level (extra large), it’s not ideal.

3.  A simple pair of hoops. Mayonnaise jar hoops are still gauche, but it’s your choice if you want silver or gold. (See NOTE below about how to choose silver or gold.)

4.  A nice cocktail / “right hand” ring. This is a nice looking ring that might be a tiny bit more flashy than your wedding/engagement ring(s), hence worn on the right hand. Rings are always personal choice. Some people get irritated by wearing them, and they’re not as noticeable as a necklace or earrings, so if you really don’t like them, you can skip wearing them.

5.  Statement jewelry. This is where you’d have a piece or two that states who you are or what your outfit says. For Christians that so choose, it would be their cross. Trends like the toggle style necklace that Tiffany released a couple years ago, the diamond circle pendant, etc.

6.  Trendy pieces. With the 80s making a comeback lately, this is where you’d have your thick bangle bracelets with interesting designs, piles of jelly bracelets, etc. This should be the least amount in your jewelry wardrobe, because what’s in for 2009/2010 may be completely yuck in 2011.

A general rule of thumb- don’t try to pile on your jewels just because it’s what you have. And it’s along the same lines of makeup- big and attention-getting in one area and leave the rest simple. Big earrings, keep the necklace simple.

NOTE: How to choose if you’re a Silver or Gold person- hold something silvery or gray next to your skin (face or neck is usually easiest), and with the other hand, hold something gold or yellow/orange up. Whichever side of you looks more “lit” up, that’s what you are. I look best with silver, as I feel gold makes me look a little jaundice.

Stay tuned for Erin’s new fashion and beauty column next week, Fringe- purses, scarves and shoes.

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What is Montessori School?

A Montessori school provides an alternative to traditional education. Based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori and her visionary methods, Maria Montessori was an Italian physician who achieved fame because of her inventive teaching methods and her incredible insight into the mechanics behind the learning process of children.

The hands on approach of Montessori schools allow the student to be an active participant in his or her education.

Encompassing all grade levels, most Montessori schools offer programs beginning at age 3. The early childhood years are crucial for learning and setting the stage for future academic success. The brain undergoes tremendous growth between the ages of 2 and 6 and learning capabilities at this age are limitless.

Many parents choose Montessori preschools as a means of laying the foundational building blocks necessary to promote both social and academic growth.

The basic premise of a Montessori education is providing the children with an opportunity to learn at their own pace under the direct guidance of a teacher. Unlike traditional schools that have a one-size fits all method of teaching, Montessori teachers are trained to assess the individual needs of each child and encourage personal development according to exclusive needs.

Montessori School Curriculum

While covering the same subject matter as traditional schools, Montessori allows teachers to gauge what the individual child has learned and then lead him or her into new areas of personal development and academic discovery.

The atmosphere of a Montessori school fosters independence and personal growth by developing confidence and self esteem among the children. Respect for themselves and others is a part of the social responsibility curriculum commonly promoted in Montessori programs. The autonomous approach to learning is balanced with open social interaction among peers, allowing for the perfect combination of individual and social development.

Multi-Age Classes

Classrooms contain a mixed age of students with a range that spans 3 years. This is based on Maria Montessori’s concept that varying ages will guide each other in collective educational. Older children in the group learn leadership skills, acting as mentors to their younger counterparts, while the younger children achieve the benefit of hands on learning from their peers.

Open spaced classrooms have multiple work stations with an abundance of natural materials. During classroom lessons, small groups of children undergo educational instruction while the remainder are free to work independently at the station of choice. If a hands on, multi-faceted education that differs from a traditional classroom setting is what you want for your child, Montessori schools are worth inquiring about.

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomemakerBarbi.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

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Tiffany is a sleep-deprived mom to a teen, a toddler, and a newborn. You can catch her blogging over a cup of coffee at Lattes And Life.  You can also find her Twitter feed @give_me_a_latte.

Adding Baby Cereal to Bottles

By the time your baby is a few weeks old, chances are someone has suggested adding cereal to her bottle to make her sleep longer at night. In fact, many parents swear by this method and encourage everyone they know to follow suit.

Yet, there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. The medical and parenting communities actually say this practice can be harmful! Let’s take a closer look.

(There is a small group of babies who pediatricians may advise adding cereal to their bottles: babies with severe reflux. Always follow your doctor’s advice).

1. Parents claim that adding cereal to the bottle makes baby sleep longer.

Many research studies have been conducted, comparing sleep habits of babies who had cereal added to their bottle and those who did not. Under research conditions, no difference has been found. Babies will “sleep through the night” when they are ready; each one reaches that milestone at a different rate.

2. Cereal is empty calories at this age.

Babies have definite nutrition requirements. Adding cereal to the bottle only adds empty calories to baby’s diet, which isn’t a habit you want to establish at such a young age!

3. Introducing solid foods too early can aggravate food allergies.

Many in the dietetic community feel that food allergies may be triggered by early exposure to the allergen, before the body is ready to process it. Exposing a baby to grains in the form of cereal in their bottle could possibly increase the chance they’ll develop a food allergy.

4. Baby’s feeding mechanisms aren’t designed for processing solids this early.

Young babies have a reflex that pushes their tongue against whatever comes into their mouth. This is necessary for the sucking required at the breast or bottle. This reflex naturally begins to go away around four months of age, making it easier to begin using a spoon to feed baby.

Also, some babies struggle to coordinate everything required in order to suckle properly. Introducing cereal to their bottles could aggravate this, causing them to choke (and potentially aspirate cereal into their lungs).

5. Adding cereal to the bottle alters baby’s fullness cues.

Babies have internal mechanisms that regulate feeding, so they only eat what they need. Adding cereal to the bottle interferes with these mechanisms, causing them to take in more calories than necessary. Researchers fear this can lead to a lifetime habit of overeating, and could contribute to the obesity epidemic we face today.

For all intents and purposes, it appears better to save solid foods until baby is four to six months of age and ready to accept food from a spoon. You can help encourage your baby to sleep better at night by following some of the tips I’ve shared in previous articles. In the meantime, try to snuggle your way through middle-of-the-night feedings with a smile. They won’t last forever, I promise!

Disclaimer: The previous article is not medical advice from a medical professional.  Always consult your physician for medical advice in the health care and treatment of medical concerns with your baby.

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Melissa Smallwood is a professional organizer, mother of three boys, mommy blogger, and the owner of the informational website, Organized Life by Design .  You can catch up with her on Twitter @multitaskingme.

Decluttering All the Paper – Week 2

Dealing with paper, in general:

Newspapers- If you use the internet, all major newspapers, including many local papers, are available (in their entirety) on line. If you are not computer savvy or prefer to hold the newspaper than be sure to recycle or toss newspapers at least weekly. Piles of old newspapers are untidy and create a fire hazard as well!

Important personal papers- These include your will, birth certificate, social security card, passport, etc. Keeping these in a fireproof box is safest or use a safe deposit box at the bank.

Other files you may have include:

• 401k statements
• Bank statements
• Mortgage statements
• Stock/bond/IRA statements
• Warranties/instruction manuals
• Car information, including car insurance and title

Keep your files organized and accessible according to how often you access them. If you only access certain papers once a year at tax time, then file them in a banker’s box in the attic. Keep files you need on hand in the file cabinet.

If you find yourself with various piles of paper scattered throughout the house, consider a portable file box. When you need to do filing, the place to file the papers will be right there. Easy access makes it more likely that you consistently file what needs to be filed.

How Long To Keep Types of Paper Files

We are often asked by clients how long they should keep various types of paper. These are general guidelines that we use when working with people. But remember, it is always important to check with your accountant or tax advisor about your individual situation before shredding any documents.

• Auto records- Keep these as long as you own the vehicle.
• Appointment books- some people like to keep these as a type of journal, I keep them for a few years as back-up for mileage purposes. Keep them up to 10 years for this type of reason.
• ATM slips- Keep them 6 years for tax related purchases. Store them with your bank statements.
• Credit card statements- 6 years for tax related purchases (such as owning your own business) Otherwise keep until you receive the interest statement issued with by the company annually. Then you can shred them.
• Dividend Payment Records- Until you receive your annual statement.
• Health records- Permanently
• Home improvements- As long as you own the home. Store these with your tax records.
• Household inventory and appraisal- As long as they are current. Update them annually (we will talk more about this next week when we talk about organizing for a transition).
• Insurance policies- Auto, homeowner’s, liability: through the statute of limitations. Disability, medical, life, personal property, umbrella: keep for the life of the policy.
• Investment purchase records- As long as you own the investments.
• Investment sales records- 6 years for tax purposes.
• Mortgage or loan discharge- As long as you own the home or 6 years after the discharge.
• Pay stubs- Until they are verified by your W-2 statement.
• Property bill of purchase- As long as you own the property.
• Receipts- As long as they are current, or as determined by your accountant.
• Safe deposit box key and inventory- As long as they are current.
• Tax records- Current year plus 6 years prior (can be filed away in a bankers box).
• Utility bills, etc.- Until they are paid (your cancelled check is proof you paid and the company keeps records as well).
• Vital Records and documents- Birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates: permanently.
• Wills, trusts, estate plans- Permanently

Catch Organizing with Melissa next Wednesday for “Decluttering All the Paper – Part 3”.  Visit Works for Me Wednesday for more life organizing tips.

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Interested in reading more of my work that you won’t find on Homemaker Barbi?  Check out some of the guest posts I’ve written for other sites:

12/4/08 Frugal Christmas Tips for the Housewife on a Budget at The Happy Housewife

1/28/09 5 Tips to Get Your Blog Earning at The Happy Housewife

2/15/09  Patriotic Presidents’ Day Kids’ Breakfast Foods at Penny Pinching Diva

3/16/09 6 Truths about Pregnancy & Motherhood that Nobody Tells You at The Mom Crowd

3/17/09 6 MORE Truths about Pregnancy & Motherhood that Nobody Tells You at The Mom Crowd

4/8/09 4 Ways to Get the Customer Service You Deserve at Mommy Brain Reports

4/10/09 5 Tips to Plan a Shopping Day with Kids at Mommy Brain Reports

4/17/09 Tips for Automating and Multitasking to Balance Work and Home Life for Oscar Mayer

7/8/09  Romance on a Budget: Is it Possible? at Money Saving Mom

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Courtney is the perfect blend of 1950’s housewife and modern housewife. She keeps things simple. On her website, Homemaker Hero, she features tips and tricks of how things were done “back then” and applies them to modern living.  You can also find Courtney on twitter @HomemakerHero.

Housekeeping: The Power of Soap and Water

If you’ve been following along every Tuesday, you’ve probably read my short bio that sits above the article. If you’ve read that, you’ll know that I am all about keeping things as simple as possible when it comes to all things homemaker. That’s how my grandmother did things and probably how your grandmother did things.

So many companies out there want us to believe their product is so much better than the basics. Isn’t there a different cleaner for every type of surface these days? When it comes to cleaning, there is no reason to pay store prices for chemicals that harm people when you breathe them in.

150 years ago, after dealing with mothers and infants who were dying from bacterial infections, doctors used soap and water for simple hand washing. They realized this technique was saving lives.

Soap and water remains one of the best defenses against germ-borne illnesses in hospitals and homes. Believe it or not, antibacterial soap is even less effective than using soap and water! In fact, it may even pose some potential risks.

There’s no longer a need for each surface of your home to have its own special cleaner. Get back to the basics with soap and water! Soap and water can actually take care of cleaning dishes, window screens, hand-washable silk materials, most hard-surfaces, floors, stainless steel sinks/appliances, and porcelain fixtures.

Where soap and water doesn’t do the job, there are plenty of other basic products to use for cleaning. They are all nontoxic, inexpensive, natural, and effective. Most of them are things you probably already have in your kitchen cabinet or pantry. Other cleaning remedies include using vinegar, salt, baking soda, or lemon juice.

I’m sure you know soap and water won’t clean the grime from your oven. Instead, combine 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 4 tablespoons of steamy water to create a paste-like soap. Apply it to the inside of your oven using a soft bristle brush – such as a toothbrush. Let it sit for one minute and then scrub it with the brush. Wash with water and a sponge until no traces of baking soda remain. For really tough grime, mix 1 cup salt, 1 cup baking soda, and 1 cup of water. Apply to inside of oven and then heat oven to 500 degrees and let it sit for 1 hour. Then wipe clean with a moist sponge and rinse well.

For a good all-purpose cleaner, combine 2 tablespoons of Borax, ¼ cup of lemon juice, and 2 cups of water. Dissolve Borax in the lemon juice and water. Then put it into a spray bottle and use it like you would a conventional all-purpose spray.

IMPORTANT: Don’t mix homemade cleaning products with conventional cleaners. Keep these and all cleaning products away from children. Keep large batches of cleaning products in tightly sealed containers or reusable spray bottles.

Find more helpful hints at Works for Me Wednesday.

Disclaimer: Treatments and cleaning methods are recommendations only from personal experience and research.  Please use common sense in using these methods and understand that damage may occur to certain materials.  HB World Media is not responsible for any damage that may occur due to the cleaning methods described.

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Teresa Britton is a married mom of three who runs the sales and freebies site Moms Who Save.  She has great deals, coupons, coupon codes and more daily.  Also check out Teresa on twitter at @MomsWhoSave. 

Harris Teeter Triple Coupon Freebies

Those of you who have Harris Teeter stores have really been lucky to have triple coupon weeks offered on a regular basis. This one is over after Tuesday (8/18/09), but if you haven’t grabbed some of the freebies available with your triples, be sure to take advantage of these great offers.

Remember that only 20 coupons are allowed per day, with only two internet coupons per day allowed.

Another new savings Harris Teeter’s offering is their e-Vic savings. Sign up online using your Vic card. This week’s special is two pounds of ground beef for $1.99. Just having a Vic card will not get you this deal, so go to their site and make sure you sign up for “e-Vic.”

Wishbone Salad Spritzers – price $2.00
Use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 8/2/09 RP
FREE

Uncle Bens Long Grain & Wild Rice – price $2.25
Use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 7/26/09 RP insert
FREE

Heluva Good Dip – price $2.15
Use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 6/28 SS insert
FREE

Suave Deodorant – price $1.47
Use the 50¢/1 coupon from the 8/2/09 RP insert
FREE

Reach Floss – price $1.39
Use the 50¢ coupon from the 8/2/09 SS insert
FREE

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner – price $1.99
75¢/1 7/12/09 SS insert
FREE

Kroger Mega Savings Event

Also, if you’re near a Kroger, check out their website to download coupons to your shopping card (which you can combine with your paper coupons). This week they’re also having a “Mega Savings Event.” When you buy 10 participating items, you get $5 back instantly. See their ad for which items you need to buy. There are lots to choose from. When you combine your Kroger coupons with the Mega Event savings at Kroger, it makes for some very good deals!

School Supplies

If you’re still looking for school supplies, CVS has some freebies only through Tuesday (8/18/09)—so hurry! See their ad here to see if there’s anything you still need. They are advertising filler paper, composition notebooks, pens, and pencil boxes free after Extra Care Bucks, and there are other items under 50¢.

You’ll have to put in your zip code in the upper right to get your specific ad. They also have printable store coupons on their site—a new feature since the last time I checked! This is right below where you put in your zip code.

Printable Coupons

Click the banner below to print any or all of the printable grocery coupons available this week through the coupon printer!   (Subscribers need to click through to this article to use the coupon printer.)

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Nessa is a full time wife and mother of two, living the small town life in rural Texas. She loves cooking everything from tried and true recipes to her own wonderful creations. Catch her blogging at Ramblings of a Texas Housewife and on Twitter @Nessa_TX.

This is one of my husband’s favorite recipes. His Granny made this for years and his entire family loves it.

I posted the recipe on Recipezaar, so I would never lose it, because it took me quite a few tries to get it it right. We serve this with crackers and a green salad. I hope your family enjoys it as much as my bunch does.

View the complete recipe here: Taco Casserole Recipe aka Tex Mex Mess. The recipe is pretty straight forward.

1. You brown ground beef and garlic until done.
2. Next run the can of Ranch Style beans through the food processor until they reach a paste like consistency. Then mix into ground beef.
3. The recipe says to soften the corn tortillas in the reserved meat grease, but I usually soften them in a bit of vegetable oil in a small frying pan.
4. Once your grease is hot, it takes no more than five seconds per side to get the tortillas soft. Be sure you blot each tortilla well with paper towels to remove excess grease.
5. Also, be sure to grease the pan thoroughly or spray with nonstick cooking spray. This will stick and be a pain to clean otherwise.
6. Then you fill the tortilla shells with the meat and bean mixture.
7. Next cover with soup & water mixture. My advice is to reserve a bit of the soup mixture to layer on top of the Velveeta. It helps keep the Velveeta from getting too brown.
8. The layer of lettuce comes next.
9. Top this with the thinly sliced Velveeta. Top this with remaining soup mixture.
10. Then into the oven it goes.
11. Check it after 20 minutes, as the Velveeta will brown quite quickly and you do not want it to burn. All you really need to do is heat it through and melt the cheese.

That’s it! I hope you enjoy it!

Did you like this In the Kitchen with Nessa article?  Stay tuned next Monday for Nessa’s new column, Out of the Box Lunch Ideas.

Find more cooking articles at Kitchen Tip Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays, and Homemaker Mondays.

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