Works for me Wednesday- Bubble Baths

Filed Under Play, Toys, Two and a half years old, Works For Me Wednesday | 2 Comments

Bailey LOVES to take bubble baths now. I use the Avon Kids Bubble Bath because it’s perfume/dye free. She only gets to do them for a special treat, like maybe once a week. But if I sit on the bathroom floor next to the tub, I can read magazines or whatever for at last a half hour while she plays. I just have to add warm water again about halfway through. She has a Dora castle that she loves, and it suctions to the side of the tub.

She also loves to make a “beard” on her face with the bubbles. And swim in the water, and pretend to lose toys under the bubbles and search for them. She’s really turning into a kid…

Works For Me Wednesday- Breathing Machine

Filed Under Asthma, Two and a half years old, Works For Me Wednesday | 2 Comments

When we first got Bailey’s “breathing machine” (a.k.a. nebulizer) she was NOT a fan. It’s noisy and requires her to sit still- two things she does not like at all. So what we quickly learned? It’s easier to make it into a fun event. She gets to pick a favorite show to watch while we do her machine, and then when she is done she can put a sticker on the machine. Sometimes she doesn’t even care about that part anymore, but it helped a lot in the beginning. I have also gotten great advice from other moms of asthma kids- ordering a special fish-shaped mask, putting stickers on the mask, using just the tube under their nose… but for us it really comes down to just having fun with it. Bailey is very strong willed- so if she thinks that SHE was the one who wanted to do the breathing treatment it is just fine. It all comes down to making everyday events fun for her.

For more Works For Me Wednesday, visit We are that family!

Works For Me Wednesday- Ziploc Omelets

Filed Under Food, Works For Me Wednesday | 6 Comments

I really can’t take credit for this at all. I got the idea from a good friend of mine and had to try it for myself. My problem with omelets is that they tend to stick to the pan, cook unevenly, and just be a pain to make and not worth the effort. This method is super easy, cuts down on the mess and makes them turn out great. Here are the details:

All you need to start out is one ziploc/zipper seal bag per omelet. I make a separate one for each of us so that I can customize the ingredients.

First you cook anything that you would normally cook before putting in the omelet- for this one, I chose to use green peppers because we had one left in the fridge. And let’s face it, usually omelet night means your fridge is close to empty and you are trying to avoid a trip to the grocery store. Or at least that’s what it means at the Stick house.

Open the ziploc bag and reach inside holding an egg. (This is really the only part that is AT ALL tricky, and that’s only for the first time). Once the egg is inside the bag, crack it open and throw away the shell.

I use two eggs for my omelet and three eggs for Jonathon’s. After the eggs are in there you can sit the bag somewhat upright. It helps to lean it against something. Pour in the amount of milk you would normally add for an omelet or scrambled eggs. Then seal the bag and knead it to “scramble” everything.

Open the bag, add all of your ingredients (for this one I used pepper, cheese, turkey, and tomato) and then seal and mix them together. Try to get all the air out of the bag. Also, if your husband is terrified of tomatoes or some other ingredient, be sure to mark your bag with a Sharpie in order to prevent a mix up.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and drop in the bags. They don’t have to be completely flat, and it’s okay if one covering the other. They will cook evenly regardless of how they are in the pot. (Yes, I was worried that they would melt, but they don’t, even if they are against the pan and not in the middle). I have found that 13 minutes is enough for the two egg omelet, but I leave the three egg omelet in for 15 minutes.

Remove CAREFULLY when they are done cooking (yes, I learned this the hard way) and let them cool for just a second before you open the bag and slide the omelet out onto the plate. It’s like magic. They come out perfectly cooked and shaped and fluffy, and the ingredients are mostly all in the middle!

Another wonderful tip- you can prepare the baggies during naptime or whenever you have a few minutes, and then just drop them in the pot at dinnertime!

Works For Me Wednesday- Toddler Haircuts

Filed Under Hair, Sixteen Months, Works For Me Wednesday | 8 Comments

I have now given Bailey her second haircut. The first time was just her bangs; this last time I did her bangs and about an inch off the back. People have been asking me how I got a one year old to hold still while I did her hair. So I am going to share with you the brilliant tip I was given by one of my Avon customers.

When you need your busy, squirmy child to hold still for something, wrap a small bandaid around each fingertip on their left hand. Then they will sit and pick those bandaids off one by one. By the time they are done, you’re finished with their haircut!

I haven’t gotten a good picture of her hair yet- I just got my camera back tonight- so I will work on getting a picture tomorrow. I think it turned out pretty good. I mean, it’s even and there aren’t any chunks missing. What else can you expect from a novice haircutter and a one year old?

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, check out Rocks In My Dryer.

And just because I’m excited to have my camera back, here are the first pictures we took tonight at home!

Anew Clinical Stretch Mark Smoother

Filed Under Avon, Pregnancy, Works For Me Wednesday | 2 Comments

When I was pregnant with Bailey, I got really bad stretch marks. I was fine until about 35 weeks and then it’s like my body just exploded with lines everywhere. I got stretch marks all over my stomach and hips, and on my boobs. I seriously thought it was one of the most disgusting things I had ever seen. I thought a couple times about buying some sort of cream or something but figured that I had so many lines that it would never work.

Finally when Avon came out with the Anew Clinical Stretch Mark Smoother, I decided I might as well give it a shot. I am more willing to try Avon products randomly since I get a discount and also because then if customers ask about them, I can give my opinion. I have been using the Stretch Mark Smoother for about a month now and honestly, I DO notice a difference. The marks that were pinkish/purple before are now skin colored. I am hoping that they “diminish” more and get smaller but right now I am excited that they aren’t as obvious as they were before. I thought about doing a before and after picture but realized I didn’t want to show the “before” to the whole world

Anyway, this is my product endorsement for the Stretch Mark cream. It really worked for me. If you are looking for something to get rid of stretch marks or other scarring, I seriously recommend this. It’s $25 and worth every penny. If that’s not in your budget, they also have an Anti-Cellulite and Stretch Mark Cream in the Avon Solutions line. It’s only $17 but I can’t vouch for that one.

You can order directly on my website and choose Personal Delivery to have me deliver to you, or Direct Delivery to have it shipped. Right now you can use the code REP10 for free shipping on orders of $10 or more (pre-tax). Questions? Leave a comment or email me at tara (at) twolinesonastick (dot) com

Also, I just wanted to say a big Thank You to all of you who order from me or have ordered in the past. You are helping my business to grow and to make it easier (and more fun!) for me to be a stay at home mom. I appreciate you!

For more fun tips, check out Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer.

Works For Me Wednesday- Crayon Storage

Filed Under Fourteen Months, Toys, Works For Me Wednesday | 3 Comments

You know how when you have a box of crayons, it is hard for the kids to get just one crayon out of the box, or put them back in the box? My parents as teachers lady showed us a good trick. Not to be outdone by Nicole and her snack trick, my Works for Me Wednesday tip also involves a Parmesan cheese canister. (And I had a little laugh because I had already planned on doing this post today before reading Nicole’s blog).

We are using a Parmesan cheese canister for storing crayons. If you wash it out and peel the label, it’s the perfect size. Also, as the kids get better with fine motor skills, then can try putting the crayons back in through the smaller round holes. We put Bailey’s crayons in there a few weeks ago and it seems to work well for her. And the plus side is that at least right now, she can’t get it open on her own