Ryan the Lion

I met Ryan when I opened up my McDonald's Happy Meal. He was very depressed about being a Disney character; even worse, a toy. This is in memory of my friend Ryan the Lion..



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm4Wfko0iyo&hl=en

"Happy Meals" - David Greg Harth

"Happy Meals" was a performance art work by New York City artist David Greg Harth. At 4:00pm on Sunday, November 5, 2006, Harth stood outside a McDonald's restaurant in New York City for 2 1/2 hours. With a budget of $600, he treated random customers to their meals. This is what happened. See more of my art work: www.davidgregharth.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiByNwT6pVw&hl=en

Snack Legend

Imagine if McDonalds produced Ridley Scott's classic Flick "Legend."



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBTCUP7Rg6c&hl=en

5 Steps to Planning a Fabulous First Birthday Party

Follow these 5 simple steps to throw a fabulous 1st birthday party for your child.

1. Timing:

Most parents like to schedule their kid's first birthday party around their child's nap and meal time. A two hour event is usually long enough to do all that's needed for a first birthday party in this case. Increasingly though, I have seen more and more families throwing a much larger bash for a first birthday party. These are usually prolonged parties, serving meals, hiring entertainment and even renting party halls to hold the party. This a great way to share quality happy moments with your friends and family. Do not expect your baby to go through all of the activities. For an enjoyable time, try not to break your child's routine of food, change and sleep. You may be extra busy, but your baby should come first. That should cut down on the level of stress to you and to your child. Designate a family member early on to help with this task. If your child is very attached to you, you should delegate some of the party tasks to friends and family. Your baby will look at you for comfort in this changed environment. It's important that you stay calm, as your baby will sense any signs of stress in you and start to get fussy.

2. Party theme:

A party theme will help you organize your event more efficiently. A common Theme makes shopping for your event much easier, plus it adds a sense of harmony to your general party atmosphere.

3. Plan activities for the kids. Fun party games related to your theme. Hiring a professional kids' entertainer will pay great dividends.

4. Simple foods for the kids, like pizza and finger foods are usually more than enough. For adults, variety is the spice of life.

5. A slide show of your baby's photos or video clips set to music is a great way to share the child's first year of life with your guests. If that proves to be difficult, then a simple collage of printed pictures gluded onto a color poster board will do the trick. Hang the poster above where the cake cutting will take place. This a great way to share your baby's development with your guests.

How to Deal With Lightning When Camping

Before you set out for your camping site, you ought to make sure that the weather for the day would be sunny. However, there are times when all your preparations yield nothing but false assumptions. In some cases, you might end up being caught up in a thunderstorm where lightning is quite prominent. Below are some tips that you should do in order to minimize the risk of being caught by a lightning in the open.

a. When in the open, you should avoid being the tallest object around. If your tent is quite firm and strong, it will be best to stay inside. If you think your tent is not safe and secure, you should consider taking cover elsewhere. Get to the nearest reliable shelter as quickly as you can. When exposed in an open field, get as low as you possibly can. Make it a point to avoid standing tall and upright. It will be better if you just squat but do not lie flat on the ground as well.

b. When you are out in an open field, you should also avoid being near the tallest object around. Although it might be quite tempting to hide under the cover of an isolated tree, it might be better if you just squat and stay away from it. The best protection would be to stay away from the peaks. The safest place would probably be depressions within a rock or a shallow cave.

c. If you cannot hide in caves or in other sheltered areas just because your camping gear or your backpack won't fit in it, you better leave your things behind. You can pick them later as soon as the thunderstorm subsides and you are safe from lightning.

d. Bear in mind that no warning signs will show up just before lightning will strike your camp site so you shouldn't wait. Be observant. If you think that it is about to rain, you should start packing up, putting your things in order, and heading for the safest sheltered venue that you can find.

e. Practice the "30-30" rule. This means that you will have to take shelter once you can hear the thunder thirty seconds or less just after you see the lightning flash. Moreover, you should not resume your activities nor should you walk out in the open field after thirty minutes have passed since you have heard the last thunder.

f. Take note of the fact that you do not have to be directly hit by the flash of light in order to be hurt by electricity. Lightning can strike something that's farther away from you but electricity can travel towards you.

g. When caught up in the thunderstorm, make sure that you avoid walking or standing near fence lines or power lines. Aside from the fact that power lines and poles are usually the tallest object around, you should be aware that the electric flash can travel along the lines and jump towards you.

h. If someone is struck by lightning, make sure that you call for medical help right away. While waiting for the medical aid, administer CPR to the victim if he has stopped breathing. Generally, you should receive a response from the victim after twenty minutes of doing CPR.

Food and Water - Camping Gear Essentials

Whether you are planning to spend a weekend or a few days in your camping trip, one of the most important things to remember is to pack certain camping gear essentials. Apart from the usual equipment such as your tent and sleeping bag, it is important to make sure that you are able to pack enough food and water for your entire trip, especially if you want to try to really rough it out in the wild in your camping trip.

Because there are now a number of different convenience stores and national parks offering camping grounds have restaurants and convenient stores where you can easily purchase supplies when your camping gear starts to fall short, it definitely defeats the entire purpose of experiencing a camping trip. After all, many people go out on camping trips in order to experience what it is like to commune with nature and live out in the wild.

Another reason to make sure that you pack just the right amount of food and water is to minimize your expenses. Convenient stores tend to mark up the prices of their goods slightly higher than the amount that you will have to pay in your local supermarket. On top of that, the amount of gas and time that you will need to spend just to restock your supply can easily cause you to spend more than what you are expecting.Another reason to make sure that you pack just the right amount of food and water is to minimize your expenses.

Lightweight Sleeping Bag Pads

Most backpackers like to keep their load as light as possible, carrying only their essential needs for their days out on the trail. But there does come a point when sacrificing comfort for weight is not always a good idea. This is particularly true when it comes to sleeping bag pads because an uncomfortable night in the wilderness can truly diminish the experience, even when adhering to the principles of lightweight backpacking.

If you truly want to go lightweight in the sleeping pad department consider making your own. Get a plain blue closed-cell foam pad that is available at just about any outdoor or backpacker supply store. They are normally about 24 inches wide and 72 inches long. If you cut it down to a size that fits your torso, basically your hips to your shoulders, it will weigh somewhere around 4 ounces.

You can also cut down the width to save some more weight. Try tapering it so it's wider at the shoulder and narrower at your hips. The idea is to insulate your torso from the cold hard ground, which is where most heat los normally occurs. For your head make a pillow by stuffing extra clothes or a jacket in you sleeping bag stuff sack and you can insulate your legs by laying them across your empty backpack.

Another option is to leave your sleeping pad at home and make your pad out of natural materials. Dry grass and leaves can be piled up to create a pad that is both warm and comfortable. The only caveat to this method is a thorough knowledge of the environment you plan on backpacking through to be sure there will be the necessary materials needed. When you break camp be sure to scatter your "bed" and leave your camp just as you found it.

There are also a whole new generation of inflatable sleep pads that are lightweight and comfortable. Thermarest has lightweight sleeping bag pads that weigh less then a pound while providing the comfort that inflatable pads are known for. REI has a ¾ length pad called the Big Agnes Air Core Pad that is 2 1/2 inches thick and weighs in at a measly 16 ounces.

There are quite a few choices when it comes to lightweight sleeping bag pads so there is no reason that you need to sacrifice your warmth and comfort to save weight on your next backpacking trip.

McDonald's Deli Choices Wraps: Big Kid (30secs)

The new McDonald's ad celebrating the new range of Deli Choices wraps for the whole family to enjoy.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5GNGrtRqbE&hl=en

Your Dog's Christmas - Happy Holiday Ideas For Your Pet

Many people would like their pets to enjoy the holiday season as part of the family and nowadays it is easier than ever to find ways to include your dog in the festivities.

Stockings for dogs, packed with dog friendly treats can be found in all good pet stores -- and if you want something more personal, you can create your own by simply buying the stocking and picking your own contents. It's a good idea to include edible items as well as toys, and dog cookies in multiple shapes and decorated with all the colors and patterns you could wish for are also widely available.

Of course, you should avoid allowing your dog to consume cookies or chocolates intended for humans as they can be far too much for a dog's stomach and nothing can ruin Christmas quicker than having to clear up the after effects! It's also wise to ensure that your dog doesn't get to the discarded wrapping paper because you never know what small sharp objects could be hidden inside. Most dogs want to be with the family as much as possible, but especially during the holiday season you should ensure that they have a clean and comfortable bed or place to be quiet in.

The best way to keep everyone happy is to take your dog for a long walk, even if the weather is not perfect. You will come back feeling energized by the exercise and content that you may have walked off some of the huge meal you have probably just consumed. Your dog will be tired and ready to snooze quietly in their own space so you can all enjoy the peace and relaxation of a good family holiday.

Dogs, like children, need a balance of fun, quieter time and lots of love and attention, so in addition to all the treats and exercise it can be a good idea to give your dog a quick grooming during the holiday period -- even on Christmas day if you can manage it. They will enjoy the attention and you will feel even more proud of their shiny coat and happy appearance. Some grooming parlors offer specials around the holiday season so you could make this your present to your dog as well as a gift of time to yourself. If you can't do this even a quick brush and rub down will suffice.

Stop Your Dog from Barking

Waking up in the middle of the night with the noise from your dog reverberating in your both ears is totally irritating. What more if your dog is already disturbing the sleep of the whole neighborhood at 2 a.m. in the morning and you are getting complaints from each one of them.

The thing is, no matter how much you love your dog and how bad you want him to live in his doggy nature as possible, you have the responsibility to keep you're his mouth shut so that others, including you, could have uninterrupted rest.

However, you have to understand first that dogs bark for a reason. According to animal behaviorists, dogs bark "to communicate between them, and potentially, between dog and people." Other reasons why dogs bark are physical distress, offensive and defensive threats, and social insecurity. Determining what is healthy barking from not is your job. To do it would require patience and understanding to the true nature of your dog.

You should know how your dog communicates with you. Determine what particular sound and behavior your dog shows to express a certain need. Determine the bark that means he is hungry from the bark that means there is an intruder in your neighborhood.

Meanwhile, there are other dogs that really bark irrationally and uncontrollably. These dogs might not be trained well or pampered too much. So if barking irrationally and uncontrollably fits perfectly to your dog's behavior, you need to take the right action. You might not teach your old dog a new trick but you will certainly make him stop from barking with the following tips:

1. Feed your dog on time - Observe this: if your dog is not fed in the evening; you will likely to stay awake overnight. Why? Because your dog would not stop barking unless you give him food. Never, ever let your dog get hungry.

2. Do not confine your dog for a long time - Boredom, inactivity, and confinement contribute to the undesirable behavior your dog commits. Yeah, yeah you don't want him to hurt someone or get dirty but days of inactivity would drive your dog insane. Even you would behave badly if you are confined right?

3. Stop praising your dog for no reason - Your dog responds when you praise them, even if there is no reason... They cannot distinguish it anyway. So stop tapping your dog even if he is making too much noise for he would think that he is doing right.

4. Give your dog something to do... chew - Again, boredom can drive your dog insane so make sure you keep him busy. After a meal, give him a chewing toy.

5. Reward your dog for good behavior - Give him food or praise him if he does something good. Practicing this would naturally prevent your dog from making bad behavior.

mcdonalds - blessed meal sapo - www.ptFOLIO.com

filme da tbwa portugal para anunciar as novidades mcdonalds para o happy meal - www.ptFOLIO.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adQPIHs-_oI&hl=en

4 Magical Ideas For Great Christmas Stocking Stuffers

This Christmas, a great idea for stocking stuffers gifts is. This is a selection of small inexpensive gifts that may be suitable in stockings of your children. These are for a large family on a budget or those who have submitted complete just looking for something more, who have already acquired. They are also ideal for families with younger children who still believe in Santa Claus. One of the challenges is, elements that can serve as "proof" that came from Santa. It can alsoas a reinforcement of good behavior from a child today, but they have a lump of coal in their stockings were, if not be nice or to show their best side. As you can see, the Stocking Stuffer be a great resource for parents for Christmas. However, you may not know exactly what items are popular with children. Here are some good tips and advice on how you look for items to put in your children's stockings help

edible things like sweets and snacksA long race for the stocking stuffers. They are cheap to buy and fit in easily. There may also be that, only a few children, no sweets to those who do not particularly like. This is not the only way to go with. Many parents today are increasingly aware of what their children eat. And start looking for healthier options, which seems a good taste. A good choice is a trail mix snack, is a mix of crackers, pretzels, driedFruit, good taste, but give children need fruit and vegetable proteins. It also takes away from excess sugar. You can also use fresh fruit like apples, pears and oranges. In this way, one can hardly expect to care for children, but healthier.

One possibility is neglected novelty pens. These are special tools for writing, with cool options such as radio and an onboard computer. If you know where you should look online to be able to keepcosts about $ 20 for maximum pin. They are great because they are your children when they go to school after the holiday break can be used. Let talk of the town with these unique pins only.

Small toys are also common elements to stuff stockings. The trick is to look for small toys that kids love to play with it. For boys, with little action figures, drive cars and airplanes. The elements that are very popular Transformers toys are probably small. I do not thinkmeans that you receive, Happy Meals, I mean, the shop where you can buy in, completely transforming. They are cheaper than you think and will help you, your budget. For girls, Barbie doll to go with small toys like Polly Pocket or Mini.

Finally a touch of magic to the density of letters to Santa add a finishing touch. You can use the same letters or looking for a more authentic an online service to a point made with a custom orderOfficial-looking stamp from the North Pole. Your children love him and will continue to believe in the magic of the holidays.

How to Find the Right Child Care Setting Or Preschool For Your Child

Your child is going to school for the first time. What an emotional time this is! There is so much on your mind. How he or she will adapt? How he or she will be treated? Will he or she eat or drink enough? All these questions can be summed up in one: How do I find the right preschool or child care for my child?

What kind of child care is there available?

Home-based care:

Listed family homes: People who must list with the division are those who are compensated to provide regular child care (at least four hours per day, three or more days a week, for more than nine consecutive weeks) in their own homes for 1-3 unrelated children.

Registered Child Care Homes: Registered Child Care Homes provide care in the caregiver's home for up to six children under age 14; they may also take in up to six more school-age children. The number of children allowed in a home is determined by the ages of the children. No more than 12 children can be in care at any time, including children of the caregiver.

Licensed Child Care Homes: Provide care for less than 24 hours per day for 7-12 children underr 14 years old. All types of licensed facilities have published standards they are required to follow and are routinely monitored and inspected.

Center-based care:

Licensed Child Care Centers & preschools: are any operation that cares for 13 or more children under 14 years old for less than 24 hours.

Do not make the mistake to choose a facility based on proximity or cost alone. The closest school to your home might not necessarily be the right choice for your child. Also, keep in mind that the highest cost doesn't always guarantee the best teacher and facility. Likewise, the least expensive rates do not necessarily mean poor teachers and facilities.

Since I'm a former preschool teacher, I thought I knew exactly what to look for when I had to make this decision, and even for me it was a little tricky. I visited a few preschools that were the closest to my home with the hopes of finding the right one for my son among those. I decided to try one that presented itself very attractive, even though I was a little uneasy about this one school: It was so close to home and it look so good as far as appearance goes, that I decided to give it a chance. To make a long story short, I was right about "my gut feeling" I had about this school. My son only lasted there two weeks, and he was miserably unhappy for the whole time.

And that is why I think "your gut feeling" is so important, and the first thing I would recommend when looking for the right school for your child is to pay attention to your instincts.

1. Pay attention to your instincts

You know your child best. Pay attention to any feelings of uneasiness you may have experienced during site visits or interviews. Could you picture your child in this setting? Were the toys and activities you observed the kinds your child would enjoy?

2. Look and listen

You can tell a great deal by observing and listening to what is going on in the classroom. Did the children seem happy and were they enjoying activities? Did the teachers seem to be loving, nurturing and responsive to all children in their care? Were problems handled promptly and appropriately? Did the teacher seem like the kind of people you can trust with the health, happiness and well being of your child? Is this a place where you would feel good about your child spending many hours each day?

3. Professional Qualifications

What is the lead teacher's level of education? Research shows that children whose teachers have more education have better outcomes. Increased education and specialized training in early childhood education produces higher quality programs and positive child outcomes. Formal education plus annual in-service training equals higher quality levels.

Every state has mandatory hours of training required for childcare givers to attend, for teachers and helpers as well. For instance, in Florida, there is a 30-hour-childcare training that is mandatory for all childcare workers, teachers and helpers to attend, and then a 10-hour-Age appropriate-training thereafter. You may inquire whether your child's teacher and/or helper have completed this mandatory training. The number of hours varies from state to state. To find out more about this you may visit your state's DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES or CHILDREN'S SERVICES Website.

4. Curriculum & Daily Routines

Do they use a curriculum? What curriculum do they use?

A curriculum based on developmentally appropriate practices should be utilized and teaching staff should have been trained in implementing this curriculum. This is extremely important if you are interested in your child being educated and not just being watched. Implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum is a strong predictor of children's success in school.

Not only that, you don't want your child in an environment where there is nothing planned to do. He or she is going to be bored out of his or her mind after he or she is done playing with toys, and most likely will engage in misbehavior and disorderly conduct due to lack of organized and planned activities. This is when children begin to hit and push each other and become aggressive to one another due to lack of planned activities. The day has many hours. We can not expect children just to play for 8 hours. And I'm a teacher, I know all about children learning by playing, but even play needs to be planned and guided by the teacher.

The following is what Broward County in the State of Florida requires on this aspect:

DAILY ROUTINES and PROGRAMS

1) Infants:
Infants shall have planned activity periods of play suitable to stimulate their interest, opportunities for talking and cuddling with staff members and ample opportunities for exercise outside their cribs on mats or on a clean floor surface. All infants should have a daily outdoor period, weather permitting.

2) Other Age Groups:
The facility shall have a daily schedule of activities posted in a place accessible to the parents. The activities shall be appropriate to the developmental age of the child. The daily schedule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

o Broad blocks of time for activities in art, language development, music, block building, creative and dramatic play, science, manipulative play, active play, indoor and outdoor play periods
o Time period for providing meals and snacks
o Quiet time or nap period

Activities for both indoors and outdoors shall be provided by a flexible daily schedule of regular routines in order to give the children the sense of security they need to help them become self directing and independent, and to develop a positive self image. There shall be a sufficient amount of play equipment and materials available for the licensed capacity of the facility.

3) Each child three years of age or under shall have a daily rest period of at least one hour on a cot, mat, crib, bed or playpen.

5. Ratio and Group Size - research strongly suggests that smaller group sizes and more staff with children lead to better outcomes for children. Lower ratios and smaller group sizes allow teachers to give children more individual attention, a key to success.

I think this is the same for all the states, but again, you should check your state's Children Services Website to be sure. Bellow is Broward County's, Florida, student/teacher ratio rules. And I using Florida as an example because I completed my Early Childhood Education/Child Development studies there and I'm must familiar with the rules and regulations of this particular state pertaining to this subject.

RATIOS OF PERSONNEL TO CHILDREN

Age of Children

Ratio

Under 1 year of age

1 staff member for 4 children

1 year of age

1 staff member for 6 children

2 years of age

1 staff member for 11 children

3 years of age

1 staff member for 15 children

4 years of age

1 staff member for 20 children

5 years of age and older

1 staff member for 25 children

6. Family Engagement: The program recognizes that children's chances for success increase when families get involved in their child's early care and education program. The program promotes ongoing family participation in a variety of ways.

7. Program Administration: A strong set of management practices including record-keeping, financial management, staff hiring and retention practices, and emergency planning are key to a successful program.

Signs to look for:

What to look for:

Do the children look happy, involved in activities and well-cared for?

Do teachers get on the child's level to listen, talk and play with children?

Do teachers give individual attention to each child?

Are teachers warm, kind, calm and patient?

What is your child's reaction when he first sees his teacher in the morning?

Are there sufficient materials such as blocks, books, puzzles, art supplies and toys for all the children and are they available throughout the day?

Are well planned activities such as music, painting and dress-up play provided for children?

Does the facility seem cheerful, clean and safe with equipment in good repair?

Is hand washing and diaper changing done frequently?

Is there adequate indoor space for play, naps, meals, belongings?

Is the outdoor play are fenced, safe, well-equipped and supervised at all times?

Questions to ask

(You will probably receive an information packet that will answer some of these questions for you, but if you don't, here are some important questions to ask)

Is the program licensed? Accredited?

Private accrediting agencies perform an important quality assurance function by accrediting or certifying early care and education programs that meet their standards. Accredited child care programs have a strong interest in quality and have met a set of standards higher than licensing standards set forth by the particular Early Childhood Agency or Association they have cared to join. Some of the well known National Early Childhood Associations are: NAEYC, ACEI and NAFCC, and there are many others.

Are references and background checks conducted on staff?

How many of the teaching staff has been employed in this facility or home for more than one year?

Does the person who will be teaching your child have training in early childhood education, First Aid and CPR?

How many children are there for each adult? (adult to child ratio)

How many children are in your child's group? (smaller group size is a quality indicator)

Are there written policies/information regarding: philosophy of education for young children; discipline; on-going staff education/training; illness and injuries, napping; and toileting habits?

AND ALL OTHER QUESTIONS YOU FEEL THE NEED TO ASK. DON'T HESITATE...

Once you have made a choice. It doesn't all end there. You will want to talk to your new teacher often and make occasional visits to ensure that your child is safe and happy- that your decision was the right one.

I sincerely hope this information was helpful to you and that you find the right Preschool or Child Care setting for your bundle of joy like I finally did for mine. When one's child is excited and looking forward to going to school every time, one realizes that making the right choice makes a whole world of difference, and it will show...

If you would like to add your own thoughts or comments to this post, please feel free to do so below.

Ronald Mcdonald Car (Work-Time) Commercial

This commercial has been out for a couple months now but i just wanted to upload it for you to enjoy because i couldn't find this on youtube at all so i decided to upload it for your enjoyment. Also, he's a wreckless driver on the road!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X4TepUbsZM&hl=en

Tips to Get the Best From That Much Loved Camping Trip

Whenever anyone gets tired of modern life, and the constant stress caused by always being on call, people are turning more and more to nature to bring them that much needed relief. Camping is probably the best way to really get away from all that electronic babble that we are so used to, but having the right gear is also very important. For example, there will be a need for fixed blade knives or hunting knives to facilitate the killing of food or the preparation of food taken along. Of course, they come in handy for protection from wild animals too!

When we were children the art of building our own tent came in the form of old blankets and poles set out in the garden. Probably the nearest we got to having decent camping gear was the ubiquitous sleeping bag. But these days there are some really high tech gizmos on the market to make that foray into the wilds that much more enjoyable.

Lightweight and water proof materials are made into all kinds of accouterments to keep the hiker warm and comfortable. Two man tents can be found that weigh under four pounds making them a great thing to take along for overnight stops. These are easy to put up too and are not like the old fashioned Chinese puzzles that used to pass for a tent years ago!

They usually come with an integral ground sheet too and mesh windows to make sure that no mosquitoes or stinging insects can enter while we sleep. Even 'skylight' windows are incorporated so that the night sky can be observed without the risk of getting stung.

Another essential item comes in the form of a tiny fluid filled compass. This hand little gadget only costs around a dollar but the importance of having one on the trip is absolutely priceless. All the members of the party should carry one just in case they get separated of course.

Clothing for camping trips has also gone high tech too. Lightweight and airy underclothes mean that warmth is kept in while sweat is allowed to escape. This makes for a much more comfortable trip since the body temperature is kept to just the right level without having to undress and dress when the weather is changeable.

Boots are also a necessity when trying any kind of hiking or camping trip since the terrain could get quite rough. Having good ankle support in the boots will ensure that twisted ankles can be avoided. Even the socks inside should be of a similar material where sweat cannot build up and cause some rather uncomfortable problems.

These days, the array of gizmos and clothing for camping is tremendous. Try having a look around the internet to see what new innovations are on offer. But do not forget that this is supposed to be an enjoyable experience so a lot of articles may be superfluous if the trip is only a short one. However, for the sake of safety, make sure that the minimum equipment is carried along.

Time Management For Moms - Tips to Feel on Top of Your Daily Tasks

Between taking care of our children, keeping the house tidy and clean, cooking, laundry and possibly working away from home or at home, it's not uncommon for us moms to feel overwhelmed and behind with our work load. As a work at home mom myself, I'd like to share some tips of time management for moms that have helped keep me feeling on track, productive and not too drained on a day to day basis.

Prioritization: When pondering over efficient time management for moms it's important to consider two aspects. First think about what the most important tasks to you are, that you feel are higher priority or need to kept up on a regular basis. Second, evaluate what time during your families routine you will be most productive for each task. Your priorities, how you approach them and your time management as a mom will change as your family and children grow. For some examples, once my son was about a year, folding clothes into organized piles in the living room with him around was no longer an option if I didn't want to have to do it multiple times! My work is internet based at home so I will be most productive when my son is sleeping, but if he's in a good mood after meal and nap time I can work on the lap top while he plays and still be efficient without having too many distractions.

Mini Cleaning Spurts: I feel that one huge contributing factor to feeling successful when it comes to time management for moms is to keep on top of cleaning with small amounts of tidying up throughout the day when you are home. Then do detailed cleaning when necessary. I know it sounds more simple that it seems but once you get into the habit it's pretty easy to keep it going. I like to call it 'cleaning moments.' This will also make those thorough cleaning days go more quickly. During the day I take a few cleaning moments and quickly tidy up any visibly dirty and areas of high traffic in my home. Getting children to help tidy up toys before nap and bed times will help mom feel more relaxed once they are sleeping.

Crock Pot Meals: The use of the crock pot for meals is a great way boost productivity when it comes to time management for moms. I love using my slow cooker on days i know in advance are going to be busy or not home all day. No last minute fast food or boxed meal after you arrive home from a busy day. You can still eat healthy with minimal effort. Make extra so you can freeze some for those exceptionally busy days. You could even plan one day a week to be your thorough cleaning day and make that your crock pot meal day so you have less to worry about. Plan your meals in advance and grocery shop for 'x' amount of days so you are prepared and can organize the rest of the your days more efficiently

Laundry Laundry Laundry: We all know the feeling like laundry never ends! Especially if you have a larger family. Setting aside specific days in the week that are designated for certain tasks is one option to help have better time management especially so when it comes to laundry. Or do 'x' amount of loads/day as needed to keep on top of it. Ideally you want to fold and put away each load as they are done, or put away the days worth before you go to bed. To do this I try to do flexible tasks in between that will allow me to attend to laundry when done. It can be a challenge, but once you get into the habit it's nice to not have loads of clean crinkled clothes haunting you in the laundry baskets at the end of the day.

Don't be too hard on yourself. It can take time to establish when you are able to be most productive for your daily tasks. Once your significant other is home you can use this time to get caught up or take some time for yourself and each other to recharge. Remember to take time for yourself, you are only one person capable of so much. As a working mom from home myself, these are tips of time management that I have found help keep me on top of my 'to do list.' I do hope that you have found these tips of time management for moms helpful to apply to your daily routine as well.