Are you sleep deprived? Some tips

Most moms are reluctant members of a club: The sleep-deprived club. We don’t have a special handshake, but we do have a password of sorts. It goes like this:

Mom to a colleague (also a mom): How are you?

Colleague: Tired.

I’m one of the perpetually tired. Even if I get to sleep at a reasonable hour, I wake up two, three or sometimes four times a night. I joke that the last time I got any real REM sleep was in 1997.

But being sleep-deprived isn’t a laughing matter. It makes us moms cranky, as our families can attest. A story in today’s newspaper talks about how the use of sleeping pills is on the rise. I don’t think I would ever go down that road. But when I have a...

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Baseball: Fun for the whole family

Major League Baseball is back. Last season, I admit that I fell off the baseball radar. My daughter was born in late April — and well, I’m sure you know the rest of that story.

But this year I’m thrilled to get back into “my” sport. And as it so happens, I have a little girl that I think is ready to be introduced to the game — if only to learn the words “ball,” “bat” and “CUBS WIN!”

Here are nine reasons why baseball is the perfect family sport:

1. It teaches patience. Boredom peeks after three hours of a scoreless game. But what bigger payoff than a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th inning?

2. It teaches loyalty. Yankees’ fans defend their...

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Kids and food: 10 tips for your picky eaters

As soon as we walked through the door last night, my daughter asked for a banana. Then a glass of juice. Of course I obliged, because it kept her from screaming and trying to fling herself onto the hot stove while I was cooking dinner.

However, when it came time for everyone to enjoy the evening meal, she wasn’t interested. (Especially because the said meal didn’t contain, chicken, cheese, nuts or ketchup — her four basic food groups.)

Why is everything a battle these days? Why won’t my child just eat?

Well, because I’m doing everything wrong, according to MayoClinic.com.

Most parents are worried about their children’s eating...

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Must-haves in my beauty regime

So it’s not much of a “regime.” We’re talking 10 minutes max to get the scary reality of me under control. Here are the products I can’t live without:

1. Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer (light tint). I skip foundation and simply use this each morning. It evens out my skin tone and protects my face from the sun with an SPF of 30. On “those days,” this is all I wear, and I don’t feel totally naked. (About $12)

2. Revlon creme eyeshadow. It doesn’t get any easier than this: Simply apply with your fingertip. None of the colors are too shimmery, and they blend perfectly. Even the makeup inept like me can put this one without ending up looking like a middle-schooler. I keep sets of browns and pinks...

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Five tips for balancing work and family

With almost 12 years of parenting under my belt, I feel like I have a good routine (most days, anyway). I’m here to tell you new moms out there: You can work and raise healthy, happy children.

Some things I’ve learned:

1. Find a job you love. I know, easier said than done in this lousy economy. Leaving Junior for nine or 10 hours a day is tough; it’s even tougher if you’re leaving him for a job you hate. And if you hate your job, you run the risk of being a clock-watcher — which won’t please the boss. You’ve heard the saying, “If mamma’s not happy, nobody’s happy.” If you go home and complain about how much you hate your job, your children are going to pick up on that, and they’ll resent your job,...

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Five instant mood boosters

Thanks to a chronic sinus infection and a nasty bout of PMS, I’ve been in a foul mood all week. The stacks of papers, excessive conference calls and carpools with my husband aren’t helping matters.

I’m sick of being mad. So, instead of focusing on my empty wallet and idiot co-workers today, I’m getting positive. You can boost your mood too with these five easy tips from Shine (http://shine.yahoo.com/):

1. Clean up. Even a few piles of paperwork can make a busy day feel even more frantic. Sort everything that needs your immediate attention into a file folder and find a home for everything else in drawers, baskets or the trash.

2. Tune in. Put on some...

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Things not to do with your stepkids on your weekend

Step-parenting is a whole different ball game. I know — I’ve been one now for almost 10 years. I’ve learned a few things in my tenure.

Here’s my list of things NOT do to with your stepkids on your weekend. (Now, my ideas may irritate custodial parents, but at my house we don’t want to waste the few precious hours with the kids on things that aren’t fortifying our relationship):

— Don’t make them clean their room or take out the trash or mow the grass, etc. My reasoning: They don’t LIVE here. Why should they be cleaning up MY mess. We do, however, abide by this simple rule: Clean up after yourself.

— Don’t let everyone do their own thing. This is a tough one at my house. With...

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Five ways to reuse coffee grounds

By Janel Jacobs OrlandoSentinel.com/momsatwork

I drink a lot of coffee. We all do.

According to reports, more than 50 percent of Americans drink at least three to four cups every day.

That’s a lot of java. And a lot of leftover grounds, too.

So, since I’m always looking for tips to save money, here are five ways I’ve found to get more bang for my coffee buck.

1. Make a body scrub. Mix a couple tablespoons of coffee grounds into your regular shower gel and you’ll have the perfect exfoliator for silky, smooth skin.

2. Give plants a treat. Acid-lovers...

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