Tips for Busy Moms: Cleaning Reusable Shopping Bags

by Jennifer Worthington Lower

As the idea of “going green” has become completely ingrained in our way of living, reusable shopping bags are practically a no-brainer. I have a rotating selection of 10-15 bags that get carried in the back of my car (cloth, recycled material, and insulted).

Something that I never really thought about was keeping them clean.  It sounds gross, but I figured I am just carrying groceries from the store to the car and from the car to our house.  They get put back into the car on our next trip out.  How are they getting dirty?

Well, we are putting ourselves at huge risk for cross contamination,and possibly, food poisoning.  When we were dealing with the after math of Hurricane Irene, I packed up our dairy and meats from the refrigerator and took them to my parent’ house, where they had electricity.  When I removed the meats, I realized that one of the packages had leaked into the bottom of the bag.  I almost didn’t see it.  What if I hadn’t?

I cleaned the bag  with a disinfectant wipe, but I decided to do a search online to see how I should move forward.  How many times had I missed the nastiness on the bottom of the bag.  I searched “How to clean reusable shopping bags” and I found a  study performed by The Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ and The School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA that concluded that:

• Consumers almost never wash reusable bags
• Large numbers of bacteria were found in every reusable bag, but none in new bags or plastic bags
• Coliform bacteria including E. coli were found in half of the bags tested
• Bacteria were capable of growth when stored in the trunks of cars
• A potential significant risk of bacterial cross contamination exists from using reusable bags to carry groceries
• Hand or machine washing reduced the numbers of bacteria in reusable bags by >99.9%
• They are calling for printed instructions on reusable bags that they be washed between uses or the need to separate raw foods from other food products.

After reading that, I threw away all of my older bags.  I am only going to buy and keep high quality insulated bags and cloth bags that can be washed in the washing machine from here on out.  Is my decision a little less “green”?  Initially, yes.  But once I am able to acquire these specific types of bags, I shouldn’t have to purchase or retire any bags for quite a while.  It’s a live and learn thing.  I made the mistake once.  I won’t do it again.

Does this information surprise you?  have you ever suspected that reusable shopping bags may have been the culprit when someone became ill?


Jen is Wife to a wonderful man who has been the love of her life since she was 15 years old, Mother to two adorable munchkins under the age of three and an Entrepreneur who spends her free time writing and crafting. You can hear more from Jen at MamaZen, on Facebook and on Twitter.

Tips for Busy Moms: Power Naps

by Jennifer Worthington Lower  

Everyday we rush around doing, doing, doing for everyone but ourselves.  It becomes exhausting and I know for a fact that we could all use a nap.  I have tried the 1-2 hour nap with my kids in the middle of the day, but you wake up groggy and you have wasted precious time that could have been using to cross off things on your to-do list.  I am an advocate for the 20 minute Power Nap. 

According to Jennifer Soong and Michael J. Breus PhD at WebMD,

 “Napping regularly may reduce stress and even decrease your risk of heart disease, according to research from the Harvard School of Public Health and University of Athens Medical School in Greece. To get the most out of a power nap, follow these quick tips from sleep expert Sara C. Mednick, PhD:

• Be regular. Keep a regular nap schedule. Prime napping time falls in the middle of the day, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.falls in the middle of the day, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Make it quick. Set your cell phone alarm for 30 minutes or less if
• you don’t want to wake up groggy.
• Go dark. Nap in a dark room or wear an eye mask. Blocking out light helps you fall asleep faster.
• Stay warm. Stash a blanket nearby to put over you because your body temperature drops while you snooze.”

You get that boost you need to make it through the rest of the day and you are still productive.  Don’t freak out.  I don’t suggest that you do this everyday, but by all means, if you can? DO IT. 

On the weekends when I am home with the kids, I lay down to recharge for (what I hope is) the first half of nap time and then take the rest to get a few things done without the little ones on my heals.  During the work week, I try to steal a few minutes to myself in my car on my lunch break.  It looks/seems desperate.  But who would I be kidding if I said I wasn’t?  I value sleep, at all costs.

So, if you find yourself with a few extra minutes to rest your eyes this week, take advantage.  You deserve it!

Source:

WebMD.”The Secret (and surprising) Power of Naps.” (accessed May 13,2011)

More about the author: Jen is a 20-something wife and mother of two under two living in Chester County. She and her husband were born and raised in the Philadelphia area, and with the exception of attending and graduating form Shippensburg University, they have no intentions of leaving. Jen spends her days working in an office and trying to find ways to spend more time at home with her family. To get more of Jen and what life is throwing at her, take a look at her blog, MamaZenblog.com

Monday Tips for Busy Moms: Outings With Toddlers

When I first brought home my second child I had no idea how I was supposed to travel with two babies.  I  knew other people did it somehow, I had seen it, but how?  Remember that I have a very “spirited” little girl who is challenging on outings, so that is where my worry came from.  I was concerned for her safety if I had to turn my attention to her brother.

Now, my youngest is almost eighteen months old and things are very different.  Like any mother, I meet new challenges everyday, but I don’t feel completely overwhelmed.  The key to this is creating a routine for myself.  The most challenging place for me is always the grocery store.  I like to be able to focus so that I can price check and keep track of my coupons but I also need my full attention on my children.

Before I leave the house I make sure that my list and coupons are in order so I only need to glance at them.  Secondly, on the car ride to the store is have a conversation with my oldest about her behavior and how she would prefer to travel through the store.  This is a big part of our battle.  She likes to pick the cart with the car on the front and then decide once we’re in the store that she wants the kind with the bench, or any number of random choices that the store offers now. She gets to make a choice and then that is what she must stay with.

The next thing I do is make sure that I have the cart cover for my son arranged for easy carrying.  I have noticed that the stores with “parent with child” parking tends to be too far from a cart corral for my comfort.  I either park right next to the carts (but this doesn’t give me the option for the special carts because they are always at the front of the store) or I make sure that the cart cover is attached to me/my bag so that I have a free hip for the youngest and a free hand for the oldest.
I then make sure my daughter is settled in whatever contraption she has chosen and then I arrange my son with his cart cover .

I carry one of those shopping bag hooks that you see on strollers in the mall in my purse so that it is available whether I am using the stroller or a shopping cart.  This way I can hang my bag from the cart handle and have everything within reach without having it drop form my shoulder constantly.
Once I have all of these things in order, we usually have a smooth ride.  The occasional outburst is expected, but I can handle it because I know it is probably coming.

I envy the mothers who fly by the seat of their pants and can do whatever, whenever.  I want to be the kind of parent who can take anything that comes at them and make the best of it , but I am not made that way.  Routine gives me comfort and I find it aids not only me, but my children because they know what to expect as well.

How do you make outings a breeze (or something like that…)?

Monday Tips For Busy Moms : Car Essentials

When you spend much of your time in the car, you need a handful of necessities to keep you sane – especially when you spend the majority of that time in the car with your children. Keep in mind, my children are still very young (both under the age of three), so my list may differ form yours a little bit.
I am fortunate that my commute in the morning is not a long one but there is still a list of things that I keep in the car at all times to make my morning rush (and any other time that we need to get somewhere) a little easier.
The most obvious thing I try to keep up on is tissues and napkins. I think I must reach for these things every time I am in the car, for one reason or another. I either spill my coffee or need to blot lipstick. My daughter MUST have everything a certain way, and clean is usually her preferred state. She needs napkins and tissues at the ready, at all times. Then there’s just the usual runny nose or sippy cup spill. They just need to be within reach, so they have their very own compartment in my awesome center console, just above the cup holders.
I also keep hand sanitizer in the car. The kids don’t use it because they are too young, but my husband and I use it incessantly. I am all for washing your hands with good old soap and water, but when you in the car you can’t do that. Because I am always the binky and food handler, I use it pretty much every time I get back into the car (and absolutely every time I pump gas. Just the thought of it grosses me out).
Next is the diaper bag. If you have older children this has probably been discarded, but I highly recommend an activity bag or just a bag of essentials for older children. I keep a diaper bag in the car so that I don’t have to worry about whether or not I have enough diapers or wipes if I need to just run out quickly or need a backup. Luckily my kids both where the same size (and my daughter will be done with them very soon…we are on our way to potty success!) so I just make sure there are about ten in there so I know for sure (even if I used a few on a previous trip) that there are enough. I keep either a whole box of wipes or a resealable plastic bag of wipes in the diaper bag as well. Wipes have endless uses, so you can never have enough, in my opinion. There is, of course, a changing pad in there and usually a few snacks that I know are safe in the car. Snacks might change seasonally, but they usually consist of crackers and cereal-stuff that won’t get frozen or melty in the car (I check and change these out regularly). I also try to keep a set of seasonally appropriate changes of clothes for each child at the ready.
The rest of the items that I keep in the car are pretty self explanatory, so I will just list them for you:
• Sunglasses (for myself and my daughter)
• Stroller
• Cart cover
• Reusable shopping bags
• Emergency kit
• Toys/books
• Kids Cd’s
• Phone charger
• Umbrella
• Blanket
Needless to say, my van is always packed to the gills, but I am always prepared and that makes me feel safe and confident
What do you always have on hand? Please feel free to add to the list!

Monday Tips for Busy Moms: Filing by Jennifer Worthington Lower

Getting organized seems to be a very popular topic all the time, but especially at the beginning of the year as part of New Years Resolutions. I have written about my resolutions before but they have changed and here’s the all encompassing finality: BE BETTER AT EVERYTHING. A little nuts, right? But it touches on everything that I want to accomplish, one of which being to get more organized. Another thing that I want to do this year is to simplify my life (which goes hand-in-hand with organizing). So why get messy with multiple resolutions and not just go for the biggie? So there, I’m getting organized and simplifying (and a million other things…he he).
I live in a shared home and that makes space an issue. I often misplace papers because I am an organized mess and operate out of categorical piles. The stuff is there (I swear) just not where I can find it when I need it. I have a filing cabinet but it’s never where I need it to be and so the piles take up valuable counter and table space.
The answer: WALL FILES
They are inexpensive and can be found at any office supply store. They come in many different varieties with different sizes, colors, capacity and even somewhat attractive finishes. I know that you can get more desirable pieces at home furnishing stores but they tend to be more pricey.
These are great for the kitchen, office, bedrooms…just about anywhere you keep papers. We do not have an office space that is officially labeled but resides in a corner of our bedroom. Our files hang just inside our bedroom door for our incoming and outgoing. I separate by things to be handled immediately (bills and such), things to be filed and miscellaneous. I may add a second set as I become better at containing my organized chaos, but for now this is working. At least it looks nicer!

Monday Tips for Busy Moms: Valentine’s Day

Monday Tips for Busy Moms: Valentine’s Day
By Jennifer Worthington Lower

Well, Valentines Day is here and what is a busy couple to do? If you’re like my husband and I, not a whole lot, unfortunately. Unless V-day lands on a Saturday, there will be no glamorous night out with roses and candies, no sipping wine by candle light, no lingerie or cuddle time….and let’s get real, that’s not even going to happen on a Saturday, so what do we do?
Because we work opposite schedules we try to set aside time on a regular basis for date nights. We have quite a few things to celebrate November through February so we do “combo” celebrations. My husband’s birthday is in January, so half way between his birthday and V-day we splurged on a nice night out. We got the grandparents to babysit, picked a fancy restaurant for dinner, and enjoyed a long, leisurely dinner by the fire and enjoyed each other’s company. It was delightful!
Do I wish we could be heading out on a romantic evening tonight? A little. But we had a great night and it was so low key because everyone else wasn’t rushing in for a special holiday-just us. We also get each other a little something special on the actual day itself. It’s usually a very mushy card and a small gift from the heart. This is how we do many birthdays and holidays between us and then we save the big stuff for the kids. We are busy and tired but we still want to set aside time for us, as we and all couples should. It’s just hard. Sometimes it’s difficult to get our schedules straight, but it is really important to us not to lose that “loving feeling”. One day, when the kids are grown and we have more time on our hands (yeah, right), we will plan a weekend getaway and spend the whole thing alone, celebrating our love. But for now, this works for us.
What works for you?

Monday Tips for Busy Moms: Ways to Reuse Cloth Diapers

Happy Monday! I was thinking about ways to reuse things that I have lying around the house this week and I realized that this would probably be helpful for others (if they haven’t thought of it before me, which is likely). One thing that I have a TON of sitting around the house is cloth diapers. These are the white cotton ones that aren’t often still used as a diaper, but as burp cloths or changing pads. When you have infants you are constantly walking around with a cloth on your shoulder to protect your clothing and so you buy them in bulk, but then what do you do with them?
I love the two previously mentioned uses for them and still use them that way occasionally, but mainly I use them as washcloths. I found that I prefer them to the actual baby washcloths and regular washcloths tend to be too bulky to use on the kids. I use the well-used ones as cleaning cloths and rags and I often use them as dish towels in the kitchen because they have great absorbency.
The kids like to use them as teethers. I have bought many a teething ring in my time but they never get used for that purpose. Washcloths and cloth diapers seem to be the teether of choice with my little guys. They can be used just the way they come or you can also dampen them and place them in the refrigerator or freezer to cool them for baby’s sore gums. My daughter also seems to feel that cloth diapers are the perfect “towel” or “blanket” for her little babies, which is adorable, in my opinion of course.
I hope these tips were useful to some of you and maybe spawned new ideas on how to reuse and save money in the future. Please share your ideas-others can use the help (I know I sure can)!

Monday Tips for Busy Moms: Organization aorthington Lower

I think that a smart phone is one of the most valuable resources a busy parent can have. I often think about what life was like before the cell phone, email, Facebook, Twitter, etc… and I just can’t wrap my mind around it. I remember those times, but I don’t understand how adults functioned without constant contact. I get antsy just waiting for a return email that ends up coming back to me with in a few hours, let alone not receiving an immediate reply to a text message. It is insane, but that’s life today. We move at a much quicker pace and there is no time to slow down.
I currently own a Blackberry Tour and I am impatiently awaiting my contract renewal time so that I can get something that will cater to my needs, which are a little different than they were when I got it. This means faster internet capabilities and a full screen that allows me to substitute it for my PC when necessary. I love my Blackberry and I was ECSTATIC when I got it (and still love for what it does for me every day). But two years later, my internet presence is much more valuable to me than it once was and I need a phone that is less “strictly business” and more “business casual”, you know?
That being said, there are so many things that I rely on daily, that my little handheld buddy does for me. Here are a few of my favorite applications:
It stores my passwords, with a password, and that is MONUMENTAL. I hate leaving things like that lying around to be misplaced or seen by the wrong person.
My calendar is always updated and synced with my Google calendars so that I am up-to-date no matter where I actually plug in an event.
I have memos out the wazoo (that’s a technical term). I even have a running tab of my children’s milestones so that I can get them into their baby books when I have a minute.
I have documents stored and saved and I sometimes find myself composing when I am in a situation where I am waiting in a waiting room or stuck in traffic.
I have pictures, pictures, and more pictures saved and I record on a regular basis. All of this is stored neatly on the device and I don’t have to worry about carrying a camera and a recorder with me at all times.
The backup software is a lifesaver and I don’t know what I would do if I had to back up all of my data on my own all the time. LOVE IT.
Without my smart phone, I have no idea what I would do with myself and I feel totally naked on those occasions where I accidentally leave it at home or in the car. What did parents, and people in general, do before these handy little guys? What are you favorite organizational and time-saving applications?