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Real Mom
Profile
12.19.2005
 Name:
Robin
Age: 30
Home: Shoreview, MN
Family's Names and Ages:
Husband, Mark, 36
Elise 4, Leah & Lily 23 months
Occupation:
Before I had kids, I was a medical secretary for an orthopaedic
surgeon. One of the twins has a pretty complex medical history,
so having some medical knowledge has been a huge asset for me.
These days I make a little extra cash doing the bulletins for
our church.
If I had a day to myself...:
Oh my goodness! Sleep in for starters, soak in a luxurious bubble
bath, paint my nails, catch up on reading, watch anything I want on TV,
and most likely not do all the little catch-up things I should do (like
laundry).
Money Saving Tips:
I love those disposable wipe-up cloths you can buy at Target and
Walmart. They are wonderful for cleaning up the girls after meals. I
wash them in the dishwasher with my dishes every night, or in the
washing machine, and when they get nasty, I throw them away! MUCH
cheaper than paper towels. I also recently took a cake decorating
class, so I could save money by baking my own birthday cakes for the
girls. It was a fun way to get out of the house, AND it'll save money!
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Bargain Hunting Strategies:
We usually save on items like paper towels, tissues, toilet paper,
and diapers by buying in bulk. Super Target has a lot of the brands we
like, and they usually have good sales on bulk items. I shop garage
sales and consignment shops (like Once Upon A Child) for clothes for the
girls. I've found really good deals on name-brand clothes. Tuesday
Morning is a store that sells overstocked items, etc. They usually have
great deals on Christmas ornaments and wrapping paper, as well as lots
of other things.
Products we can't live without:
Vinegar! I use 1/2-1/2 vinegar and water for most of my household
cleaning. It's a cheap disinfectant, plus it's kid-safe and food-safe.
It'll make your floors shine too! I will even use vinegar in my washer
as a fabric softener or deodorizer (for those potty accidents).
Hydrogen Peroxide works great for getting out many stains like blood,
poop, vomit, and berries. Plastic baggies - you can get them in
different sizes at your local dollar store, and it's so much cheaper.
You can also wash and reuse them. They work great to keep like-things
organized inside a diaper bag.
In the Kitchen:
I love the idea of 30 minute meals, but as a vegetarian that isn't
always quite so easy to do. Here is one of my favorite recipes that's
cheap, quick, and easy.
Fried Spaghetti
8 oz Spaghetti
2 Tbs Tomato Paste with Italian Seasonings
2 Tbs Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, pressed
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
Salt, Pepper, & other various seasons
Boil spaghetti until slightly firm. You don't want it too soft. While
it's boiling, saute the onions and garlic in oil. Add your seasonings
to taste (salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, Thyme, basil, oregano, red
pepper flakes) and tomato paste. Let everything cook about a minute,
and add the freshly cooked spaghetti. Stir the spaghetti to make sure
it has been coated with the tomato mixture (sometimes adding a little
pasta water aids in this). Saute another 3-5 minutes over medium fire,
covered. Stir once more and serve. Really good with parmesan cheese on
top.
Organization:
When my oldest was a baby, I used to get really tired of picking up
all those toys every night. So, I started keeping out a few toys (5-10)
at a time and storing the rest away. Every month or two, I put the old
ones away and bring out new toys. It's like they're brand new again!
The kids never get bored, and I'm not spending nearly as much time
picking up!
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