Dude, Where's My Car?

Have trouble finding your car when you go to the mall?  Take a snapshot of where you parked with your cell phone.  Include the aisle/floor number, landmarks, and a shot of the portion of the mall directly across from your car, so you know where to turn when you exit the mall.  Also take a snapshot of the department you enter through - i.e. shoes, lingerie, etc.  You will never wander around a parking lot pushing your panic button again!

Puffy Eye Cure

Waking up with puffy eyes?  Eyes puffy from allergies or crying?  Pop 2 spoons into the freezer for at least 10 minutes, then hold the backs to your eyes.  The puffiness should disappear within minutes!

HANDmade Wipee Warmer

Don't have a wipee warmer for cold little heinies on winter mornings??  No problem.  Crunch the wipee into the palm of your hand and close your hand into a tight fist while you are undressing your little one and getting a diaper ready.  Abot 20-30 seconds is all it takes to get the chill out and warm the wipee with your body heat!

Erase School Blues

Are you having a hard time getting your little one to go to school in the morning?  Is he/she crying and begging to stay home?  Ask the teacher for the names and phone numbers of some of the kids that she thinks will get along well with your child, then call the parents and start setting up play dates.  Try to plan some activities for the kids to do on the playdates that will be fun and really help them to interact with one another.  That way, your child can anticipate seeing a buddy when he/she goes to school.

Cough Remedy

Do you have a child over the age of two who can't stop coughing?  Rub a generous layer of Vicks VapoRub all over the bottom of their feet and cover them with socks.  It is an old wives' tale, but it works!  Within 5 minutes your child will feel calmer and the coughing will completely subside.  WARNING:  DO NOT USE ON CHILDREN UNDER 2 YRS OLD -  Vicks VapoRub can cause respiratory distress at that age.  Good luck!

Stranger Danger

Stranger Danger Tip:  Teach your kids that when a stranger is trying to pull them out of a store, into a car, or otherwise abduct them, not only must they scream for help, but more importantly, they must scream the words "This is a stranger!  This is NOT my parent!"  If they do not, bystanders may ignore the child's cries for help, thinking that it is just another kid throwing a temper tantrum and giving their parent a hard time.

Pacifier/Bottle Trick

Having trouble getting your baby to drink from a bottle or suck on a pacifier? Try this little trick: wet the rim of the nipple with water, then dab a few crystals of sugar on it. The baby will go for the sweet taste and simultaneously learn how to latch on and suck! Good luck!