Found this great workout for the lower belly, as well as a couple other key areas. I too HATE doing crunches, so I gave these a whirl.   There has been a small noticeable difference in the last couple of days, so give it a try!  As clumsy as I am, it definitely is helping to maintain a better posture, and balance. Win Win!

I can not take full credit for the idea, I got it from Kayla’s preschool teacher.  However, I did upgrade its design in my crafty way.  Using about $5 dollars in supplies from our local craft store- AC Moore.  I took a picture of Kayla, cut it out, laminated it and glued it to a little wooden girl shape and put a magnet on the back.

Then you create the sections, Green=Good, yellow, Red=Bad.

The idea is to stay in Green, however if we are yelled at 2 times for something, the 3rd time is straight to timeout, and we are moved into yellow.  We stay there.

If we are yelled at again for something 2 more times, as before the 3rd time they are sent straight to timeout, and moved into red.  With red, we also loose a toy or a privilege for the rest of the day.

I would say it took 2 days of this to get thru, but after, we don’t usually see the red anymore.  Its quite effective, because from what I am learning with autism etc.  the visual makes it more clear for them.  Its right there, in their face.  Now I have also added that after the time out buzzer goes off, (I usually give 10 min) I ask if she understands why she was put in timeout.  If she replies no, then I explain using short sentences, ex: You were using fresh talk, or because you were not being a good listener, or you were arguing with mommy, etc., and those are bad behaviors.

Another thing I also picked up from our OT therapist, is that I no longer say “you were being a bad girl” its a self esteem breaker.  Instead say “you were making a bad choice.”

So does your toddler come home from preschool or the playground with their new shoes looking like this:

Well kids will be kids right?  But no fear, I have found a way to make your kids shoes appearance last until the actual shoe itself is destroyed or outgrown.  With a little Soft Scrub w/Bleach on a wet rag can make them look like this again:

Yay for little miracles!

I just read the funniest story of my life!  Tammi wrote with such detail that I felt like I was standing right there.  You MUST read this! Check it out at

http://www.myorganizedchaos.net/search/label/My%20Chaos

I was just browsing all my mommy blogs, and came across this one… “>http://www.mommieswithstyle.com/mtblog/2009/03/ive_been_looking_for_this_cloc_1.html .
I have recently been trying to teach Kayla the concept of time, because after we put her in for bed at night she gets up and comes out saying “Good Morning”.   Now as my husband and I try our hardest not to let the smile and giggle show on our face, we sternly TRY to tell her that its night time and have her read the numbers on the clock etc, only to have to repeat the process at least 4 more times before she finely gives up.   This nifty clock with different colors for day and night I think would really cement the fact and maybe keep her attention long enough for sleep to catch up to her.  I found it for purchase on Amazon as well as the direct site: http://www.mytotclock.com/index.php?cPath=1

Enjoy, let me know if it works for you!