Lilac City Momma

Life Hacks

How to Stay Sane During Your Trip to Disney Land

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To start with, you do not stay cool at Disneyland – because it is Disney land! Growing up watching Disney movies, fantasizing yourself as Disney princesses and planning a Disney themed birthday party every year – Disney was an essential part of our childhood. And when you know that your next vacation will be at Disney Land, you just cannot keep your sanity intact, after all, it is indeed a wish come true.

Do not leave dinner reservation for the last minute

People travel from all across the globe just to have a vacation at Disney land. Disney land starts taking reservation 4 months prior to actual visit date. If you are planning a trip with your family and you do not want to be left with crying toddlers and grumpy teenagers, make sure you get your dinner reservations made at least 2 months prior to your visit. It is very unlikely that you will get any free slot to have dinner at a fine dine in Disney land on the spot, and you will realize how much difference advanced reservations would make. Thanks us later!

Get the Fast passes – they make a huge difference

In case you are not familiar with fast pass, it is the best thing you can have in Disney land when it comes to tickets. Fast pass system lets you have a ticket with a return time on it for select Disney attractions. You can return to selected rides within the specified time limit without having to wait in long queues. However, you can hold only one fast pass at a time, so the earlier you get back to your ride, the earlier you will have it.

Download the Disney app

Disneyland has its own smartphone app – and it is very cool. It allows you to book online tickets, confirm show timings, route maps, restaurant timings, menus and deals. Moreover, if you bought your tickets through the app, you will only have to show the barcode at the entrance when you arrive.

It is better to stay in Disneyland hotels

Accommodation takes up most of the family’s budget however, what you get in return of the cost is unmatchable. You will be staying at Disney’s Grand Californian, Disney Paradise Pier or Disneyland Hotel. Staying on site will allow you an easy access to the parks, without having to travel all the way. The free transportation service offered to those staying at Disney hotels is a lifesaver. Moreover, it lets you experience the magic hour, which is indeed very magical.

On designated days throughout the week, the park opens up one hour early in the morning and stays open for 3 hours after its closing time, for the onsite guests of Disneyland. This is the best time to enjoy rides and various attractions without having to wait in lines or feel stuffed by the crowd. You can also have mid daybreaks during rush hours to enjoy later if you are staying on site.

 

 

5 Tips to Keep Your Kids Occupied When Travelling

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Planning to take that family vacation you have been dreaming of for ages? Before you get too much excited and start packing, take a look around because the two rambunctious packages currently creating chaos in your living room will make your flight unbearable if you don’t have some tricks up your sleeve.

Kids are a blessing when they are asleep and your own personal hell when they are awake. What people don’t realise is that unlike a moody 16 year old teenager, kids are easily distracted. All you need to do is hold them in a fascinating conversation and they will listen to you with rapt attention. You might be subjected to an airport runner, the yeller or I-want-what-you-are-drinking but other than that, everything will be – peachy!

Every kid is different and a mother knows best how he or she can be handled. While you might not get those glory days back of drinking wine and watching a movie under the blanket with your hubby, you sure can get some rest with these 5 tips when travelling with your kids:

1. Bring Out the Technology

At home, there might be a curfew on watching TV and playing games but when on flight, let your kids loose. If the arm rest has that little screen, then flip it out and let them watch a movie. If you have an iPad, download some games, so that when they get bored from watching a movie, they can play on it. The extra screen time will eventually exhaust them and they will go to sleep.

2. Outfit Them in Footie Pyjamas

A long flight and stuffy clothes can irritate kids to the point that they won’t sit anywhere for long. To make it easy on you and them, dress them in footie pyjamas, so that they can enjoy the flight comfortably. Moreover, in case of a diaper outburst, you will only have to replace only one soiled clothing item.

3. Load Up On Anti-Bacterial Wipes

At one point or another, your kid will surely touch something gross that will have you cringing with disgust. Instead of using a single cloth wipe over and over again, load up on those individual anti-bacterial wipes. You don’t know what the bathroom situation will be and these wipes will feel like a godsend when a sticky situation comes up.

4. Only One Carry On Allowed

Now that you are a mother, it’s all about the kids. The carry on you are taking with you, must contain all the essentials your kid might need. Do keep a t-shirt or two for yourself for those unexpected vomits but other than that, make sure everything in it belongs to them. Plus, a single carry on will give you the freedom to hold your kid and navigate through customs easily.

5. Bring Snacks

Food served in airplanes is not necessarily to every kid’s liking. They may taste the food in the excitement of unwrapping those small bowls and plates but it’s possible that they might not eat it after taking the first bite. For situations like these, do bring along snacks that are approved by the customs and airport authorities.

Most parents leave the discipline at home while travelling with kids. Yes, it’s time to let your kid a little loose but not so much that they start disturbing the other passengers and flight attendants. They might give them indulgent looks but nobody likes a kid running down the aisle and creating chaos. Try these tips and you will be able to keep them calm, and enjoy your flight in peace.

4 Pretty Hairstyles for Busy Moms

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When you are a wife and a mother, life is very busy. In the morning, you tend to your kids and then in the evening and then again, in the afternoon. After they arrive, pretty much your first 6 to 10 years are all about them. In the middle of this, when dropping them to school, going to Church or when attending your kid’s soccer game, you need to look at least socially passable. After all, you can’t go looking like a hag with messy hair and in Pj’s, and risk embarrassing your kid.

So, to help you look like the most attentive and put together mom, we bring you 4 hairstyles that are simple and pretty:

Hairstyle #1

Top Knot

You can never go wrong with a top knot. It’s every woman’s go-to hairstyle whether going out shopping or strolling. We are not talking about the messy bun but an elegant top knot that makes you look like a “mom”. Here’s how to make it:

  • Gather all your hair at the top of your head by throwing your head forward.
  • Use a thick black pony and tie your hair as high as possible.
  • Now, slowly circle the hair around the pony and create an open knot.
  • Secure the ends with pins.

Hairstyle #2

Topsy Tail

This hairstyle looks best on women with straight or natural loose curls. A great hairstyle for short hairs, it allows you to sweep every hair strand from your face and secure it in a unique ponytail. Here’s how to make it:

  • Tie you hair close to your neck.
  • Now, loosen the pony a little and insert two fingers under the pony to separate your hair from the head.
  • Flip your ponytail in this gap.
  • Make two flips to create visible twists.
  • If your hair is silky, apply some hair spray, so that the twists don’t open.

Hairstyle #3

The Blair Waldorf Look

Who can forget the iconic looks of Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl? That girl had some taste and apparently a great hairstylist, who we never saw on the show. One of her best hairstyles in the show was the twist and turn pony tail. Here’s how to make up:

  • Take a lock of hair from the right side edge of your head, twist and turn it to the back, and tie it with a rubber band with a lock of hair from the middle.
  • Repeat this on the left side and then tie both the ponytails together.
  • Now, part your hair in threes, leaving the pony tail and bring two in front on either side.
  • Now twist and turn the parted hair, bring it back from above the ponytail and tie it.
  • Repeat it on the other side and secure all the ponytails with a thick black pony.

Hairstyle #4

Simple Chignon

The ultimate mom look that all kids have been guilty of mimicking to look like their rock star. This one’s pretty simple and elegant. Here’s how to do it:

  • Twist and turn a lock of hair from the right side, bring it to the back and secure it with a pin.
  • Repeat it on the left and remove the pin.
  • Tie your hair in a ponytail and part it in the middle from above.
  • Flip the ponytail inside and roll your hair inside the pony.
  • Secure the wayward strands with pins.

So, next time, even if you are taking a stroll in your neighborhood, try these hairstyles and be the cool mom on the block.

Tips on Back to School Shopping on a Budget

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When vacations are over, it’s that dreaded time of the year when your kids start bugging you for their back to school supplies. When we were young, all we needed was a bag pack, a book and a pencil. Today, a kid’s school supplies includes everything you can think of- pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, color pencils, markers, glue, paper clips, at least 3 binders in different colors, scissors, and the list goes on and on.

The problem with purchasing these back to school supplies is that they can be very expensive. Of course, before school starts, you will come across all kinds of sales that entice you to buy school supplies in bulk but not all of them are as good as they seem. This is the time you need to teach your kid the importance of budgeting or they will likely spend their allowance on things they don’t need.

Following are some tips that will help you shop under budget and save for the next year:

1. Make a List

No matter how appealing that sale looks, don’t go for it. If you want to shop under the budget then make a list of things that you “need” to buy. This way you can avoid buying things that your kid already has. Create a checklist and then proceed to the next step:

2. Start Your Shopping At Home

It’s time to go for a hunt – school supplies hunt! You have no idea how many rogue pencils, erasers, color pencils and other supplies you will find lying around in your house. Roam around and see. If you do find a handful of half-used supplies, then it’s time to do a little bit of recycling. Take out all the binders that you have in the house and see if you can tear some pages and make it as brand new.

Collect everything you find and cross the items from the checklist. Add the remaining items on the checklist that you missed and keep them in storage. Once you have an idea about what you need, you can now go shopping.

3. Shop in Office Supply Stores

School supply sales are quite deceiving. They can be expensive because you are forced to buy in bulk. To save money, shop instead in office supply stores, Costco or thrift stores that also sell in bulk, at a discounted price. You can find most of the school supplies here at fairly reasonable rates.

Say you are buying a simple binder in $0.50 and your kid insists that he wants the one with Captain America printed on it that costs $1.50. Instead of giving in to his demands, tell him to pay the extra $1 from his allowance. This way, not only will he learn to save, he will also understand that a generic binder serves the same purpose as a fancy one.

4. Go Online

While buying branded stationery can be quite expensive, you will find several coupon deals on Facebook and twitter when school returns. These deals are quite cheap and allow you to surprise your kid with new and high quality school supplies. The more loyal you are to these brands, the more chances you have of winning their gift coupons.

Kids can create quite a ruckus if their wants are not met. So, try these tips and you will be able to buy generic and branded school supplies, while staying in your budget.

 

5 Crock Pot Meals for Busy Moms

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Some people say that motherhood mellows them out. The “partying out late at night”, “getting drunk” and indulging into other shenanigans gets replaced with filling milk bottles, cleaning nappies and trying to shush a crying baby, while trying to sleep. It’s funny how life changes in a matter of days.

While a crying baby is hard to handle, a five year old who runs away every time you set the table is even harder. As a working mom, the struggle is real. Recently, the USDA changed their food pyramid and introduced MyPlate. This plate says that every meal should include veggies, fruits, a grain and protein. There goes your hope of trying to feed your kid. The moment you put some veggies on their plate, you will hear only one word, “yuck”! So, if you don’t have time in your hectic schedule to whip up something fancy, go for these five easy crock pot meals that we assure you your kids will love:

Recipe #1

Mac & Cheese

What is the one combination that kids love? Macaroni + Cheese. This recipe takes just one hour and doesn’t require you to check on it constantly.

Ingredients

  • Cheddar cheese soup: 1 can
  • Milk: 1 ½ cups
  • Macaroni elbows: 8 oz (1/2 bag)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese: 2 cups
  • Sour cream: 1 ½ cups

Preparation

  • Boil macaroni for 3 minutes.
  • Drain macaroni and add it to the crock pot along with cheddar cheese soup, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.
  • Cook for 30 mins.
  • Add milk and then cook for 30 mins more.
  • Your crock pot mac and cheese is ready.

Recipe #2

Slow-Cooker Lasagna

Here’s another gooey cheesy delight that your kids will gobble down in minutes and ask for more. This recipe makes 10 servings and takes about 4 hours to cook.

Ingredients

  • Uncooked lasagna strips: 6
  • Ground beef: 1 lb
  • Diced white onion: 1 cup
  • Pastas sauce: 1 jar
  • Water: 1 cup
  • Minced garlic: 1 teaspoon
  • Ricotta cheese: 15 oz
  • Mozzarella cheese: 2 cups
  • Grated parmesan cheese: ¼ cup
  • Egg: 1
  • Fresh parsley: 2 tablespoons

Preparation

  • In a skillet, add onion and beef. Let it cook until the color turns brown. Add garlic for taste and let it simmer for one more minute.
  • Add water and spaghetti sauce and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Mix ricotta, 2 tablespoons parmesan, 1 ½ cups mozzarella, parsley and egg.
  • Create layers with the lasagna strips by alternating between the cheese sauce and the spaghetti meat sauce.
  • Let it cook for 4 hours. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan and mozzarella and let it melt. Serve after ten minutes.

Recipe #3

3 Ingredient Meatballs

 

Ingredients

  • Frozen meatballs: 2 lb
  • Grape jam: 12 oz
  • BBQ sauce: 12 oz

Preparation

  • Place the meatballs in the crock pot.
  • Mix together BBQ sauce and grape jelly and pour it over the meatballs.
  • Cook for 2 to 4 hours.
  • Serve it with dinner rolls, rice or mashed potatoes.

Recipe #4

Beef Stew

 

Ingredients

  • Beef chuck roast: 5 pounds
  • Chopped potatoes: 1 cup
  • Diced white onion: 1
  • Sliced carrots: 4
  • Frozen corn: 1 cup
  • Sliced mushrooms: 8 ounces
  • Condensed cream of mushroom soup: 1 can
  • Onion soup mix: 1 packet

Preparation

  • Line the bottom of the crock pot with the roast.
  • Add in mushrooms, frozen corn, carrots, potatoes and onions.
  • Cover the vegetables with the condensed cream of mushroom soup.
  • Sprinkle onion soup mix on top.
  • Let it cook for 7 to 8 hours.
  • Stir before serving.

Recipe #5

Taco Chicken Bowls

 

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts: 1½ lbs
  • Salsa: 16 oz jar
  • Drained black beans: 15 oz can
  • Frozen corn: ½ lb
  • Chili powder: 1 Tbsp
  • Cumin: ½ Tbsp
  • Minced garlic: ½ Tbsp
  • Dried oregano: ½ tsp
  • Cayenne pepper: ¼ tsp
  • Salt and pepper: ¼ tsp
  • Dry ice: 2 cups
  • Shredded cheddar: 8 oz
  • Boiled rice: 1 dish

Preparation

  • Add everything in the crock pot with ¼ cup water except for cheese and rice.
  • Cook for 8 hours.
  • Shred chicken with a fork in the pot
  • Place some rice in a bowl, top it with the taco mix and sprinkle some cheese on the top.

Try these easy recipes at home without slaving hours near the stove. Just sit back and relax until those hours are up and it’s time to serve.