We're Hosting a #DisneySide Home Celebration!

Disclosure: I received free products in order to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration. Thank you to Disney Parks and MomSelect for this opportunity. This is not a paid sponsorship. All ideas shared and opinions expressed are my own.

Woohoo! 

This Disney-loving family 

is super excited to announce that

we're hosting a #DisneySide @Home Celebration!

Here's a little SNEAK PEEK into our box of goodies -

Want to know our Party theme? 

It's a Disney Villains Tween Party!

We're going a bit WICKED and showing our 

Disney DARK Side!

Our Villains Party box included the following:

• Disney Side Villain Invitations
• Napkins, Cups, Plates, Tablecloth and Decorations
• Disney Villain Nail Art - Nail Polish, Emery Boards and a Nail Art Card
• Disney Themed Activities (Pin the Smile on Mickey, Bingo, Word Search, Matching Game & Trivia)
• Disney Villain Puzzle
• Wilton Mickey Mouse Cake Pan
• Duff Goldman Tie-Dye Premium Cake Mix
• Wilton Sugar Sprinkles
• My Image Bracelet Maker
• HP Create Memories You Keep Packs
• All Laundry Detergent Pacs
• Wisk Deep Clean Laundry Detergent
• Twinings Variety Pack Tea Bags
• Disney Vacation Planning DVD
• Doc McStuffins Fruit Snacks
• Disneyland 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration Favor Boxes

The Lil Divas & I are so excited about our upcoming party.

Let's be honest, 

there are two sides to every story

& every good fairytale needs a villain.

Disney's villains are kind of hard not to like (at least a little)

so it's going to be lots of fun taking a walk on the wicked side

& exploring the Dark Side of our #DisneySide.

Be sure to STAY TUNED for our upcoming party post!

Sometimes it's just more fun to be wicked!

Bern

Disclosure: I received free products in order to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration. Thank you to Disney Parks and MomSelect for this opportunity. This is not a paid sponsorship. All ideas shared and opinions expressed are my own. 

* This post contains Amazon affiliate links to some of the products received. 

FREE Coffee is Something to Celebrate!

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dunkin’ Brands. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I recently shared my love for Dunkin Donuts with you and their awesome DD Perks program in this post. The Lil Divas recently got their report cards. They or course rocked it at school & made the Honor Roll. I am such a proud mom. 

Of course we had to celebrate our successes and Dunkin Donuts is one of our "go to" local places for a celebratory treat. A donut, a few munchkins or some other treat is such an easy (and affordable) way to say "well done girls". 

Dunkin Donuts is also this mama's "go to" place for a quick pick me up. Nothing makes me smile after a long day in the classroom like a big cup of iced coffee - yum! DD always has something to treat each member of my family happy. That's no easy feat with 2 picky Lil Divas. 

It's no surprise that DD Perks is celebrating BIG these days. It's their 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! They have lots to make noise about, too.

Over the past year, the DD Perks program has awarded it's loyal customers, like me, lots of rewards. I've earned lots of free coffee and many other discounted offers and coupons via the app. I never pay without it. It's so convenient and easy to use on my phone - one quick zap and I'm done. Every purchase brings me closer to a FREE beverage of my choice.  

Thanks for all the FREE coffee DD Perks!

If you haven't joined the DD Perks generation - what are you waiting for? 

You'll earn 5 points for every qualifying dollar you spend at DD when you pay via a DD card or using the handy app.  You'll also receive personalized special offers and coupons and a FREE beverage (any size!) on your birthday. 

Once you accrue 200 points you earn a FREE (any size) beverage of your choice - redeemable at a participating DD store near you.

Click here to get started with DD Perks NOW -

remember to use the special code - BLOG at sign-up.  

Happy 1st Anniversary DD Perks

from one of your most loyal customers!

Bern

Dunkin Donuts DD Perks: FREE Coffee, Super Savings & a Convenient Way to Pay!

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dunkin’ Brands. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

As a busy teacher and mom my fast-paced mornings (and sometimes afternoons) require coffee to get me going. I am a DD girl - through and through. My local Dunkin' Donuts store employees know my order as soon as they see me - large iced coffee w/caramel swirl, skim milk and sugar. Yes, the skim milk makes me feel better about that decadent caramel swirl which I can not do without. It's just so good!

Making 1 and sometimes 2 trips a day to DD for coffee and the occasional donut (I do have 2 girls in tow on most occasions) as a loyal customer does add up.  Dunkin' Donuts knows that loyal customers like me deserve to get something back. Dunkin' Donuts launched their rewards program, DD Perks, in January 2014 to reward customer loyalty with points towards every dollar spent. Currently, guests earn 5 points for every dollar spent when you pay using an enrolled Dunkin' Donuts card, either plastic or via the ever so easy and super convenient app which I personally love. Once you accrue 200 points (I manage to do this quite quickly/often)  you earn a FREE beverage of choice. Can you say "FREE iced coffee" for this girl, YAY! Who doesn't love FREE? 

I started using the DD Perks mobile app this summer and have never looked back. I don't know why I didn't start sooner - it was easy to sign-up and super easy to use.  It makes paying so fast and easy. I simply show them my phone, they scan it and we're done. Perfect for those of us always on the go and running short on time. They recently started auto-reload (my 1 and only complaint before - Yay, they heard my cries!) so now you never have to worry about how much is available on your balance. You set your desired re-load amount and you're always ready to pay via the app and earn those rewards. Another added value to using the DD Perks app is that they give you valuable coupons which are geared towards your preferences (so that it's relevant for each loyal customer).  FREE coffee, valuable coupons, an easy way to pay and auto-reload - what's not to LOVE? I {heart} DD Perks. 

So, why am I sharing my unabashed love of DD and DD Perks with you today? Aside from the fact that I am obviously a DD fangirl (I'm not ashamed to admit it), during December 1st thru December 5th you can enroll in DD Perks using the unique Promo Code BLOG to earn a $5 enrollment bonus on your card! How can I NOT share that with you? It's a bonus $5 for your fave DD products. This offer is only valid Dec 1 - Dec 5th so be sure to enroll now to receive this special offer. 

Happy Coffee Drinking & DD Perk-ing!

Bern

Foster a Child's Independence with Chores at Home

Do your children help with chores at home? 

We know it's important to teach children self-help skills and to help them become independent but did you know that being held accountable for household chores can also help your child in the classroom? It's true! 

Assigning your child chores helps them learn to be an accountable part of your family. This carries over into their school life and better equips them to handle school tasks, participate in classroom jobs and follow step-by-step directions. It also encourages the use of problem-solving skills and helps children feel competent. Above all, it can help your child establish a positive work ethic. All of these things in turn, work to foster a child's success in the classroom. 

Ways to Motivate Your Children to Do Chores

1. Make chores fun - Play music to get everyone moving or turn it into a game - imagine you're cleaning a castle or getting ready for a favorite character's visit to your home. With a little imagination chores can go from boring to so much fun it feels like play.

2. Try using a Chore Chart - Providing your child with a visual way to track their progress is typically very helpful. Using simple rewards upon completion of their goal is a great motivator. I have some great chore charts (and other resources) pinned on my Making Kids Chores Fun Pinterest Board. 

3. Don't expect perfection - Remember that they are children. The chores will not be done the way you would do them - that's OK! The more your child completes the chores the better they will get at them.

4. Be consistent - Make chores a routine in your home. Children thrive on schedules and consistency. Chores should not be an every once in a while occurrence. Once your child has a specific set of chores, they should be expected to complete their tasks daily or weekly as appropriate. If you set the expectation - you'll be amazed at how they will rose to the occasion. Most young children want to be helpful. 

5. Be positive - Offer encouragement, praise their hard work and tell them what they did well. Resist the urge to nit pick - remember they are learning (refer back to point #3 above). 

Now that we know why chores are important and we've discussed ways to motivate our children to complete them - let's talk about the kinds of chores your child can help with at home.

Age-Appropriate Chores for Children

Please remember this is simply a guide. You are the best person to determine what chores your child can and can not handle. 

4 - 5 Year Olds

1. Pick up/Put toys away

2. Make beds

3. Dusting

4. Feed pets

5. Help match/fold laundry

6. Help set and clear table

7. Put dirty clothes in hamper

8. Put clothes/laundry away

6 - 8 Year Olds

1. All of the above tasks for 4 - 5 year olds

2. Sweep 

3. Vacuum

4. Help load/unload dishwasher

5. Wipe bathroom sinks and counters

6. Collect trash from wastebaskets

9 - 12 Year Olds

1. All of the above tasks for 4 -5 year olds and 6 - 8 year olds

2. Water plants/help with yard or garden

3. Wash/dry clothes

4. Mop floors

5. Make simple meals

6. Walk pets

7. Take out trash to curb or recycling bin

Are there any chores I missed? What chores do your children help out with in your home? How do you keep them motivated to complete their chores?

For more ideas on how to foster your child's independence 

check out these posts by my Get Ready for K Through Play co-hosts:

Teach Independent Skills for Kindergarten

(Coffee Cups and Crayons)

Knife and Fork Games for Kids

(Here Come the Girls)

Get Ready for Kindergarten: Nurture Independence

(Mamasmiles)

Transitions to Independence for Kids

(Mess for Less)

Preparing for School - Inside Out, Back to Front, Wrong Foot

(Rainy Day Mum)

Craft Supply Organization

(The Pleasantest Thing)

(Toddler Approved)

Be sure to follow the Get Ready for K Through Play Pinterest Board for even more ideas from around the web to help you get your child ready for K in playful and easy ways. 

Good luck motivating your children to do chores!

Bern

8 Years Ago Today

You know that saying "life can change in an instant"?

It's 100% true.

My life was forever changed 8 years ago 

when I held my baby girl for the first time.

This tiny baby stole my heart and it is now forever intertwined with hers.

In the past 8 years, my world has been completely transformed.

You think you know what it means to love someone.

Then you hold this tiny being in your arms

and the love you feel is more powerful that anything else.

I'm so proud to be your Mom.

You are a free spirit who loves to sing and dance.

Our house is always filled with the sounds of your made-up songs.

I love listening in as you come up with your latest lyrics.

You are shy around people you do not know

but once you are comfortable with someone

you have no problem letting them in.

You adore your family and you are a wonderful big sister.

Your sister is lucky to have you looking out for her.

You are intelligent, witty and curious.

When you are motivated, nothing can stop you.

You're kindhearted and generous and would stay with nothing 

if it meant giving someone else what they need.

You fill my heart with joy.

I hope you know that each and every day of your life.

Happy 8th Birthday Baby Girl.

I Love you!

xoxo Mommy

Finding Balance and Happiness in Life

Happy New Year lovely readers and thank you so much for sticking with me the last few months while things have been sparse around these parts. I'm hoping to remedy that in 2014. It's all about finding a sense of balance. 

My goal is to find some sort of balance that works for me. Let's face it, it's impossible to do it all. I've tried and fallen flat on my face, miserably. Time and time again. It's time to pick myself up, dust myself off and keep moving forward. Will things be perfect? Of course not! Here's the big change though - I'm ok with that. I don't need or want to be "super woman". I don't have to have the perfect house, the perfect after school activities, the perfect (insert your answer here).... I just have to be happy! That's been missing in my life folks. I've been stressed, overwhelmed, feeling inadequate, tired - everything except just plain old happy the past 6 months. Why? Why accept that? I don't have to. It's been self imposed really. Yes, to be completely honest - I have done it to myself. How awful is that? I know many of you do the same thing. Why do we do that? Why do we put all this pressure on ourselves to be "perfect". It's unrealistic. Let's face it, no one is perfect.

Those mom's you secretly envy who look like they have it all together and have the "perfect" life - they don't. No one has a "perfect" life but we can make our life perfect for us. It will be flawed, imperfect and sometimes contain failures but it will be ours. We can pick ourselves up and learn from the mistakes (not beat ourselves up for them) and move forward. We can focus on what it truly important to us and know that it's ok to let some things fall to the wayside sometimes. The world won't come to an end if our children have cereal for dinner, if we don't have time for a bedtime story or if the laundry has to wait another day or two. I promise you it won't. I know from experience. I've done all those things and we are still here, still standing strong. My girls didn't say, "what a bad mom giving us cereal for dinner". The actually cheered and thought it was cool. We have since embraced breakfast for dinner around here every now and then, even my husband. They get it. They know sometimes I have too much on my plate and they were able to adjust. I love them so much it makes my heart full to bursting.

Here's a BIG one - It's ok to say 'NO!". That's huge for me. It probably is for you too. Why do we feel like we must say yes to everything? If we honestly can't do it - why don't we just say so. Why stretch yourself thin and then feel miserable, stressed and overwhelmed. Who benefits from that? Certainly not me or my family and in the end no one else around us does either. Yet, I have always been a "yes" girl. Never wanting to admit that I can't do it all. Never wanting to let people down. Once again putting unnecessary pressure on myself. Pressure no one else even knew about because I kept it all to myself. I didn't want to show my cracks, my flaws. It gets harder and harder to hide them. I'm done hiding them. It's ok to say, "I have a lot on my plate and I really can't commit to doing anything else today" or "I can't do that today but I can help you (insert day) if you can wait". They will understand and if they don't - too bad. I'm done putting everyone else ahead of myself and my family. I matter.

It's ok to ask for help. Another hard one for me. Why - asking for help means admitting I can't do it all. Yikes! What will people think of me when they find out I don't have it all together? It's simple really - they will think I am human. I am just like them. When we reach out for help we get so much more that just help. We find acceptance, camaraderie and allies. When I've put down pretenses and let people see my cracks and flaws, they were willing to share theirs. It feels so good to know you are not alone. Don't let the pretense of being "super woman" isolate you.  Being a working mom and wife is hard enough. I need my allies, my friends and my family. Think about it - even super heroes have trusty side kicks.

(clip art image courtesy of dreamstime.com)

So, this year I am going to focus on finding a form of balance that works for me. It won't be perfect, and I'm sure I'll fail at it at times and (gasp!) even lose sight of my goal and revert back to my old ways every now and then because let's face it - old habits die hard.  I'm hoping that in those moments my mind will focus on this one word - BALANCE. I'm hoping that by choosing to embrace it this year it will act as my reminder, my beacon so to speak, and lead me back on my path because I matter. So do you.

I may be imperfect and fall short of the mark sometimes. That's ok. What matters is that I do "my" best. My best may not be your best. That's ok. It's good enough for me and my family. They love me for who I am, not who I think I am supposed to be for them. To my girls, I am supermom. I am the #1 mom. They tell me that all the time. I just haven't been listening. Know what - you are super to your children as well. Let's focus on that instead of the mistakes. Let's take time to celebrate our successes each day instead of our failings. Let's find our balance. Let's be happy with who we are. We are good enough. In fact, we are actually pretty darn spectacular! If we weren't we couldn't care about all this "stuff" so much. 

Bern

Finding Balance - I Didn't Plan to be Gone This Long

I didn't plan to be gone this long. I always think - "I can do it all". I figured I'd take a few weeks to get acclimated to being a full-time teacher while juggling being a mom, wife, etc and then I'd be back to blogging and sharing with you all. It's now been 7+ weeks and as I sit and write this I'm worrying I'll never find a way to really get back at all. I'm worried I won't be able to navigate my way through this puzzle and find a way to make it all fit - harmoniously.

Here's the thing - teaching isn't an 8 to 3 job. Not many non-teachers realize that but it's true.  I'm always thinking, creating, planning, grading, doing. I should be doing that right now. I have a pile of "stuff" sitting here next to me and lesson plans to write. I need the break though. I'm feeling overwhelmed and tired. So here I am. Blogging instead. Not my usual sort of post but a post I "needed" to do versus one I "wanted" to do.

Thank you to all of you that have reached out - wondering where I am and how we are doing. It's amazing how awesome our readers are! To put it simply - we are adjusting. The Lil Divas love having me at their school. They think it's awesome when we bump into each other walking in the halls. Their little faces light up and they get all excited and wave. Ok, they sometimes run out of line to give me a hug too. We're working on that but secretly - I love it. They won't always be so excited to have mom at school with them so I'm soaking it all up while I can. Thankfully, their teachers are very understanding (tolerant). I'm grateful.

They aren't as excited about the hours I've been putting in (10+ hr days) and the lack of free time we've had together. It's been a BIG change for all of us. I'm still trying hard to find a way to balance it all. I'm very hard on myself. I have a hard time not being able to do something or needing help. It's been a difficult journey - adjusting to not being able to do it all. Most days I feel like I'm losing that particular battle. I'm struggling to keep up. I mix-up the days the girls have P.E. I forget when we are supposed to meet for Girl Scouts. I am always running late to dance class. We eat out way too often. My house is in need of a good cleaning. I haven't had a real conversation with my best friends in months. The list of things I promised the girls we'd do together and then ran out of time to do - is getting long. All these things have me feeling unhappy and like a less than stellar mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, etc.

Here's the thing though. We need to find balance, don't we. It's wonderful to want to give your all at work (and I truly do) but it shouldn't be at the expense of my family or myself. I feel like a first year teacher all over again because this time I'm a mom too. I'm juggling way more than I did before I had my precious girls. The result -  there have been way to many calls left unreturned, invitations turned down and simple moments with my girls missed. Those moments matter and I'm missing them. I hate missing them. 

I don't want regrets to be a big part of my life so I'm making a simple promise to myself. Starting next week - no more 10+ hr days 5 days a week.  No more working at home every single evening. It's too much and it's taking a toll on me. It's taking a toll on all of us. I'm going to work hard to manage my time more effectively and a few days a week I will leave on time.  I will leave it all behind. I will pay attention to everything else besides work. My family and I both deserve that. 

Hopefully you will see a bit more of us - soon. I miss blogging. A lot. Though this too can be time consuming (any blogger will tell you that) - it was something I truly enjoyed doing. The Lil Divas miss it too. They have been crafting a lot on their own lately. It makes me both happy and sad. Happy that they truly enjoy being creative and I sparked that in them but sad that I've stepped away from it for so long. We need to find our way back to it - together.

Here's to finding balance. Hopefully. Soon. 

Thanks for sticking with me. 

We appreciate it.

Bern

Bye, Bye Baby - Hello Big Girl! The Littlest Diva turns 6

Today my Littlest Diva turns 6. It is a bittersweet day for me. I am proud of the girl she has become and it fills me with pride to watch her grow. Yet, I am sad to see those baby days moving behind us.

Over the past year she entered (& rocked!) Kindergarten, learned how to read and developed a fondness for Junie B. Jones. She lost her first tooth, learned to ride a scooter and rode her bike minus training wheels.  She was addicted to nail polish, adored bracelets, the color pink and all things sparkly. She favors dresses and skirts over pants, became a pro at tying shoe laces and is fond of texting on any phones or devices she can get her hands on. She is a loving, loud, feisty and free-spirited little girl.  We love her more than mere words can ever express and I marvel at the fact that she is mine.

Happy 6th birthday baby girl. Your sweet smile, funny ways, diva antics and sparkling personality make you shine.  May you always feel as happy, loved, hopeful and confident as you do at this stage in your life. You enjoy each and every day to the fullest and you embrace all that life has to offer. Thank you for add so much energy, joy and love to my life.  It's an honor and a blessing to be your mom. Remember that you will always be my "baby" - no matter how old you are!

With Love,

Your Mom

Happy 7th Birthday to My Big Girl

"Time flies when you're having fun!" 

No truer words can ever be spoken in regards to parenthood. 

The past 7 years have flown by as this adorable and tiny baby girl.....

has grown into this lovely little lady. 

You are intelligent and curious, 

kind hearted and loving, 

playful, energetic and full of life.

I am blessed to be your mother.

Happy 7th Birthday my Darling Daughter.

I LOVE you more than you can possibly know.

Mom

Our Favorite Family Moments of 2012 - A Year in Review

I have been sharing my Best Posts of 2012 with you but as a mommy who is also a blogger I had to take some time to share the personal side of things as well. So be forewarned, this is a selfish post for me. It's my walk down memory lane, looking back on our year of adventures as a family. I hope you'll enjoy taking this stroll with me and taking a peek at our 2012.

Top 12 Family Moments of 2012

January 2012

We did a few things in January but the standout memory for this month was definitely the girls 1st visit to the circus. They were simply in awe of all the acrobats and their tricks.

February 2012

My Big Girl turned 6, my how time flies! We celebrated with a bowling party and she had a blast.

March 2012

March was filled with lots of family adventures. We enjoyed A Day Out with Thomas,  an airboat tour on the Everglades, picking sunflowers and strawberries on the farm and our first Trip to Legoland in Orlando. What an amazing month!

April 2012

April brought us to Butterfly World (one of my fave local places), a Marlins baseball game, growing caterpillar larvae into butterflies, a fun trip to the Museum of Science and Discovery, the Oldest Diva learning to ride her bike without training wheels (yay!) and my 36th birthday.  

May

The Littlest Diva turned 5 years old in May and boy did she celebrate. She had a princess makeover (can you tell she is my girly girl?) and a fun party at an indoor play place with bounce houses, a magnetic climbing wall, bumper cars and more. It was so much fun. She even had a 2nd party in NY in June with friends & family when we went to my lil sister's Sweet 16  (see pics down below in June). May also brought me a "Girls Only" Weekend with my best childhood friends in Sanibel, FL. It was a wonderful & memorable month.

June

In June we took a weekend trip to NY for my little sister's Sweet 16. While we were there we had a belated birthday party for the Littlest Diva since we never get to celebrate birthdays with our NY family and friends. It was an action packed weekend. June also meant the end of school (Pre-K & K) and the beginning of our summer adventures. WooHoo!

July

July brought us tons of summer fun like swim lessons, trips to the beach and water parks and our first trip out of the country - to Croatia. This was definitely a memorable summer vacation for us.

August

August found us at Sea World Orlando, Zoo Miami and Young at Art Children's Museum to name a few places. It also meant the start of school for the Lil Divas who began Kindergarten and First Grade.

September

September meant that school was in full swing for all of us. Not only were the Lil Divas now both in school full time but Mommy was back at work as a Preschool Teacher. It meant lots of adjustments for everyone but we adjusted to our new schedules and even managed to squeeze in some fun. One highlight for the month was getting to see the Imagination Movers in Concert - what a cool show!

October

The Lil Divas were really into Halloween this year and having matching family costumes. 

November

November brought us another fabulous weekend in Orlando. This time we experienced Ice! at the Gaylord Palms. What a great way to get into the Christmas spirit - we were in freezing temperatures and saw amazing ice sculptures, listened to Christmas carols, meet some Dreamworks characters and even took a brief visit to Downtown Disney. It was a wonderful weekend.

December

Christmas - nothing beats that in the eyes of a 6 and 5 year old and this Christmas was pretty darn great. The Lil Divas were spoiled beyond belief and their expressions on Christmas morning (at 3:30am in the morning) were absolutely priceless. 

2012 was a great year for our little family.

It was filled with lots of fun and adventure

(amidst the daily tantrums, squabbles & tears!)

I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us.

What was your favorite family moment of 2012?

Bern

Merry Christmas to You & Yours

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays to you & yours!

Bern

Easy & Convenient Holiday Baking #MaytagMoms

There is just something about the holidays that puts us into a baking frenzy, isn't there? I know it's not just me because I see the recipes and photos of baked goods floating all over the internet and social networks.

Confession - I am not a huge fan of cooking except for breakfast. I love cooking breakfast and making fun pancakes, french toast and omelets but I will be honest with you and admit that I find cooking dinner to be a chore. An unwanted chore that I endure, like doing the laundry and cleaning. I am however a huge fan of making desserts. I am especially fond of baked goods - yum.  I enjoy whipping up cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, muffins, etc. Maybe it's because I enjoy eating them but it doesn't feel like work. It's fun.

My new Maytag 6.2 cu. ft. capacity range has been the perfect kitchen assistant for all our holiday baking, aside from the Lil Divas of course. It has so much space and I absolutely love the even air convection which means that things cook uniformly. I have always had issues with that in the past so I am really loving this feature. It has helped make my holiday baking a breeze. The range is super easy to use and I have room for multiple trays at once so I have been spending less time baking in a hot kitchen and more time enjoying the treats with my family this year.

The Lil Divas love helping  me in the kitchen. Baking is one of the things we really enjoy doing together. They take part in each step from the measuring, pouring and mixing to the decorating. One of their new favorite spots in the kitchen during our baking sessions is right in front of the oven. They love the see through door so they can watch our recipes bake. It's so cute to peek at them watching the oven. They pull up their small chairs and literally watch our cookies, cupcakes and muffins bake. Apparently, it's the best seat in the house. Maybe it has something to do with having first dibs on what comes out of the oven.

Cooking and baking with kids is fun but let's be honest, it can also get pretty messy. All those little hands "helping" always lead to spills of some sort. Spills or leaks in the oven are a nightmare. Especially when you live in South Florida and it's warm most of the year. I am not a fan of having to clean the oven. Luckily, the Maytag range has an innovative coating with AquaLift Self-Clean technology that activates with water and heat to release tough baked on soils. Wiping away food and debris is a cinch.

Thanks to our new spacey Maytag range we have been enjoying lots of yummy baked goods. Now if only I could find some easy dinner recipes to try as well. If you have any, please share. Now that I have this fancy range I feel like I should get adventurous and cook dinner more often (or at least attempt it a bit more frequently).

So what category do you fall into? Do you love to cook or find cooking to be a chore? Do you whip up fancy meals, like to bake or are you a take-out kind of person?

For more information be sure to check out Maytag on Facebook and Twitter.

Bern

Disclosure: I wrote this post participating in an Maytag Moms Dependable Kitchen Ambassador program by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Maytag. I was provided with a Maytag kitchen appliances set, including a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and range to facilitate my posts.