Ninja Mommy Hacks: Life with 2 Minions and lots of wine!

I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old---here are my thoughts:  WHICH IS BEST FOR: Quality:  Skywalk!    Trampolines are better quality, sturdier, etc. Little kids/tots:  Aerozone!  They have play areas just for littles!   Slides, their own foam pit, inflatable to play on. For 1 parent and 2 kids: Skywalk!     One large arena where you can pretty much see your kid from your seat.   For 2 parents, 2 kids:  Aerozone!   The place is huge with multiple rooms- so divide and conquer.  For older kids:  Skywalk!    Safety:  Skywalk-  more staff to monitor everyone jumping, they are also FUN!  They interact with my 6 year old (they throw him into the foam pit on command).   More options: Aerozone!  They have climbing structures, arcade games, dodgeball arena, and more.   (But the NEW Skywalk will be opening in 2017--- I may be revisiting this one)  Location: Skywalk-  One exit next to Riverpark-- need I say more.   Hello Home Goods... Overall:  Skywalk... although my 6 y

Money- Americans have made this such a taboo subject-  read Suze Orman's words... talk to your kids about money all the time.     We don't share our ideas, what works, what doesn't work enough!  Budgeting is major adulting, and it's FUN!  It's empowering, and by logging every dollar- you have more control to get out of debt, save, or buy fun stuff!   (Same goes for weight loss- just log your food intake-  #1 rule to dieting).  1) Baby Step #1 Dave Ramsey is KEY-  save $1000 FAST!    After you have your $1000 then stop using all credit cards you carry debt on.    Let's say you need brakes for the car, boom- you have the cash (no need for credit card).  Opps, you have tags due next month- boom- use the $1000 fund.  I call it the RESERVE fund.  It is stored in an saving acct that links to my checking acct.     Also- increase your car deductible to $1000-  boom- you have it in case an accident happens. (This also lowers your car insurance premium-saving you $$)

So 4 years ago I was doing MINT faithfully-  but feeling like something was missing.   Sure it was free... and that was the problem- I knew that sometimes FREE is not always best. So Dave Ramsey has EveryDollar, and there we YNAB, and another one... I looked online and read real people reviews.   I waited almost 1 more year before finally paying for another budget tool-   I decided on YNAB. After 30 days with it-- my first regret--- Why hadn't I switched a year before!!!     It is budgeting on CRACK!  It makes you account for EVERY penny- no joke. Mint was very REACTIVE-  YNAB allows you to be PROACTIVE with your money- you get paid and give every dollar a job (Dave Ramsey style)- you budget down to 0!     Once all money has a job (line category)- you then log your purchases.   It does import from banks, and the new improved import is QUICK to import!    True budgeting needs to be psychological, you need to feel the money leaving the budget- (sound like Dave Ramsey?)  So you

Ok parents- are you wanting to give your tot their first snow experience- and not take a long windy, vomit inducing drive? Then look no further- Grants Grove Visitor Center MEADOW- up the 180 out of Fresno California.      Yup, just across from the Visitor Center and behind the restaurant (who serves the BEST ONION RINGS ever), is this large, vast, meadow. A winter wonderland for tots (and parents). You can park right next to the meadow, bundle your tot up, grab the sled (yup, take a sled) and your camera. People have created small slopes to sled down, perfect for the little ones. My husband and my 2 year old got into a torpedo type sled (the basic ones you find at Walmart) and had a blast going up and down it. Nothing too dangerous about it...it was more of a slope than a "hill". When my tot got done trying to make snowballs we ventured into the Visitors Center to warm up (awesome place to check out) and then walked over to the restaurant and had lunch. I did write a review

Ninja Moms-  Want the BEST passport/airport stuff holder?    Hello Etsy:  Buy this... worth every penny --compartments for all passports (4), boarding passes, I hid cash in the big pocket, a pen, your ID/stow a credit card, and more!   Even my husband said "good buy!" As I travel thru the airport this thing does NOT leave my hand.  Luggage claim tags & boarding passes went in one fold.   Boarding passes for the 2nd flight + cash went in the zippered large pocket. I put my Drivers License in the card pocket + a credit card (just in case). It holds 4 passports + 2 pens. You can chose from tons on fabrics! Quality made-  has held up perfect on 4 trips-  and I am "hard" on it... really--it is my sidekick for all my travels. ETSY.com: search for KonaMana  (thats the shop) https://www.etsy.com/shop/KonaMana?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Once you get off the plane- get thru customs, get your baggage- then follow these EXACT instructions (Do NOT Deviate from this): Go thru the double doors- where you will see sharks-  these are the time-share/excursion sharks--- do not make eye-contact.  They will stalk you, they will try to talk to you and ACT like they are your ride- they will even LIE to you!   With purpose and intent---run/walk straight to the next set of double doors which leads you outside.   If you see the sky- you are in the right place to get your ride!   Outside are the massive amounts of transportations companies-  find yours...  and congrats, you just maneuvered the CANCUN airport! **Hack- you know those small white slips you need to get back thru customs... do NOT put them inside each passport.   I did this, thinking "keep each slip with the passports"-  then I had to get out my passport multiple times and found those white things falling out onto the floor (oh the horror).     Put them all

Are you considering Now Jade?  This is my overall Review...  We traveled 12/19-12/24/2016 with our 6 year old and 2 year old minions.    Now Jade Puerto Morelos.    The resort is off the Cancun main strip.  Isolated and amazing.   We never left the resort...  (because sorry but toddlers do not appreciate Mayan Ruins). Kids club- Yes yes yes.  One reason we will be back.  The staff fell in love with Aidan (6yo).  He wanted to know the list of activities every morning. Then told me "I want to do it all". Ok then!!  We dropped him off after breakfast and didn't see him again until 2pm.  He then went back for dinner.    They give you a pager so your kid can page you when they want to leave (that may be a downside to most Ninja moms like me).  They take them to the pool.  Playground. Make crafts. Movies. Video games.   It's a kids nirvana.    And you get rid of your kid for hours.  Win-win.  Downside:  kids have to be 3 years old... so we had to keep the li

If you have booked at Now Jade- here are my tidbits: (For my FULL review of the resort- go back to my blog: http://ninjamomhacks.blogspot.com/  ) Ninja mom hacks  Put your room key into small bag (Cosmetics bag)- it just needs to be waved in front of the door, no need to pull it out.  So just wave the entire bag in front of the door- easy way to always find your key! I kept dollar bills and the key in the bag.   Order creamer from room service night before - make coffee in the morning.   Room service averages 40 minutes.    Jetted tub. Plan accordingly and enjoy! Bring bath toys for kids.   My kids spent tons of time in the large jetted heaven.  No drawer space.  Only shelves in closet.  Finding a place for all our clothing was tough. I left kids clothing in suitcase near the bed.   Bring inflatables for pools! (think large whale for kids to play on) Fold out sofa bed SUCKS. It's bad.  I don't wish anyone to sleep there. Keep it as sofa for your kid. Ask for add

No, I do not have it all together, and yes parts of my house are super messy--just close the door.    But I have narrowed down these Ninja Mom hacks that help me stay sane... 1) Sundays are your best friend      No sorry, sitting around Sunday morning lounging is NOT on my agenda. I am up early and I am at the grocery store (like 7:30am Walmart- no one else is there!)   I grab my Starbucks, my Sunday paper, and into Walmart I go... happy because there are no lines and I am ALONE!    Once home I put on the football game and start making dinners/lunch!  The Crockpot is my Best Friend-  load up a meal in that, and another one on the stove.   I do not cook during the week... those meals on Sunday we reheat, dinner is DONE is my weekly motto!   I make sure all laundry is done and everyone has 5 outfits for the week (even me).    During nap time I watch some football, have a beer.. relax some.   By Sunday night I am ready for the week doing as much as I can to prep and make the week easi