Category Archives: motherhood

Well Rested Mama

lavender essential oil

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LINKS:

Essante Lavender Essential Oil: http://tinyurl.com/lxgssqy

Essante Green Mandarin Essential Oil: http://tinyurl.com/m5bp7v7

Essante Sweet Dreams Essential Oil Blend: http://tinyurl.com/kab4vyv

Infononline 500ml Aroma Diffuser : http://tinyurl.com/l74orz7

**The FDA has not evaluated these statements. Products  are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Juggling Act

Juggling Act

Things have been NUTS around here lately…good nuts, but nuts nonetheless.
My kids have birthday parties to attend every weekend (We refer to October-November as the birthday gauntlet…9 months after Valentines Day…go figure ;-)); my at home business is BOOMING; I’m drowning in laundry, housekeeping, blogging, Christmas shopping, church, cooking (ok, so we’ve been microwaving…a lot); I’m struggling to make time for family; and looming over me are the tasks of maintaining professional certifications and working on new ones. Whew! I’ll admit, I’ve felt the need to spike my hot coco on more than one occasion.
They say that we must find balance in life, but how in the heck am I supposed to balance all that is required of me and what does balance really look like?

“The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,…The madness of this planet is largely a result of the human being’s difficulty in coming to viruous balance with himself. ”
Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

“My point is, life is about balance. The good and the bad. The highs and the lows. The pina and the colada.”
Ellen DeGeneres, Seriously… I’m Kidding

Well, here’s my two cents on the matter…
Balance in life (and especially in motherhood) should look like a juggling act.

Juggling is a physical skill involving the manipulation of objects for recreation, entertainment or sport [or survival in our case]…Juggling can be the manipulation of one object or many objects at the same time, using one or many hands…-Wikipedia

This mom seems to have a great grasp on the concept 😉

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-ioJuBy58U

We must juggle family, relationships, obligations, and fun. At no point will we be able to devote equal attention across the board. Rather, at any given moment, one aspect will take priority while the others get shuffled around beneath our line of site (on autopilot). Sometimes, we may have 2 or 3 things balancing in mid air, but they won’t stay there and our only hope is that we don’t “drop the ball” and allow everything to come crashing down.

“What goes up must come down.” -Isaac Newton

These tips for performance jugglers can easily apply to “parenthood jugglers”:

  • Relax, and keep practicing.  Take time for yourself, read a book, meet with other moms, learn something new.
  • Take your time. Don’t throw the second ball until the first one peaks. Try not to take on too much at once. Limit kids activities so you still have time to connect as a family. 
  • Let the balls come to you. Don’t reach up to catch them. I LOVE this one! Sometimes we are so worried about the next thing on our to-do list that we lose site of the task at hand…guilty *hand raised*
  • Watch the point where the balls peak. This is the moment when the majority of your attention will be focused on a single task (it’s ok, I promise). This focus may last 5 minutes or a few days, but it’s worth it and will help you feel a sense of accomplishment. This is also where most mamas, including myself, feel the most off balance…and guilt.
  • Concentrate on keeping the throws close to you. Prioritize your family and keep them close.
  • Try starting with the other hand for a while. If you have a partner, ask them to take over a few tasks when you get overwhelmed.
  • Juggling is 70% mental and 30% physical. Plan, Strategize, Organize, Implement.
  • Pretend as if your hands don’t exist. Juggling becomes instinctive as you become skilled at the art form. Follow your instincts. Don’t over think and follow your heart.

Piece of cake, right 😉

So what happens when we lose our rhythm and must start over?

“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”
Marilyn Monroe

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
Albert Einstein

“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.”
Salvador Dalí

Simply stop, pick up the pieces, dust ourselves off, and start again. We all make mistakes. What’s important is that we recognize our short comings and learn from them. A child that watches a parent own up to their own flaws will learn to accept themselves and others.

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.” ― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

 “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” ― L.M. Montgomery

“Well, we all make mistakes, dear, so just put it behind you. We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us.”
L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

What tasks are you currently juggling?

 

 

 

 

“Scrapbooking” Simplified

journal, scrapbooking made simple, http://www.adaptivemom.com

Kids say the darnedest things…right?

My daughter comes up with the most creative words. To be honest, I think she’s come up with a few terms more appropriate than the original.

For example:

  • An appliance that is a stove top and oven is a “stoven”. Makes perfect sense to me!
  • Here’s another that many kids ingeniously use, “hanitizer”. Again, makes sense and I know exactly what they mean.
  • One of my favorites has to be the “cat pool”…you know, the big pool next to the “kiddie (kitty) pool”. Obviously!
  • Then there’s how she describes someone sneezing. Being the true southern mama that I am, I taught her from birth to say “Bless you!” . Therefore, when a person sneezes she says they “bless you’d”.
  • Finally, there’s the “pajacket”, a button up long sleeve pajama top, of course! Genius!

What are some crazy cute things your kids have come up with?

As my daughter….and eventually my son…come up with these brilliant gems, I like to make a note of them (usually in my phone) and later transpose them into a journal that I’m building for each child.

journal, scrapbooking made simple, http://www.adaptivemom.comThese journals are somewhat random and not neat or pretty, but neither is life with kids. I used to put off adding to them until I was feeling creative or had a quiet moment. Guess what? The journal’s stayed empty and I’m STILL catching up.

My “inner Monica” tries to persuade me to do all the fancy scrapbooking stuff and start a new book each year, but as a solely left handed hemi and busy mom…I get easily frustrated with that sort of thing. I am NOT the super mom that digs cutting, pasting, cricketing, or whatever…if you are, I salute you!

My kids won’t care about all that fancy stuff as young adults anyway (at least that’s what I tell myself). They’ll just be thankful for the memories, right? So don’t sweat it if you can’t find time to make an elaborate page for every life event. SOMETHING is better that a stack of “I’ll get to its”.journal, scrapbooking made simple, http://www.adaptivemom.com

I randomly add things like birthday party themes, their friends names, notes about special gifts, cards, cute pictures, and memorable events. As long as you date every entry, the randomness will work itself out. It’s like I’m creating a set of “Clift notes” about their childhood.

For example: Last year, after Lil Imp’s third birthday, I started asking my her a set list of questions like “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, “Who’s your hero?”, and “What’s your favorite toy?”. I plan to ask the same questions, record their answers, and add additional questions for each child until their 18th birthday.

journal, scrapbooking made simple, memories, http://www.adaptivemom.comTips for sticking with it:

  • Keep the journals handy, not put up safe in a closet. I keep mine on a dresser in the playroom so I can write as we play.
  • Keep a list in your phone. There’s an app for that…I just use a notes app. I type in a key word or phrase as life happens, then add it to the journal when we I get a chance.
  • Make it a team effort. Ask your kids what THEY would want to say to their grown-up self…then try to write through yours tears of laughter.
  • Finally, don’t sweat the mistakes. Our kids will know good and well that we are not perfect by the time they are young adults. A scribble, coffee stain, or misspelled word will only add character!

Well, these guys are a riot this week so I better go jot some things down!

What sorts of things do you hang onto and add to as keepsakes for your kids?

Embracing My Inner Monica

Ever have one of those days (weeks, months) where you can’t seem to catch up with where you’re supposed to be…chasing your own tail of sorts.

On days like those, parenting can be even harder. Let’s face it…what’s the REAL reason you are so far behind? YOU weren’t the one who needed an hour to eat half of a bowl of oatmeal. It’s not YOUR fault that the baby chose to blow out his diaper just as you’re headed out the door. The endless laundry isn’t even yours since you’ve been wearing the same peanut butter crusted shirt since Tuesday!

It seems that no matter how early or late we get started, the result is always the same…I am behind. I’m behind with laundry, I’m behind with cleaning, I haven’t caught up with friends in weeks, I can’t remember the last time I exercised, we’re always late getting places, I’m behind on planning for birthday’s and holidays…and “Thank You” notes have become a thing of the past.

So what’s the solution? No, really, I’m asking you…because I have no idea! What am I going to do when they start school? I swear all three of us will end up in detention for chronic tardiness.

I try to slow down so we can all enjoy the simple stuff and to be honest we just don’t plan many activities because I simply can’t handle the pressure.

I find myself saying “Hurry up, we’re going to miss ______!” (and kick myself for it every time). We ALL know that the phrase “Hurry up!” only makes children move slower…and what’s the point. We’ll still get to wherever it is we need to go and complete whatever task needs to be completed…eventually.

So why can’t I make myself stop stressing about getting things done and getting out the door?

Then there’s my drive to be Supermom…I know, I posted on this before…we’re all Supermom‘s in our own way, and I still believe that to be true…but I can’t help wanting to be the BEST at ALL of it!

I want to make and bake every cute and healthy thing I pin on Pintrest. I want my kids to actually eat the healthy stuff I make. I want to do educational activities with them everyday. I want to cuddle, snuggle, and giggle during every rainstorm. I want to be the BEST mom in the world…no, seriously…I want to win awards and trophies and stuff for my awesome efforts.

I wasn’t always this way. Something about having kids has brought out my inner “Monica”. I was more of a “Rachel” before kids. I was spoiled, messy, unorganized, and maybe a little self-centered. Now, I want things done a certain way and I want them done yesterday (Thankfully, I married a Chandler who continues to put up with me). Perhaps it’s because I’ve had to learn to adapt in entirely new ways as a differently-abled mom, but I suspect that I am not alone in my struggles and that many able-bodied mamas are experiencing a similar phenomenon.

For those of you who are not familiar with Friends (the greatest series to ever grace the TV screen) here’s how Wikipedia describes Monica:https://www.adaptivemom.net/embrassing-my-inner-monica/

“Neat Freak” Monica is comically obsessive about her apartment and loves cleaning (describing the dry cleaner as her Disneyland). This personality trait becomes exaggerated as the series progresses. Example of her maniac cleanliness are labeling cups, having sorted towels into eleven different categories (four mentioned being “everyday use”, “fancy”, “guest”, and “fancy guest”), and describing her new workplace as being “not just Health Department clean, but Monica clean.” She is also extremely territorial when it comes to cleaning, as shown when Chandler announced he’d hired a maid, and Monica snapped that she hoped he meant “mistress.”

Monica is highly competitive, allegedly throwing a plate in a fit of rage during a game of Pictionary. Also, during a game of Mad Libs, Monica dismissed Phoebe’s repetitive answers, claiming “rules help control the fun!”, causing everyone else to leave.

While I’m not that bad yet, I can certainly sympathize with a lot of the above.

Ever wonder why the series ended with Monica and Chandler adopting twins? Well the answer is simple, watching the character of Monica adapt to motherhood would not have been pretty. Seriously, after the first few weeks she would have been curled up in a corner chanting nonsense.

I wonder how I would have survived as a mom without my Monica tendencies. I know each new obsessive habit has evolved for a purpose. Without them, I may not ever make it out of the house in on piece, fully clothed, and mostly clean. I might not be able to accept the mama superpowers that I do indeed posses. You might possibly find ME curled up in a corner and chanting nonsense!

I have learned to embrace my inner Monica. Yes, I am what many might consider nuts from time to time, but I am also a functioning mother of 2. I am obsessive compulsive…about my kids…and I am an award winning mother in their eyes. What else matters?

If you were a TV character, who would you be? Has parenthood changed who you most identify with?

 

 

Toxic-free Automatic Shower Cleaner

 

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I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about my homemade automatic shower cleaner recipe so here it is…

What you’ll need: Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower system with empty cartridge bottles (I recommend 3), vinegar, baking soda, toxic free soap, and cling wrap.

Method: Remove the cap from the cartridge bottle (this part can be tricky) and empty and rinse if needed. My husband was able to remove the caps and shave down the “teeth” with various tools in the garage…no idea what. Another method is to dip the capped bottle in boiling water for a few seconds to soften the plastic then carefully twist it off with an oven mitt.
First, add the baking soda, then fill the bottle half way with water. Slowly add vinegar to fill the bottle the rest of the way and finish by adding the soap…a little goes a long way. I place a small piece of cling wrap over the opening before replacing the cap to prevent leaking while reinserting cartridge in sprayer. Don’t worry, the sprayer will pierce the cling wrap when inserted.

Spray after each shower while walls are still wet. It’s just that simple!

Of course, the same solution works great in a spray bottle if you want to manually spray your shower after each use, but who has time for that…right? 😉

I’ve been using this recipe for about 6 months and our shower is cleaner than ever. Granted, I started with a clean shower, but we have very hard water and still my glass shower door is spotless.

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Thank You For Sleepless Nights

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The other night my son fell asleep while nursing in my lap at his normal time. I followed suit a few hours later, about 11:00pm, with the help of my hubby who gently attempted to transfer my lil Bulldog from my lap, to his chest, and finally to his sidecar crib. Only this night was different. Lil Bulldog was restless and stirred at every attempt at “hug and roll” (sorry for the Friends reference).

By the time I brushed my teeth and crawled into bed, he was all but awake. I nursed, sang, nursed, patted, and nursed while he fussed, climbed, and bit me!

Eventually, my husband gave it a go. He bounced, walked, and rocked for an hour, but to no avail.
I felt my temper rising as he, exhausted, climbed back into bed and passed Lil Bulldog back to me. I again nursed, patted, and sang through gritted teeth while he climbed over my head sticking his toe in my ear and pulling my hair.

Around 1 am, I snapped. I got out of bed and locked myself in the bathroom, telling myself “He’s only one. He wants to play. He doesn’t mean to enrage every cell in my sleep deprived body.” I counted to 10 and resolved to just give up on sleeping and let him play.

I abandoned my bathroom safe-haven and took my lil Bulldog to the living room to “play it out”.

As we played in the peaceful moonlit room, I realized that this was the 1st time I could remember playing one on one with my son (a heartbreaking moment that provided me with resolve and energy to survive the next few hours). There are so many distractions during the daylight hours…cooking, cleaning, breastfeeding, phone calls, email, breastfeeding, dance class, tea parties, tv, breastfeeding, blogging, jealous sister tantrums, errands, appointments, Facebook, breastfeeding, laundry, Candy Crush Saga…breastfeeding.

Sure, we get a lot of quality time together nursing, but there is a difference between snuggle giggles and “look what it can do!” giggles.

In the moonlight, my son had 100% of my attention. We played ball, trucks, swords, race around the sofa, and roaring tigers. Was I tired? Yes, but I am grateful for our playtime and for my realization.

As I finally nursed him to sleep around 3 am, I kissed his sweet little forehead and promised to remember and cherish our night of play.

A piece of that night still sticks with me and whispers in my ear to steal those rare moments with both of my kids. It’s not easy. I’m exhausted, but very few mama deaths are attributed to lack of sleep (admissions to the looney bin are a different story). I try to remember that these moments are fleeting and someday my sleepless nights will be due to giggling sleepovers and waiting for my kids to sneak in after curfew. I want to soak up as much moonlight as I can while they are still small…and that gives me the will to push through my haze…that and coffee, lots of coffee!

So thank you my sweet lil Bulldog for the sleepless nights and for reminding me how precious our time really is. I love you.

How do you keep yourself going when motherhood burns your candle at both ends?

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Undercover Clutter

Undercover Clutter

Like many mamas, I too struggle with clutter. There are days when the kids toys and laundry seem to take over our entire house. What to do? I can’t just surrender…can I?

So do you want to know my secrets for managing the clutter? Are you ready?

Pop-Up Hampers and Bean Bags! Sounds crazy, right?

I’ll start with the pop-up hampers. These little gems are SO versatile! They fold flat for easy storage and have endless uses around the house.


When the soft toys begin to take over beyond what the hamper can hold…I simply use an empty/unstuffed beanbag (Amazon or Bed, Bath, and Beyond) and rotate the stuffed animals between the “bean” bag and the pop-up hamper.

Now if I could just find a solution for all of my husbands instruments, electronic gadgets, and photography gear!

How do you manage the clutter?

 

**Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I purchased these items for my own personal use. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. I only review products that I’ve found to be adaptable through personal experience or that I have researched and tried for the purpose of adaptive review.

Amazon links are affiliate links.

www.AdaptiveMom.net

My Housekeeping Secrets

AdaptiveMom.net

Hijacked Housekeeping

 

I am a total sucker for the latest and greatest cleaning gadgets. I’ve wasted a lot of money trying each trend and learned 3 things: 1) most of the “As Seen on TV” gadgets are CRAP 2) You get what you pay for 3) and there is no such thing as a house that cleans itself.

That said, here is a short list of the items I count on to keep my sanity, er…um, I mean my house clean.

Dyson DC35 Digital Slim

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The Dyson DC35 Digital Slim vacuum cleaner is cordless and weighs in at only 10 lbs. This little vacuum is powerful enough to rid my living room carpet of pet hair and crumbs, yet lightweight enough for my 3 year old to use…although she doesn’t yet vacuum quite up to my standards. It’s suitable for every floor surface: carpet, vinyl, tile and wood and includes a motorized floor tool with two types of brushes. There are regular and max power settings that provide variations in suction. I generally save the max power setting for carpets and when I need to use the hand tools to retrieve crumbs from between the sofa cushions as it drains the battery much faster.

From an adaptive standpoint, this lightweight cordless godsend allows me to vacuum my entire house without fatigue or tripping over cords. However, there is no on/off switch and requires manual activation of a power trigger while in use, but like I mentioned above…my 3 year old can use it. Another caution is battery life. Yes, I vacuum my entire house with this tool, but not all at once. I can generally complete 2-3 rooms per charge.

I do still use my regular cumbersome vacuum for deep cleaning, but for weekly routine chores, this little vac works wonders!

Refillable Spray Mop

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Using a traditional mop one-handed is a challenge at best. Between the heavy buckets and squeezing the excess water out while holding the mop with my chin…I need a more functional solution.

I use the Libman refillable spray mop in lieu of the Swiffer spray mop simply because it allows me to use my own *chemical free solution and a reusable pad. I did try to refill and continue to use my Swiffer for a bit, but found that the solution container leaked once the original seal was broken.

Steam Mop

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I currently own and use the Shark steam mop, I use it to deep clean my sealed hard floors. It’s lightweight and fast, heats up in 30 seconds, and automatically releases steam with every push-forward motion. However, since the steam is only released on the push forward and requires 15 seconds in 1 spot to truly sanitize, this is a mop NOT a sanitizer in my book. Still, it’s a great weapon against ground-in dirt, dust, and dried spills, and leaves the floor virtually dry.

I’ve started researching and saving for the HAAN Total HD-60 Steam Sweeper. This cool gadget steams AND sweeps simultaneously or separately, includes a carpet sanitizing attachment similar to the Shark, swivels, and is ready to steam in 20 seconds (I’ll keep you posted and review it when I get it).

Swiffer Extender

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The Swiffer Dusters with Extendable Handle extends up to three feet to reach dust in high and low places. This gadget saves my back in a couple of ways: 1) no bending or squatting to reach low shelves or baseboards 2) no climbing on stools or furniture to reach high places…hence no falling and busting my arse.

Automatic Shower Cleaning System

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I clean my shower daily with simply the touch of a button and walk away—the dual sprayer spins 360 degrees to spray cleaner on all four walls and tub/floor. I simply refill the bottles with my own *chemical free cleaning solution and my shower stays fresh. My solution even keeps my glass shower door spotless!

That’s about it. I attempt to keep a rotating cleaning schedule, but seem to be failing miserably in that area at the moment. In a perfect world (where my kids helped and made no messes) this is roughly the schedule I’d keep:

Monday: Catch up on messes left during weekend fun, Swing chore (dust baseboards, shampoo carpet, etc)
Tuesday: Dust, Clean glass doors and mirrors
Wednesday: Change and wash sheets and towels
Thursday: Vacuum bedrooms
Friday: Clean and mop kitchen and bathrooms
Saturday: Outside chores, Wash the dog
Sunday: Have fun
Everyday: complete 1 load of laundry; keep up with dishes, crumbs, and pet hair; tidy toys; vacuum traffic areas

 

What are YOUR housekeeping secrets?

 

*Chemical free cleaning solution: 50/50 water and white vinegar with 1tsp of dish soap. For wood floors, I occasionally add 10-20 drops of lemon essential oil. For the shower sprayer, I also add about a tablespoon of baking soda.

**Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I purchased these items for my own personal use. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. I only review products that I’ve found to be adaptable through personal experience or that I have researched and tried for the purpose of adaptive review.

Amazon links are affiliate links.

My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to do a bit of “show and tell”.  I’ll be sharing some of my favorite gadgets that make my adaptive life and motherhood a little easier. I’ll also provide you with links to do a little shopping for yourself. Who doesn’t love shopping, right?

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Let’s begin in the kitchen…Like most of you, I tend to go on autopilot in the kitchen juggling food prep, food fights, and “I don’t like this”. Any device to make this, sometimes painful, process a bit simpler is a godsend.

Swedish Cutting Board:

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Sweedish Cutting Board…oh, how I love thee! Let me count the ways…I love your stainless steel spikes that hold fruits and veggies for cutting or slicing. I love your vise that holds larger food items, jars, and mixing bowls. I love your rubber suction feet that adhere the board securely in place.

Rocker Knife:

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This knife cuts by rocking it back and forth on food, so no need to also hold the food still with a fork. Handle is designed for easy use by individuals with a weak grasp. The safety edge, stainless steel blade maybe sharpened with a knife sharpener and it is dishwasher safe.

Pampered Chef Salad Choppers:

Pampered Chef Salad Choppers

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these choppers! The stainless blades are titanium-coated for unmatched sharpness. They have hollowed recesses to prevent ingredients from sticking to the blades and are spring-loaded with soft-grip handles to keep hands from tiring…also making them south-paw friendly! These are great for chopping vegetables, tomatoes, and even boneless chicken breast…and they’re dishwasher-safe.

EzSqueeze One-Handed Can Opener:

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The EzSqueeze One-Handed Can Opener offers an innovative, squeeze-to-open design that makes opening cans quick, safe and ever so easy – open a can with just a few squeezes. With a stainless steel cutting blade and a magnetic end that allows for easy and safe removal of lids, this opener is a keeper.
I tried electric can openers, but honestly this manual is easier due to it’s lightweight and no need to fiddle with batteries…and the whole thing can be tossed in the dishwasher!

Stationary Dish Scrubber:

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This double sided bristle brush attaches firmly to the bottom of your sink or counter top with suction cups. Stays firmly positioned as you slide glasses, plates, mugs, and silverware between the two sets of bristles. Cleans both sides at once as well as those hard to reach areas. Makes one handed dish washing a breeze.
Taller brushes are available, but I prefer the shorter brush because it is not so top heavy and stays put better. When it gets dirty…toss it in the dishwasher!

Silicone Bottom Bowls:

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This one’s pretty simple…bowls that move less while mixing. A silicone bottom bowl paired with the Swedish cutting board are a match made in baking heaven

Silicone Hot Pad:

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I use these when stirring in pots hot off the stove…you know, for essentials like making mac’n’cheese! These also come in handy to hold a plate still while spreading things like peanut butter on a sandwich.

Crock Pot:

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How is a crock pot adaptive? Well, chopping and dicing meat is especially troublesome one handed and even more so when you forget to pull it from the freezer ahead of time. My Crock Pot allows me to cook all sorts of things without the prep work. Even meat is easily pulled with a fork after a day in the slow cooker.

I’m sure I’ve left something out, so I may write a part 2 before this series is over, but this is by far my top 8…I think…

What are your favorite kitchen gadgets?

*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I purchased these items for my own personal use. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.
I only review products that I’ve found to be adaptable through personal experience or that I have researched and tried for the purpose of adaptive review.
Amazon links are affiliate links.