Domestic Diva Musings, An Interview with Jill C.
Tell us a little more about yourself.
I’m a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) who’s just trying to get through each and every day with 4 dogs, 2 toddlers (ages 3 and 16 months), and a husband who spends more of his time at work than at home. In addition to myself, there’s only one other female resident of the house, our Doberman. When the economy went down the toilet, a lot of my friends either lost their jobs or realized that they were spending more on daycare than their paychecks were covering. Over time, I began fielding frantic phone calls from a few of them, basically asking me how the hell I did this without heavy medication, and the irony is that as a full-time parent I always wondered how they managed their lives between work and mommyhood. I decided to start up Domestic Diva Musings as a way to share the lessons I’d learned (and am still learning, thanks to plenty of epic failures and two boys who keep my ego in check) with a dose of the humorous reality that is my day to day existence. That and because I’m trying to get rich and famous, and I hear that marrying a Kardashian is no longer the way to go.
You have featured delicious recipes on your site. Which one is your favorite and why? Do you have any quick cooking tips for other moms? What is your go-to recipe when you don’t have much time to get a little dinner on the table?
I’d have to say Split Pea with Ham soup (featured under the October tab of Yum!). In terms of quick cooking tips, I can tell you that I always have frozen brown rice and frozen, cooked pasta in my freezer and use them weekly, although when it comes to most prepared foods I really try to steer clear due to the sodium content. I’d have to say that my favorite quick-dinner night is what we call “Brinner”, aka breakfast-for-dinner. It’s cheap, fast, and easy to clean up and my kids get totally excited about eating cheese, eggs, bacon and French toast at 6 pm. Add some fresh fruit and a glass of milk and it’s actually a lot healthier than most of the prepared meals you’ll find in the freezer section!
What are some places you recommend shopping at for the best deals and savings?
I’m definitely a deal shopper – I signed up for email blasts from Gap and Old Navy and buy a lot of the boy’s clothes online when they have 30% of deals. It’s just as inexpensive (if not cheaper) than bargain stores and the clothes actually last through a couple of kids. I also love sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Jasmere and MamaBargains. And I tell everyone I know with kids to sign up for the Amazon Mom program – between the free upgrade to Prime membership, free two-day shipping, and the additional discount you receive on their Subscribe and Save items it’s a no-brainer. Although, once my husband got a hold of the credit card statement last month, I feel that there’s quite possibly an Amazon intervention in my future.
What do you like to do to relax?
As moms, do we ever actually get to do that? I didn’t see it in my contract – was it in yours? I need a new agent. I guess vegging out in front of the T.V. with my husband, once the kids are in bed, is probably my go-to for down time. Reading is also something I love, but by 8:30 at night the act of moving my eyes from side to side in a quiet place only puts me to sleep these days.
Are there any other blogs or helpful websites you recommend to other moms?
Between managing my own life and trying to not entirely disappoint my readers with crappy posts, I honestly don’t read any other blogs, although I can tell you that Jenny Lawson’s site thebloggess.com is probably the funniest one I’ve ever come across. In the world of Mom Blogging, Jenny is a rock star. My other favorite of the moment is michaelpollan.com – he’s the author of “Food Rules” which in my opinion should be required reading for every human being on the planet. It’s a super quick read and will change the way you feed your family.
What are your top 5 tips for all moms?
1. Get out of the yoga pants, even if you’re home all day with the kids. There’s no faster way to lose your sense of femininity than wearing anything with an elastic waistband, plus it’s unbelievably easy to put on weight when your clothes stretch to fit.
2. Don’t be afraid to be entirely ridiculous, especially with your kids. Those are the moments that you’ll remember the most.
3. The saying “You can either have a clean house or happy kids” is a total lie. You can have both, but it’s just a matter of managing your time and getting into the habit of cleaning as you go. If you don’t just leave dishes in the sink or stuff lying around, there’s very little to actually clean up.
4. You don’t have to spend money to meet other moms. I’ve done the whole Gymboree, Mommy-and-Me workout and crafting classes gig and never once connected on a long term basis with a single other woman. I’ve actually met and become friends with many moms through chance meetings – out at dinner with the family, at the zoo, even in line at the grocery store. Go to the office supply store and buy some blank business card stock, then use your computer to make up cards with your first name and email address (which ensures more privacy than your phone number). Keep a few in your bag and whenever you seem to click with someone hand them one of your cards. Be brave – you’re not going to run into too many psychos who are toting around kids, at least not in broad daylight.
5. Find humor in the everyday stuff, otherwise it’s going to become insanely boring. And wear a tiara while cleaning toilets, dusting, and vacuuming your house – it really makes the job so much more fun!
Contact:
Site: http://www.domesticdivamusings.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Domestic-Diva-Musings/228778897159380
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