Quick Fixes for Busy Moms

Are you a busy mom in need of some quick fixes? …. Hahahahaha. That’s a funny question, am I right? I mean, who ISN’T a busy mom? Whether you are a stay at home, work at home, or work away from home mom – we’re all being pulled in a million directions each day, and it can be hard to keep up. I know that I struggle to stay organized and on track with the chaos of a toddler and a home business – keeping stress at bay is a must, but it’s tough. Which is why the theme behind this whole site is “Smart Solutions for Busy Moms” – finding those clever ideas that help simplify our lives so we have time for the important stuff. I recently hosted a little get together with a few of my fave momma friends, to talk about quick fixes we use to keep life running smoothly. Check ’em out:

Quick manicure touch ups

Ok – this one was a surprise to me, but really works. I often skip doing my nails, since I don’t have time to keep up with them very well, and hate the look of chipped nails. But, little things like pretty nails can seriously boost your mood – especially if you’re like me, and have to look at them all day while you type on a keyboard, lol. So, a Quick Fix for Busy Moms is to grab Sharpie permanent markers in colors to match your polish. The markers honestly come in every color under the darn rainbow – {buy a set like this Sharpie 80’s Glam Set to have a big selection} – and you can use them to quickly touch up those tiny chips you get during the week, until you have time to redo them on the weekends. Genius!

Making MOM-tails

If you’re the type to entertain often, are a last minute party planner, or just have girlfriends that stop by unexpectedly on a regular basis, keeping a few basics for fun drinks on hand can be a lifesaver. Keep a couple of bottles of your favorite wine, some sparkling juices, and ingredients like seltzer or vanilla extract on hand to mix up fab drinks in a flash! We loved mixing up “MOM-tails” – and one that was new to me was a Peach Crisptini: Peach Juice mixed with vanilla extract, over ice. So good!

Entertaining in a snap

Speaking of entertaining…. I made these super yummy Chicken and Waffle appetizers for our party – you can make them in a flash with ingredients you probably already have on hand, they’re great for kids and adults, and are perfect for when you have friends stop by unexpectedly. I like to make sure I always have a few things in my freezer and pantry to make into fast party foods. Keep things like crackers, cans of olives, sun dried tomatoes, and mixed nuts in your cupboard. Stock cream cheese and other blocked cheese in the fridge. And things like frozen puff pastry, and ready to bake appetizers like stuffed mushrooms in your freezer. Then you’re ready for company on a moment’s notice!

Delish Snack or Dessert

One of the focuses of the party was to introduce my fave ladies to one of my new obsessions – DOLE Fruit Crisp cups. I’m a total dessert lover, which is a challenge for me since I’m trying to lose weight before we open the pool for summer. So I’m always looking for new desserts that aren’t too sinful. These fruit cups are only about 150 calories each – and filled with good stuff. I put them into pretty cups, heated them up in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then topped with the crunch oat topping included and a scoop of low-fat ice cream. Ohmyheck. They taste just like a warm cobbler or piece of pie. Seriously. Even the Mister – who is incredibly hard to please, and hardly ever likes packaged foods, came out twice to steal another cup of dessert! They don’t have the artificial kind of taste that many flavored fruit cups have, and would make a perfect snack to toss in your purse for busy days running errands too. L-O-V-E. For reals.

 DOLE Fruit Crisps – Learn More

Our little get together was partly sponsored by DOLE Fruit Crisps – I received a box of complimentary samples to try out, and get feedback from the lovely ladies in my life. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t love ’em, even the pickiest of kiddos. They come in three flavors – Apple Cinnamon, which tastes like apple pie – Peach, which is like a delicious peach cobbler whether you eat it hot or cold – and my favorite, apple pear, which just tastes like spring. They’re packed with good stuff – all natural fruit and a healthy oat topping. You’ll find them next to the other canned and packaged fruits at your fave grocery store for around $2 bucks for a pack of 2. Try ’em – you will NOT regret it :)

Follow DOLE on Facebook and Twitter for updates on new products and promotions. And check out #DOLEFruitCrisps for more info on these delish little cups.

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Dole. I received product samples to facilitate my party and review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.}