So, I hear padsicles are legit...

Yeah, I totally just said padsicles. Like "pad" plus "popsicles."

Sounds pretty gross, right?

I promise, you'll get over it.

So what is the deal with padsicles?

Well, there are for after birth. Cause, you know, your lady bits are sore and raw and just not very happy.
I've never had a vaginal birth, but I can imagine those first few days are pretty..er......tender.

So, since I plan on having a vba3c, I thought I might as well be prepared for that swollen mess and whip up a few of these bad boys.

These are actually ridiculously simple to make.

First, grab a few maxi pads. I used six. I figure if I need to make more, I can, whereas if I make too much, then I'm stuck with random frozen pads in my freezer, and that's just kind of weird, amiright?

So, you need to take the maxi pads and open them up, but DO NOT remove the plastic backing. If there are wings, then open them up. The pads should look just like this...

Now, I looked all over for different recipes, and then I kind of came up with my own based on what I know of the ingredients and what I had on hand, so....

The next step is to add the good stuff.

I added one tablespoon each of aloe vera juice and witch hazel. I put the juice on first and made sure to spread it all over. I mean everywhere. Then the witch hazel got dumped right down the middle of the pad. Finally, I added 2-3 drops of lavender (geranium is also a great option, but I didn't have any on hand this evening).

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This is what the loaded up pad should look like...

So...pretty much the same, just a little shiny in the middle.

Now, just refold the wings up, and fold the pad back up and stick it in a freezer safe baggie with its buddies!

How super easy was that?!

To use: Remove on pad from fridge, and allow to thaw out for about 5 minutes (you don't want any freezer burn on your sensitive parts), and then use as you normally would.

The aloe vera juice and lavender oil are both super soothing and the witch hzel can help keep it all nice and clean...well....as clean as you can be those first few days postpartum!

What do my misfits think? Do you with you had some padsicles after your delivery?

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I give you...the CHORE JAR

First, let me sum up my day with just two little words..

Ugh, kids.

Come on now. We've all had that day. Where you just wanna clunk 'em over the head with a hammer so they'll sleep for three days straight, so you can sit, sip some whiskey, and reread you favorite books all day.

No?

Just me?

Ah, well. Anyways, Aedyn, feral little thing that she is, was staked to me today. What is staked? When I read, she reads, when I eat, she eats, if I gotta go #2, then sorry kid. Sometimes she gets in these out of control "modes" where it is the only way to keep her safe. Constant supervision. We are getting to that chore jar, I promise.

Despite this, she still managed to run ahead of me as we walked down the hallway and lock herself in my bedrooom. She locked herself in my bathroom a few weeks ago, which is where we kept the key to our doors, so we moved it to our safe in our closet, in case that happened again.

You know...the closet....in our bedroom....where she locked herself in today.

SO after 15 minutes to get the shed keys, go out to the shed, get my hubby's toolbox, get tiny little tool to pop open the door, and open said door, she had painted my bathroom with toothpaste, dunked each of my urinalysis strips in a cup of her own pee (that was also spilled all over) because she wanted to be "just like YOU, Mommy!" and also opened up all of my new Paparazzi jewelry I just bought from a friend yesterday.

Yeahhhhhhh.

I surprised myself by managing to keep my cool. That might be because I had just barely spoken with her dr and found out she may a new and interesting diagnosis for some of this behavior. Still pretty proud for keeping my cool.
So, I ask her why she locked my bedroom door. Just to see. Did she think it through? Was it pure impulse? What the heck happened?

Seriously, almost done. I promise there is a chore jar at the end!

So anyways, why did she lock my bedroom door.

"Becauuuuuuuuse I wanted to play in the bathroom and before when I locked the bathroom you told me not to lock it anymore."

Okay, well....at least we know she had some sort of thought process and she is retaining information, right? Right?!

Let me reiterate...

Ugh, kids.





As bad as this sounds, she has gotten a lot better than before because I've worked really hard to bring some more structure into our day. Fun structure. Like this chore jar!

See? I told you I'd get to it!


Look at it, it's beautiful and I am proud!

Yeah, sometimes I am not much of a Misfit. Sometimes I seem to blend right in with all of the other Pinterest moms. I am a woman of many talents.

Anywho...

This was super easy! Popsicle sticks, hot glue, and a mason jar. Oh, and a Sharpie.

Glue the sticks on the jar following the ROYGBV pattern. Mine overlapped a tad. Just cause. The glue on some yellows horizontally for the label.

Write on the label and then pick some chores to write down on some additional sticks. I made them all the same color so my kids couldn't pick the same colors each day to only get the "good" chores. They're sneaky like that.

Don't use so many chores that they'll get overwhelmed and not even want to try, but don't be too soft on them either. Kids need chores. Some smart dudes proved it (I swear).

Here is what my 4 and 6 year olds draw from each day. Three chores each.

I know my handwriting sucks. Shut up and stop snickering. Gosh.

So there ya go! Super easy! They love it because they get different chores each day, so its less boring. And honestly...dude, chore time is now also a game. Win for mom! A friend in Crunchy Christian Mamas - Uncensored recommended the jar, and you bet your cute little tookus I ran with it!

And I'm so glad I did!


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How do you like the chore jar? Are there any ways you'd improve upon it?