Some moms seem to have it all. They are always prepared, have everything they need at all times, organized, clean, and never stressed. I am not one of those moms. In this house, we pull clean dishes directly from the dishwasher to eat off from, cupboards are for hiding clutter, and we are one laundry load away from disaster of the "out of clean underwear" variety.

Mom's have the hardest job in the world. We have to raise these babies to grow into well rounded adults, all the while we have a home to clean, appointments to get to, we have to feed these children three times a day, and pay attention to our husbands, work, etc. It is a lot of pressure! So finding little tips and tricks that help us manage our time and stay organized and prepared is exactly what we need.

Let's face it, we live in the real world, not a Pinterest wonderland. Who has time or energy to organize every Lego? And whose kid is going to respect that beautiful but complex system of toy management? Not mine, that's for sure!

I need to know how to keep my youngest from tearing her diaper off at every moment of the day, and how to get her to actually sit and enjoy bath time. How to spend less time cooking and cleaning. How to keep this pig sty a little bit tidier. These are a few tips that have made mine and my friends' lives a little bit easier. Mom Hacks: Real World Edition.

15 Laundry Baskets

A mother can never have too many laundry baskets or plastic bins. It just isn't possible. I once bought a big round tote at the grocery store just so I didn't have to haul in a million bags. I gave the bin to the cashier first, then she and I filled it as much as possible. Yes, it was heavy as hell, but it was so worth it! After groceries were put away, my daughter climbed in and rolled around in it like it was a carnival ride. She played like that for a solid week. Best $3 I've ever spent!

I also like to use laundry baskets as toy bins, and as catch alls for the random clutter that makes its way to the living areas. They fill up before you know it! That's when I know it is time to yell at the kids to put their crap away so I can have my baskets back. They are thankful to not have to haul their stuff up to their rooms in multiple loads, and I'm just thankful they actually listened and followed through with my request.

14 Bathtime Hack

From the moment she could stand on her own, my daughter refused to sit in the tub. Nothing I tried worked. I'd usually end up giving her a quick scrub down in the kitchen sink and use the sprayer to rinse her hair as quickly and cleanly as possible, but it always ended up in a flood. I finally decided to give this little bathtime hack a try.

I took a plastic tote, one of those deep round ones, and filled it halfway with water, some bubble bath, and a few floating foam letters. She sat the whole time. She even laid back, relaxed and fully enjoyed the experience. It really worked! From there, she graduated to the regular laundry basket, and then to the bathtub on its own. Plus, if you're using a bin without holes, you can save water by only filling the bin and not the entire tub.

13 Organizing The Car

A laundry basket in the car can help you stay on top of your car and mom game! Lately, I like to keep a basket of our beach toys, life jackets and floaties in the trunk. I don't bother to take it out since we've been going to the beach so often this summer. But it is all in one place instead of just randomly rolling around and getting lost or destroyed in the trunk.

When my kiddos were little, I kept a basket with extra clothes, diapers, baby wipes (so many baby wipes!), a spare bottle or sippy cup, a box of snacks, plastic bags for emergencies, etc. This basket saved us quite a few times. Especially while traveling and potty training, a basket full of back ups is essential.

12 Set The Timer

My friend shared one of her tips with me. I thought it was pretty much genius and wondered why I haven't thought of doing it myself. She sets a timer on her phone to go off when her washer will finish. Especially for moms with laundry in the basement or on another floor, this would be so handy. We've all woken up in a cold sweat in the morning when we realize we forgot to switch the clothes over to dry, and our husband's favorite work pants and our kiddo's special green shirt are still sitting wet in the washer. Not only is there not enough time to dry them, but now the mildew smell has set in. And that does not like to go away. If the timer went off as a reminder, I bet that load would have been dried and my hubby wouldn't have to wear those size too small pants with the hole in the pocket to work today.

Think about the possibilities of using the timer to your advantage. I've used a timer for baking cookies and time outs. I should have used it on the grilled chicken I attempted to make three years ago, maybe they would have been a beautiful golden color instead of the black char I had to throw away. Oh well, I'm a work in progress.

11 Never Be Empty Handed

It is so easy for a home to get out control and it happens so fast. Simple tips and tricks to keeping a home tidy never turn out to be all that simple. I do not want to spend hours a day picking things up. I'd rather spend that time at the beach with the kiddos or watching Moana (again).  So that is why I think this hack is so helpful.

One of my friends suggested that whenever you go upstairs or to the bedroom area, never be empty handed. Always bring something to be put away. I'm taking this one step further and anytime I leave any room I'm bringing something with me and putting it back in its home. Usually, it is dirty dishes that are cluttering up the end tables in the living room, or laundry from the little fashion diva changing wherever she feels like it. Even two items at a time will begin to make a difference. Teach this one to the kids!

10 Post-It Notes

I always lie to myself and say, "Oh, I'll remember that" and then forget it five minutes later. And when it comes to organizing everything we have going on in our busy lives, putting it all in our phones isn't always going to cut it. I, personally, hate the calendar and planner apps on my phone. I much prefer classic pen and paper to organize appointments and important dates in my life. One mom and daycare provider told me she uses post-its to keep everything straight. Thousands of post-its. It is a great idea for a visual of what the upcoming week looks like, important reminders and phone numbers.

I also really liked to keep a planner when my daughter was a baby. She was a micro preemie which meant tons of appointments once she was home.  We had so much going on that if I didn't have that little book it just wouldn't have happened or stayed straight. I wrote little notes after each appointment and it was really handy to have that to look back on.

9 Bottle Warmers

I nursed my oldest son until he was 10 months old. He didn't sleep unless he was latched, and we didn't co-sleep. Which meant there were many nights I slept in the glider rocker in his room. I didn't have the option to nurse my daughter, so the world of bottle feeding was brand new to me. She was also on a strict feeding schedule; even if she was sleeping, I had to wake her for a bottle. I didn't know how I was going to balance this new schedule and catching at least a little bit of sleep. But then a friend showed up at my door with a gift that was straight from the sleep gods!

It was a bottle warmer that had a cooler on the back. I was able to make a couple bottles before I went to bed, bring them upstairs with me, keep the bottles cold until I was ready for them, and warm them up in a jiffy. Seriously, a godsent! I didn't have to go up and downstairs all night long! I also kept a diaper genie and hand sanitizer close by. My daughter slept in her crib that was about three feet away from my side of the bed. I'd bring her to bed with us, feed her, change her, and back to her crib, and right back to sleep for Mama.

8 Nudist Child?

The moment my daughter figured out how to take her diaper off she decided it was time to be a nudist. She was only a year and a half old and had no interest in potty training, but she would not keep dressed no matter what I did. Duct tape over the tabs of her diaper worked for a little bit. Then we put the diaper on backwards with the duct tape. That lasted three days. Finally, I decided to try the backwards jammies trick. It worked pretty darn well for a while. When she figured out how to de-diaper herself even through the sleeper,  I did backwards diaper and backwards jammies. It worked the best out of all the options we tried. There was a good year in which almost all she wore were these backwards sleepers.

If your kiddo is a nudist at heart and you're at your wit's end, give the backwards wardrobe a try. It really is a great option.

7 Water Fixes Everything!

When all else fails, throw them in some water. When you or your kiddo is having a hard day, if the tantrums won't end, if you just need a moment of peace, give your kiddo a bath or let them play in the sink. It is impossible to stay crabby when water is involved.

I don't know what it is about water. The distraction, the sound, the feeling - it totally helps kids get their wiggles out and calms them down at the same time. I let my little one run through puddles till her heart is content. She also has regular "water parties" where she gives her Barbies and ponies a bath in the bathroom sink. It is a blissful half hour of happiness. Maybe I should give her some dishes to wash and kill two birds with one stone. I just may be onto something there.

6 Baby Wipe Containers

Moms, how about them baby wipes, hey? My kids have been out of the diaper game for a while now, but I still buy baby wipes on the regular. You could even say I have a bit of a love affair with the wipes. No need to buy the expensive Clorox cleaning wipes, baby wipes are a fraction of the price and work wonderfully for cleaning the car or other random surfaces. And don't throw out the container once the wipes are all used up!

The plastic containers are easy to paint or decorate to your liking, and then the perfect storage device is at your mercy. Make-up, nail polish, excess plastic bags, Legos, Barbie doll clothes, Barbie dolls, ponies, hair ties or bows, craft supplies, games, medicine, first aid kits - the list could go on and on. The size is perfect for grab and go organization!

5 Lingerie Bags

They may be made to help us wash our delicate garments, but these mesh bags of awesomeness do so much more than keep our undies safe. They come in many different sizes. The larger ones are so handy for sandbox or outside toys, and teddy bear storage. Take one with you on your trip for storing your dirty laundry or help keep your kiddo's special goodies contained in one spot. The smaller bags are perfect for arts and craft supplies, crayons, or special puzzle storage.

I've used them for washing mega blocks and legos and it worked very well. Those toys get played with so much and are not washed as often as needed.  Throw them in the bag, tie it off, and wash with some bleach or Tide. This cheat made me feel like I had my life together and it brought my mommy-ing up a degree.

4 Pressure Cooker

Christmas Day 2016 my life was changed. I received a table top pressure cooker! No, it wasn't the famous Instant Pot brand, but I don't even care. This machine has changed my life! All of a sudden, I'm busting out delicious meals in 10-15 minutes! Roast beef is tender and falling apart in only an hour and a half! Seriously moms, you won't regret this purchase!

I do still enjoy my slow cooker. Smelling that deliciousness cook all day is such a comfort. If I'm being honest though, I don't have my shit together enough to get supper thrown in the crock at 8am so that we can eat at a decent time. The pressure cooker fixes that. It allows me to still be a gourmet chef in half the time. If you're struggling in the kitchen, you need to get yourself one of these lifesavers.

3 Cook Double & Batch Cooking

 

One thing that I love to do is cook a bit more than we need for our meal, then take the excess and freeze it. I use those frozen meals for days I am busy, don't feel well, or one of the kids is sick. Taco meat is a great one and so is roast or pasta sauce. If you are going to seriously cook, cook some serious amounts and freeze it! You will not regret it. I promise.

Always make extra pancakes and waffles. They freeze so well and are easy even for the kiddos to pop in the toaster or microwave. It is the perefect easy breakfast on school mornings. I don't do breakfast. So if my kids want something warm on the cold days, this is my go to. Keeping a well stocked freezer is seriously a life saver some days.

2 Snacks

There are days that my kids eat like little dainty birds. But most days, they mimic the Big Show and I wonder where all that food is going because there is no way their little tummies hold it all. And they keep asking for more. My four year old can out eat my husband some days!

There are also some days that I cannot get anything accomplished unless I throw snacks in their general direction and run away as fast as I can. Need to shower? Snacks! Need to finish writing your BabyGaga article? Snacks! Want a few minutes of peace on the car ride to the grocery store? Snacks! Need to shave your legs for the first time all summer? Snacks! See where I'm going with this?

You can take it one step further and leave your choice of snacks in a strategic place so that your little monsters find it right away in the morning. Make sure the TV is already on their favorite cartoons, and there is a cup of milk in the fridge for them to grab at their convenience.  They get breakfast and you get 20 more minutes of sleep. You're welcome.

1 WINDEX

The one and only brand new piece of furniture we bought was a microfiber sectional. We went with microfiber because all we heard was how awesome it was to clean, and it never stained. WRONG! Microfiber was created by the devil to trap housewives into hating their furniture, so they buy more furniture. I'm telling you, it is a conspiracy! Any drop of liquid stains. Sit down, there is a new stain. Kids and pets do not mix with this fabric.

I thought there was no hope. I pretended the stains blended in with each other and it was a strange camouflage that didn't look as filthy as it was. I was wrong. But then I met my friend Rachael, and she taught me one of her tricks. WINDEX! Windex has the perfect combination of cleaning agent and fast drying ammonia that cleans the filth out of microfiber, and it dries too fast to leave any water stains.

All you have to do is spray your surface liberally, scrub it with a brush till clean, and wipe it away. So easy. And it really works!!!