Blog Posts by Yahoo! Contributor Network

Create some me-time in your bathroom.

For many moms, one dream far surpasses all others: enjoying some guilt-free "mom time" in the bathroom. Taking a nice bubble bath without desperate cries for "Mama!" or tiny hands reaching under the door probably seems as likely for many moms as having a lottery check delivered personally to their homes by Brad Pitt. If you share the fantasy of "mom time" in the bathroom, consider these secrets that might possibly turn your dream into a reality.

Adjust your schedule. When my daughter was a newborn and I hadn't yet figured out her rhythm, I'd no sooner set foot into a long-awaited shower than her cries would echo through the house. Now that she's older and has a predictable sleep routine, showering before her wake-up time or during naps ensures me a nice, full-length, blissful shower and some primping time to boot.

Create a baby safe zone. For babies and younger toddlers, set up a baby safe zone that includes some well-loved or novel toys. My daughter thinks it's a hoot when I

Make a just a few tweaks to your mom makeup routine for great results!

If you're stuck in a beauty or makeup rut and are ready to try something new this season, add a few new products to your makeup bag. Any busy mom can enjoy a mini makeover just by adding a few new color palettes or basic makeup products to her routine. Whether you want to amplify the eyes, create a radiant glow, or achieve flawless skin, you'll need to employ a few simple makeup tricks and techniques for a fresh new look. Here are some things you can do to freshen up your standard "mom" beauty routine:

Create a Smoky Eye by Day

You don't have to wait for date night or a girl's night out to glam up your eyes. Use a lighter shade of shimmering grey, blue, or green to create a smoky eye for daytime. This can be a great match with virtually any outfit and will add a glamorous twist to your look. Keep things simple but add a sultry twist with a thicker liner that you can smudge slightly to create the smoky effect. Add a few sweeps of volumizing mascara and you'll be good to go.

Don't forget to clean your windows!

It's that time of the year when you can't ignore that to-do list any longer and decide to tackle your spring cleaning. Generally speaking, most moms don't relish the time spent doing it, in addition to the long list of other tasks at hand, not the least of which is spending much-needed quality time with the family.

Moms in the know are willing to share their favorite and best time-saving cleaning secrets. They'll maximize your cleaning power and minimize the time you spend on this tedious (but necessary) seasonal chore.

Tackling Bathroom Cleaning Naturally

Give your tub an extra thorough cleaning. Mom and math tutor Angelique Haas shares her tip for a wonderful do-it-yourself household cleaner that has a number of uses, but really makes the bathroom shine. "I started using these because I have pets and these will not harm them," says Haas. Mix 1/2 cup organic white distilled vinegar or lemon juice with 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon of water. "It's great for bathroom

Does your family's snooze-button habit have you down? No one ever plans on chaotic mornings, sleeping late, rushing the kids out the door, or missing breakfast, yet for many moms, this is a daily reality. If your family's morning routine leaves you stressed and ready for a change, consider these five tips for re-gaining control of your mornings and stopping your family's snooze-button habit:

1. Move alarms - Hitting the snooze button two, three or four times every morning is easy to do when your alarm is next to your bed. To ensure your family gets moving at first ring, move all alarms far away from the beds. Place clocks or phones on the opposite side of each bedroom, requiring every family member to get up out of bed to turn their alarms off. If needed, set alarms in the hallway or somewhere else out of easy reach.

2. Reward getting up on time - Encourage your kids to rise and shine on time by offering an incentive or reward that works for your family, at least until good habits are

As a former teacher, and the parent of three kids, I've had lots of experience cleaning up messy spills. It's not always as easy as it looks, and, done incorrectly, it's possible to turn a spill into an even bigger mess by using the wrong tools or technique.

Never fear. With a little bit of know-how, clean up's a snap. Here's how to handle some of the most common kid-related spills.

Milk and Ice Cream: If you don't clean dairy spills right away, you may end up smelling sour milk in your car or living room for days (and anyone with kids can tell you how much fun that isn't). Keep a supply of clean, disposable rags or paper towels handy, just in case.

Soak up any liquid by blotting gently and, by all means, do not rub it into your upholstery or rugs. Don't pour water on the spill, even if you're tempted, or you'll end up with a bigger mess and water stains. Avoid the use of hot water or a steam cleaner; instead, use a wet-vac to get up the remainder of the spill, and allow it

Mom can help with brushing teeth.

"Brush your teeth. Brush your hair. We only have 20 minutes to get out of here. Did you remember to go potty? Go potty! We've got to go in 15 minutes. Please, hurry up! You have to brush the back of your hair, too. Hurry up! We have to leave the house in 10 minutes! Five minutes! HURRY!"

I can't even begin to count the number of times I have called out that exact set of instructions in an ever more frantic voice as I tried to get my three kids all dressed, brushed and out the door on time. My friends tease me when I am late, which is too often. But I've been getting better, and today my family was 10 minutes early for our homeschool group activity. My friends were impressed. Here are some tips to help you get your kids in and out of the bathroom in 15 minutes or less so you can be on time, too.

Wake up early

A sleepy kid is a slow kid. Mine have actually fallen asleep on the toilet while I was trying to prod them along. If you have someplace to be, get your kids up at least

Ask your kids these questions at dinnertime!Experts tout the value of the family dinner. What's more important than what you're serving? Some suggest that it's what you're doing with that family time. When my husband, three daughters, and I sit down together to discuss the day, whether we're eating a bowl of chili, a rotisserie chicken, or a pizza from the local carry-out, these questions help our family stay connected.

How was recess?

My daughters love to talk about recess. I used to ask about their favorite part of the day, but I eventually realized that they always wanted to answer with "recess!" So instead of asking them to skip over what was obviously one of the highlights of their day, I've learned to embrace it. If you have young kids, as what they played, who they played with, and what they hope they can do tomorrow during recess.

What would you do with a million dollars?

Don't stick to questions about today's math test or tonight's homework. Recent lottery jackpots had my husband, young children, and I all

Keep these essentials in your purse for a life on the go.It seems almost cruel; when you did not need much time to look gorgeous, you had all the time in the world; but now that you are knee-deep in raising little ones, beauty routines are pushed aside. Don't worry; you can look and feel beautiful quickly with the following tips.

Be simply "scentsational": A big part of looking nice involves feeling good, so employ simple aromatherapy techniques to your daily routines. Use lavender or chamomile essential oils to calm your frazzled nerves, or you can put pep in your step with a dab of sweet orange or peppermint.

Create bright eyes: Even if your late night partying days are over, you should carry eye drops. Soothe and refresh bloodshot eyes with a few drops. If you follow with a swipe of concealer to hide under eye circles, no one needs to know sleep eludes you these days.

Simplify: It goes without saying; you have less time to primp. For this reason, it is important that you pare down your makeup routine. Don't skip, just simplify. At one