A Busy Mom in Iowa

New Hobby in the Making?

2012-01-29T23:31:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Pinterest, I have a new obsession...ok really I have a million new obsessions, things I want to try, learn to do, make....I could go on and on. I have pinned tons of things on this site, but I have only actually done a few of them. 1) The homemade laundry soap; 2) Cinnamon sticky roll things; and...ummmm...that was it. Until today! I have decided I want to learn how to decorate cupcakes. I love them! They are yummy and I love watching all of the cupcake and cake baking shows on TV. But since I'm trying to eat healthy I knew having those things in my house would just be setting myself up for failure. But then...I remembered that Caiden has a pack meeting tomorrow night, which means he has to take snacks. PERFECT! So I looked up the buttercream recipe on Pinterest, got out my mixer and got to work.

For this last minute project, I decided to use a cake mix for the cupcakes to save on time and money since I don't have all of the needed ingredients on hand. Looks pretty yummy if I do say so myself =)

Then I got out the decorating kit my lovely hubby picked up for me while he was out shopping...read the instructions, picked out the tip I wanted to try out, and loaded the bag. I wish I would have taken a picture of the mess I made by the time I was done! I'm such a messy baker anyway...this was worse than most days! If I decide to do this on a more regular basis, I'm gonna need a better mixer!

I didn't do anything too fancy, but it still took some practice to get some decent looking ones. I figured the boys in scouts won't really care what they look like, as long as they taste good (and they do...I always have to taste things before I serve them to others!!

I think they turned out ok. Not bad for a first time! Had lots of frosting left over, so after consulting google, I put it in the freezer. We'll see if it really tastes as good after being frozen.

New Design

2012-01-06T20:50:00.005-06:00

I decided it was time for a face lift for my blog. Even though I don't really post too much on here, it was getting old, boring and needed a new look for the new year. I've gotten rid of a few things on my side bars, I may get rid of more in the future. It depends on where this blog goes.

Hopefully I'll be better at blogging about my life as a busy mom of two this year. My first priority is going to be my other blog, Road to Hot Mommy, because this is going to be the year I actually go down this road and stay on it for the whole year, until I arrive at Hot Mommy! So feel free to check out what's going on there too :)

Homemade Laundry Soap

2012-01-04T21:12:00.000-06:00

I've found some awesome ideas on the Pinterest website, and have lots of stuff on my boards, but haven't actually done many of them. Until today! I decided as a money saver I was going to try making homemade laundry soap. I used this recipe (for lack of a better word) from Being Creative. I found all of the ingredients in the laundry isle at my local Wal-Mart and my total cost for everything was $15.57.

I can't wait to finish up with my current laundry soap so I can try this out.

Another tip I got from a good friend is to use vinegar in your fabric softener ball. It doesn't make your clothes smell, and works great, according to her. I don't know if you can put it in the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine though. Does anyone else do this?

Photographer in the Making?

2011-05-11T21:49:00.000-05:00

For Mother's Day, hubby took me to the local electronics store and let me pick out a new camera. I've been wanting one for a while, but finally took the plunge and bought a digital SLR camera. (I have no idea what that means, so don't ask!) Now that I have a fancy camera, I figured I better learn how to use it. So I found a link to Two Peas in a Bucket, which offers a FREE 12 week Photography class online, with reading materials and "homework" each week. Here is a link to the classes if you are interested.

So far I have learned about aperture and ISO and Shutter Speed. Adjusting the aperture adjusts the amount of the picture that is in focus.My pictures didn't turn out very well because I didn't have good lighting. But here are the pictures I took for homework:

Low Aperture = Small area of focus

Large Aperture = Large area of focus

Can you see the difference? The first picture the only thing in focus is little leaves. The picture on the right has the leaves in focus, as well as the branches all around the leaves.

But the more fun pictures are the ones I took today. Today the lesson was on shutter speed and ISO. ISO has to do with lighting...higher ISO for darker areas (think indoors) and lower ISO for brighter areas (sunny day outdoors). And then there is shutter speed...the higher the number, the faster the shutter closes. High numbers help freeze and capture action. So the homework was to take a picture of water from the kitchen sink falling onto something. Again because of bad lighting, my homework didn't turn out the best, but I ended up with a really cool picture anyway! I had my ISO set really high since I didn't have any natural light.

Low Shutter Speed

Fast Shutter Speed

I had to do some lightening in Photoshop for the high speed picture, but hopefully you can spot the difference.

But the true work of art came when I decided to use the flash to try to get more light.

Thoughts on Weight Loss

2011-05-09T17:30:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been paying a little more attention to any weight loss products I might hear about or see about on TV. I've never really been into the weight loss supplements (o.k. I did try Slim Fast before my wedding, but that's the extent of it for me) because I truly believe that it is too good to be true. There is no magic pill, formula, or anything else that is going to help you to lose weight. If it were that simple, everyone would be skinny, right?

So what made me stand up an pay attention? The success of a friend . She is taking a certain type of supplements and she has lost a good amount of weight and inches...and she looks great!! So I started looking into what she was taking, but a month supply of some of that stuff was going to cost over $100. And that made me think again...you can't take this stuff forever....what happens when you stop taking it? Isn't this why almost all diets fail, no matter what they are? You can't buy the supplements, special food or whatever else you are doing forever. What then? Not to mention the possible side effects of this stuff (remember the pill that was killing people??)

So, even though my friend looks awesome, I'm gonna pass and stick with the tried and true method. Healthy diet and regular exercise. This is not a diet to me, it is a lifestyle change. I have the exercise down pretty well, so it is now time to concentrate more on the food I am eating. So far, I have lost about 10 pounds, and even more exciting...I am down two pant sizes!!!

Reusable Bags - Part 2

2011-04-17T18:10:00.000-05:00

Not long ago, I blogged about how people give you all kinds of looks when you use reusable bags at the store. Today, my husband did the shopping and took the hated bags with him. I was actually surprised that he took them, but I was glad he wasn't going to be bringing the plastic bags home with him. I'm pretty sure he will never no that again. The check out person apparently thought that since he brought his own bags, he should fill them too. She make him bag his own groceries!!! Can you believe it??

Woo Hoo! My class is over!

2011-04-14T22:08:00.000-05:00

I'm done with school until June and then I get to go to school all throughout the summer. Aren't you excited for me? To top it off, the topics are so much fun, Micro and Macro economics. But every class is one step closer to my Bachelor's degree, right?

In the next 3 or 4 weeks before I have to start doing homework again, I'm hoping to get both of my boys' rooms painted and decorated. Caiden wants a brown and green room. Bennett is getting a monkey themed room, but I'm not sure what color to paint his room. But I have lots of cute vinyl wall art from Etsy.com to put on the walls.

I these two from got from Smileywalls

and this one I got from Is Handmade Creations

I can't wait to get their rooms done!!

L'Oreal Paris One Sweep Eye Shadow and Double Extend Eye Illuminator Mascara

2011-04-10T20:58:00.000-05:00

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am running down to the last second getting me and my two boys up and running in the morning. I tend to go in streaks on taking the time to put makeup on in the morning. So the time saving is what peaked my interest for the L'Oreal One Sweep Eye Shadow. I love how it puts three colors on your eyes in one sweep. There is a specially designed applicator that is shaped to fit the shape of your eye so it really is really as simple as one sweep!! No matter what color your eyes are, there is a One Sweep Eye Shadow meant just to enhance your eye color. I didn't really see much difference in Double Extend Eye Illuminator Mascara if I used the little sparkles or not, but otherwise the mascara did its job also! I'm no makeup expert, but I am going to recommend the One Sweep Eye Shadow to all of my friends!

*Please note, I am a BzzAgent and received these products for free in order to provide my feedback.

Do you use re-usable shopping bags?

2011-03-21T10:00:00.002-05:00

I have recently started using re-usable shopping bags when I do my grocery shopping. I don't use them because I'm a 'green' person, or to help the environment, but because I'm tired of all of the plastic bags around the house. I try not to throw them away, but recycle them when I go to Wal-Mart, so they would just sit around my house and pile up until hubby or I actually remembered to take them with us when we went shopping.

Even though I may not be doing it for the "right" reason, I should be proud for doing my part to keep these plastic bags out of the landfills. So why do I feel like cashiers and people behind me in line are both rolling their eyes at me for being one of those people? It may take a little extra time for the cashier to put the little bag in the bag holders, but so what?

But one negative thing I have discovered with using these re-usable bags? For some reason these cashiers think that the re-usable bags are unbreakable and can hold anything and everything until it is filled to the brim...no matter what the weight! The bag only costs a buck, how sturdy can they possibly be?

Busy is an Understatement

2011-03-20T15:09:00.000-05:00

Calling my life busy right now just doesn't cover it....

Started my next class last week. The homework due on Wednesday is INSANE! Plus we have a group project due on the 30th and we haven't even started and can't find a time where the whole group can meet. I'm just a little stressed. But the teacher promised us that she loads us up in the beginning so we aren't so busy in the end (it's only 5 weeks long...can't we just spread it out evenly?).

I'm also a new member of a women's sorority, and we had a meeting on Thursday night, so I wasn't home two nights in a row.

I couldn't tell you what I did yesterday, but it wasn't homework! I did get the living room cleaned and most of the laundry washed. Now I just have to fold it and put it away.

Today my sorority had a family outing at the local bowling alley. It was a great time, first time Caiden has even been bowling in a REAL bowling alley. Before that, he had only been Wii bowling! Bennett was a little tired and ended up going home early with Daddy for a nap while Caiden and I finished our games. Caiden didn't do too bad either (of course he had the help of the gutter bumpers). Wished I would have brought my camera so I could have recorded him throwing the ball. He sure has a style all his own!

And speaking of the camera, I need to get it out and get a video of Bennett walking. He's going to be a pro at it before I get his learning steps on camera. I think he is starting to figure out that walking is the way to go!

First Birthday

2011-03-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

My baby Bennett turned one year old last week! Apparently someone sent him a message on all things about turning one because within the last two weeks, he has gotten his first four teeth, ditched the bottle and started to stand and walk a few steps. I can't believe how fast this last year has gone!

We had a great birthday party for him last Sunday with lots of family, food and fun, although Bennett was a little shy around so many people for a while.

Our theme for the party was monkeys. I'm decorating his room in a monkey theme, so we carried that theme over to the invites and the cake. I decided to be a little different and have cupcakes for everyone instead of just regular cake. A bonus to this decision that I didn't think about....don't have to worry about who is going to cut the cake!

I've had Cakes by Lori make my boys' birthday cakes since Caiden's first birthday, but I have to say, she really out did herself this year. She made little monkey faces and bananas out of fondant for each cupcake. She also make a big cupcake cake and a little 1st birthday cake all for Bennett so he could dig in! If you live in the Cedar Rapids area and would like to check her out, you can go here...although the site is still a work in progress.

Bennett also got his first haircut last Sunday. He was in dire need, but we were holding out so his Aunt Jenn could do it because, she did Caiden's first haircut too. It was a little bit of a challenge because Bennett likes to watch everything and study it, so he was always moving his head to watch. But she did a great job, and now he doesn't have hair tickling his eyes!

Easily Clean your Microwave

2011-03-04T20:36:00.000-06:00

Maybe I'm the last one on earth to figure this out, but did you know there is a natural, non-chemical way to clean your microwave, and you don't even have to scrub it? Not one little bit!! I was home today doing a major cleaning job for my baby's first birthday party on Sunday, and the microwave was in dire need of a cleaning. I thought I had read about a natural way to clean your microwave, so I checked google (where else would check?).

This is what you do: Put 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup lemon juice into a glass microwavable measuring cup. Put it in the microwave and cook it on high for 7 minutes. When it is done, let it set without opening the door for another 5 minutes. Then grab your pot holder and remove the measuring cup. Next get a cloth and wipe our your microwave.

It's as simple as that!! I wonder if it would work on my oven.....

Such a great weekend!

2011-02-28T21:17:00.000-06:00

I did something over the weekend I don't get to do much...I went out!! You might think that isn't a big deal, but in my world, it's a HUGE deal!! A friend and I went to the local comedy club called Penguins to see Heywood Banks perform. If you have never heard of him and love silly humor...look him up if you like he's great!! The comedy club shares a space with a place called the piano lounge. A nice little surprise for us, we found out our ticket purchase for Mr. Banks meant we could stay for the Dueling Pianos of Andy Anderson and Mike Leeds. So my friend and I figured, why not, we'll stick around for a little while and see what it's all about.

Well, we stayed a little bit longer than we planned (erm...*cough* closed down the bar *cough*). With the help of a little 'liquid courage' we even got up and sang a little Grease for the crowd! In the end it was an intimate crowd and my friend and I made our presence known. We were even asked to come back the next night!!

We couldn't go back on Saturday...but I just saw they are going to be back in April. My calendar is marked!

Product Reviews

2011-02-22T22:28:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! I'm hoping to revive my product reviews soon. Just looking for the perfect products to share with everyone. One of the themes I want to stick with is things made in Iowa. So, if you are a person in Iowa that would like to grow you business and get the word out, leave me a comment or send me an email
:-)

Um, Hi...I'm the owner of this blog....

2011-02-12T20:28:00.000-06:00

And no, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Life is way more busy with 2 kids in the house, than one....especially when one of those kids is a baby who's current favorite activity is to get into absolutely everything! Not sure how often I'll post on here, I just don't feel like I have much interesting to say these days. I blame Facebook for some of this!

So, update on my life....

Bennett is now 11 months old. In a few short weeks, he will be 1. He's not walking on his own yet, but loves to walk with you holding his hands. He doesn't have any teeth yet, but neither did his big brother at this age. They are ready to pop any day...I can see both of his top front teeth just under the gums.

Caiden is half way through Kindergarten and is doing pretty well with the exception of last week. He got into a bit of trouble, one day not sitting still and the next day for bopping is friend in the eye over a Lego. I was very surprised when the teacher called to tell me what happened. I didn't know what to say. Hopefully it was a one time thing.

I have decided it is time to go back to school. I have one class under my belt, with a B+. I've decided to take it slow so I don't burn myself out, so my next class doesn't start until March 16th. As much work as it is, I'm glad I'm doing it. One day I might even graduate!

I'm better at keeping my other blog, A Road to Hot Mommy up to date right now because I'm training to run my first 5k. I'm also determined to lose all of this extra weight hanging around. I'm tired of being so overweight. I'm searching for some strength training programs to do in my off running days too. Supposed to help with the fat burn.

Oooooo, and I was one of 4 winners of a $2500 prize for donating to a local charity during one of their donation drives. So now I have the awful task of picking out $2500 worth of home entertainment equipment to be sent to me...for FREE!!!! Yes, so far 2011 has been a pretty good year :)

What?? Can you hear it?

2010-10-10T20:17:00.000-05:00

Do all men have hearing problems or just the one I live with? I have a rule in my house, the volume does not go above 20...what was the TV just on? 24. I feel like I'm constantly asking hubby to turn down the TV..and I swear he turns it back up when I'm not looking. (Seriously...he JUST did this as I was writing this...he turned the channel I told him it was too loud and looked and it was on 25!!!!)

I know that the commercials are louder than the TV shows, and this is always his excuse (but our Government is working on changing that...thank goodness!) But when the TV is so loud I have to turn up the volume on the baby monitor to make sure I don't miss my baby crying...that's too damn loud!!

And while we are on hearing problems and men...of course he also has selective hearing when it comes to me. I can talk to him and when I'm done, he won't respond. I say his name he gives me a blank stare and a... "what?"

Oh nothing dear, I was just having a conversation with...myself!

Candy Bar advice

2010-09-27T19:27:00.024-05:00

I went to my Sister-in-Law's baby shower yesterday and we played a game I had never heard of. We got a piece of paper that had a list of candy bars and gum names. Using that list we were asked to write our words of advice, using as many names of candy bars or gum that we could. I thought it would be impossible, but after I got a start...I had a great time coming up with more. All of the stories and advice was great, but since I didn't write them all down, you only get to hear mine...so here it goes....

Being a mommy is not always glamorous. When you clean Goobers, Big Hunks, or Chunky Whoppers of dirty diapers. Get Good and Plenty of sleep when you can to prepare for Marathon sleepless nights. It doesn't matter if your girl is a Nerd or Smartie, just give her Mounds of Hugs and Kisses. Don't be a Dum Dum when you Skor with your Sugar Daddy, and be careful, or you might make another Baby Ruth or Junior Mint.

It was such a fun game, and with candy names like Skor, Hot Tamales and Mounds, I'm pretty sure you could come up with a story or advice for a bride to be as well!

What They DON'T Tell You About Motherhood...

2010-09-26T19:22:00.000-05:00

I am a "Boobie Chaser", er uh...that is I follow the blog Boobies, Babies & a Blog, and I absolutely love this post, so I thought I would share it with my readers :)

What They DON'T Tell You About Motherhood...

Hope you enjoyed as much as I did!

Winnter - Take 2

2010-09-26T09:58:00.000-05:00

I did not get a reply from my first winner, so I have drawn a new winning number, which is

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6

Timestamp: 2010-09-26 14:55:02 UTC

And comment number 6 is:

Stephanie said...
http://twitter.com/sgrant2005/status/22724110387

September 1, 2010 11:59 AM

Congrats Stephanie!! I will be in touch with you shortly :)

JumpStart Get Moving Winner

2010-09-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

And the winner of the free JumpStart Get Moving Wii game is...comment #41

twifanheather said... 41 Following your blog!

Congrats!! I will be sending you an email shortly.

If the winner does not claim the prize within 48 hours after I have sent an email, I will pick another winner.

Thanks for entering everyone!

Why?

2010-09-08T21:13:00.000-05:00

Can someone explain to me why women's sized clothing has to be bright bold pattern s or look like it belongs on a 75 year old woman?

Can someone explain to me why you are not able to find hardly any petite length pants or even shirts in women's sizes? Are there no fat, short people out there in the world other than me? Some of us don't enjoying having to hem up every pair of pants we own.

I wish I was talented and could be a clothing designer...maybe I could make all my own clothes instead of just having to alter everyone else's.

Rant over...for now....

Cupcake in a jar

2010-09-06T17:57:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh people, check this out it looks so yummy. I might actually attempt to make this for teachers/day care providers this winter. It is a cupcake in a jar. Thank you cakies for this wonderful idea!!

Homemade Baby Food

2010-09-06T17:22:00.000-05:00

Yummy, squash!!

With baby number two, I decided to attempt to make my own baby food. I read all over online and everyone made it sound super simple. My first attempt was green beans. They turned out kinda watery and a little too chunky. I might save them and use them when baby is a little more of a skilled eater.

My second attempt was with butternut squash. This time I do believe I can declare it a total success.

The process really is simple. If I can do it, anyone can. Of course, I did buy a recipe book of sorts...I needed to have the directions in black and white right in front of my face while I was making the food. The book that I used is called The Basic Baby Food Cookbook, which I found on Amazon. It is the absolute basic on how to steam, process and freeze your baby food. Also, it is sorted by the age that your baby should eat certain foods, and lists the different minerals and vitamins your baby is getting when eating each food.

So, how do you do it? Here's the abbreviated version.

Steam your fruit or veggie until well done....way more soft that you or I would prefer. Do not add any seasonings to the food. You can use either fresh or frozen foods. Don't get rid of the water in the pan from steaming the food, it has some of the food's nutrients in it and you will add it to your food when you process it.

Next, let the food cool. When it has cooled, remove skin if needed and then put in your food processor or blender. Add about 2 ozs of the reserved water to begin with and start processing. You may need to add more water, just make sure to do it slowly. I found out the hard way that adding too much water is not very cool.

If you have a baby new to eating baby food, you may want to strain the food before you freeze it. To freeze, just put the processed food into ice cube trays, tap them on the counter to get any air bubbles out and put in the freezer. Once they are frozen, you can put them into a freezer bag, and label them with the food and date you made it. It is good for 3 months!

To serve, put a cube or two into a small bowl, cover it and put it in the fridge overnight. It should be ready for you the next day.

Looking to Promote your Giveaways?

2010-09-02T20:06:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for some new places to post your giveaways to get the word out about them? Go check out Giveaway Scout. All you need to do is post a quick blurb about their site (like I'm doing now) and then fill in the information they need. They will then scan your new postings and post all of your giveaways! Sound too good to pass it up? Head over there now and check it out!

Jump Start Get Moving Family Fitness Review and Giveaway

2010-08-30T12:43:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows my family knows that my son loves video games. He would play them every waking hour of every day if we let him. As a just barley 5 year old, it is hard to find games for the Wii that he can play. One that he always wants to play is Wii Fit, but if we let him play it, he quickly gets frustrated because he is too light and the game does not always recognize his actions on the balance board, and many of the other activities are far too advanced for him. So, imagine my excitement when I found out that JumpStart was going to be coming out with a Wii Fit for Kids, so to speak. It is called Get Moving Family Fitness and it was designed with the help of fitness expert, Brook Burke.

What better way to make sure your kid is getting exercise while playing video games? This will be especially beneficial during the upcoming, long and cold Iowa winter!

There are many activities that kids can choose from, including games like Volleyball, Basketball and even things like Dodge ball and Pinball. And of course, since this a JumpStart game, your child will be able to design their person, or the "Jumpee", choosing hair, eyes, clothing and more!

The only issue we have ran into is that sometimes Caiden had a hard time getting his Jumpee on the game recognize his movements, but I have a feeling he just may not be doing the movements exact enough. It might also help if we had the Wii Motion Plus.

All in all, I think this is an excellent game for your children to keep them moving, especially when they aren't able to get outside! Get Moving can be found in stores for the low price of $29.99, which is a great price for a brand spankin' new Wii game! And if that isn't a good enough deal for you, how would you like to win one for free? Yep, FREE!!!

All you need to do is head over to JumpStart's website and then come back and tell me one fact about Get Moving that I did not mention in my review. You must do this step to be entered into the contest.

For additional entries you can:

1. Add my button to your side bar and leave me a link to your blog in your comment;

2. Follow me on blogger or twitter;

3. Subscribe to my blog;

4. Send an email to at least 5 of your non-blogging friends to tell them about the giveaway, and copy me;

6. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link to your tweet in the comment (you can do this once a day); and

7. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your post

*Please leave a separate comment for each of the items you do

This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers. If your blog profile is private, or you’re a non-blogger, please leave an email address in your comment or your entry will be disqualified.This contest will end at 10:00 p.m. Central Time on Monday, September 13th. Good luck everyone!

Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this game for the purpose of this review. I am not expected to return the game.

A month of firsts

2010-08-29T14:19:00.007-05:00

The month of August has been a month of firsts in my house, all of which have been fun and exciting! We started off the month with Caiden's first birthday party with friends and his first trip to Chuck E Cheese. Unfortunately, only one of his friends was able to make his party, but that didn't dampen the day for him. They both had a blast playing games, climbing in the play area, dancing with Chuck and getting in the ticket blaster booth to catch a bunch of free tickets. It was a ton of fun and we will be going back again!

In the middle of the month, Caiden had another first...and this one was a BIG one. Caiden had his first day of Kindergarten on a Thursday. The day before we found out which teacher he had and which classroom. He actually got the teacher he wanted, which I was shocked about. He also got to meet the other Caden in his class. We dropped off all his supplies, I filled out some paperwork and we were ready for the next day. I didn't sleep very well that night, worried about his first day. He was so excited to go, I dropped him off at the before/after care that morning with no tears! On Friday the other half of the new Kindergartners had their first day, so we didn't go back until Monday. Well....Monday was harder. He loves Kindergarten, but he isn't so fond of the before and after care as of yet. I think it is just overwhelming for him. What can I say, he takes after Mommy. Meeting new people is tough and it stinks to be somewhere where there are a ton of people you don't know. Of course, every night when I come get him, he is happy and having a good time. Every day has gotten better and Friday was a pretty quick and painless drop off. Then comes the weekend and two days of not going. We'll see how this Monday goes.

Bennett had a first this month too. He got his first try of baby cereal. Why so late you ask? Only because it took so long to get his 4 month check-up done. By the time we made it to the doctor, he was 5 1/2 months old! But he really likes it and does very well with it, as long as he isn't tired. Caiden took a few pictures of Bennett's first bites for me.

Finally, our whole family made our first trip to the Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley, IL and the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, IL. Then when we were done, we stop and visited uncle Garett and aunt Jen's house. It was a busy but fun day!

If you have made it through all of this, CONGRATS! It has been a busy month for this busy Mom. Hoping to post a little more often now, but that remains to be seen!

Change is good

2010-07-10T09:23:00.003-05:00

I posted earlier about some upcoming changes. As you know we moved last month. So far, the changes have gone well. Caiden and Bennett both adjusted well to their new rooms and their new beds. We have a much longer drive to daycare everyday, which has been ok for the boys too. Bennett talks for while and then goes to sleep, and Caiden watches a movie. In August when Caiden starts school, we will have a much shorter commute, not having to drive all the way across town anymore. School is less than a mile from our house, and Bennett's daycare is in between our house and school! I'm not sure what I will do with all that extra time!

Of course, as soon as we move to the new house, they are going to start road construction on our main road we use to get anywhere. There will be no access to that road starting next week, or so the sign says. Not sure how far the road will be closed, but I'm hoping not too far, so I'm not driving way out of my way. An hour long commute, twice a day, with two kids is long enough for me, thank you.

Caiden's 5th birthday is coming up as well. Excited to have all the family over to the new house...just hope it is ready by then! We are getting there. The kitchen, boys' room, our room, bathrooms, playroom are all done. The living room is close...we even got some pictures hung on the wall today!

I'm also letting Caiden take 4 friends to Chucky Cheese for his birthday. This will be the first time he has been there (me too)...but he is just dying to go. This will also be his first birthday party with friends...wish me luck!! It's only for 2 hours, how bad could it be? We shall see...stay tuned.

Finally, I know I have been promising a review, and it is still coming. Hoping to post it this weekend. I'll give you a hint...it is a kid's Wii game...and there is a giveaway with the review. You don't want to miss it!

Until next time...have a good weekend :)

Move complete

2010-06-17T22:15:00.005-05:00

We officially moved into our new house last weekend. I just have to ask, how the heck did we fit all of this crap into our tiny 800 sq ft house? It is amazing! But, we are here. Unpacking is going much slower than I ever remember in the past (I used to be a frequent mover, just ask my aunt how many pages are dedicated to me in her address book). Unpacking with an infant in the house is a much different experience.

Almost a week after the move, I finally have my kitchen mostly done. The rest of my house leaves something to be desired. Poor Caiden is going to be living in a room of boxes for quite some time I'm afraid.

On another note, keep your eyes peeled for a new exciting review and giveaway for my readers in the coming weeks. I'm super excited!!

Simple steps to avoid tragedy

2010-06-01T18:44:00.003-05:00

We have all heard a horrific story or two about a parent who forgets their child in the back seat of their vehicle and doesn't realize it until it is too late. I found a great article on parenting.com which has some very simple steps to make sure this doesn't happen to your family:

• First and foremost, always put your cell phone, purse, or briefcase, and anything else you'll need that day, on the floor of the backseat. When you retrieve it at the end of the ride, you'll notice your child.

• Seat your younger (or quieter) child behind the front passenger seat, where he's most likely to catch your eye. Parks's, Balfour's, and Edwards's babies all were behind the driver's side when they died.

• Keep a teddy bear or other stuffed animal in the car seat when it's empty. When you put your child in the seat, move the animal to the front passenger seat, to remind you that your baby's on board.

• Ask your child's babysitter or daycare provider to always phone you promptly if your child isn't dropped off as scheduled.

• Make a habit of always opening the back door of your car after you park, to check that there's no kid back there.

• Never assume someone else -- a spouse, an older child -- has taken a young kid out of her seat. Such miscommunication has led to more than a few hot-car deaths.

• Invest in a device to help you remember small passengers. The Cars-N-Kids monitor plays a lullabye when the car stops and a child is in the seat ($29.95; carsnkids.com). The ChildMinder System sounds an alarm if you walk away and leave your child in the seat ($69.95; babyalert.info).

• Put visual cues in your office and home. Static-cling decals reminding you to check the car seat are available at Emmasinspirations.com and Kidsandcars.org.

You can read the full article here.

Huh...

2010-05-30T21:19:00.003-05:00

So, someone tell me how long my blog has looked like this....it used to look different. It had a layout from The Cutest Blog on the Block. I never removed it. What the heck happened??? *scratches head* Wonder how long it has been like this and I haven't noticed until now!! Well, guess I'm off to search for a new layout!

*Edit: I fixed it!! Yippee*

Changes...

2010-05-30T19:52:00.003-05:00

In less than 2 weeks we will be moving into this house! Beautiful isn't it? I'm super excited!! The move will be the first of a few changes in our family. I'm hoping the Caiden will adjust well to his new room. In his new room he will have a new twin sized bed. Right now, he is still in a toddler bed, but when we move, we will finally get to set up the crib for Bennett, so we will need the crib mattress from Caiden's toddler bed. I'm hoping he will adjust to both of these changes pretty quickly.

Then in August will be our next big change. Caiden will leave the daycare he is in now and begin Kindergarten in his new school, in the school district we are moving into. Which means he will not know anyone. We toured his new school a couple of weeks ago and I think he was pretty excited. We'll see what he thinks when the day comes. I am dreading it, because I still remember what it was like when he started his new daycare/preschool a year ago. But of course, I don't tell him this! And of course I am sad because my first baby is going off to school. I think I'm going to have to take the whole day off to recover! On the plus side, the school is less and a mile away from our house! YAY!!

And then there is Bennett. I now have to start the mission to find a new in-home daycare for him as well. I am dreading this. I was really hoping I would never have to do this search again. Yuck. But the little booger is growing like a weed. Today I have him in an outfit that is size 6/9 months and it fits perfectly. He is 2 days shy of 3 months old!! At his 2 month checkup a couple of weeks ago, he was 13 pounds 2 ounces!! He is a healthy guy, that's for sure. Also had his 2 month pics taken about a week ago. They turned out adorable!! This one made me laugh out loud when I saw it, and seems to be many people's favorites.

Mother's Day

2010-05-08T22:01:00.004-05:00

As I approach my first Mother's Day at a mommy of two boys, I can't help but to think of my own mom. So this post, I write to her:

Only after being a mommy myself can I fathom all that you have done for me and everything that you have been through with me. The love, happiness, is all too great for words, but so is the worry. I cannot imagine how you must have felt all those times you had to watch me go away in the hands of the surgeons, holding me down while they poked me with their needles. Putting on a brave face for me when you are a nervous wreck inside. I had the easy part, I slept right through it!

I now understand all of those crazy rules you gave me growing up. Now I can't figure out how the heck you ever let us walk across town, ride the bus to school, let some high school kid watch us, stay home alone...DRIVE A CAR!!! The thought of my two boys doing any of this stuff scares me silly!

While I sit here writing this, listening to little Bennett babble and almost laugh at me...at 10:00 at night...it brings tears to my eyes, thinking of you. While I am enjoying my first Mother's Day as a mama of two...such a happy time...you are dealing with the first Mother's Day without your mom. If I'm not able to see you tomorrow, please know I am thinking of you. I know Mother's Day will never be the same for you, but even though you are sad, remember, this day is to celebrate you too. For being such a wondering mother to your three kids, giving us all the love and support we need and helping all three of us become the wonderful, caring, successful adults that we are.

For Monkey

2010-05-08T21:39:00.002-05:00

I came across a post on Boobies, Babies and a Blog asking for Prayers for Monkey. Monkey has been recently diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a horrible disease for anyone and no one should have to suffer from it, but especially not such a young child.

Please pray for Monkey.

My life is crazy!!

2010-05-08T18:51:00.004-05:00

I've now officially been back to work for 2 weeks. It is tough getting up early and going to work because Bennett still isn't sleeping all night long. But other than that, it is going well. It truly is nice to use my brain again. Some people may not understand this, but I am a better mom working than I would ever be staying home. Stay at home moms are awesome, and I am totally jealous as times, but I just couldn't do it full time...I think my mind would get bored.

Bennett is doing well at daycare and she just loves having him there. Everything is going great...

So, apparently because things were going way too smoothly, I decided a couple of weeks ago to throw a wrench in the whole thing, by putting our house up for sale. We got it listed a week before I went back to work. That same weekend we toured the big city and surrounding area to look at about 10 houses. We really just need something bigger, our current house is 816 Square feet on the main level...400 finished in the basement. Bennett has been sleeping in a bassinet since he came home from the hospital. First in the living room with me on the couch, and now in our bedroom. With 4 people and a dog...this house is just too darn small!!!

My title says it all, my life is crazy! Things like this always happen to me! I got a call at work Friday morning that someone wanted to look at our house at 5:00 that night, so I had to go home and clean the house. While I was there, my realtor called and said that the person looking at our house still wanted to qualify for the first time home buyer tax credit. To make a long story short, we sold our house and bought a new house in 2 hours with 1 and a half hours left until the end of tax credit!

With the purchase of this home, we have actually moved to a suburb of the city we live in, which means I have to change Caiden's school. I had just registered him for Kindergarten in March and now I have to start the process all over again! Luckily, we haven't missed the Kindergarten open house at his new school. Not so excited about making him make new friends all over again though :( I know he will be fine, but it makes me sad to think I'm doing this to him all over again...we just went through this last August when I changed him from an in-home daycare to a daycare center/preschool.

So, now we have just over a month to get everything packed. We close and move on June 11th!! Oh how I wish it was here already, I can't take many more days cramped in this tiny house! 2500 Square feet, 4 bedrooms, THREE BATHROOMS...HERE WE COME!!! I can't wait!

Oh how time flies

2010-04-26T18:50:00.005-05:00

I cannot believe that tomorrow morning I will be headed back to work. I does not seem possible that it has been 8 weeks since my second son entered this world! When it was time to go back to work after Caiden was born almost 5 years ago, I was so ready to get back to reality. Now that tomorrow is the big day; this time around, I am not ready!

What's the difference this time? I think it is because my hubby is home every night to relieve me of my duties and to hold adult conversation. When Caiden was a newborn, hubby was working out of town, leaving on Monday morning and coming home Thursday night. So I couldn't wait to get back to work and be with other adults.

What makes me the most nervous is the mornings. Bennett currently wakes up at about 4AM to eat and goes back to sleep by 5. So at that point, do I go back to sleep for an hour, or do I just begin the day at 4? Then I have to get 2 children ready and out the door, dropping them off at two different places and get to work by 7:45AM. Of course, everyone at work knows not to expect me on time on my first day back. Actually I told them not to count on it for at least the first 2 months!

In case you didn't know, I am NOT a morning person. I will get up at the last minute possible to get to work on time...and now I don't know what that last minute is!

Why doesn't hubby help me in the mornings you wonder? Well, because he has to drive over an hour to work everyday, so many days he is on the road before we even wake Caiden up.

Oh boy...tomorrow will be interesting!

Camera Critters 4/10

2010-04-10T10:18:00.002-05:00

He looks pretty impressed, doesn't he?

Ramblings of a Sleep Deprived Mama

2010-04-08T14:23:00.003-05:00

Bennett is now 5 weeks old and we have yet to get on a schedule. I better start one soon, because I go back to work in less than three weeks...YIKES!! It sometimes feels like his schedule is getting more and more off; he is starting to sleep more during the day and not so much at night. Of course, I do believe my child knows that he is slowly torturing me at night, because right when I have about had enough at night, I get him out of his bed praying he will go back to sleep, and he will look right at me, coo and smile. Melts my heart every time!

It is still weird for me to say the "kids" or the "children" instead of just Caiden. New flash to self...I now have 2 children! Get used to it!

Is it strange that I sometimes wish I was still in the hospital? Ok, really it didn't feel like a hospital, more like a hotel room, with a hospital bed in it. I mean come on...I had nurses and doctors at my finger tips if I had any questions, someone else to stay up with the baby all night long until I was ready for the baby in the morning, no worries about laundry or cleaning the house, visitors to chat with throughout the day...all I had to do was put my feet up and rest. I even had someone else to change most of the poopy diapers!!! How could you not miss it at times?

And while I was up in the wee hours of the morning one day, I found my mind wandering to Michelle Duggar...you know, the 19 children and counting woman from Arkansas. When was the last time she got to sleep through the night? She has been pregnant or had a newborn for like the last 20 years or something, and I know she breastfeeds, so no one else can get up for the midnight feedings. I have been doing it for 5 weeks...maybe the last 3 months if you count my inability to go all night long without peeing in my last couple of weeks of pregnancy....and I just can't WAIT to sleep for 6 or 7 hours at night.

Children's Minds...

2010-04-02T18:28:00.004-05:00

It is so funny how a child's mind works sometimes. We have a friend over tonight that my son likes very much and is always concerned about where is is going if he walks out the door. So the friend decides he's going to go to the local gas station to get some beer for him and hubby for the night (and also pick me up a Mt. Dew).

So, of course as soon as friend walks out the door, Caiden asks where he is going. I told him he was just going to run to the gas station for a minute, to which I get a series of "whys" from Caiden. After answering as many of the as I can, he goes to the door to check it out for himself. He comes back to me and being 100% serious says "Mom he didn't run, he took his car."

Oh, the things kids say....

Sleepy Wrap Baby Carrier Review

2010-03-27T19:54:00.006-05:00

I know that baby carriers have some bad press right now because of the baby sling recall, but not all slings and wraps are bad. In fact, I think most of them are safe as long as you follow the directions of the carrier and wear your baby the way the carrier was intended.

That being said, I wanted to share my experience with the newest baby carrier I have purchased. When I was pregnant, I asked around in my mommy online community to get some recommendations for a baby carrier. I had tried one style with my first son, and it worked ok, but it was difficult for me to use because you had to put the child into the carrier and then finish tying it. I was always afraid I was going to drop my son. Also, my personal preference has always been a wrap type carrier over a sling because I feel that an infant is much safer in a wrap. (This is just my personal feeling, and I felt like this with my first son as well; long before the recall came out.) So after looking into the different types that were recommended to me, I decided to go with the Sleepy Wrap. There were two major reasons I chose this wrap over all of the others:

You tie the wrap completely before you put the child in; and
it is reasonably priced;

It took some practice to tie the Sleepy Wrap correctly. Using the directions provided on Sleepy Wrap's website, along with a couple of videos I found on YouTube, I finally felt comfortable enough to try putting something in my wrap...but before I put my 2 week old child in it, I started with the Curious George doll that my dog is cuddling with in this post.

Finally, I was ready to actually put Bennett in the wrap. The first time he didn't like it too much. But about 2 days ago I really had some house work to be done and Bennett was having trouble getting to sleep. So, I got out my Sleepy Wrap, got Bennett all nestled in and started clearing the dishwasher. He was asleep in a matter of minutes and I got all my dishes done!

I absolutely love this wrap. Like I said it takes a little practice to get it tied right, but after you do, it works wonderfully from newborn infant, all the way up to a toddler.

Please note, I was not compensated in any way to write this review. I just wanted let my readers know about this wonderful wrap.

I....

2010-03-22T20:55:00.002-05:00

I can't sleep 8 hours a night, but I can lay in any position I want to, and get out of bed without any pain
I can't fit into my pre-pregnancy pants, but I have reached my pre-pregnancy weight
I can't exercise to get my shape back, but I can walk without becoming short of breath
I can't pick up my four year old, but he can sit on my lap while I hold the baby
I can't breastfeed, but I can hold my baby close while I feed him his bottle (and daddy can have a turn too)
I can't just grab my purse and go, but I can stay home from work until the end of April

I can see my feet and toes, (and I can see that I need a new pedicure!)
I can see my ankles
I can fit into my shoes, which I can tie all by myself

There are many things I can't do right now, but I can cherish every moment I have with my family. There are some people that are not so lucky. Remembering this during the tough times helps me get through it.

Camera Critters 3/20

2010-03-20T09:12:00.003-05:00

They call it Puppy Love...

Win it: Curious George 2

2010-03-18T12:53:00.004-05:00

My child absolutely loves Curious George. We have the theme song from the first movie on our iPod, and every time that song comes up on shuffle, he knows it right away and starts singing along, usually before I even realize what song is playing.

So, imagine my excitement when I found that Jolly Mom has a giveaway running right now for not only the movie Curious George 2: Follow that Monkey DVD, but also the CD Soundtrack and Book!!! If you would like a chance to win, go over to Jolly Mom's blog to enter! Good luck :-)

Inside-out Bacon Cheeseburger

2010-03-17T12:13:00.002-05:00

This is the BEST burgers you can make at home, and they are so simple!!

What You Need!
1 lb. ground beef
3 Tbsp. KRAFT Ranch Dressing, divided
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled
(I sometimes use the real bacon bits you can buy for salads)
2 KRAFT Singles, cut into quarters
4 hamburger buns, lightly toasted
4 lettuce leaves
8 slices tomato

Make It!
HEAT grill to medium heat.
MIX meat and 2 Tbsp. dressing; shape into 8 thin patties. Combine remaining dressing and bacon. Spoon onto centers of 4 patties; top with Singles quarters and remaining patties. Pinch edges together to seal.

GRILL 7 to 9 min. on each side or until burgers are done (160°F).

FILL buns with lettuce, burgers and tomatoes.

inside-out bacon cheeseburgers recipe at kraftfoods.com

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-17T12:00:00.002-05:00

Brothers

This is the best picture I have gotten so far

Teach your Child to Eat Right

2010-03-15T16:20:00.004-05:00

How to Raise Natural Eaters--and End Dinner-Table Fights ForeverThe No-Nonsense Way to Teach Kids to Eat Right -- By Sarah Haan, Registered Dietitian and BabyFit Contributor, and Becky Hand BabyFit Head Dietitian

Have you ever stopped to consider how a baby boy knows to cry when he is hungry? Have you questioned how a newborn girl knows to stop nursing when she is full? These tiny people are demonstrating what is known as "natural satiety," or the body's innate ability to regulate fullness and energy needs. Almost every person is born with the natural ability to maintain a healthy weight, but as time passes, we begin to ignore this important capability. Positive parental involvement is necessary when it comes to feeding children and promoting emotionally healthy approaches to eating. Raising kids to enjoy healthy foods and have a balanced relationship with food is no easy task, and the tactic of parenting to support natural satiety is even harder. The strategy is best presented by the eating and feeding authority, Ellyn Satter, a registered dietitian and child psychotherapist. Her "division of responsibility" may initially sound unconventional and perhaps even unhealthy; however, upon further review her techniques make perfect sense. Her recommendations are also supported by a substantial amount of research which demonstrates that children have a healthier relationship with food and a healthier body weight as teens and adults, when raised by caregivers who optimize their child's natural hunger cues. Who's in charge of what?The parents and the child have distinct roles when it comes to feeding and eating responsibilities.

As the parent or caregiver, you are in charge of when the family eats, where the family eats, and what the family is served.

The child is in charge of deciding how much (if any) food is eaten. So as you proceed, we encourage you to keep an open mind and evaluate where you may be crossing the lines of responsibility when feeding your child. The Responsibilities of the Parents and CaregiversBy teaching your child how to provide nourishment for the body and providing your child with nutritious foods and a healthy eating environment, your child will learn to take responsibility for his own healthy eating choices. Here are some tips to help. When to eat, Where to eat, What to serve:

*Plan the timing of three meals and up to three snacks throughout the day. If your child does not eat one meal, keep in mind that those planned snacks will help ensure that your child is meeting nutrient needs. Do not allow grazing between these planned meals and planned snack times.

*All meals and snacks should be eaten at the dining room or kitchen tables. Say so-long to eating on the couch, in front of the television or computer, in bed, or in the car. Insist that your child show up for all meals, even if he says, "I'm not hungry." Once in awhile, a special family meal or snack in front of the TV is acceptable, but it's important to maintain the regularity of meals eaten at the table.

*Support an eating environment void of noisy distractions. Turn off the television and radio during snack and mealtime. Do not allow cell phones, iPods or any other electronic devices at the table. (That also goes for you, Mom!)

*Keep the eating environment pleasant for all. Use family mealtime to unwind and talk about highlights from the day. It is the perfect opportunity to connect with your child.

*Plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks. Offer your child healthy foods from every food group: grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat and beans. For more information on kids nutrition, check out the BabyFit Kids Nutrition Resource Center or http://www.mypyramid.gov/.

*Use healthy and tasty cooking methods like baking, broiling, grilling, roasting, steaming, and sauteing to prepare your child's food.

*Offer a variety of foods to your child so new flavors and textures can be sampled. Try new recipes. Look for new ideas on how to serve healthy foods in fun, creative ways that your child will enjoy. Let your child be involved in preparing foods.

*Don't become a short-order cook. Let the child choose what to eat only from the foods offered on the table. Offer some family food favorites, as well as new food adventures. "Cooking to order" at each meal will not foster a healthy environment in which a child will learn to be open to trying new foods.

*Offer so-called "forbidden foods" only a few times throughout the week. This will lessen their appeal. While transitioning to an environment that supports natural satiety, your children may overindulge on these foods at first, but they will eventually become less exciting.

*Never praise your child for finishing a meal and do not force your child to be a member of the clean plate club. This only teaches a child to link food and eating to please and adult, thus giving food emotional power.

*You are your child's greatest example. Role model healthy eating habits and appropriate table manners. Use phrases like "please" and "no, thank you" when speaking to other diners.

*Do not reward, bribe or punish your child with food. (For example: Never say "if you finish your homework, you can have a brownie.") Remember that food is to nourish the body. Food can not solve relationship problems, ease loneliness, calm nerves, or relieve boredom. When adults use food to reward or punish, they may be teaching the child to become an emotional eater.

*When dealing with a picky eater, don't be tempted to coax or bribe your child into eating. Be patient. Establishing healthy eating habits takes a lifetime. Continue to offer your child new foods, but pair it on the table with foods you know will be accepted. This way, your child can feel free to try the unfamiliar food, along with the favorites.

*Offer new foods more than once and in different forms. It may take up to 10 exposures before your child accepts a new food.The Responsibilities of the Child How much, and whether to eat:It is up to the child to decide how much to eat from the foods offered at the table, and whether to eat at all. That is, kids get to select from the healthy foods offered, and then decide how much to eat. They get to decide what to eat first and whether to eat anything. Remember, there should be absolutely no coaxing or bribing from an adult.

Case Study #1: Think about the message being conveyed to your child when you say, "Nathan, you can't have cake for dessert until you eat your green beans." This tactic gives power to the cake. It teaches the child that the cake is better, or more prized, than the green beans. The child is taught by the adult that green beans are less desired than the cake because the green beans are being used as a punishment and the cake is the ultimate reward.

Case Study #2: Children are masters at manipulation, especially with food. And parents often express the fear that their child isn't eating enough or will only eat one food--applesauce, for example. This one food becomes the power food. No matter what is prepared at mealtime the child refuses to eat it, kicking and screaming until the parents give in and the power food, applesauce, is provided. Every meal is a battleground. Situations like this are not healthy for the child or parent. Realize that a child's body will not allow starvation. Our bodies know how much we need if we eat in a way that fosters our natural satiety. When parents hold fast to their feeding responsibilities, there are no power struggles. Rather quickly, the child realizes that her applesauce isn't coming and she is no longer in control of the foods served in the home. She begins eating what is served at meal and snack times to satisfy her hunger and nourish her body appropriately. To make a true commitment to optimize your child's natural hunger cues, you must let go of the jobs that are NOT your responsibility. Appropriate feeding is built on trust. As a parent, educate yourself on ways to plan, prepare and serve healthy meals and snacks. Then trust your child's ability to eat and grow in the way nature intended.

For excellent resources on the topic of feeding children, check out the books by Ellyn Satter: Child of Mine, Feeding with Love and Good SenseHow to Get Your Kid to Eat, But Not Too MuchSecrets of Feeding a Healthy FamilyYour Child's Weight: Helping without Harming

http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=1007

Win a Free Scentsy Warmer and 3 Scent Bars

2010-03-14T19:27:00.003-05:00

Remember my post that month where I declared my LOVE for my Scentsy Warmer? If you don't, you can read it here. Well imagine my excitement when I discovered a giveaway for a free Warmer and 3 Scent Bars!! Of course I have entered. If you would like to enter for you chance to win, head over to Sited and Blogged Contest Hub by clicking here. Good luck :)

Camera Critters 3/14

2010-03-14T14:04:00.005-05:00

It's been way too long!!

Meet Sully, our 40 pound lap dog.

Cancer Sucks

2010-03-13T18:11:00.007-06:00

I believe everyone has been affected by cancer at some point during their lives, whether it be fighting the battles themselves, or watching a friend or family member struggle with this horrible disease. I posted over a year ago about my friend who lost her battle with breast cancer after 18 months, leaving behind 3 beautiful children (triplet 2 year olds), her husband and many other friends and family members. And you will see the "Save the Tatas" button to the left of this post.

If you are a regular visitor, you may have noticed a new button under the "Save the Tatas" button, which may not be familiar to you. Clicking on this button will take you to the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation's website, where you can make a donation to help with Lung Cancer Research.

Why my sudden interest in lung cancer? Well, unfortunately my friend Jamie was not the last person I know that had to deal with cancer. This past November my Grandma passed away from lung cancer, 2 months after being diagnosed. She didn't have any symptoms, and by the time they caught it, it had spread to her liver. Of course, you must assume that my Grandma smoked for years and years, but that assumption would be incorrect. My Grandma never smoked a day in her life. And this is more common than you think. Lung cancer is not a smoker's disease. Anyone can get it, ANYONE.

I have been looking for organizations like Save the Tatas, the Susan G. Koman Foundation, etc. for lung cancer, but they are very difficult to find. For some reason, it appears that lung cancer has been shunned from research, fundraising and support type groups. I bet you can't even tell me what color ribbon symbolizes lung cancer. But, you can instantly spout out what color is breast cancer awareness. I'm not saying that all of the breast cancer groups are bad, all cancer research is great...anything to get rid of this horrid disease forever.

I found an article SFGate.com that I found very interesting. It states:

Every day, about 500 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer. The disease surpassed breast cancer in 1985 as the largest killer of women.
With few early symptoms and no techniques for early detection, lung cancer is rarely caught before reaching stage 4. Five years after diagnosis, only 15 percent of lung cancer victims are still alive, a statistic that has been static for 40 years.

(You can read the full article here)

So, if you would like to help with lung cancer research, please click here to view the PSA from the Bonne J. Addario Lung Cancer foundation and click on the button below to donate your $20 today.

Current Giveaways

2010-03-12T15:18:00.004-06:00

I have been looking for a new thermometer for awhile, but I wasn't sure what kind to get. I just knew I didn't want to do under the arm anymore. That's why I'm so happy to have found a giveaway for a free Exergen Temporal Scanner (forehead thermometer) over at MamaBuzz.

Next, over at Audrey's Giveaway Blog, she is giving away a must have for anyone that has a child or children in diapers. The Babymel Change Station is a changing pad that also has space for some diapers, wipes and other things, all folded up in a handy little carry along you can take anywhere! Click here for your chance to win!

Mad Hatter Mom currently has a giveaway for a free weeks supply of the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry-Max AND a Liz Lange diaper clutch. For your chance to win, click here.

Brothers

2010-03-12T14:12:00.004-06:00

What a week

2010-03-10T10:58:00.003-06:00

Midway through my first week home as a mommy of two has gone pretty smoothly. What a difference it makes to have daddy home. Next week when he goes back to work could be interesting. Caiden isn't real excited about going to school right now, but I think it's because he knows we are at home. Once he gets there, he enjoys it.

And speaking of school, Daddy stayed home with Bennett this morning and I went on my first outing since Bennett joined our family. After taking Caiden to school and a quick trip to Wal-Mart, I stopped by the elementary school and picked up the paperwork to register Caiden for Kindergarten. I want to cry just thinking about it (and it has nothing to do with hormones, I swear). My baby going to school! If you remember, back in August of last year I started him in a new daycare center/preschool. It was rough going for the first couple of weeks, and I dread doing that all over again for Kindergarten. I'm hoping to send him to the same school as one of his preschool buddies so he at least knows one person.

Bennett is doing wonderful. A nurse came to our home on Monday to check up on him and me, and we both passed with flying colors. He is back up to 8lbs 10 oz after being down to 8lbs 6oz the day we left the hospital. He is letting mommy get about 4 hours of sleep at a time at night, which is AWESOME. I cannot complain one bit about it. It is still tough getting up in the middle of the night, and when he does get up, he stays awake for about 2 hours before he goes back to sleep, but still, I get FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP AT ONE TIME!! For those of you who don't know, when Caiden was a baby, he didn't sleep at night, at all. He would finally fall asleep between 5 and 7 in the morning.

So, all in all, it has been a wonderful week so far!

It's a boy!!!

2010-03-05T08:16:00.003-06:00

Our little miracle was born on March 2nd at 12:44 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs and 15ozs and was 20 3/4 inches long. He seems to be a pretty content little guy so far.

Here he is...Bennett Evan :)

A Boy and his Dog

2010-02-28T20:07:00.003-06:00

Just a few cute pics I snapped tonight.

I love my Scentsy Warmer

2010-02-28T15:06:00.005-06:00

I'm probably way behind the times on this one, but I got a Scentsy Warmer for Christmas from my mom and I LOVE it!! I had never heard of such a thing before I opened it up at Christmas time, but I'm now officially addicted. If you are like me and totally in the dark about what I'm talking about, keep reading.

The Scentsy Warmer is a warmer with a small light bulb in the bottom and a little dish on top. In the dish is where you put a block or two from the wickless Scentsy Bar, which is slowly melted by the bulb below. The bars have 6 blocks in them, and in my small house, I usually only need to use one at a time to fill the whole house with a wonderful fragrance. (Currently my house smells like grape bubble gum). Each bar has as much fragrance at as 12 oz candle, and it they are only $5 each!! What a deal!!

When you want to change to a different scent, simply pour the melted wax back into the Scentsy Bar container, wipe out the dish with a paper towel and put the new scent in.

In addition to the beautiful pot, the reason I like it so much, is because it is so much safer than burning a candle. And when you have a 4 year old child and a 6 year old beagle running around a very small house, candles are just not an option around here.

So, be sure to go to the Scentsy website and find a consultant in your area.

I was not paid or compensated in any way for this blog post...I just wanted to share my new obsession.

Giveaways Around Bloggy Land

2010-02-21T10:03:00.002-06:00

I'm on a mission to find the latest and greatest baby stuff, since there are only 9 days (YES NINE DAYS) until baby arrives. Since it has been 4.5 years since I've had a baby in the house, I feel like I'm out of touch; like it's the first baby all over again. So where do I go, to the blog world of course, to try to win it for free. So, with that, here is what I have found today...

Over at A Mom's Balancing Act, there is a giveaway for a CozyWedge. What is that you ask? It is a much safer alternative to bumper pads in your baby's crib. You can check them out by clicking here, and then head over to A Mom's Balancing Act to win it for your baby!

Flushing

2010-02-20T19:47:00.003-06:00

So, I was standing in line at work waiting to use the restroom, because I am way too lazy to walk to the other side of the building to the other restroom. As I was standing there, I notice the person in the stall, lift one of their feet and next thing I hear is FLUSH. Now, this isn't the first time I have seen this, but every time I do, it makes me wonder....why do people feel it necessary to flush with their foot? Are they not going to just walk to the sink and wash their hands as soon as they walk out of the stall? And if they are worried about picking up germs from the flusher, why do they feel save unlocking and opening the stall door with their hands? The hands they fear so much that just flushed the toilet immediately go on to open the stall door.

I just don't get it, and the thought of using my foot to flush had never crossed my mind until I saw a co-worker's foot disappear to flush years ago. My next thought was that would explain the black scuff marks on the side of the toilet...I was never able to figure that one out either.

Are you a foot flusher? Please take a minute to answer my poll and feel free to leave a comment on why you do or don't flush with your foot.

Get This - Survey Results - GlowDay.com

Yes, I'm still alive!!

2010-02-15T12:59:00.004-06:00

In case any of you were wondering, I am still alive, and I am still pregnant!! I really got out of blogging mode for quite a while. Sorry about that. I don't know how often I will update in the near future, but hopefully more than once every 2 or 3 months!

So...update on me. I am currently 37 weeks pregnant, and ready to be done! I have been much more comfortable this time than I was when I was pregnant with Caiden, but I'm starting to get sore, and I'm always tired. But, there is an end in sight. I have a C-Section scheduled for March 2nd...2 weeks from tomorrow!! The pic on the right is from a week ago, so I was 36 weeks pregnant. Caiden is super excited for the baby to come. Every time I tell him how many days are left until the baby comes, he tells me he hates that number because it is too big LOL.

Caiden is doing well in school...usually. I have started getting letters about him starting Kindergarten in the fall...I just can't decide what to do. I need to talk to his teacher and see if she thinks he is ready. They offer something called AK here, which is basically Kindergarten, but it is only for 1/2 a day. Since he has only been in a structured setting for a year and he is a July baby, I'm thinking that this might be the option for him. I need to find out if his daycare is able to pick him up mid-day though. I don't know if they have any other AK students there.

What else is new? Not much, just trying to get through these last two weeks of work. Then it is 8 weeks off of working outside the home, and the beginning of sleepless nights, diapers, bottles and all of the snuggly fun that comes with a new baby!

Holy cow...it's been a month!

2009-10-10T12:14:00.003-05:00

Holy cow people, it's been a month since I have posted on my blog! I'm sorry....time just flies by these days! So, what's been going on in this household? Same stuff different day!

I am 19 weeks pregnant and so far, everything looks good. Baby's heartbeat was 150 bpm yesterday. Feeling the baby move, which is totally awesome, although I'm starting to think baby never sleeps. My next ultrasounds is scheduled for November 6th. This is when some people would find out what they are having, but we have decided, as we did with Caiden, that we will not be finding out what we are having. Our toughest mission of course will be the baby's name...I have lots of likes for girls this time, but not really anything for a boy. Maybe it's a sign :)

Caiden seems pretty excited about the baby coming...he gives it hugs and kisses and tells me he loves my baby. Depending on the day he sometimes wants a brother, sometimes a sister. Last time I asked him, he told me he wants a sister because he loves girls!

Speaking of Caiden, you may be wondering how he is doing in school. He is doing great!! In the last couple of weeks, I have noticed that there is not a speck of sadness in him anymore when I drop him off in the morning. He still wants to waive bye everyday, but he is not sad anymore! He has made a lot of friends and he is learning tons of new things :)

Other than that, it is same old same old around here. I'm in an accounting class, and will be for the next 9 weeks....4 hours every Monday until December 7th. If you could actually hear me speaking this, you would hear the ~~excitement~~ dread in my voice. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. This will be my last class until I am ready to go back after the baby is born!! YIPPEE!!!

Some Great Giveaways in Bloggy Land

2009-09-07T19:05:00.003-05:00

Here are some giveaways I have entered that I wanted to share with all of my readers. Not that I want you to enter them...that just takes away from my chances to win...guess I just wanted to tell you about all the awesome stuff I'm trying to win LOL. (Really, just kidding..make sure to check them out!)

First I start with Our Ordinary Life's giveaway of the Tike Tech Stroller. Yes, you could win a FREE stroller. Click here to check it out and enter for your chance to win.

Next we go over to Monkey Mayhem where she is giving away a Free Jeep Play Yard. I've been wanting a new play yard, so keep your fingers crossed for me on this one!! For your chance to win, click here.

Jump Start Pet Rescue Review

2009-09-07T16:06:00.003-05:00

If you have been a reader of my blog for a while, you may remember my review of the Jump Start computer and online games. If not, you can find it here.

I'm here to tell you about the newest Jump Start games I have had the opportunity to review. It is Pet Rescue for the Wii! Yes, you read it right, Jump Start now has a Wii game! And I my son, was lucky enough to be able to get a copy of the game before you could even find it in stores to test it out.

This game has all of the wonderful qualities as the Computer games, plus you get to play it on the TV. Jump Start's Pet Rescue game lets the children design their characters, which they can change at any time. My son absolutely LOVES to make silly characters. You also can have pets in this game which follow you everywhere. You can play fetch, feed your pet, and with different movements of the Wii remote, you can also make your pet do tricks!

Of course, this is a Jump Start game, so there is plenty education packed into the game as well. When my son asks if he can play this game, it is much easier to say yes when I know he is learning while he is playing.

As you can see, there are many different "worlds" that the kids can explore while playing this game. My son really enjoys hunting out the slides in each place.

My son absolutely loves playing his Jump Start Pet Rescue game. I and love that he is learning while he is playing it. Jump Start has again created a wonderful game that will keep my son entertained for a long time to come!

I Did It!!!

2009-08-30T14:33:00.003-05:00

I did it, I did it!!! I hemmed my new pair of maternity pants. Now, since I'm am all of 5'1" tall on a good day, you would think that I do this all of the time. But, for years my mom did it for me. A couple of years ago, she decided I was old enough to do it myself, so she taught me how. Since then, I have been hemming away, right? Yeah, um NO. I have been mostly just rolling up my pants or just waking on them. Terrible I know...moving on. This pair of pants I bought were 5 inches too long, a little bit too long to just roll up (trust me, I tried last Thursday).

A few phone calls to my mom to refresh my memory, then I started pinning my pants. Next the hard part...I had to cut them. This I have never done before...I have always been able to just fold and sew. Who would have known cutting away a little fabric would cause such problems???

After many trials and errors (3 to be exact) I finally got it right! Now I have to go press the hem and they will be done.

Are they even? Who knows... Do I care? Not so much. Who's going to be looking at my feet anyway? They are maternity pants. Everyone will be looking at my growing tummy!!

School - Week 2

2009-08-28T17:36:00.003-05:00

Week 2 of school is now done. How did the week go you ask?

Monday was just as I expected...or maybe even worse. It was worse than any day last week when I dropped him off. He cried which I was expecting. I wasn't really expecting him to latch on to my leg and beg me not to go or take him with me. And when the teacher finally took him, I really didn't expect him to yell for mommy. Good thing he didn't do that last week, or I would have lost it...bawling with him. But this week, I'm better...I'm over the crying. I still feel bad for him, but I know he enjoys himself once he warms up.

Tuesday and Wednesday were much better. He still wasn't real excited to be there...told me he didn't want to go. But he put a brave face on (possibly for Mommy) and didn't cry. Although Tuesday he told me that all the Mommies were staying at school with the kids that day...as we are staring at an almost empty parking lot.

Thursday for some reason unknown to me, he went back to crying and yelling for Mommy. I told him this morning that it was because we forgot his Mommy's kisses sticker. This morning went really well...I would say the best morning so far :) He was running to the classroom, pretty happy to be there. Got just a little bit sad when I said it was time to go, but after a final kiss and hug, he said "bye mom" waived and I left.

The teacher said he is starting to come out of his shell and talk more...even if for now it is mostly to her. He did tell me that Cole is a boy and he is funny...and that he laughed 5 times today. I think a little girl there might have a crush on him. She came and told me and Caiden that she liked the sharks on his shirt this morning.

So, all in all, it was a better week, but again, Monday will be interesting.

Camera Critters 8/22

2009-08-22T08:21:00.002-05:00

For this week's Camera Critters I'm asking a question.

Am I the only one that has a dog that insists on not only laying next to you, but in between your legs? Seriously...he will jump up on the couch, bed, or where ever you are at and nose and paw your legs until you let him lay between your legs.

Thursday Thunks 8/20

2009-08-20T12:54:00.003-05:00

Thursday Thunks - stupid questions that you love to answer
Welcome to the August 20th version of Thursday Thunks!(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Berleen, the number ziltch and the color of spider webs.

1. Your thoughts on hunting? Not for me, but I'm not opposed to it for the most part...lots of my family goes hunting.
2. Swine Flu vaccine... will you get it? I don't think so.
3. What is one job/profession that you think there are just too many of? Ummm...telemarketers
4. I want to go on a diet, what advice will you offer me? Don't come to my house.
5. You are going out on a date with someone for the very first time. When you get into their car, you see a box of condoms on the floor. What do you do? Check to see if there are any unused ones in the box. If there are, put them in my purse (they are expensive you know ;) )
6. Name something in your bathroom that shouldn't be there. Probably a book or magazine
7. What was your Kindergarten teacher like? I want to say grumpy, but I don't really remember
8. What kind of oil do you use when you cook? EVOO
9. If someone takes an unflattering picture of you and posts it online, do you beg them to take it down or do you laugh at yourself with everyone else? Depends on what the picture is.
10. What brand of dishwashing soap do you use? Cascade complete...the off brand stuff just doesn't work as well.

First Days of School

2009-08-19T12:08:00.004-05:00

Monday was Caiden's first day of Preschool/Daycare Center. Before Monday he has been at an in-home daycare all of this life. I can remember my first day of Preschool and how much I HATED not knowing anyone, so I was really dreading Caiden's first day...but I had been talking up going to school and how much fun it would be to Caiden for a while.

So Monday came and off to school we went. As soon as he got there, he declared to the teacher that he was 4 and that he got new shoes that can make him jump! He stuck close to me, until we found a cool train track/road thing that he could build. Once he started playing with that, I told him it was time for Mommy to go to work...and with a waive he said "Bye Mommy!" Wow, that was pretty easy! I spent all day at work on Monday wondering what he was doing, how he was doing and hoping he was having fun and making friends. When I picked him up, the teacher said he had a pretty good day. Cried once that he missed Mommy, but then was better and went to play. Caiden told me about some of the fun stuff he did that day and he seemed like he had a pretty good time.

Tuesday came and it was time for school again. Drop off was a little tougher, he wanted me to hold him and didn't want me to go. I told him I had to go to work, and the teacher took his hand and they went to find the toy animals. I could tell he was on the verge of tears, but I didn't see any before I left. When I picked him up, he was not playing and running like the day before, but was sitting in the chair outside next to the teacher. We was thrilled to see me and told me about the picture he colored and that he got to paint. He took me inside to show me his art work.

Wednesday, Day 3. I told my mom last night, I think it was going to get worse before it gets better. I hit the nail on the head. This morning he wanted Mommy to hold him and he cried on my shoulder, which of course made me cry. He didn't want me to go, but I promised him he would have fun. I took him to the table and asked him to color me another picture. He wanted a hug, which of course I gave him, but then I found myself stuck in a headlock with my 4 year old's arm around my neck...not letting go. After a few more hugs and kisses (and a raspberry or two on his cheek) and walked out...tears rolling down my cheeks. He was still sniffling when I left. I gave him a star sticker at home, which I kissed before I put it on his shirt. I told him that sticker would be my kisses for him and he could wear it all day. I "recharged" it a couple of times before I left...I hope it helped.

Miss me?

2009-08-14T08:50:00.004-05:00

Did everyone miss me? Sorry I've been MIA, but I have a good reason I swear....well a few reasons actually. I have been in a math class all summer long that just finished last week. I now have a couple of weeks off before my next class starts. When I haven't been in class or attempting to do my homework, I have been resting. Yeah, I've been pretty lazy lately, but again I have a good reason...I swear!!!

The reason I have been neglecting my blog among other things is because....

I'm pregnant!!!

I have known since right after the 4th of July, but because of my PCOS, I had no idea how far along I was. I finally got to see the Dr. and get an ultrasound last Friday and they gave me a due date of March 6, 2010. Which puts me at 11 weeks tomorrow. We were totally surprised when we found out because the Dr. had told me we probably wouldn't be able to get pregnant without fertility medication....2 months later, WHAM....I have a little baby growing inside of me.

Can you see it? It looks like a little gummy bear. Really...have you seen a cuter gummy bear?

So, now that the word is out...I'm going to be on the lookout for all things baby for a while. It seems like forever ago since I have been pregnant...I feel like I forgot everything! Did you know I'm not supposed to eat hot dogs? Really??? Nuts!

So that's the big news in my little corner of the world!

Thursday Thunks 7/16

2009-07-16T18:31:00.003-05:00

Heterochromia, A Haunted Earth and The Dungeon
Welcome to the July 16th version of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)

Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Kimber,

the number 15 and the color of windows.

1. Do you know anyone with heterochromia? Nope. Does it freak you out or do you think it's interesting? I think I would just find it interesting

2. Should a 5th face be added to Mount Rushmore? I would like to see the ones that are already there before they go adding more people...If so, who? but if they really feel they need to add another face, they could add me :)

3. If you could live on any planet other than earth, which one would you choose and why? I'm good with earth, thanks.

4. We're going to spend the night at a reportedly haunted location, are you going with us? No freaking way!!!! If so, which reportedly haunted place are we going? none for me.

5. Did you play The Queen's Meme this week? Nope. If so, was it fair of The Queen to put Berleen in the dungeon by association with Kimber? (We all know Kimber deserved it, but Berleen?!)

6. What color is the towel(s) hanging in your bathroom? Multi-colored...red white and green I think.

7. Tell us something funny that happened to you recently. Hmmmm....can't think of anything at the moment.

8. We just bought you a cow. Do you kill it & grill it, feed it & milk it, or sell it? Well technically, it depends on the cow. There are the kill it and grill it kind, or there is the milk it kind....but since I live in the middle of the city, I'd probably sell it.

9. It's 115 degrees outside (46 degrees Celsius), are you able to go without Air Conditioning? Are you insane??

10. When you visit the zoo do you wonder which animal tastes better with a bit of butter & spices? No.

11. Dog ate your homework/work papers. Does it crap out Shakespeare, quantum physics, or just crap? If I'm lucky, it just craps. If I'm not so lucky, it pukes it up on my bedroom floor later that night.

12. We are taking you to a broadway show, what are we going to see? I'd be open for about anything. Do they do The Full Monty on Broadway?

13. Gunshots in your neighborhood. Pop, pop, pop. Do you go out to take a look, or hide? I would go hide...after I made sure all my doors were locked. What if the shooter wasn't finished yet!

Vinyl Lettering Giveaway Winner

2009-07-07T17:38:00.001-05:00

The winner of the Vinyl Lettering giveaway is....(drum roll please...)

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-07-07 22:38:10 UTC


Anonymous said...: subscribed to blog via google reader

smtracyt at hotmail dot com
Congrats!!! I will be contacting you shortly :)

Happy Birthday Mommy

2009-07-02T19:03:00.007-05:00

With my post #102, I am going to take a minute to wish my mother a

Happy 50th Birthday!!

(She's the bunny on your right)

Unfortunetly, she doesn't have the internet right now, so she won't see this post for at least a month :(

So, in honor of my mom's birthday, I decided to take a trip back in history to see what happend 50 years ago today...other than my mother, my grandma and grandpa's oldest's child, being born.

Prince Albert of Belgium marries Italian princess Paola Ruffo di Calabria.

Number one song: "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton

The time magazine cover from the week of June 29th, 1959 was Queen Elizabeth II. (Image courtesy of www.kakophone.com)

Love ya mom!!!

~Mickala

Thursday Thunks 7/2

2009-07-02T18:41:00.005-05:00

Hold The Knob, Wear Clean Shoes And Enjoy The Insanity!
Welcome to the July 2nd version of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by
Kimber, the number 14 and the color of your mother's hair dye.

1. When you close a door, do you close it quick and just let it slam or do you hold the knob and slowly shut it tight? Depends on what kind of mood I'm in and what door I am shutting.
2.Train A is moving at 60 miles an hour. Train B is moving at 22 miles an hour. They will pass each other at X time. Now what color shoes are you wearing when train A derails? Depends on what season it is.
3. What if M&M's grew on trees? What color M&M tree would you have? Blue
4. How many petals on a flower does it take to make it the perfect bloom? 7
5. I took you to spend $421.67 on you, what did we spend that money on? Purses and shoes...or maybe you helped me buy a new SLR camera.
6. If you were a squash, what type of squash would you be? I wouldn't be...I don't like squash.
7. Have you ever gotten a wrong number call and ended up talking to the person for longer than 5 minutes? Um, no.
8. Why haven't you joined Berleen & Kimber at Insanity Cafe yet? Do we stink? You might stink, I can't smell you over the computer.
9. Now for one of Ber's questions back when TT was brand new... Shampoo bottles say lather, rinse, repeat... do you? Nope, once is enough for me.
10. It's July, the year is half over. Do you see it as "whew that part is over" or best is yet to come? I see it as, I wish it was always July....winter is getting closer...yuck.
11. Why do you do the Thursday Thunks meme? This is only the second time I've done this, but why not? It gives me something to do in class when people can't figure out how to run their calculators!

Do you thunk on Thursdays? If you do, be sure to join the fun at Thursday Thunks!

Quick and Fun Activity

2009-06-30T22:39:00.002-05:00

I sometimes struggle to find things for Caiden to do outside that will keep him moving. One of the things he loves to do is ride his bike, but we can't really go anywhere but our driveway because one way is a big hill and the other way is next to a busy road. But I get bored standing at the end of the driveway telling him to turn around all of the time. So last night, I decided to make a road for him to drive on since he is always pretending he is playing Super Mario Kart when he rides his bike.

So I took some sidewalk chalk and drew a road with a few curves in it. Then I put the center line in and added a few "side roads," and gave him stop and go directions at the end of the road. Finally I drew a few arrows in the road to let him know which way he should go. Caiden absolutely loves the road and it kept him going all night long...and tonight too.

Here's a little video of him driving (don't mind hubby working in the background).

Call me crazy, nuts, whatever you want

2009-06-25T12:48:00.003-05:00

But 24 hours from now my best friend and I will be traveling to Chicago to see the New Kids on the Block. Ok, stop laughing, seriously, stop...NOW! Cuz, there's more. This will be the third, yes I said third, time we have gone to see them.

This concert will be outside, which should be interesting. I can see myself getting burned to a crisp!

We will be in the 24th row!!! Closer than ever before!!

Come on now, I know you are jealous. Just admit it.

I'll report back next week...if you are lucky, I'll even post some pictures :)

Thursday Thunks

2009-06-25T09:10:00.008-05:00

Found this meme over at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy and it sounded like something fun to do while I'm in a Excel class all day long. If you would like to participate, please visit Thursday Thunks.

1. Someone knocks at your door. You answer it. It's a kid from the local school selling candy bars for a fundraiser. Do you buy one? Me depends on what they are sellling. My hubby, I'm sure he would.

2. The end of the world is tomorrow and you are out of milk - do you go buy some? Nope, I have enough milk to last me that long.

3. Have you ever picked up the phone and called someone that you hadn't talked to in years? Yep, my friend Tracy.

4. Whats on your computer desktop background? The one I'm no now, the Windows sky/grass picture. At home, a wallpaper I made of Josh Groban.

5. What was the very first movie you saw in a movie theater? I'm told it was ET, and that I fell asleep on my cousin's lap. I don't remember this though.

6. If you had to take a 10th grade science test, do you think you would pass? Possibly, I've actually taken a few science classes recently.

7. Describe heaven. Huh...I picture clouds in the sky, nice and warm, always sunny with all of my loved ones who have passed before me there (which luckily there aren't many).

8. Has a place that you lived ever been infested with some sort of insect or rodent? Rumor has it that we had some cockroaches in the heating vent of my first apartment when I came to college. I never saw one though.

9. When you were a youngin', did you hide in the clothes racks at department stores? Yes. I also plopped my little butt down wherever I felt like it when I was tired and sick of shopping.

10. Is there anything in your vehicle that is broken? Probably, but nothing I know of at the moment.

11. What is something in your house that people would be surprise to find? A plant that is still alive.

12. Do you agree with the death penalty? In some cases.

13. Whats your favorite type of bear? A teddy bear. I collected them for years!

14. Where was the last place you went? Work

15. What if that person knocking at your door earlier was an adult selling candy bars... would you buy one? What's the difference between adult candy bars and regular candy bars?

Vinyl Lettering Review and Giveaway

2009-06-17T20:14:00.010-05:00

If you are like me, you absolutely love that vinyl lettering you see on everyone's walls, and you've wanted some for yourself. If you are like me you've wondered what you would put on your wall. And finally, if you are like me, you've wondered where the heck they get those letters. Well, I finally found the answers to my questions when I stumbled upon the VinylLettering Etsy Shop. I have found many sites online for vinyl lettering, but when I found VinylLettering on esty.com I knew that I had found a company who makes original, unique items. When I found their shop, I instantly fell in love with their monogram items.

I was super lucky to receive not one, but TWO of the monogram designs to review. As soon as I got them in the mail, I ripped open the packaging, read the pointers on how to apply the letters to your wall and started scouting for the perfect place to display them.
Luckily I have two living rooms to display my newest treasures. This one on the left I hung in my basement living room. The walls in my basement have just a little texture, which helps the vinyl stick to the walls better. Now, I just wish I had a bar in my basement...this would be the perfect decor for a bar. Of course, after I had it hung on the wall, hubby suggested hanging it on a mirror to complete the bar look...maybe next time LOL.

The other item I received was the one I spotted on the VinylLettering website that I fell in love with. The letter 'A' matches my 2 non-white walls perfectly in my main living room. It is such a classy look. This wall has a lot more texture than my basement wall, so getting it to stick was a little trickier here. But a week later, it is still in the exact place I put it.
Finally I have to say the people at VinylLettering are an absolute pleasure to deal with and they were super quick on getting my order to me. And let me tell you, great customer service is something I really appreciate.

WIN IT!!!!
So now that you have seen some of the awesome things you can get at VinylLettering, I bet you are wondering how you can win. For your chance to win, all I need you to do is head over to VinylLettering, check out their excellent quotes, monograms, decals and other fun items, then come back here and leave me a comment telling me which one is your favorite. Be careful what you pick, because if you are the winner, that is the item you will receive!! How exciting is that? You get to choose your own prize! (You must do this step. If you skip it, any other entries from the list below will not count)

For additional entries you can:

Add my button to your side bar and leave me a link to your blog in your comment;
follow me on Blogger or Twitter;
subscribe to my blog;
send an email to all of your friends (at least 5) and copy me,
blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your post,
Tweet about this giveaway. You can do this once a day for the duration of the giveaway. Be sure to leave me your Twitter name.

*Please leave me a separate comment for each item you do on this list*

This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers. If your blog profile is private, or you’re a non-blogger, please leave an email address in your comment or your entry will be disqualified. The winner will be chosen randomly on July 6th at 10:00 pm CST.

This contest is open to US residents only.

If you have any questions, please email me.

Good luck!

Camera Critters 6/14

2009-06-14T09:06:00.003-05:00

I took this picture out of my kitchen window, so the quality isn't the best, but the bird is beautiful.

To show off your critters make sure to visit the Camera Critters meme every Saturday.

A moment to celebrate

2009-06-12T18:34:00.003-05:00

Dear Greg:

How do you like them ~~apples~~ tomatoes?

Lots of Love (don't hate me)

Mickala

To everyone else....hubby and I planted some "patio" tomatoes in some pots this year to see what we would get...this is our first tomato!!

Wii EA Sports Active

2009-06-07T17:50:00.002-05:00

Hubby and I are on a mission to lose weight. We started by watching what we eat and taking the dog for a walk every day. It was a good start, but it didn't take us long to figure out that we needed to do more than that…we needed some type of strength training. So my hubby started searching on line. He came across a game that was coming out soon called EA Sports Active. We looked at it, thought it looked cool and put it out of our minds. A couple of weeks later I saw Allison Sweeney, on the Ellen show talking about EA Sports Active. Listening to her and her love for it, we decided to order it.

In addition to the game we got a leg strap that hold the nun chuck for some of the exercises and a resistance band with handles. (If you have a Wii balance board, you can use it with some of the Active exercises.) We ordered an additional accessory pack with another leg strap and resistance band so we could work out together. The day after we received it, I decided to take it for a test run. I set up my user profile and then I was ready to exercise.

One of the great things about this game is that it has full exercise routines already set up for you, with easy, medium and hard intensity levels. I selected one of the easier routines since I was pretty out of shape. Not more than 5 minutes into the exercise routine and I was already sweating. The next day I went to work with an embarrassing announcement. A video game had completely kicked by butt. I was sore for 2 days! I have tried other exercise games on the Wii and nothing compares to this game.

This entire game was developed with the help of Bob Greene, and if you watch Oprah, you know who Bob Greene is. He is the person behind the www.thebestlife.com. Right now I'm half way through the 30 day challenge on this game. Just when I was thinking that the exercises were getting a little bit easier, Mr. Greene comes on the screen and says congrats on making it half way through the challenge. For the second half of the challenge, we are going to change up the exercises bump up the intensity. Great…(insert sarcasm here).

But if you are looking for a new exercise routine to firm up or lose weight, I highly recommend you check out Wii's EA Sports Active. Their website also has more information on how to get fit and healthy, including a modivation center. This game is well worth the money. It's like having a personal trainer right in your home, for a fraction of the cost.

EA SPORTS Active

Blogging in Word

2009-06-07T10:33:00.003-05:00

I have Microsoft's Office 2007 and every time I open a new Word document, I notice that there is a new blog post option. I have always wondered what it does, so now I'm trying it out. So this is basically a testing blog. What do I like about it so far…automatic spell check Woo hoo!!

I've changed the font, so we'll see if that works.

Now, let's try to insert a picture.

I call this one "shopping at Lowe's"

Well, I'm going to click on publish now…let's cross our fingers and see how this works.

~~~~~~~~

HHHmmmm…the picture didn't work. I think I need to upload it to photobucket first. Darn it.

So the picture never did work, but this is pretty cool…I now have many more font options at least! And now all my posts can be backed up J

Camera Critters 6/6

2009-06-07T09:32:00.000-05:00

Holy cow, it has been a while since I have posted my camera critters, but I'm hoping to do this more often. Since it's been a while, I thought I would post a few new pictures of my ~~cat~~ dog Sully!

This is why I sometimes mistake my dog for a cat...

All tucked in bed...

And finally, look at those paws...I swear we did not pose him like that

Thanks for visiting. Make sure to visit camera critters every week for some wonderful animal pictures!

Congrats hubby!!

2009-06-07T09:06:00.003-05:00

Congrats to my hubby who has officially graduated from his Electrical Apprenticeship program this weekend! He was even nominated by his teacher as the outstanding graduate of his class. What it means for him...he is now a journeymen. What it means for me...no more trips once a month to Des Moines for class (woo hoo!)

Giveaways around the bloggy world

2009-06-06T23:30:00.006-05:00

It's been a while, but below are some wonderful giveaways going on right now.

First, Paige over at Nurse Mommy is giving away a Time Out pad. If you have a toddler, you must check this out! Click here to enter to win. Ends 6/18.

Next, Kristin over at An Ordinary Life has an awesome giveaway for a 2 Step Nature Station Playhouse, retail value $249.99!! Don't miss your chance to win...click here. Also at An Ordinary Life, you must check out the giveaway for the free Vado pocket video camera. Click here to enter.

Win some Vinyl Lettering for your kitchen, bathroom, living room or any of the bedrooms in your home from Gina at A Wrestling Addicted Mommy. Click here to enter to win.

Ryann over at A Working Blogging Mommy is giving away the most awesome clock on the planet for your little ones called My Tot clock. If you want a chance to win, go here.

JumpStart Winner

2009-06-01T18:39:00.002-05:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this. The winner of the free 3 month membership to JumpStart is:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

6
Timestamp:
2009-06-01 23:39:28 UTC

taysmommy said... i follow ya mama

May 18, 2009 8:46 PM

Congrats!!! I'll be in contact with you shortly!!

Mickala

Father's Day Craft

2009-05-29T21:49:00.003-05:00

For anyone who has a father in their family that loves DIY stuff...this is perfect for them!

Car Nut Frame
By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Very Easy
Age: 5 and up
Parental supervision is recommended

What you'll need:
Small wooden frame
Black acrylic paint
Washers and bolts
Permanent adhesive glue (recommended: GemTac jewel glue)
Photograph of you

How to make it:
Remove glass from frame.
Paint frame black and let dry.
Use permanent adhesive glue to decorate outside of frame with nuts and washers. Let dry completely.
Insert a family photo and the glass into the frame.

Tips:
Get nuts and washers from Dad’s toolbox with his permission or have Mom buy them at a local hardware store.
Try to find a photograph that shows you riding your toy car or helping Dad in the driveway.
GemTac is glue that is specially made for attaching jewels and glass to other surfaces. You can also use Super Glue

http://crafts.kaboose.com/car-nut-frame.html

Feel free to post a comment with a picture if you try this one!!

Infertility

2009-05-18T20:54:00.003-05:00

Infertility. Really....me? Huh...infertility is one thing I never thought I would have to deal with. I have one child, and it only took 5 months to get pregnant with him. This time around, it has been 5 months since I have had a period. So I went to the Doctor to try to figure out why.

May 13, 2009
I talked to my Dr.'s office today to get the results from my ultrasound from last week. I had already received the results of the blood test and everything was normal. The nurse told me that he has dictated a letter, but it hasn't been transcribed yet, so she can only tell me what he has written in the notes. His notes say that the results of the ultrasound are consistent with PCOS, Polycystic ovary syndrome, which is the reason I have stopped getting a period recently.

I have a disease - a syndrome technically. I have always hoped that I had been dealt all of my major health issues early in life being born with a cleft lip & palate. Apparently, I will get to deal with at least one other thing in my life.

I have PCOS. My first thought when I heard the news...thank God for an answer. I can deal with this. It isn't cancer...it isn't life threatening...it's just a pain in the butt. I felt major relief. Then, all of the questions...the unknowns hit me:

*Is this something I'm going to deal with my whole life?
*Clomid - really, do we want to temp fate when twins run in my family anyway?
*What does insurance cover?
*Clomid - are we really ready?
*How much does it cost?
*Clomid - really? How am I going to talk my Hubby into that one anyway?
*When did this happen?
*What can I do to make it go away? (does it ever go away?)
*Clomid - really? What if it doesn't work?

I'm still waiting for that letter from the Doctor's office, almost a week later. Wish they'd hurry up and send it out. I'd like to know what all it said...but no hurry, it's just my health we are talking about.

While doing some looking online it looks like the best way to stay on top of this is to eat healthy, lose weight and exercise...all things that hubby and I have been really working at recently. I guess now I have more motivation than ever to stick with it.

Now, I'm back to being relieved, and grateful...grateful for the health I do have...so happy that my family is healthy.

So for now, we just wait. Wait for the letter, wait to see what happens when I lose some more weight, wait to see what the insurance company says...just wait.

I hate waiting!

Lessons Learned

2009-05-18T20:13:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I posted about a co-worker of mine and our Campaign against Squatting (if you missed it, click here). Later that week I received another email with her lessons learned for the week. I have told this person she needs to wear a helmet cam every day of her life...I'm pretty sure she could have some pretty interesting footage.

Life is just a big series of learning events, isn't it? And to think that I, at
age 31, am still learning some pretty big lessons. Below are 3 lessons that I
have learned this week, that I thought I'd pass along.

1. Look on the bathroom stall floor to make sure nobody has peed on it.

2. Police officers cannot slim jim into your car to remove a toddler who is locked inside. Also interesting, they don't like to be referred to as "Captain Obvious" when
they tell you that leaving your keys in the ignition was probably not the best idea.

3. Never, ever, under any circumstance, try to envelop a tow truck driver in a loving embrace, no matter how elated and relieved you may be to get your 2-year old out of a locked van. Apparently, tow truck drivers do not = huggers. Just say "thank you" and give them your insurance card.

I hope you have learned something here today!

Mickala

Iowa's Car Seat Laws

2009-05-17T13:48:00.003-05:00

My 3 year old child still rides in a car seat with a 5 point harness, of course in the back of the vehicle. I know some other children that are my child's age that are currently in booster seats. I don't think there is any way my son is big enough to ride in a booster seat, so I decided to take a look at the laws in Iowa. I found a very helpful document that shows the laws in Iowa as well as the national standards for car seats. Click here to view the document.

Hope you find this as helpful as I did!

*EDIT I just realized this link no longer works, but I was able to find this website from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that gives some very helpful guidelines.

Scrap Page - Baby Boy

2009-05-05T21:20:00.002-05:00

I traveled back in time almost 4 years for this one.

Campaign against Squatting

2009-05-05T21:04:00.006-05:00

Have you ever received one of those emails that says, in case you are having a bad day, this person's has been worse and here's the story? Then they go into a bunch of stories about other people's bad day on the job...and you usually find yourself wondering if the stories are really true. I received one of those emails today from a co-worker. As I'm thinking to myself, I don't have time for one of "those" emails right now, I continue reading because I know this person tends to email out some funny things. A few sentences into the email, I realized that not only is this story true, but the person that sent the email is actually telling a story about how her day was going today.

This is the email I received (re-printed with permission)

What you are about to read is real. The name has not been changed to protect my identity - this seriously happened to me just one hour ago. Why am I choosing to share it? I guess I'm hoping that if somebody else reads this, they can be armed with knowledge and may not have to suffer this humiliating incident themselves. Also, if you felt your day was going a little south, read this, laugh, forward it on to share with your friends to poke fun at if you like - at least this experience will not have happened to me in
vain!
I had to pee. Badly. I walk quickly into the bathroom closest to my cubicle, pick an empty stall, lock the door, drop trow and breathe a sigh of relief. In the first 25 seconds or so that I'm in there, I notice that my ankles feel wet. Confused, I look down, only to discover that my pants have become a sponge for a puddle of liquid on the floor. The back of my pants and pants legs are completely wet. My mind is racing - WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? Was this toilet one of the power flushing variety that had sprayed water all over the stall? I stand up, not wanting to pull my pants all the way up, I hold them about hip high and grab a wad of toilet paper. It's at this point I realize the front of the toilet is ALSO wet. I wipe that off, too. Then, it happened. I glanced down at the wad of paper and it's YELLOW!!!!!! My pants have just absorbed somebody's (some WOMAN'S!!!) pee! What is wrong with people that they just can't sit their a$$es on the seat and go? Don't squat and hope your aim is right, people. SIT and go. And if you MUST squat, notice when you miss, okay? Then clean it up. Promptly.

But it gets better. Oh yes, just when you think it can't get worse, it does. I have to pull the stranger-pee soaked pants up and fasten them, haul a$$ to my desk, and grab my jacket and keys. Luckily my workout clothes are in my car. So I get to walk, pee-soaked clothes (yes, because now the bottom of my shirt is soaking it up from the waistband of my pants) and all, to my car which is seriously a long walk. Then I haul it back into the building to change and - guess what? My security badge that says I work here and am not some random sniper is at my DESK. The guards know me but I don't have a badge to scan, so they cut me a break and let me use the phone to call somebody to bring it down. But now, it's lunch time and everybody I work with is at lunch or away from their desks!

They must have noticed the distress on my face as I stand there, (hoping not to reek of pee), and bestowed pity on me - they gave me a visitor badge so I can get back upstairs.

So here I sit, at my desk, in my black dress sandals, black capri spandex/lycra pants with white stripes down the side, and an oversized baby blue T-shirt. What a sight I must be. I'm sure turning heads, and NOT in the best way possible. Now I'm just waiting to be turned into HR for not having business attire on. That would really cap off my day.

Now, ladies - it is time for some action. I know this isn't the first time this has happened and it probably won't be the last. So, please, I beg you, for your fellow women, please join me in my campaing against squatting. Together we can stop the humiliation of walking around in clothing soaked in another person's urine. Let's not let one more person fall victim to the female germaphobic people of our society.

For those of you who squat while at work, don't. Please sit like the rest of us do. Use the paper protectors if your that worried about it. If there are not paper protectors...DEMAND them. If you must squat, please practice at your own home before you do it in public. Other women should not have to be victim of such humiliation because of your fear of germs.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Mickala

Campaign Manager for WASP (Women Against Squatting Peeing)

Jump Start Review and Giveaway

2009-05-05T18:32:00.001-05:00

I confess...my son is a computer game and video game addict. Yes, at 3 years old. He loves playing Mario Kart Wii, he has a V-smile, a mini laptop of his own, a digital camera that also plays games, an old game boy from the sitter, and he also plays games on my laptop on a few websites that are for his age.

So, when I was contacted by the JumpStart company to test out and review their website and computer games....I wondered how the heck they knew!! I feel much better about my son playing all of these games when he is actually getting something out of it. JumpStart is an award-winning adventure-based 3D virtual world that is super-personalized, wildly imaginative and really fun, but don't let that fool you - it also teaches math, reading, and critical thinking skills so kids get a real jump start in life.

We started by logging onto JumpStart's web page. After you log in for the first time, you will need to install JumpStart's active X control. After this was downloaded, my son took over.

First he got to design his person on the game. He absolutely loved this. He got to pick the clothes, the hair...everything. Caiden got the biggest kick out of seeing what happened when he picked something new. After he finally decided what he wanted to look like on JumpStart, he was ready to play some educational games.

Along with our membership to JumpStart, we also received the JumpStart 3-D Virtual World - The Legend of Grizzley McGuffin game to try, which is a computer game you install on your computer. You can play it as a stand alone game, or you can use your membership at JumpStart to expand the game online. This has all of the great benefits that the online version does. They work together hand in hand.

Since Caiden is only 3 years old, some of the learning games are a little too advanced for him, but some of them are just great. Right now he loves playing a game that teaches rhyming. I have been trying to explain to him how to know if two words rhyme for I don't know how long and he just wasn't getting it. After playing this game for the last week or so, I think he is finally getting it!

JumpStart also has a section on their website just for us parents. There is a discussion board as well as a blog that is full of wonderful information for Parents. Also, there an added bonus to this site for parents. JumpStart sends out periodic progress reports by email, with information on what Caiden has been working on. It will tell me what type of games he has played, like math, reading, etc. and how well he did with the games he played. Proof that he is learning while playing :)

About the only drawback to JumpStart's online game is that is can be a little slow at times, so you may have to wait for some things to load.

WIN IT!!! - this contest has ended

Now that you've heard about this wonderful product, I bet you want to find out what you can win and how!

All I need you to do is head over to JumpStart, and then come back here and leave me a comment with a fact from the website that I did not post here. The winner will receive a free 3 month membership to JumpStart.com. It's that simple!

For additional entries you can:

1-Add my button to your side bar and leave me a link to your blog in your comment;

2-follow me on blogger or twitter;

3-subscribe to my blog;

4-send an email to all of your friends (at least 5) and copy me;

5- Tweat about this giveaway; and

6-blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your post.

*Please leave me a separate comment for each item you do on this list*

This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers. If your blog profile is private, or you’re a non-blogger, please leave an email address in your comment or your entry will be disqualified.The winner will be chosen randomly on May 19th at 10:00 pm CST.

Sorry, this contest is open to US residents only.

Good luck!

This contest has ended

Family Activity - Tumblebugs

2009-05-02T08:44:00.003-05:00

I love going to Family Fun's website to find new craft ideas. I'm not a very crafty person, but many of the ideas on this website and in their magazine are easy enough for even me!

This week we are going to make some Tumblebugs.

Set these little critters on an incline and watch them cartwheel a beeline to the bottom. The secret to their antics is a marble rolling around inside.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Scissors
Card stock
2 nickels
Tacky glue
Toothpick
Marble (1 for each bug)
Black marker
Colored tissue paper
Glue stick
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. For each bug, cut a 5-1/2- by 3/4-inch strip of card stock and two 1 3/4- by 7/8-inch card stock ovals.
2. To make an oval, lay 2 nickels side by side on the card stock and trace around them, connecting the top and bottom.
3. Glue the strip into a loop, overlapping the ends by an inch. Pinch it or use a paper clip to hold it together while the glue dries. Next, use a toothpick to line one edge of the loop with glue, then set the loop on top of an oval.
4. When the glue dries, place a marble inside. Line the edge of the loop with glue and press the other oval on top.
5. Once all the glue is dry, use a marker to add a face and other features. Cut out a couple of 2-inch-long wings from tissue paper and use the glue stick to attach them to the top of your bug.

Instructions can also be found on the Family Fun website here.

Have fun and feel free to leave a comment with a picture of your tumblebugs. If you have any thoughts on what you would like to see posted for a family craft or idea, feel free to drop me an email!

Best Friends

2009-05-01T18:56:00.005-05:00

credit: Stardom by Misty Cato Designs

WINNER - Rechargable Batteries

2009-04-24T14:32:00.002-05:00

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I'm sure everyone is dying to find out who won those wonderful batteries. Well, wait no longer :)

The winner is:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:46
Timestamp: 2009-04-24 19:31:46 UTC

Rajee said...

It saves costs, high performance, low self discharge, easy to use one for all applications like tv remote control, camera, video camera, hearing imparied etc. Love to have mailto:itrajikarthik@hotmail.com

Congrats :) I'll be in contact with you soon!

Mickala

Family Activity 4/4/09

2009-04-03T22:32:00.003-05:00

As a contributor with Sited and Blogged, I am going to start a twice monthly posting (every other Saturday) about a family activity or craft. To start this off, I'm going to post a great idea from the Family Fun website.

A Herd of Eggimals

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Plastic Easter eggs
Tiny pom-poms
Felt
Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue or hot glue
Black permanent marker
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. To make the felt features for your critters, you can download our template. We used Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue (hot glue also works well) to attach the pieces to the eggs and a black permanent marker to draw the face details.

2. Pig: Curl a 4-inch piece of pipe cleaner around a pen to make the tail, then glue it in place.

3. Mouse: For its tail, glue on a 3-inch length of yarn, knotted at the end.

4. Skunk: First glue the rear half of the stripe to the tail, then glue the tail and front of the stripe to the body.

Thanks to the Family Fun Magazine for this wonderful idea!

Sanyo Eneloop Rechargable Batteries Review & Giveaway

2009-04-03T20:41:00.008-05:00

If you are like me, you have a bazillion things that require batteries, and you never seem to have enough, or the right size. It seems like everything my son has now days requires batteries to work. Between the rough and tough children's digital camera, the V-Smile and the Wii controllers, we needed new batteries for something every week. So, I began my mission of finding the best rechargeable batteries out there. That is when I found Sanyo's eneloop rechargeable batteries. When I received them in the mail, they were already charged and ready to be used. So, I put two AAs in my Wii remote and we were ready for the next round of Mario Kart. I would love to report back and tell you how long they lasted, but I can't....because they haven't died yet!

What's more is that you can get the neatest little case that a AA battery, to make bigger batteries. It only takes 1 AA eneloop battery, I can put it in the C cell adapter (or Spacer) in and now I have a C cell battery! How awesome is that? I also have an adapter for a D cell battery, which still only requires 1 A sized eneloop battery.

Are you striving to be more green in your everyday life? Then the eneloop batteries are right up your alley. Eneloop is not only rechargeable, but it is also recyclable.

Cost savings a goal for you in 2009? Since these batteries are rechargeable up to 1,000 times, you will save tons of money by the time you need to purchase new ones.

Win it!!!

What to try it out for yourself? Here's your chance.

All I need you to do is head over to Sanyo's eneloop website, and then come back here and leave me a comment with a fact from the website that I did not post here. The winner will receive a 4 pack of AA batteries and a rapid charger. It's that simple!

For additional entries you can:

1-Add my button to your side bar and leave me a link to your blog in your comment;

2-follow me;

3-subscribe to my blog;

4-send an email to all of your friends (at least 5) and copy me; and

5-blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your post.

*Please leave me a separate comment for each item you do on this list*

This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers. If your blog profile is private, or you’re a non-blogger, please leave an email address in your comment or your entry will be disqualified.

The winner will be chosen randomly on April 22nd at 10:00 pm CST.

Sorry, this contest is open to US residents only.

Good luck!

New Scrap Page

2009-04-03T17:54:00.005-05:00

Just a quick post to show my newest scrap page.

Picture Day 3/6

2009-03-06T19:14:00.003-06:00

Well, I thought I could accomplish two things at once...post for the Picture Day meme over at Sited and Blogged. And also to post one of my newest scrap pages (new hobby of mine...very addicting!)

(Credit: Adventure Awaits by Misty Cato - Sweet Shoppe Designs)

I think the journaling says it all. It says "For your third birthday, Aunt Courtney thought it would be a good idea to get you markers. You had a blast your first time drawing on paper and yourself. Even though the package says they are washable, your art was on your arms for days!"

Quick update

2009-03-06T19:10:00.002-06:00

Hubby is doing much better today. Now he is just fighting the swelling in his face and mouth. He is still pretty tired, but I think that is to be expected. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and concern. I think we are in the clear...I may even sleep in my bed tonight instead of on the floor beside him in the living room (I know, I know...maybe a bit overprotective, but...well I'm going to be that way for a while!)

I'm pretty tired too...can't wait for bedtime tonight!

~M

Update to Stressed Post Below....

2009-03-05T17:58:00.004-06:00

Ever heard the saying Hindsight is 20/20? At the end of my last post, I said I worry too much. Well...I don't worry too much; I worry for good reason. Probably about an hour after my post below, all h#$% broke out. My husband sat up and decided it was time to eat something and take his medicine. But before we could get that far, he said he didn't feel good...he felt a little sick and light headed. Next thing I know he fell over backwards and apparently fainted. I couldn't get him to wake up and he stopped breathing. He was rigid, he neck vessels were bulging, eyes were huge..pupils huge...I think he was trying to breathe.

I screamed and screamed at him to wake up...but got nothing.

That's when I called 911.

He started breathing, but it started as more of a gurgling sound. Then he finally came to and started breathing really fast...he had no idea what just happened. I made him stay still until help got here. 3 firemen and 2 paramedics showed up. They checked him out and said he was ok, a little pale and blood pressure was a little up, but otherwise ok. But just to be safe, they took him to the hospital.

While there they gave him an IV for fluids and morphine for the pain and just let him sleep. We got home about 4:30 today. Thankfully, his mom has come down to stay with us. I just couldn't bear the thought of being here alone again. She's going to stay with him tomorrow while I go to work just to be sure.

I think he's ok now. He eating Jello, drinking water, talking and feeling much better. I'm pretty sure we are on the way to complete recovery.

This was the scariest thing I have even been through. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have nightmares and maybe need some therapy. I told the paramedics that I thought they should treat me for a heart attack after they were done with my husband.

Stressed...

2009-03-05T11:36:00.002-06:00

My husband got his wisdom teeth out today. And now, while he is blissfully snoring away, he has no idea how stressed I am. I had to listen to and remember all of the instructions we received form the oral surgeon. Next I had to go the pharmacy and pick up four different kinds of drugs and listen to their instructions....take pain killer with food, but don't take antibiotic with milk products...but somehow take them both at the same time....really...how's he supposed to do that...he can't feel a thing?!?!

Not to mention the gauze I have to change.

Did I mention, I'm not a nurse...I have no idea what I'm doing! I had mine out, but I also had a broken jaw, so I was in the hospital while recovering.

So, do I wake him to do all this or let him sleep? At some point I'm thinking he's going to wake up in some major pain!

Poor guy...I know it's going to hurt. But I'm STRESSED too!

I worry too much!

2009-03-02T18:40:00.002-06:00

What are my goals for the week? Hmmm...that can be a tough one, because I'm not one for really setting specific goals. But when forced to do so, I usually meet my goals...huh...maybe I should do it more often!

My biggest goal this week is to get some homework done and turned in. I have 4 papers to complete and my last class is a week from Tuesday! So, if anyone is really good a history, please contact me with your ~~rates~~ tips ASAP!

Other than that, I just hope to make it through the week with my sanity in tact. My hubby is gone until Wednesday night and then Thursday morning he is getting his wisdom teeth out. Again...just hoping to get through the week!

What are your goals for the week? Post them here at Sited and Blogged!