Momabilities

National Consumer Panel

2010-05-24T14:18:00.002-05:00

YAY! I just received my scanner in the mail today! I have heard several mom bloggers talk about how great this is- it takes little effort to scan/upload your purchases, and you get some neat rewards for free. IF you upload every week, then you can get put in all kinda of drawings- each quarter they give away 2 cars (or $20,000)!!

SO- I have it all set up and charging :) I will keep you updated on how easy it is!!

Check your zipcode today!

P90x

2010-05-22T13:28:00.003-05:00

We just borrowed P90X from a friend to just see what it is about. I haven't even opened it yet! I am so nervous that I am going to hate it.

My theory is that while we are trying to conceive, I will try my best to get as fit as possible and loose extra weight so that a) I will be healthier for my pregnancy and in turn for future baby, and b) so that I will not put on as much weight with baby#2. :)

I have done an okay job so far with picking up my walk and jogging pace, but it is time to step it up.

Has anyone attempted, reviewed or succeeded using P90X?

Big Bummer!

2010-05-22T13:11:00.006-05:00

Well, I have successfully stayed in the 158-160 rage for the past couple weeks, before all of this life changing steps, I was 185!

All that said, we have been doing some infertility treatments as well. My husband and I have trouble conceiving on our own and the first time we went through treatments, it went on for three years! This is our first month with a couple years off. I did HmG shots for 10 days and then an HcG shot to stimulate ovulation. We did and IUI on the 15th and I started my new cycle last Wednesday! The doctor was a little concerned because it was supposedly too early for a new cycle. This was an intense past few days, with mega cramping and rushes of tiredness and the emotions flowing through me like Niagara Falls! We went to our Dr. and have decided (well he did) that we will try again in June. So- I am on birth-control for one week while we wait on the meds to be shipped from Europe.

I never discussed any of this with my nutritionist, because she has already shared with me her concerns with playing hormones. BUT this is not something to do with my body- something to do with my husband's. (I am sure he would kill me if he knew I posted that or went further.) SO I really have no choice but to cooperate with my Dr. HOWEVER, if my nutritionist does test or find evidence of all this, then I will share it all with her!

Now since I am back on the topic of my weight and nutrition, I must say that I have totally been failing this last week! I went from having VERY MINIMAL sugar to having some red soda, m&ms and a small piece of cake with frozen yogurt! ACK!! I go in to see her in a few days and I just know she is going to BAWK at my food diary! I am not sure at this point how I am going to manage to get back on the bandwagon. With all my emotions I am feeling like I am going to have to start back at day one! I am now craving sugar more and more- like an alocholic who drank at almost 90 days sober!!!

Wish me luck in staying on my program - especially with the very minimal sugar! That is the hardest thing for me to do- for the most part when I am getting the hormone shots!

I think in conclusion I have learned that I AM in fact a sugar addict, I am an emotional eater and I need reminders to stay on task.

Exciting!!

2010-04-30T16:13:00.001-05:00

Well, it is official! I have lost 20lbs!

Dealing with this nutritional change has been challenging, but not as difficult as I imagined.

We are also embarking on anew round of IUI treatments, so more news to come!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

50 things...

2010-03-27T16:46:00.006-05:00

I haven't ever done this before- but I thought that is would be a nice treat to myself in feeling like I am getting into that 'soul searching' mode. I decided while I was moving the trash cans around that I should list somethings that make me happy. I know that 50 things can be daunting and sounds crazy long, but I am hoping that it will teach me to look at things differently (plus 20 sounded like too few). In doing this I began to simply realize that I have so many things in my life that put a smile on my face and/or gives me that quiet deep feeling that comes from the heart felt sort of happy things. Here is my list for today (not in any kind of order).

1. Being in love, and being loved.

2. My husband

3. My sweet baby bug, how thankful I am to have her

4. Her coming up and wanting "big hug"

5. Laughing with my family

6. Little Bug giggles

7. Working on the garden and waiting for the results

8. Watching the birds on our new feeders, and pecking around on the ground

9. Spring time with all the new life around me (which I got to see new calves today)

10. Windows open and feeling the cool breeze flowing through the house with a cleansing spirit about it

11. The glow of candles burning

12. Soft socks cushioning my feet

13. Cuddling up in the blankets (although this will be almost over as warmer weather arrives)

14. Feeling healthier

15. Having the dishes done

16. Eating healthy

17. Having the time and opportunity to sit and play with Little Bug

18. Being able to wear flip flops or let my toes feel the soft grass

19. Soft green grass

20. My camera and video camera

21. Optimism and day dreams

23. Long conversations with my family and them contributing like I am not still a little girl

24. The cool phone my sweet hubby gave me

25. Silence from time to time, and being still

26. Reading a good book

27. Roses in bloom

28. Wildflowers

29. Long walks in the park and stopping to see things around us

30. Learning new signs with Little Bug

31. Ice cold tea!

32. Sleeping in without feeling guilty

33. Getting my chores done for each day (fly lady style)

34. Having a neat bedroom where everything is set (that is not the way it is now, but it sure makes me happy when it is)

35. Finding a great deal

36. Long hot showers (shave legs, wash hair, exfoliate, scrub)

37. Attending a Farmer's Market and finding yummy foods

38. Doing good things for my Mom

40. Being friends with my Mom

41. Seeing fall foliage, it is just amazing that trees can make such beautiful colors all year long

42. Being pregnant really made me happy and feel amazing (I know, weird)

43. Fresh sheets with shaved legs

44. Eating fajitas

45. Camping out and making smores by the fire

46. Magazines, all kinds- just flipping through crisp pages and getting your brain flowing with all ranges of ideas

47. dollarstorecrafts.com, I like shopping at the dollar store for hidden finds

48. Getting my hair chopped off and then styled

49.Getting a pedicure (not many- just a few a year)

50. Going to Homestead Heritage and reminding myself that life can be just as happy when it's a little simpler.

Update on the Life Change...

2010-03-27T14:44:00.004-05:00

So I went crashing down food wise! I cannot tell you how hard it is to cut our all those things (wheat, corn and corn products, all grains including rice, milk or any milk product, sugar and fruits). I had also been having a hard time actually eating breakfast! Eating breakfast is very important and I know that it is, but trying to get everyone ready and frankly just getting out of bed is hard. My Dr did give me this great whole food protein shake that I can have with a little almond milk and/or a 1/4c blueberries or blackberries because they have the lowest sugar content in the fruit world. Today was my first try at the shake, and it was good. Wasn't nearly enough though! I can't wait to try it with a sort of take on our green smoothies we had last summer. (Picture is in April of 09) I have found that this mama, Sheri, is a great inspiration for green smoothies that kids will love!

I haven't filled in on my current issue. I was on my period for 32 days!!! I am pretty sure that it is my body's reaction to all this change and is trying to fix itself somehow, but it made me tired, crabby and emotional all the time!! I finally went to the Dr and it started our whole infertility issues up all over again! With this changing of my life and body, I am not ready to start messing with my hormones again. That's a whole different story that can wait for another day :).

We went a couple weeks ago, for Mack Daddy's birthday, to a Chinese buffet- and I splurged way too much! I still did not eat like I would have before all this began, but I had way too many sugars and breads and rice... and that is what started the whole downhill battle!

I think it is much like anything in life, once you cheat once, or change your routine it is just that much easier to keep doing the wrong thing. I have been trying and trying to reset my brain and body in the right direction and I am not having much success. I know there is something there blocking me and I don't know how to go about figuring out what it is. Most of my online bloggy buddies I know would tell me to do some meditation and really dig and soul search. How do you manage that with a toddler and stressed out hubs?

Well for the start, I can get off the addicting computer and out of the black hole of the Internet and go do some yard work. I wonder if it is possible to combine yard work and meditation- I think so :)

For now- embrace the upcoming warmer weather and we say goodbye and thank you to the cold spells :)

The hats are falling...

2010-03-24T22:58:00.001-05:00

Another late night post :). There are so many things I have wanted to post about lately, but haven't made time to sqeeze in a post!

A couple years ago, my marriage underwent a separation. We have succeeded in getting over many hurtles, and I know now that we can survive anything. When we got back together and I decided to do my part in becoming 'better', I feel like I dusted off old hats and was trying to figure out how to balance them all at once. I was a terrible housekeeper, didn't keep the yard, wasn't a mother, good but not frequent cook , didn't take care of my body and was a horrible home decorator! I have in the past two years become better at almost all of those things and have been wearing the tower of hats that most women/moms juggle well every day! I am a MUCH better housekeeper and maid (thanks FlyLady), I mow the yard and have started a garden this year, I have cooked most of our meals for at least a year, became a mother and love it, have been working on healing my body from within and have added more and more decor elements each month :). I was very satisfied with my accomplishments until recently.

I am not sure if I am just feeling pressure to be even better, or if I am just feeling overwhelmed for some reason, but the hats are crashing!! I have been trying to do some reflective thinking to see what set my tail spin off, but haven't come up with anything specific. Why is it so hard to just pick everything up and start again?

Like Mack Daddy quoted: "What's hard aint ever easy" :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

From the Pre...

2010-03-21T22:41:00.000-05:00

Tonight I am sending a post from my phone, so I am asking in advance to forgive any typos! :)

I was reading a new blog of a local gal that I don't know very well. She is always so sweet and has a wonderfully large family and as I was reading, I wondered- you know those folks who seem to always be genuinly happy? Do you think they really work on it or does it come natural? I don't want to think I'm jealous, but this girl has it all! Beautiful children, a nice house, a loving husband, sincere friends and is always cooking, sewing, crafting or sharing her home for playgroups. She uses every opportunity to teach her children and encourage her friends!

I live in a very bible thumper city, and today all this catching up with folks got me wondering. I know some people around here pretend e everything is okay, and it's not. What if for some it really is? And can you be really happy without being a bible thumper? I don't know the answer, but I would like to think the answer is yes.

I do have to say that reading her few posts has encouraged me to just really look at what it is to be a wife, homemaker and keeper of the house.

Thank you local gal :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Skipped the report last week....

2010-03-05T15:46:00.003-06:00

Well, this week has been very rough!! My cycle was 13 days late and has been going on for two weeks!! This heavy expelling of my body parts (lol) has been very tiring and exhausting!! I also spent Monday and Tuesday feeling VERY BAD because I had strep- yay me! My eating habits were okay this week, but my biggest goal was not having a nice cold Dr. Pepper on my sore sore throat!! Pizza and Dr. Pepper are my sicky foods, and I sure did miss them! But with Mack Daddy's support, I was good and didn't cave in!

At the Dr's 'check up' today, my Mercury levels went down another vile, my body was weak from being sick, and my pills went up 10 fold! So all in all, the mercury detox is working, I have lost almost 10 lbs, and I am surviving without much sugar!
This below is what I will consume in pills this week (Friday to Friday)... isn't that lovely?

I do think I am starting to feel healthier, if that is possible to feel while recovering from being sick, and I feel like I have a bit more energy than before. I do see a little change in my face shape because of the little weight I have lost, which I think anytime I loose a little weight it shows in my face first. I am still missing foods and long for them often, but for now I will just keep fighting!

I do hope that this is just the beginning of my life change, but it is VERY hard to give up wheat, corn (including corn syrup and flours), all rice and grains, sugars (cane, brown and fruits) and dairy. I know these exclusions wont last forever, but 12-16 weeks is a long time and I think will change my views on how I eat them in general.

Little Bug is waking up now and so I say to you- Happy Eating!

Out first REAL craft together...

2010-03-05T15:42:00.004-06:00

I got this idea somehow after searching this site, but can't find the article anymore! It was really quite easy! I did decide to lightly spray paint the milk carton first, to allow a nicer painting area. Then cut two holes on each side and cut small slits under each hole. I also found a string that was from a plastic bucket with stickers and just added that to the top. To hold each stick in place, I first put a pile of hot glue and the slid the stick in... blew on the glue to make it cool and wha-la! Bird feeder!!
I can't wait until she can look out the door and watch the birdies in her own creation!!

2010-02-23T11:14:00.002-06:00

Normally when it is snowing just a little at a time, I don't get excited and frankly don't really care. BUT when it snows in big chunks and is covering every inch of exposed earth- it is magnificent! I won't post all the pictures I took, because I am sure everyone has seen it snow, but it is so rare here where I live. I love how the snow is layered on each little branch, on each leaf, one the patio chair arms, on well everything! I love that you can see the wind patterns as the snow falls and watching is move slower than rain, makes me think the day is going by slowly.

I have a fire in our little wood burning stove, and I have started a fire in the living room. Hopefully we will stay nice and toasty! And when Little Bug wakes from her morning nap (which is the first in a week or so) then we will bundle up and go play in the snow!!! I can't wait to take video of this for her to watch next winter! :)

Off to make something warm for lunch, seeing as we will need something to warm us up after our fun in the snow! :)

Still struggling...

2010-02-19T18:22:00.005-06:00

(This is my counter after a trip to the store. You should see the fridge!)

Today was another weekly visit to my wellness doctor and it turned out to be as interesting as the others :). My scars are still blocking her readings apparently and so at the end of my visit I had to do some laser therapy.
My food week was not so great, and I think it caused me to digress a little. Saturday I broke down and had an 8 oz Margarita at Pluckers. Which; by the way, they have some great naked wings and sweet potato fries (have to ask for them to not be tossed in sugar). Sunday I plain skipped breakfast and dinner, and Wednesday I had some awesome homemade sourdough bread and the top of a lemon square. Which all means that there was some highlighting going on in my food chart this week!! I go back and forth on if this is something I really want to stick with because it is really really hard for me to refrain from all these foods, and if I am just making it harder than it really is.
I guess it doesn't help that during my emotional time (monthly cycle that was late 11 days) I made cookies. I froze a tone of chocolate chip cookie dough balls "for my husband" and I have been sneaking them and I feel so guilty! It's not even worth it, but it feels so good at the time!! This has made me realize I really and truly have a food addiction!!!
On to better things!!! My menu for this week (and hoping I stick to it) is:

Tonight: was bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with sweet potato and brocolinni.
Saturday: hamburgers- with sprouted bread (never got to this last week)
Sunday: venison steaks broiled with roasted potatoes and salads and citrus fish with brocolinni
Monday: lunch is little salad shrimp and tacos for Mack Daddy and stuffed bell peppers w/beets
Tuesday: Stuffed Chicken (again didn't get to this last week)
Wednesday: Roasted Pork Loin with squash and onion
Thursday: Beer braised sausages with warm potato salad

I hope that this week goes better, and that the cookie dough will stop calling my name from across the house and through the freezer door!! I SO miss sweet foods!!!!

Also wanted to add that I found the most intersting waters today in my trip to the store! It is called MetroMint and I really only looked at it because HEB had one of their yellow coupons hanging down for $1 off 2. I chose ChocolateMint and it is quite good. It smells like a chocolate candy bar, tastes like water, and has this AMAZING aftertaste of a Girl Scout's Thin Mint cookie!! Such a cool thing to sip on when I am feeling the need!!
Well- happy eating!

Out of the Box!

2010-02-12T15:11:00.004-06:00

Today was my third visit to my wellness doctor! I was a bit nervous because I have to keep an exact food diary of everything I have eaten!! EVERYTHING! :) So- she highlighted my one piece of chocolate and mt gulp of sweet tea. I don't like that highlighter- BUT I didn't do as bad as I thought. She added two more supplements to help draw out the metal i have in my system, yay.

This past week was hard because I was stuck in the I CAN'T HAVE IT box of thought. Then, after I sat down to plan out my menus for the week, I realized that everything will be okay. :) I am SO thankful that I have been making out menus each week for the past 6 months or so, or this would be even harder!! My brief version of my menu till next friday (changing my shopping day from Wed to Fri):
Fri-Garlic Ginger Chicken Kabobs (zucchini, mush onion and chkn) with cabbage salad
Sat- Faux Spaghetti, with spaghetti squash, beef and homemade tom sauce (so it's sugar free)
Sun- Salmon with twice baked loaded potatoes (without cheese and saving the scooped skins to make snacks out of)
Mon- Rosemary/Lemon kabobs with pineapple (i just wont eat it)
Tues- Pork Loin(with soy, lime, pepper and garlic) and asparagus
Wed- Stuffed chicken (silken tofu, mushroom, pepper, garlic, lemon stuffed and wrapped in bacon) and brocollini (and rice for matt)
Thursday- "hamburgers" with Sprouted bread (or maybe i can find something at the health food store that is wheat/dairy/surgar/corn free) and Sweet potato fries

This week's appointment ruled out rice! Not that I had an last week, but I was hoping for some rice made penne pasta I found at the health food store!! She also mentioned that when I have my sugar craving- to eat a low sugar fruit (since all fruits are off limits) like strawberry, blackberry or blueberry. So I got a frozen bag just to have in case :)

Also, I never realized how much diary I really ate (besides ice cream :D)! I miss cheese on breakfast items, sour cream with certain dinners, cream cheese in some recipes, chocolate milk, and yogurt for dipping sauces.

Today I found some sugar free, dairy free and wheat free blue cheese flavored dressing, it didn't have anything corn related in it either!! I grabbed it up and didn't even look at the price tag!

Well, enough for now- other than I don't really feel all that different yet, because I am supposed to be on my cycle right now. That was a whole story in itself, but I am three days late and have no idea what's going on. Only time will tell on this one I guess :)

Happy eating :)

NRT Results are in...

2010-02-07T15:47:00.005-06:00

Okay, first I must say that I was a bit nervous to know how my tests came out and then nervous about the foods test!! When going into the office we went over all the payment issues, problems and the overall plan. 6 weeks every week- like a detox, 12 week maintenance which is every other week and then every month and then every 6 months and then once a year. I then SIGNED THE CONTRACT saying I would do her recommendations s closely as possible and stick with it long enought ot get maximum results! EEK!

The results were amazing! With my physical fitness and BMI and nervous system tests- I was 70 years old!!! OMG- I am only 27 really- i promise!! My parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems aren't really cooperating with each other and are "locked" into place. This is the best way to describe it! My BMI should be 28-30% and I am only at 33.8%, so I am not so so bad there:). With the active reflex test, the results were: Weak muscles due to a food stressor, blocked by scars, switched by immune and metal stressor, and liver and kidney/adrenal.

The blocked by scars means that my body wont accept change at all because of some reaction by body does with my scars. I think this is a little strange, but I know she gets results :). We tested every little scar and now to unblock them, I rub Wheat Germ Oil on my arm, tattoo, one IV scar and my apesiatomy (spelling?) twice a day. I am also taking Mulitzyne at breakfast and dinner and next week will start pulling the metal out with Chalacol II and Paratid Pmq.

Okay- so then came the food test. I can't have wheat, which includes anything with any flour, and no grains like millet, rye spelt, etc.! I can't have corn, which is corn flour, popcorn, corn syrup- anything corn. No dairy, but eggs are okay. And no sugar.
Dairy wont be an issue for me, because I don't eat anything but maybe a little cheese hear and there. The wheat, grains and sugar are SO hard for me!!! I can have Ezekiel bread- because it is sprouted- live- like the plant not the grain. So that's good- now I am just researching how to make it so I don't have to buy it at $5 a loaf in the freezer section!

Everyday I have to keep a food diary and list everything I eat or drink. This isn't too hard except it really keeps you monitoring what your eating; I tend to eat without thinking!

MY CHALLENGES THIS WEEK:
Well, this has only been a couple days, but I am having a really hard time with the sugar!! I want my daily Dr. Pepper, I want some chocolate, and I want some cookies!!! I can't even have salad dressing!!! humph....

Sorry if this is boring some of you, but I want a place to share my experience each week :)

Below is what I had for lunch- I made a dressing with vinegar, oil, basil and a tiny plop of miracle whip lite to thicken it up. yum.

Whew, what a LONG break!

2010-02-03T21:40:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it's been a very long time since I have blogged. My life has been good, but I am in a slump- a down slump. :(

First thing, what posses people to randomly and out of the blue be mean to you? I guess this is when I should ditch my whole plan of trying to explain, stick up for myself and decide they have serious issues. Instead, I will just say that karma will come around and bite them :)

Lately I have really enjoyed being a hermit and trying to recoup my housekeeping skills :). I have gotten on this FlyLady kick for several months now and have decluttered a lot! It does make me feel loads better giving awa things I don't need/want and having a cleaner home. I do think that in her program she gives too much. I guess some peopl who have 'clean' homes throw away or get rid of all these things everyday and have the mentality that when/if they do need it, they will just buy one. Well- on a budget that just doesn't work. SO giving away everything isn't my stle, but I love the rest of the system!

OKAY, THE BIG NEWS. I am walking into a newlife changing chapter of my life! It is starting with a new doctor! I go tomorrow to go through a nutrion response test, which looks strange but I think it will work. I am hoping to pin point trigger foods for my belly issues, help my shoulder pain, my mood and loose a few pounds in my process. I will keep posting my progress :)

Well, more posting more often :)

Successful Bloggers-

2009-07-27T08:17:00.001-05:00

I see these mom bloggers who have been SO successful in their blogs and have been doing it for years, like Classy Mommy and 5 Minutes for Mom. I wonder how they started and how they got there? With thousands more mom bloggers this year than there were several years ago, can you actually be so successful that companies find you? I find that simply amazing!
It could only be a fantasy here, being able to write everyday, review products, live a life in person with my family and online (my addiction), but three things will always prevent me. Time, money and distraction :).

Time because well- blogging does take time and I have a fairly large home to keep, coupons to clip and time to spend with my family :). Money because surely it takes some money to start up if you are serious and get big. Search engine sites, products to actually buy, new computers and softwares, technical support guys…the list can rack up. We are struggling just to keep our happy bellies as it is. And distractions… I am such a wierdo! I get so distracted on the computer! I sit down to do one thing that should take me 5 min, but then I end up sitting on the computer during the whole nap time and nothing got done! I know if I was blogging a lot- well I would never get my rump out from in front of this screen!! :)

I say congrats to those moms who put so much efforts into their blogs, and I give them applause!! You go Mommies!!

online offers

2009-07-26T22:28:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to foward this lady's pretty detailed advice on making money through online offers. Sounds a little convincing, but I am not sure I would be able to keep up with it all!!

I won!

2009-07-25T19:29:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I won the Annabel Karmel Books over at The Shopping Mama. The giveaway I won included 3 of her books: First Meals And More: Your Questions Answered, I Can Eat A Rainbow and Cook It Together. Kate at The Shopping Mama also did an interview with Annabel Karmel that you can check out here.

I love these books already and I have only had them a few days! When my little bug and I sat on the floor to open the package, the first book we pulled out was the board book- she sat and looked at that book forever!! And she kept signing “please”, I think because she wanted the food on the pictures :)

The pictures are all SO vivid and you feel like they could almost be 3D! The Cook It Together book is a great book for little bugs fist cookbook in the upcoming years! It is so much better than my first cookbook oh so many years ago!

I also like ALL the information that Annabel Karmel gives in the book for each of the food stages. From nutritional info, to what to expect in their eating habits, to answering common questions.

I love these books! :)

I also have won a dress from Pick Your Pocket Studios at a giveaway from Cafe Handmade.

I also have won a Giggle Bug Tracker from Mommy PR.

AND :) A book called The Green Year from Eco-Libre’s Blog.

Today’s shopping trip!

2009-07-24T16:29:00.001-05:00

Well, I shop at an HEB and I got a pretty good deal.

I saved $25 with printed and clipped coupons on stuff I needed. I only bought 1 splurge purchase! –Duncan Hines Triple Decadence brownies bc I had a coupon for two, and they make the PERFECT BROWNIE when mixed with Betty Crocker's Original Supreme, which I got two on a coupon a few weeks back!!!

I use MamaCheaps.com to get a lot of coupons and great deals!! I also use some sites to print coupons from. You need to check her site out, it’s so amazing what all you can stumble upon there! I am still a new follower, but she has some good deals listed. On thing I like was she linked to a database that keeps a list of places that kids eat free.

Some other good sites that are good are Consumer Queen, Stretching a Buck, and even thought it’s not fab- this site for printable coupons for other stores.

I have really been feeling the ‘penny pinching’ lately! It seems that no matter how hard I try, still things seem tight!

I did find some $2.97 pajama’s at The Children’s Place yesterday! They were on sale for 6.99 and they were having a 50% off that price and I had a 15% coupon (good on all purchases through sept 1st!), so they were 2.97 a piece!! Needless to say, I bought a few more than I needed in a larger size :)!!

That’s it for today! I am hoping that I can get some more things done (stuffing all the diapers that are out on the line and picking up the toy stations that are spread all around!) before I need to get the stuff ready for the lake!! Yay!

WOO HOO!!! PopATot!

2009-07-23T14:19:00.004-05:00

Okay- So today I recieved my PopATot from http://www.popatot.com/!

It is SUCH a cool product and I can't wait to use it at races, the lake, well just anywhere!!!

It came in a small box- and of course little bug had to help me open it! She just liked the umbrella :)

She's kinda used to the excersaucer where she can move around in a circle, so this will take a little time to get used too, but I know it will be SO handy where there is a crowd and she can't just walk around freely :).

Well- I cannot wait to use this for more than a few minutes!! (The UPS guy came right before naptime..) I think we are making it an excuse for a lake day!!

I will post about it again when we take it to a race- I am just so thrilled!!

Thank you PopATot for making such a great product!!

Been a little MIA-- so here's a giveaway!

2009-06-21T11:36:00.002-05:00

I have been a little MIA for a bit- kind of takin a interent break :)

Today I wanted to kick start my come-back with a giveaway I found online! I love following ConsumerQueen.com on my RSS- she's always got some goods deals and things to read about!

This month she is doing a Longaberger Contest- there is some great stuff to giveaway!! So go check it out because it is great stuff, nine winners and lots of ways to enter!! :)

Here's the link for the giveaway!!

Workin on the birthday stuff!

2009-05-21T15:00:00.015-05:00

Well, little bug is turning one soon :) So I am trying to work on some stuff for her birthday :) We shopped a BOGO Fisher Price Sale at TRU earlier in the year and got birthday and Christmas presents :) So she has a ride on Noah's ark thing, a Sesame St. phone thing (that someone gave her for Christmas that was a little too much for her, so I saved it), and I know her grandparents are getting her a push stroller thingy. :)

I am not a HUGE fan of plastic toys- but we do have several. I also do toy rotations, so some toys get put away for a week or more...

I am the greenest in our family I think, although my mother is getting very Eco-friendly and has started recycling :) Anyway- so we are having it at her house (she has a GREAT yard in the country), using real plates and real glasses and I made this cool banner...I just need to stitch it together.
How cool that she can use this every year for her birthday as decoration?

AND yes- that is a tanning bed- it belongs to Mack Daddy! He got it years ago, and it now just take up room in my craft room :). Hey- good work space I guess- ooh and a place to hide junk inside :)

I also sent these little invitations (I whited out the info), and I made envelopes from old envelopes turned inside out and folded to fit. :)
Amazing what you can do with card stock and some crayola markers :)

Again, here's my test run cake! I found some sprinkles on clearance at Walmart, big circle ones, and I think once the icing is tented and the sprinkles are on- it will look much more festive!

Below are pictures of the little tags (from a paper bag), and the goodie bags I whipped up for the guests! Four boys, three girls, one for each of our parents, and the eight pink ones for the adults (1 per couple). I am filling them with goodies from etsy! I'll make a goodie bag post once I get them all ready with all the yummy details inside!!

I am having so much fun! I really wanted this party thing to be a low-key deal, yet at the same time making it special for me and the grandparents! I have been SO horrible at making and keeping friends- she doesn't really have... well any one year old friends coming to the party!
Just will be family and a couple really close friends.

Well- I have about a week left until her party- she won't know it's not on the DAY right? We are doing it on a Saturday.

I'll make a post about the goodie bags -- keep an eye out!

Upcycled Jewelry Giveaway!

2009-05-12T17:01:00.004-05:00

My friend over at Barely Domestic is giving away fun jewelry made by Jupita, and DropsofJupita.

This is cool stuff!! My fav is the cuppycake gift card bracelet- what a neat idea!!

See Kai Run Giveaway-

2009-05-12T16:04:00.003-05:00

My friends over at A Latte in the Morning has a post HERE, for a giveaway of See Kai Run shoes!!

I have never owned a pair of these shoes, but they look SO cute and I love that they have sizes from newborn to like 8 years old!!

Go check out the post for the giveaway and also head on over to See Kai Run and check out their new sandals and their ever so cute tenny look alikes!!! How cute!

This Past Weekend...

2009-05-11T16:48:00.004-05:00

So- we got all packed up and started to head out of town before little bug's afternoon nap. As we were running to get out the door so fussy little one could rest, I decided I needed something to work on. So I ran quickly inside and grabbed a pair of denim shorts (from my large stash under the dresser for up cycling), needle and thread, scissors, and a bag of buttons threw them in a craft bag and ran back out the door. I was determined to make something and make my hour and a half car ride useful!
Mack Daddy started driving and we weren't even to the highway yet before I was already cutting up! It was a little challenging using my lap as a table, no pen to mark my lines first and no pins to hold pieces together- but somehow I managed to cut up a flower shape. After I cut it out, I realized that my attempted flower might end up looking more like a morphed creature...

I also forgot how much harder hand sewing is. Well, not so much harder just tedious! I managed to get it all sewn and one button eye stitched. I am planning on filling it with old wipey refill bags. I'll come back and post a pic in a couple days!

We managed to stop and shop a little at Whole Foods- I love it there- and we ate at a little diner. It was SO yummy and it gave little bug a chance to stretch her legs! She is a great travelor, but she can't last for a really long time without using her new skill- walking!

Mack Daddy took little bug swinmming for the first time this season- she was still getting used to the water in the pic below. Adter a while she did manage to feel comfortable splashing and letting her daddy twirl her around!

Below is little bug hanging out in her stroller during Mack Daddy's race! She was not so interested! :)

Test run of cupcake-cake!

2009-05-04T22:16:00.002-05:00

Today was one of those fast days. I made a pizza this morning for brunch and then started looking for recipes for my cake :).

Little bug's first birthday is coming up and I wanted to make a cake-but a little bit of a healthier one. I just think that one is NOT the magic age!! Why should all the sudden we shove sugar in their face? SO- I have lots of peaches stored up in my freezer and wanted to use that in a cake. Lo and behold lots of people have already had a peach spice cake idea :).

The pan I used is a Wilton pan and is a big cupcake!! (they have large cupcakes that are smaller than this HUGE one too) It has a top and bottom section all on one solid tray- and is non-stick coated, which is great because it has lots of crevices. I mixed the batter - that turned out like brownie batter, and then added the non-sweetned peaches I had pulsed in the food processor. There was this neat little reaction very similar to when you make batters with buttermilk; a light and airy transformation!

The batter smelled delicious and it smelled even better coming out of the oven!! (Which I was so surprised because the only spice/flavor is peach and cinnamon.)

I made a simple cream cheese icing for the top and tried to airate it as much as possible in the mixer- but it can only get so 'fluffy'!! I don't think I have iced a cake in years, so I'm semi-happy with my icing job!

I am now on the hunt for a healthier version of the cream cheese/powdered sugar icing to go with the scrumptious cake that I will serve about a month from now :). And maybe a way to make giant sprinkles?

Now, I gotta find someone to help me eat this cake that keeps staring at me like a giant cupcake shrine :)

There are some cute pictures of people who used this pan to make some awesome creations here at Amazon.

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The view today is great :)

2009-05-03T17:01:00.001-05:00

Well I am sitting outside in an upcycled metal lounge chair with an old towel and pillow. The air is sweet smelling, like honeysuckle, and the air is perfect in the shade! Little bug is sound asleep with a late nap and the afternoonis just simply lovely!!

As I look up the beautiful little oak tree growing huge leaves, the birds are chirping away, they always seem to be most lively after a good rain!

It's hard sometimes to just sit back and enjoy the simplest things in life- like the rustling of the oak leaves as the wind passes them. Or the unique pattern of her bark.

On another note- my crazy nieces are visiting for the week because their schools closed down for the week! I know the swine flu is a horrible thing, but hundreds of folks die each year from the regular ole flu every year- with a vaccine!! But I guess I do see that the schools want to sanitize EVERYThING- and that takes a while. Plus- whens the last time you think ANYONE sanitized the playgrounds or school desks or the nooks in the hallways? :) at least they are doing that :)

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Goji berries

2009-05-02T17:39:00.001-05:00

Yum! We got some berries in the mail from redflowerltd.com. I wasn't sure what to expect but I've heard that they are the superfood of all superfoods and with a toddler an athlete of a husband and me who just all around is trying to make some lifestyle changes, I thought it would at least be a fun expierence.

This picture is little bug curious about the new goodies. She can't have them dried just yet- but it won't be long.

Well they came in a pretty big bag so I divided them into bags and used the nifty little battery operated suction wand. I hadn't really used it much, but it did a pretty good job.

Okay- back to the berries. They were tasty just out of the bag. They tatse similar to small raisens with a little bit of eathy taste. I did try the next day to rehydrate some in some water. The water left was super yummy with a tiny bit of sugar- like earthy sweet tea. In fact the berries that were hydrated tasted like a flavored tea. That's the best way to describe it :)

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Spring is here!!

2009-05-02T17:21:00.002-05:00

This morning I went out to look at my rose bushes when little bug went for a nap. There was this awesome huge dragonfly! He had to be three inches long and had such a defined face!! He looked so peaceful!

I also saw a tiny green bug on another and a teeny tiny little grey one on another! It was so refreshing because these bushes I planted and honestly kinda forgot about! Then about a week ago I pulled out all the ivy growing and the little plants. The roses seemed to thank me by growing wonderfly sweet smelling and HUGE flowers!!

Mack daddy got a kayak and so we all loaded up for only the second time and headed to the lake. We did have a lot of fun, and little bug went for a ride!! When I put the life jacket on her- her little face squished up like a fat kid and she kept falling over! It was so freakin halarious that I thought I was going to TT my shorts!!

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