Wordless Wednesday: Blueberries & Snuggles

Dapper Snapper Is Turning 1

Ya'll may remember my Dapper Snapper review a few weeks back. Well, they are turning one this week. To celebrate the Toddler Tech USA birthday, they are offering a coupon code for buy 2, get 1 free. Just enter the code Happy1year at Toddler Tech USA.

Also, this week, 20% of the the online sales will be donated to Reece's Rainbow, a charity that promotes and facilitates international adoptions of children with Down's Syndrome. You can read more about the cause or donate at the Dapper Snapper blog, Mamapreneur Ordinaire.

Magnet Messages

Do you think my 4 year old is trying to tell me something?

I considered leaving him a reply: Only in your dreams, sweetheart.

Sensodyne Pronamel for Children Review

My little one has always surprised me with how much he loves to brush his teeth. He even loves going to the dentist. Definitely not the norm! But, I couldn't be happier that brushing and dentist visits are so easy going.

We recently had the chance to try Sensodyne Pronamel for Children. It's the first toothpaste for kids that has been proven to re-harden tooth enamel to help protect against acid erosion and cavities.Acid erosion can be caused by many foods, such as fruits, juices, ketchup, and soda, among others. It can thin tooth enamel and over time can change how teeth look and feel.

My son enjoyed the flavor, Gentle Mint. It was not overpowering like many adult toothpastes, but left teeth feeling clean afterward.

Wondering what else you can do to prevent acid erosion?

• Find out which foods are highly acidic.
• Encourage kids to drink juices through a straw to minimize contact with teeth.
• Have kids brush their teeth before eating or an hour or more after. Teeth are most susceptible to further damage right after eating acidic foods or drinks.
• Talk to your child's dentist at the next visit.

For more info on Sensodyne Pronamel for Children or acid erosion, you can check out the Sensodyne website.

Summertime Smiles

Summer seems to bring all sorts of smiles around here.

UPrinting.com is trying to find the best summer photo out there and is giving away $250 and a canvas print.

UPrinting.com is a leading online provider of business cards, color brochures and mailing postcards.

I am...

I am helping my sister move. For the 3rd day.
I am tired of driving the hour or more there, getting lost, and driving an hour or more home.

I am trying to get all of my own stuff caught up.
I am sore.
I am barely able to turn my neck from straining something.
I am absolutely exhausted.

But, I am so thankful my son slept in til 10:30 today.
Wahoo!

Small Talk Six: Magical Glasses

Over at Small Talk Six, today’s topic is “if you had magical sunglasses, name 6 things you would like to see with them.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

1. I'd love to see some of the "firsts" with my son again. First smile, first word, first steps.
2. I'd love to be able to check in on other family members, who live far away. Just to be sure they're okay.

3. I'd like to see my hubby as a child. I have next to no pictures of him growing up, and he doesn't talk about it often. I think it would be interesting to see.

4. I'd like to glimpse a few moments from my own high school days. There were some that I wouldn't mind seeing again.
5. I'd love to see how I look through other people's eyes. I know that sounds strange, but I wonder if others see me the same way I do when I look in the mirror.

6. Finally, I'd like to see my wedding day over again. It was such an amazing day, I wish we had more photos.

Mommy Confessions #5

I can't believe it's Friday already. And that means it's also time to confess...
Hi, my name is Staci, and I am a coffee addict. I can't get through the day without three a cup. I know I haven't had my quota for the day when my head starts to throb and my patience starts to wear very thin.

Hubby told me last week that I have a problem, after finishing a grande cup in under ten minutes. He just doesn't understand.
And now my cup's empty, so I'm off to brew another.

Welcome to it...

Sometimes I get so depressed looking at other blogs (and people in general). You know the people: their house is always clean, everybody is always happy, they always look amazing.

I'm so not one of those people. My house is a mess most days: toys strewn across the floor, dishes that need done, all that.

My kid pouts. A LOT.

My cat wants to eat the gerbils. The gerbils we bought exactly one week ago tomorrow. The same ones that had babies within 3 days. 8 babies.

The same *@!$^&* gerbils that ate some of their babies. Leaving me absolutely sick to my stomach, trying to calm down a 4 year old freaking out.

I'm the one with a kid who now walks around talking about gerbil babies being eaten and animals mating. The one with a kid who asks how we knew which gerbil was the daddy (since we had to take him out). Then follows with, "I know, the daddy has a pee-pee. Wait. Does that mean the mommy can't pee? How does a mommy pee? ... Mommy, how does the mommy pee?!"

This is my life. Welcome to it. I'm not perfect, my house isn't perfect, my little one...well, of course he's perfect (to me).

Oh, and I have a zit on my chin. La dee freakin' da.

Clean + Green Review

Our house is a zoo sometimes. Between little ones and critters, I'm not sure which drive me more crazy some days-and I'm really not sure which ones make more of a mess.

We recently had the chance to try out Clean + Green Odor Eliminator for Carpet & Upholstery and for Auto. The Odor Eliminator works by deep cleaning, eliminating odor, and removing stains. It's simple to use too, just spray. No scrubbing, no soaking, nothing.

Unfortunately, I had the perfect room to try out the Odor Eliminator. You see, our cat has something against our guest room. We do our best to keep her out, but every now and then she sneaks in. And she feels the need to leave her smell behind when she leaves. I have cleaned, I have scrubbed, I have done everything I could think of, to no avail. The room still had a lingering stink.

So this week I tested out the Clean + Green Odor Eliminator, and it manged to remove the not-so-pleasant kitty stink. Following the directions, I applied a wide area of spray to the stinky spot until damp, but not soaked, then allowed it to dry, and checked back. And then I may have done a little happy dance. Partly because I'm crazy, and partly because I'm so glad to say our carpet no longer smells like a cat!

Clean + Green is a definite keeper in our house. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it works so well. I'm glad to finally have something that is safe to use around pets and kids, while still taking the stink out!

Wordless Wednesday: Berry Picking

There's a Mirror in my Bed

Every night before I go to sleep, I check on the little one and drag him half asleep out of bed to use the bathroom. It's my way of trying to avoid being woken up an hour later by someone needing to pee but too scared to venture through the hallway alone.

As I tuck him back under the covers last night, his eyes popped open, and he whispered, "Momma, there's a mirror in my bed... And a brush... And a comb."

I start to run my hands through the covers, and discover the mirror first. I asked him why he had all this stuff hoarded in his bed. The response? A quiet, half-asleep mumble of "I wanted to fix my do before bed, momma."

Good thing he's cute. Or I just might go insane.

Edited to add: I am going insane. Right as I finished typing this, I heard little foot steps going to the bathroom. And I crept up the stairs to find the little one in bed with a mirror-again. "But, momma, I wanted my hair to be just right!"

Free Ecards

With summer coming, we have a lot of birthdays coming up. I always forget to pick up cards at the store. Or I leave them at home when we go to a party. Or, like my nephew's card, I find it in my trunk a year later.

Over at Got Free Cards, you can send out free ecards with a simple mouse click. If you prefer free printable cards, you can find those there as well. From encouragement cards, to well wishes, to free birthday cards, they have them all.

I adore the love cards. And since hubby and I rarely spend money on cards, even at special occasions, I think these are a perfect way to say I love you anytime. If you're having a tough time picking out a favorite card to send, you can check out the editor's choice section, where the editors have posted all their favorites. It's an easy way to narrow down the huge selection they offer.

So, if you're in need of a last minute card. Or just want to show someone that you're thinking of them, be sure to check out Got Free Cards. A simple, and thoughtful way to send a card! My hubby just might get one in his inbox later today.

I am participating in "Jump Start Your Blog Contest" sponsored by got-free-ecards and MomDot.

Hair Cut in Under 10

I haven't cut my hair in 3 years. Not even a trim.

It's not that I wanted to grow my hair out. Mostly that I'm too lazy to go get it done, can't find the time, or just can't decide how I want it.

But today I broke down. It had been far too long, and the split ends were driving me crazy. So I got about an inch or so taken off. Nothing major, but it left my hair looking a little healthier than before.

Since I made the decision last minute, I went to a walk-in place beside Target. Bad choice. I signed in, waited a few minutes, and was called back. It took exactly 5 and a half minutes from my name being called to when I paid and headed out the door. 5 1/2 minutes!

The girl barely asked me what I wanted done and didn't even offer to dry or style my hair. She wet it with a spray bottle, cut, and was heading to the register. Needless to say, I was more than annoyed.

Getting my hair cut, even a trim, should be a pleasant break for me. I don't need to feel like the girl cutting it is doing it on a timer.

Maybe I should just be happy that she didn't screw it up.

Happy Father's Day!

Hope all the dads out there have a wonderful day!

My hubby will be enjoying some triple chocolate brownie pops and a lot of snuggles from a sugared up little one! (Should I mention how many pieces of chocolate he stole? Probably not.)

JumpStart Review

My 4 year old loves playing games on the computer. But, there are so many options out there, and unless I'm sitting right next to him, I'm afraid of what he may be playing. So, he's restricted to a hand full of sites to navigate on his own.
He recently had the chance to try out JumpStart 3D Virtual World. JumpStart offers adventure-based games geared towards kids 3-10. The activities are intended to be both educational and entertaining. Within the JumpStart site, there are various worlds that you can upgrade to for $7.99 a month, including StoryLand (for ages 3-5), Adventureland (for ages 5-7), and FutureLand (for ages 7-10).

My 4 year old loved that he could personalize his character, and tried to make the avatar look just like him. He found the 3D world easy to navigate once we got started. And even though I try to be nearby when he's playing on the computer, I felt confident that I could walk away without hearing, "Mommy, I need your help" every 5 seconds.

He reported that his favorite part was "flying a spaceship to collect things" and that he "loved going to the arcade." Overall, he really enjoyed playing, and I liked that he was able to play on his own with confidence. I also appreciate the fact that there is a forum to read or ask questions. It made things so much simpler when we had a concern.

If you think your kids would enjoy the site too, be sure to check out JumpStart.com. JumpStart will also be coming out on Wii soon, and I have a feeling we just might have to try it out!

Small Talk Six: All About Dad

Today’s topic for Small Talk Six is “6 things you think the father of your children deserve to have.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

So here goes:

1. A healthy relationship with his son, and plenty of time to maintain it.2. A wife who loves him-most days at least.
3. A job he enjoys (or at least doesn't hate).

4. The chance to relax every now and then.

5. A home cooked meal a few nights a week, even if he has to help cook it.

6. Hugs and kisses from the little one and me.

Mommy Confessions #4

It's that time again, time to confess something that's weighing on my mind.

I confess...I really don't want to go to work when my son starts school this year. Hubby wants me to start working more this summer, since his schedule would allow me to pick up extra hours, and he hopes I will find a full time job in the fall.

I don't. I want to be at home to send my son off to school. I want to be waiting when he comes home. What if he's sick and needs to stay home? What if he has something special at school and wants me to come? What if he just needs me?

I want to be there.

My thoughts are, if we can afford it, why not? I have never been the get out there and get ahead kind of girl. I'm perfectly content to be mom. I would so much rather be at home than sitting in an office somewhere.

Are you confessing anything this week?

Bugs Bugs Bugs

I hate bugs. They make me run swatting in the other direction.

But, I have a little boy. A little boy who loves bugs. He wants to know everything he can about them. And who could deny helping him learn?

So we've been exploring bugs. Luckily, it's been raining, so I've been able to avoid going out and catching real ones.

But, we've read about them, told stories about them, sung about them. I'm bring home a baby bumblebee, won't my mommy be so proud of me...

And we've created them:

From caterpillars (named Phil):

To a whole fleet of butterflies:
(Before)

Butterflies are created on coffee filters with markers, than sprayed with water. To make beautifully colored wings.
(After)

These are about the only bugs I like. I'm not looking forward to the nicer weather this weekend, because I know someone will want to go out and catch creepy crawlies. Can't he just be satisfied with the ones we made ourselves?

Winners

Winner of their very own Norman PhartEphant is...

AJ @ A Little Bit Nutty said...

You are on my blog roll!

June 5, 2009 3:12 PM

Here are your random numbers:

33 

Timestamp: 2009-06-17 04:52:08 UTC

And winner of the Treasures readers is...

cpullum said...

Weekly visits to the library keeps them reading! We even go to the thrift stores in search for books!
They have so much fun!
Carla

June 2, 2009 11:16 AM

Here are your random numbers:

1 

Timestamp: 2009-06-17 04:53:11 UTC

Congrats! You both will be receiving an email from me and will need to respond within 48 hours. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Wordless Wednesday: Safari Style

Peter Rabbit Review

We eat a lot of junk food in this house. Shh...don't tell! It's really not all that bad, but my little one (and hubby) both have a huge sweet tooth. With the little one, I've been offering fruit as an alternative to other sweets. And, surprisingly, he has welcomed trying new ones.

That's why we were excited when we had the opportunity to try Peter Rabbit Organics 100% Pure Fruit Snack pouches. Peter Rabbit Organics offer a variety of products, from juices to pasta to cookies, among others. Their goal is to provide parents with healthy, organic children's food with no added salt or sugar.

All of their products are organic, salt free, sugar free, and lack anything artificial. The fruit snack pouches we tried contain a full serving of fruit in each pouch and come in three flavors: Apple and Grape, Strawberry and Banana, and Mango, Banana and Orange. The pouches are easy to open and easy to take on the go. Simply drop them in a diaper bag, lunch box, or purse and you're good to go. You can eat straight from the pouch.

It took a minute for my 4 year old to process what he was eating, because it's thick like applesauce, but he was drinking it like a smoothie. But after that initial moment of being unsure, he really enjoyed it. Our favorite flavor is the Mango, Banana and Orange. Yum!
These will make great snacks when we're out and about or a yummy breakfast in the car. For those moments when we're rushing out the door and someone's yelling that they are so hungry, we'll be able to grab a fruit snack pouch, and I will know just how good of a snack it really is.

If you think your kids will love it too, you can check out where to buy them over at Peter Rabbit Organics.

I'm a Mess

Is it just me, or does exhaustion come right along with summer?

It seems there aren't enough hours in the day to fit in all the running, exploring, and play that a 4 year old gets into. The days are longer, and yet, night time rolls around, and nothing is done. My to-do list grows and grows, and nothing seems to get crossed off. Bedtime comes later and later, dinnertime gets simplified, and bath times occasionally get missed (shhh...).

Even though I haven't managed to vacuum, catch up on laundry, or stock the pantry this week, I go to bed happy. I go to bed knowing we had fun. My little one learned something new, experienced something different, or just enjoyed spending time with me.

Maybe some day I'll find a balance, where the house is clean and we still have plenty of time to have fun. But, for now, I'll survive with dishes sitting in the sink and laundry spewing out of hamper. At least when we're outside exploring, I won't have to see the mess.

Dapper Snapper Review

My 4 year old is such an active kid. Like any 4 year old, he runs, and runs, and runs. But, he's so tall and skinny that he has to deal with his drawers drooping constantly.

I tell him twenty times a day to pull up his pants. And every now and then, his pants drooping has even caused him to fall. (I never did said grace ran in my family.)

Dapper Snappers, invented by a fellow mom, have come to the rescue. They arrived a few weeks ago, and have gotten constant use. Dapper Snappers are designed to solve the droopy drawer dilemma.
To use, you simply loop the Dapper Snapper through the back three belt loops and snap the outer two snaps. It eliminates belt struggles when my son flies off to the potty at the last second, and it allows him to wear pants that are comfortable and stay sitting at his waist.

I love the simplicity of the Dapper Snapper, it was holding up my little one's drawers within seconds, no struggling, so hassle. They are recommended for age 9 months to 5 years. My son is big for a 4 year (and wears size 6), but he thought the Dapper Snapper was comfortable. After it was on, he completely forgot it was there.

We are thrilled with the Dapper Snapper. It's now become part of our daily wardrobe.

If you are interested in buying your own, be sure to check out Dapper Snapper or order at Toddler Tech USA.

Can I recommend the sedatives?

Have I mention that I hate shopping?

Ok, I probably have.

Let me first set the scene. We went shopping bright and early this morning. Very early. Momma doesn't do mornings. Momma especially doesn't do mornings when there's no coffee involved.

We hit the yard sales, completely drama free. Then my sister talks me into a trip to the mall. I make a wrong turn, landing us preciously in the middle of nowhere. How did I mess up simple directions?

I'm going to blame the crying 4 year old, screaming in my ear that he just wants to go home. After begging to go. Maybe it was the book he chucked up at me? Or maybe it was my own screaming towards the backseat?

We finally arrive, and little man is a pure ball of energy. Seriously would love to know who spiked his sippy cup. With the way he bounced off the walls, you'd think he had been chugging coffee all morning instead of water.

As we pay, the sweet old lady at the register asks about him, tells us about her kids and grandkids, and makes small talk. But as we walk away, she leans over to me and says, "I recommend sedatives." And that was it.

Seriously, lady, for me or him?

Small Talk Six: Looky What I Made

This week's Small Talk Six from MomDot is getting a little crafty. They want to know 6 things you’ve made during your lifetime that you were proud of (can be a craft, a dish, . . . anything).

1. Birthday cakes at my son's party last year:

2. School bus cake:

3. Watermelon basket for wedding party:
4. Car party favors for my son's 3rd b-day (huge hit):
5. Display for my research paper required to graduated with my Bachelors:
6. And of course, so proud I created my crazy little one:

Mommy Confessions #3

Oh, what to confess this week...

To be perfectly honest, my son watches too much tv. What was my first hint? Was it when I realized he could sing the whole theme song to Phineas & Ferb, Backyardigans, and Go Diego Go? Not quite.

Was it when he recited the entire commercial for Cereal Straws in the middle of the grocery store, much to the horror of the mom standing nearby? You put it in and sip, sip, sip... Still not quite.

Was it when he asked grandpa for Benderoos, "that only cost $19.99. You can call now or go online to benderoos.com to order"? Yep, that was the moment. Too much tv, and a mom who felt the need to crawl under a rock. Ugh.
Are you feeling the need to confess? Have something you need to get out there? Join in on Mommy Confessions over at Life Starring the Kids & Me.

House Rules

Lately I've been thinking a little more about house rules. Maybe it's because the little one's been extra grumpy (or maybe because the big one has been grumbly too). But, we've been reassessing and trying to find out what works better for us.
After almost 5 years,you'd think we would have figured this out already. But it seems like a never-ending process. Trying to find routine and rules that fit our needs.

As it is, our rules are pretty simple:

• Respect one another (No hitting, punching, kicking, backtalk, etc)
• Respect the house (Pick up after yourself, don't break things)
• Listen & do as you're asked (Works much better in theory)

Maybe it's because I grew up without a lot of rules, but it's been tough for me to know how to set them. But I also know the house runs so much smoother with them in place.

Do you have set house rules? How do you make sure the house runs smoothly?