Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Review: Fooz Kids

When I was contacted by Fooz Kids, I was excited to try their kid-friendly app out.

It was easy to install. Just download onto your computer and install. Ta-Da, you're done. Next, you can set up an account for your child. Since this was geared for Olivia *Alex hasn't quite gotten her track pad skills down* her user name is Princess Olivia, fitting, right? I am also able to select the content she can view that is age appropriate. Fooz Kids app makes this easy because it lets you select your child's age range and you can de-select the ones that aren't in that range.

I showed Olivia how to click on the different pictures and she was taken right to the website. She loves watching videos, playing games, and printing out coloring pages for later. This app makes it SO simple for her to "browse" the web.

It's also very nice that in order to exit the app, you have to put in a password. So, it's nice that I know she's only viewing what I want her to, and not accidentally deleting photos off our computer.

This app has also introduced her to a couple of new things as well. She's learned about Angelina the Ballerina and Barney. By far her favorite is Mr Roger's Neighborhood and Sesame Street.

This is a great app for parents of children ages 2 to 9 years old. It allows them to view the things they want, and gives you peace of mind that they're not deleting things off your hard drive by accident.

Here are a few photos of Olivia using the app:


If you're interested in trying out the Fooz Kids app, please contact me and I'll be glad to let you try it for free!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Tis the Season....

Yeah, I know. It's not even Halloween and I'm already thinking about Christmas! I'm sorry, but I LOVE Christmas time.

I'm not kidding. I put up the decorations every year the day after Thanksgiving. While everyone else is going bananas of Black Friday deals, I'm at home listening to Christmas music putting up my tree and hanging the ornaments. I take everything down New Years Day.

There is nothing better than sitting in the living room at night and the only light is the lights on your tree. LOVE IT!

I'm already thinking about our Christmas cards. I LOVE TinyPrints. I ordered the BEST Mother's and Father's Day cards from them every year. I love how you can take your own photos and put them on high quality cards. I even love that they will address each envelope with the address you're sending them too. Definitely makes my life easier!

Here are a few of the cards I'm considering for our family Christmas card this year:






Aren't these fabulous? Do you send out Christmas cards every year?

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Consignment Scores

This past Friday, I headed to one of the biggest consignment sales in Pittsburgh. The Just Between Friends sale. I won a pre-sale pass through a local website, so I was able to go before the sale started on Saturday. Basically, first dibs.

I don't normally hit up consignment sales because I really hate the crowds and I hardly ever find things I'm willing to buy. There are a ton around here during the fall and spring. I'm so glad I won this pass because I did REALLY well. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have gone.

Here is the run down *with photos* of what I bought.  (click on the photos to make them bigger)

Clockwise from left: (Alex's)
-Old Navy velour suit
-Little Sister long sleeved shirt (Gymboree), jeans (Gymboree), hooded sweater
-2 Carters footed pajamas, BRAND NEW Gymboree Gymmies
-Carters dress and sweater

-Baby Gap zip up hoodie and matching sweat pants
-Carters cupcake onesie
-Carters long sleeve onesie/pants set
-Gymboree shirt/leggings
-Crazy 8 shirt/pants

(Olivia's)
-Carters tunic/leggings, sweater and Old Navy jeans
-7 long sleeved shirts (Children's Place, 2 Gymboree, Disney Princess, Carters) and BRAND NEW pack of socks
-3 pairs of jammies

DSC_6441
-fall jacket and hat/mitten set (Children's Place)

DSC_6431
-pink boots, Roxy tennis shoes, BRAND NEW Janie and Jack dress shoes

-Disney Belle dress
-Peek a Block Incredi-Block ($8!!!)

-Barbie My Size Secret Throne ($15!!!)
-Disney Princess play heels

That's it! There are 2 Children's Place glitter belts and a pony purse not pictured because they're in the girl's room and they're sleeping. I think I did really well......in total I spent:

$177.50

I know it sounds like a lot of money, but if you look at the retail value of these items (granted, most are used) I would have spend well over $300 on everything. That princess chair alone was well over $80 new and the Incred-Block retails for $60! 

I'm extremely pleased with my finds and Russ didn't kill me. :)


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Life Gets in the Way of Blogging

I'm busy.

It's my 2 weeks of working, plus Olivia going to school, Alex teething, both girls being sick, trying to be a good wife, etc etc.

I'm sorry I've been a bad blogger. I've been having a sort of writers block lately. I really have nothing, or at least I think I have nothing interesting to say.

I will say that tis the season for consignment sales and I'm heading to one of the biggest on Friday. Maybe I'll make a post about my findings.

I also have a review to post as soon as I find the time to actually sit down and review it.

I also have to catch up on Teen Mom.

Grey's Anatomy starts back up tomorrow. WEEE!

Thanks for reading this totally random post. :)

I'll leave you with a cute photo.



WW




What? I didn't just poop in my highchair.


Friday, September 16, 2011

8 Months

This is a couple of days late. Due to the large amounts of boogers that have been going on in my house, I haven't had time to sit and do a post.

Yep, both my girls have colds. Not only does poor Alex have a cold, she's also cutting her first tooth. It's so close to popping out and I know it's bothering her, but she's being a trooper and not as big a fuss-butt as her older sister was at the same age she got her first tooth.

My girl turned 8 months old on Tuesday. Seriously... I cannot believe its been 8 months. She's my little stinker bug. She's really becoming fun lately. She's got a big personality and she's always smiling or laughing.

She's definitely beefing up. In the past 2 months she's gained over 2lbs! She doesn't have an official weigh in until her 9 month check up, but I know she's over 17lbs from my scale at home. She's just fitting into 9 month clothes, which are still a little big on her right now. She's sitting up really well now on her own. We even put her in the big bath tub with Olivia tonight. Due to not having a non-skid tub, there was a lot of bum sliding on Alex's part. We'll stick to the whale tubby until she's bigger and less wobbly in the water.

She's working on crawling. She wants to move so badly. She can roll onto her belly and turn herself in 180 degree circles to get what she wants, but there is no forward movement yet. I predict it will be another month until she can actually crawl. Olivia crawled at 8.5 months. Alex has always been a half a month or so later than her big sister on milestones. *Which is fine by me, I want her to stay little for longer*

Obviously, no teeth yet. But, they're working their way on in. Oh, she'll look so freaking adorable with 2 bottom teeth! I love it.

I did the normal side by side comparison with the girls at the same age and this month it's amazing how much they look alike.  What do you think? Definitely sisters. :)

Olivia is on the left. Alex the right. 
Here are a couple other photos of Miss Alexandria on her 8 month birthday. 




Love.Her.

Monday, September 12, 2011

School Days

Today was Olivia's first day of her Great Start program. It's only for 2 year olds and it's a very small class. She's got 2 other girls and 1 boy. She's actually not the oldest, but the 2nd oldest. There are 2 December babies though. She'll go every Monday and Wednesday until June, for 2 hours a day.

She did awesome. She actually didn't even care that she was leaving me, she just waved and went in line up the steps with the teachers. Alex and I ran some errands and before I knew it I had to drive back and pick her up.

They made a picture with cut out kids from magazines in a schoolhouse with all their names on it. She pasted them on. They also read a Spot the Dog book, so they did a Bingo Dotter art page of a dog, but those are being hung in their classroom. They had a snack of Cheez Its and apple juice. They also played outside because it was a beautiful day. Her teachers said all of them did great and they're a great bunch!

She had to tell me about the pony she was playing with and that he was sleeping in the toy box and she would be able to play with him when she goes back on Wednesday. So cute! She said she had fun and she wants to go back. Hooray!


Alex was pretty happy to have some peace and quiet without her sister around. :)
 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

A Word with Mr. Super Daddy

Ok, so I'm supposed to write something about what its like having two little girls. Well it's 9pm, and it's coffee time again already, so let me take a sip and I'll continue.

Ahh, there we go.

I don't remember what it's like to not feel as if 9pm is late. That's one thing they don't tell you before having kids…that your caffeine intake will grow 10 fold. Heres one you always hear, (before the little one squirts out):

"OOOOHHH, get sleep while you can before the baby is born."

WTF?!? Babies sleep like 18 hours a day! They wake to do a twosie, then halfway through a bottle they start nodding off like your narcoleptic grandma drinking coffee and eating cake at a birthday party.

They start to become fun around 7 months old or so. They've started to sit up, and have good motor skills. You can now start to interact with them. It's fun finally being able to throw them in the air and watch their giggling quickly turn into screams as their noggin becomes target practice for ceiling fans. (but that's another story)  Next they're a year old, and they're walking…and falling. All they do at one is fall face first into everything. They're so black and blue everywhere at one all the time. Now they're 2, and you want to throw yourself out of the window. Who ever invented the age of 2 is a total ass!

Really though, I love having girls. I think they're easier. I see boys at 2 and they're so mean. Well not all of them, just some. Olivia will be playing with something and a little boy will come over and hit whatever she's playing with out of her hands just for fun and run away. Leaving Olivia standing there saying 'thats not very nice' to herself. Girls are not as mean….Until they get older.

It's a very pink life I lead. I mean pink everywhere, like what the aftermath of a war between Disney Princess's and gay elf's would look like after cupcake grenades, Hello Kitty bio weapons, and a few glitter nukes. Why am I looking at a doll who's face down with the back of her pants pulled down below her butt? This definitely doesn't look like the Nerf gun, booger covered army men, creepy crawler covered TV, He-Man ripping off Skeletors head kinda house I grew up in.

But i love it. Wouldn't trade my girls or life for anything. There is something special about little girls. Ive told my wife this, I don't know what it is. I may never figure it out. When you see old people at the store, they always make a bigger fuss over little girls, than little boys. I love my little girls. Maybe its a protection thing that makes little girls special to their dads, I don't know. I love watching them grow and learn new things. I can't wait to see them grow up. 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Tasty Thursday: Homemade Mac n Cheese

*not mine, I needed a photo*
This is a recipe that's been changed a little. My mother used to make it for us growing up and it's my favorite macaroni and cheese. Definitely beats the box kind. Plus, my 2 year old loves it! All these measurements are a guess, I don't even use measuring cups. I've made it so many times that I just eye it.

1 box of macaroni noodles (or any type of noodle for that matter, I've used penne a few times)
1 block sharp cheddar cheese (cubed)
1 block mild cheddar cheese (cubed)
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoon butter
2 cups milk (I use 1 or 2%)
Dijon mustard
paprika
salt
pepper

1. Cook noodles to al dente.

2. In a saucepan, melt butter and add flour. It will look like a paste, if its too clumpy, add more butter, if its too runny, add more flour.

3. Stir in milk using a whisk. Make sure to add it slow. Heat, stirring frequently.

4. Add cheese, saving a few cubes for later. Stir frequently.

5. After cheese has melted, add salt, pepper, and mustard. Start little with the mustard and taste it, add more if you like a little more bite to your sauce.

6. Combine noodles and sauce into an oven safe bowl/casserole dish.

7. Put reserved cheese on top and sprinkle with paprika.

8. Bake @ 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted on top and it's bubbling.

9. Let set for 10 minutes before eating.

10. Enjoy! Makes awesome leftovers as well. :)





*Giveaway: Scentsy*

Do you love a yummy smelling home? I love when I walk into a room where I have my Scentsy warmer on. It makes me feel happy inside. A few months ago, I won a giveaway for a warmer and bars. I've never tried Scentsy before, so I figured, why not? I will never go back to using candles again! I love my warmer (its a cupcake... I mean... seriously?!). I use it almost every single day. I usually will switch out the bars every couple of days. I also like it because it's safer than a burning candle, this is especially important because I have little ones around.  Right now I'm burning Birthday Cake. It's so delicious smelling, it makes my house smell like I'm baking cake! So, here is your chance to win a couple of awesome things from Scentsy!

BUY IT:

You can purchase your own Scentsy goodies through my online party.

WIN IT:
One lucky reader will receive their choice of a Scentsy Plug-In Warmer and Scentsy bar. This is being provided by Jessica Patera, Scentsy Consultant

HOW TO WIN:

Go through the Rafflecopter widget.  Remember to come back daily to Tweet about this giveaway!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Super Cute!

Head on over to a fellow momma blogger's page and enter her giveaway! She's giving away a headband from her Etsy shop!

Our Pregnancy Roadtrip and Beyond

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Day of Labor

Since today is Labor Day, I thought it would be fitting if I chatted about my labor day. No, not the day I got to sleep in and not have to work, my actual labor.

I only got to experience it 1 time in my life. As you all know, Alex was breech and she was a scheduled c-section. Therefore, I never went into labor on my own. I'm extremely sad that I didn't get to go through what I did with Olivia. It was the most amazing experience I've ever had. Honestly, I loved being in labor. :)

When I found out we were expecting a baby for the first time, it was amazing. I was floating on air and I was so excited to be starting this new adventure in our lives. I had no idea what to expect. As the weeks and months scrambled by, I found myself in my last weeks of pregnancy. I was excited about the impending birth of our little Olivia. Little did I know that she was going to be just as stubborn as her mummy and decide to go past her due date. It made for some very long days.

I knew what labor looked like, you know, the sweaty lady, in pain, screaming at her husband and doctors. I always wondered if that would be me. I knew going into it that I was not even going to try to attempt a med-free birth. I was all about being in a hospital, hooked up to a pain pump, surrounded by blue sterile cloths everywhere. After 8 loooonng freaking days, 2 days before I was scheduled to evict my daughter from my uterus, I started labor on my own. It was very painless at first. I woke up that morning, feeling a very tight squeezing-like feeling in my belly. I figured since I never felt this before, and I was overdue, this had to be a real contraction. Hooray! The day went on, I was timing these not yet painful contractions. By 8pm, they were coming every 5 to 10 minutes. My doctor suggested I come to the hospital and get checked to see if this were the real deal. Turns out, you have to be nearly doubled over in pain, in labor, to get admitted. I was having real contractions, but they "weren't strong enough" to be admitted and I was sent home. I was livid, I cried. I cursed the stupid doctor who told me to go home and come back when I was in "much more pain".

So, I waddled my 8 day overdue butt back into our car and drove home. Little did I know that active labor was just around the corner. I came home to bleeding. Ew, really? After 10 long months of no period, mother nature makes me bleed? Come on.

I crawl into bed to get some sleep.....oh.....wait.....what....WHAT IS THIS?! Holy mother of Jupiter, that was painful! Then again. Again. Every 7 minutes.

This is painful.

Can I do this?

How long does this last?

Oh my God, I'm going to have a baby.

These were just thoughts that popped into my head within 30 seconds of having a real PAINFUL contraction. No, these were no period-like cramps. These felt like someone was sawing my pelvic in half with a hacksaw.

I had to get off the bed. It was entirely too uncomfortable to lay down like this. I propped myself up against the wall in my bedroom. I turned the lights out and just let it happen. I remember looking at the clock every time I would have a contraction, then I would doze off between them. Russ, like a typical man, fell asleep on the bed beside me. *He'll tell you otherwise, but I know what happened darn it!* 1am......2am.......3.......4am goes by. At this point, my contractions are nearly 4 minutes apart and I'm only getting a 2 minute break between them.

I wake Russ up. I told him we need to leave because this baby is coming today. She'd better be coming, or I'm going in after her.

I was not like those ladies on TV. I was calm. I never once screamed in pain as I was getting dressed to leave for the hospital. It was a cold December morning. The clock in the car said 4:58. I don't remember what was on the radio, because I turned it off. I needed silence in order to cope with this hacksaw-like pain. Russ was amazing. He got us safely to the hospital in record time for a Monday morning. He dropped me off in the lobby of the hospital while he went to park. Honestly, I think adrenaline kicked in because I don't remember feeling pain while I was waiting. Until of course, the on call nurse started asking me questions. Lady, I'm in labor, does it really matter when my last menstrual period was?!

I get into a triage room, it wasn't the same one I was in earlier that evening. This time, I didn't have to pee in a cup. I just had to get undressed and lay on the terribly uncomfortable table. I was hooked up to monitors, and wouldn't you know my contractions were measuring off the charts. Russ would kindly tell me I was getting ready to have another contraction when he saw the little line move upward. Thanks honey, I know this already. :)

Mr. Digging For Gold came in and check me. I screamed in his face. Dear Lord WHERE ARE THE DRUGS?! I was 5cms dilated. While I was being wheeled into my LDR room, I had a smile of accomplishment. I could not believe I made it 5cms without drugs. I seriously thought I would have caved at 2cms, begging for this pain to end.

In the end, I did get an epidural. It was fan-tab-ulous. Could I have pushed through the pain? I probably could have. Honestly, it wasn't THAT bad. Yes, it feels like your uterus is being split into two, but I dealt with it fine. I never took a class that taught me how to breathe or any kind of childbirth class. I just let my natural instinct take over and did it.

I'm sad I never got to experience that again with Alex. When I got pregnant with her, I told myself that I would try and go as long as I could without drugs to see if I could do it med-free. She had other plans. Stubborn just like her sister. I'm in trouble. :)

So, that's my labor day story. Hope you enjoyed yours. :)
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