Portland Beanie Company Rebate for Readers

If you haven't had a chance to check out this great Etsy seller . . . Portland Beanie Company, then I highly suggest you do. Adorable handmade shoes, hats for infants, toddlers, children and adults. This store is the perfect find for that unique and creative gift. There is a 15% rebate for all orders thru July 31st if you enter BELLY LAUGH into the comment field.

Hurry this offer ends FRIDAY, July 31st.

Another Great Baby/Toddler Giveaway!

Stoneyfield has done it again! They want to offer readers MORE FREE products for your little ones. If you have never tried Stoneyfield Organic Yogurt, now is your chance to try their brand new 3in1 meals.

The prize package for this giveaway includes a YoBaby reusable bag, an Eric Carle growth chart, an organic YoBaby bib, a YoBaby travel bowl with lid and utensils, and finally 5 FREE YoBaby 3-in-1 meals coupons (as pictured).

If you're thinking that you don't have a baby that is of "baby age." My toddler still eat's Stoneyfields Baby Yogurt and LUV'S it! So regardless of your child's age, you are more than welcome to enter the contest! Be sure and try Stoneyfield's products and/or pass them along to a friend!

YoBaby Meals offer a unique 3-in-1 combination of protein-packed yogurt + fruit + veggie purée in one cup. They’re an easy, delicious and surprising way to help moms give their babies and toddlers a trio of important food groups at every meal.

Three delicious flavors -- Pear & Green Bean, Peach & Squash, Apple & Sweet Potato – are just right for baby’s growing appetite. And the single serve 6-ounce cup offers 50% more than current 4-ounce YoBaby multipacks.

~DETAILS~

How to enter: leave me a super nice comment, become a follower by joining (on the right hand side of my blog), repost on your own blog or post about this giveaway on Facebook.

Giveaway ends next Monday, August 3rd @ 7pm Pacific Time.

I'm A Pirate! That I Be! But Only For a While.

My dear sweet, hard headed, determined, tough boy was playing with his cousins +1 (cousin's friend) on Friday and came up the stairs crying.

Full out crying. Not the typical I'mmadbecauseIdidn'tgetmyownway cry, but SOMETHING is wrong cry.

Folks, he was coming up the stairs on the other side of the house while I was in the garage (another garage sale, what can I say) and I heard him.

He said his eye hurt. I asked the boys what happened and nobody really knew. Huh. Okay. No big deal. Why don't you sit with me a minute. Okay mom. (That was a little bit weird). As the day progressed he started to cry every 10-15 minutes about his eye hurting.

Then he would want me to hold him. Carry him. Folks, my 2-1/2yr old is not little. He is the size of a FOUR year old. Carrying 36 pounds on my hip all day kinda tweaks my back. That's besides the point.

By 11am it was becoming more apparent that something wasn't right, although I seriously had no idea what the deal was. I couldn't see anything, his eye wasn't red or pink, it just watered and he cried that it hurt. At the prompting of my SIL and her friend, saying it could be a scratched cornea, I called the doctor and we headed off to an appointment. They were right.

It took three of us to hold him down and administer the eye antibiotic. It took two eye patches before we made it outta the office. And it took lots and lots of loves and re-assurance to keep that eye band aid on all afternoon and night. And let me tell you, after his nap he was very convinced that, "it's workin' mom! It's workin'!" But, alas I wouldn't let him take off his eye patch/bandaid until Saturday per Doctor's orders. I'm pleased to say that as of Saturday morning, Luke's eye patch came off and he hasn't complained once.

Another thing, he scratched the cornea on his right eye. His good eye. He was born with a droopy eyelid over his left eye and has to have it checked periodically at the eye doctors. Last appointment I was informed that he may have to wear an eye patch to force him to use he left eye and strengthen it. His next appointment is less than a month away. Now I have more accurate info to communicate with the eye dr. about the use of his left eye. In my heart, I know there was a purpose for this little mis-hap.

God always has a plan. Even in the little things.

Dirty.Sexy.Money.

GASP! I just found out that Dirty Sexy Money is on Saturday nights for the next couple weeks. How did I not know this? Sweetness! At least for a couple weeks.

Need A Pick Me Up?

This is my favorite afternoon/nap time pick me up. Of course I know this won't exactly help me lose my baby belly. But, when I don't wanna waste calories, and I need a treat - then this is my go to. I recently tried the Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry and it was pretty delish too! How about you? What's your favorite summertime drink?

My Thing

I've decided that North Face is my thing. I ♥ North Face. I could seriously live in North Face gear in the fall/winter. In fact, my hair is as dark as these models in the pictures. Now, if I could just get my hair to grow out fast! In case anyone needs some birthday ideas (ahem) these are all on sale right now!

My New Motto

I found this seller on Etsy who makes these vinyl decals/sayings. I laugh every time I read this! Luv it. Too funny.

Happy Tuesday Laundry Day!

Who's High Maintenance Now?

Baker and I went and saw the new(er) Transformers movie. Revenge of the Fallen. Very cool. You gotta know the story line, or else you probably won't like it. However, I grew up playin' not only with baby dolls, paper dolls and the like, but with Lego's and Tonka Dump Trucks too. And I remember having Transformers in the house. Pretty sure I played with those too. Anyhow, Baker wants a new Camaro now. Honestly. And boys say girls are high maintenance. PA - LEASE!!!

Say, "HELLO!"

That's right folks. A Nordstrom card. It's not a visa card. A DEBIT card. Baker and I worked and are continuing to work hard to not spend on our credit card (we only have one) and we finally paid it off this year. Woo Hoo! So, after having a garage sale last month and making a little cash, I was able to do a little shopping. I also finally convinced Baker that while using cash is good, getting rewards for using cash (in the form of a debit card) was worth it. Okay, maybe I didn't convince him. More like tell him several times once a month for the last several months how great it would be to get this little green card. But whatever. Anyhow. I received my card in the mail today. And when I opened up the envelope, at the top of the letter it said in big green letters, "Hello!" And it just wouldn't be right if you didn't say it like Jerry Seinfeld. Right?! Because after all. . . I'm classy like that.

Run! Run Far Away!

There is a monster sized bag of M&M's in my kitchen cupboard. A Costco sized bag of M&M's. Oy. This does not bode well for getting rid of my baby belly. I managed to ignore those little chocolate dudes for an entire week. Then, I succumbed to the call of chocolate Monday night. So guess what I'll be doing today. That's right. Running. Running my chocolate arse off. BTW, I didn't buy this bag of M&M's. It was given to me. Why? Because 'lil Luke (and his momma) ♥ chocolate. Chocolate M&M's.

A Little TV and a Little Reality

I found a new show that I am seriously giddy over. NO JOKE. I seriously can't wait for the next episode and would re-watch the ones I have already seen. Royal Pains. I. Luv. This. Show!!! A cute concierge doc, people who have money to throw around and a romance story all woven throughout each episode. Simply splendid. USA channel on Thursday nights. Totally worth your time. BTW - (I'm so behind, but whatever) I finished watching the last season of Gilmore Girls and was seriously let down. Not sure if it was how the series ended or because it ended. Probably a combo of both. Let's just say that I liked Luke but I completely believed in my heart of hearts that Chris and Lorelai belonged together forever. But that's just in pretend life. Here in real life, my husband and I are married. It's true. Facebook just notified him and confirmed that we are married. Don't you just love real life?

Weekend Recap

We had a eventful weekend. Baker had a softball tournament all day Saturday and I had a couple friends from high school over for brunch. We had a blast! The only problem is we forgot to take a picture. Guess we will have to get together again so I can get a picture. One of my friends stayed until almost 3 and we got to catch up chatting and just hanging together. Then my dad and step-mom stopped by. After that the kiddos and I went to see Baker's last softball game and grab some burgers. Grandma Jean joined us for a little while, then headed off to see my step-dad in the hospital with a double knee replacement - OUCH. The good news is that Baker's team won 2nd in their tournament! Yay! Sunday we went to church, went to an engagement/birthday party, took naps and went to my dad's for dinner. Whew! Now, I need a day to rest. Only thing is . . . it's Monday.

The first and second place softball teams!

Daddy (through the eyes of a 2-1/2 yr old)

Daddy and Nat (Luke takes pretty good pics, huh)?!

Luke ran the bases. Tah dah!

My dad and Natalie

(she just learned to drink from a straw, & is so proud)

Book Review

I just finished the second book in the Above the Line Series by Karen Kingsbury, Take Two. I absolutely get lost in Kingsbury's books. I usually can't put any book of her's down until I'm finished with it. This book was no exception. A quick read, several story lines woven together throughout the book and the promise of a third book. All good. Plus, there is unfinished business with each of the characters that leaves you wishing that Spring of 2010 would hurry up so you can read the next book.

Potty Stories 101

We took the plunge. HA! Plunge. Get it? Luke's cousin (6 wks older) was potty training, and then I read this blog Vintage Dutch Girl and realized that whether or not I was informed, had read a book or not that this boy was ready to learn! It was time to train him. There have been dry times after naps and mornings that his pullup wasn't wet and well. . . days in a row where he would poop on the potty. Yes, I just said poop.

I always had this grandiose idea we would set aside a weekend and whola! Have a completely potty trained child. Life in my head is utterly fabulous at times. Anyhow, I figured, there's gotta be power in numbers. I mean, if his cousin is goin' on the potty . . . wouldn't it be cool if Luke went on the potty too??? Huh? Like it? Well, it pretty much worked! Of course there are accidents. Sometimes he makes it to the bathroom only to pee all over the floor.

I gotta help with the timing thing. I still forget he's learning and that I need to remind him and sometimes force him to go, instead of waiting until it's too late. Honestly, I would much rather wash a couple extra pairs of underwear (usually from dribbles, but sometimes from flash floods in the bathroom) then buy pullups and change diapers all day.

Now, if I could just get Nat on board. Hmmmm . . .

4th in Review

I know this is a little late, but these 4th of July pics are too cute to not post!

Happy Hump Day!

Calling Poisen Control!

Today's agenda was to eat breakfast, stop by City Hall to renew the dog's license, go to the post office and then (if the kids were being super duper good and funny) go to Safeway to use my $10 off $50 grocery coupon.

To set the scene, we are already way behind what would be considered "breakfast hour" and I have made a protein shake for moi and oatmeal for the babes. I'm splitting the oatmeal between the two of them and I lay a vitamin (for myself) on the counter. I take a mental note, not to leave the vitamin on the counter because I don't want Luke to eat it, and proceed feeding the kiddos.

Me: Luke, did you eat my vitamin?
Luke: Yeah.
Me: YOU ATE MY VITAMIN? (Meanwhile grabbing the bottle and showing him another one)
DID YOU EAT ONE OF THESE???
Luke: Yeah. I eat one.

I realize I need to call the doctors office which tells me to call poisen control. I call poisen control. I have to read off the ingredients. ALL the ingredients. At this point Natalie is crawling around in the kitchen and remembers the cabinet under the sink has a fun roll of garbage sacks to play with. Mommy didn't lock the cabinet yet, therefore it's open. Whoo hoo! So the entire three minutes I'm talking to poisen control dude, Natalie manages to poop and pull out the garbage sacks.

Meanwhile poisen control dude is asking if Luke is acting normal. I look at him as he's red faced and coughing like something is tickling or stuck in his nose. "Yes," I reply to the p.c. dude. Still hoping this coughing fit is just oatmeal going down the wrong tube, and there is nothing (like a vitamin) stuck in his nose.

The good news . . . Luke should be just fine. The bad news . . . the side effects of him taking my 3 in 1 boost vitamin is increased activity. Ya know. To help increase metabolism. What could be better than an active 2-1/2 yr. old boy on a vitamin boost? Just wish me luck at the grocery store!

Hair ya go! (More hair stuff)

I stated a while ago that I would post a picture of my updated haircut. I basically added bangs. Tryin' out Katie Holmes style if you will. I got this wild hair (idea) that I would grow out my hair. This is a cyclical thing. I wear it short. Luv it short. Like the way it looks in pictures short. Then I think I'll grow it out. That is where I am now. Then I grow it out. Bemoaning the uncomfortable grow out stages all the while. Get it long and realize I despise wearing ponytails five out of seven days a week. Look at pictures and realize I don't like the way I look with long hair and then cut it short. And then I instantaneously lose 15 pounds in my face just by cutting my hair! That's when I vow never to wear my hair long again. So, why am I growing my hair out again? Because of Sandra Bullock. Seriously. I went and saw The Proposal. Very cute movie. And the entire movie I sat there thinking . . . if I lost some weight and grew my hair out . . . I could totally look like that. I could ROCK the long hair look. Of course this is all in my head at this point. And in order to lose the 15 extra pounds in my face that long hair adds, that means I would need to be ubber skinny. So that my bloggy friends is why I'm growing out my hair. Sort of. Maybe. Once I lose some weight. Well! It's always good to have a goal. I'm just sayin!

Arbor Mist How I ♥ Thee

I was just introduced to my new friend. Meet Arbor Mist. Nevermind the second ingredient is High Frutose Corn Syrup. We don't care about that (just this one time). Last night I was introduced to Peach Chardonnay and Island Fruits Pinot Grigio and both were good excellent. Tonight's meeting was with Strawberry White Zinfadel. After being chilled in the ice box for a while, and developing some icey like characteristics on the inside of the bottle, it held quite the chill. And was DEL-I-CIOUS. Absolutely delish. I just found out there is another relative named Blackberry Merlot. We might meet soon.

Giveaway Winner is . . .

The winner of the Starbucks giveaway is . . .

Suburban Prep!

Congratulations!!! To all who entered and all who read my blog a big Thanks!