Can we read it again?! Repeated Book Readers Anonymous

How many of us have read the same book over and over again to our kids? Maybe I'm psychic but I'm sure that everyone of us raised our hand. I love a good kids book! One that is kid friendly and not obnoxiously annoying such as one of my son's faves, Mongoose, Mongoose, Stop! Don't Run by Antoinette Costello. Yes, it's cute the first couple times but I could recite that book in my sleep after downing a couple of shots and with a splash of Nyquil as a chaser. I'll just say that the title along with "I just want to have some fun" is repeated on EVERY.OTHER. PAGE! So to that I say, "Mongoose, mongoose, please don't stop and run away, far, far, away so that I don't have to read you ten times a day."


On to one of MY favorite books, Big Words For Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis. I absolutely adore this book! I picked it up at my place of worship, aka Target, and figured it might be a little over my kid's age group (4-8yrs old) but he fell for it hook, line, and sinker. It takes some hard to understand vocabulary words and whittles them down so that the youngsters can understand them but in a fun rhyming kind of way. Some examples of the vocab words are consequence, irate, patience, and considerate. The illustrations are cute and there are lots of different things to look at on the pages. Now, I do not have a deal with amazon whatsoever but in writing this post I discovered that the book is on sale for $11.55, almost $6 off the cover price so if you're interested, check it out. So yes, I LOVE this children's book and don't mind reading it over and over and over again. What's your favorite book to read to your kids? Which book do you absolutely despise?

Calling All Crafters!!!!

I'll admit it I am a not-so-crafty mom. I have great ideas in my head but never seem to know how to make it work so that my end product turns out like my vision. I've tried scrapbooking, cuter in my head. I've tried knitting, um, let's just say I'm not patient enough. I would love to learn how to quilt but I figure that too is better left looking beautiful in my head as well. Needless to say I need help so let's talk Halloween! My son has decided to be a construction worker/handyman for Halloween so I've been on the lookout for bits and pieces to complete the look. I was able to find a white hard hat (for an awesome price of $1.50) at Goodwill and I want to paint it yellow but I don't want to screw it up. I want it to look really good, not like another one of my crappy crafts.That is where you all come in. So here is my hardhat and I'm looking for any and all advice as to the best way to turn it yellow. Now is the time to speak up, ask your friends and let me know if certain paint is better than another, how many coats, or if you have any tricks of the trade. Secondly, if you've done a construction/handyman costume before what/how did you do it?

My Little Model

This afternoon I had a crazy idea of doing a mini photo session or more commonly known as following your child through the house until he sits still enough to actually take a picture. Let's just take a peek at how it all went down.

The half-smile

Whoa, This is what I call the fully forced CHEESE smile.
Not bad.

OK, We're still having fun.
I asked him how cute he was and he visually showed me and said,"this much." Being a tad biased and all I would make those arms a bit bigger!

Uh Oh, the boredom is starting to kick in.

That's not a very nice look, I think the end is near.

And apparently, we're done!

Checking Disqus Commenting System

Testing to see if new disqus system is up and running. Feel free to check it out! One note- click the little envelop to unsubscribe to comments. Otherwise you will get an email everytime someone leaves a comment :)

Back in the Day

B.C.

Do you remember those days, the ones before children? Some days I look back and wonder what the hell I did with all my free time? I thought that I was busy bee back in the day but man was I wrong! A mother’s job is never done, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no vacation time, no sick days it’s work, work, work but I can positively say that not one of us would trade it in for anything.

The other day on facebook I was recalling my crazy college days (and to put it nicely, I lived it up.) I was comparing my vodka filled Friday nights and frat parties of the past to my now pizza and (chocolate if we’re livin on the edge) milk along with bounce houses in cul-de-sacs and had to chuckle at how times have changed. The crazy thing is I probably have just as much fun now as I used to and it’s all legal. :)

We all know that B.C. consists of bathroom breaks in private and not having to explain what you’re doing during each minute that your on the loo but just like everything else A.C.(After Children) is a completely different ballgame.The restroom is not longer a REST room, it’s just another room in the house where you are “on mommy duty.” So I’ve given up my sanctuary of a bathroom break and have come to accept it but here is the irony in my story……

Me- “Ok, go poopies Little Man” as I stand at the doorway

Little Man- “No, I don’t have to go!”

Me- “You just told me you did.”

Little Man- “Mommy, just go away? I need some privacy.k!”

So someone needs some privacy to do his business. I’ll grant you your time alone to do your deed but just wait kiddo cause right now you are in your BC era and one day (many, many, many years away) you’ll be in these AC years and I’m going to laugh when your little one is right on your heels as you head to the bathroom.

Link Love, Giveaways and Food

So I thought that I would spend today giving out a little bit of link love. First off, I have to tell you that I actually won a giveaway. My first ever! Let's just say I was a tad excited to put it mildly. What's the giveaway you ask, well it's what every mom or family needs/wants......a $50 gift card to Safeway! Awesome, right? And get this, it actually appeared in my mail box as I was loading the little one in the car to go to Safeway. Can we say perfect timing anyone?! So I would like to send a HUGE thank you to Megan over at Megans A Mom. Do you want to know the best part? She's doing another $50 gift card giveaway right now. So click on over HERE and enter her giveaway because who here doesn't buy groceries? That's what I thought, now go directly (although it's ok if you want to finish my post) to Megan's A Mom, do not pass go, do not collect $200 (although that 50 would be nice, right) and enter. Ok, for those of you still here she has a great blog, very well written, witty and I'll even say her blog has a potential to rival Dooce as time goes on and her numbers grow. Need I say more, go and check it out!

Ok, on to the next one. I came across another blog, very different from the one above, called Our Unexpected Journey, about a family going through life with three children including one who has down syndrome. This blog truly touches my heart because I have worked with children with disabilities in the past and these kids are amazing. I can honestly say that these kids will always have a special place in my heart. Adrienne posts very real thoughts but intermixes it with a positive attitude and pictures of her "cute as a can be" kiddos. One of her recent posts asked readers for an easy, no fuss dinner (as she is "cooking challenged") for her family and it got me thinking about one of my faves that is super easy and yummy. So in her honor I'm going to post it here for all of you and don't hesitate to share your recipes with me or head over to her blog and give her a hand. I'm sure she would love more ideas.

Artichoke Chicken

1. I can of Artichoke hearts , drained and chopped ( I use the ones in water to be a little healthier but I'm sure the fancy oil marinated ones would be scrumptious)


2. 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese


3. 3/4 cup mayo ( I sub 1/2 - 2/3rds of the mayo with fat free mayo to cut down on fat but go with what floats your boat)


4. some pepper and garlic to suit your preferences


5. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts


6. Mix everything (minus the chicken) together in a bowl.


7. Place chicken in a greased casserole dish and cover with your artichoke mixture.


8. About 30 minutes at 375 degrees and you're done!

This is a super easy recipe and a nice step up from your basic baked chicken It is VERY flavorful so I would pair it up with side dishes that aren't too strong. Bon Apetit!

Come one, Come all to a MckLinky Blog Hop

This week's MckLinky is a great way to intro your blog to new readers(yes, I do mean you) and hope that they stick around and become part of your bloggy family. So in MckLinky's honor....a big WELCOME to you!

For those you don't know my name is Laura.
And no, I'm not like the Duggars.
And no, I don't have 29 kids and counting.
I can't count how many times I've been asked that question by new readers so I will just answer it now.
Phew, now that that is settled let's get started for those of you who decided to stick around after you just learned that I'm not the mother of 29 children.

I started this blog when I turned 29 but unfortunately I've only got a few more months before I hit the BIG 3-0 (eeek!) and then I'm in a bit of a pickle for my blog name. Any ideas for a new title? Please share!

OK, back on topic. I'm a stay at home mom and I'm married to a wonderful husband who happens to be a long haul truck driver and we have 3 year old son which equals quite a bit of single parenting on my part. Needless to say, our situation gives me plenty of writing material, just not enough time to write it! I like to post about my daily life, the good, the bad,and the ugly.All wrapped up in a nice little package with a nice pretty sense of humor bow on top. Occasionally, you might see some honest (and unpaid) product reviews, there is always an abundance of pictures, and you can't forget sarcasm. Oh, how I love thee, sarcasm. So grab a Diet Dr. Pepper (aka my drug of choice)and some leftover pb&j crust from your kiddos sandwich, hit the stalk me or follower button on your right sidebar and enjoy the ride!

Good News, Bad News

I really enjoy writing these Sunday Good News, Bad News posts. They allow you to sit down and reflect on your week and even though there are moments where you might want to scream and pull your hair out, overall, you’ve had a pretty good week. Cheap therapy if you ask me.

Good News

• I’ve been really working hard on eating well and making smart choices. Three weeks later, 15 pounds lighter, I’m feeling incredibly proud of myself. It’s a long road but it’s a step in the right direction.



• Downloaded Windows Live Writer and I’m having fun figuring out all the doo-dads (if that’s even a real word)



• Found some broccoli nuggets to trick my son into vegetables and it worked. Whatever works, right! Check it out HERE.



• My son is starting his first swimming lessons without mommy on Tuesday. He’s done mommy and me since he was 6 months old but now he’s old enough to move up to the next level. To be honest, I’m a bit of a nervous wreck about it but I know he’s going to absolutely LOVE it!

Bad News

• This dang cough won’t go away. Yes, it’s getting better but it’s just lingering and it’s more annoying that anything else.



• The downstairs neighbor moved a family of 3 into her extra bedroom (can we say crowded anyone) which equals more people smoking cigarettes which makes my house smell like a freaking bar! I’m about ready to call management and tattle since the smell is soooooo disgusting. I’m so ready to get my own place…..just a few more months!



• Missing my hubby…..enough said!

For more Good News, Bad News check out Domestic Dork. I heard she died her hair purple so I would definitely check out her week. I’m sure there is a story there!

Score 1 for Mom

I'm all for tricking the troops into eating vegetables over a food battle anyday and honestly, what mom isn't. So in honor of winning a broccoli battle last night, here was my plan of attack.

When the opposition sees exhibit A
guns are drawn and the battle over broccoli begins!

Mom cleverly devises a Trojan horse scheme to disguise exhibit B

amongst the ever popular dinosaur and quite tasty dinosaur shaped nuggets




Operation Complete!

While the broccoli nuggets looked noticeably different that the dinosaurs they peaked enough interest for a taste test and successively passed this mini-soldiers test.

What tricks do you use to fool the troops?

Wordless Wednesday

He is going to have the ladies lining up at the door one day. For more Wordless Wednesdays checkout 5 Minutes for Mom.

Time for Freebies!!!

Who loves getting bills in the mail?

Did you raise your hand?

No, I didn't think so.

So now, who loves getting free stuff in the mail? I do! I do!

In the spirit of loving free stuff, I surfed the net and found a few freebies that I thought many of you would want to find in your mailboxes too. Along with few freebies I linked to a couple restaurants that offer free kid meals for tonight. So if you're tired and don't want to cook head on over or put it on your calendar for next Tuesday. Lastly, I stumbled on a gas comparison website and really, who wants to pay more for gas when they don't have to?! Go ahead check them out , score some free stuff and feed your kids for free :)


Free sample of Huggies Little Movers Diapers

Free Enfamil New Mom's Nursing Kits

Free Sample of Zyrtec

Free Sample of Honey Nut Cheerios

Kids Eat Free Tuesdays at Chevys

Kids Eat Free Tuesdays at Dennys

Free Pampers Potty Training Kit

Customized Gas Comparison

Seriously Gross!

Every couple months I tackle steam cleaning the carpets, not the most fun task ever but just something that needs to get done. I equate it to cleaning toilets and putting away laundry, a monotonous, tedious, boring chore.


A mini rant coming in 3-2-1....Who the hell puts beige carpets in a rental?! It's really not the most practical choice of colors. Yes, it looks beautiful all spic and span but before you know it it's already dirty again. Beige + Rental makes little sense to me!


Ok, back to my gross reveal. I am amazed at the how much dirt that you "can't" see but that still gets sucked up in that container. Now before I show you my nasty steam cleaner water just note that

1. To look at my carpets, they "look" clean. No, I'm not living in filth, this is the stuff "hidden" in the carpets. I tend to keep a pretty clean house.



2. I have one cat who has never set a foot outside so I can't blame her for much of the icky water.



3. We take our shoes off when we come into the house.

So seriously, where does this dirt come from?

And here it is in all it's dark brown glory.....

Do your carpets ever get this nasty even though you can't see it? Seriously, it's really grossin me out!

Good News, Bad News

I can't believe it's already Sunday...this week flew by so fast. Well let's just end the weekend with another dose of .........

Good News

• 
  
  My cough is almost gone and I feel like a normal, functioning adult. Well, at least most of the time :)
• 
  
  I steam cleaned my carpets this week and OMG, talk about some dirty carpets. Come back this week and I can't believe that I am going to show proof of this grossness but I am. Total disclosure here folks!
• 
  
  Football season is here. Hooray! While some wives  bitch and complain about football Sundays I'm an avid fan and can't wait for the games to start. We're a house of Steeler and 49er Fans and as of  post time, the Steelers won and the Niners are up by 10.
• 
  
  We had to buy a new computer! We're now the proud owners of our first laptop and I love being able to fiddle with my new toy and watch football games at the same time. (See bad news for why we had to buy new computer.)

Now, for the bad news

• 
  
  My Little Man is now taking his turn at being sick. Poor kid is coughing a lot but overall he seems to not have been hit as hard as I was. Kids are so resilient.
• 
  
  My computer died! It became possessed with some magical dragon that would turn it off at the most random times. It was especially frustrating when you were actually working on something and then would lose it all. Two trips to the Geek Squad at Best Buy + an unfriendly estimate + an old computer = spending that money on a new computer rather than fixing an old one.
• 
  
   Only a one day visit from the hubster this week, we were getting so spoiled with 2-3 day visits the last few weeks.

Overall, not a bad week. Head on over to Domestic Dork to read up on her week and don't forget to add yourself to the list.

World's Cutest Inmate

Once upon a time there was a little boy stuck in playground jail.

He begged and pleaded for the Playground Police to let him out.

They threatened to throw the book at him but because he was so cute Mommy came and bailed him out.

Once free, he ran...

and ran...

to go tag some cement with blue sidewalk chalk. He was pretty pleased with himself.

 

Until he got caught!

WHO ME??!! BUSTED!

Good News, Bad News

One of my favorite bloggers, Domestic Dork, has started a new meme and I thought I would jump right in (even though it's a day late...ooops) and participate. Honestly, I think the premise this is pretty self explanatory so I won't elaborate and here we go.

Good News

My hubby actually got the whole weekend off. Hooray!!

Succeeded at not eating a piece of fast food for a whole week! (Let's just say that is hard to do when I pass 8 fast food joints on my way home everyday.)

Got to actually go do something without 3 year old in tow. I can't explain how eerily relaxing grocery shopping is without a kid. I Loved it!

Did I already say Domestic Dork was one of my fave bloggers? Cause she taught me how to do add watermarks to pictures. Although I haven't exactly tried it I plan to give it a whirl this week. Sooo excited!

I also discovered through google reader that I actually have a few feed followers. Not a lot, but it made my day.


Bad News

Hubby had to go back to work today! It's always harder to say goodbye when he's home for longer than a day or two.

I'm sick! I've had a nasty cough all week, it sucks.

My Little Man will not take a nap today! Arghhhh! He is supposed to be having "quiet time" in his bed right now to save my sanity but let's just say I'm choosing to ignore the sounds of the dumping of Lego's. As long as he's in his room right?!


All in all I would say I've had a pretty good week. Thanks Domestic Dork for a great meme. Simple and sweet...I love it!

Obsessed Much?!

I'm officially a member of the paparazzi aka Mamarazzi! I got a new toy a week ago and it takes everything in my will power not to spend hours stalking my little man to get "the perfect picture."

We'll have to thank my husband who has a love/hate relationship with my point and shoot camera along with him trying to take pictures at a birthday party for this kind of splurge. Let's just say after a couple of hours of attempting to take pictures of our crazy kid at Chuck E. Cheese he had had enough. One day later, one Best Buy trip and I can't thank him enough for this wonderful gift.

This new gem of a camera takes 4 shots per second...can I just tell you how incredibly fast that is compared to my Cannon point and shoot! Way toooo fast! In the first week I have taken over 1000 pictures which sounds like a ton but it is so easy to do when it going click, click, click, click....in a second.

We've gone on various trips or walks this week just so that I can try out different settings on my camera. Let's just say I'm obsessed! I can see how photographers get hooked because there is so much you can do with these DSLR's. Here is a few raw pics from the last few days, I still have yet to figure out editing and if you have any recommendations on programs etc, please speak up :)

Happy BoyConcentration

Watch Me

Little Man Airplanes over the Bridge

Daddy and Little Man Airplanes over the Bridge