Ramblings from the Not-So-Typical Stay at Home Mom

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We have anoher Truth or Dare!
2007-07-29 09:57:00
I was starting to think that no one else was interested in this. Granted, the dares have been a little tame, but I was hoping that someone would jump on the bandwagon and get the party started.Here is the most recent dare:I am still up for dares! And now is a good time too since I am getting a bit slap happy. If you don't want to put a truth with it, that is fine. Just send them after your $1 pledge.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_b logger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQ PZ4C&feed=1
More About: Truth , Dare , Ruth

Top 5 Movies
2007-07-29 09:30:00
Here is a quick list of my kid's favorite movies at the moment.Little Bear1. Milo and Otis2. Garfield3. Finding Nemo4. Baby Einstien Neighborhood Animals5. Baby Einstien (the water one with the turtle on the front)Miss Turtle1. Stick It2. Material Girls3. Bring It On All or Nothing4. Freaky Friday5. Cinderella StoryWhat are your kids favorite movies?http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_b logger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQ PZ4C&feed=1
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Tom Hanks got skillz
2007-07-29 08:59:00
In response to the question I asked in my previous post, Mom on Coffee had a really great idea! With $1,000 that had to be spent at a toy store she would buy a giant piano like the one in Big, but inflatable. Or put the $1,000 towards it as it may cost more than that now.I would love to have one of those toys! I remember when that movie came out. I so badly wanted to go that toy store and jump around on that piano.What scene would you want to recreate and live if you could pick from any scene from any movie?http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_bl ogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQP Z4C&feed=1
More About: Tom Hanks , Skillz , Hank

5 hours and 2 Comments later
2007-07-29 08:36:00
Leave me some comments people! I will start playing games and asking questions and stuff. Help me stay awake! :DLet's say you have $1,000 that must be spent at a toy store. What do you buy and for who?Me after 16.5 hours of blogging, 2 showers, no makeup, blotchy and dry skin, and a crappy nights sleep. Something you may never see again after the blogathon so be sure to poke fun now. Look at how red my eyes are! What is going on there? As my friend would say, I look like "college". LOLhttp://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blogg er.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ4C &feed=1
More About: Comments , Hour , Hours

We heart Laurie Berkner
2007-07-29 07:57:00
I was introduced to the incredible Laurie Berk ner when Little Bear was still very tiny. We, or I should say I, instantly fell in love. She is so fun and her songs are great for kids. One of our favorites is Bumble Bee:As is Pig On Her Head:When Little Bear realized that it was fun to wiggle around and make putting a diaper on her impossible, this was the only song besides Old Mac Donald that would get her to stay still.On our vacation in Iowa, Telephone became another favorite:Our all time favorite Laurie Berkner song is "The Cat Came Back" but I cannot find a video of it and I have no idea how to attach a song to my post. (If you can tell me how, my posts may be more interesting)http://www.text-link-ads.com/ xml_blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBED W4QBQPZ4C&feed=1
More About: Music , Heart

Read with your Children
2007-07-29 07:30:00
I think that it is very important to read to your child at any age. It teaches them an appreciation and a love for reading. Read ing is knowledge and knowledge is power. We try to read to Little Bear every night and have Miss Turtle read as well. Sometime Miss Turtle will read to me or Hubby and sometimes to Little Bear.Here is a cute video of Hubby reading Little Bear's favorite book with her. She usually gets much more excited about the animal noises, but of course when you turn a camera on a child, they stop doing what you were tyring to capture. Here is a great book list for Toddlers and PreschoolersKindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade3rd, 4th, and 5thhttp://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blogg er.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ4C &feed=1
More About: Children , With You

Some More Scrapping!
2007-07-29 06:56:00
I've been scrapping again. It seems to have slowed down as the day went on so I have had a bit more time. I LOVE this layout.Mommy is tired!! I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night. I will make it though. I see a lot of cold showers and brisk walks outside in my future. I still have 9 hours left. I am at $91 in pledges. $9 more dollars and I will hit 3 digit numbers for The American Diabetes Foundation. I know that there is someone out there with a buck or two to donate. Don't forget that for every sponsorship of $1 or more you get to give me a truth and a dare and I will do it or answer it! I am so close to $100 and would love to be able to have that much go to such a great charity.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_ blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QB QPZ4C&feed=1
More About: Ping , Some

Fun Fish Treat
2007-07-29 06:30:00
Do you have a little one that loves fish? Try this really cute and fun fish treat.Make a package of Blueberry (or sugar free blueberry) Jell-O. When the Jell-O is partially set, stick some Swedish Fish and gummy sharks into it. When it is all the way set you can put some cool whip on top of it for sea foam, or you can scoop it into individual baggies, or just eat it the way it is. If you want to do individual baggies, an easier way to do it is to put the Ziploc baggies into small cups. Then prepare the Jell-O and pour it into the cups. Then let is set partially, put your fish and sharks in, and let it finish setting.Kids young and old LOVE fish treats.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_b logger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQ PZ4C&feed=1
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Hobbies Galore
2007-07-29 06:00:00
I have too many hobbies as anyone who has spent some time around this blog will know. Today I have shared my scrapbooking and have been working on a pair of jammies for Little Bear and did a video post about how to make a quick and cheap art smock for the kids. I also raffled off some knitted dishcloths that I made and gave away a bracelet that I made. Oh and don't forget Little Bear's matching bows for all her outfits I make her or the blankies and quilts. Too many hobbies, but I love each and everyone of them. I cannot give any one of them up. What is your hobby/obsession? If you have kids, what are their hobbies?http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_ blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QB QPZ4C&feed=1
More About: Hobbies , Galore

Time for Mom
2007-07-29 05:33:00
All mommas need to take some time out for themselves every now and then. Even on a modest income you can enjoy a nice relaxing foot soak and facial. Or you can even add a few lady friends and some Cosmos to the batch and have a really nice moms night in. Here a few recipes you can try for an at home spa.Banana Avacado FacialIngredients 1/2 overripe banana, mashed1/2 overripe avocado, mashed 2 tbsp plain yogurt (not nonfat) 1 tsp olive oil DirectionsCombine ingredients and mix well. Apply to clean face and neck. Leave on for 20 to 30 min. Rinse with plenty of warm water. Yogurt Cucumber Parsley Facial MaskIngredients 1 Tbsp. plain yogurt 1 Tbsp. cucumber 1 Tbsp. parsley DirectionsPuree the cucumber and parsley finely and mix with the yogurt until smooth. Clean your face with a gentle Cleanser. Cover your face with this creamy mask. This will rejuvenate your skin as it moistens. Leave the mask on for approximately 15-20 minutes for best results. Rinse with water. Follow with your ...
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The Evolution of Napping
2007-07-29 04:54:00
Why is it that kids never want to take a nap? They just know that they will miss something. What they will miss they do not know, but they do know that it will be fun.The evolution of the nap:Infants take nothing but naps. They only wake to eat and occasionally get their diaper changed.Before they are toddlers, most children take naps between eating and play time because they listen to their body which says they need it.Toddlers start to learn that when they shut their eyes, the rest of the world does not. Their toys are still there so fight to stay awake and become over tired and crabby.School age children do not always need naps with the exception of the occasional rest or when they decide to stay up all night gabbing at a sleep over.High School kids are tricky. They either give their left arm for some extra sleep, or they never sleep.Adults would kill for a nap, but never seem to get one.How does this make sense?http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_bl ogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FB...
More About: Evolution , Ping

10 Things to do on a hot day
2007-07-29 04:34:00
Summer is winding down to an end and the school year will begin. That doesn't mean that the heat will cease though. Here are some great ideas for those hot days where even the kids don't want to go outside.1. Go to the swimming pool. Just remember to bring the sunscreen.2. Build a fort in the living room and watch videos3. Go to the museum. Many museums have kid friendly areas.4. Make homemade lemonade with lemons, water, sugar, and honey. 5. Wash the Car6. make hommade popsicles or icecream.7. Go to the aquarium.8. Host your own fashion show in your living room.9. Go to the library.10. Go see a moviehttp://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blo gger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ 4C&feed=1
More About: Things , To Do

Blog A Thon 2007!!
2007-07-28 14:00:00
**Sticky Post! Scroll Down for Newer Entries**I shared a very special bond with a wonderful man and dated him for a long time. Things didn't work out between us and we went our separate ways although we still remained good friends. In May 2004, he passed away at the young age of 27. He had been sick for a very long time and his diabetes was complicating everything. He had a few stays in the hospital, but passed away in his home while carrying in groceries. His death hit a lot of our social circle very hard. He was such a wonderful person and very much a character. He is very missed.I am going to stay awake and blog for 24 hours straight on July 28th to raise money to be donated to the American Diabetes Association. A charity that is very close to my heart. You can sponsor me here for as little or as much as you can spare. Every dollar helps. You can even do it anonymously if you would like. Also, you can volunteer to talk to me online during my quest if you like, just let me know a...
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Blog Off Week 4: Victory
2007-07-27 06:07:00
This is the final week of the Blog Off. It was such fun and we raised a good amount of money for a really good cause. I am a little sad to admit that this is the end. The word in the e-mail this week was ?Victory ?. I drew a complete blank. The few remaining gears in my head that still work came to a sudden halt. All productivity ceased. Dead space. Spiders starting spinning webs in there. You get the picture.Victory: a success or superior position achieved against any opponent, opposition, difficulty, etcIt is surprising to me that such a big and powerful word can cause my mind to blank. Victory is to win over defeat. Victory is to show where one is strong over something else. People can be victorious in sports, over illness, and even in daily life.Many people do not realize their daily victories as a victory. It may just be luck, a daily event, or just something that happened. They save that word for larger events such as the Super Bowl or an ended cocaine addiction. ...
More About: Week , Tory

Thursday Thirteen
2007-07-26 17:38:00
My desk is a disaster. Almost as bad as the kid's room. For some reason Mommy's desk becomes the catch all. I better get it nice and clean before the Blogathon.Thirteen Things that are on my desk and shouldn't be1. Empty Soda can2. Empty glass of water3. The Dr. Fart noise maker4. metallic marker5. Listerine Agent Blue that was recalled6. Febreeze Air Effects7. non working cordless phone (why can't I throw it away?)8. Paris Fabric Scrap9. remote control10. black washable marker11. $5 off coupon for Safeway12. nail polish13. Eucerin Lotion (HATE the stuff)Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It?s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 thi...

Mommy's Little Messes
2007-07-24 23:36:00
I took a video today of the mess is in my children's rooms. Litt le Bear is in total destruction mode today and Miss Turtle left her room an absolute pit. It's a disaster in there!Check it out: So guess what I get to do this week while Miss Turtle is in Georgia. Ugh.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blog ger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ4 C&feed=1
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Freeze It!
2007-07-24 21:28:00
I have been complaining a lot lately about the pain in my neck and shoulders. I am not sure if it is caused by lugging around a 28 pound toddler or by the stresses of being Mommy the Maid,or possibly even a strange combo of both, but either way, it hurts. I've been trying heating pads, begging for neck massages, and even twisting my neck, head, and shoulders into impossible positions trying to soothe out the kinks. None of it has really worked, as you can see here in my only slightly exaggerated "before picture":Then I got something in the mail. As most of you know, I love to get stuff in the mail that is not asking me for payment, so I was very excited. The white envelope contained 3 trial size packages of Freeze It. Freeze It is a muscle, joint, and arthritis pain relief gel. Here is their commercial: I have to admit that I was secretly hoping that the commercial would contain older, arthritic people and some injured athletes dancing in red jackets singing "Freeze It, Freeze It" ...

Playing together in any language
2007-07-23 06:14:00
Today we got to visit a few relatives who live in Brazil. Hubby's step sister came out to stay for a few weeks and visit with everyone. She brought her 6 year old daughter and her 20 month old son. Mommy speaks a good deal of English, but the kiddos don't. There really isn't a language barrier in our crowd because of the different translators that we have. Miss Turtle does not know any Portuguese and our niece only knows very beginning English, but they were absolutely determined to play together. The two of them had their own language that consisted of English, Portuguese, sing language, and their own body language. It was so cute to watch them play.Adults can have such a language barrier when a good understanding of the same language is not shared. It makes me wonder how children can get over that fairly easily and quickly. It only took minutes for these two little girls to start painting each other nails, playing dolls, and making chalk pictures on the sidewalk. Is it their in...
More About: Language

"You are just like your Mother"
2007-07-21 06:31:00
I have always hated when people say that I look like my mom, or do certain things like my mom. My mom and I are not close. We are not friends. I do not like the way she raised my siblings and me. I aspire to be nothing like her. In spite of all this, I discovered today that there is something that we share so closely that it is down right scary. Every year for my mother's birthday or for Mother 's Day we would ask her what she wanted. My brother and I would have visions of getting her chocolate covered cherries, a new bathrobe, flowers, or a new pair of slippers. Every year she would tell us the same thing. "I want my house clean." My brother and I would roll our eyes thinking that she just didn't want us to spend the allowance money that was desperately burning holes into our pockets. Besides, we hates cleaning.Tomorrow is my birthday. I am not a big birthday person and used to HATE my birthdays. I still don't get too excited about them. But when Miss Turtle asked me what I want...
More About: Like , Like You

Chocolate Cream Pie is Christmas in July
2007-07-20 21:08:00
This week the Carnival of Recipes is presenting Christmas in July recipes. I wanted to share a recipe that doesn't really apply just to Christmas, but was one of my favorite Christmas memories as a child.Every Christmas morning my mother would sit me on the counter next to the stove and have me stir the cream pies. If you have ever made a cream pie, than you know just how much stirring that really is. I am still not sure if I was put in charge of the stirring to help out because it was a way to spend time with my mom, or if it was just so that my mom wouldn't have to do the stirring. She STILL asks me to stir the pudding every year. Either way, I remember sitting on the counter with my wooden spoon and stirring the pie filling. It really is one of my favorite Christmas memories.For years the recipe my mom used was lost. No one is really sure where it went. A few years ago I found a recipe that was very similar in a magazine and saved it. It is almost the same but I can't figure o...
More About: Chocolate , Cream , Chocolat

Hollywood Gossip Site
2007-07-20 08:46:00
As much as I wish that the paparazzi would just leave celebrities alone sometimes, I have to admit that I like to read about the lives of the rich and famous. When Paris Hilton went to jail, got out, and then went back, I wanted to know about it. Granted, I didn't want to hear every little detail about it on every single news channel and radio show, but I did want to know. So during my late night surfing (I got a nap today so I am still awake)I came across what I thought was yet another website for hollywood gossip. I expected the usual list of celebrities and their shortcomings and that is what I got. What I wasn't expecting is that I could vote on the stories. From what I gather, chatters can post stories on their own blogs and then put them on celebritygossip.com. Then other chatters get to vote on it. Pretty cool.I like that I can look up the celeb that I want to read gossip about. There is also something about points going on, but I haven't quite figured that out yet. Someth...
More About: Hollywood , Gossip , Site , Ossi , Olly

Friday Feast #152
2007-07-20 07:44:00
AppetizerOn a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television?It really depends on the sport. The Olympics and Football gets a 10, Hockey gets a 9, Soccer gets a 5, and Basketball gets a 1. The only sports that get a zero are the sports that only some consider a sport. Things like Nascar and Hot Dog eating. SoupIf you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick?Oh wow, I have to pick just one? Off the top of my head, I would have to say Romeo and Juliet.SaladWhat is your favorite breakfast food?French Toast. I'll take it plain, with raisins, stuffed, fruit and whipped cream, or just about any way it comes. I LOVE French Toast.Main CourseName something fun you can do for less than $10.00.I did it today. I found a really cute little pie shop near the place where Little Bear gets her hair cut. I got a great cup of chai and piece of Cherry Almond Pie. I went before it got too busy and let Little Bear play watch th...
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Blog Off Week 3: Breasts
2007-07-20 00:50:00
The 2nd round of the Blog Off hosted by Courtney is rounding the corner to end. Next week will sadly be the last week. This is the first time I have participated and I think I might get spanked. There are some really fantastic bloggers participating and I encourage everyone to check out the other contenders. The winner gets a nice price in the end, but the best part is that there will be a large amount of money donated to the fight against breast cancer.America is fascinated with breasts. Not just breasts, but naked breasts. Remember when a very intoxicated Tara Reid stood in front of thousands of reporters and cameras with her dress strap slipped down around her shoulder? (reminder) Her bare breast was exposed and everyone wanted a picture of it. Once there were a hundred or so pictures and videos of it, everyone in the world was searching the internet for Tara?s nipple. Even respected publications were showing the picture with a blurred out nipple. Tara?s breast was big news for ...
More About: Week , Breasts , Brea

Drink Your Veggies!
2007-07-20 00:45:00
I know that I have to get onto Miss Turtle to finish her vegetables at dinner time every now and then. She loved to try and pull the "I'm too full to eat my green beans" and the hiding the carrots in the napkin trick. It can be frustrating. I even started hiding her vegetables in other foods so that she would get her daily vegetables. A little bit of broccoli and cauliflower in the mashed potatoes. Sometimes a bit of carrots pureed into the sweet potatoes. Green peppers mixed into the spaghetti sauce. She still would notice a bit, but she ate them. But I still wasn't sure that she was getting her daily vegetables. Even a daily dietary supplement in the form of gummy princess vitamins weren't really doing it. Then I learned something about my child that I was unaware of. Miss Turtle liked to drink V8 juice. She asked for it at the store, and despite the amount of sugar that was in it, I bought it for her. I took the good with the bad.Then I learned about My Daily Veggies. For less...
More About: Shopping , Drink

Movie Theater Etiquette...a plea
2007-07-19 05:55:00
Dear Parents,It is one of our duties and obligations to help our children grow up to be able to be socially active in society. Everywhere that we take our young ones is a new opportunity to teach them how to behave in certain situations and environments. At the park we teach them that they can run around, play, and be silly. At the same time we teach them to respect other people on the playground by sharing and not hitting. At the library we teach our children that they need to be quiet and respect the property of others. For the most part, I see this in daily life. Children at the library are much quieter than they would be in other social settings. Children at the playground are told not to throw rocks and praised for sharing their swings.So where does the movie theater fall into all this? I teach my children that you do not run around in a movie theater. I teach them that you do not talk through the film and you do not leave your trash on the floor. You certainly do not throw thi...
More About: Movie , Theater , Etiquette , Eater , Thea

Yesterday was a busy day
2007-07-17 21:50:00
I don't have pictures of our swimming adventures in the morning, but I sure wish that I did. Miss Turtle is spending some time with her grandparents this week so Little Bear and I are left to our own devices for entertainment. We decided to go invade my good friend's house and her really big kid size pool. This pool is perfect. It's like 12 feet in diameter or something like that but only deep enough to come up to a toddler's belly button. Perfect. Little Bear played with my friend's kiddos and had a great time. I even ended up sitting in the cool water for a while.When we got home I figured that the very tired Little Bear would take a nap. I was wrong. She got out of her car seat and was ready to play. With an overly tired toddler and no desire to do anything outside the house to entertain her, we decided to play inside the house and get some great pictures.After dinner, Little Bear was still bouncing off the walls and she needed some guided entertainment so that she wouldn't...
More About: Yesterday , Este , Busy

Just like the Kitty
2007-07-17 07:23:00
This is the reason that we had to take the bookshelf out of Little Bear's room:We are currently using an old diaper box for her board books until we can find something prettier. Her paper books are being housed on a shelf in the bookcase that now calls Miss Turtle's room home.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blo gger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ 4C&feed=1
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Vacation Stories: Sharing Childhood Memories
2007-07-15 18:16:00
(I am still waiting on pictures from the in laws from our vacation. When I get those, I will have a ton of fun stories to share. Everything from chicken hats to fake bears)One of my favorite things about visiting small town Iowa for our family vacation was getting to see a lot of Hubby's childhood memories. He showed me the house that he grew up in, the road that he and his grandpa used to ride their bikes to town, the house that his grandparents lived in, and the park he used to play at where his grandpa had once built most of the play structures. He drove us through the little town and pointed out his favorite place to get whole fried catfish and the Happy Joes where they have his favorite pizza. Our kids played in the corn fields like he had done so many years ago. Unfortunately, my nephew had an allergic reaction to something that was sprayed on the corn, but it was slight and the doctor gave him some eye drops and he was fine. I think it is really neat to see where my husband ...
More About: Childhood , Stories , Vacation , Memories , Sharing

Saturday Scraps Cowgirl Layout
2007-07-15 01:40:00
I found this really cool idea over at Are We There Yet Mom and I just had to play along.Here is a layout I did of Miss Turtle about her horse riding shows and lessons.I used some CTMH papers and a sticker set from Jolee's that was just too cute to pass up at the store. It's really simple, but I am so far behind on my scrapbooking that I have to be a little simple on my layouts.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_ blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QB QPZ4C&feed=1
More About: Saturday , Layout , Craps , Scraps

Vacation Stories: Are We There Yet?
2007-07-13 22:12:00
Have you ever seen the episode of The Simpsons where Homer and Apu are on the airplane flying to Apu's homeland? The dialog goes something like this:Homer: "Are we there yet?"Apu: "No."Homer: "Are we there yet?"Apu: "No."Homer: "Are we there yet?"Apu: "No."Homer: "Are we there yet?"Apu: "No. Wait a minute...yes."This was the internal dialogue going on inside my head during that last 20 miles of driving to West Des Moines. We were approaching hour 12 of the drive and we were all cranky and tired. The coffee had worn off, the DVD player had lost it's original appeal, and Little Bear was in desperate need to get out of the car and run around. But we were only 20 miles away from our hotel. That is less than 20 minutes. We were almost there.That last 20 miles was one of the most anxious 20 minutes of my life. I kept hearing the voices of Homer and Apu in my head as if they were on my shoulders. Too bad one of them wasn't an angel singing softly to me that we were almost there and to j...
More About: Stories , Vacation , There