My Life as a Married Girl (and Mommy!)

Paleo Creamy Avocado dressing... YUM!

2012-01-26T23:11:00.000-08:00

So When I started this Paleo diet, I was resigned to having salads with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It is good, don't get me wrong, but after the first week, I stopped eating as many salads...

Well, I got some avocados for a good price yesterday, and as I was making me a salad with leftover chicken for lunch today, I went to go put an avocado on it, and thought "wait a minute, I saw a recipe somewhere for an avocado dressing... I should make that." And I did! And it was so delicious I was licking the spoon!

(adapted from Rasperry & Coconut's recipe)

Creamy Avocado Dressing

Ingredients:

2 avocado
3/4 c. water
4 T. olive oil
2 T. lemon juice (I would start with one and taste it... I thought 2 was a little much)
1/4 t. Cayenne pepper or to taste
1/2 t. Garlic paste (can use garlic powder)
2-4 dashes sea salt and pepper

I used a hand blender to mix everything together, but you can use whatever you have available. if you need to thin it out, add some water.

Store in the fridge (great use for an old mason jar!) Should keep about a week.

10 Months old!

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my baby girl turned 10 months old yesterday! She is growing up so fast, and I swear she changes every time I look at her.

She weighs about 20 pounds, and is in 6-9 month clothes, and some 12 month clothes. She wears a size 3 shoe (big foot baby girl!)

She knows the signs for "more" and "all done" (and says all done) She babbles all the time, but hasn't said mama yet. She has said dada, but not towards Josh.

She has taken a couple steps in the past two days! She also can stand up by herself from the floor. She is so close to walking! It is exciting and scary at the same time!

She is not a cuddler... she doesn't really like to be sitting still. She is always on the move and always into things.

She has been eating more and more foods! I made butternut squash fries last night and she devoured them! (and finished them off for lunch!) She has had chicken and pork, though wasn't a huge fan, blueberries and apples. (plus some other things I can't think of right now) =)

She still isn't sleeping through the night. We got pretty close for a while, then she cut some teeth and got a cold, and we are back to 1-2 times a night. hopefully we can get back to the 1 time, and sleeping for like 9-10 hours.

Speaking of teeth, she has her two bottom teeth, and one of her top canines (I think the other one is coming too..) How weird is that? She is cutting her canines before her middle teeth!

Anyways, it is so much fun watching her learn and grow! She is playing by herself more and more, and I love watching her. She is already so smart, and I am pretty sure we have another smart one on our hands!

Grandma and Grandpa took Big brother out for ice cream, and of course Ellie had to have a taste!

Weigh in Wednesday 1/25/12

2012-01-25T21:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn't have as good of a loss this week... but I stuck with my diet, and I am proud of myself for that. =)

So, here are my Stats: (starting date: 1/9/12)

Starting Weight: 243
Last week's weight: 235
This week's Weight: 234

Only 1lb lost, but I am not going to let that discourage me! I even went jogging tonight. =) I've got some pretty yummy looking paleo recipes I want to try out, so I will be sure to share some recipes!

How did you do that week?

Road Trip! (aka... we are nuts!)

2012-01-21T21:25:00.000-08:00

So, we had been thinking about taking a trip to Ohio in September to visit Josh's family and go to the Tractor and Engine Show that his family goes to every year.

We had planned on flying, but in pricing tickets (at least right now) it is looking like it will cost us Close to $1500 to fly, then we would probably need a rental car, etc.

But then we started thinking "What if we drove?" Hmm...

So, doing the math, Gas would cost us max $1000 (and that's if gas goes up to $5 a gallon... we are estimating high.) And, we would be able to pack more, and we'd have our car. It would still cost less to do that and have Josh miss a couple extra days of work.

So the plan (for now) is to drive Straight through, leaving on a wednesday evening, so hopefully the kids would sleep the night in the car, then we will stop and have lunch with some friends in Ft. Collins, CO and then continue on driving overnight until we get to Indiana on Friday morning. We will camp at the Tractor show through sunday, then go to Josh's Grandparents house for a couple more days.

Then we will hopefully meet up with some friends in Cincinatti on Tuesday or wednesday, then drive down to see friends in Clarksville, TN and stay a day. (stopping on the way in Louisville to see the baseball stuff.) From Clarksville, we will drive Int. 40 home, stopping in Albuquerque, NM to visit more friends, then continuing home. (we will have an extra day coming back, so we can stop and stay a night somewhere and take it a little slower.)

I know, we are absolutely crazy, especially considering that we will have a 3 year old and a 1 1/2 year old. Has anyone taken a long road trip with kids around these ages? Do you have any tips for me? (other than taking plenty of benadryl? hehe) It is definitely going to be a big challenge, but We think the money savings will make it worth it. (plus getting to see more friends.)

I can't wait! And yet I am a bit nervous... especially considering I will probably be pregnant by that time (whether just a couple months or more... we haven't decided when we will start trying...) But yeah... any advice? =)

Here is the map of our planned trip:

The Paleo Diet

2012-01-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

So, several people have asked what diet I am doing that seems to be working so well, so I though I would write a post about it.

Basically, it is a change of diet, based on what people ate before modern agriculture. I don't believe in the "paleolithic era and cave man" stuff, because I believe the world was created by God, and not that long ago... but the diet has some good points, and so far I feel good, and I am losing weight.

So what can you eat? Meat, seafood, vegetables, seasonal fruit, good fats such as avocados, nuts – but not in excess. Plenty of olive oil, coconut oil, and coconut milk. Stay away from all processed foods, dairy, grains (yes even whole grains and brown rice), sugar, artificial sweeteners, fruit juice, and starchy foods like white potatoes and beans.

It isn't the easiest diet, but if you focus on what you can have, it is easier. =)

Want more information? Recipes? Check out these sites:
www.everydaypaleo.com
http://nomnompaleo.com/
http://robbwolf.com/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
http://paleocomfortfoods.com
http://paleoonabudget.com

There are some differing views on paleo eating, so keep that in mind. Some people will allow butter, cream or Cheese in moderation as long as you feel good adding it back into your diet. (though many suggest doing a 30 day "cleanse" without these things.)

Weigh in Wednesday 1/18/12 (on Friday...)

2012-01-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

I know I am late, but when I weighed in wednesday I didn't like what the scale said, and I knew it was because I was PMS-ing... So I waited until yesterday to do my weigh in, then forgot to write my post!

So, here are my Stats: (starting date: 1/9/12)

Starting Weight: 243
Last week's weight: 240
This week's Weight: 235

Total weight loss: 8 pounds!!! In a week and a half!!!

I am so proud of myself for sticking with this diet this long... I usually cheat and blow it within a day or two of starting, but not this time... I will do a separate post of what diet I am following, so stay tuned if you are interested!

How is your weight loss going this week? =)

Weight Loss Challenge!

2012-01-16T11:43:00.001-08:00

I have joined a Weight loss challege on Sparkpeople. If you are on a journey to lose weight and want some motivation, or just a team to join and help you out, check out SunEGrl's Blogpost for more information, and for how to sign up!

Reflections

2012-01-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

I went to my parent's house this weekend for a dentist appointment and visit...

Every time I make that drive, I pass the spot on the road where we hit ice and went off the road almost 2 years ago...

Every time I drive past it I say a prayer of thanks. We could have been killed, or at least injured badly, the car could have been damaged worse than it was, but it wasn't. The past couple times I have driven past, there has been a memorial cross at the exact spot we went off the road... It makes me even more thankful knowing that someone else went off the road at that spot and didn't survive.

Just thought I would share =)

Weigh in Wednesday 1/11/12

2012-01-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

I know, it's a little late, but better late than never, right?

So, I have been on the paleo diet 3 days now (though I kinda watched what I ate for a week or so before) and aside from the headache I think is due to the sugar withdrawl, I am feeling pretty good!

Starting Weight: 243
Last week's weight: 243
This week's weight: 240

Total weight loss: 3 pounds!

So exciting! I usually fluctuate between 240 and 245, so getting under 240 will be exciting for me!

And because I didn't last week, I am going to post a before picture.... (against my better judgement...)

1000 Posts!

2012-01-11T18:31:00.001-08:00

I just realized that this is post #1002! Haha... Just had to share that I passed the 1000 mark! =)

Day 1

2012-01-09T22:38:00.000-08:00

Today was day one of eating Paleo, and it wasn't bad! I had eggs and fruit for breakfast, fish and a beet soup I made for lunch, and a steak, salad and cabbage for dinner. For snacks I had some almonds or fruit.

I know I was going to start last week, but things happened, and I didn't... oh well. =)

I also came across loseit.com (thanks to a friend) and it is cool! It lets you track your calories, exercise and your weight loss goal and tells you how long it will take to get to that goal. There is also an app for your phone, which I love!

Anyways, here's to day 2! Hoping it gets easier and easier!

It's almost textbook time again!

2012-01-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was in school, every semester I played the guessing game as to how much my books were going to be that semester. I was usually way under, and they always managed to cost hundreds of dollars, even though I would buy them used. To me it seemed to be an outrageous amount to pay for something that you use for a semester and then desperately try to sell to someone else, or they sit unused on your bookshelf.

Then I heard about CampusBookRentals.com! What a genius idea! I really wish this site had been around when I was in school! It would have saved me a huge headache!

From their site:
"CampusBookRentals.com began renting textbooks in August of 2007. Since then, we've served thousands and thousands of customers on more than 5,000 different college campuses in the fabulous USA. You can be confident in our customer service and reliability. We work like maniacs to get books to our customers on time, make things right when something goes wrong, and provide fast and responsive customer service.

At CampusBookRentals.com we offer virtually any textbook for rent, we pay students for referring friends, we award scholarships every semester, and we contribute a portion of the rental proceeds to a worthy humanitarian project each year. We’ll keep you involved in our humanitarian projects and progress through our “Making a Difference” link.

Renting textbooks makes sense plain and simple. Every rental comes with a worry free guarantee within the first 30 days of your order if you drop your class or change your mind, you keep more cash in your pocket up front, you can order from the comfort of your home or office, it doesn’t cost a penny to return your rented textbooks when you're done with them (we even provide the package), and you don’t have to worry about disappointing buyback prices at the end of the semester. Let us take the risk that your textbook will be worthless next semester; you don’t have to anymore."

They've partnered with Operation Smile and are donating over 1,000 life saving cleft lip surgeries this year to children in need! So not only are you saving money on books, you get to help people in the process!

So, if you are in school and need books, or know anyone who is, be sure to check out this program!

Resolutions

2012-01-04T23:39:00.001-08:00

Well, it's that time of the year again... When we all make resolutions that most of us break a week or a month later.

And I figure, why break tradition? Though this year I really need to get serious about making healthy changes.

My sister has been doing the paleo diet, and I can see the changes in her. She is a night shift nurse, and isn't even drinking coffee anymore when she used to drink several cups a day. And she looks great. (though she always has.) se also says he has never felt better.

So I know I may not be able to go completely paleo, partially because of the cost, but I am going to really try and cut out sugars grains and dairy. I figure my first goal will be to get through a week. Then I am sure I will notice a difference in how I feel, which will help motivate me to keep going.

I am also going to try and get myself out of the mentality of "oh, I failed... I had a cookie, might as well have 3..." and instead be like well, I had a cookie. Not the best choice, but I can keep making better choices. I don't want the little setbacks to turn into roadblocks.

I can do this! I need to do this! I will do this! 2012 is going to be the year I finally get healthy.

I am going to try and do a weekly post, like a weigh in Wednesday... Can't promise it will be every week, but I will try!

And so you know where I am starting, my current weight is: 243lbs

My goal is to get under 200. I will never be skinny, but when I weighed 190 I was happy. I felt great and felt good about myself.

So that's where I'm at for this year... What are your goals or resolutions?

Bloglovin

2012-01-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Since GFC is disappearing for all non google users, please follow my blog with bloglovin!

Goodbye 2011, you were good to us!

2012-01-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

2011 was a good year! Of course, it wasn't without it's struggles, but overall, we definitely saw a lot of blessings! Here is an overview!

January - Jack turned a year and a half, and I hit 30 weeks in my pregnancy!

February - We got to see lots of snow! We spent the month fighting with the bank on making repairs on the house we had an accepted offer on, and waited while they dragged their feet and took their sweet time

March - We finally closed on the house, and moved in! I turned 28, and 4 days later, Elise Abigail was born via VBAC!

April - I learned what it meant to be a mom of two, we celebrated Easter, and learned Jack had congenital trigger finger in both thumbs.

May - I struggled with breastfeeding, and had a rough month as we decided I had to start supplementing again. Jack had his surgery and it went great!

June - Jack got his first big boy haircut, Josh and I celebrated our 4th anniversary, and Ellie laughed for the first time.

July - Jack turned two! (and got his first head wound)

August - Jack decided he had to have a baby too, and Ellie decided that sleep was overrated, had her first taste of solid food, finally started putting on weight, and rolled over for the first time!

September - We went on vacation! Ellie got her ears pierced, and turned 6 months old!

October - pretty uneventful =)

November - Did a craft fair that was a flop, Got my Etsy shop open, celebrated a great thanksgiving, and Ellie turned 8 months old!

December - We started Sleep training Ellie, and it made a big difference! She went from waking up 3-4 times a night to waking up 1-2 times a night (mostly 1.) We had a great Christmas! Ended the month by celebrating my brother in law's wedding in Oregon. =)

Hope you all had a great 2011, and are looking forward to a great 2012!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hope you have a wonderful 2012! Happy New Year!

Merry CHRISTmas!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and your families a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Something about Silver Review and Giveaway!

2011-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to work with Something about Silver on a review and giveaway. After Jack was born, I got a necklace with his name on it, but haven't been able to get one with Ellie's name on it.

When they said they would make a piece for me, I was really excited to see what they would come up with! And I was definitely not disappointed! The necklace came packaged very nicely, and had it been a gift, I wouldn't even have had to wrap it! It was in a simple brown box with a pretty ribbon tied around it. Then I opened it and saw this:

Isn't that beautiful?!? The quality is great, and I have gotten lots of compliments on it! I would definitely order from Something about Silver again! They have such a great selection of jewelry!

And here's the best part! They have generously offered one lucky reader a $40 gift certificate to their store! Enter using the rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Busy!

2011-12-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

The past several weeks have been so busy! My family celebrated Christmas this past weekend, so I was working on making everyone's gifts, preparing my Etsy shop to go on Heartsy (which only sold a pitiful 4 vouchers... boo!) I was out sick for a couple days, and between all that and trying to keep the house somewhat clean, and the kids taken care of, I just have put this blog on the back burner (as usual...)

But I am still here! Chugging along... Though I did manage to catch a cold from Jack (I rarely get sick, and this is the 2nd time in a month... what the heck?!?)

I need to get some recent pictures of the kids too... They are growing up so fast! I can't believe Ellie will be 9 months old on Christmas, and Jack will be 29 months old tomorrow!

I hope everyone is having a great Week before Christmas!

That Way Hat Review!

2011-12-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

I recently got the chance to work with That Way Hat on a review!

That Way Hat is a hat company that has all of their hats made specially for them with the label of their sister company goal2020. They also sell hats by individual small hat makers in the US and Canada (the Designer and Artisan sections). That Way Hat can have most any hat you want made for you by the custom hat makers who work with them. You just send them the details of what you are looking for & wethey will hook you up with makers of steampunk, church, fedoras, you name it! How great is that?

That Way Hat sent me the Women's Wool Cloche Black with Clover Flowers, and I like it a lot! It is very nice quality, and very well made!

Their service was great, and it was shipped fast! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to buy a hat! Go check them out! www.thatwayhat.com

Heartsy!

2011-12-16T08:23:00.000-08:00

My shop is on Heartsy today!

Go check it out! I have lots of new stuff in my shop!

Attn: cloth diapering mamas!

2011-12-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

Kebbie's Diaper Bag is looking for cloth diapering Mommy Bloggers to test out some new cloth diapering products!

To sign up please to participate fill out this form with information about your blog.

Open to the first 100 Bloggers. Once the list has been approved by Kebbie's Diaper Bag, she'll ask you to confirm your mailing address for the products to be mailed to you. The reviews and giveaways are asked to be completed within 30 days of your receipt of the products from Kebbie's Diaper Bag. You can use this product review and giveaway either as your only-blog giveaway or enjoy this opportunity for your blog hops and blog campaigns.

Super easy!

Snorg Tees Sale! Great Christmas Presents!

2011-12-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

Snorg Tees is having a sale! 15% off all Tees and Hats!

I love their shirts! I know a few people who would love one for Christmas!

One Stop Christmas Hop Event and Giveaway!

2011-12-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

This is it - it's finally here -- The One Stop Christmas Hop! Myself along with several other bloggers are participating in giveaways with a value of $25 or more at each of the participating blogs! This hop is being hosted by Mama to 4 blessings, so make sure to go check out her blog and enter there!

So, I am sure you are wondering what you can win from me? Well, you will win a $25 gift certificate to Katrina's Creations!!! That's right, my Etsy Shop!

Just in time for the holidays! Here are some of the fun things you can choose:

All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter form below!
Then, visit the other blogs doing the giveaway! (linky is below the rafflecopter form!)

Gingerbread cookies!

2011-12-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

Last week, I made gingerbread cookies, and then let Jack decorate them. He loved it!

"Cheese"

Putting on the sprinkles

Ellie supervised while enjoying a teething biscuit

He was very serious about his work

The end result!

We took them and gave them to some friends, and everyone loved them!

Sleep Training

2011-12-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

We have been working on Sleep Training Ellie, and it has been a ride, that's for sure. With Jack it was easy... 3 days and he was putting himself to sleep and sleeping through the night. Ellie is a different story.
It has been over a week now. We are getting 5-7 hour stretches at night, which is definitely better than it was! She still cried when we put her down, but usually not more than for 10 minutes or so. sometimes she goes right down.
It's funny, because sometimes I will be feeding her and she will finish eating, and I'll be holding her in the cradle hold, and she will start crying and arching her back to get out of my arms and won't take her pacifier, so I will lay her down and give her her pacifier and she will go right to sleep.
It is a slower progress, but I'll take it. It's definitely better than it was! Hopefully she will get the hang of sleeping soon and will sleep through the night.
I am dreaming of that day... haha

Diamond Candles Call for Bloggers!

2011-12-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

Have you experienced a soy candle with amazing aroma that inspires and makes your holidays go smooth and relaxed? Have you seen anything like waiting with anticipation what's going to be peaking out of the hot soy liquid while the candle is still burning?

If not, then Diamond Candles Company would like to invite you to Review and Giveaway their Precious soy candles. Why "precious" you'll ask? Well, each candle harbors a ring valued anywhere from $10-$100-$500-$5000 each. It's anticipation that really gets you going! What kind of a ring am I going to unveil from the glittery pouch hidden inside the soy wax?

Are you interested In doing a review and giveaway for them? Go to this blog and check out the requirements and the form to enter!

Spread the Love, Share the comfort

2011-11-30T08:31:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us, and that means many of us are thinking of ways we can help those less fortunate than ourselves. Recognizing that the holidays this year will be a difficult time for many families, BEARPAW Footwear is kicking off their “Share the Love, Spread the Comfort” campaign. They will be choosing two nominated families every Friday until the end of December to receive a holiday gift basket including: BEARPAW boots for the entire family, 2 $250 gift cards and more.

BEARPAW invites you to join us as they honor those who inspire us with the spirit of the holidays year round. During the Spread the Love, Share the Comfort Campaign, they want you to nominate those families who may have fallen on hard times, but continue to uplift those around them.

Here is a link to all rules, guidelines, and information on how to enter - http://bearpawstyle.com/2011/11/spread-the-love-share-the-comfort-campaign/

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

Ellie, 8 months

Jack, 8 months

(Jack didn't stand up until after 9 months old...)

8 Months Old!

2011-11-22T17:01:00.000-08:00

My baby girl will be 8 months old on Friday!!!

She is getting so big!

She is eating 3 meals a day of fruits and veggies with wheat cereal, and she loves it! She is a master of eating puffs or cheerios and she can't get enough of those either!

She started pulling herself up on everything last week, and gets better and better every day. She is even walking along the couch and between the couch and ottomans. I think she will be walking by Christmas.... Yikes!

She cut her first tooth last week! It is still coming through, but it is definitely there!

She is definitely a drama queen! You take a toy away from her, or she falls down, she will scream! Haha.

Aside from not sleeping well (still only getting 2-4 hour stretches at a time, all night long) she is a pretty good baby. =) She loves music and will dance when she hears it, and is always smiling.

We love her to death!

Pretty please! (extra entry opportunity!)

2011-11-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

ok, so I am begging for your votes! I entered Jack into the Tiny Prints talent search, and I need you to vote for him!

Click here to vote...

(this is his entry... isn't he cute?!?)

If you vote, I will have an opportunity for 3 extra entries into any giveaway from now until the end of the year, and I have a couple good ones coming up!

So pretty pretty please, go vote now!!!

Christmas Cards!

2011-11-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

Got my Christmas cards! I absolutely love them! I love Tiny Prints! hehe. This is the second year in a row I have gotten them from them, and have also gotten business cards, and they are awesome! I highly recommend them! (I will post a picture of them after I get them sent out so I don't ruin the surprise!)

If you haven't already ordered your Christmas cards, you should check them out. They have lots of other things too, like business cards, thank you cards, announcements and more! =)

Christmas Gift Idea #1

2011-11-21T18:16:00.000-08:00

Do you have someone who is hard to buy for on your list? How about buying them a fun t-shirt from Snorg Tees?

They have tons of fun shirts to choose from! I have a shirt from them, and it is great quality, and I always get comments on it!

Love it!

2011-11-21T17:45:00.000-08:00

I am in love with this body wash... A friend gave me a travel size lotion and body wash, and I can't get enough of the scent!!!

Katrina's Creations!

2011-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

My Etsy Shop is up and running! Just in time for Christmas!

Check it out!

And, I have submitted my shop to be featured on Heartsy, so go here and vote! If I get chosen, there will be a great deal available!

3rd Annual Tiny Prints Talent Search!!!

2011-11-16T13:35:00.000-08:00

Tiny Prints is thrilled to announce Their 3rd annual Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest, and I am excited to be able to share it with you guys!

You can enter for a chance to win the grand prize of $1,000 cash, plus a $500 Tiny Prints gift certificate, what a perfect prize just in time for the Holiday season!

In the Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest they are looking for the cutest photos in the following categories:

· Cutest Baby (From ages of 0-24 months)

· Cutest Kid (From ages of 25 months - 10 years old)

· Cutest Family

· Cutest Couple

· Cutest Pet & Owner

After the entry period is over, They will open up the contest to the entire Community to vote for their favorites and determine the winners! Hurry! The entry deadline has been extended to November 21st!

You can enter the Tiny Print Talent Search Contest via Facebook or on our website. For Official Rules, click here.

How exciting! I know I am going to enter! Good luck!

One Stop Christmas Hop Event!

2011-11-15T19:24:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce that I am going to be a part of the One Stop Christmas Hop hosted by Mama to 4 blessings!

I am really excited, so be sure to come back here, and check out her blog starting Nov. 29th!

Earn a $10 amazon card!

2011-11-15T11:18:00.001-08:00

StumbleUpon is a new website where you can "stumble upon" web content that fits your personality. kind of like Pinterest. Right now they are doing a promotion where if you refer 5 friends to sign up for free, you get a $10 amazon card.

I just signed up, and it was super easy. You just sign up, then you click a few things that interest you and that's it! You can refer people through facebook, email, or your own link.

Here's how to do it.
1. Sign up for StumbleUpon Here
2. Then head HERE for your referral link and to refer friends.
3. You then can share via facebook, link, twitter, or email!

Who doesn't want free money! Especially with Christmas coming up!

My Christmas wish list

2011-11-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

There are a few things I am hoping for this year, so I decided to share. (hints for my family too...) ;-)

1. A Kindle

2. A Massage Envy gift certificate... I need a massage so badly it isn't even funny. I have knots in muscles I didn't know existed...

3. New Boots. It gets cold here, and I don't have a warm pair of boots. I love these from Payless.

4. A Joann Gift Card

5. This sweater

6. Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead cookbook

7. The DNA of relationships book

Whats on top of your wishlist this year? =)

Thankfulness Day 12, 13 and 14

2011-11-13T21:52:00.000-08:00

Day 12 - I am thankful that we are on track to pay off all our debt (except student loans and the house) within the next 2 1/2 years. =) Puts the light at the end of the tunnel...

Day 13 - I am thankful for my material possessions. A warm bed to sleep in, a car to drive, a house to live in, etc. We may not have everything we want, but we have just about everything we need and more. we can't afford any luxuries, but our necessities are taken care of. And for that I am very thankful.

Day 14 - I am thankful for my crafting abilities. Hopefully it can start earning us some extra money, but I love that I can sit and create things. It is therapeutic. =)

Thankfulness Day 11

2011-11-11T16:12:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for all the veterans who have served our country. Thank you, and God Bless you!

Thankfulness Day 10

2011-11-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for this beautiful little girl. She makes me smile every day, and I love her more than words can say. =)

(and because I realized I never posted a picture of them in their halloween costumes together...)

Thankfulness Day 9

2011-11-09T19:48:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for this little guy and the happiness he brings me every day.

Nurturme Review and giveaway!

2011-11-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

Traveling with containers of baby food can be difficult. If you get the plastic containers, they can get crushed. or the glass ones can break. And who even knows what they use to preserve them...But now, thanks to NurturMe, you can have delicious, nutritious on the go baby food that you are in control of!

NurturMe is a revolutionary new type of baby food! Certified-organic, it is all natural and gluten free and made from nutrient rich fruit and veggies which are quick dried. So why is quick drying important? By quick drying ingredients, NuturMe is able to preserve the essential nutrients found in fruits and veggies! This makes it one of the most natural and nutritious baby food on the market! What mom doesn't like that? NurturMe allows you to customize your baby's feeding because you are in control! You can mix the pouches of NurturMe with breast milk, whole milk, formula, water and even other foods to create the right combination for your little one! It is approved for babies four months to four years and has no added salts, sugars, colors or preservatives!

Nurturme sent me a sample pack to try, and I love the concept! They were great for traveling to my parents house, and Ellie seemed to enjoy them. I think that the quick drying method makes the flavor quite a bit stronger than the jarred baby food, which may be off putting to some babies (though you can mix them differently or mix with cereal to cut the flavor some.) But, despite the strong flavor, Ellie still liked it, and I liked the convenience!

NurturMe comes in a variety of flavors which include Plump Peas, Scrumptious Squash, Crisp Apples, Hearty Sweet Potatoes, and now two fantastic new flavors - Sweet Bananas and Crunchy Carrots! NurturMe comes in a box of 8 meal pouches which makes 8 servings and retails for a suggested prize of $9.49. To find out more about NurturMe and where to buy it, be sure to visit their website.

Nurturme is giving one of my readers the chance to win a Medium gift pack! Just enter on the rafflecopter form below!

Thankfulness Day 8

2011-11-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

Day 8 - I am thankful that my husband has a job that is secure. It may not be the most ideal job, it may not pay a ton, and it may not have benefits, but it is a job, and it pays the bills. =) (also again thankful for the husband's hard work at said job.... I love you babe!)

Tiny Prints Giveaway!

2011-11-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote about the Christmas cards from Tiny Prints, And I am so excited to be able to offer a giveaway for the winner's choice of 50 Christmas cards!

I just got mine in the mail the other day, and I LOVE them! This is the second year in a row I have worked with Tiny Prints for my Christmas cards and I have never been disappointed. I always get tons of compliments on them too!

Tiny Prints is also having a one day only promotion as well (on 11/9/11) where you can receive a FREE card to your kids from Santa! Visit the Tiny Prints Facebook page to find out how to personalize one of the following greeting cards FREE: Checking It Twice or Santa’s Scroll. How fun is that? I am totally going to send Jack a Card! Just Remember, this is a one day only thing, on Wednesday, Nov. 9th!

So, are you ready to enter to win? Go to their site and tell me your favorite Christmas Card design, and enter in the rafflecopter form below! This giveaway is only going to run for a week!

Thankfulness Day 7

2011-11-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

Day 7 - I am thankful for the great church we have found, and the small group we are in. Such a great group of people. =)

Thankfulness Day 6

2011-11-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

Day 6 - I am Thankful for great friends. =)

Wow, That was a blast from the past... ;-) (and any non pictured friends, I love you too... just don't have your pictures on my computer/facebook!)

Pumpkin Scones!

2011-11-06T14:16:00.001-08:00

I love Fall! And I love Pumpkin. I have a great recipe for pumpkin scones (not typical scones... they are not dry at all!) And they are sooooo good! We used to sell these at our coffee shop (all you old mocha mania customers should enjoy this!) and they would sell out fast.
Anyways, here is the recipe... you have to make these at least once! I promise you will love them! And they are super easy!

Pumpkin Scones

6c. Flour
3c. sugar
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 tbs baking soda
1 stick butter
1/2 c. crisco
1 lg. can pumpkin (can sub any type of pie mix/filling, or just do chocolate chips and milk to make a dough, almost the consistency of cookie dough!)

Sift together dry ingredients.
Cut in butter and crisco and mix together
stir in pumpkin or pie filling
place on ungreased cookie sheet or pizza stone
bake at 350 for 25-30 mins. (or less depending on the size)

Thankfulness Days 3,4,5

2011-11-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

Oops, screwed that one up three days in, huh? hehe. In my defends, I was working my butt off trying to prepare for that craft fair... Anyways...

Day 3 - I am thankful for my beautiful babies who make my life so much more full. I am so blessed to be their mom, and I love them more than words can say.

Day 4 - I am Thankful for my awesome parents. They have been there for me, supported me, loved me and let me be me. I don't know what I would do without them, and I love them dearly. =)

Day 5 - I am thankful that our bills are paid. Barely, but they are paid, we have a roof over our head, and we may be eating cheap, but at least we have food. =)

Craft Fair Flop

2011-11-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

So, My friend and I decided to do a craft fair today, and it was a flop. Maybe it just wasn't the right market for our products, but we barely made enough to pay for the booth... it was such a bummer! (and kind of a waste of a day!) But, you win some, you lose some!

Here's a picture of my booth

I make felt flower headbands, hair clips and pins... and I just listed a bunch in my Etsy Shop. Go Check it out, and maybe you can get some early Christmas shopping done!

I also Have some Fun nursing covers!

Thankfulness Day 2

2011-11-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Day 2 - I am thankful for my awesome Hubby. =)

Nablopomo or whatever the heck it is....

2011-11-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

I am going to attempt to post every day this month. Maybe it will help me get back in the habit of it! To make it a little easier on myself I am going to combine the daily post with the month of thankfulness... I am going to post something I am thankful for everyday. =)

Day 1 - I am Thankful that I have a God who is my savior and who loves me no matter what. =)

Rooster!

2011-10-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

We got Jack's Halloween Costume today... I think it's safe to say he likes it...

Pur Minerals Review and giveaway!

2011-10-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

I recently was given the chance to try the new Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation With SPF 15. Pur Minerals sent me the Pür Minerals 5-Piece Start Now Kit, and I have to say I am impressed!

From the Site:
"Lots of makeup can make you look pretty, but how many can improve clarity or diminish the look of fine lines? More than just a get-the-look kit, Start Now! is an expressway to a naturally flawless complexion. In an eight-week clinical study, women of all ages saw an improvement in their skin’s appearance after using this five-piece kit. Up to 89 percent saw a smoother, softer appearance while 75 percent experienced visibly less irritation than before."

This portable perfection makeup kit includes:
4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup (.15 oz): Loose powders are so last year. Combining pure mineral pigment with the finest skin care ingredients, our all-in-one foundation, concealer, powder and SPF 15 has inspired generations of women to forget the mess and go pressed.

Neutral Primer (.3 fl oz): While most primers create the illusion of a more uniform complexion, our skin correcting formula contains special key ingredients that minimize the look of pores, dark spots and fine lines for a truly flawless makeup canvas.

Mineral Glow (.12 oz): Combining premium quality minerals with proven firming ingredients, Mineral Glow gives skin a natural-looking touch of sun with added skin care benefits.

Impact+ Mascara (.12 oz): Lengthen, thicken or curl—most mascaras give you just one option. Impact+ gives you all three, with the added benefit of extreme lash hydration for naturally healthier looking lashes.

Chisel Brush: Designed specifically for our 4-in-1 formula, this cruelty-free total coverage brush delivers an effortlessly even application every time. Also works with Pür specialty powders.

I think my favorites in the pressed powder and the mascara. Finding good mascara is hard, and this stuff is great! Here are some before and after pictures...

Pretty nice, huh? And you know what's even better? PUR Minerals is giving one of you the chance to win a kit like the one I recieved! Enter on the rafflecopter form below!

Madii and Dyl Review

2011-10-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

When Jack wanted to start sleeping with a pillow, I was a little leery.... All the pillows we had were adult sized pillows, and while I was sure he would do fine with them, there was that nagging thought in the back of my head. Not to mention his little neck... big pillows just aren't made for little necks.

So, I was really excited when I found out that Madii & Dyl products were available in the US, and I was going to get to review some! They sent me the Luxe Latex Teenii Tot Pillow for Jack to try out.

Their pillows are made from 100% certified organic latex, and contain no chemicals, are hypoallergenic and naturally resistant to dust mites, mildew and bacteria. Designed for comfort, its softness, support and innovative design makes it the superior choice in children's bedding. All pillows come with polyester pillow protector and pure cotton pillow case.

I love that it comes with a pillow protector and case... That makes it so much easier than trying to find or make a case to fit! And it is zippered, so it doesn't slide around and come off very easily. I also love that it is resistant to dust mites, mildew and bacteria... I mean who wants that in their kids bed? anything that keeps that stuff at bay is a plus in my book!

And Jack loves it! And what's more important than that? =)

Madii & Dyl also sent me a Luxe Cleansing Flannel.

"Super-soft when wet, its silky texture and high absorbency is perfect on delicate areas. It cleans without wetting or scratching fragile skin and dries without stripping moisture. Safe on babies' peeling skin or soft skull, it is ideal for eczema, cradle cap and other problem skin conditions. Works hand in hand with cosmetic treatments as it cleanses the skin without wetting the bandages or spoiling the bruised areas which are sore to touch.

Made from eco-friendly materials, the flannel is air-spun and porous free. To clean, the flannel can be hand washed in warm soapy water or in a machine at 40°. Hardens when dry to prevent bacteria but regains its silky soft feel when wet."

I love how soft and gentle on the skin this is!

Want to check out Madii & Dyl for yourself? Head on over! They offer different size pillows for babies and children, along with the cleansing flannels.

Sleep Deprived

2011-10-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been so on and off with blogging.... I have been a little sleep deprived over here.

Little miss Ellie has decided that sleep is overrated. She wakes up every 1-3 hours throughout the night. She usually nurses back to sleep, which is good, but it takes me a while to fall asleep, and then by the time I am finally asleep, it seems she is up again...

I don't think I have gotten more than a 3 1/2 hour chunk of sleep in over a month. Part of me wants to start sleep training, but I think it would just wake Jack up and it would be even worse.

So prayerfully, she will start sleeping better, and I will have a little more energy and time to blog. =) Thanks for sticking with me, and I will try and be a little better!

Christmas Cards!

2011-09-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but one thing I love about the holidays is making up a Christmas card to send out to family and friends.

For months before Christmas, I am checking out the latest styles and designs and trying to decide what I want our family card to look like. I love ones with pictures! I love getting them too, because then after Christmas, I take all the photo cards, cut out the pictures and keep them on my fridge. =)

Last year I got my Christmas cards from TinyPrints.com and I loved them! This year I am so excited to get to work with them again! They have great quality cards, and the service is amazing! Here are a few I am looking at...

Be Merry

Merry Modest

Jazzy Christmas

Those are just a few, but there are tons to choose from! It is definitely going to be a hard choice with all the new designs this year!

What do you do for Christmas cards? If you are looking for a high quality card at a reasonable price, I highly recommend Tiny Prints!

6 Months (and 5 days) old!

2011-09-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

So yeah, I wanted to post this on Sunday, but oh well... hehe.

My baby girl is 6 months old! How did this happen? I still remember the day she was born. (though I am sure I always will!)

Ellie had her 6 month checkup and she is getting big! She was in the 2nd percentile at her 4 month checkup, but this month, she is up to the 45th percentile! yay! She is 15lb 8oz and 25 inches long.

She can sit by herself and only falls over after a while. But she gets steadier and steadier every day! She is rolling all over the place, and is starting to realize she can push herself forwards. It is only a matter of time before she is scooting, then crawling!

She got her ears pierced a couple weeks ago while we were on vacation. Such a big girl!

She is talking up a storm! When she is awake, she is babbling all the time! Making all different sounds! I think she is going to be as talkative if not more than her brother! hehe.

She loves he big brother! She is always full of smiles for him when he is around. =) and he loves to make her laugh! I hope that never ends!

She is still not sleeping more than 4-6 hours at a time at night, and takes 2-3 naps during the day (which are usually a fight to get her down for unless she falls asleep while in the car or while nursing.)

She is still partially nursing, and is nursing more than her brother was at this age! yay!

She has had squash, green beans and bananas with rice cereal. She loves the squash and bananas, but wasn't crazy about the green beans (though she did eat most of them.)

She still loves attention, and doesn't like being left alone for more than a few minutes. She is going to be our feisty drama queen I think. ;-)

Her hair is so far staying red! yay! It is coming in a strawberry blonde. I love it, and I pray it does stay red! I've always wanted a red headed baby!

winners!

2011-09-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

So, rafflecopter isn't letting me post more than one winner on the post. I don't know, but the winners of the del monte $25 gc are: Breanne, Ashley Reynolds, and Andrea V. The winner of the school supplies is Kristen/KM

The winner of the milk nursingwear gc is Abi!

Congrats winners! (I love that Abi won the milk gift certificate... She just had her baby girl a couple days ago!) =) I will be emailing you shortly, please respond asap!

New Deal Site!

2011-09-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

There is a new kid's deal site starting up! It's called Kudzoom. And, for a limited time, they are offering a free $10 credit for signing up!
I know in the past I've been able to score free stuff with the free credit, so I'd sign up now! Who knows how long this will last!!!

Vacation!

2011-09-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been AWOL, but we were on vacation! My parents, grandma, sister, brother and his wife all went to Daytona Beach, Florida. It was my first time in Florida, and it was nice! We stayed right on the beach, which was awesome!
(here was our view...)

We spent a lot of time at the beach and in the pool (check out this pool!)

Jack had so much fun swimming, and by the last day was running around on the beach and in the water...

Ellie loved the water too. We would hold her and she would sit and just splash and splash!

One day we went to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, and that was pretty neat. Jack loves "agagors," so he loved walking around and seeing all the different gators and crocodiles. =)

We spent a lot of time with Josh's grandma and aunt and uncle. It was the first time any of them have met Jack and Ellie, and we haven't seen them in almost 5 years! We had fun, got spoiled, and ate way too much! Josh took Jack to his first Baseball game (the Daytona cubs) and he loved it!

Here are more fun pictures from the week. =)

My whole family

smiley girl!

They love each other!

We got to watch dolphins from our balcony!

All ready to "min"

fun in the pool with daddy

Following daddy into the water

Ellie with Grandpa and Auntie

Jack and Ellie with Great Grandma

This is how he fell asleep on the plane... he wanted to "watch" out the window.

Someone got her ears pierced!

We have a roller!

2011-08-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

25 months

2011-08-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Jack is 25 months! He is becoming quite the little boy. His vocabulary is just exploding, and he talks all. the. time.

He is also challenging us (hello terrible twos) but is not nearly as bad as it could be (compared to some other kids I have seen) =) He is just not wanting to listen like he should (mostly to me) and will test our limits quite often.

He is eating more and more of a variety of food, and is liking stuff he didn't like before.

He is such a good big brother, and is always willing to help me out. He loves Ellie, and it is so cute to see him try and make her laugh.

He is always moving, and doesn't sit still very often. =)

He's my child! Gonna be a piano player (I hope!)

5 months!

2011-08-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

My baby girl is 5 months old! What? seriously? She is growing so much, both physically and developmentally!

She can now roll front to back and back to front.

She loves to stand all the time. She hates when you hold her in a laying position.

She has developed quite a voice and can squeal with the best of them!

She is cutting a tooth, and has been a drooly mess lately. =)

She has discovered her feet, and likes to suck on her toes. hehe

She loves her big brother, and always gives him the best smiles. =)

Her hair is looking more blonde and less red... boo...hope it at least stays strawberry blonde!

She has had rice cereal mixed with formula, and with prune juice. She much preferred the prune juice.

She loves attention. She can't go long without someone holding her or playing with her.

She is sleeping a bit better, and sleeps for 3-6 hour stretches at night. She takes about 3 naps during the day in the late morning, early to mid afternoon and evening, then goes to bed between 8:30 and 10.

She is up to 14 pounds! yay Ellie!

Here are some recent pictures:

I love my sweet baby girl!

Forever in our hearts

2011-08-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

Today I got a harsh reminder of how fragile life can really be. And it came in a way that I wish no one had to experience.

Some friends of mine lost their 7 week old baby girl this morning to SIDS. When I first heard this, I couldn't stop crying, and every time I think about it or see another post on facebook, the tears start again. My heart is breaking for them. I just saw them last week, and held her in my arms... maybe that is why it has hit me so hard. Or maybe the fact that I couldn't imagine anything happening to one of my sweet babies.... But I can't even imagine the grief that this family and their 3 other young girls are going through.

Rest in Peace Sweet baby Sydney. You are loved and missed dearly. I know you are in the arms of Jesus right now, and though God's plan is perfect, it isn't always easy for us to understand.

Del Monte Teacher Monday Cash for Classrooms with Giveaway! (4 winners!)

2011-08-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Eating healthy is so important, and is something we all need to do, but many don't do. There are way to many families that do not practice good healthy eating, which in turn teaches their children to eat unhealthy. Del Monte is leading a campaign to encourage teachers in public schools to incorporate healthy eating practices into their lesson plans and encourage children to eat better.

Del Monte is celebrating their 2nd Annual Teacher Monday Cash for Classrooms by giving away $1000 to teachers making a difference! Here is a little bit about the contest:

"Sixty teachers will win a total of $1,000 in cash to purchase school supplies and fresh fruit for their students. Several winners will also get a Del Monte Fresh® Field Day event for their school in which the entire student body will enjoy a day of Del Monte fresh fruit, games and fun activities.

To be eligible to win, teachers must register online, submit a short essay on how they will incorporate healthy eating and living messages into their lessonplans, then encourage all their fans to vote for them online. Ten winners will be selected each Monday for six consecutive weeks beginning October 3, 2011. Winners are based solely on the number of votes they receive. Winning teachers will receive $750 in cash to purchase school supplies and $250 in Del Monte® fresh fruit coupons for classroom fresh snacks and to use in fruit educational activities.

Winning North American schools will also be linked with schools in countries where Del Monte grows its fruit to help further the education of students by introducing them to another culture. Global schools will also receive $1,000 each for school supplies and improvements.

Become a fan of "Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms" on the Del Monte Fresh Produce Facebook and Twitter pages today to stay informed about contest news and Del Monte Fresh fruit giveaways.

So go ahead and encourage your child's teacher to sign up! Don't forget to vote for the teacher! It could make a difference in your child's school!

For the second year, we are giving away some fruits and veggies vouchers so you can promote healthy eating in your home.....and spread the news about the new teacher promotion!

Del Monte is giving 3 readers $25 in Del Monte gift certificates! One lucky winner will also receive a backpack full of goodies to share with their child's teacher.

SO WIN IT: 3 winners will receive $25 in fruits and veggies and one mom will win a backpack full of school supplies! Enter using the rafflecopter form below!

Celebrate Diversity with Your Preschooler - A guest post

2011-08-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Diversity with Your Preschooler

Submitted by Emily Patterson and behalf of Primrose Schools: The best in preschool education.

A preschooler’s concept of the world is relatively small and concrete, limited primarily to their family, neighborhood and school. While explain the concept of "diversity" to your young child might feel like a complex lesson, by starting these lessons at an early age you can help make it a little more natural.

Help your child expand their world view by learning about different cultures through music, sports and even wildlife around the world. You will help spark your child’s understanding of the vast size and rich texture of our global community.

“We live in a diverse world. By teaching children to appreciate other cultures from an early age, you will help them develop compassion and seek out shared values,” said Dr. Mary Zurn (V.P. of education for Primrose Schools). “Encourage a celebration of cultures near and far, including your own, to help your child grow to be an accepting, compassionate adult, who values the differences in others.”

Here's a few tips to teach your child about diversity by celebrating cultures at home:
Share Your Family History. Understanding others begins with an understanding of oneself. Show pictures of family members and talk about each person. Children love and remember stories, so share a favorite story or something you personally remember about that person. This builds a child’s awareness of family history and culture.

Have a Theme Night. Have your child choose a country on a map, or just one that interests them and make a themed night around it. Play music from their culture, play games that children there play, get accents going, and cook food that is popular in their culture. Ask your child to identify the similarities and differences.

Read a Book. Reading to a child is one of the best ways to introduce them to different types of families, children and people from all over the world. Characters and storylines are great starting points for discussions on diversity as they can make a culture come to life. Look for books that have characters your child can identify with even though they may have different customs. Some suggestions include:
• It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr
• The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane Derolf

Think Outside the Box. Seek out opportunities for your child to interact with children from different countries and cultures. By completely immersing your children in the environment, it's easier for them to relate and understand. Getting to know families that are different from your own can increase your family’s appreciation of cultural similarities and differences. Visit museums, festivals, ethnic restaurants and other places that will help your child learn about various customs, cultures and lifestyles.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the plan for this week!

Monday - Spaghetti
Tuesday - Bacon wrapped grilled chicken, homemade fries
Wednesday - cowboy stew (from the freezer) My recipe is slightly modifed to my tastes
Thursday - Slow cooker pulled pork
Friday - Grilled salmon and risotto (my first attempt at risotto) Josh's boss gave us 2 huge salmon filets he brought back from Alaska... yum!
Saturday - Mexican lasagna
Sunday - Grilled chicken and Rice-a-roni

That's my plan! What is your favorite budget friendly meal to make?I am always looking for new ideas!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Milk Nursingwear Review and giveaway!

2011-08-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently got the opportunity to work with Milk Nursingwear! Being a nursing mom, it can be so hard to be discreet when trying to nurse in public. So, finding cute nursing clothes is always a plus!

From Their site:
We design fresh, modern clothing for nursing moms and sell chic nursing accessories as well. Our brand is truly unique. What sets Milk apart is our sense of fashion and style, and our committment to supporting all moms through breastfeeding and motherhood.

I am the founder of Milk and the mother of four beautiful breastfed children.

My inspiration for Milk came after the birth of my first daughter in 1997. Early on I was introduced to the concept of nursingwear. While I loved the discretion and ease that nursing clothing provided, I did not love the dowdy styling. I wanted to feel attractive and fashionable and believed my clothing should reflect that.

So in June 2000, armed with entrepreneurial spirit, my MBA, experience as a Bloomingdale's buyer and a Marketing Manager, I realized my vision by launching a line of fashion-forward nursingwear. After seven successful years of running that company and bringing fashionable nursingwear to women the world over, I am doing it again now with Milk - better than ever before.

Milk sent me this Sleeveless babydoll nursing top to try. I really like it. It is a tiny bit too small for me at the moment (hopefully that will change soon!) but I like the look of it, and how easy it is to nurse and be discreet.
(the shirt doesn't seem to run small at all, I am just a little bigger that size which I knew when ordering...)

Milk Nursingwear is giving one of my lucky readers a chance to win a $40 Gift certificate to their site! I am using rafflecopter for this giveaway, so please enter below, and good luck!

Too cute!

2011-08-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

This was too cute not to share!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

I will be gone most of this week, so this one is short. =) I get to go to my parents house with the kids for a few days. I am always excited to go, and always love the help I get all day with the kiddos.

Monday - Whole roast chicken (in the microwave with my pampered chef deep covered baker!) and rice-a-roni and zucchini
Tuesday-friday - Gone!
Saturday - Homemade pizza
Sunday - Enchiladas with any leftover chicken

Chubs

2011-08-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Jack was always a thinner baby without any rolls or pudge (except for those cheeks!) So, I am totally loving the rolls and chins that are showing up on Ellie! Hehe...

Energy Boost!

2011-08-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

I started taking this "superfood" powder 2 weeks ago, and I just had to share about it... I have definitely noticed a change, and I like it a lot! Despite sleeping very little (if you saw my post about Ellie not sleeping well) I don't feel nearly as tired as I should be (in my opinion.) I have also noticed that I am not as hungry all the time (therefore not snacking as often) and I have even lost a pound! =) So what is this "superfood?" Well, here it is: (info on how to get it at the bottom!)

A Burst of Nature!
NatraBurstTM is a powerful food source consisting of a wide variety of premium
ingredients, which work together to provide a variety of health benefits. Each
serving contains the antioxidant power of multiple servings of vegetables and
fruits. Additionally, NatraBurstTM will help support lean muscle mass with its
concentration of high quality protein.
• Increase Energy
• Reduce Appetite
• Strength Immune Function
• Improve Digestion
• Support Blood Sugar/Insulin
• Promote Fat Loss
• Rebuild and Repair
• Anti‐Aging
• Promote Healthy Skin
• Support Cardiovascular Health
• Support the Body's Healthy State of Alkalinity

A Powerhouse of Vitamins, Minerals, Protein, Enzymes, Antioxidants & More…

• High quality protein
• Natural fiber
• Each serving contains the antioxidant power of multiple servings of fruits and vegetables
• Digestive enzymes
• Prebiotics & Probiotics for improved digestive health
• Resveratrol, Grape Seed, Quercitin
• Natural appetite suppressants
• More than 30 super foods containing potent phyto (plant) nutrients

NatraBurst: Protein Blend

Brown Rice Protein Blend – provides high biological value
protein Rice is a pure hypoallergenic, easily digested protein, with
a very high total absorption rate. It is also considered an ‘alkalizing
protein,’ which contributes to healthy Ph levels in the body

• Required for building and repair of body tissues (including muscle)
• Contains enzymes, hormones, and many immune molecules
• Essential for body processes such as balancing hydration, nutrient transport, and muscle contraction
• A source of energy and increases metabolism
• Controls hunger
• Helps keep skin, hair, and nails healthy

NatraBurst: ANTIOXIDANT BLEND

Aloe Vera, Green Tea Extract, Tumeric, Quercitin, Cilantro, Resveratrol, Mangosteen, Grape Seed Extract, Acerola Berry, Blueberry, Red Beet Root, Tomato/Lycopene,
Pomegranate

NatraBurst: DIGESTIVE BLEND
Rich in fiber which provides a feeling of fullness and contributes to digestive
health
Flax ∙Brown Rice Bran∙ Oat Betaglucan ∙Apple Pectin
Includes important enzymes that will help break down proteins and
carbohydrates.

Papain∙ Protease ∙Amylase∙ Lipase ∙Cellulase ∙Lactase ∙Glutamine
This special digestive blend also includes probiotics, which assist with digestion
and protect against harmful bacteria.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus∙ Lactobacillus Casei ∙Lactobacillus Reuteri
Bifidobacterium Breve∙ Bifidobacterium Rhamnosus∙ Fructooligosaccharides∙
Lactospore™

Savings!
NatraBurst™ provides a wide variety of nutrients in ONE formula. You would typically need to purchase multiple products to achieve the same benefits. One serving of NatraBurst™ gives you more than taking dozens of capsules!

So, how can you get it?
You can order Here. Or you can sign up as a preferred customer. (wait! there is no commitment or extra cost!) All you have to do is buy the product every month. (but you can stop at any time!) Go to My site and watch the videos to see how it works... I promise it's not what you think! It isn't a pyramid scheme where you have to sign up a bunch of people underneath you... or convince a bunch of people to buy the stuff from you. (though you may be tempted to because of how great it is!) Feel free to email me if you have any questions! (marriedgirlblog(a)gmail.com)

Weekend Cuteness

2011-08-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

Ellie Blowing Raspberries

Jack Tickling Ellie

Ellie Squealing
oi

Indian Chicken Curry Recipe

2011-08-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

I made this curry last night, and I thought it was so delicious I had to share! (and easy, and cheaper than buying the premade stuff!)

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
salt to taste
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup coconut milk

Directions

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until lightly browned. Stir in garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, bay leaf, ginger, sugar and salt. Continue stirring for 2 minutes. Add chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
Remove bay leaf.
Optional: add juice from 1/2 a lemon and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper and simmer 5 more minutes. (I didn't do this, and I thought it tasted great! The curry powder gave it a little bite, but if you like it spicier, I would definitely add the cayenne)

Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Original recipe source here.

First Taste

2011-08-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

Ellie's first taste of rice cereal...

Dali Decals!

2011-08-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to bring to you the launch of Dali Decals’ new online community, The Dali Decals Back Lot! To celebrate the launch, Dali Decals is giving away $5,000 worth of Dali Decals gift certificates and two iPad2s!

The Dali Decals Back Lot is a place where Dali Decals’ customers and fans can get to know each other, get to know Dali Decals, their business and their products, have some fun, and earn rewards while they do it!

Here’s how the giveaway will work:

One Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 Dali Decals shopping spree
Two 2nd place winners will each win a $500 Dali Decals shopping spree
Two 3rd place winners will each win a 16GB iPad2
Four 4th place winners will each win a $250 Dali Decals gift certificate
Ten 5th place winners will each win a $100 Dali Decals gift certificate
Twenty 6th place winners will each win a $50 Dali Decals gift certificate

In addition, everyone that creates a Back Lot account will automatically receive 1,000 Back Lot rewards points, redeemable for a $5 Dali Decals gift certificate that can be used towards anything on dalidecals.com!

Participants are eligible to win one of the above prizes by simply creating a Back Lot account and becoming a member no later than August 31st at 11:59 PM EST. Absolutely no purchase necessary! All winners will be drawn randomly. Visit http://dalidecals.com/backlot/promotions/ for more details!

As if all of this wasn’t enough, Dali Decals is also giving away the choice of a $500 gift certificate or iPad2 to the participating blogger that refers the grand prize winner. Point is, if you win, I win, so make sure you enter My Life as a Married Girl or http://mrsjuicebox.blogspot.com in the “Who Referred You” box when you register at http://dalidecals.com/backlot/register

Good Luck!!!

Sleep is overrated

2011-08-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Or so Ellie seems to think...

I guess that's how it goes, huh? I get one really great sleeper, so the next one has to be the opposite? ;-)

She was sleeping pretty good... 3-4 hour stretches at night, which wasn't great, but was to be expected at her age and considering she is nursing.

Well, about 2 weeks ago she decided she didn't want to do that anymore. Now I am lucky to get a 3 hours stretch, but for the most part I am averaging 2 hours...

One night of that here and there isn't too bad, but every night? I think my brain is slowly shutting down. It is starting to catch up to me...

We have tried everything. She is sleeping on her stomach now, which helped a little. We are getting 2- 2 1/2 hour stretches more often than 1 1/2-2 hour stretches. We tried giving her rice cereal, but she isn't really ready for it, and didn't manage to get much at all in her mouth. Last night was the first night we put her in the spare room, rather than in the co sleeper in our room, and she slept from 8-12 (of course the 2 year old decided to wake up from 9:30-11 keeping me awake...) and then was up every 2 1/2 hours...

I really hope she decided to sleep more soon. Even her daytime naps aren't great. I will get several 30 minute or so naps, and one longer nap where she will sleep in her bed for about an hour, maybe a little less, then fuss, so I will go get her and she will fall back asleep with me holding her. Sometimes I can get her into the swing, sometimes not.

It just wears on you! I am tired... not as much physically as I am mentally. The past couple days it seems that I am getting more frustrated at smaller things, and getting emotional over it. It would be easier if I didn't have a 2 year old in the mix, but at least he still takes a good 2 hour nap.

So, if you were wondering, that is why I have been a little scarce around here... My brain is functioning at 50%, and I can't remember to post, let alone put together a coherent thought. =)

This is her as I am writing this post... I managed to lay her down next to me on the boppy without waking her up. =)

Beef Dip Sandwiches!

2011-08-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

These sandwiches are amazing. We had them at bible study a couple months ago, and I fell in love instantly! And they are so easy!

Ingredients:
Beef Roast (I used a chuck roast)
pepperoncinis
Beef stock or bouillon cubes

Place roast in crockpot. Dump pepperoncinis on top (i used a lot of the juice too, which makes it spicier). Add beef stock (however much you desire. If you like more juiciness, add more! I added 1 bouillon cube dissolved in about 1/2c water since I had the juice from the pepperoncinis.)

Cook on high 4-6 hours or low 7-8 hours. Shred meat with forks, pile on sourdough or hoagie rolls, and top with provolone cheese. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

Menu Plan Monday

2011-08-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

I am finally jumping on the bandwagon with this one. I have been wanting to start menu planning for a while, but just never sat down to do it. Well, yesterday I sat down, made a whole grocery list and planned 2 weeks worth of menus! I was so proud of myself, and I really hope to keep this up!

So, here is our week:

Monday: Beef dip sandwiches (so good! I will post the recipe later this week!)
Tuesday: Mexican lasagna with ground turkey
Wednesday: Schnitzel and mashed potatoes (first try making this!)
Thursday: Dollar hamburgers (bible study night)
Friday: Carne asada tacos
Saturday: Grilled Chicken and baked potatoes
Sunday: Grilled Hamburgers

So, There's our week!

Jack's "Baby"

2011-08-01T19:41:00.000-07:00

All of a sudden the other day, Jack decided that his puppy doll was a baby. He was very concerned about "baby." He walked around with "baby," put baby in the bouncer, and in the swing. Then of course "baby eat" so he lifts up his shirt and holds "baby" up to his stomach to eat. I really wish I had gotten a picture of that one. Haha. I ended up giving him a bottle to feed "baby" with.

When it was nap time, he was very concerned about "baby" so I had to tell him I would take care of "baby" while he went nigh-night. And of course, "baby" had to go to sleep in the crib with him. It is so cute! I wish I had an actual doll for him to play with, but he seems happy with his baby.

I was able to get a few pictures with my phone, sorry they aren't great. =)

Nasty film on your dishes?

2011-08-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

So, I am finding that like me, a lot of people are mad that phosphates were taken out of dish detergents, right? Yeah, my dishes have had a nasty white film on them that is impossible to get off, and nothing has worked! I was about ready to start washing dishes by hand...

Until I posted my frustrations on Facebook and my wonderful friend Christy told me that you can still get Trisodium Phosphate! So, I did a little reasearch, and lo and behold, Lowes and Home Depot (and many other hardware stores, I am sure) still sell T.S.P as a cleaning agent!

So for $10, you can get a 72 ounce box of T.S.P powder, and all you have to do is add 1 tsp to every load of dishes... which means that box will last through over 400 loads!

I am literally over here singing the Hallelujah Chorus! (and dancing around the room in joy because I will finally have clean dishes!)

I am so going to Home Depot tonight!!!

Ellie is 4 months old!

2011-07-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

And I am only a few days late in posting! haha.

Of course I have to say that I can't believe she is four months old already! And yet, it seems like she has been a part of our family for so much longer!

She had her 4 month checkup on Tuesday, and she is just about 12 pounds now! (well, I am sure she is by now!) She is just a little thing, but she is already 24 inches tall!

She is such a happy girl for the most part, and is rarely shy with her smiles. She only really cries when she is hungry, dirty or tired (or when we are trying to put her to sleep, which she doesn't like... already showing some of that red-head stubbornness. hehe)

She is doing so well with holding her head up, and she does not like to lay down if you are holding her. She wants to be sitting or standing. She talks a ton too!

She has been having a rough time the past week or so with sleeping at night. She was sleeping for a 3-5 hour stretch and then would be up every 2-3 hours after that, but the past week she has been up every 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours, and wanting to sleep with me and not in her co-sleeper. Needless to say it's been a long week. Last night she slept for a 3 hour stretch, and was in her bed most of the night, so hopefully she's getting back to that! (she had a fever for a few days after her shots which didn't help)

She is still nursing and supplementing with formula. We are trying a new one as of this morning, hopefully it will help with the gas. It is for sensitive stomachs, so we'll see!

She adores her big brother! Whenever he is around, she has her eyes on him. She loves to watch him run around, and loves to give him smiles when he gives her kisses and "kickos" (tickles.)

First head wound

2011-07-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it was inevitable.... Jack got his first head wound today.

Luckily it wasn't too bad. He sat on my lap and let me hold a wet rag on it until it stopped bleeding, then let me put neosporin on it, with the bribe that he would get a cookie. Haha. He was back to normal within minutes. =) My tough little guy.

DomyownPestControl.com Review

2011-07-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Now that we own our own home, we have to figure out our own pest control. I hate bugs. Any kind of bug. especially ants. luckily we haven't had a huge ant problem. But we do have an abnormal amount of earwigs. **shudder** Those things creep me out big time.

so, needless to say I was really happy when I recently got the chance to work with Domyownpestcontrol.com on a review!

From their site:
"We all have pest problems and are in need of solutions that work. Do My Own Pest Control has been helping people control pest infestations for years. We know this industry and have the right pest control products and supplies to enable people to get rid of pests on their own, without having to pay a pest control company costly services.

Do My Own Pest Control is based on the principle of saving you money. Our goal is to provide you with the solutions that professional pest control companies and exterminators use, but at a fraction of the cost. We have everything you need from products for rodent control and roach control to glyphosate herbicide. We even carry a wide selection of natural and organic pest control products!"

I was really impressed by the selection of products and the quick service! They sent me the Flies be gone fly trap and the Eco PCO WP-x powder. The fly trap got to me just in time for our 4th of July bbq. It was really easy to use, though it smelled pretty bad. They say to put it 35-40 feet away from the house, but we couldn't get it that far, so we got whiffs of it every once in a while... but holy moly did it work! We haven't had any fly problems since we put it up, and the thing is full of flies!
I haven't had a chance to try the powder yet since i don't have a spray bottle for it, but it looks like it has some good reviews, and I can't wait to get a bottle so I can use it! I love that it is safe for use around kids and pets. And I love that it will get rid of those darn earwigs!

Overall, I highly recommend Domyownpestcontrol.com! I think it is great that they offer free pest control advice and free shipping! If you are looking for quality affordable pest control solutions, be sure to check them out!

Two!

2011-07-30T14:04:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that it has been two years since Jack was born! Some days I can't remember what life was like without him, and some days it seems like it was just yesterday.

Jack is such a great kid. I know I sometimes complain that he is acting like a typical two year old, and sometimes he does. But overall he is such a sweet little boy. He loves to give hugs and cuddles with me a lot more than he used to. He is just generally happy. He loves to go anywhere whether its the store, a walk or play group.

It seems like he hit two years old (on the 21st) and he just all of a sudden started putting words together. It is so cute to hear and see him thinking about what to say. He will see my car and say "mommy car," or will ask for "more juice." He gets so funny if you ask him to say more than one or two words together. He mixes them up so bad. Even if they are words he can say normally. I will have to video it sometime. It is just cute!

He is such a great big brother to Ellie too. He will get stuff for me if I ask him to, he tries to give her her sucker (pacifier) even though she will never take it, he will sit and talk to her, and loves to give her kisses. She adores him too. I am loving the dynamic I am seeing between them, and can't wait to see what the future holds for their relationship.

His latest favorite show is the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It is such a cute little show! I had never seen it before, but we had a gift card to best buy for his birthday and we got him one. He asks to watch it all the time. He still loves Curious George though!

He is getting a lot better at eating too. There are days when he doesn't want to eat much, but he is eating more things than he used to, and some things that he wouldn't eat before. He loves any fruit, cheese, eggs, raisins, pizza, hamburgers and yogurt. And of course cookies. He will do just about anything for a cookie! hehe.

He loves to be outside. He loves to play baseball (we are hoping for a future Cubs player!) and is actually pretty good for a 2 year old! He loves to swim and is getting more adventurous in the water. (we got a little 10' pool that he can stand in and the water is at his neck.) He even put his face in the other day!

I am so blessed to have been chosen to be Jack's mommy, and I love him more and more every day! I am so excited to see what the future holds!

Note to self...

2011-07-25T15:28:00.001-07:00

Drinking 2 iced coffees, iced tea and a soda in one day without much water in the mix equals a baby up 6-7 times during the night and me not being able to sleep...

Last night was terrible. We went to bed at 10:45. Ellie woke up at 12:45 and I still hadn't fallen asleep. Then she woke up 3 more times before 2:30. and then 2 more times I think before finally waking up at 8.

She's been sleeping a lot of today to make up for it. Wish I could do the same... I think I need to pay more attention to my caffeine intake and try not to drink any after noon or so... =)

Raspberry Jalapeno jam/Sauce!

2011-07-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

When I had my pampered chef party, I was able to get a bottle of their raspberry habanero sauce for free and I fell in love! It was so good over cream cheese with some crackers.

So, the other day I was thinking... I have some jalapenos.... why don't I get some raspberries and try making a sauce like theirs. So, I scoured the internet looking for a recipe, and found one or two that were similar to what I wanted, but not quite there. So, I tweaked them a bit and made my own!

My sauce had so many rave reviews at the baby shower I threw Sunday, and I had so many requests for the recipe, that I decided to go ahead and post it! So, here ya go!

Raspberry Jalapeno Jam/sauce
makes approx 2 pints

Ingredients:
2 pints raspberries
4 large jalapenos (mine were quite large)
1 cup apple cider vinegar
3 cups sugar
3 tbs pectin (if you want it to be more like a jam. For a thinner sauce, leave this out)

Directions:
Dice jalapenos, removing the seeds and ribs from half of them. (leave the other half in to make it spicy. If you want a mild sauce, feel free to increase the number of jalapenos you seed.) Don't worry about them being too small, you really are just getting the flavor out of them.
put all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. simmer for 5 minutes then remove from heat.
put into a blender and pulse several times on low to fully break up the raspberries.
put through a strainer to remove seeds and jalapeno pulp. (if you used pectin, you want to do this a little quickly as it starts to gel as it cools)
put in jars and refrigerate! Will keep for at least 6 weeks in the fridge.
Enjoy!

One24

2011-07-24T19:29:00.000-07:00

My husband and I recently signed up with a great company, and I wanted to share. I am not going to bug anyone or keep re-posting this... I just want to put it out there so you can check it out!

My husband's boss actually got into it first, and has been doing really well in it. He has also been using the product (yep, the company revolves around a single product... it's that great!) and My husband has noticed a physical difference in him in the months he's been using it.

Here’s all you need to do. Watch the videos at this link. They can explain everything much better than I can. =) if you have further interest, simply join my Waiting List (also located on the website).

That’s all you need to do for now. You’ll be notified when you’re able to
actually join (enrollment is limited).

Here’s the link to the videos and more information on the One24 program:
http://jackandellie.124online.com.
I’d be happy to answer any questions you have on One24. I really believe this
is an exciting ground floor opportunity you don’t want to miss out on.

Winners! 7/23/11

2011-07-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

As usual, I am a little late in posting winners... but here they are!

The My Baby Clothes winner is #23, boyzrule!

The Dinkledooz diaper winner is #165, Erin.nicole!

Congrats! winners have 48 hours to confirm. =)

total cuteness!

2011-07-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

Motherhood

2011-07-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

I found this great article on Motherhood, and had to share...

"The question here is not whether you are representing the gospel, it is how you are representing it. Have you given your life to your children resentfully? Do you tally every thing you do for them like a loan shark tallies debts? Or do you give them life the way God gave it to us—freely?"

Read the rest here.

What do you think?

wow!

2011-07-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

I am 2 followers away from 500!!! you guys are awesome! Welcome to my new followers!!!

Fireworks!

2011-07-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

We are lucky enough to be able to see the city fireworks display from our backyard!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July! I thank God almost daily that I live in the USA. Enjoy your day and be safe! I know I will! We are having friends over for a grill out, then watching the fireworks from our yard. =)

Photo Credit

New Pictures!

2011-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

I took some new pictures of the kids the other day, and had to share!

I had some problems with Jack... but at least we were able to get some good pictures. I just had to post this one though. It's almost like Ellie is saying "quit being a baby..." =)

4th of July Baby!
Pretty Girl
Love the expression on Ellie's face. Too bad Jack wasn't looking at the camera!

My little stud
This one cracks me up because they both have the same expression on their face.
adorable! (and no, that isn't her middle finger.) =)
Such a ham!
mr. handsome
Love it!
Cheese!

My Baby Clothes review and giveaway!

2011-07-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently contacted by My Baby Clothes to see if I wanted to do a review and giveaway, and of course I said yes!

"At MyBabyClothes.com we strive to bring you the most fashion forward and unique baby clothes on the web, all at a Guaranteed Lowest Price!

Our team searches to find the cutest, most comfortable, and highest quality clothes and accessories available. Our goal is to offer these unique and trendy boutique style clothes at affordable prices."

My Baby Clothes has some adorable baby clothes! They have everything from Tutus to Dresses to personalized clothes to Baby headbands and hats! It was so hard for me to pick what I wanted to review! I finally settled on The Bonnie Jean White Butterfly Dress.

The dress came in the mail the other day, and it is even nicer than I expected! It is really nice quality, nice material and is even lined! The butterflies are appliqued and embroidered and really pop against the white fabric. And it looks adorable on Ellie! I ordered a size up, so it is a little big, but still cute as heck!

They were so great to work with too! Answered emails quickly, and ordered the dress quickly. It arrived within a couple days! I would definitely work with them again!

My Baby Clothes has also given me the opportunity to give one of you a $25 gift certificate to their store!

Here's how to enter:

1. (Mandatory) Go to My Baby Clothes and tell me what you would spend the gift certificate on!

2. Follow my blog (1 entry)

3. Follow My Baby clothes (2 entries!) or Me on Twitter (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to the My Baby Clothes Newsletter (1 entry)

5. "Like" My Baby Clothes and/or My Life as a Married Girl on Facebook (1 entry each)

6. Subscribe via email to my blog (on right sidebar. Must be verified!) (2 entries)

7. Tweet about this giveaway. Make sure to mention @mybabyclothes and @katrinawelch (1 entry)

8. Blog about this giveaway. Make sure to link to My Baby Clothes and this post. (2 entries)

9. Put my blog button on your site (1 entry)

I will verify all entries, and non valid entries will be deleted! Good Luck!

U.S. Residents only. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway will end on July 15th.