I Challenge You, Heather! :) October 31, 2009

Alright, Heather, I thought we’d share a little bit more about ourselves!

Here’s your challenge to fill this out, too!

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while your blogging?
Peanut Butter MnM’s and iced tea/hot tea

 

2. What is one thing you wouldn’t want to live without?
my microwave. Contrary to what you may see on here, I’m not a little Betty Crocker!

3. Beach, Mountains, or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
Definitely beach. I love the sound of the water, the feel of the sand, the potential wildness of it!

4. What’s your least favorite chore/household duty?
Dishes! I hate to do them & I don’t have a dishwasher. Ugh.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
Apparently I look like Demi Moore. Not too bad, I guess! :S Other than that, I’m not really sure!

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the fam?
I’m a big socializer! Which is funny since the DPH is a home-body! Somehow it still works for us!

7. What’s your all time favorite movie?
Sabrina (not the witch). I love the version with Harrison Ford! I could watch it everyday!

8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?
I am lazy. That is necessary information for the following statement: I rarely remove my makeup before bed. Guess what- I hardly ever get break outs, too. (Shhh! Don’t say that too loud!)

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you’ve never had a chance to learn? What is it?
I’ve always wanted to learn how to sword fight. Not that fencing stuff, but like with a broad sword. I’ve even gone so far as to look for a teacher. There aren’t any too close to me.

10. What’s one strange thing you’re really good at?
Playing video games! I love it!

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?
He threw a racketball at me. And he just has such a presence.

12. What is something you love to smell?
My husband. (Yes, that is your one mushy comment for this post. Oh wait, that’s 2.) And I love the smell of mocha. And the perfume called Nokomis. And melted cheese. Wow, I apparently really like to smell things.

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
I am bossy.

14. When you have extra money, what’s the first thing you think to do with it?
Pay off more student loans.

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
I try to be a silent one, but I’m more of a loud laugher. I laugh hardest at my families stories. Especially when my brothers & I begin telling stories about what the others did when we were younger.

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
I love thrift stores. And Target.

17. What’s one thing you’d do more often if you had more time?
I would walk. I know I need more exercise, but with such a busy life it’s not easy.

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?
I would definitely say frugal! I do have to limit my “bargains”, though…

19. Who is your favorite character of all time?
Egwene Al’Vere from the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson

20. Would you want to be famous?
It would be fun & it could be useful, but it would be hard, too.

(BTW- I totally “borrowed” this list from Baby Bangs!)

This is an “I’m Busy” post October 30, 2009

Yeah, you read that right. I just got home after being gone for 4 days and I have a lot of personal stuff going on. Things should calm down next week (who am I kidding? Life NEVER calms down!), but for today I thought I’d share this blog post from Trees and Flowers and Birds! I would like to dedicate that link to all those people on my Facebook page who periodically make a Facebook status update that does not include the words: happy, fun, awesome, fantastic, perfect, lovely, “:)”, or “;)”.

Just fyi- you’ll probably get a few more “I’m busy” posts this week since life has decided to bombard both Heather & me. Hopefully we’ll get back to “regularly scheduled chaos” next week!

Traveling With Kids October 27, 2009

The DPH & I made a short trip the other day. It wasn’t too bad (except for the driving at night in the rain). The hardest part was planning the trip with BabyDoll (we were meeting Bubba there because he got to ride with Grandma!). She has been a little (lot) crabby so any extended period of time in the car wasn’t looking too exciting! Here’s a few tips that we used to make the trip more pleasant:

• Travel at night or during nap time as much as possible. This way your child sleeps most of the way!

• Bring drinks & non-messy snacks. Some suggestions: bottled water, plain cookies, fruit leather, and other special treats.

• New or rarely used toys. I like to keep a little bag of toys that we use for trips. I keep them in a backpack that way it’s easy to toss it in the car and to keep things together while IN the car!

• Have a stash of baby wipes in the car. These are fantastic for cleaning pretty much anything!

• Even when your children are beyond the bib stage- keep them in the car! When it’s time for a snack or drink, let them pick one to wear. My kids find it funny & it keeps their clothes cleaner!

• If you are traveling at night, put your kids in their pjs. No one is going to care what they are wearing & when you get to your destination and the workers at the gas stations (where you stop for the inevitable “potty breaks”) will find it adorable. Just make sure they are appropriate pjs!
  

Do you have any suggestions that work for you? Feel free to share (I can use all the traveling help I can get!)!

More Free Samples October 26, 2009

There’s a sample here for Oregon Chai Tea! It’s the perfect weather (at least here in the Midwest!) for a hot cup o’ something & this is a hit around my house! (Plus it’s a nice little escape when you have had a houseful of sickies!)

And this little link here will send you to a site where if you enter your email address, you’ll get a coupon emailed to you from Boston Market for an actual Real Chicken Meal for only $1! I don’t have a Boston Market really close to me, but I plan to use it while traveling in a few days!

Free Diaper Sample October 23, 2009

I happen to love Pampers. They can be a little pricey, though so I love it when I can get a free sample. I actually like to toss samples like these in the glove compartment of all of our cars. These become our backups (like if we’re out & I realize I forgot the diaper bag, they develop diarrhea when you are gone all day, or when you go to change their diaper and realize that you don’t have any more. Don’t laugh- all of these have happened to me at some point!).

Just be sure to change them out when your baby goes up a diaper size! (As size 2 isn’t real handy when your little one is wearing a 4!)

I’m Having a Gilmore of a Day October 23, 2009

I’m feeling very much girly today (take that however you will). I ate 2 Reese’s after supper & now I’m watching Gilmore Girls after painting my nails (a beautiful shade of red if you are curious). I’m taking a “drying break” before I work on my toes so I thought I’d share this lovely website that has quotes you can totally use in random conversation! I love it when someone actually knows I’ve used a Gilmore-ism!

This is Just Too Cute! October 21, 2009

While going through my email this morning, I clicked through to the Kraft Foods newsletter. It’s always hit or miss on these things for me, but today was a jackpot! I am totally making this “Ghouls-in-the-Graveyard” meal for my kids! They love hot dogs and mac-n-cheese so it’s perfect! I love that it uses actual items that kids already like! Plus it’s just really cute! I mean, who wouldn’t love those cute little hot dog-ghoul eyes?!

What Happened to Halloween? October 20, 2009

I used to love looking at all the costumes while I walk through Target or Walmart. Lately, since I have kids, I tend to run by as fast as I can. Why? Because I don’t want to have to explain why all of the grown up (and half of the little girls!) costumes are so revealing/trashy to Bubba. He’s at that age where he notices the most awkward things.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen has an interesting article about it here. All I’m asking is all of you parents: please Halloween responsibly!! For those of us with awkward-question-asking children, we thank you for it!

And just for your info: Bubba is going to be a “Swiss Family Robinson guy” (yeah, you try to put this outfit together! Not easy! And BabyDoll is going to be Tinkerbell (but I’m making her outfit! Green/purple/blue tutu, turtleneck, scepter, dollar-store wings, and a flowered headpiece.) I’ll post pics when I’m done making them!

Menu Plan Monday (on Tuesday) 10-20-09 October 20, 2009

Menu Plan Monday

Monday-

Breakfast- Bagels

Lunch- Brats, corn, pretzels

Dinner- Waffles

Tuesday-

Breakfast- Bagel sandwiches

Lunch- Out with a friend

Dinner- Tuna melts, mac n cheese

Wednesday-

Breakfast- Poptarts

Lunch- Sandwiches

Dinner- Out

Thursday-

Breakfast- fruit

Lunch- sandwiches, corn

Dinner-Pizza

Friday-

Breakfast-fruit & poptarts

Lunch- Ravioli, rolls

Dinner- Dinner at a friends’ house

Saturday-

Breakfast-fruit & yogurt

Lunch- Mini Corn Dogs, green beans

Dinner- chicken nuggets, rolls, & green beans

Sunday-

Breakfast- Donuts

Lunch- Out

Dinner- Leftovers

Orgjunkie.com does links to other menu plans every Monday!

Great Deals from Hong Kong October 19, 2009

Christmas is coming. It’s less than 70 days now (Sorry- I’m too lazy today to go get the actual count). Time to get working on gifts if you haven’t started yet! To get you started, I’d recommend checking out the great deals at artscow.com. Now, their print prices are a little high (once you figure in shipping), but they have fantastic deals on photo items. Typically they have the deals the day after I order that particular item… :S It does take a while to get them in, though, so I recommend ordering soon! Anyhow, here’s a few deals that they have going right now:

(Prices include shipping!!!)

Sleep Mask  $2.99 Use code: SLEEPMASK299

20 Photo cards $7.99 Use code:20XMAS799

2 mini coin purses $3.99 Use code: COINPURSE399

2 sided multi-purpose bag $22.99 Use code: 2299BAG

There are lots more deals on their “Special Sale” tab of their website! Parents, grandparents, & kids love these things!