Back to School

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bealls. All opinions are 100% mine.
Walking through the malls or the local shops I can't help but notice that it's that time of year when "back to school" shopping is a high priority on most mom's minds.  Fortunately, my daughter is only two so I have a few years before I have to deal with that frenzy.  My aunt however, is going through that with my younger cousin.  She's a little fashionista in training and only the latest trends will do.  At the tender age of thirteen she pairs skinny jeans, a stripped tunic under a solid cardigan with a wide belt and a pair of hoop earrings.  All her outfits have to be what's in style and she could give me a mommy make over without batting her eyes.
When it is my turn, I will buy most of the "back to school" things online rather than face the crowded malls.  I already do most of my shopping online.  I seem to find better deals for less hassle.  I love the fact that I can browse through different colors, sizes and departments in my pajamas and have my items delivered to me.  Bealls offers the best combination of deals I've seen in a while.  For this weekend only, if you shop during Friday through Saturday every piece of clothing or shoes you buy is tax free for Florida residents.  If your order is over $50 you get $10 off your purchase and there is no shipping charge.  Right now there is Mega Sale for "back to school" items and I've seen things marked down as high as 58%.  Those kind of savings would make my wallet happy.
Even though I'm not shopping for back to school the deals were so good I found something for Izzy.  She absolutely LOVES Dora the Explorer and I found a backpack that looks just like the one from the show for 40% off at Bealls.  That would be great to pack up some toys to go to grandma's or to pretend she's going to school.

Saving for College too Daunting?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPromise. All opinions are 100% mine.

Now that I am a first time mother and a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) I am thinking about my own daughter's future.  Every decision we make for our family, it's done with our daughter in mind.  It was a tough decision to stop working to become a SAHM.  I know the other SAHMs will agree with me when I say that finances are tough and budgeting is extremely important with only one income.  With a two year old at home saving for a college tuition sometimes goes by the way side the months when money is really tight.

I am SO excited to share information about Upromise's 10th Anniversary!  Upromise is a rewards program through Sallie Mae that helps their users save money for college.  To date they've already awarded over $600 million dollars in college savings.  Well, this year they are celebrating their 10th Anniversary by awarding $20,000 to their users that write a story about how they support their child's dream.

All it takes is visiting their site at www.upromisetodream.com and submitting your story.  It only takes minutes to sign up as a user and write your story You can also vote for your favorite story by visiting their Facebook page and "liking" them.  Upromise will give away $1,000 to 10 winners and a grand prize winner for $10,000 will be selected from the participants as well.  Check out the dream wall official rules for more information.

College is expensive and at some institutions one year costs more than a car.  The most important thing to me is to be able to give my daughter the opportunities that I had growing up.  I want her to have her choice of any college she wants to go to.  I don't want to ask her not to go to a college she's accepted at because we can't afford it.  I want my daughter to have the best opportunities and the best chance I can give her, starts with a college education.

I filled out my story under Maryann @ Mama Tales, so if you see mine send over a vote.  Or leave me a comment with the name of your story so I can send one your way.  Mammas don't hesitate!  Here is a sweepstakes to help you send your babies to college!   Let's keep this going in all the mommy blogs and communities.  Please repost this on twitter, Facebook, etc. and spread the word to other families than could use help with a college tuition.

Help Support Our Dream for Izzy

I entered Izzy for a chance to win money for her college fund. Please help and support us by clicking on "like" under our profile, Maryann @ Mama Tales. You can follow the link http://www.upromisetodream.com/ind-stories.html?storyID=11832. Thank you!


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Play Town

We spent the day yesterday at Play Town in El Cajon. The place was a great find so close to home.

It was filled with toddler friendly toys and activity areas. This was our second time there but the first time bringing cousin Nate. They especially loved this play camper pretending to drive and cook in the back.


So much that Izzy stopped mid play to give him a hug.



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Relocating

We're relocating to WA state in a little over a month.  I'm excited and a little apprehensive about the move.  I've come to love our current home and will miss it.  I'm not looking forward to the packing, unpacking and decorating to make our next house a home like this one was.  With each move there is an ENORMOUS job of sorting through the "junk" we've accumulated and identifying the pieces we will need for the new house.  I hope this will be the last relocation and WA state will be our permanent place to live.

I've already started sorting the pieces of furniture we're not bringing.  The bed in the guest room is over 7 years old so that definitely has to go.  My hubby got it while he was stationed in England and it's an unusual piece.  I was lucky enough to find a replacement queen storage bed.   I really like the South Shore Breakwater Queen Bookcase Storage Bed in Chocolate Finish and it helps that it's 27% off right now.

I also found a great accent chair through become.com for the spare room.  It's a Knoll Bertoia Side Chair, it's made of chrome with your choice of color for the seating pillow and the frame.  I'll probably choose red for a pop of color.  Fortunately, those are the only pieces of furniture we need to replace. After going through become.com, I also found a 5Pcs Twin XL Bedding Multi Dots Microfiber Comforter Set that would go great with Izzy's room.  The move will give me the perfect opportunity to redecorate her room which I wrote about here.

A special thank you to www.become.com for supporting Mama Tales.

Time to Redecorate!

It amazes me how fast my little girl is growing up!  In one month we'll celebrate her second birthday.  The past two years seemed to fly by!  She's definitely not a baby anymore and her mannerisms are more like a big girl than a baby.  I've been thinking about redecorating her room so it is more like a "big girl" room than a nursery.  Lately, she's been adamant about using the same things mommy and daddy use.  So this will be a good time to change things up and my "excuse" to shop.

Current wall designs

Wow, I didn't think I'd be a little sad changing her room.  I spent a lot of time decorating and painting the baby's room.  I didn't want a pink or purple room.  So I added cream strips and I put in a personalized boarder with over 10 different stencils.  The end result turned out great with flowers, butterflies, lady bugs, bees and an alphabet wrapping around the entire room.  Maybe I'm sad because she's growing up so fast.  It almost feels like sending her to school for the first time.  I'll miss the old nursery but as long as her likes the changes I'm making than it will be worth it.

The first thing I need to do is remove her crib and bring in a toddler bed.  I'll keep the same color scheme but switch the patterns for a "grown up" look.  It shouldn't be too hard changing the look.  I'll have to replace the window treatments and the bedding.  Maybe I'll add a book shelf or play center.  I was thinking of basing the new room on the bedding on the right.  What do you think?  Are any other mommas out there going through the same thing? 

Bike Safety

When it comes to my daughter, safety is our number one priority.  Between my hubby and I we've researched the products we buy through multiple sources and reviews to be sure that we pick the right one for our daughter.  During spring and summer there are lots of great activities you can do with your kids outdoors.  One of them I wanted to touch on, is biking.  I can't stress how important it is for your children to be safe while biking.

Ever since we bought the Bike Trailer I've been taking her out for rides as often as I can.  She's not old enough to ride her own bike so I make sure she's safe while ridding with me.  I found information at KidsHealth.org on bike safety written for all ages, adults, teens, and kids.  One sentence jumped out at me, "Every year, about 300,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike injuries, and at least 10,000 kids have injuries that require a few days in the hospital."  I would be devastated if anything happened to her.   One last note, don't forget that your kids also learn from you.  They will be more willing to wear their helmets in and away from your view if you always model wearing your own helmets.  Have fun out there mommas and be safe!

Water Fun

Summer around here maybe sunny and warm but it's more on the uncomfortable side. Instead of hibernating indoors with the ac running full blast I've been thinking of ways for Izzy to still enjoy the outdoors without overheating. I found two really affordable solutions. One is Step 2's water table and the other is a kiddie pool from Target.

We've had the water table a year and it was a great addition when she was standing and ready to start cruising.
I also liked the option of not having her completely immersed in the water. It's sturdy, standing on 3 legs with height adjustments. It comes with a "watermill" cup and 2 boats. I don't remember the exact cost but it was around $30 on amazon.

The other option is a generic kiddie pool I found at Target for around $10. It's large enough for 4 toddlers to comfortably play together and easy to blow up.


There are 3 inner tubes to blow up and it only took me around 5 mins. I only filled it up to her mid calf and threw in a bunch of her bath toys. Today's her first day playing with it and she's having a blast. It was definitely a good buy. What ways do you beat the heat with your baby?


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What Would You Do?

Today we had potential renters come to view the house.  It was a mother and two school aged boys.  After coming through the door the boys rushed in and started playing with Izzy's toys.  As we explored the house they threw toys on the floor, jumped on her bed and kicked the ball inside almost hitting Izzy.  They never once asked permission and ignored their mother asking them to stop.  Keep in mind that I had just spent an hour before cleaning the house so it looked presentable.  Inside I was cringing at their disregard for my house and the lack of respect they showed to their mother.  I was in an odd place, unsure if I should concentrate on describing and answering questions about the house or addressing their behavior.  In the 10 minutes I observed their interaction it seemed to me as if the mother had no control over them.  What would you have done in a similar position?  Please join in on the conversation.

Da Sky WOW!!!

I just wanted to share a moment that touched my heart.  We were driving back home today from visiting my parent's house and my hubby was telling me that Izzy loved the sun roof.  As soon as he opened it up all I hear from her is "WOW" "WOW" "WOW".  She said that nonstop.  She was SO amazed that she could see out of the top of the car.  Then my hubby introduced the word "sky" to her.  He asked "is that the sky"?  So for the rest of the car ride home she rotated between saying "WOW" and "da sky".  I was chuckling the entire ride home.  I've said this before but there isn't a day that passes that I don't smile at something she does.  I love being a parent!

Fell Off the Wagon

I fell off the wagon today.  I totally intended to head to Stroller Strides and ended up waking up after the first 15 minutes of it was already over.  That's not all I also had a cookie and a grande white chocolate mocha.  Totally bad for me, I know.  On the flip side I had REALLY good sleep last night and I'm feeling more rested than I have in a the past few days.  I'm feeling a little guilty though.  Should I repent my ways and work out tomorrow to make up for missing my workout today.  Probably should huh?  The weather is supposed to be in the upper 80's to low 90's tomorrow.  I think I'll either take Izzy for a bike ride or bring her with me to the YMCA to fit in some time on the treadmill.  If I'm lucky they won't call me out to "collect" my daughter before I'm done with me workout.  Wish me luck mammas!

Another Way to Save

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.
Ever since I became a SAHM we've been looking for ways to save money. Even a few dollars here and there add up. A few things we cut were the cable and land line. This made more sense since we are always on the go. We decided to make our cell phones our only phone line. Even with just cell phones, the bill is close to $200/month for two phones.
I came across another option I wanted to share with you. It's call Straight Talk and they offer great nationwide cell phone coverage with excellent reception/connectivity available at your local Walmart. There are no contracts, no surprise bills, no credit checks and no activation, reactivation, or termination fees.
The part that interests me the most is the price. I'm talking, less than half of my current bill. Imagine saving extra money by switching to Straight Talk. What would you buy? I see a spa day with my name on it. If I'm feeling generous I might throw in something for my little girl or even the hubby. Naw! Mommy needs some "me time"!
There are different plans depending on your needs. The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data. Or, if you are on the phone as much as I am. There is an unlimited monthly plan that is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web. That's only $499 a year! Calling 411 is free and there is even long distance. International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates. With all these different types of plans call a friend to share in on the savings!
Straight Talk has all the perks and you'll be able to find everything you need! Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung. Their phone selections include smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®. Are you planning to give a phone to your kids or teens? They offer reconditioned phones that are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability.
I like everything that I've learned about Straight Talk. It is like a hook, line and sinker and convinced me that this is another way for my family to save money with our tight budget. The best part is that I don't have to give up my smart phone.
Are you still unsure? Check out what this customer had to say about their service.

Toddler Antics - Mixing Bowl

Silly girl playing with momma's mixing bowl.








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Cousin Love

At yesterday's play date Izzy kept hugging and pulling her cousin Nate around. They love each!

Feeling the Burn

Started the weekend with a bang by fitting in one last work out with Stroller Strides.  For some reason I had no energy today.  I was dragging my feet throughout the entire workout.  I couldn't say that I had less sleep than I usually do but I was just TIRED.  I power walked through most of my workout and still managed to built up a good sweat.

Last Wednesday I injured my left knee during Stroller Strides and I've been favoring it ever since.  Today we did stairs and took each one going down but two on the way up.  During the way up it felt "wobbly" as if it wanted to give way.  This is with a knee brace so it looks like I have to be very careful of it from now on. 

It also seems like lunges and squats are a favorite of our instructor.  We do some variation every session and my legs are hurting.  I have a constant soreness to them that just won't go away.  They better make my tushie head north from all the ones I'm doing.

Toddler Antics - Copycat

After I got out of the shower Izzy jumped right in, closed the door and imitated washing her hair. Everyday she does something that makes me smile. I love being a mom.

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Heading Back for More

I'm excited for Saturday.  I'm heading back to my favorite photography instructor for another class.  This will be my fourth class with San Diego Photography Classes.  I've already taken three other classes with them you can see posts on Photography 101 and Photography 102.  These two posts were even featured for their Groupon Deal. 

This Saturday I'll be attending the Studio and Lighting Photography - Learn How to Manipulate Light at their new studio at Kettner Daylight Studio.  Ever since I decided to learn how to use my camera I was hooked.  My original goal was to take better pictures of my daughter to captured her personality.  I would have been happy to take pictures that weren't overexposed.  I still have a long way to go but I see improvement.  One of my desires is to one day take professional level photos, even if it's on the side.  This class will point me in that very direction.  Even if I only use it to take studio-type pictures of Izzy I can see all the money I'll save on portraits in the future.  So if your interested in photography check out Jason at San Diego Photography Classes.  It's affordable and well worth the time and money.

Our First Baby

Guest written by our friend Sergio Chaney

My husband and I just welcomed our first baby and it’s been a totally magical experience. I love the idea of being a stay at home momand thanks to his recent promotion it’s actually something I can do which makes me happier than ever! I love being able to give Abbey my full attention and it’s nice cooking dinner and doing laundry while my husband’s at work. I can’t believe I’m a mom now and that I’m responsible for this tiny baby’s wellbeing! Anyway, my mom gave us a www.TVBYDIRECT.COM subscription since she knew I’d get bored her at home and she was right – but the movie channels help since I can watch one each day when Abbey goes down for her nap. I’d love to find some kind of work that I can do from home so I could bring in some extra cash and exercise my brain a little more! I love being a mom but I’ve got to keep my mind nimble or I’ll just lose it!

Wordless Wednesday

Three Hours Isn't Enough

Izzy has never been on a schedule. Sleeping and meals have always been on a "as needed" basis. I watch out for her cues to tell me when she was hungry or tired. Even with a relaxed "schedule" when something is late or missed everything else suffers.

Yesterday she missed her nap and it hit her around 5pm how tired she was. By 6pm she was fed and down for the night. Her normal bedtime is 8:30pm. By midnight she was wide awake and ready to face the day, err night. I wasn't able to get her back to sleep until 3am and she was up again by 6:30am. The result was that she was tired and I was exhausted.

I was too tired to make my workout and today is the first one I missed since starting. I even worked out injured on Friday to keep my schedule going. I'm definitely bummed that I stayed home and "hung" around the house all day. I'll just have to "bring it" on Wednesday with my new knee brace in tow. So a note to self, don't let her miss anymore naps.

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Six Years After "I Do"

Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our sixth year of marriage together. If I added up all the years we have ever been a couple then we're working on our tenth year together and seventh year married. After all those years together you tend to forget the excitement you feel when you go on a date. That's especially true once you have kids.

When you have a small child your attention is always split on multiple things. The ability to leisurely holds hands or hold a conversation doesn't happen as often as you like. Yesterday we did just that. We ate at a nice restaurant down town without worrying about Izzy throwing food or yelling. We saw a movie in a theater! I haven't been to a movie theater in over two years! We walked around down town and talked. We held hands and just spent time together. It might not sound like much but for me it was everything I could have hoped for. What better way to celebrate your married life than rekindling that feeling you have for your spouse. It doesn't take much, just a date night. Here is a special "thank you" to my parents for watching Izzy on our anniversary.

Happy 6 years to my hubby! I love you!


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No More Injuries Please

I'm so bummed! Today at Stroller Strides I was having a pretty good workout. I want to keep improving my cardio so I opted to jog in between each station to push myself. Toward the end of the workout there was an exercise that changed everything.

While standing next to a picnic table we side stepped on to the seat with the leg closest to the table following with the other leg and then returned to the floor. It is a pretty high step so I was careful and took the exercise slow. Around the 10th rep I hear a LOUD crack from my left knee as I'm stepping on to the bench. Initially I felt a pain in my knee which subsided after 5 minutes or so.

If I was back at work and I had to assess myself. I would say - pain 0/10, no neurovascular deficits noted, denies numbness, tingling or shooting pain, ROM (range of motion) intact, skin pink and warm to the touch, no ecchymosis (bruising) noted. States instability felt in knee joint while ambulating (walking).

Put simply the last paragraph means that everything seems normal on my left knee. Except when I'm walking the joint feels unstable as if it might give out on me. I don't think it's bad enough to go the the doctor at this point. I'll wait and see if there is any improvement or if it gets worse. Hopefully I just need to be off my knee for a few days. I'm really enjoying Stroller Strides and I love how I'm feeling. I hope it doesn't get any worse. Wish me luck that I'll be able to get back to it by Friday or the latest Monday.

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Wordless Wednesday - Family

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Wood Foam Blocks

Hello mamas! A month ago my husband and I stopped by the local Lakeshore Learning Store here at Hazard Center Mall and picked up some things for Izzy that I want to tell you about.  The first one is a bag of Wood Foam toys. They come in its own zippered bag of 100.


I like them because there not heavy or injury prone as real wooden blocks. As a toddler her coordination is still work in progress and the wooden blocks have fallen on her toes a few times.


These blocks can be taken anywhere in the bag and they're extremely light. She's also brought them in the tub with her since they float it just adds to bath time fun.

Izzy is over the stage for knocking everything down and now she enjoys building.  She plays semi quietly building little structures before knocking them down and starting all over. I don't have to worry about her, the walls, the furniture or the dog getting hit with these blocks.

The only down side is that the are not as sturdy.
Since they are made from foam, her buildings can topple easily. The shapes can also be manipulated if Izzy decides to take a bite out of one. A few of her blocks have been retired for the very same reason. Overall I think they are great toys. Izzy has avoided a few bumps and bruises from flying blocks. Check out the Lakeshore Learning Store if you're interested.


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Toddler Antics

My daughter absolutely loves trying on shoes. Last night she had her eye on my husband's uniform boots. She probably bit off more then she bargained for. That's me snickering in the background.

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Cardio Monday at Stroller Strides

logo copy right Stroller Strides

Yesterday was cardio Monday at Stroller Strides.  Last Monday was my first day working out and it tough with a capital "T".  I was felt like I was loosing my breath during the warm up and a few times during the work out I felt the urge to vomit.  Sounds delicious, doesn't it?  It was much tougher than I was expecting and I had thoughts that it was too tough for me to continue.  What changed my mind were the other moms in the group.  Throughout the workout the other moms came up to me to introduce themselves and encourage me to continue.  I felt that this was a great group of women that were friendly and supporting.  What better way to get in shape and possibly make friends for both Izzy and myself?

If I had to compare how I did yesterday with last Monday I am pleased to announce that I saw HUGE improvements.  I set my goal to jog through the entire workout.  I didn't reach that but I jogged through 75% of it.  Improvement!  Last Monday I mostly walked.  I didn't feel like throwing up during the workout.  Improvement! 

My problems with the workout are mainly from my injury.  I recently hurt my right elbow from lifting Izzy and it hasn't quite healed from repeat use.  There was an exercise with the resistance band were we extend our forearm above our head to work the triceps muscle.  It was really difficult to get past a 90 degree angle with my right side.  It felt especially weak and fragile.  I think from now on I'll bring my elbow brace to give that side some added support until it's healed. 

Another problem I had is that I let Izzy out of the stroller too soon.  The previous week some of the toddlers were out playing during abs and I thought that she would get in more play time with the other kids if I let her out.  Well, instead of playing she decided to lay on my back while I was trying to do a push up and plank.  That's one way to get more resistance.  Unfortunately, she would also jump on my back or crawl underneath me.  That's an easy fix though by leaving her in the stroller until we're done.  She's been really good so far hopefully she'll keep that up.

As far as results?  The number on the scale hasn't changed but my clothes do feel more loose.  The shorts I always wear were starting to feel too tight to wear comfortably and I was looking for a larger size.  By the end of last week they started to fit again.  So no new clothes unless it's a smaller size.

Stink Eye

I have a confession to make.  I realized that I've been doing the "stink eye" more frequently than I should.  My husband gives my daughter ice cream right before bedtime?  Stink Eye!  Some one pushes their way through the door while I'm in the middle of it holding my daughter in my arms?  Stink Eye!  The neighbor's car alarm goes off for the 10th night in a row waking my daughter up?  Stink Eye!  Some manic thinks driving offensively means to weave in an out of traffic narrowly making the lane changes?  Stink Eye!  A child bullies my child while the parents don't lift a finger to correct their behavior?  Stink Eye!

I'm sure you get the idea.  My stink eye usually comes out when I'm faced with people that are clueless or just pain rude.  When it comes to my daughter the mama bear in me takes offense.  Although, lately I wonder if I've been letting the stink eye out more frequently.  Should I be more direct and tell the other person what I'm thinking rather than throwing them the stink eye? 

Take the example of the child bully.  The last time I was at Java Mama I came across a little girl that picked on my daughter the entire time we were there.  She tried to take toys away or push her way in to play with something.  Keep in mind that she was around 5-6 and my daughter is 22 months.  I gave her mother a chance to say something then I was the referee.  I kept saying the "share", "take turns" and "she's littler than you" comments.  The whole time waiting for her parents to jump in and do something.  Should I have taken a direct approach and asked her parents to discipline her child rather than throwing them the stink eye?  What are your two cents?

Public Spanking

My family spent the afternoon walking around Plaza Bonita Mall. It's one of the three indoor malls here in San Diego. During our time there a woman was frantically searching for her daughter. She was asking groups of people if they saw a little girl with pinks bows wandering by her self. There was no doubt in my mind that she was panicked and frightened that her little girl was lost in a crowded mall on a Saturday afternoon.

We were there to witness the moment she found her daughter a few stores down. Relief quickly turned to anger that she wandered away. The mom was holding her by one arm and spanking her hard enough to swing forward a little bit. I would have to say that she spanked that girl at least 5+ times in my vision.

The commotion was enough to make the crowds stop and stare. It also made a guard question whether or not he should intervene. What would you do? Would you intervene? Was the mom justified in her reaction? Should she have handled it in another way?

Personally, I was in a similar situation when I was a child and spanking was a common way to discipline. I was around 5 or 6 years old and it was my first trip from the east coast to CA for a visit. I got lost riding my cousin's big wheel around the neighborhood. When I was found my mom expressed her fear and anger in a similar way that the mom from the mall did.

Would I do the same thing if my own daughter was lost? No, the spanking I received only made me feel like my mom was mad at me. At that age her fear of loosing me translate as concern. It translated a message of anger. I wouldn't want my daughter to feel the way I did. I would want her to feel my relief that she was found and loved. What are your two cents?

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Try it You Might Like it

When in doubt change how it looks. Izzy has always been more on the picky side when it comes to what she'll put in her mouth. What can I say, she's a toddler. I've even tried singing the Yo Gabba Gabba song "Try it You Might Like it", doesn't work.


I tried giving her corn before she didn't look at it twice before saying "nooooooooo". Tonight I made corn-on-the-cob and didn't even try giving it to her. You guessed it she wanted to try it. Her teeth barely made a dent in the corn but I was excited that she was willing to try something new. My husband was able to capture the moment. Here's to trying new things.


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A Look Back - Stroller Strides

So my first week of Stroller Strides is complete and I must say I feel REALLY good. I think I was at a point in my fitness, or lack of it, that I was lazy to do anything. I didn't want to go anywhere nice because that would mean I would have to go clothes shopping. After one of those I am always in a funk. I hate looking at how nothing fits nice on me and how my post baby belly still makes me look pregnant in some styles.

I stay up late last night reading and was seriously thinking of skipping today's workout. The only thing that got me out the door was thinking about how I've felt after I started working out. I feel more energized and accomplished that I finally doing something about my body.

For mommas out there that feel the same I say it's worth trying it out. There are locations all over and my favorite part is that I'm able to bring Izzy. The babies are entertained watching the group work out, they socialize with each other and work on separation anxiety. Our instructor Branda sings songs, pulls out puppets or bubbles to keep them happy while you're sweating off last night's dessert.

The first session is free so call Branda and tell her I sent you over. If you're not local then check out the site to find one. You have nothing to loose except the baby weight.

KABOOST

We used to use a booster seat for Izzy during meal times. We loved the Fisher-Price Deluxe Booster Seat because it was portable and easy to carry. This past month or so Izzy has been fighting the time she spends in that chair. No, we don't strap her down and walk away. I'm talking about in less then 10 minutes she's pulling on the seat belt repeating "down" over and over again.

I recently found a product that raises the entire chair. I've had the KABOOST for about a month and I can officially say that I love it. It's not a high chair or a booster seat that you strap to the chair. It's a spring loaded booster that goes under the chair legs to raise the entire chair. After reading the reviews online and watching the videos I purchased it through amazon for around $35.




There are two sides that raises the chair different heights. Each side has a non-slip grip that prevents the chair from moving. The grips works so well that you can't slide the chair at all. If you want to reposition the chair you have to lift it completely off the floor to move it. I was a little concerned that the chair wouldn't be stable once it's lifted. When it's on the chair it widens the base so unless Izzy pushes her legs against the table it doesn't move. She can climb up onto the chair pulling on the back for leverage and it doesn't budge. The legs are spring loaded and I was able to fit it on to our chairs, my sister's and mom's chairs and also the ones at a coffee shop. It folds down pretty compact and I was able to fit it into a small tote to carry with me.
The up side is that she's more willing to go to "her" chair and climb into it without much hassle. She's at the point that she wants the same type of chair, fork, spoon, plate and cups that mommy and daddy use. After using the KABOOST there isn't too much of a fight to have her sit in her chair. The down side is that she's not strapped in. So I have to be extra careful when she tries to stand up in the in chair. It's not a chair that you can step away from your child. I think this would work well with older children that are able to sit still in their chair. Or for toddlers like my daughter that fight a standard booster seat, constantly.

Toddler Talk

Have you ever wondered what goes on in your toddler's head? I rolled over one morning to find my toddler exploring the drawer in my night stand. If you listen closely you can hear the conversation she has into the headphones.

"lo lo hello hello hello what are you doing? ... Way e i ooo... I love you... Hi hi hey ... Bye" What better way to start your day then to see this? Was there a time your little brought a smile to you first thing in the morning? Join in on the conversation.

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Treasures

Do you remember the first time you had an Oreo? I probably wasn't any older then five when I had mine.
My uncle, sister and I sat at the table to try a black cookie and promised me it was good. They showed me how to twist the top off and dunk it in milk. To this day it's one of my favorite guilty pleasures. It turns out that it might be one of my daughter's as well.


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Working Out at the Park

Just finished my second day of Stroller Strides. I didn't feel like I was dying like I did on Monday. So I guess that's progress. I still have a long way to go though. That goes double for my abs. These days they look more like a keg than a six pack.



During abs we were doing this exercise where you sat down with your legs wide a part, one hand behind your head and the other pointing out. The idea was to slowly raise up into a sitting position and then twist to the opposite leg of the arm that's out. I got stuck every time I tried to get up. So I ended up with my legs in the air trying rock myself into a sitting position. It looked as ugly as it sounds. It is only the second day so I'll cut myself some slack. Here's to looking and feeling better in the future!



Afterwards we stayed for Watermelon and Watercolors with the Luna Moms Group. I think Izzy really liked it. She ended up playing more with the water then the paint but in the end it was a great activity.


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Wordless Wednsday: Nap Time

Nap time is always better with your bottom in the air.

Little Helper

I have a little helper. My daughter loves to jump in to help me out with what ever it is that I'm doing. Her favorite activity has to be the laundry. All it takes is a basket of clothes for her to dive right in. Not literally. She likes to hand me the next piece of clothing for me to fold if I ready for it or not. Most of the time I end up with all the clean clothes strewn about the floor. By the time the basket is empty her eyes are set on the folded pile.




As most of you moms out there know that our little helpers make chores last twice, no ten times as long. They are sure cute doing it though. Today she helped me sweep the kitchen floor. As soon as I opened up the pantry she took out the broom and the dust pan. Izzy isn't as tall as the broom but that didn't stop her for a minute. What does your little helper like joining in on?

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Want Your Body Back? Me too!

This morning I headed over to Mast Park with Izzy in tow to try out an exercise group especially for mommies that want to get back into shape after having their bundle of joy. Santee Stroller Strides is a fitness group that you are able to bring your babies with you to work out. It's outdoors and it combines cardiovascular exercise with strength training.

I have been biking around Santee towing Isabel in a biker trailer at least three times a week for an hour each ride. I felt like it was a great way to get some exercise. I walked into the group thinking that I would be prepared for the class with all the biking I was doing. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening. During the WARM-UP I realized how out of shape I really was. I was huffing and puffing during the first 10 minutes of the class.

Even thought I was having a tough time I wanted to continue coming to the class. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice all the moms were. In between stations the other moms would come up and welcome me to the group. They told me about the positive changes they saw within themselves after joining the group and hoped that I would keep coming. Izzy enjoyed herself and was very well behaved watching us run around.

I can already feel some soreness in muscle I forgot I had. I'm looking forward to going back to class and hoping see some results in how my clothes fit in the future. Wish me luck!

Smart Cookie

I haven't been posting frequently the past few months. When I hoped on today and I noticed some odd posts. It took me some time to realize that my 22 month old daughter left 3 new posts on my pages. When I still had my android I installed the blogger app on it with the assumption that I would be able to blog when the desire hit. Izzy plays with my phone every chance she gets and she knows how to unlock it, go into a folder and pick out which app she likes. I had installed some toddler games on my phone like "Monkey Preschool Lunchbox" to keep her busy or calm her down when she's about to have a meltdown. Let's just say that she know the ins and outs of using a cell phone. Low and behold she was able to work out how to use the blogger app to post "bxbxbjdbdbjxlkjd" and two other empty postings. I gotta say that I'm feeling pretty proud that my naughty girl is smart enough to figure things out by herself.

Biking

I've really been enjoying my bike rides with Izzy. My hubby bought a Burley Encore Bike Trailer to attach to my bike. Izzy loves going for a "ride" and will wait by the trailer patiently while I put on her helmet. I've been taking her around the neighborhood at least three times a week. When I first started I could tell how out of shape I was.


I had to shift down the gears and coast as much as possible and even then I was huffing and puffing. The sad part was that I was just doing laps around the neighborhood. Now I am able to bike to a distant park that I would have driven to before and I can pedal the entire way. I've been pushing myself by adding to the resistance while I pedal too. It works out that we've been waking up earlier so we can fit in a ride to the park after breakfast, play for an hour and head back before the temperatures get too high.

My next goal is to bike to Santee Lakes from our house. There is a playground and a water area that I want to bring her too. The only thing that has kept me from going so far is the distance and the traffic. I've been lucky going to Mast Park since I can can inner roads most of the way there. I can notice a difference since I've been biking with her. I'm more motivated to go outdoors and door activities with her.

This is a great way to start getting active with your little one. After having a baby it's hard to find time sans baby to work out. So why not bring the baby along? During ride I point things out to her and try to make it as interactive as it can be. What have you done to try to get back in shape?

My Trouble Maker

As I'm cleaning up after dinner I hear my daughter saying "wow wow" to herself. When I look down I see that she figured out how to swing herself on the countertop. Hope you enjoy the video.

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My Very Own House

I absolutely love having a little girl.  Even at the tender age of 21 months I can already see that she's going to grow up to be a girlie girl.  She loves having her hair done by mommy and will sit patiently passing me the curlers to put in her hair.  She love wearing pretty dresses and helping mommy pick out her outfit for the day with a matching purse and shoes.  Sometimes I wonder where she gets it since I was more of a tomboy growing up then a girlie girl.  I get to relive that through her so it's been so rewarding for me too.

She starting to get into imaginative play with the toy kitchen and play food so I just got her first play house.  It was the best buy we've had in recently that I think was well worth the money.  It's made of heavy duty cardboard and it's HUGE.  The measurements are 55"L x 36"W x 49"H - measures 14 square feet.  If you look at the picture the top of the house is taller then half the door to the right of the picture.  It's called My Very Own House which we got off of Amazon for a little over $30.  It's big enough to fit her toy kitchen and a toddler table and chair set inside.  I'm able to sit in there and play with her while our dog is in there too.  The majority of the reviews were positive while the few negative were complaining about the price considering it's made of cardboard.

I personally think that the size, the durability and the potential is well worth the $30.  Izzy is only 21 months so she's pretty hard on toys and so far it's held up to her.  She loves going in and out of the door waving "bye".  She jumps on the pillow I put inside to peek out of the windows.  I can see her playing with it until it falls apart and I know we'll get another one to replace it.  Why spend $70+ on a plastic house when this one will give your child much more.  It's affordable and it gives them a creative outlet and can be folded away to store. They can color the pictures outside or make they're own pictures on the inside of the house.  It comes with 8 markers but I got an additional pack of markers for more color choices. 

I colored a few of the outside pictures for her but I can see this as a place that will be "ok" for her to color without worrying too much about my walls and other furniture.  Even as she grows older this would be a great addition.  I read in some of the reviews on Amazon that one mom used it for her daughters birthday and it withstood nine 4-5 year old girls playhouse and coloring during the entire party.  What a great idea!

If you have the space I would also suggest that you use packing tape on all the corners and tabs to reinforce the stability.  I also plan to find a piece of cardboard to tape the house down to to make a floor.  I think it's well worth the money.  Just keep in mind that it is made out of cardboard and will eventually fall apart. I love love this house!

Little Big Girl

Oh blog how I've neglected thee. I've been wrapped up with real life for some time that I've forgotten about my online life, shame on me. One thought has been rambling around me head all day that I just wanted to jot it down. My little baby isn't really a baby anymore. She developing more and more mannerisms of a little "big" girl. It's made me stop and question where all the time has gone.

Getting her hair done

First, I was so wrapped up in the newness of being a parent and a mom. I was enjoying all the coos and gritting my teeth at all the poo. Then it was all the small milestones like smiling, laughing, and rolling over. Those first few months things seems to happen so quickly that I can't really remember the actual dates she starting doing all these things. Looking back I wish I wrote everything down so I could look back on them more closely. I felt really disorganized and lived day by day just sleep deprived.

The fun moments was when she started being more mobile. I look back and think more of my feeling of anticipation and utter pride that my baby was "army" crawling around the living room and then attempting to pull her self up and stand. I just am SO amazed at the amount of accomplishments babies go through during the first two years to do the things we normally take for granted. It wasn't until I started watching my daughter try them for her self that I witnessed the joy or frustration she went through. It was like being a cheerleader on the side lines rooting her on at every step.

Now she's running around the house, climbing on to anything she can get her hands on. She's even talking in basic three word "sentences". "More bubbles please" isn't pretty but it gets the point across perfectly. Man, I'm such a proud momma! Toddler-hood is in part entertaining and frustrating. She is such a character and girlie girl. My little baby isn't really a baby anymore and it makes me sad, happy and proud that she's gotten this far.

What about you? What point did you stop and reminisce?

Izzy's Slide

Hubby fell asleep in Izzy's room and she takes full advantage by sliding down his back. If you listen closely you can hear him snoring. Too cute, I love my clever baby!

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More Than One

Izzy just turned 20 months and we have been throwing back and forth the idea of trying for another baby. When I was pregnant with Izzy my sister and my cousin all shared that experience together and delivered our first born within months of each other. I was able to see and hear the growing pains my cousin went through learning to be a parent. In some ways that helped me prepare for the coming of my own child. My sister also benefited from my cousin's and my perspective before my nephew made his appearance. Personally, I think she was in a better position delivering last and she saved tons of money not buying baby products that don't work.

My hubby and I both want more children but our question is when. My cousin already gave birth to her 2nd girl a few months ago and my sister is half way through her pregnancy with her 2nd boy. Should we "jump on the bandwagon" for our #2? Personally, there are three things that are stopping me. First is that we're moving to another state in five months and I really don't want to be PREGNANT and moving a household. Second, I would love to go back to work. I became a nurse for a reason and even though I am enjoying the time as a SAHM I miss working with patients. Third, Izzy at a point that she is starting to become more independent and sleeping longer hours through the night. I like sleep and I missed not having it for over a year.

Do you have more than one? What prompted you to expand? A happy accident or was it a planned decision? What are your thoughts?

Behind the Curve

I would consider myself way behind the networking curve. I don't really jump into things until it's been around for awhile. Perfect examples, blogging (this past January), Twitter (March) and Yelp (today). That's probably one of the reasons this blog isn't anything more than what it is. I just don't know all the ins and outs of the networking community. I still don't know all the short hand typing either. At least the newer stuff like SMH. No I don't live under a rock. I guess real life just got in the way. Today I finally had a reason to go on yelp. I had a horrible spa experience that needed to be told. Click here to read my review. Are you an avid internet net-worker? What motivated you to get savvy?

Review of Gaia Oasis Spa

Gaia Oasis Spa

Category: Day Spas
Neighborhood: La Jolla
7630 Fay Ave
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 456-8797

1.0 star rating

I've been a loyal customer for years. My 1st time at the new location was for mother's day. I booked a scrub, wrap, massage and a facial. I was completely disappointed with my service. No one was at the front desk for 10 minutes when I got there. The relaxation room was nothing but that, staff members were chatting outside. My biggest complaint was my facial. The streamer was over filled and it bubbled over splashing hot water on my neck and chest result in at least a 1st degree burn or very close to it. I refused the facial and the facility didn't do anything to compensate my burn except 4 samples. The spa manager wasn't available when I left or the times I called. She also never returned my messages. This place is unacceptable with the new management. I was a loyal customer for 5 1/2 years and I will never go back. If they can ignore a mistake like that then it is a place that is severely flawed.

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

I started this blog in January just as a place to put my thoughts and feelings down.  You could say it was my version of a journal.  As I started to read other blogs and find blogging communities out there I was blown away.  I never realized how versatile a blog could be with some imagination.  My idea for this blog has changed so many times.  At one point I wanted to make this blog into a source of income for our family through advertizing, promotions, giveaways, etc.  Quite frankly it takes too much time sitting at the computer when I could be spending it with Izzy.  The only other time would be after she's in bed for the night.  I don't really like that idea either.  I've been cherishing the extra sleep I've been getting.  So what to do about this blog?  I'm content to use it as a place to document my life, when my life permits.  If I get followers and traffic from it, wonderful.  So I hope you do stop by when I post or display my photography.  This is my kind of blogging, what's yours?

Adobe Lightroom 3

So I've been neglecting my blog as of late.  It's partly due to being sick all the time, working on my new photography hobby and my hard drive crashing.  Right now I'm typing away on my hubby's lap top.  We're still waiting on some "magical" part he sent out for.  (shrug)  He's the comp/tech guy so I just go with it.

Unfortunately, my hard drive crashed before I was able to back up some of my newest photos.  I'm really getting into photography and I just got the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 program. I was having a blast messing with some of my photos until CRASH! PFFTTT!!! I didn't realize how much you could do with your photos until I started messing with the program.  Again, I'm still learning and I didn't bother buying the book I'm just messing with it to see what kind of results I can get.  So far I would have to say that I'm really happy with my purchase. It's a little on the pricy side but I think it's well worth it.  Even if you're just using it to make the colors of your photo more vibrant.  Now if only my computer would get fixed so I can play some more.  I added some samples below.  The first one is one that I used Lightroom and the second is the original.  I wanted the colors to pop and I think it's turned out pretty good. What do you think?

 

SICK

Yes, I am sick yet again.  This flu and cold season has hit me especially hard this year.  It seems like we pick up something on our play dates and it just cycles through the house over and over.  My husband has had it once, Izzy three times and I've had it SIX.  We're not talking about a slight sniffle I wouldn't mind if it was slight.  I'm talking about the ugly, red faced, sore throat, hacking cough, congestion, sinus pressure, YUCK kind of cold.  These make my head feel like its 100 lbs and wish I could trade my head for someone else.  I'm happy that when Izzy gets some of it it only some congestion and not as bad as mommy.  I'm just SO OVER feeling like crap and still have to drag my butt out of bed to entertain an active toddler.  I'm lucky that this one started on the weekend so hubby watched her this morning while I took a nap.  Anyone else hit as hard?  Do you have someone to fall back on?  Join in on the conversation.

Tickle Monster

Daddy tickling Izzy

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Wave Commands

My 19 month old knows how to give and say the "wave" command to our dog Oscar. Smart baby and proud momma

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Dark Side of Nursing

Have you ever wondered why you never hear about the dark side of nursing?  All you hear about are all the wonderful benefits you and your child get by nursing your baby.  Even the American Academy of Pediatrics promotes breast feeding until at least the age of 6 months.  Let me let you in on a secret, there is a dark side.

A dark side you ask?  Yes, a dark side.  I'm talking about when you're child is sick, with a runny nose take a guess where all that snot ends up.  Ding ding ding!  You got it, your boob.  With all these colds I've had the runny boogers that kind of flows down my chest if I'm not quick.  The sticky ones, that connect us even when she moves her head.  The snot bubbles that expand with each exhale and pops on contact leaving a beautiful snot circle.

I'm also talking about the crumbs.  The half eaten gunk that wasn't completely swallowed before she started to nurse.  The sticky spot that sometimes gets missed on her hands or face after washing up.  The crumbs that fall down my shirt while she's pounding on my chest for more "booboo".

Let's not forget the trauma to the lady lumps.  The biting, pinching and twisting that they go through.  Is your baby teething?  Does your baby like to chew on stuff while they're teething?  Then you understand what it feels like the times your sweet child "accidentally" mistook your nipple for a teething toy.  My child also has this little quirk that she's done since she popped out.  She absolutely HAS TO twist the other nipple while she's nursing.  I don't know why, but she does.

Even with all these things the good blows that bad out of the water.  The bond you and your child share while your nursing, can't beat it.  The dark side of nursing is kinda funny and kinda gross but in my opinion it adds to my memories.  Do you have something to add?  What's the dark side of nursing you've experienced?

Again?!?! ARGH!

ARGH!  I'm am sick yet again?!?!  I'm not surprised considering Izzy had a little congestion and a sniffle the past few days.  But really, another cold?!?!?  So far it's localized to a sore throat and a cough but this is starting to get really irritating.  It's seems like we're sharing every cold that comes into this house.  It seems like this winter season is worse than the last one.  The only thing I can think of that is contributing to this is that Izzy is eating solids.  I am constantly tasting her food to make sure it's not too hot, too cold, etc.  Not to mention she always wants to try whatever it is I'm having.  Now that I'm thinking about it I should probably have a few spare spoons at the dinner table to we're not sharing the same spoon if one of us is sick.  I know, bad mommy for not thinking of this sooner.

On the bright side the past two little "colds" she's had have been limited to congestion and a little sniffle.  I'm the only one that gets hit hard.  I guess you could say that her immune system is getting a good workout.  Personally, I just want to NOT BE SICK for a few weeks straight.  You hear that body, get off ya arse and get better.

Friends

Facebook is everywhere.  It has been a great place to reconnect with friends from my past even if it's just through the internet.  It's also helped me stay update with other friends that I don't see often.  The downside is that even though you've found them and "friended" them not all the relationships can be as close as they once were.  Perhaps you've grown apart through distance or your interests have changed but for whatever reason you friendship fell by the wayside for a reason.  I was going through my friend list today and I started to get a little sad at some of the names I saw there.  It reminded me of a poem by an unknown author.

People come into your life for a reason, 

a season, or a lifetime. 

When you figure out which one it is,

you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON. . .
It is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are!
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part,
or at an inconvenient time, this person will say
or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered.
And now it is time to move on.

Then people come into your life for a SEASON....
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons
: things you must build upon in order to have
a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Those names maybe me mourn.  Long lasting friendships are hard to come by.  Not every friendship will last through each and every transformation you go through as you're searching to define and redefine the persona you call "SELF".   One morning you might wake up and realize that a friendship you thought would last you through a lifetime only survived a season or two.   Here's to those lost friendships and to those that morn what was lost.

Week 1 Simplicity

I started a photography class this week with Faith at Simplicity.  I've joined a few of her photography challenges and when I saw that she offered a class to take better pictures of your kids I jumped right on it.  On Sunday I received and email with all the information for the topics the class was going to cover this week.  The information was really easy to understand and I loved that she also included sample pictures on each topic.  This week we covered indoor lighting and how it affects the outcome of your photos.  This is something I've been having a problem with for while.  Part of my assignment was to search for a room that had great light.  It turned out that my daughter's room was perfect.  The far wall has two large window that are side by side.  I wasn't able to do much experimenting this week because Izzy has yet ANOTHER cold.  Not to mention that she was not having anything to do with having her picture taken.  I put together a little collage of her putting up a fuss.  The lighting is great though.  Enjoy!

One Less Stress

I'm happy to say that my hubby's order just came in.  What a relief!  The worst part is the not knowing.  We didn't know where we were going or when we were going and it just added to the stress I was feeling.  There are so many things that I have to do to relocate my family to another state and I just feel the pressure of not starting get bigger and bigger.  I didn't want to start researching housing, day cares, pediatricians, etc, etc. in a state that we might not even go to.  That would be a huge amount of wasted time.  Not to mention selling the house we currently live in.  That's another horror story I don't even want to touch right now.  Well, at least we have the actual paper work.  Sigh! 

Spa Day Gone Wrong

How many ways could a day go not quite right?  Today was suppose to be a momma day.  A day all about me and for me.  I booked an all day spa day at Revive Day Spa & Salon.  It was going to start with a facial, then a salt scrub, moisture body wrap, followed by a deep tissue massage and ending with a mani/pedi.  That sounds like heaven right?  I have that whole day planned, my husband was on board to watch Izzy for me while I got polished, marinated and tenderized.  As you can already guess it didn't quite go as planned.  There was a scheduling problem at the spa.  One of the girls called in sick and they were working on getting a replacement while I was getting my facial.  Because of the uncertainty I was shuffled to and from the waiting room.  Katheryn did all my treatments when the masseur didn't show up.  I was able to get all the treatments except the massage.  To be fair because of the scheduling problems they made the scrub and wrap complementary.  It just wasn't the relaxing day that I planned because I was shuffled back and forth.  When I was just starting to unwind and get relaxed I had to move somewhere else.  I think if things went smoothly then that spa day would have been great.  I loved Katheryn, she's was knowledgeable and easy to talk to.  I think I'll give that place another shot considering they gave me complimentary treatments worth $150. 

Too Far?

How far is going too far?  My cousin lives in D.C. with her husband.  She recently gave birth to her second daughter.  Last week my aunt flew back to San Diego after being in D.C. to help out my cousin for a few months before the baby was born.  To my surprise she flew back with my 20 month old niece without her parents for an extended visit.  The why isn't what this post is about.  What my aunt did, is.  It turns out that my aunt got my niece's ears pierced on Sunday WITHOUT prior approval from my cousin.  Personally, I would be pissed if my mom or my MIL pulled that.  I don't care what grandparents "think" they get to do because they're grandparents.  Piercing ears is NOT one of those, not by a long shot.  What would you do if your mom, dad or MIL and FIL did something equivalent?  How would you react?  What would you say to them?  Join in on the conversation.

Military Wife's Life

I've been SO stressed out this my hubby's next command, specifically the lack of information about it.  We've gone through three different command selections since we said "I do". I have to say that this one has been the most stressful.  The plans keep changing.  Yes, yes I know that I should expect that from the military.  First we wanted to go to Japan and we got selected for Hawaii.  Then we lost Hawaii and got selected for WA.  Then we might loose WA and go to D.C.  Now have NO idea when we're supposed to leave or where.  No orders yet and we're supposed to go somewhere by June.  I have a feeling that a month before we have to be there it's all going to drop in our lap. 

The stressful part of this is that it's not just us anymore.  There's the matter of finding a day care, a pediatrician, dog friendly house, potential jobs for me and so on and so on.  I feel the urge to research all this so we're prepared when we get there.  It feel so frustrating.  There's a lot of work that goes into relocating a family of three to a different state and it feels like time is running out and my hands are tied.  I don't know where we're going and when we have to be there.  Even if I did I can book anything until the papers come in.  Grrr!  I  heard that the orders are being given out later and later.  Are any other military moms going through this right now?

Boundaries

Hi mommies!  I am to say the least, "irked" from our recent visit from my mom.  In general she is extremely supportive, loving and helpful when it comes to her grand daughter, Izzy.  However, there are times when she is completely clueless when it comes to what Izzy needs most.  Today's visit is a perfect example.  Izzy is coming down with yet another cold.  It seems like once she gets over one she picks up another from an outing.   She is congested with a cough and sneezing. 

Last night as you can probably predict was not pleasant for either of us.  She could not breathe which woke her up and couldn't nurse for comfort because she wasn't able to breath.  It was a vicious circle.  What she desperately need today was sleep and lots of it. Once my mom found out that we were going to stay in she wanted to come by for a visit.  I left her a message before she got here that I was nursing her down for a nap.  She still came.  When she got here we were in Izzy's room WITH THE DOOR CLOSED and she was falling asleep.  My mom still comes in and starts talking to Izzy.  Really?!?!  I tell her I'm trying to put her to sleep and she stands there for another minute before leaving the room to make noise in the next room.  The baby's awake, hearing noises and starts crying.  Okay, playtime with grandma. When she finally falls asleep an hour later my mom AGAIN comes in the room to say she's leaving.  I don't need you to come in to tell me that especially when you know I'm trying to put the baby to sleep.  Thanks!  Izzy only had a thirty minute nap today.  Crank does not even begin to cover it. 

Sometimes, sometimes grandparents can be so selfish when they want to see their grand kids.   Just saying, maybe it should be more about the grand kids and not the grandparents.  Have you had to deal with something similar?  Join in on the conversation.

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