Awesome Little Tikes 4th of July Deals!

If you’re a Little Tikes fan like me then you will definitely appreciate this post!

 

 

Little Tikes has been super busy getting ready for their Christmas in July event. This year, in addition to the about 150 items we’ve put on sale (just do a quick search www.LittleTikes.com for the phrase “Christmas in July” and you’ll see ALL the fabulous deals), we’re going make it even sweeter for this weekend only. For the holiday weekend we’re giving all of our loyal customers an extra 5% off. This includes items already on sale! Just use the code: BANG at checkout to redeem the 5% savings. (This is for your product total only before shipping and taxes. But don’t worry; we also have tons of items with Everyday Free Shipping!) Hurry in quick, the extra special deal only lasts from Thursday June 30^th and ends on Wednesday July 6^th!

Easy 4th of July JELL-O Cupcakes!

Since July 4th is this coming Monday and I know that everyone will be having cookouts and get-together’s this long weekend I thought I’d share one of my favorite dessert recipes with y’all.  These are easy, absolutely amazingly yummy, and you can even make them red, white, and blue in honor of the 4th!

 

Red, White, and Blue Jell-O Cupcakes!

 

Makes  2 dozen

 

1 box of white cake mix (prepared according to package directions)

1 3 oz. box of your favorite red Jell-O (we used cherry)

1 tub of Cool-Whip

Blue food coloring (optional)

 

Preheat oven according to package directions.  Prepare white cake mix according to package directions, fill cupcake pan (lined with cupcake papers) 3/4 of the way full and follow the baking instructions for cupcakes.  Once the cupcakes have cooled place the cupcakes inside of a baking dish (I used 2 13x9 baking dishes to accommodate all of the cupcakes).  With a toothpick or fork poke holes into the tops of the cupcakes (going about 3/4 of the way into the cupcakes…be careful NOT to poke through the bottom of the cupcakes). 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile dissolve Jell-O using 1 cup of boiling water and set aside.  DO NOT add the cold water to the Jell-O!  Once the Jell-O has dissolved pour into a measuring cup and then slowly soak the top of each cupcake with enough of the Jell-O to cover the top.  Once all of the cupcakes have been soaked with Jell-O  transfer the cupcakes into clean baking dishes and refrigerate at least 2 hours (I made them the night before and refrigerated them, covered, overnight). 

 

 

 

 

Right before serving cupcakes (or up to an hour or two before if you cover and refrigerate afterward) add 2 to 3 drops of food coloring to the Cool Whip and lightly fold until you reach the desired blue color (you can also skip this step and just use the Cool Whip as is, which is what I did).  If adding food coloring be careful not to mix or whip the air out of the Cool Whip.  Frost the top of each cupcake with Cool Whip and serve.

 

 

These cupcakes are AMAZING and you WILL be asked to make them every single time there is a get-together!  The best part is that they are beyond moist and so full of flavor from the Jell-O!  Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Jump, Jump!

Our trampoline has gotten more use this summer than any other outdoor “toy” the kiddos LOVE jumping and I gotta admit so does Mommy! 

 

 

 

Lil Diva jumping like a pro!

 

 

My big girls showing the babies how it’s done! 

 

 

Lil Man catching some major air!

 

 

Taking a break from jumping to pose for pics…gotta love those kiddos and their peace signs lol!

Redesigning Our Kitchen, One Kitchen Island Table At a Time!

My husband can be very indecisive!  I’ve actually sat and watched my husband look over a restaurant menu for so long that the waitress just walked away…and didn’t come back.  Yes, it is that bad.  So imagine my horror when said husband informed me last week that he would be redoing our kitchen this fall…this can only turn out all bad!

Now I’m not saying that my husband doesn’t do a good job of choosing items for our home, as a matter of fact, he’s actually very good at doing that, it’s that it takes him forever to choose…everything!  I knew as soon as my husband decided to redo our kitchen that I had to think fast and choose everything before he even had the chance to think about doing it, because otherwise the project would drag on into next fall…turns out that wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. 



I did my homework before presenting my choices to my husband; I poured over design books, looked at every single kitchen island table (to replace the one we currently have) known to man, chose the cutest tiles for the floor and backsplash and had it all neatly displayed in a folder.  I should have known that it couldn’t possibly be that easy.  The first problem that my husband had with my design plan was that he wanted to completely do away with the island that currently sits in the middle of our kitchen and replace it with a butcher block kitchen cart, reasonable enough, but when I asked him which type he liked he chose about twenty and said we’ll decide later…I told you this was going to be lots of fun!  It all went downhill from there, next Jamie tore apart my tile choices calling them, and I quote, “ugly and not something he wanted in his kitchen”.  I would be a liar if I told you that I didn’t laugh a lil when he called it his kitchen, seriously the man needed help making grilled cheese not too long ago. 

Though we made very little progress on the actual design of the kitchen during our conversation I did manage to get my husband to admit that a John Boos cutting board was a much better idea than a butcher block cart that would annoy the heck out of me.  Perhaps the most important lesson that I learned during our little talk was not that my husband is indecisive (and that he has awful taste) but that you have to learn to pick your battles, even if it means letting my husband think I agree with him and then quietly going behind his back and buying the things that I want.  Hey, it’s called compromise for a reason…I’ll buy it and then I’ll let him decide where to put it! 

Burt’s Bees: Bee Smart School Garden Kits!

There are a few things in life that make me extremely happy; my kiddos, an ice cold margarita after a long day, and Burt’s Bees are just a few of the things that I love most!  I am currently addicted to Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm (the best stuff ever)!  I know that I’m not the only Burt’s Bees fan out there…right?  Well, did you know that Burt’s Bees is helping schools across the nation get a close up look at how important bees are to the foods that we eat every day?  Check this out…it’s a very cool idea that Burt’s Bees is helping make a reality!! 

 

Our children will inherit the Earth. What’s more important than showing them how it works? Although it’s not widely known, bees pollinate every third bite of the most delicious and nutritious whole foods we eat. This fall, students across the nation will get a chance to see this first hand in a living classroom. 

 

This June, in honor of National Pollinator Week, Burt’s Bees is partnering with sought-after jewelry designer, Helen Ficalora and the Pollinator Partnership to ensure schools receive BEE SMART SCHOOL GARDEN KITS, which will help schools create bee-friendly gardens or make existing gardens inviting to bees, providing a living demonstration of how vital bees and other pollinators are to our ecosystems. 

 

Helping raise awareness of the world’s declining bee population, Ficalora created a bespoke sterling silver bee charm to serve as a reminder of the pollinator’s important role in our ecosystem. When the public donates at least $150 (through 9/30/2011) dedicated to the Pollinator Partnership’s BEE SMART SCHOOL GARDEN program, they will receive the charm and a Burt’s Bees® Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Blossom.

Very cool…no?  That’s exactly why I love Burt’s Bees as much as I do.  Oh, and in case you’re wondering I currently have the Burt’s Bees Pink Blossom tinted lip balm in my purse…it’s my fav!

K’NEX, Mario and The Golden Ticket Contest…Oh, My!

We love K’NEX!  It just happens to be one of the only “toys” (though I don’t really like to call them that as I see them as more than toys) that all 6 of our children will play with and not complain!  And right now through July 15th they have an awesome giveaway going on over at the K’NEX website…details on the contest and all of the cool prizes that you can win are below!

 

From Monday, June 13, through Friday, July 15, 2011, K’NEX Mario Kart Wii fans can register online to receive a free Mario™ or Luigi™ K’NEX figure. 300 figures will be distributed for each day of the five week promotion. Of the 10,000 figures, five lucky grand prize winners will receive a Mario figure plus a Golden Ticket that entitles them to a special prize package including: a Wii™  console (a $150+ value), the entire K’NEX Mario Kart Wii product line (18 toys featuring Mario, Luigi, Yoshi™, and their favorite karts and bikes on two popular Mario Kart Wii tracks -- a $632 value) and a trip to tour K’NEX headquarters in Hatfield, PA. For more information, complete rules and to enter the sweepstakes visit www.knex.com/mariogoldenticket.  No purchase necessary.

 

 

Be sure to “Like” K’NEX on Facebook to find out about all of the latest products and coolest contests first!

 

 

 

It Only Takes a Second To Make a Difference!

It really only takes a second to make a difference!  Tupperware Brands are donating $1 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for every “like” on their Tupperware Brands Chain of Confidence Facebook page.

 

The Chain of Confidence Facebook Page guides women to success by providing them the tools and mentorship needed for personal and professional growth. In this time where people use the internet to tear others down, this site is a complete buildup and support center.

 

So if you’re on Facebook take a second and go over and “Like” the Tupperware Brands Chain of Confidence Facebook page and make help make a difference!  You can also follow Tupperware Brands Chain of Confidence on Twitter!

Shocking Testimony in Casey Anthony Trial: Would You Lie To Save Your Child’s Life?

I’ve been following the case against Casey Anthony since it broke on Nancy Grace all the way back in July of 2008.  I started watching for two reasons:  1.  I love Nancy Grace.    and 2.  The incident was unfolding in Orlando, FL and my daughter was scheduled to leave with her father for Disney World the same week we first heard about Casey and Caylee Anthony. If you have been following the case and can remember back that far you will remember that when the case first broke it did indeed look like a kidnapping and far be it for me as a mom to let my daughter travel from Ohio to Florida with a kidnapper on the loose right in the vicinity of my daughter’s vacation destination.  I continued following the case for one reason…the second the TV flashed an image of 2 year old Caylee Anthony (the victim in the case for those of you who do not know) my heart broke knowing that this child was either missing and in danger or no longer with us.

 

 

As a mother it hits close to home when you hear of another child missing or being murdered and it definitely tugged at my heart strings.  Of course when it was announced in December of 2008 that the body of Caylee Anthony had been found I , like many people, immediately concluded that Casey Anthony was guilty.  Without getting into all of the details of the case (and for those of you who have not been following the case you can easily Google the case and find out everything you ever wanted to know about this girl, her family, and the craziness that seems to consume every aspect of her life) I will say that as a viewer the evidence against Casey is damaging…very damaging…come on who doesn’t report their child missing for 31 days? 

 

When the trial started we were immediately shocked by the defense’s opening statement alleging that Caylee hadn’t been taken at all that instead she had drown in the family pool and that George Anthony (Casey’s dad and Caylee’s grandfather) had helped cover the death up and of course the allegations that both Casey’s father George and Casey’s brother Lee had sexually abused Casey when she was younger, but for the most part the rest of the evidence and testimony was what we (as followers of the case) had expected to see and hear.  But today when the defense called Cindy Anthony, Casey Anthony’s mother I never expected to hear what I heard. 

 

For years we’ve heard evidence that there were computer searches on the Anthony family home computer for “chloroform”, “neckbreaking”, “how to make chloroform” and so on the year that Caylee died and for years we had heard that Caylee was the only person at home when those searches were conducted, but today Cindy Anthony took the stand and basically told the prosecution that she was the one who had conducted the computer searches for chloroform…my mouth dropped…literally.  Cindy then goes on to tell the jury that the infamous stain in the trunk of Casey’s car (which is thought to be the result of Caylee’s body being kept in the trunk for a period of time) was there when they bought the car.  The problem with this testimony you ask?  Well, Cindy Anthony has never said these things before, in fact she admitted in a deposition in 2009 that she searched for “chlorophyll” on the computer, but not chloroform.  Am I the only one who thinks something’s fishy?  In my opinion Cindy has already lost her granddaughter and now she risks losing her daughter (to execution) as well and the last thing that she wants is to lose them both.  I think that Cindy is trying everything that she can as a mother to save her daughter’s life.

 

As both a mother and an avid follower of this trial I’m torn.  On one hand I would like to believe that I would never find myself in this kind of situation because to be honest I’m not sure what I would do if I were.  I would like to think that I would do whatever was humanly possible to save my child, but I don’t know what I would do if my child were the accused and my grandchild was the victim, it would be a heart wrenching decision to say the least.

 

So that brings me to the real reason for my post.  Would you lie to save your child’s life?  Even if all of the evidence points to your child being guilty of murdering their own child?

Cooking With My Misadventurous Kids: Mommy and Lil Diva!

It’s been a LONG time since we’ve done an episode of Cooking With My Misadventurous Kids so I thought what the heck nows as good a time as any to make one!

 

Tonight my husband took the boys fishing, the big girls were all off doing their own thing and that left Mommy and Kinley, so what did we do?  We made cookies of course, and then we made homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie ice cream sandwiches!  You’ll notice that my helper in the video, Lil Diva, is making her debut on Cooking With My Misadventurous Kids and Mommy thinks she did great! 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Let us know what you think!

Making the Most Of Your Space: Get Creative with Bedroom Dressers!

As many of you may already know we moved into a new house (one that I hope and pray will be our last “new” house for a while…I hate moving) in February.  While I love the house it’s not huge and with our big family that means that we have to get rather creative when coming up with sleeping arrangements and storage options.  Shortly after we moved in my brother-in-law, y’all may remember Travis from our “How Do You Say” vlog hop videos, moved in with us and with 7 people and all of their “stuff” it’s not always easy to find space to put it. 

One of the biggest problems we have is with our clothing and with limited closet space the need for other options is definitely there.  One of the solutions that I came up with rather quickly was to add more bedroom dressers, and while that option made the most sense it also opened up new problems for us.  The girls’ room, which is the biggest by the way, easily fit another dresser, but with all of their other “stuff” it was clear that the dresser would have to do double duty.  With that in mind I decided to use the dresser as both a storage device and TV stand in one that eliminated their old clunky TV stand and even freed up a little more room for them to play. 

Next on my list was the boys’ room, while the only “boy” who technically sleeps in the room is my step-son my brother-in-law also sleeps in the room so the already small bedroom is even smaller.  Though my son doesn’t sleep in his room yet, and I sincerely hope that changes soon, his stuff is in his bedroom and that means that the closet is already occupied with my son and my step-sons clothing making my BIL go in search of another option to store his clothing.  He luckily found a nice chest of drawers for sale and we very creatively found a way to make it work in the room…we currently use it as both a chest of drawers and a TV/DVD/game system stand.

That left my bedroom to tackle, and while my husband and I do have a rather large closet that accommodates all of our clothing we also have the task of storing Lil Diva’s clothing in our bedroom.  When we moved in I found a gorgeous dresser and mirror set (much like the one above) that fit with the style of our room but also allowed for Lil Diva’s growing collection of clothing. 

In the end we did find room for all of our stuff and though we had to get creative and figure out how to make one piece of furniture work in two ways we did it and it looks and works great.  Now if I could only get my husband started finishing the basement so that we will have two extra bedrooms I can work on redecorating upstairs!

Wordless Wednesday: A Lil Mud Never Hurt Anyone!

Since I decided (after a LONG absence) last week to do Wordless Wednesday I thought, what the heck, I’m doing it again…though this one is not so wordless.

 

I kind of feel the need to explain the following pics.  A few weeks ago after a LONG weekend spent getting our pool set up (which is another post in itself) we had some people over helping and we all had just had enough, one person threw some mud on another person (I may or may not have been the person who threw the first mud ball) and the rest is history…enjoy!

 

 

Yes ladies and gents, that is me on the left  mud covered and lovin’ it!

 

 

Me, Travie Trav (y’all may remember him from our “How Do You Say” videos), and my step-son

 

 

It was such a mess to clean up, but SO much fun!

 

Happy Wordless Wednesday y’all!

Secretary Desks Not Just For Secretaries!

Last night I did what I have been dreading for weeks now…I scheduled my fall 2011 classes at NKU.  I assume that you probably want to know why I put off scheduling for so long, well, it’s stressful!  Now that I’m getting down to the nitty gritty there are only a handful of classes that I need to graduate and finding them in an online format is not easy peasy hence my procrastination.  There is of course another reason that I put it off for so long, this fall I will be one of three members of my household enrolled in college, and to be honest I wasn’t positive until tonight that I could pick up my husbands slack (you guess it, he’s going back to school too and still working full-time) and still maintain my grades.  Finally I decided that the best thing to do was just move forward, full steam ahead and hope and pray that I finish soon!

Of course, with three people enrolled in college (my brother-in-law is enrolled in another college at the moment as well) one computer (my laptop) is not cutting it,but  I agreed to share my computer for the time being (something that I hope doesn’t last long…I don’t like sharing).  With everyone needing to use the computer on a regular basis my small desk is just  not working so I decided to shop around for a new laptop stand or desk that will accommodate all of us…hey if I can’t get a new laptop I’m getting something new out of this, it’s only fair! 

The first thing I looked at were laptop stands, they are perfect for me as they’re convenient and portable, but I quickly realized that they may not be the best option for my husband and brother-in-law.  Next I looked at a beautiful double pedestal roll top desk that I instantly fell in love with, of course, my husband pointed out almost immediately that it did not match the “our style”, that’s funny I didn’t even know we had a style.  I took my husbands comment to mean that he didn’t love the desk as much as I did so I was on the lookout for something that I loved, but that matched the “style” that I didn’t know we had.  And then I found it, the desk of my dreams, the desk that matched our style to perfection, a secretary desk that is beautiful, classic, and perfect! 



I may be sharing my laptop this fall, hopefully not for long, but at least I can do it sitting at an amazing desk…it’s all about give and take! 

Winners and A Giveaway Ending Soon!

It’s time for more winners…saying that never gets old! 

 

 

First up is the Snack Time Survival Kit giveaway!

 

Winning number is:

 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

30	

Timestamp: 2011-06-21 05:25:54 UTC

 

And the lucky winner is:

 

June 11, 2011 10:50 PM 30

hity88

http://www.facebook.com/hity88/posts/232553473421504

 

 

Next up is the My Baby Clothes Boutique giveaway!

 

Winning number is:

 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

236	

Timestamp: 2011-06-21 05:27:43 UTC

 

And our second lucky winner is:

 

June 14, 2011 11:38 PM 236

Gianna

I'm an email subscriber. 2

 

Don’t forget that the Kung Fu Panda 2 General Mills giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 pm so enter NOW!

Pain Relief for Carpal Tunnel and More: Topricin!

Something that many of you may not know about me is that I have carpal tunnel.  While my carpal tunnel is manageable most of the time it does tend to flare up more often when I am working on the computer for extended periods of time.  When I was first diagnosed with carpal tunnel,  nearly 9 years ago, I was told that surgery was the only option, but with two small children at home surgery was just not an option at the time.  For years I tried different treatment options; wrist braces (worn daily), anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone shots, and finally pain medication, without much relief, but thankfully my carpal tunnel has improved on its own over time.  I do still occasionally have flare ups that cause sleepless nights and for those occasions I have discovered other treatment options that leave me with a clear head and less pain…a win-win!

 

I had never tried a pain relief cream for my carpal tunnel symptoms before a couple of weeks ago, mostly because I wasn’t aware that they were helpful, but when I was given the opportunity to do a review for Topricin (and found out that their pain relief and healing cream was specially formulated for adults with carpal tunnel, among other things) I just had to give it a try.  If you’re not familiar with Topricin then you seriously don’t know what you’re missing because the stuff is like a Godsend for aches and pains! 

 

From the Topricin website:

 

Topricin® is the culmination of many years of research in the area of regulated natural medicines. The result is a line of pain relief products for the whole family that work with no side effects. Our patented topical formula aids in the healing process by improving blood flow to the injured tissue and draining toxins and fluids that build up as a result of injury or painful ailments like arthritis. Unlike many other over the counter pain relief creams and medications that just mask symptoms, Topricin® stimulates the body's desire to heal the damage that is causing the pain. Whether for muscle pain, joint pain, soft tissue pain or injury, Topricin® is often the first treatment that doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists recommend. An FDA-regulated over the counter medicine, Topricin® is the leading natural therapeutic brand.

 

Perhaps one of the best things about Topricin is that they have a cream to help ease almost every ache and pain; Topricin, Topricin Junior, and Topricin Foot Therapy Cream give you targeted pain relief to help ease sore, achy muscles and pains in record time.  We were sent all three of the Topricin pain relief and healing creams to try and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve pulled them out of the medicine cabinet and used them in the past couple of weeks.

 

As I mentioned earlier I have carpal tunnel, I also have chronic back pain that requires the use of anti-inflammatory medicine almost daily, I decided to try the Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream on my back one night and I’ve used it every night since!  I love the fact that Topricin doesn’t smell (like every other pain relief cream that I’ve tried) and that it works fast and lasts longer than the pain relief creams that I’ve used in the past.  As a matter of fact my husband, who suffers from a torn rotor cup, ask me to use Topricin on his shoulder today and he was amazed at how well it worked…and he’s never impressed by anything! 

 

Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream is effective for:

 

• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Bruises
• Bursitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Minor burns
• Sciatica
• Scrapes
• Sprains
• Strains
• Tendinitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

 

While I was extremely impressed with the original Topricin I was equally impressed by Topricin Junior!  With four active, crazy, clumsy kiddos running around everywhere bumps and bruises are to be expected and I love knowing that I can go to the medicine cabinet grab the Topricin Junior and have a pain relief cream that is OK to use on them that works!  My daughter Nay Nay suffers from horrible growing pains in her legs, so severe that the pain usually wakes her up at least once a week, this past week she had an episode that had her up crying at 2 am, I decided to try Topricin Junior instead of pain reliever.  Honestly, I thought that I would have to pull out the pain medicine in addition to the Topricin Junior, but was truly shocked at how quickly and thoroughly the cream seemed to help Nay Nay’s growing pains. 

 

Topricin Junior is effective for:

 

• Bruising
• Bug/Insect Bites
• Eczema
• Growing pains
• Joint pain
• Minor burns
• Muscle sprains
• Scrapes
• Scratches
• Strains

 

Last but not least is Topricin Foot Therapy Cream, something that this mommy of four knew I’d love!  “Podiatrist-recommended Topricin® Foot Therapy Cream is specially formulated to relieve foot and ankle pain. It offers soothing treatment for swelling and soreness and effectively treats dry, cracked skin. Whatever the reason causing you to have aching feet, this fast absorbing, paraben-free formula will get you back on your feet in no time.”

 

Topricin Foot Therapy Cream is effective for:

 

• Achilles Tendinitis
• Bruising
• Gouty Arthritis
• Heel Pain
• Impact Injuries
• Leg Cramps
• Nerve Pain
• Neuromas
• Overuse
• Planar Fasciitis
• Sports Injuries
• Sprains
• Strains

 

If you’re looking for a topical pain relief and healing cream that doesn’t smell, isn’t greasy, and works great you have to try Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream and don’t forget to check out Topricin Junior and Topricin Foot Therapy Cream!  MIBR can head over to the Topricin website and request FREE samples of safe, natural Topricin products and be automatically entered into a random drawing for a chance to win a Kindle through 6/30/11. Enter promo code ‘KINDLE’ at checkout at. (One entry per household).

 

*I received the aforementioned product from either the PR or the company to facilitate my review.  All opinions are 100% my own!*

Supernatural The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray: Road Trip!

Y’all may remember my posts last week (and the week before that) for WB’s Supernatural The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray…well I’m back with my third and final post and this one is a must-read!

This week we were asked to read and respond to the following prompt:

Fueled by the desire to explain their mother’s death, the Winchester brothers set out on a cross-country mission investigating supernatural activity and fighting the demons that get in their way. Have you ever taken a trip of epic proportions? If so, where did you go? Did you have to fight any metaphorical demons to get there?

Well, the short answer is YES I definitely have taken a trip that could only be described as epic!  The summer after my senior year my best friend Amy and I decided that we needed a major change of scenery, small town life was just not enough for us and our big city dreams, so we talked a couple of our guy friends into a major road trip to Charlotte, North Carolina!

What should have taken about 7 hours ended up taking 3 days, but those were 3 of the best days of my life.  From staying in what can only be described as sketchy hotel rooms to running out of gas at the last toll booth (with no money) on our way home, we had an amazing adventure full of great friends, awesome times, and lots of memories!   Though we had many bumps and setbacks on our trip we put our heads together and figured it all out and had an amazing time doing it!  That was one heck of a road trip!

You can check out the Winchester brothers cross-country trek and order your copy of Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray here today: http://bit.ly/k3Lbpz !

“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray."

Past Post: 5 Reasons My 6 Year Old Can’t Clean Her Room!

I’m in a “back in the day” kinda mood tonight so I thought I’d post an old, old post from way back in the day…enjoy!

 

Originally posted Saturday, December 20, 2008 //

 

So I do completely get that kids HATE cleaning their rooms...hell I hate cleaning MY room, but it must be done. My 6 year old is the worlds worst at giving me excuses for why she just cannot do it and over the years since she's been cleaning her room she has come up with some of the best excuses I've ever heard for why she can't possibly clean her room...I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you!

5. "Because I have homework."...Alright this one actually sounds legit, except for the fact that she started using this one before she was ever in school. When I would patiently point it out to her that she wasn't in school yet she would tell me..."Well one day I will be and you don't want me to not do my homework do you?" I just smiled and handed her a trash bag!

4. "Because my teacher said that I have to go outside and play every day to be healthy."...Now it very well may be true that her teacher did tell the class this in some context, but I tried to explain to her that she could still clean her room and then go outside play, to which she responded with tears in her eyes..."Why don't you want me to be healthy Mommy? I thought you loved me." Now the "I thought you loved me." card is one that I wasn't expecting...I thought kids only pulled that one out when they became rotten, disobedient teenagers, so I had no idea how to respond to it....so I did what any mother in that situation would do....I let her go outside and I cleaned her room....I know how bad that sounds but you had to see the look on her face!

3. "Because the other day my toy box told me if I put my toys in him he would eat them."...Now when she said this one she looked very serious which only added to the degree of difficulty in explaining that I knew it was not true..of course she had a response (for a 6 year old she's pretty quick with the comebacks)..."Well that's fine if you don't believe me, but when you have to buy me all kinds of new toys then I guess you will see!" She's an absolute pro at laying on the guilt trips as well!

2. "Because God said you have to be nice to your kids and making me clean my room is not being nice to me!"...She loves to make me feel bad! I calmly explained to her that even though God did want you to be nice you your kids he also wanted your kids to be nice to you...and that by her not cleaning her room she was being mean to me. I'm pretty sure this is the only time I actually got her because she didn't have anything to say after that...I should have taken a picture to memorialize the event, because Lord knows it hasn't happened since.

1. "Because if I clean it today it's just gonna be messy tomorrow and then we're gonna have to have this talk all over again!"...This much I can count on! How could I argue with that? I'll tell you how, I couldn't! I had no words of wisdom, no witty one liners, I just couldn't argue with the plain and simple truth. She had won...I had been defeated by my 6 year old...I am officially a pushover!

 

 

*Update*  My used to be 6 year old is now 9 and though she has grown up considerably she still HATES cleaning her room, BUT she is the best helper out of my 4 children…love you Nay Nay!

Wordless Wednesday: Kings Island

It’s been a while since I’ve participated in Wordless Wednesday so I thought it would be fun to share a few pictures of my kiddos from our latest trip to Kings Island in Mason, Ohio with all of y’all for WW!  If you aren’t familiar with KI click the link and check it out and if you’re in the Mason area this summer it’s definitely worth checking out!

Lil Diva riding the bumper cars for the first time…it did NOT go so well!

Lil Man is all smiles…and loving every minute of it!

My big girls having a lil fun!

Lovin’ Boomerang Bay!

Mommy and Lil Man…he loves taking pictures as much as I do!

Me and my man stoppin to smile (well at least I smiled) for the camera!

Who doesn’t love Snoopy?

Happy Wordless Wednesday y’all! 

My Dream Office Courtesy of Bush Furniture!

Being a blogger means that I’m on the computer…a lot!  It seems like some days I spend more time sitting at my desk than anything else.  Add to that the fact that I’m a student and you begin to understand why my makeshift office, which just so happens to be in the middle of my living room, just doesn’t seem to cut it anymore. 

 

Before I became a student and a blogger I really didn’t have the need for a home office, but now a few years (and a lot more emails and homework assignments later) I am desperate to find a space in the house that is my own.  With space limited in our new home I really have very few options for a home office.  There’s the basement, and I don’t go there unless I have to (and aside from that my husband has already claimed it as his “Man Cave”).  Then there’s the HUGE dining room which is big enough but is kind of in the middle of everything and would really offer me no more privacy than I have now.   And finally there’s the garage and that’s a definite no-go as my husband has taken over that area as well.  Left with no other options and not feeling very happy about it I decided that if I can’t have a home office right now I can at least dream that I have one…right!

 

 

Of course I can.  And I’ve already picked out every single item to adorn my “never-gonna-happen-but-it’s-always-nice-to-dream” office.  I am a huge fan of Bush Furniture so I already know that my office will have one of their gorgeous office desks.  I’m kind of partial to the Series C collection so I imagine that my home office will have one of the gorgeous Bush Furniture desks from that collection as the centerpiece.  I also image having a funky, yet comfortable desk chair for me to lounge in, I mean work in…I’m thinking something with a zebra print would be nice.   Of course, no office would be complete without artwork adorning the walls and I know 4 amazing up-and-coming artists whose works will make my office fabulous!

 

While getting a home office might actually be a long way off for me, I absolutely know that Bush office furniture will adorn the space!  And though it may never be a reality in this house, at least I can take comfort in the fact that I have great taste, even if it is wishful thinking! 

Melvita: Organic Skin Care At Its Best!

As a mother of four, using natural products whenever possible is very important to me.  Using products made from natural organic ingredients for my family is extremely important to me and  finding products for myself that are all natural is an added bonus.  Finding a company whose commitment to organic and natural ingredients is always refreshing and one such company that I recently had the pleasure of learning about is  Melvita!

 

MELVITA is a company that was founded on one mans love of the French countryside and his passion for  beekeeping. 

 

From the Melvita website:

 

In 1977, Bernard Chevilliat, Biologist and lover of the open countryside, moved to the Ardèche. Located in South-central France, it is named after the Ardèche river, and is known for its wide-open spaces, limestone cliffs, and stone arches. Soon after arriving, beekeeping became his main passion. With help from his Wife and Brother, they grew this hobby to over five hundred hives, on an isolated farm in the middle of the countryside.

In 1983, they founded MELVITA and developed their first natural organic beauty product based on ingredients from the hive. Starting with Melvita’s famous hexagonal soap, they moved on to shampoo, milks and creams, floral waters, plant oils, etc.

In 2002, Melvita was one of the first companies in the world to earn the ECOCERT certificate for organic products. Becoming the global trend-setter for natural organic beauty products.

Today, Melvita has over 250 employees, is available in over 20 countries, and is the number one certified organic beauty brand in France. Having previously served as Chairman, Bernard Chevilliat is now Vice-chairman of the COSMEBIO Inter-professional Association.

 

Melvita’s philosophy is simple!

 

*  Producing products that meet the strictest natural and organic standard.

* Respecting nature and  using only the best ingredients from organically farmed and responsibly        harvested sourced.

* A zero tolerance policy for cruelty and animal testing.

*  Packaging their products in packaging that is completely recyclable.

*  A pro-active approach to sustainable development, with preservation of environmental: beauty, biodiversity, and balance.

*  Melvita does their part to promote ethical, humane, and fair-trade partnerships.

*  Pleasure, effectiveness, and attractiveness are central to their cosmetics requirements.

 

I’ve been a fan of organic skin care products for some time now, I feel that the products are better made with an attention to detail and quality that most national brands don’t seem to have.  I love knowing that I’m using a product that is all natural and organic, with ingredients that I can actually pronounce…that goes a long way in making me feel good about what I’m putting on my skin!  Melvita has a whole line of natural organic skin care products, from organic sunscreen and baby care items to beehive products and even all natural organic products for the man in your life!  My mom always swore by honey and it’s ability to give you amazing skin, I suppose she was really on to something! 

 

I’ve heard for years now how effective oils can be for skin care, but never realized that there were so many natural oils that did amazing things for the skin, until I checked out Melvita.  One such oil is one of Melvita’s best sellers, organic argan oil.  “Indigenous to the Moroccan forest, Argan tree kernals have been harvested for centuries for their many miraculous benefits. Rich in Vitamin E, this oil is ideal in protecting skin and hair from premature aging, UV exposure, and other environmental factors.   A true regenerator, Argan Oil is often used as a moisturizer for dry skin and to smooth dry, damaged hair.”  I don’t know about you, but anything that helps promote young, healthy looking skin and hair is definitely worth looking into!

 

Of course, Melvita has many more natural and organic products to help you maintain healthy, beautiful skin and hair.  If you’re as committed to using natural organic products as I am then I definitely recommend that you check out Melvita…you’ll be so glad that you did!

How To Relish the Little Moments in Life from Evenflo!

We all know how stressful being a parent can be and with the chaos that comes along with being a mommy or a daddy we don’t usually have time to slow down and well, smell the roses.  Evenflo wants moms and dads to know that they’re not alone, and that there are things that you can do to help you “relish the little moments”. 

 

Changing endless amounts of diapers, dealing with feedings and fitting in playtime can make for some very tired parents with very little down time, not to mention alone time with their spouse or partner. And according to a new Savvy Parents Survey from Evenflo®, 66% of moms say that the thing that surprised them most about becoming a new parent was how exhausting it is.

Every parent deserves a little bit of down time to relax and savor a few moments with their spouse, and in its newest Savvy Parents webisode titled, “How to Relish the ‘Little Moments’ in Life” Evenflo takes a whimsical look at the challenges parents face finding relaxing moments each day. When we asked a panel of moms about their favorite thing to do once the kids are in bed: 42% of moms said watching TV, 22% said sleep and 15% said clean the house!  We’re partial to the 10% who said “relax on the sofa with a glass of wine!”

 

You can also connect with other moms and dads trying to find a way to relish the little moments on Evenflo Baby’s Facebook and/or Twitter!

 

So go ahead grab a glass of wine and curl up with your hubby, or a good book, the laundry will wait!

Can Purchasing Home Gym Equipment Keep Away the Man Cave?

I’ve been on this kick lately where I talk about our new house…a lot!  I hope y’all don’t mind, but there is just so much to do and so much potential that I can’t really help sharing all of my ideas with all of you. 

Last week I talked my husband into investing in a new bed, thank goodness because I’m not sure how much longer I can sleep with my hubby and Lil Man in our current bed.  This weekend as my husband was busy working on his To-Do list around the outside of the house I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to talk to him about my vision for our basement when it gets finished.  You see my husband wants to turn the basement into a “Man Cave” and I see absolutely no point in that, instead I think the basement would make a much better home gym.  Thankfully my husband was open to listening to my idea since he’s been on this weight loss kick lately…score one for me! 

I began by taking my husband into the basement so that I could show him my vision, you know cause me are all about the visual!  I started simply enough mentioning that a spinning bike would fit perfectly in one corner.  I’m pretty sure that I’ve already picked out the bike I want (you can see a similar one below) but we’ll let him think that he has some sort of say in the matter…you know for good measure.  I also made sure that I was prepared with a link to a website with all kinds of indoor bikes, you know so he would maybe think that an exercise bike was his idea, hey, I’m open to trying anything if it’ll get a gym instead of a man cave in my basement!  Next we talked about various different places to put his weight bench and weights, he of course was all about  this, and I can’t be positive but I’m pretty sure that I even saw a little twinkle in his eye by the time we got around to discussing where his heavy bag would go. 



I’m not exactly sure that I’ve talked my husband out of his “Man Cave” but I am pretty sure that the idea of buying some new home gym equipment did appeal to him.  And naturally it would only make sense to have an actual home gym to put the equipment in…right? 

So ladies (and gents) keep your fingers crossed that I get my home gym and that I don’t end up loosing my husband to the allure of a “Man Cave”. 

Supernatural The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray!

Remember last week when I told you all about the WB celebrating the release of their hit show Supernatural The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray?  Well we’re at it again and this time we’re talking all about the family component of Supernatural! 

 

Last week we talked about the demons and monsters of Supernatural and this week we’re switching it up a bit by answering the following prompt:

 

In the series pilot, Dean and Sam Winchester lose their mother to a demon. At the beginning of Season 2, the brothers face an equally tragic loss when their father, John, sacrifices himself to save his children. Throughout the season both brothers deal with this loss while coming to terms with what it means to be a family through humor. What does family mean to you? Feel free to share a funny story about something that brought your family closer together.

 

So I admit, this one is a little difficult, my family definitely has its ups and downs, but I think they we come together when we need each other most as many families do.  Family is the most important part of my life, I live and breathe for my children and my husband, but I also try to stay close to my mom and sister (which isn’t always easy).  I know that without my children in my life I probably wouldn’t be as close to my mother and sister as I am simply because we are a little dysfunctional at times…thank goodness for the kiddos! 

 

One of the funniest things that have helped bring my family closer together is just simply watching and reliving some of our childhood (my sister and I) through the interaction between our children.  It is so much fun and so weird all at the same time, watching our kids do some of the same things and share some of the same traits and characteristics that my sister and I had (and some we still do) when we were kids.  It’s always fun to sit down with my mom and sister and watch all of the kiddos play and the memories (good and bad) that that can bring.  So I’d say that having children around the same age and then watching them enjoy being kids and playing together has definitely helped to ease some of the tension that always seems to be there!

 

Alright that was a bit hard!  Now make sure you check out Supernatural on the WB and don’t forget to Order your copy of Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray here today: http://bit.ly/k3Lbpz !

 

“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray."

Kelty WINNER!

We have another winner everyone!  This time it’s for the Kelty FC 3.0 Kids Carrier!  So here we go…

 

Winning number is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

240	

Timestamp: 2011-06-13 05:32:33 UTC

 

And that means our lucky winner is:

June 6, 2011 11:36 AM 240

Kristy

GFC follower #2

jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com

 

Congrats to the winner and a BIG THANKS to everyone who entered!