Baby Name Plaques- Opinions Please!!!

Wow-
I can't believe I haven't blogged in so long.  I am finally starting to get caught back up and am missing the Daily Mom Spot!  So, hopefully I can get going on this again!

I'm not sure that anyone is looking at the blog anymore :(, but if you are- could you tell me your opinion on these name plaques.   I made them and have thought about putting them on Etsy, but was just wondering if they look like something you would buy?

Thanks!

Sorry for the long break

Well... I've never particularly cared for the Fall and Winter... I'm much more of a Spring and Summer girl!  Last fall my grandmother/no words to describe what she meant to me passed away from Cancer.  The bumper stickers are true- cancer sucks.  This fall my grandfather fell, hit his head and passed away 5 days later.

If you have never been with someone when they are dying- this will sound weird (and these were people that were older and had lived full lives that I'm referring to), but it's kind of a privellage when you get to be the one that is there for them....  I've gotten to do it twice now for people that meant the world to me... I mean, really- if I was never blessed with anything else (which I am) I was SO BLESSED in the grandparent department!  I mean- I hogged all the good ones!  I really did- I got all the good ones- grandparents and great-grandparents!  I'm not one that brags a lot- but they are exceptional in every sense of the imagination.

So, at the end of last month, beginning of this one- my grandfather died, one of my best friend's got married and my nephew was baptized all in one week....  It was a lot to take in.  I was lucky enough to be the one that was able to sit with my grandfather at the hospital and make sure he was comfortable, got to be in the wedding and at the baptizim.  They were all special, special events... but all had a lot of different emotions... It was weird to wake up one day- my grandfather died las night-ugh... 3 days later- the wedding is today!  So exicted!  Funeral is today- so sad... work for a few days (LOTS OF CATCH UP ON) and then baptizim- happy occassion...

So anyway- this blog has been neglected in the midst of all of that and now work is crazy, husband is still trying to get new company going, soccer season is underway, preschool things need to be done- and I'm not into pressuring my self into getting anything else done these days...  We'll see if I can get it going again...  Thanks for all the fun comments on the Cookie Monster cake :).

Cookie Monster Birthday Party

My "baby" recently turned 2... crazy how fast they grow and how I can't remember not having him here!  We did a cookie monster party.  He wore his cookie monster t-shirt and I got cookie monster cupcakes from the grocery store and made a cookie monster cake with my giant cupcake pan...  Not perfect, but pretty easy to make:

Warning:  This will turn your child blue!!!  It's fun though...

Great Kids Book

If you are looking for a great kids book- check out "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie"!  It is a great book that is so much fun to read with young children.  This book is funny and wears out the little boy inside it.  My oldest son and I used to read this book ALLLL the time!  If you are looking for a fun book you will both like- try "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie".

Nanniboos!

All kids have fears- the dark, new situations, getting in trouble... the list goes on and on!  Well, now there are shirts that you can dress your little ones in to help them beat those childhood fears- Nanniboos- "Monsters on a Mission".

The Be Brave hoodie fleece with Eyevan the monster is one of our favorites:

What was that sound?  
Did it give you a fright?  
Eyevan will protect you day and night.  
He can see in the dark, he's not afraid of a thing, 
he is strong and fierce but he can't really sing.


If you have a little one who is having a hard time with some normal childhood fears- check out Nanniboos!

Hats

Looking for cute hats for your little one this fall?  Check out the San Diego Hat Company!

These adorable hats are 100% cotton Hand Crocheted 1 3/4" brim.  They are adorable and will make everyone want to comment on how adorable your little one looks!  Be prepared to tell them where you got such an adorable look!  It comes in sizes 0 - 2T.

Snuggle-me Stories & Giveaway!

I had the privelage of reviewing "My Little Monkey" and "Little Bear Hugs" by Sandra Magsamen recently and me and my two year old loved them!  They are adorable little stories that come with little monkey and bear snuggle blankies.  The books have adorable stories that express what every mommy thinks of their little ones.  My two year old has gravitated to these books and we have read them every night since they arrived (along with Thomas).

The author, Sandra Magsamen, is a mom and artist- check her out you may recognize her work- I did as soon as I saw the cover!

If you would like to win a copy of these adorable books- just leave a comment and winners will be chosen at random on September 16 (be sure to leave your email address)!

Scavenger Hunt!

Looking for something different to do with the kids this Labor Day Weekend? Give them bags- or have them put on their book bags- and send them out on a Scavenger Hunt! Here are some ideas on what to look for:

Bird Feather
Bird nest (already empty)
Trash
Aluminum Can (yes, this would probably fall into the trash category)
A Green Leaf
Flower
Dandelion
Stick with two bends in it
Gumball (the kinds that fall from trees)
Heart shaped rock
Gum wrapper
A Red Object
Heart shaped leaf



If your kids are old enough, assign different items different point values and give them a stop watch.  And watch them go- while you enjoy your coffee and read the paper.

I actually took a bunch of kids on a scavenger hunt last weekend and spent my time taking pictures of them with all of their different expressions finding things...  It was fun for all!

It's Time Already- Halloween Costumes!

I know that it is only the beginning of September, but MOMS- you don't want to be without your child's "dream" Halloween costume!  I know it seems like summer just ended and school just started (and it did), but before you know it will be time for pumpkins and candy!  I was at Target today and they were ALREADY sold out of the size Storm Trooper costume I needed (don't worry I just ordered one online).  I am a little worried because I don't know what my youngest is going to be yet, but I'm sure he will want to be something like his brother!

If you are looking for some great ideas- check out Leaps and Bounds.  But really, look now- last year our ADORABLE spider costume almost didn't get here in time and I ordered it 2 1/2 months in advance!

Odds are if you have a child that is an older toddler or above- they will have opinions on what they want to be!  BUT if you are in the drivers seat- enjoy it while it lasts and have fun with all of the cute costumes.  Check out these costumes at Leaps and Bounds!

Don't put it off- figure it out soon!

Great Kids Cash Register!

Looking for a great cash register for your kids?  Check out the Learning Resources Teaching Cash Register!  I think the obsession for my two year old is that you can put change in the slot and it comes back out.  That and the colors, working buttons and drawer.  We see cash registers every where we go it seems- and this is the one he ALWAYS zeros in on!

Must Have for Breastfeeding Moms: LilyPadz

I think that all moms that make it past 3 weeks of breastfeeding should be sent a prize package!  This prize package should include a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure, a nursing cover, boppy pillow and LilyPadz.

While everyone knows the benefits of alone time at the salon- you might not know about LilyPadz.   LilyPadz are reusable Nursing Pads that really do prevent leaks, they are comfortable and INVISIBLE under your clothes!   All nursing moms get nervous about going to long without nursing the baby, but eventually you do HAVE to leave the house!  I have two children and I have been through lots of different nursing products and I really did love LilyPadz and the number one reason was because you couldn't see them through my shirts!

The other great thing is that they are reusable- With my 2nd child-in 10 months I only bought one pair!  This was such an improvement over the disposable ones I went through with my first child that you could see unless I wore a sweatshirt.

These really are great a great product and a must for Nursing Moms (especially those of us who work and are pumping all day).  Give them a try- I think you will really like it!  Check out LilyPadz today!

A post that would have made GG smile!

My grandmother (GG) and close friend passed away last November...  We found out she had a terminal cancer in September and while I am feeling a little sad about the anniversary coming- This website made me smile just knowing what her reaction would have been!  My grandmother and I were pretty tight- most people travel around Europe with their best friends in college- I traveled around with her.  I spent many, many days with her growing up and most recently when my kids were infants- and she was just as excited about them rolling over as I was.  AND if you don't know how cool she was- when I had both my children- she paid for the cleaning lady for the first year of their lives... I have really never heard or dreamed of a better gift for someone!

I have so many funny times with her, and for my whole life- anytime something big happened she would take a picture- with her Polaroid...The 4th grade talent show, the mountain house, me and my new puppy, me and my new baby...  And well, I am a bit of a camera snob- I freaked when I was without my Nikon SLR for a week- I mean, there are a lot of things I will go without (or so I say), but it's not my Nikon!  And of course she knew this.  So, she had a GREAT laugh one day when I called her to ask to borrow her Polaroid Camera!  It was for a neighbor who was using it for a birthday party- but obviously a situation where my SLR wouldn't do, but her Polaroid was perfect...  Well that Christmas she bought me a Polaroid Camera- and wrapped in a brown paper bag... OK, I'm laughing typing this...  And well, admitadly- I have used it and love it, but obviously it's not great for catching babies first smile, etc...  And now that the Polaroid film is going away- I don't want to waste the film!  AND GUESS WHAT- NOW I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT!

At Rollip- you can take your pictures and turn them into Polaroids!  I know this isn't perfect for every picture, but it is for some.  It's so great- and it's free!  It is a simple site that lets you choose a few things about the picture- remember all the ways a Polaroid would turn out? And then you can download the image...

My grandmother would have been amazed that I had found a site on the internet that could do this (Rollip- you would have made a very smart lady pretty happy)! After her initial astonishment, she would tell me that it was a shame that my children had to do this on the internet now instead of using the real thing :).  And she's right- the Polaroid was a fabulous invention!  Here are two examples of pictures taken by my me and turned to Polaroids- they are of her back patio- one of those places you are privelaged in life to have been invited to.

I can't stop smiling looking at this site!  Check out Rollip today!