Wordless Wednesday - Enjoying the Ride

Bubby chillin' on his first ride...with sister, Cakes, and friend, Hud.

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My first award!

How special do I feel! Flory over at A Woman's Life Stages has awarded me my very first blog award!!! Woo hoo! Thank you Flory, I think your blog is lovely, too!


The rules of the "One Lovely Blog Award" are:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Now it's my turn to pass it along. Check out these Lovely Blogs!

Somewhere In Between
Lucky Canuck
We3Liebs
thinkPINK
He gave me a dream...
The Mother Load
Tried-and-True cooking with Heidi
Adopt a 'Do - Cute Girls Hairstyles
Without a Net
The Domestication of the (Once) Single Girl
Sew Not My Day!
Spawnocalypse
Happily Domestic
Just Jingle
The Confused Homemaker

Earth Baby Organics - A Review

Last month I was the lucky winner of the Earth Baby Organics Giveaway over at Mama Notes. I was excited to win this giveaway because Earth Baby offers a great line of hypoallergenic baby products made with certified organic and natural fruit and vegetable based ingredients. They use these top of the line ingredients to provide the safest, purest, and most effective hair and skin care products for your baby.

I got to choose a product $30 or less so I picked their 3-pack of Organic Bottoms Up Moisturizing Baby Wipes. I use cloth diapers on my son and use cloth wipes at home, but when we are out and about I prefer to use disposable wipes. I was running low on them so I sure was glad when I won! Talk about perfect timing! Each pack contains 18 wipes, so they are the perfect size for my purse/diaper bag.

The first thing I noticed about them was the packaging. The individual packs felt thick and sturdy, like they would hold up well in my bag. And the best part of the packaging, the open/close flap actually seals closed after you open it. No leaking in my bag, or dried up wipes! I hate it when other wipes packages don't re-seal, and it happens, or maybe it just happens to me, but anyway, these work!

The next thing I noticed was how soft, moist, and pleasant smelling the wipes were. They are soft and thick so when you wipe up messes, you don't feel like they are going to leak through to your hand. They are moist enough to do a good job of removing messes without being too wet. No need to dry off after using them. They leave the skin feeling moisturized, not wet. They also contain friendly microflora to help weed out germs! And the scent is very light and pleasant. No strong perfumey smell to them at all.

These are very good quality wipes. So good that the first thing my hubby said when I handed him one was, "Wow! These are the nicest wipes I've ever felt". When a man notices, they must be something special!

There was a slight delay in shipment so I was also given the opportunity to pick out another product to try as well. Now that's some good customer service! I wasn't even a paying customer.

It was a tough choice but I decided on the Organic Tiny Bubbles Baby Shampoo. This tear-free, hypoallergenic, certified organic shampoo is made with chamomile, vanilla, honey, and apple. Mmmm! It smells delicious! I was concerned that my daughter's hair would have some tangles since we usually use a shampoo/conditioner combo and this is just a shampoo, but I brushed through her wet hair with no problem. The result was clean, great smelling, soft, and shiny hair.

It comes in a six ounce bottle so it seemed kind of small, but I was amazed at how little I had to use. About a dime size drop on my daughter's long hair lathered up with enough bubbles for me to wash my son's hair with it too! This bottle should last a long time.

Overall, I am very impressed with the quality of these products, and this company. They are committed to making safe and natural products, providing great customer service, and donating to charities . They also support the Tarsier Foundation to protect the endangered Tarsier monkey. What a great company! You should check them out!

Eenie, weanie, mama milk no more?

Bubby' s first birthday has come and gone and with the passing of the one year mark, I have also passed my breastfeeding goal. Why one year? I guess because that's what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends - breastfeeding for at least 12 months and as long thereafter as desired. Also, at one year, I could just wean him directly to cow's milk. It seemed like the logical next step for my growing little boy. But I'm having second thoughts about weaning just yet.

I have said in the past that the benefits of breastfeeding, to both Bubby and I, far outweigh the minor inconveniences that breastfeeding entails. And now, there is really no inconvenience at all, and yet still all the benefits!

So, I still haven't started the weaning process and I'm not sure when I will. Currently, the Bub's only nurses four times a day - when he wakes in the morning, before lunch, late afternoon, and at bedtime. Long gone are the marathon nursing sessions. Now he only nurses for ten to fifteen minutes max. Quick and easy, which makes continuing to breastfeed no big deal.

Recently, I learned that The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would breastfeed until two I would have said no way, but now I'm thinking it is a possibility.

I had the same one year goal with Cakes and I ended up nursing her for eighteen months. What's another six months?

I try to do what is best for my children and cow's milk is in no way better than my milk. Why shouldn't I continue to give my baby boy my "super" milk?

If you breastfed or are breastfeeding, how long until you weaned or plan to wean?

Wordless Wednesday - Gun Toting Bride

Yep, that's me 10+ years ago with my infamous "guns". And, no. I was not a body builder. I was a horse riding, hay bale tossing, feed bag and water bucket toting horsewoman. And I'd dare to say, I was the fittest I ever was and ever will be in my life.

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Fast Enough

Tomorrow I run my first 5K in almost 18 years, and I am nervous as heck! Every time I think about it I get all shaky and my stomach turns. I'm not sure why I'm so nervous. I've been running this distance for the last 2 weeks, so it's not like I haven't or can't do it. It's not like I have anything to prove. I just need to go out there and do my best. But for some reason, I'm kind of freaking out.

Is it because I checked out the course and it is a tough one with some big long hills? Maybe a little, but I've been running tough courses with hills. Or, is it because I'm having flashbacks to high school cross country meets where doing my best wasn't always good enough. Perhaps.

I have blogged in the past about how I have a hate/hate relationship with running. It was the one thing that I really did not want to do to get back in shape, although I knew that I would get great results from it. Why? Because back in high school and college I ran track and cross country and I got burned out.

The months and weeks before track and cross country seasons were filled with personal trainers and lots and lots of running. Once the season started, my life was dominated by running, working out, and of course school work. I was expected to be an A student and the best runner in school. Talk about pressure.

Meet days were filled with anxiety and dread. I was under so much pressure to compete and to win, that I began to hate running. It was no fun. I did my fair share of winning, which felt great, but it was not enough to win. I was expected to run my personal best time, each and every time. And that's just not realistic.

The result of this unbearable pressure. A complete breakdown of sorts. After being one of the top runners in my school for the first 3 years of high school, I failed to make the varsity squad the first meet of my senior year.

Ever have a dream where someone is chasing you and you can't run, your legs won't move? Like you can't pick your legs up because they are stuck in cement.

The pressure was too much for my little shoulders. The weight was too much to bear. I couldn't run. I couldn't run fast enough to escape the pressure, because it was never fast enough.

Now, 18 years later, as I prepare myself for a 5K, the anxiety is still there but the pressure is of my own making. This one is for me and the weight is not unbearable. I can do this. I can run fast enough, because fast enough is just doing my best.

I did make it back onto the varsity squad that year and I even got a scholarship to run in college. Not too surprisingly, running took a back seat to having fun!

Update: I did it! I finished with a time of 27:10...my goal was 30 minutes! And I was only 30 seconds shy of a medal(top 3) in my age group! I feel GREAT!

Wordless Wednesday - Red Velvet Deliciousness

Red Velvet Deliciousness

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So, maybe I'm not domestically disinclined. Look out, Martha Stewart!

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From the Mouth of Cakes - Thanks for the cauliflower!

This conversation took place last night during dinner. Cakes HAD to go to the bathroom, so she was yelling this from the bathroom while I was in the dining room. We had cauliflower as our vegetable.

Cakes: Mama. You were right. Vegetables make my poop soft, makes it easy to go poop.
Me: Um, yes.
Cakes: Thanks mama for the cauliflower. You are the best mom in the whole world!

Apparently she really did understand the conversation we had about the importance of vegetables in our diet.

Happy Birthday, Bubby!

One year ago today, this little man made his appearance in this world. My little baby Bubby, so laid back, so calm, and so sweet.

Our baby boy is growing up so fast. He's well on his way to toddlerhood, cruising a lot and pulling upon everything. Though he is not showing much inclination to actually walk unassisted as he can get where he wants very quickly by crawling! And he pretty much runs around our ottoman while holding on, so why slow down to walk?! Anyway, mama's hip is the best mode of transportation!

Everyday Bubby's personality becomes more and more apparent. He is quite content and easy to laugh, though he does have a little temper. Take something from him that he's not supposed to have and watch out! Full fledged temper tantrum complete with flailing arms, arched back, and ear piercing screams. Great. Thank goodness he doesn't have the words to tell me what he's really thinking! LOL!

Speaking of talking, he is saying a few words. He says mama often, and bye-bye when he feels like it, which is when nobody else is around to hear it. He has said dada, though not with any frequency. I think he also says hi and ball. Hubby thinks I'm imagining it, but I know that's what he's saying. He's really good at screeching too, thanks to big sister! She'll screech and Bubby replies with the same screech. It's awesome, especially since Cakes screeches often.

Yesterday the Bubby had is 1-year checkup. The doc says "he checks out good"! He looks good, is growing well, and is the smartest baby he's ever seen. Okay, maybe he didn't say he was the smartest, but he did say he was doing great in the smarts department.

The stats. He is 30.5" which is around 75th percentile for height and he weighs 19 pounds 10 ounces which is about 10th percentile for weight. Tall and skinny like his daddy. I'm actually quite surprised about his weight because this boy likes to eat! He eats and eats, and eats some more. My mom thinks he just might have a tapeworm. Nah, he's just an active little boy. When you're up all day playing because you never nap for longer than a half hour or so, you burn a lot of calories! Thank goodness he sleeps at night!

What a laid back, calm, and very sweet little boy he has become!

Bubby, it has been a great year! You are a wonderful little guy and I am so proud to be your mama! I am glad you are a mama's boy and hope you will always be. Thank you for being my son. I love you. Always and forever.

Wordless Wednesday - Looking Out

Looking Out

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Fit By Labor Day Challenge - Before and After

The Fit By Labor Day Challenge is officially over. Today (Sunday) marks the end of the 8-week challenge, which means it's time for the Before and After pictures. I've been anxious to see the difference, and hopeful that it would be a dramatic transformation. So...here are the pictures! I can't believe I'm doing this!

B4 - 129 lbs After - 115 lbs

How did I achieve these results and how am I going to maintain/improve?

Diet and exercise!

My dietary changes were fairly minimal. I cut out extra calories by eliminating all drinks with sugar, I decreased my portions, and I tried to make healthier choices. I also tried to minimize my late night snacking and eat breakfast every morning. I am amazed at how quickly my appetite (and stomach) shrank. It takes less to fill me up, which means less calories consumed each day, which means the fewer I need to burn to maintain my current weight. But if I want to eat a cupcake and some ice cream, I eat them. I just make sure I exercise just a bit more to burn them off! All in all, these changes have been easy to live with and thus will be easy to maintain.

Running has been my exercise of choice, and will continue to be a part of my regular exercise routine at least 3 days per week. I am on the last week of the Couch to 5K running program and will be competing in a 5K on the 19th of this month. I plan to continue running a 5K every once in a while to keep me motivated and striving for new goals.

My other exercising has consisted of what I call my "Bubby Exercises". These are exercises I do while holding my 20+ pound 1-year old son. I typically do them twice a day. 50 squats, 50 side way lunges, 25 regular lunges, and 50 torso twists. Since I do these exercises as part of Bubby's nap routine they are my "mandatory" exercises every day. Once he's down to 1 nap a day, I guess I'll have to increase my reps, or just do them some other time during the day. I also do several sets of 25 push ups throughout my day. Push ups are the best exercise! They work your whole body, especially your arms and abs. MUST continue with them!

Other incidental exercise opportunities include walks with the kids (at least 4 times a week), push mowing the yard, swimming in the lake, and playing/dancing with the kids. Winter is just around the corner so I won't be doing any swimming in the lake or mowing the yard, but I will continue taking walks and playing/dancing with the kiddos!

I can't say that this challenge was hard, but it wasn't easy! Making the time to run was probably the hardest part. But now that I am committed to running, it is not an option to miss a run. It has become part of my lifestyle. I am now (again) a runner. Running time is my time. My only alone time 3 days a week. You better believe I'm going on my run!

My goal for this challenge was to lose 10-15 pounds. I lost 14! I started at 129 pounds and ended at 115 pounds. I am extremely pleased! But really, the numbers don't matter to me as much as the result. I am ecstatic that my baby belly is almost gone and I'm starting to look fit again!

I think there's a nice change. The hubby thinks there's a big difference, but he's always very supportive and complimentary of me. What do you think?

Ever heard of the Golden Rule?

Every time we go to the park I notice this sign next to the sand volleyball court. And every time I see it, I am perplexed at why it is even necessary. Do we really need a sign to tell us to use common decency and share the court? What has this world come to when it is deemed necessary to post a sign that tells us to take turns?

I mean, my 3 year old understands about sharing and taking turns. She may not like it and she may have to be reminded of it, but she complies. How can a person, old enough to play volleyball, not realize that it would be common courtesy to not hog the court for over an hour?

I guess there are a lot of people in this world lacking common courtesy. And unfortunately, I see a lot of kids that aren't being taught either.

Cakes takes gymnastics once a week at a very large gym. It's a very popular gym, and a lot of kids go there for Open Play. Open Play is basically a free-for-all where kids and their parents are allowed free run of the gym. It's great fun and we try to go at least once a week. But the last few times have been very frustrating. Frustrating because, while I'm trying to teach my daughter that we must wait our turn, and share the various apparatuses, there are other kids cutting in front of her and hogging the trampoline, etc.

Apparently a few moms come to open play for their own social hour. And they think open play means, let your kids run wild and pay no attention to what they are doing. And ignore him when he is screaming and crying for you to help him, over and over, again. And let him run and jump on the trampoline while there is another kid on there already.

It's funny, because I thought open play was for kid and parent to play together, you know, spend some quality time together in play. What better way to teach your kids how to play with others? Teach them things like how we wait our turn. How we take turns. How we watch where we are going so we don't run into each other. HOW WE USE COMMON COURTESY! Crazy concept, huh?

If everyone just followed the Golden Rule.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

It applies in any situation doesn't it?

Wordless Wednesday - Up, Up, and Away

I normally try to use good quality photos for my Wordless Wednesday posts, but I had to share these anyway. They may be blurry, but you get the picture!


Up, Up, and Away!


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Simple Shoe Savings

The Thrifty Mama posted about the great clearance sale over at Simple Shoes and I'm glad I checked it out! There a lot of shoes on clearance for super cheap with FREE shipping, and you can also get 7% cash back if you shop through Cashbaq. I have one pair of Simple shoes and they are super comfy (and eco-friendly) so I am excited to add a couple more pairs to my collection. Look what I got!

MistleTOE - Organic Cotton

Normally $85 on clearance for $14.90!

UnderTOE - Silk

Normally $75 on clearance for $14.90!

And I really wanted these, but they didn't have my size. Bummer!

TOEpaz - Hemp
originally $75 on clearance for $9.90

They also have some really cute kids and baby shoes on clearance too. Unfortunately none in my kids' sizes.

Add some Simple Shoes to your collection!