Happy Six Months

Dear Dayne,

Six months feels like forever & like no time at all.  Six months ago I was begging the doctors to squeeze me in for an induction instead of bumping me to the waiting list.  It seems like a lifetime ago.  Six months ago I swore I was having a girl and when your dad tearfully announced you were a boy, I lay in shock on the bed trying to digest that fact.  When I was finally able to hold you and look in your eyes, I couldn't imagine anyone other than you being my child.

You have grown so much in such a short span of time.  You went from being frustrated because you could no longer easily suck your thumb (poor hand/mouth coordination) to being the cutest thumb sucker I've ever seen.  I'm biased but I'll always think you're the most adorable, amazing, handsome boy on earth.  You're eating "solid" food now, we're introducing you to all these wonderful flavors.  Some you love (sweet potatoes) and some you spit right back out (peas).  Yesterday your first tooth finally broke the surface!  You really are growing up!

You're starting on your sippy cup this month, you like that it has handles because this means you can hold on to it yourself and so it's easier to throw.  You don't like so much that it's not as easy as a bottle to use, you loose interest pretty quickly.  You're so curious about the world around you, whenever you see an animal your eyes light up and you strain to reach out and touch them.

We've moved you from your infant seat to the "big boy" seat as we've dubbed it.  You quickly outgrew the height restrictions for it, I think you enjoy the freedom of the "big boy" seat more anyway.  You've been sitting up easily on your own for some time now, your newest triumph is sitting up from the crawling position.

People ask what type of baby you are and it's easy to sum it up in one word "Happy".  You love to smile, to laugh, to giggle.  You love meeting new people and trying new things.  When you are nervous or scared or unsure you bury your face in my neck and latch on.  It melts my heart to know that you know I will always be there to protect you.

You love to make people laugh already, when you notice we're cracking up over a noise, a face or an action, you are sure to repeat it over & over again until we're rolling.  You are such a joy to those around you and I'm so blessed you were chosen to be ours.  I love seeing your eyes flutter shut at night and seeing your head pop up with a grin first thing in the morning.

I love figuring out your quirks, like you don't enjoy sleeping in silence, and knowing what your cries mean (I'm bored, change me, feed me, I'm tired).  I love having people tell me how handsome you are, what a well tempered child you and and what a beautiful, easy smile you have.  I love it, because it's true and I love that others see it as well.

May your life always be filled with smiles and laughter no matter what obstacles may pop up in your path.  As long as you have a good heart, humor and family, you can get through anything.

Love,
Mommy

Classic Foods Review & Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED - CONGRATS TO PENNY S!!

When Classic Foods contacted me to ask if I was interested in trying their chips, you can probably guess I was doing a little dance.  Who doesn't enjoy chips?  Sure!  I'll taste your food and let others know what I think!

Their box of goodies showed up the other day and I wasted no time sorting through the bags, my mouth watering at each description.  When I pulled out the Baked Classic - Vanilla Frosting - I thought:

Uh....is that even going to taste good? Chips aren't suppose to be vanilla frosted.

Let me just say, Classic Foods - thank you SO much for going down that path. I popped the first chip in my mouth, my eyes got wide and I reached in for the next one, and the next one...and the next one. If you could take a vanilla cupcake and bake it into a chip shape - that's what this tastes like.

Even better - it's multi-grain, it has only 120 calories per serving, it's gluten free, no cholesterol and no trans fat. Could this chip get much more perfect? I think not.  Thankfully they sent me several bags of this flavor.  Trust me, if you're a fan of vanilla cupcakes, you're going to LOVE this chip.

Not to be outdone, they also sent me Natural, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Mesquite Barbecue & Spicy Jalapeno.  Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum.  In that order.  Trust me, I'll let you know when I'm not a fan of a product.  This stuff though?  I will be buying it in the future.  You can too on their site!  

They have the perfect crunch to them, just like kettle chips do.  The flavor was perfect!  Jason did say he wishes there was more jalapeno on the Spicy Jalapeno flavor but he enjoys a good punch.  I, on the other hand, thought it was a perfect blend.  Just enough to let you know it's there.  So I guess it depends on how much you enjoy the jalapeno flavor.

Check out the Kettle Chips they have the following flavors:

• Natural: “The Original Crunch” It doesn’t getting any simpler – our Natural chips have nothing but potatoes and sea salt. 
  
• Mesquite Barbecue: “Backyard Crunch”: All the flavors you’d expect from a smoky barbecue – sweet brown sugar, tomato, onion, and garlic, paprika, annatto, tumeric and other spices. 
• Spicy Jalapeno: “Fiery Crunch”: Yes, that’s a spicy chip. Made with pure jalapeno peppers, onion and garlic, natural flavors, paprika, and vinegar. 
• Sea Salt & Vinegar: “The British Crunch”: Inspired by the Brits who favor these flavors over ketchup. These chips are made with sea salt, vinegar and natural flavors. 
• Sundried Tomato Basil: “The Gourmet Crunch” Garden-fresh taste. Made with sundried tomatoes, basil, onion and garlic, parsley, paprika and natural flavors. 
• Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt: “Perfect Combo Crunch” So zesty, so peppery. Coated with sea salt, black pepper, onion, garlic, and natural spices. 
• Honey Dijon Mustard: “Sophisticated Sweet Crunch” This chip takes the sharp taste of Dijon mustard and the smooth, sweet taste of honey to create a one of a kind blend that really gets your taste buds dancing. 
• African Red Devil Pepper™: “Exotic Crunch” This spicy-yet-citrusy chip was inspired by the Piri Piri pepper found in Africa and its heavenly taste is mouth-watering. 
• Wasabi Ranch: “Cool Samurai Crunch” Wasabi is elegant spiciness that’s warm, not hot. Then, quickly fades to a slightly sweet, lingering finish. The perfect segway for ranch,a classic flavor that’s rich and smooth.

I'm so excited to try the Wasabi Ranch!  Two of my favorite flavors!  

Their Baked Chips are offered in the following flavors:

• Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper: A spin on the well-known potato chip, this 110 calorie snack is the perfect marriage of salt and pepper. 
• Mesquite BBQ: Now, with 10% less sodium than the original barbecue and only 110 calories, this traditional flavor is sure to spark memories of your annual family cookout. 
• Vanilla Frosting: Creamy vanilla frosting with just the right amount of sweetness. Feel free to indulge without fear.

They also offer an array of Stoned Classic Chips & California Classic Chips

To top off this already awesome post, Classic Foods is giving one reader a 10-pack of Kettle Classics® – mixed flavors.  Don't miss out on these amazing chips!  You can bet I'll be placing my order for other flavors soon!

Here's how to enter:

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following; just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. Drawing ends at 12:01 AM on Saturday September 17.  I’ll draw the winner, via random.org, on Saturday, September17.  I will send an email to the winner & you will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.

Use the Rafflecopter form below.  If you don't see it - click on the title of this post.  Otherwise email me at tarah716[at]ymail.com for instructions on how to enter.

Cream Perfume Review & Giveaway

CONGRATS TO BREANNE T!

To me, perfume is the finishing touch of getting ready, the icing on the cake, the period at the end of the sentence.  I love deciding which scent from my collection I'll wear each day and I love finding new scents.  The only downside I have with my perfumes is that they seem to wear off around the middle of the day.  A trick I learned years ago was to not spray perfume on dry skin.  Instead, massage in a dab of lotion and then spray the perfume where you've rubbed in the lotion.  The scent sticks around much longer!

The wonderful people at Cream Perfume Company have figured out a way to skip that extra step!  Their perfume is already in the cream form so you just swipe it on to your "hot spots" and away you go!  But the upsides to their product over others doesn't stop there, their cream perfumes were developed as a commercially more affordable and healthier alternative to predominantly high-priced fragrances that are packaged in elaborate, environmentally unfriendly materials and incorporate ethanol, petroleum carriers and other undesirable fillers.

By eliminating the bulk of ethanol and water, they use significantly less expensive, alternative and eco-friendly container materials such as wood, and incorporate natural carriers like beeswax and sweet almond oil as was the original practice in perfumery for many thousands of years. Their cream perfumes represent unusual, simple and elegant delivery of world-class French fragrances. They are travel-friendly, longer-lasting, lightly moisturizing and can be purchased at a great price.

The Cream Perfume Company's body lotions contain pure and naturally derived oils and extracts from nature combined with their premium French fragrance oils to combat dehydrated, sore, inflamed and damaged skin.

Their Natural Line of lotions cater to sensitive skin and only use 100% certified organic essential oils while their Spa Line is a thicker luxurious lotion well suited for massages and everyday wear. Their lotions are uniquely fragrant, sooth your skin, delight your senses and layer well with their cream perfumes.

They are proud members of the Natural Products Association and always contribute a minimum of 10% of their profits to families in need.

I was sent over the Apricot Cream Perfume, the Ylang Ylang Cream Perfume & the Spa Line Mandarin Body Lotion 8oz Tube.

I love the little wooden pots they come in, applying the cream perfume is easy, just swirl your finger over the creme to help melt it and then apply where you would normally spray perfume.  You always want to apply perfume to your pulse spots, namely, the inner wrists, the base of the throat, behind ear lobes, in the cleavage, behind knees, and the inner elbows. As you wear your perfume throughout the day, it will react with your body heat and continue to emit scent.

With this perfume being cream, it's much easier to get to many of those pulse spots without over spraying.  I was surprised with how much I enjoyed the apricot scent, I thought it would be my least favorite.  But it's such an interesting and soft aroma that it quickly moved to one of my favorite perfumes!

The lotion had me a bit worried, my skin is super sensitive and I have to watch how it reacts to soaps and lotions before I let it start rotating in my collection.  So I tried out a spot on my arm and waited 24 hours for a rash.  24 hours later, all clear!  It smells wonderful, it's not overpowering at all and could easily be used instead of perfume for a subtle fragrance all day! 

Check out their site to buy your own or browse for great gift ideas!  These last forever and are perfect to throw in a travel bag without worry of breaking the traditional glass bottle most perfumes come in.

And, lucky for my readers, the Cream Perfume Company has offered one reader their choice of one current item off their site!  Great as a treat for you or something to stock away for the upcoming holidays!

Here's how to enter:

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following; just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. Drawing ends at 12:01 AM on Friday September 16.  I’ll draw the winner, via random.org, on Friday, September 16.  I will send an email to the winner & you will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.

Use the Rafflecopter form below.  If you don't see it - click on the title of this post.  Otherwise email me at tarah716[at]ymail.com for instructions on how to enter.

Hey! I'm Right Here!

Our mornings during the week are hectic.  Both Jason & I have to get ready for work and get Dayne ready at the same time.  To save time, I've started showering at night and letting my hair air dry, then straighten it in the morning.  I'll get up about 10 minutes before Jason, get dressed, brush my teeth, do my makeup and then I'll grab Dayne from his crib.

I usually plop on the bed, turn the news on and catch up on the headlines while I'm feeding his his bottle.

This morning I was doing that routine when I felt Dayne's hand on my cheek.  I looked down at him sucking away on his bottle and his forehead was creased, almost confused looking.  To me, it looked like he was saying "Hey mom, we don't get to spend much time together during the week.  Instead of watching the news, how about you look at me?"

Of course he could have also been saying "Wow mom....couldn't you do your hair before you wake me up?  Look presentable already!"

But it was a moment I won't forget, a moment where I remembered I need to live in each moment instead of rushing to the next one.  Dayne won't be small forever, someday he won't need me to wake him up and get him breakfast.  I know how quickly time is already flying, Dayne was just reminding me why I fought so hard to finally hold him in the first place.

Movin' on Up! (Already?!)

Dayne has slowly (who am I kidding, at the speed of light) been getting taller & taller.  Two weeks ago I put him in his infant seat and realized his head was just starting to pass the safety point.  I knew he wouldn't last a year in it, I was hoping we'd reach six months at least.  We're close!  He's almost six months, but most of all I wanted him to be able to sit on his own so I could put him in the cart and in highchairs since his seat will no longer be mobile.

He's been sitting on his own for a good month now so I felt more comfortable pulling the trigger.  We strolled into Babies 'R Us and started looking at the convertible car seats.  When I had it narrowed down to two I realized there was a row & a half hiding around the corner.  *too many choices!*  We finally ended up with the Babies "R" Us by Safety 1st Aquos 65 Convertible Car Seat.  We bought one for Jason's parents since they watch Dayne during the week, and one for us to move back & forth between cars.

It's not the 3-in-1 I had hoped for originally but when we put Dayne in it he started sucking his thumb and snuggled up to the headrest, closed his eyes and attempted to fall asleep.  This could be because it was close to his bedtime, but he didn't do that in any of the other seats we put him in.  The price was right (love the 20% off coupons!) so we grabbed it.  Later that night Jason put the seat in his car and reported back it wasn't going to be easy moving between the cars, there was a lot involved.  *grumbles*

So we'll go back in a few weeks and buy the one I really liked but we couldn't see buying two at the same time just yet.  That one will stay in my car and it is the 3-in-1 so hopefully that's the last seat he'll need.

When I put him in it this morning on his way to Grandma & Grandpa's, he looked like such a big boy!  He even looked a little confused about this new seating situation but happy.  This thing is like a plush arm chair that you would have in your living room.  I'd love to ride around in that!  It's comfy!

So now it's a new world of remembering if I brought the car/highchair cover with me when we go out, making sure the stroller is in the car and putting the infant seat in storage until #2.  Hopefully s/he uses it a big longer than Dayne!
 

The leaves, they are 'a changin'

Credit

Fall starts on September 23rd this year, less than a month away!  The leaves change color, the temperatures get cooler, you pull out the cozy sweaters and start using that slow cooker again!  Thoughts change to Halloween, Thanksgiving and for you crazy early birds (who I am secretly jealous of & admire) Christmas.  So before autumn is upon us, let's get our homes ready!  I know...fun stuff.  But part of being a grown up & owning & keeping nice things is to maintain them.  *At least that's what I tell myself when I see this list and groan*

Thanks Martha!

**I will be crossing items off as I complete them, feel free to join in on the "fun"**

• Check for Drafts.   Move a lighted candle along the edges of windows, doors and moldings; if the flame flickers, there's probably a draft.  Mark the areas with painters' tape and return to replace seals as needed.  On the outside of your home, inspect the siding and shingles for cracks & holes and repair as necessary.  
• Check Home Safety Devices.  Replace batteries in smoke & carbon monoxide detectors, recharge fire extinguishers and test for radon. 
• Clean & install storm windows & doors.
• Clean gutters
• Clean humidifiers.  Replace old filters.  Soak interiors with undistilled white vinegar and scrub with a soft-bristle brush.
• Compost autumn leaves.  Start your own compost pile with fall leaves and other garden debris.  The best compost contains two or three parts "brown" or carbon-rich matter (leaves, pine needles, sawdust, shredded newspaper), to one part "green", or nitrogen-rich matter (grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells).  You can also contact your town hall to find out if your area's sanitation department collects leaves to compost.  
• Disinfect flowerpots.  Soak in a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water, scrub with a stiff brush, and dry thoroughly before storing.  
• Have your chimney inspected & cleaned by a chimney sweep.
• Have your furnace inspected.  Hire a professional to check for leaks, replace filters & condition the system.  
• Inspect trees.  Now that the branches are bare, check for limbs that interfere with power lines or come too close to the roof. 
• Order firewood
• Organize the shed.  Remove any liquids that will freeze in the winter, transfer fertilizer boxed into cardboard or metal or plastic containers, and move snow-and-ice removal equipment to the front for easy access.
• Prepare flowers.  Deadhead annuals and perennials regularly to groom and promote blooming.  Wrap roses and other fragile shrubs with burlap; after the soil freezes, mulch garden beds to prevent the soil from heaving.   
• Remove window air-conditioning units.  Clean filters, and drain the units of water before storing them.  
• Service snow blower; purchase gasoline.
• Service sprinklers.  Have your system drained and serviced by a professional, and flag any heads near driveways or walkways to prevent damage during snow removal.  
• Turn off faucets and roll hoses; store for the season.  

Also - Don't forget the usual!

 Everyday:

• Make the bed
• Manage clutter - whenever you leave a room, take a quick look around for anything that isn't where it should be.  Pick it up and put it where it belongs.  
• Sort the mail
• Clean as you cook.  Instead of filling the sink with pots & dishes , wash them or put them in the dishwasher as you prepare a meal.  
• Wipe up spills while they're fresh.  
• Sweep the kitchen floor

Thursday:

• Dust home office surfaces and objects, including furniture, light fixtures & electronics
• Empty home office trash bins.
• Sort through in-boxes; pay bills, file paid bills and paperwork
• Vacuum home office floor

First Thursday of the Month also do: 

• Buff waxed stone, masonry, concrete & wood floors
• Dust portable & ceiling fans
• Flush drains with vinegar, boiling water & baking soda.
• Vacuum window treatments, moldings & windowsills.
• Wipe interior & exterior door trim,
• Wipe switch plates.
• Wipe telephones.

Pillsbury Grands! Breakfast!

Prior to Dayne I had all the time in the world to get ready in the morning, I just didn't realize it!  Now things are different, I have to get up earlier than I did before, get myself ready and then go upstairs to greet Dayne with a good morning smile and ask if he had big dreams.  I then feed him his morning bottle, change his diaper and get him dressed in time for Jason to take him over to his parents for the day.  But it leaves me scrambling to make it out the door in time.  As for breakfast, forget it!  I'm lucky if I can grab an apple or a granola bar on my way out the door.

When I heard about Pillsbury Grands! Biscuit Sandwiches & Pillsbury Egg Scrambles I was intrigued.  They're frozen and heat in the microwave!  I love that I can keep a few at work and just pop them in the microwave for a great breakfast I can eat at my desk!  Breakfast is very important to me, I always need something before I start the day!  Now I can have something filling, warm and yummy like I usually only get on the weekends when we have more time!

The scrambles come in several different varities:

• Bacon & Veggies Egg Scrambles 
• Sausage Egg Scrambles 
• Sausage & Veggies Egg Scrambles

Don't these sound heavenly?

• Sausage & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich 
• Bacon & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich 
• Ham & Veggies Biscuit Sandwich    

Check out Pillsbury's website for more detailed information or check them out on Facebook and grab a $1 off coupon for these fantastic new products!

I'll leave you with this video of the Dough Boy breakin' it down!

Thanks to MyBlogSpark & Pillsbury for providing the links & video!