Tie a Little Ribbon

I have a new location

2011-08-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

You can now stalk myself and Marley over at www.tiealittleribbon.com

Clothdiaper Vlog

2011-07-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

This time around I tried not to say "um" as much. Sorry.

Untitled from krystal e on Vimeo.

Harpers Happenings cuteness
Apple Cheeks Diapers
Goodmama Diapers

BlogHer Countdown Is On!

2011-07-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

I made the decision a few months ago to bit the bullet and attend this years BlogHer conference. Have you heard about BlogHer? If not, you should probably go on over and take a peek around. They are an amazing group of women who are taking the social media world by storm, one funny, inspiring and educational blog post at a time. They are legendary for their blog conferences (and parties that accompany them), and I am going this year, in sunny San Diego.

I've been blogging and tweeting for over a year, and a member of a few message boards that have connected me with some truly awesome women. I have made some very close friendships, faithfully followed blogs and stalked Twitter timelines, of some of these ladies for well over two years, and I am finally getting the chance to meet a bunch of them.

There are some friends that know me better than my real life friends, who have talked to me at my happiest and lowest points. I texted pictures of minutes old Marley to some of them, chatted on the phone for hours, Skyped, Tweeted, emailed, Facebooked and sent gifts to. Am I nervous? Heck yes, but I am so stoked to be able to give massive hugs to these people whom I have come to love so much.

I understand that it is hard for some people to understand the friendships that one can form online, I guess it's a very new concept and online relationships have a bad stigma, but this is a new age. When you open yourself by starting a blog and Tweeting, you are bound to get some feedback and make connections with people. You find blogs you enjoy, read stories that inspire and touch you and start to feel like you know the author and in some cases you reach out and form a bond.

I am absolutely thrilled to meet up with friends, and completely ready to sit in on seminars that will kindle the creative fire inside me and motivate me to put more into my writing. I have a lot to give the blogging community, I know it. I love writing, connecting, helping, and basically word vomiting (nice visual huh?). Writing has always been a major outlet for me, I just need to focus and get over my fears of putting myself out there too much.

So, bring it on BlogHer. I am ready to squish my friends (seriously, get ready for a lot of hugs), be inspired, learn and have fun.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

We have busted out the Play-Doh a few times, and Marley has never seemed to like it too much, but it seems to be growing on her....

Mommy Crush

2011-06-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm offically an awkward 14 year old again. *sigh*

Have you ever been out and struck up a conversation with a random stranger, only to realize that this random stranger is super cool, and nice and you feel like you should be friends? How about when you are at the park and your kid is obviously having a blast with another child, and time is flying because you are talking away and having fun with the mother?

What do you do? It's like asking someone out on a date, and the notion of that takes me back to those horribly awkward years as a teenager and the whole "Does he/she like me as much as I like them?" complex. I mean, I am a grown woman, I am raising a child! Surely I can approach someone and say "Hey, we should get our kids together some time.", but no, the idea of that scares the crap out of me.

I do not want to look like a crazy person, or seem desperate. I realize I should get over this irrational fear, and put myself out there. Obviously I am not going to be going around inviting every mom over to my house for a playdate, or give my email/cell out to every cool person I talk to, but if there is a genuine comfort and ease with someone, or if your kids get along, why not?

For example: I work part time at a childerens boutique. I help people pick out their strollers, educate them on car seats and cloth diapers etc. I do a lot of talking and getting to know people on a personal level. There have been a few times where a Mother will come in with a child Marley's age and we will start chatting, sharing stories and pictures. I may play around with their kid if they are there, and a few times I have thought to myself "We could totally be friends in real life". We continue chatting and having fun, they get their purchases, I distract the kid with a game of peek-a-boo while Mom pays, and I smile and wave them off while inside I am going "KRYSTAL! Say something! Ask about a playdate.", but I still smile and wave, glued to my spot and unable to get the courage to say anything.

So. I am a chicken, but I am determined to get over this. my issue is not for a lack of self confidence, but rather the potential awkwardness of bringing a meeting up. How do I go about it? I have a feeling a smooth "come here often?" will not go over well (at least I would laugh). Is upfront and bold the best way to go with this situation? Weigh in, let me know what you think, help a mamma out.

My Favortite BBQ Dinner

2011-06-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

It's summer time! Bust our your grill, invite some people over and make a yummy dinner and a good bottle of wine. Here is my favorite Sunday summer dinner broken down for you. Enjoy!

Grilled Asparagus

Ingredients:

1 bunch of asparagus (or as many needed to satisfy your crowd)
1/2 lemon (or lemon juice)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Directions:

Trim the bottoms of all pieces of asparagus
Place trimmed asparagus into a bowl of cold water, squeezing lemon juice over top. Let soak for a few minutes.
Drain asparagus and place into shallow baking dish.
Drizzle oilve oil over and sprinkle with salt and pepper to your liking.
Preheat BBQ to 350F and place individual stalks directly onto the grill (upper grill is best if available)
Allow to grill for 3-4 minutes and flip, cook for another 1-2 minutes. I prefer mine still crispy, but if you like them more cooked, feel free to leave them for longer.

Smashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

1 bad of small potatoes (I prefer red because they look pretty)
2-3 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper
extra virgin olive oil
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream

Directions:

Wash and clean up each potato (ie remove dark spots etc)
Toss all potatoes into a large pot with cool, salted water.
Crush cloves of garlic and place, whole, into pot.
Bring potatoes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender, but not over done (ie to the point where you can mash them, thats too soft)
Drain potatoes and place onto a foil lined baking sheet.
Using a meat tenderizer (the hammer kind), gently smoosh each potato, but not flattening them.
Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Top each potato with a sprinkling of cheese.
Place undder the broiler until the cheese is bubbly, usually 2-3 minutes.
Serve with a optional side of sour cream to dip them into.

Best Steak Ever

Ingredients:

STEAK. Whatever kind you prefer, best with something that works well on the grill.
1/4cup butter
2 cubes chicken boullion
Greek seasoning
Salt

Directions:

Preheat grill to desired temp, depending on how you like your steaks done.
Over low heat, melt butter in a small saucepan.
Stir in crumbled chicken boullion, stiring and disolving contents completely.
While still siring, add 3-4 shakes of Greek seasoning and salt to taste.
Brush both sides of steak with warm mixture just before grilling.
Baste with additional sauce when flipped and just before completion.

The final step to all of this is make a kick ass Greek salad and stuff your face!

Just writing all of this out has given me a serious case of the munchies. This meal is perfect for hanging out in the back yard and enjoying the beautiful weather and fresh local produce we have available to us. It also makes me smile when my grill looks like this:

And there is no better reward than serving my friends and family a plate that looks as good as it tastes, and having the entire table silent as they enjoy their food. To me, that is the best part of cooking and the moments I live for. Happy summer y'all!

Monkey hear, monkey do

2011-06-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

"Shit!"

This is what I heard come out of Marley's mouth a few weeks ago. I laughed it off thinking it was a one off and that I possibly heard her wrong. Until it happened again... and again... in context. She will drop something and utter that word that SHOULD NOT BE COMING OUT OF A 21 MONTH OLDS MOUTH. I'm in shock and after laughing the first few times (come on, it's kind of funny) I am staring to become more annoyed and concerned. She is not walking around saying it all the time, but it happens sporadically. I did not teach her this!

In my defense, I really make a effort to tone down my language around Marley. I am not perfect and I will fully admit that I can swear with the best of them sometimes, but obviously not in front of my daughter! Of course a few words have slipped here and there in frustration, but we keep it under wraps as much as possible. So who is the culprit?

My Mother-In-Law. I can laugh while calling her out on this because she is SO not someone who swears and is quite proper, but she uses that word all the time when something goes wrong. Without realizing it, and very innocently, but out loud. She has Marley when I am at work, and we hang out very often because I have a great relationship with her and Marley absolutely adores her. So it seems as if her bad habit has been picked up by Marley. Whoops.

So we have had a chat, and after laughing in disbelief, words will be watched around her. I do NOT want to have "that" kid who says the outrageous things and offends people. How do I discourage her from using that word, when all I am doing lately is encouraging her to speak and use words? Will a 21 month understand the concept of "use this word, not that"? Manners have always been very important to me and something we have worked hard to instill in Marley from day one. She may not have many words, but "pwese" and "tak-ou"are two she has down pat. Oh, and "shit".

Marley and Nana

Hunger Strike

2011-06-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Marley is 21 months old (OMG SHES ALMOST TWO) and thank all the powers that be, she is almost done teething. You know, the never ending torture our children go through for what seems like forever? I shall do a celebratory dance the very day that is done, but I digress.

Anywho, Marley currently has her 'two year molars' coming in and my foodie toddler who will usually eat anything and everything, all day/every day wants NOTHING to do with food. In the past when she has a tooth about to erupt through she goes on a bit of a food strike, but manages to graze throughout the day. Well, not so much these days. I am lucky if I can get a handful of raspberries and some crackers into her some days. I have even tried resorting to 'bad' food, such as macaroni (seriously, she can eat a box to herself if I let her) and french fries. Nada, or at least close to it.

I'm not worrying about it too much because I know it goes hand in hand with this teething junk, and if she was really hungry she will eat. Marley is a little peanut weighing in at 25.5lbs, but hitting all of her milestones early and is happy and content (most of the time), so my pediatrician has assured me it's nothing to worry about yet. I get nervous because I worked hard to introduce her to a wide variety of foods from a young age, we did baby led weaning and I made all of her baby food. I grew up very a very picky eater and I am determined to do as much as I can to make sure Marley is not this way. The girl has a great palate for good food, you should see her inhale a steak, makes Daddy proud.

So I will try not to worry, and I am continuing to introduce new foods to her, full steam ahead. Teething will not beat me on this one, I will not be discouraged.

GOOD MORNING WORLD!

Ugh, I have to eat?

Ok, maybe a bite.

I'd rather just play with it

Noooooo I won't eat!

Na na na na na na! No food for me.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

I tried to teach Marley how to blow dandelion puffs at the park last week, she thought it was so cool and yelled with delight whenever I did one. The following is the result of Marleys efforts:


Blow softly

Ok, maybe a little harder

Not so close to your mouth!

Mmmmm dandelion fluff

Our Family is Growing

2011-05-31T09:59:00.000-07:00

NO NOT THAT WAY. But I had you going for a second, didn't I? *evil laugh*

We got a puppy! Jay and I had been discussing getting another dog for a while, and now that we have the room we decided now was the time. We researched a lot of different breeds, and settled on a Golden Retriever. I had one for a few years of my childhood and they are very well known family dogs. After some searching we settled on a breeder and hopped into the car for the journey into the country.

Once we arrived at the farm, and got over the stunning views and fresh air, Marley caught sight of the puppies outside and ran like a mad woman through the wet fields and literally tackled one. The girl loves dogs and it was clear that they loved her. Either that, or they loved the remnants of her snack on her face and hands, but I digress.

She was enthralled with the rest of her surroundings and stood watching the sheep for a good 20 minutes "baaaahhh"-ing at them.

There were 4 adorable pups left, one already spoken for and Mamma dog was surveying us the entire time. We took the three available pups out, one at a time and let them play with Marley and hang with us for a while, trying to judge which one (if any) were a good fit for us. There was one that caught my eye from the begining and I had fallen in love once we had him come out to play. He was playful with Marley, but sit nicely to let her wrap her arms around him in a big hug, but the best was he kept coming back to Jay and I, nuzzling his nose under my hand to pet him. He was lively, but sweet and mild tempered, a total love sponge and perfectly balanced.

Meet Simon! COULD YOU JUST DIE?!

We brought him home, and took him right to the backyard where we introduced him to Oscar (our Pug/Boston Terrier cross). They played, wrestled, ran and seem to get along great. Oscar has had a few moments of jealousy, but they are fleeting and disappear quickly. As I sit here and type this, they are sleeping a foot away from each other after a marathon play session this AM.

I'm excited and happy, my house feels alive with love and growth right now. Ask me again in a few weeks when Simon is chewing shoes and the shedding dog hair is driving me crazy, but when it comes down to it, I am very happy with our growing little family. Besides, maybe this will stop people from asking when baby #2 is coming for a while. This is my home, my family, my life, dog hair, drool and diapers and I couldn't feel better about it.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-24T23:39:00.000-07:00

Marley has a new word she would like to share with you:

I have lost my purse

2011-05-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

See this:

Yes, it is insanely cute and you probably want to run out and buy one now, but this adorable owl has turned into my purse.

Let me explain further. That is Marleys new backpack, the way we cart her things to and from point A to point B without forgetting anything. No one wants to find themselves stuck with a sticky, poopy, hungry, bored, dirty toddler and not be prepared, right? So I have found myself quickly tossing my belongings into the backpack along with the mishmash of toddler items. The result: Mamma now rocks a bright blue Owl slung over her shoulder 9 times out of 10.

It's cute and endearing, right? A 27 year old woman walking around with a cutesy character bag. How raver/emo/scene of me. *sigh* Will there come a day where I no longer have to use a diaper bag or child themed bag? Must i forever say goodbye to my beautiful designer bags and trendy purses? I realize this is partially my own fault, blame it on laziness, but convenience usually trumps all. When I am out on my own, I have my own bags and cherish the time with them, but this is so much easier. So if you see a little brunette walking through the mall with a Owl bag on her arm, please do not snicker or make fun of me. I need to learn how to juggle both a bag for myself and a bag for Marley, but in the mean time you better believe I am working this owl bag like no other.

(PS: Owl bag from Skip*Hop, there are other animals and matching lunch bags. SO CUTE.)

Rain rain, go away...

2011-05-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

You know when it's been raining for two weeks straight and you haven't left the house in days and you kind of feel like exploding? That's me right now. I feel like the sky has been dark and cloudy and there hasn't been a single ray of sunshine in the longest time.

Ok, I'm exaggerating a little bit; Friday was absolutely beautiful, sunny, hot and clear, but it was a tease. Before that? Rain, overcast, cold, more rain. So what do I do when you have a rambunctious 20 month old and I am ready to gauge my eyes out with a spatula?

Well I was going to brave it and go for a walk in the rain, but who are we kidding, that is not happening. Marley and I have had PJ days and watched Elmo's World to our hearts content.

Have you seen her "OMG I LOVE ELMO" face? I couldnt make that picture up if I tried. This is how Marley watches Elmo, the entire time Elmo is on the screen. Could you die?

So once we have had our fill of Elmo (aka Mommy is going to loose her mind on Sesame Street), we start with the house work. It's not child labor if she enjoys it and actually fights me to get a hold of the Dyson, is it? (side note, Elmo is still hanging with us in he background)

My little girl is so helpful, she even gets joy out of unloading the dishwasher. Seriously, NO ONE likes this chore.

On that one rare break where the sun came out and the birds were singing, I decided to bust out the jogging stroller, blow the dust off of it and get outside. Bonus points for me not passing out. 5km here I come.

I have been singing it to her since the day she is born, and it rings true in so many ways: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey..."

Moving Into a Big Girl Bed

2011-05-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

Jay and I have been tossing the idea of moving Marley to a big bed for some time now, for multiple reasons:

Every morning I seem to walk in to get her just as she is swinging her leg up and trying to vault the crib rail. We don't like broken bones or bruises in this house.
More often than not she has been waking up for up to a hour and a half just to talk to herself. After watching this we are pretty sure she needs more room because she moves around a lot in her sleep and is waking herself up by hitting the crib.
Her new room is huge and looks comically empty with only her crib in there.

After some discussions and asking the advice of friends and family, we decided that instead of converting her crib to a toddler bed, we would rather move her into a actual big double or queen sized bed with bed rails. We decided this for a few reasons: her room is large enough to handle it, if we didn't convert the crib we could use that for #2 whenever that happens and we also avoid another transition to a bigger bed later on.

We have given it a few weeks to settle into the new house, allow her to familiarize herself with the surroundings and settle back into a regular routine. A few days ago I set up the spare room with double bed rails and patiently waited until I had the courage to try her out in it. It seemed that testing the waters with nap time was a good idea, and might make night time less painful if she was already used to the bed. Hopefully. Fingers crossed. Taking the advice of a friend on Twitter I chose a day that I had nothing else planned and could devote a chunk of the afternoon to getting her used to the bed and saying in the bed, after all there was a good possibility she was going to be freaked out.

Today happened to be that day. I set everything aside, turned the phones off, left my iPhone in the kitchen, pushed the dog to the living room and mentally prepared to battle it out. Quite the optimist I am, huh? Nap time rolled around and I collected Marley and made my way to the spare room, making sure to have some comfort items like her blanket and her soother. I plopped Marley down onto the bed and laughed as she started jumping, and giggling with glee, so I crawled into the bed with her and put my head on the pillow. She quickly followed suit and put her little head beside me, grasping my hand and clutching her blanket to her face. We sat in silence for a few minutes and I could see her eyelids getting heavy and hear her breathing start to slow. I slowly crawled out of bed after kissing her forehead, and she watched me the whole way across the room and out the door. I lowered myself to the ground, back against the wall beside the room and waited.

Silence. A few tentative "Mamma"'s. Blankets rustling. Silence.

More silence.

Maybe I should go check in on her? What if something was wrong?

After a few agonizing minutes I decided to chance it and peek in on her, and be still my heart, this is what I saw:

(I'm sorry it's a crappy iPhone picture, but it's all I dared to take.)

She ended up sleeping a solid 1.5 hours and woke up happy, laughing and very pleased with herself, yelling for me to come get her out of bed. I count today as a huge success. HUGE. I can't tell you the amount of anxiety I had over this process. Sure, there is a good chance that this is a fluke, but maybe it's not, maybe this will be a very easy transition for us. Either way it goes, I know that it is possible and that she can happily sleep in a larger bed without terrorizing her room and the rest of the house.

I am going to continue putting her down in the spare room for naps and see how that goes for a week or so. After that we will try out a few nights, and if that goes well we will take her crib out of her room and set up the big girl bed we have purchased for her. I'm excited for this huge milestone in Marley's life, but also saddened a little because yet again, I am reminded that she is getting bigger and more independent.

Drowning In My House

2011-04-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned that we were moving, and here we are settling in. The new house is amazing and I am totally in love with it, truly our dream home. There is a small issue though: I'm not used to this space. We went from living in a 800 square foot 1 bedroom plus den condo, to a 2400 square foot 4 bedroom house. Yes, it is truly awesome and I feel like we can all breathe... but I feel lost sometimes. I quickly realized that I don't know how to maintain a house this large. Keeping it tidy and clean is a full time job! It doesn't help that I am pretty obsessive about my space being clean and tidy. Do you know how painful that was with a 1.5 year old and a shedding pug in that condo? It was horrendous and I was miserable.

Well now I have a whole new challenge: How do I keep on top of this massive house without spending all of my free time cleaning? I have never had to do this with such a large space. Please don't roll your eyes at me, it's driving me nuts. Do I make a cleaning 'schedule', divvying up all the larger weekly chores, and listing the daily things? I like lists, I need lists. Real, handwritten lists, not some iPhone app. Seeing what I have to do written out makes me feel more in control and organized.
I realize there are a lot of things that will be done on a daily basis, like keeping my floors Oscar hair free and my kitchen clean, but when it comes to larger things I really have no idea how often things should be done. I feel like a bit of a Stay At Home Mom failure. Shouldn't I know these kind of things?

I have not always been like this, I can be a total slob when I want to be and there are some chores that I despise (hello folding and putting away laundry), but as I have settled into being a mom and wife I find that I crave cleanliness and organization even more. The sight of cluttered kitchen counters and dining room tables make me cringe, and piles of dog hair give me the shakes. My newest favourite items in my house: My Dyson vacuum and my Shark steam mop. I spent the entire first night in the new house on my hands and knees scrubbing baseboards, "Don't people clean these anymore?!". It's odd, I fully understand this, but I have to find a balance. Spending Marley's entire nap time cleaning and scrubbing is not fun and takes away my "me" time. I need a schedule, or a list, SOMETHING to make me feel more organized.

And now, a picture overload of my new place. There is still some organizing and decorating to be done, and the whole place is being painted within the next week, but you get the idea. There is a whole finished basement, but its currently ripped apart because a home theatre is being installed (can we say "Man Cave"?) and I am holding out on Marley's new room because that is for another post :D

Front entrance:

View from the front door, living room

The dining room from the front door

One set of stairs. Up to bedroom, and part of the basement and powder room

Living room

My favorite room in the house, my kitchen :)

Eat-in kitchen

Living room from the back patio doors

Kitchen from the patio doors

Part of the back yeard and deck

Master bedroom

Master bathroom

Upstairs laundry room (I LOVE my washer/dryer)

Marley's bathroom

Home with a tan

2011-04-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

I am home! My week away in sunny Dominican Republic was amazing and I am home feeling refreshed and more centred. Amazing what a few days away from all the chaos of life can do for your mental state. The weather was perfect, light breeze and sunny every day, so I can hardly complain. I have a wicked tan (and the crazy tan lines that go with it), my face has exploded with freckles (sigh) and I think I even lost a few pounds. Who does that? Must have been all the fresh fruit I was devouring.

My cousins wedding was perfect and I can honestly say it was one of the best receptions I have ever been to. The food was to die for, the DJ was amazing and I was there with an amazing group of people. Yes, I bawled like a baby during the ceremony... but they were tears of pure happiness. Only downfall: my camera died just after the ceremony, so I don't have pictures of the reception yet.

On a side note: a week away from Marley was hard. Really, really, really hard. The first few days were ok because it was a welcome break from the tantrums, sleepless nights and whining, but after a few days and a check in email from my mother in law, it set in. I missed her hard. Do I think I will go away without her ever again? I don't know. I say no right now, but the break and time alone with Jay was so good for us.

Now that we are home, I have had 4 days to finalize packing and organizing for our big move tomorrow, I feel like a crazy person. My house is 10 times worse than the video I posted... now take a few moments to process that. Yah. It sucks and it's giving me anxiety like woah. BUT, I know this is short lived and soon life will be back to normal-ish. I am crazy excited about the new house and I can't wait to show off pictures and go through my home decoration journey with y'all. So I will try to post some stuff asap, but please forgive me if I am away for another few days. Life is moving!

In the mean time, here are a few pictures to hold you over: (PS It was pointed out to me that I have been seriously lacking on posting pics of Marley. I promise to rectify that soon!)

Lazy beach day, life is rough

Self portrait in the water

My Mom, Sister and I at the wedding

The happy couple sharing a laugh

Jay and I at the wedding

My Sister (my BFF) and I on a boat trip. I love this pic.

My Sister and two of my Brothers and I at the wedding

My sweet Marley the day I came home. I *might* have cried a little.

I have no shame.

2011-03-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

I also say "Um" a lot. Please don't hate me.

p.s. That's a Skype call trying to come in halfway through my vlog shoot. Good timing huh?

An Open Letter To My Friends

2011-03-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

I have a lot to be thankful for in my life and one of those many things is the amazing friendships I have. I am fortunate enough to call some amazing, funny, talented, smart, beautiful, kind, generous, compassionate and truly inspiring people my good friends. Friends that have been there for me trough thick and thin, high highs and low lows, but at times I have found myself completely unable to show my appreciation and love for them. I have a habit of closing myself off and putting up a wall to protect myself. From what? For the most part there is no real reason and even I can't explain it and force myself out of it.
I am a loving, nurturing, passionate person and I connect with people very easily, I pride myself on being a good friend and a good listener, but it takes a while for me to really let someone in. Even with my very good friends I will close off and hide from them if I am struggling. Just when I need a good friend myself, I lose the ability to show them and tell them how much I appreciate their presence in my life and I become very selfish. Sure, I will sit and talk to them about my problems, I will pour myself out and I will lean on them heavily, soaking up their help and support. But then I clam up, seemingly forgetting to return the favour or thanking them for their help.
But here is something I have learned recently: to a real, true, good friend, sometimes silence speaks louder than any word ever will. My friends know without really talking to me when something is up, when I am unhappy, upset, having a hard time. I wear my emotions on my sleeve and I don't hide things well. Of course I realize that this isn't something to rely on, and I can't expect people to read my mind and always know when to catch me, but knowing I have this is comforting. I am trying to open myself more and allow people into my life easier, but it is a process.
I have a hard time finding the words to express my gratitude, especially for long distance friends, so here it is, this is for you.

Thank you for words that bring a smile to my face.
Thank you for emails that make me tear up because they are so sweet.
Thank you for phone calls that brighten my day, even on the worst ones.
Thank you for always being there when I need to vent.
Thank you for your interest and concern about my daughter.
Thank you for stories that make my sides hurt from laughing.
Thank you for encouraging me to write when I lose motivation.
Thank you for pushing me to be a better person, mother and wife.
Thank you for inspiring me to continue educating myself.
Thank you for boosting my self-confidence.
But most of all, thank you for loving me for me, flaws and all.

The Wonders Of Nipple Cream

2011-03-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read that title correctly. Random, I know, but some of you ladies out there might thank me later on. I am about to tell you about how I kicked my life long habit of biting my nails, and if you have ever tried to tackle that task, you know how hard it is.

I'm actually playing down how bad my habit was, so let me go into more detail: not only did I bite my nails, but I chewed my cuticles and the skin surrounding my nail bed. Gross, I know and I apologize if I made any of y'all queasy, but it is what it is. I have had this habit for as long as I can remember and have tried every trick in the book to try to stop including my mom grounding me. Nothing provided a long term solution for my addiction and I was settling into the fact that I may never kick it. I would find myself chewing at my hands when I didn't even realize it, watching a movie, sitting in a staff meeting, reading a book and especially when my anxiety is high.

In the last month or so I have been making an effort to become more aware of my actions, even painting my nails all the time to make them more noticeable, hoping to distract me. You see, I had started to become very self conscious about how horrible and chewed up my hands always looked and I found myself hiding them from customers at work and cringing when I caught glimpses of them. Obviously it is easier said than done, any habit is going to take dedication and work to kick, but this one has its own set of challenges. My nails were all jagged and would catch onto things, and the healing skin around my nail beds would harden and flake off, making them both easy targets to pick at. Pretty counterproductive isn't it?

So I started to do some research on the best way to make this transition easy on me and I was bombarded by suggestions on google, ranging from slathering my hands in mayonnaise (gag) to paraffin treatments on my hands. Now, I have almost 10 years experience in the salon and spa industry, so I knew my first step was to start with a good, clean canvas. I booked a manicure and prepared myself to have the esthetician laugh at my jagged, raw stubs that I call nails. Yes, she laughed at me and tsk tsk'd me for my the horrible treatment I had subjected myself to, but she understood and had seen it a lot. She shaped and buffed my nails, pushed and cut my cuticles and made my hands look almost normal and, dare I say it, pretty? While she was rubbing a lotion into my hands (easily the best part of a manicure) she gave me the best advice I have ever received: slather my hands in nipple cream.

Seriously.

As soon as she said it a lightbulb went off in my head, of course! I remembered a good friend telling me to use Lansinoh (aka nipple cream) when I was freaking out about Marley having a bad diaper rash. Turns out there are a lot of healing and protecting properties in Lanolin, the main ingredient in most nipple creams, I mean, if it can heal dry, cracked and bleeding nipples and a raw, blistered baby bum why wouldn't it be good for my raw, chewed hands?

I finished off my manicure with one of my favourite OPI nail polishes (I'm Fondue Of You, it's an awesome dark brown) and went home to dig out the nipple cream. Before going to bed that evening I put a healthy layer over my worst spots (thumbs) and placed a bandaid over them to keep it covered up. When I woke the next morning, I removed the bandaids and washed my hands and I was shocked at the immediate difference in my skin. The areas around my thumbs were no longer a angry red colour and raw looking, in fact they were almost normal looking. The next day I slathered the lanolin all over my hands and put gloves over top before heading to bed, and once again the change in my skin was amazing. The spots I had so mercilessly chewed and picked at were transforming before my eyes and I was ecstatic.

It has been 2 weeks now of using the cream on my hands and I am shocked at the difference. I have kept nail polish on my nails and have been keeping them filed so that ragged edges don't tempt me to pick, but most importantly, I am not ashamed of my hands anymore; I feel more professional and I feel like I look more mature and feminine. It's amazing how little things like that can alter your state of mind so much and even boost self confidence, but when it is something that I have struggled with for as long as I can remember, the sense of accomplishment I have from kicking this habit is priceless. Or worth the price of a decent nipple cream.

Lets talk toddlers

2011-02-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

Holy word explosion. I swear it seems like over night, but Marley is talking up a storm! She is turning into such a KID. It's freaking me out. She is pointing things out, "baby", "dog", "biiiiiird" and nattering on in what we can only call Marleneese. It's a string of sounds and words jumbled together and quite possibly the cutest thing ever. She will come to me, going on and on, pointing, nodding and gesturing to me.

But...

Boy does she ever get PISSED if we dont understand her. Along with this new found talking we have also entered the hissy fit stage. Oh joy. I'm talking full on throwing herself on the floor with big crocodile tears and roll around. And hitting. My patience is being tested to the limits with this phase, it's horrible. So far I have been spared the dreaded public melt down, but I fear it is not far off. Can someone give me some advice on this? Do I just walk away, let her get it out of her system? Do I distract her and take her mind off of the thing that pissed her off so? What do I do to make this as painless as possible?

My Kid Is More Artistic Than Yours...

2011-01-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

See? She is so smart she takes her sippy cup, dumps it all over her tray and proceeds to paint with it. I'm reaching aren't I? She's just being a monkey and making yet another mess for me to clean up.
I'll stick with artistic... it runs in the family.

Oh, and if you hear me talking about her monkey sounds instead of real talking, here is a perfect example. All we are missing is the arm flapping as she is trying to tell me what is up. Good times I tell ya.

Say

2011-01-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

There's this song by John Mayer called "Say", have you ever heard it?

Its one of those songs that has followed me through the years as a constant reminder to live without regrets. Or at least try to. The song talks about saying what you need to say, getting things off your chest, speaking your mind, putting your ego aside and opening to the people around you and let go of that fear. I have been sitting here with the song on repeat for close to a hour, singing along, shedding a few tears and examining myself through the lyrics.

This week I lost my Grandmother to cancer. She deteriorated very quickly and I was suddenly faced with saying goodbye to her with little preparation. I recieved a call from my Dad telling me that she was now in Palitive Care, and was being made comfortable to make the passing as painless and stress free as possible. Like that is possible.

My little sister, cousin and I immediately dropped everything and drove the 2.5 hours to be by her side, not only for her, but as support for my Dad and Aunt. Walking into the room it was an absolute shock to see my Grandmother in that state, she had always been perfectly done up. Hair curled, perfect skin and makeup, effortless clothes. She was a classy, beautiful woman and I loved that about her. Here was this woman lying all frail, bare faced and flat hair, it was not the woman I knew, and all I could think was "Oh my God, she would flip out if she knew we saw her like this." Funny, but true.

We sat by her side all day as she was in a morphine induced sleep, her breathing ragged and body shuddering. We traded stories about her, shared our favorite memories, laughed at her quirks and shed a lot of tears as we watched helplessly as she deteriorated in front of our eyes, doing all we could to make her comfortable. All my life I have been told how much I look like my Grandmother when she was little, to the point that her Mother was calling me 'Barbara' when she was sick with dementia. I started to think about the other things I had inherited from her; my love of cooking (she could make anything, anywhere), her stubbornness, her love of the outdoors and her artistic ability. She turned me onto older music, like Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Etta James and started my fascination with Shirley Temple and old movies.

I took a break from sitting at her side and walked around the hospital to clear my head and get my emotions together. Even though I didn't see her very often and didn't always understand her actions, I loved my grandmother and she was a part of making me the person I am today. I realized that it had been a long time since I had told her how much I loved her. Why hadn't I made the effort to see her more? Why hadn't I picked up the phone to check in? I walked aimlessly around the hospital with my head spinning when I realized that I was standing in the Maternity ward, the very one I had been born in. I froze to the spot, looking around, seeing and hearing new life all around me. How was it even possible that two floors down someone who visited me here was now dying?

I left the ward and stuck my iPod earphones in my ear to try to quiet my mind when "Say" by John Mayer came on. The tears came quickly, forcing me to sit down. I hadn't told my Grandmother just how much I loved her in SO long, I had always just presumed she knew and could tell by my actions. I was struck by the realization that sometimes you have to open enough and say exactly what you needed to say because as the song goes:

"you better know that in the end,

it's better to say too much,

than never to say what you need to say again"

Sometime later in the evening my family and I went to get some dinner and came back as the nurses were adjusting her position and changing her morpheine IV. I stood right outside the doors while the rest of my family sat down the hall, I could hear the nurses talking to Grandma and their kindness broke my heart. I stood with my eyes focused on the floor, hoping I would get a few minutes with her alone before everyone came back into the room, when all of a sudden I heard her voice. My head shot up, my Dad caught my eye as I rushed into the room saying she was awake.

She was there, helpless with her one hand stretched out, eyes half open. Her eyes that are so like my eyes! I burst into tears and grabbed onto her hand and started talking to her as my Dad stood beside me crying as well. I poured my soul out to her and told her how much I cherished my memories, how fun she was, I even thanked her for her spaghetti recipe. Her hand was gripped onto mine so tightly and her eyes locked onto mine. It was amazing and a moment I will never ever forget as long as I live. She knew I was there and I was able to tell her how much I love her and how appreciated she is. The rest of my family was able to have some time with her as well, each of us able to say goodbye and that is something I will always be thankful for. Because of those moments I had with her I was able to connect, speak my love and find peace with her passing.

"Even if your hands are shaking,

and your faith is broken,

Even as the eyes are closing,

Do it with a heart wide open

A wide heart"

My Grandmother passed away the following morning, not waking up from her sleep. I have comfort knowing that she knows her family was surrounding her. I have peace knowing that I have no regrets because I said everything I wanted to say to her, she knows exactly how I feel. I was able to let go of myself long enough to say what I needed to say so she could hear what she needed to hear. This is what I learned that day, I'm not sure there is a better way to show someone just how much you love them.

Lyrics here

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

My brother in law emailed me this beautiful shot he got of Marley over the Christmas holidays and I nearly cried when I saw it. My baby girl is getting so big.

Heartbreak Kid

2010-12-28T19:23:00.000-08:00

I was sorting through my old jewerly box the other day and I came across this poem that my friend gave me shortly after I had my heart broken for the first time. I was 18 and it felt like my whole world had crumbled to the ground. I held onto the poem because it touched me so deeply and I have since shared it with my sister and friends when they needed some inspiration. I'm going to post it here in the hopes that the words can be appreciated once again by new people.

Comes The Dawn
by Veronica A. Shoffstall

After a while you learn the subtle differences
between holding a hand and sharing a life
and you learn that love doesnt mean posession
and company doesnt mean security
and loneliness is universal

And you learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents arent promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes open
with the grace of a woman
not the greif of a child

And you learn yo build your hope on today
as the future has a way of falling apart in mid-flight
because tomorrows ground can be too uncertain for plans
yet each step taken in a new direction creates a path
toward the promise of a brighter dawn

And you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much
so you plan your own garden
and nourish you own soul
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers
and you learn that love, true love
always has joys and sorrows
seems ever present, yet is never quite the same
becoming more than love and less than love
so difficult to define

And you learn that through it all
you really can endure
that you really are strong
that you do have value
and you learn and grow
with every goodbye
you learn

Things I said I would never do

2010-12-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

We have all been there, we have all done it. We watch other parents with their children and thinking to ourselves, “I will NEVER do that.”
You are sitting there nodding your head with me, I know it. Pre-baby, I would sometimes look at other parents with sheer disapproval. I remember watching some parents and the ‘ridiculous’ decisions they made with their kids. Many times I would lean to my husband and say “We are never going to do that with Marley.” or “Can you believe they let their kids do that?”.
Then Marley was born and life happened.
Reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
Of course I stuck to my guns on many things I feel strongly about, but I have learned that the key to living a low stress life is to go with the flow. I don’t be stuck in my ways. I do not have to have all the answers.
Recently I was thinking, just because I don’t want Marley eating fried, greasy food does not mean I am above giving her a french fry to keep her quiet while in Costco. I remember the first time I gave her one. Emotionally, I came unglued. I went home and cried. I had spent months carefully making all her food with organic and free range products and here I was, giving her the worst thing ever BY CHOICE just so I could shop. So then the mommy guilt settled in, I decided I was a horrible mom and that was it. I thought of it for the rest of the day, beating myself up about feeding my precious baby this poor excuse for food.

Later, when my husband came home and saw my mood and asked what was wrong, he took in the story with an amused look on his face while I fretted and complained. When the story was done he started laughing and asked me if I was seriously that upset about it.
Um, yes, I was. Do not laugh at me.
He then went on to explain that regardless of our best efforts, that probably was not going to be Marley’s last french fry. *Insert light bulb moment here* Of course it wouldn’t be! What was I thinking?! It was our responsibility to lay down the groundwork for proper eating habits, but who doesn’t like a french fry (or 5) every once in a while? This was just one example of things that I had been so insistent would never happen, yet naturally it did.
Have I done things with Marley that I said I would never do? Absolutely. Does that bother me? Sometimes, but I don’t let it run my life or get me down.
Life happens. No parent is perfect and every situation calls for a different solution. I think there are many parents who have to be reminded this, myself included. So the next time we find ourselves in Costso, and the French fries are calling out to us, I will remember that desperate times call for desperate measures.
So, Marley, let’s both have a French fry…or five.

Romance Isn't Dead

2010-11-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

The following is a text message conversation I had with Jay yesterday.

J - "If I ran into Rihanna and slept with her would you highfive me or be pissed?"

Me - "I would want in on that. She's freaking hot. High five. "

J - "Sweet."

Me - "Wait. Is she at your job site or something?"

J - "It looks like her. Does that count?"

Me - "Um. No. Not even close. But high five for trying."

J - "The guys at work think you are awesome for saying that."

Me - "There is that guy at the gym that looks like Gerrard Butler...."

J - "High five"

Romantic right?

What makes a hot dad?

2010-11-15T21:03:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this picture?

This is the picture heard 'round the Mommy Universe. That is Twilight hottie Cam Gigandet strolling around downtown LA wearing his seven month old daughter in a sling. This picture caused me (and many other women I know) to swoon. A lot. I will be honest, yes he is an ridiculously good looking man to begin with, but add the fact that he is totally down with baby wearing and you have a fantastic combination. I find there is something so confident and tender about seeing a man stepping out in public with their child in a Ergo or a sling. I will even go as far as to say that it's downright hot.

While thinking about this particular attraction of mine, it got me thinking about other things: what makes a hot Dad? I am not saying this in a "I'm going to steal your man" kind of way, it's more of an admiration and a pat on the back to the lucky woman who is married to him. All too many times I have been out in public and see those vacant parents, you know the ones; just going through the motions, not really present with their kids, no hands on approach, absorbed and unaware. Most unfortunate is the realization that more often than not, its the Dad who is removed while Mom runs herself ragged trying to overcompensate.

I know men have one set of standards of what makes a "hot Mom", and those tend to sway more towards the physical aspect because, well, they are men. But as I have been talking to my friends about this topic, it seems that women have very different sets of standards. Of course looks help, but it seems as if it's not the only trait necessary to earn the title "Hot Dad".

Below is a list of things thing that I and other real Moms find attractive:

Hands on Dad. There is nothing more attractive than looking out the window to see a grown man running around with the neighborhood kids, playing street hockey/soccer/basketball/golf/tag etc.
Carrying kids on his shoulders. Similar to the baby wearing, there is something so cute about a man who is willing to lug a 30lb kid on their shoulders just so they can see above the crowd.
Cooking/cleaning. I am sure this one goes without saying, but if you man cooks or cleans without you to nag at them, you have scored.
Education. Seeing any Dad cuddled up with their child, reading a book is adorable. Playing Scrabble with the kids? Amazing
Taking charge. When a man steps in to take over any situation, it's hot. End of story.
Doing the non glamorous things. Baby have a dirty diaper, and Dad takes care of it without a word of complaint? Thumbs up. Baby up 17 times at night, and Dad tells you to stay in bed and he will take a few shifts? Even better.
Sleeping in. Do you get to sleep in for no reason other than because Dad rocks? High five Mom.
Coffee maker. Do you wake up to a home brewed/Starbucks etc coffee waiting for you? Sure, it has nothing to do with being Dad, but it helps you function and be a better Mom.
Dad Uniform. If he is covered in spit up, hasn't shaved in a few days and been up all night with you and is still smiling, you have a winner.

Patience. He has two kids literally hanging off of him screaming and instead of losing his temper you hear "OK, OK. One at a time."

How his kids interact with him? Is he their idol? Do they rush to the door to say goodbye for the day? Wait at the window for him to come home? Is he just as excited to see them as they are him? That's a sign of a great dad.
Love. Does he shower you with admiration and love even when you are bare faced, bags under your eyes and in sweats? Score.

When it comes down to it, women really aren't that hard to please and being viewed as a great/hot Dad will only aid in your cause. Aside from the fact that most of these things listed above should be done on occasion if not all the time anyway, all you have to do it step it up. What I am trying to say here is that men need to realize that if they let their inner mush ball out, show more emotion and become more hands on they instantly score major points not only as a Dad, but as a Husband and when that happens, that Twilight hottie will have nothing on them.

Beach Wave Hair: Vlog tutorial

2010-11-10T08:50:00.000-08:00

I was chatting on Twitter a few days ago when I had the idea to share some of my knowledge with you guys. I have been a hairstylist for almost 10 years and thought it would be fun to vlog a few tips and tutorials on how to style your hair. I know how hard it is when you become a Mom, suddenly your hair takes a back seat and spends 99.9% of the time in a ponytail/bun/braid and full of baby goober and food.
Sexy.
So here I am, trying to find fun, EASY way to keep my hair looking nice and sharing them with you. The first thing I am going to show you is the Victoria's Secret tousled beach-y wave. It's SO easy after some practice and perfect for a Mom because its supposed to look messy and undone ha-ha.
Before you start the video Im going to say this: please, please please ignore my ranting. I have a bad habit of talking too much when I am nervous. Nothing more random than sitting on your toilet sideways and talking to your laptop right?
So without further adieu: Beach wave hair!

Insomnia

2010-11-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

I can't sleep.

I have no idea why. Marley consistently sleeps 12-14 hours at night, house is quiet, my job isn't stressful, my bed is comfy.
I don't know what it is exactly that triggers this, but every few months I have a period where sleep is almost impossible. Meaning on any given day I can be awake from 8am to 4-5am. Seriously.
So if you follow me on Twitter and wonder why the heck I'm on there so late, that's why. I have tried everything to help the issue, warm bath/shower, chamomile tea, no caffeine past noon, meditating, reading, sleep cds. Nothing works for an extended period of time. I started taking melatonin at the advice of my Dr, and that seemed to help for a while, but alas, it was a temporary fix.

A sample of a average night:
- gett into bed
- Read for a while
- toss, turn
- Turn light on and read some more
- lay staring at the ceiling, thinking of mundane things. (I should change the color of polish on my nails)
- Go to living room, watch tv/start iTunes. Hang out on Twitter etc
- Go to www.sephora.com and dream shop

You get the picture? Its a rinse repeat cycle. The first night or two is ok, I can get some cleaning done, catch up with friends, blog etc. But by night 5-6, Im dying. My thinking is clouded, I'm walking around in a haze and I have a killer headache.
My Dr's theory is this: Since I am anemic (very low iron), my body does not produce enough melatonin (the chemical your brain releases to signal to your body that its bed time). That and I worry/think too much. So the plan of action is to keep on top of my iron levels, take melatonin an hour before bed time, and try relaxation techniques to warn off my overactive brain.
Is is easy? No. I forget to take the pills all the time, life gets in the way and i get stressed. Its a vicious cycle and some days/weeks are better than most, but its something I'm working on.

Ummmmm

2010-11-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

Woah.
Ways I do not want to wake up ever again: A phone call asking me why there is a racy, very graphic post on my blog.
Seems someone thought it would be fun to hack into my blogger account and make a post of their own to share with you. I've obviously deleted it, but there is nothing I can do to stop if from showing up in Google Reader. All my passwords have been changed and Blogger has been notified. I apologize profusely if you were woken abruptly as I was and were offended in any way. I promise you I am not trying out a new writing style here on Tie a Little Ribbon.

Re-Committing

2010-11-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty absent from here lately, I know, I am sorry. I've had a lot going on mentally, physically and personally. I had gotten to a point where blogging just seemed like another chore to do during the day, and I wasn't happy with that. I started blogging to keep my family in to loop as far as Marley is concerned, but I also started it because I genuinely enjoy writing. Writing is theruputic to me, its enjoyable, its fulfilling, so why have I abandoned it? I don't know. Part of me has always been a little hesitant to share too much of myself on the internet, to make myself vulnerable to public scrutiny, open myself to be judged. That is a scary thing.
But, something I have learned in the last few days about myself: I need this. I need this forum to de-stress, to place my real thoughts, to brag about my cute daughter, but also to voice my views, concerns, fears, feelings. Am I perfect? Heck no. Is my life perfect? Not at all, but I am very blessed.
So here I am writing today, re committing to blogging. I genuinely miss this and want to make myself better. If I can inspire people, make them laugh, make them think outside the box, teach them something, sell a few clips (haha), then I am happy to do it.
To my readers who have stuck it out through this weird phase here at Tie a Little Ribbon, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If it weren't for the emails, Tweets, comments have I recieve from you, wondering if I was ok, I probably would have bowed out and let this blog sit empty and gone on feeling like I was missing something. Your care and concern is touching and means the world to me. Thank you for making me realize my passions and forcing me to get my butt into gear and commit myself to this, because it goes beyond this blog and into my personal life as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
So here I am re-committing, to you, to myself. This is a heart felt and tear filled thank you for giving me the chance, I'm really humbled and flattered and excited for the future.

Mom Envy

2010-10-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

Oh my Gosh, Becky! Look at her stroller! It is so cute. That’s the new (*insert designer stroller name here*).

Have you ever caught yourself saying this? I can almost guarantee that 99.9% of you have checked out another moms gear while at the park/mall/playgroup etc. What is her diaper bag/stroller/car seat like? What kind of clothes are they wearing? What about their baby? What kind of toy are they playing with?

As my friend says: “No matter which stroller you get, there’s always a mom with a better one”. I think it’s normal to check out your surroundings, size up the competition, see what is out there, but at what point does it become too much? When do you cross the line?

I love checking out other strollers and gear and I will fully admit to having a healthy dose of lust over things I have seen: “What do you mean that stroller has a bassinet attachment? That would have been so great when Marley was tiny!” “Look at how effortlessly she maneuvers through the crowds at the mall! Is she pushing that with ONE finger?”, “Look at how small that thing folds!”, “Check out the cup holder!”, “Is that the new (*insert designer name here*) diaper bag she is carrying?”, “Look! Her baby has the (*insert fad toy/teether name here*)!”

The comparisons don’t stop there, you can go one step further: does your neighbour stay-at-home and it’s not feesable for you to do so? Does your friend cloth diaper and you wanted to but Husband wouldn’t? Does your sister in law breastfeed and were you (for one reason or another) not able to? Does your BFF’s husband help out all the time and yours doesnt seem to be so hands on in comparison? Why does that lady at the park with 3 kids make motherhood look so effortless and why is she so put together? How is that lady so skinny already? Isn’t her baby, like, 4 days old? How is her house spotless all the time? Why is her 2 week old baby sleeping through the night and mine is up every 45 miutes? Her 6 month old is crawling?

The list could go on and on… you see what I am getting at.

When you start to examine this further you realize that it could go on and on, there are a million and one things to envy. It’s just a matter of if one chooses to let overshadow everything else. If you have 5 strollers at home, each one better than the last but essentially the same purpose, you may have an issue. Do you purchase things just because it is the trendy thing to do? Are you always lusting after the latest and greatest thing?

I know I have had my moments, but do I choose to let it rule my life, do I beat myself up over it? No, and I work at a kids boutique! I am surrounded by amazing and fancy kids stuff all day long and believe me when I say, I have to practice a lot of self control.

I have come to the conclusion that there is always going to be something that is bigger and better in the always changing and competitive world of Motherhood. These companies that cater to moms, babies and toddlers are smart: they put out new models every year, add new features, put together fancy promotional packages, and don’t forget the “Limited Edition”s that send some moms into a heart pounding tizzy.

If you allow it to, it could take over your life! Sure, I envy, I lust, I dream shop and even swap lives in my head, but when it comes down to it, I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. All those little “flaws” that some people see are things that I am building on. Perhaps I am a mom that someone sees and envy’s? (Excuse me while I fall off my chair laughing) Who knows?

So for now I will keep an eye on that “perfect” mom at the park with the fancy 2011 edition European stroller and remind myself that she probably has spit up on that designer yoga jacket of hers.

(This was the first post I wrote for Born Free Canada, you can find it HERE! Sorry about the recycle, but I wanted to share it with you all!)

Weaning from the bottle.

2010-10-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

Can someone help us accomplish this daunting task?
Marley is only taking 2 bottles a day now, one before her nap, and one before bed. She will drink milk and water out of a sippy cup. In fact she loves her sippy cup. She has taken the sippy cup instead of a bottle on occasion, but the last few times I have tried this approach she takes a few sips, looks at me like I am the biggest jerk ever and starts crying.
The great thing is, she doesn't need to be rocked or snuggled to fall asleep. If need be, I can give her the bottle to drink on her own and lay her down after. But. I love those two moments in my day. I love snuggling with her. I love her playing with my hands or my hair. I love the quiet time, just the two of us. I'm not ready to lose that yet, but at the same time I want to ditch the bottle asap so its less of a task further down the road. I REALLY dont want to have her walking around with a bottle at 2 years old. (Personal decision, preference not knocking anyone's actions)
So what do I do: Do I just keep up with this approach and try to switch it up between bottle and sippy as much as possible? Do I ditch the bottle cold turkey and stick it out?
I need your help! What worked for you? Tips, pointers, tequila and encouragement are needed.
Worse: Next up is ditching the pacifier.

Giveaway: MollyCake Party!

2010-10-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out the pictures from Marley's birthday party? If you did then there is a very good chance that you were drooling and ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the cupcakes!

MollyCake is a friend and a fellow Mommy who has set out to make people fatter one slice of cake at a time. She loves cake sculpting, decoration and dreaming up yummy flavors. She is truly talented and dedicated to making all of your celebrations memorable and enjoyable.
Check out some of her creations:

MollyCake has generously offered a treat for one of my local readers: a 90 minute cake decorating 'party' for 6 people! You could use this as a kids birthday party activity, a girls night out, or a family get together! The way it works is MollyMcB will come to your house, one cake design will be chosen and MollyMcB will walk you all through the instructions on how decorate and put the cake together. The cake & icing necessary will be provided and each person will go home with a 6" cake decorated by them!

HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?!?! This is a $200 value and a great way to spend a night.

Want to win? Here's how:
Mandatory entries:
- Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
- Follow MollyCake by clicking HERE and entering your email in space at the top right hand corner of her blog.

Extra entries:
- "Like" MollyCake on Facebook by clicking HERE

- Follow MollyCake (@MollyMcB) and myself (@TieaLitleRibbon) on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway: #Win a #cakeDecorating party from @MollyMcB and @TieaLitleRibbon #giveaway #milton #burlington #oakville #waterdown http://bit.ly/9a8D4a
- Post about this contest on your facebook page. Make sure to tag @MollyCake and @TieALittleRibon in the status so we know about it.
- "Like" Tie A Little Ribbon on Facebook

Please post a comment here for every entry you complete. You must live in the local area of Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Waterdown, Ontario, Canada!
Contest closes Monday November 1st. Good luck!

I Feel Like The Energizer Bunny

2010-10-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

you know? It just keeps on going and going and going and going...

Well.

This bunny is almost at her breaking point. I recently started working part time again and while I thank you Canada for my year long maternity leave, I also curse you at the same time. Im sure most of you are looking at the screen and sending me death wishes, but all of the glorious time at home with Marley has made me comfortable. I'm used to being home all day with her, I'm used to play dates and lazy days in, nap time, cleaning my house, sitting on the computer, going for walks. TAKING MY TIME.

Not any more and even though it is only 3 days a week that I am working, it feels like so much more and I feel like I am no longer able to handle everything. How do people juggle a full time job and a kid? I cant even wrap my head around multiple kids and sports/dance/tutor etc.
I have a whole new respect and admiration to the women who manage to do it all and work full time because, frankly, I'm having a hard time doing it part time.

My kitchen: disastrous
My living room: war zone
My laundry pile: scary

Yes, Jay helps out a ton where he can, but he can only do so much as well, and it's never quite the way I would like it done.
I feel like life is passing me by so fast, days are blurring into each other and time is slipping through my fingers.
I am trying to learn to let things go a little bit. I know my house will never be in perfect Marth Stewart condition, I just have to accept it.
When it comes down to it, the time I DO have at home I want a majority of it to be spent with Marley and Jay.

Marley is at such a fun age right now, I really have a blast playing with her. She is growing so smart and aware as the days go by and she amazes me with all the new things she has picked up and learned. She is babbling and yelling at everything and starting to pick up words to vocalize what she wants/needs (thank the good Lord, that whining was driving me batty), and she is such a busy body. She has to check everything out and inspect how it works, buttons are her favorite thing right now. Cell phones, tv, remote, light switches, vending machines, Xbox, toys. If it has a button/switch she is mesmerized with it. She loves all kids and people and is starting to become little miss social butterfly and will run away from me to introduce herself to the lady standing next to us. I am burning so many calories running after her now (not enough, clearly), but I really wouldn't trade it in for the world.
So even though life is so crazy busy and I am adjusting to life as a part time stay at home mom, I am embracing the changes and frustrations and learning to enjoy the moments I do have and let go of the smaller, less significant things.

I know I am not alone with these feelings of being overwhelmed, so please comfort me! How was your transition going back to work and juggling a baby/home/husband/social life?

1st Birthday Pictures!

2010-10-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY got my hands on some of the pictures from the party. We are crazy busy this weekend (us Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving now) so I will post pics now and more info later!

Amazing cupcakes from MollyCake. We had red velvet with cream cheese filling/frosting, Vanilla with raspberry filling and Chocolate with cookies and cream filling/frosting. They were AMAZING and there were zero lefovers.

My cousin shares a birthday with Marley. Jay rewarded him by shoving cake in his face.

Marley was so tired that she fell asleep while eating lunch!

LOTS of birthday gifts! A ride-on car, baby doll, books, clothes!

Happy Birthday to you!

Getting down to business

Water break!

Mmmmmm cupcakes

A very rare shot of the 3 of us together! *swoon*

Nanny and Dziadzia (my Mom and Stepdad)

Nana and Popa (In-laws)

Sick Babies Suck

2010-10-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

Is there anything more pathetic and heart breaking than a sick baby?

High fever, runny nose, stuffy sinuses, coughing, chest congestion and lots of pooping.

The feeling that there really isn't a whole lot I can do for my poor muffin when she is feeling like this is the most helpless feeling ever! Not to mention that when I do try to help her by putting saline drops in her nose or using the snot sucker (that's the official name by the way) she screams bloody murder. There is no real way to communicate to her that I am doing what I can to help and that is frustrating for both of us. I'm just trying to snuggle her as much as I can and make sure she is as comfortable as possible. This too shall pass!
Oh, and the angry, red and raw diaper rash from her acidic poop? That's the cherry on top.

How To Clean Up Baby Poo

2010-10-05T16:35:00.001-07:00

Yes, you read that title correctly.
*sigh*
Unfortunately I have become a master at cleaning baby poo from every surface imaginable. The reason? Marley has figured out how to take her diapers off and now knows how to remove her pants in order to get said diaper off.
I'll give you an example: A few days ago I put Marley down for a nap and she happened to be wearing her adorable cupcake dress from Gymboree with no tights on.
On this particular day she decided that she wanted to play in her crib for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep, so she was laughing and squealing and talking to herself for a while and then all was quiet. After a short period of time she was awake again and the talking and laughing ensued, but I was not going to get her, she usually naps for at least 2 hours and 45 minutes was not an acceptable nap. Within 15 minutes she was again asleep and stayed that way for quite a while and when I went into the room to get her I was greeted with a very happy very dirty Marley.

My train of thoughts went something like this: "Woah. Someone has a BIG dirty diaper.",
"Woah. Why is her diaper on the FLOOR?", "OH.MY.GOD. WHY IS MY DAUGHTER COVERED IN POO?", "IS THAT POO ON THE WALL?".

People, I can not even begin to describe the state that her room was in. There was poop in and on places that poop should not ever be. Walls, crib bars, crib toys, blankets, SOOTHER, carpet, bumper pads, crib skirt, she even managed to get it on her wardrobe that sits beside her crib. Lets not forget that this does not include the mess that covered my little girl: nose, ears, hair, hands, finger nails, neck rolls, toes.
Where do you even start to clean that mess? I ran to the bathroom to run a bath, picked Marley up under the armpits and deposited her into the tub and lets just say that I needed q-tips to clean up certain areas of her body.
Once she was all clean it was time to strip her bed, remove all excess mess (ew ew ew ew) and deposit the soiled stuff into a very hot washing machine with lots of soap and bleach. Next it was time to attack all of the surfaces in her room with vinegar and water and SCRUB the mess away. Her room looked so odd being so bare:

The morals of the story: a.) make sure Marley has a cloth diaper with snaps when she goes to sleep, b.) make sure she has bottoms on that she has a hard time taking off and c.) vinegar and water really is the best cleaning solution ever.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Jay and I decided to take a hike with Marley and Oscar this past Sunday. Might as well enjoy the decent weather while it's still around! Here are some pictures, looking at them I am reminded how lucky I am to live where I do.
*I am wearing Marley in the Moby Wrap, we have had this since she was born and LOVE it*

Dog days

2010-09-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

Have you met Oscar?

He is our 5 year old Boston Terrier/Pug cross.
Oscar is our very first baby, he is a big suck. He sleeps in bed with us, he actually spoons with me at night.
When we decided to start trying to get pregnant, we never had any reason to be worried about how Oscar would react to a baby. Of course he would be a bit jealous, but he has never been aggressive in the slightest and we were confidant that he would adjust well.
When Marley was born we took the advice of many websites and before we came home I had Jay bring Marley's hat, a receiving blanket she had been wrapped up in and a wet diaper and allow Oscar to sniff them out and get a little acquainted with her scent.
When we arrived home with Marley, Jay held Oscar while I held Marley and we allowed him to sniff her out. We propped Marley in her Boppy and Oscar promptly curled up beside her and fell asleep.

Marley and Oscar meet for the first time

It looked like a friendship was formed. Oscar would sit beside her swing while she napped, lay on the floor beside her crib and sleep beside her on my bed.
Then it happened.

Naptime

As I forced myself to get out of the house and get back into the real world, we were leaving Oscar unattended and giving him free run of the house as usual. We started coming home to accidents in the form of large yellow puddles and little brown packages. We started locking him in the bathroom to give him room to roam, but keep him contained. We were still greeted with presents from Oscar. We even resorted to pulling the crate out and crating him while we were out. It is said that a dog will never dirty a place where they sleep (The crate is *just* big enough for him, like trainers say it should be), well apparently Oscar has found a way around that. PEEING AGAINST THE WALL BEHIND THE CRATE.
We have started to pay lots of extra attention to him, making sure he gets lots of time outside and trips to the park. He continues to be happy, affectionate and has a good disposition in general. He shows no ill will towards Marley at all, aside from running away when she is too excited. We have taught her to respect his space and treat him gently and do our best to enforce it at all times.

That is my pillow he is laying on

While Marley and I were away for a week at the cottage, Jay called to tell me that Oscar had not had a single accident since we had left. NOT ONE. The very day we come home, Oscar pees all over the bathroom.

buddies

The conclusion has been made that Oscar is jealous of Marley and he lets us know by emptying his bowels and bladder all over our house. What can we do about that? We have not found a long term solution to our problem and it's becoming a rather big issue. I love Oscar, he is a member of our family like anyone else, but there is only so many times I can clean up my floors before I start to lose patience. I don't want to have a house full of urine and a unhappy dog.
Is it time to suck up the financial cost and take him to a trainer? Will that even help? Have you dealt with this? Know someone who has? HELP!

Marleys Birthday Bonanza! Pt 5

2010-09-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Mother-Ease Cloth Diapers? If not, you are about to be introduced. They are a Canadian based company that has set out to take the cloth diapering world by storm! Their Sandy's fitted diapers have won the PTPA Seal of Approval and lots of rave reviews. I received a bamboo/terry Sandy's and Air Flow Cover to test out.

Great things:
- Snap closure. I hate aplix with a passion. I find snaps to be so much more durable, easier to wash (no diaper chains), and Marley can't undo it and streak naked through the house.
- Fit. The diaper is side snap closure and has 3 leg settings and two tummy settings. You can customize the fit to your child easily. It fits nice and snugly around the legs and the waist without leaving red marks.
- Durability. This diaper has stood up to multiple washings over the last 3 months I have had it. There is no fraying, pilling or any other signs of wear.
- No leaks! We have never had a single leak with this diaper. Marley has slept a full 14 hours after drinking 15oz of milk and not a single spot of wetness was found on her in the morning.

Not so great things:
- I was not a huge fan of the Air Flow Cover. There were no leg gussets, so I did find there were a few leaks. The only way for us to avoid leaks was to tighten the leg snaps which led to red marks on her thighs.
- The Air Flow cover had a really annoying flap/gape thing at the side when it was all done up (as you can see in the pictures).
- I hate to be materialistic, but the prints/colors that are offered are not as up to date as most other covers on the market.
- It did take a little bit to get used to the side snap closure, and in the beginning I hated it. Once I got the hang of it I found it better and easier to put on.

Verdict:
Overall Jay and I both really love the Sandy's fitteds. They are a great quality, fit, value and design. We are defiantly going to be purchasing a few more for our stash. Neither one of us were crazy about the fit and quality of the Air Flow cover, but use it in a pinch if need be. If it came down to it again, we would pass on the Air Flow cover and purchase the Sandy's on it's own.

Would you like to try the Sandy's and Air Flow Cover out for yourself? Mother-Ease has graciously offered a set to one lucky reader!

Mandatory entry:
- Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
- Visit Mother-Ease and tell me something you didn't know about cloth diapering

Extra entries:
- Follow me on Twitter (@tiealitleribbon)
- Tweet about this giveaway: I want to win a @motherease Sandy's/Air Flow combo from @tiealitleribbon #clothdiapers http://bit.ly/926IFZ #MarleysBirthdayBonanza
- Follow @motherease on Twitter
- Join Tie a Little Ribbon on Facebook

One comment per entry. This contest is open to Canada and US residents!
Winner will be drawn on September 25th. Good luck.

Marley`s Birthday Bonanza! Pt 4

2010-09-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

Sweetpea Lovies is run by the very talented and sweet Christina. She offers the most beautiful blankets in various sizes from security blanket "lovie" size to stroller blanket size and loves doing custom orders. She is always updating her shop with new and gorgeous prints that force me to drool and lust over her shop.
Christina has offered a $25 credit to her shop so your little one can have a beautiful blanket to keep them warm!

Mandatory entry:
- Follow me via Google Friend Connect
- Visit Sweetpea Lovies and tell me how you would spend your credit

Extra entries:
- Follow me on Twitter (@tiealitleribbon)
- Tweet about this giveaway: I want to win a Sweetpea Lovies (@Christina6279) credit from @tiealitleribbon http://bit.ly/dqyjPZ #giveaway #MarleysBirthdayBonanza
- Follow @Christina6279 on Twitter
- Join Tie a Little Ribbon on Facebook

One comment per entry. This contest is open to Canada and US residents!
Winner will be drawn on September 25th. Good luck.

Marleys Birthday Bonanza! Pt 3

2010-09-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Mabe'ls Labels? They are a Mamma owned company that makes labeling your child's items easy AND cute. They offer waterproof/microwave safe, peel and stick name labels for sippy cups, shoes, etc. They also offer iron on labels for clothes, allergy labels, bag tags, household labels and Mama cards! There is nothing they haven't thought of. Their designs are super cute with fun colors and designs that you can customize. I have some for Marley and the quality is outstanding and they really are adorable.
The have graciously offered The Classic Ultimate Back-to-School Combo to one lucky winner!

Mandatory entry:
- Follow me via Google Friend Connect
- Visit Mabel's Labels and tell me how you would customize your Ultimate Back-to-School Combo.

Extra entries:
- Follow me on Twitter (@tiealitleribbon)
- Tweet about this giveaway: I want to win a @mabelhood package from @tiealitleribbon http://bit.ly/ahILIR #giveaway #MarleysBirthdayBonanza
- Follow @mablehood on Twitter
- Join Tie a Little Ribbon on Facebook

One comment per entry. This contest is open to Canada and US residents!
Winner will be drawn on September 20th. Good luck.

Marleys Birthday Bonanza! Pt 2

2010-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Becca at Hugs & Kisses designs has graciously offered a $20 credit to her gorgeous shop! Becca makes clutches, wet bags, art work, blankets etc. Basically she is a crafting goddess and her stuff is SO cute!

Mandatory entries:
- Publicly follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
- Visit Hugs & Kisses and let me know what you would use your credit towards.
Extra entries:
- Follow me on Twitter (@tiealitleribbon)
- Tweet about this giveaway: I want to win a Hugs & Kisses (@becca7903) credit from @tiealitleribbon http://bit.ly/aeotSN #giveaway #MarleysBirthdayBonanza
- Join Tie a Little Ribbon on Facebook

One comment per entry. This contest is open to Canada and US residents!
Winner will be drawn on September 25th. Good luck.

Marleys Birthday Bonanza! Pt 1

2010-09-17T06:00:00.001-07:00

Becca at Jumping Jax Designs, the lovely lady behind my blog design was kind enough to donate her talent to our celebration today! Enter to win a $20 gift certificate to her design studio. You can use it towards a blog design, blog button/banner design or some of her super cute custom invites.

Mandatory entry:
- publicly follow my blog via GFC
- Visit Jumping Jax Design Blog and let me know what you would use your credit towards.

Extra entries:
- Follow me on Twitter (@tiealitleribbon)
- Tweet about this giveaway: I want to win a $20 credit to Jumping Jax Designs @parofam from @tiealitleribbon #giveaway http://bit.ly/asO92N #MarleysBirthdayBonanza
- Follow @parofam on Twitter
- Join Tie a Little Ribbon on Facebook

One comment per entry. This contest is open to Canada and US residents!
Winner will be drawn on September 25th. Good luck.

Happy First Birthday Marley

2010-09-16T23:45:00.000-07:00

A year ago today I was given the greatest gift I would ever be given, the gift of Motherhood. Marley was born on September 17th at 6:57am after a long labor but ultimately making her debut via c-section. She weighed a healthy 7lbs 12oz and was a very laid back, mellow baby from the beginning. She hardly made a peep and studied the world around her with those old soul eyes of hers.
I have tried to sit here and write out my thoughts and feelings about today, but truth be told I am at a total loss and way too emotional to do it eloquently so I wil leave that for another day and give you guys a little picture collage of Marley's first 11 months so you can see her grow.

One day old

One month old

Two months old

Three months old

Four months old

Five months old

Six months old

Seven months old

Eight months old (I was bad and forgot to do proper pics this month, but I did get this beautiful shot)

Nine months old

Ten Months old

Eleven months old

P.S. Be sure to check back today, we have a Birthday Bonanza Giveaway event going on all day today!

I had a realization today

2010-09-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

Marley and I packed up and headed to the park behind our house the other day where I was hit with the realization that I now have a TODDLER! She was running around the park, climbing the stairs, going down slides and PLAYING. Like a big girl.
When did this happen?

It seems like over night she started walking and became this super independent little girl. She doesn't need me to do everything for her anymore, she can do some of it on her own thank you very much.
Now excuse me while I bawl like a baby and scramble around to finalize Birthday party plans/supplies/decorations/food.

Just swinging away

OMG look over there!

A mirror! At the park!

WINGS! (shirt from Gymboree)

Time to go home?

Lets talk pregnancy

2010-09-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

NO I AM NOT PREGNANT.
But I have baby fever in a major, no good way. My sister in law just had a baby 3 weeks ago and I cant tell you how amazing it felt to hold a snuggly, teeny, tiny baby. A baby that stays still and snuggles into you for hours on end.
So I have been reminiscing about my pregnancy a lot lately. I remember the awesome things like those first few moments after I saw those two lines show upon the pregnancy test, my husbands face when I told him we finally got a positive, the first time I felt her move and the first time I saw her squishy face.

19 weeks pregnant

But as with most things, there are not so great aspects as well. For instance: the never ending feeling that my stomach acid was going to eat my esophagus. I popped so many Tums and Gavascon during those nine months that I told Jay I was going to get a decorative candy dish to hold them in. How about the feeling that I was never going to have a proper, satisfying pee ever again? Sure, I constantly felt like I had to pee, I mean "rush to the bathroom I am going to pee my pants" pee, only to get there and have a tiny trickle come out.

30 weeks pregnant

Let's not overlook the feeling that your body is now big enough to take up an entire postal/zip code of it's own. My belly got so huge that I could no longer find shirts that would fully cover the bottom of my protruding bump. It was so big that I could not drive for the last week of my pregnancy. SERIOUSLY. I couldn't maneuver my body around enough to check my blind spots, my belly touched the steering wheel and the seat belt cut in in the most uncomfortable manner.

37 week pregnant

I really miss the feeling of her rolling around my belly, I always felt like that was our little secret together, her way of connecting with me and building a bond. I miss the shelf that my belly created, it was a perfect rest for my hands/arms to rest. I even have a picture somewhere of my dinner bowl resting on there as I ate.
All aspects considered, I had a really great pregnancy. There were no major issues, no horrible sickness. While I do really miss the feeling of being pregnant and having a newborn baby, it's not the right time for Jay and I to expand our family yet. We want to move into a larger home and have some more fun with Marley before we jump back on the baby train. I guess I will have to live vicariously through my sister in law.

39 weeks pregnant

40 weeks and 3 days pregnant, 3 days before Marley was born

How was your pregnancy? Are you planning on expanding your family soon?

Myrtle Beach Vacation Pictures!

2010-09-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I'M HOME!
I had a fantastic vacation with the family, we had amazing weather and it was so much fun. That is, aside from Marley getting 2 molars and waking up at 2am every night. Let's just say that Jay and I had way too many walks on the beach at 2 am than I would like to say. We did survive though and as the weeks went by she seemed to get better. Wahoo!
We had a 17 hour drive down, and the plan was to do it all in one shot, with no stops except to pee and get gas. Mission accomplished! We left at 7pm because it is Marley's bedtime and she slept the whole way down except for a couple hours in the morning! I couldnt be happier, I was so nervous about how Marley would handle being confined in her car seat for that long. I can't praise the Britax Marathon enough! No flopping forward while sleeping and she was so comfy the whole time. I will do a bit more of a write up about the trip later, but I am dead tired and have a million loads of laundry to do. For now, here is a picture overload for you all!

Keeping entertained in the car
Playing in the pool with Popa
Bathing Beauty
She LOVED playing with buckets full of water.
Nothing better than line drying CD's on the beach
My favorite shot of the trip. Marley and Daddy
Family shot. Nice tanlines eh?
Marley got a doll stroller for her Birthday. She is in love.
As soon as I unbuckle her from the carseat she twists herself out and stands up like this.
<3
I cant explain how much she loves the beach and the ocean.

Birthday cake
Cheeks

Finding the perfect lipstick!

2010-09-03T11:54:00.001-07:00

Todays guest post is from Fancy Face! She is a dear friend of mine and on more than one occation alomost made me pee my pants from laughing. Not only is she sweet, hilarious and has one CUTE son and an amazing Husband (seriously yàll, the stories I could tell) but she is also a very talented Makeup Artist. Visit her today and soak up her knowledge!

Hello TieaLittleRibbonians! I was absolutely honored when Krystal asked me to guest blog. Now my blog might be a little different than the others because I write a topical blog about makeup & beauty. I have a series on my blog called "Ask Fancy" where I respond to readers questions. Just wanted to clairify in case you were thinking, "What kind of crack is this girl smoking". Thanks Krystal for the opportunity!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ask Fancy: How to Find the Perfect Everyday Lipstick

Ok, HELP! I'm terrified of lipstick. Everything I've ever tried looked awful on me (or I thought so, anyway). I have zero idea of shades, etc. So I just don't ever wear any. How the heck do I know what to go with? -Darah, Kansas

"If I had to teach someone just one thing about lip color it would be this: Find a lipstick that looks good on your face when you are wearing absolutely no makeup."- Bobbi Brown, "Beauty"

Ahhh, lipstick. The 8th world wonder of the makeup world. This is probably one of the most frequent questions I get asked (aside for my phone number of course).To find the most flattering everyday lip color the key is to find a lipstick one or two shades darker than your natural lip color. How the eff do you figure this out? To test shades, apply lipstick or gloss to one lip (I prefer bottom for some reason) to compare to your natural lip color. When it comes to us pasty gals, look for lipstick shades such as nudes with a slightly apricot shade, pinks and light corals. Step away from the basic browns. I beg of you.
Its a bad scene, a real bad scene.

I like "Rosey Mad" & "Fun Coral 15" by Sephora Collection for us sun-challenged folks.

Now, for the ladies with a medium skin tone can go a tad heavier. Roses, mauves, plums and berries.
I like M.A.C's "Chatterbox", "London Life" & "Capricious"

Dark plum, chocolate and red is fabulous with for women of color. Also, anything with a golden or carmel undertone always looks amazing on ladies with deep skin tones.
Think Buxom's (LOVE these lipsticks!) "Barcelona" or "Havana".

To be clear, these are just general guidance points. For myself, I wear every lipstick shade I can pretty much get my hands on ('cept browns, vom). But when it comes to an everyday lipstick, these are the rules I like to follow. The most important thing is that you just want to slightly enhance the color your lips are naturally.

Another good trick I recommend is to look at celebrities who have similar complexion & hair color to yourself. See what they are sporting this season and this might help you to also find something for everyday you love.

Here are some lipstick looks I swoon over:

Well thanks for having me! If you want to submit a question, come on over to Fancy Face and I'll hook you up :)

A guest post from The White Blue Sky!

2010-08-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hello beautiful people of the world (aka: the readers of Tie A Little Ribbon). Before Krystal went on vacation she gave me a backstage pass into the walls of her beautiful blog to guest post!

Who in the heck am I? Allow me to introduce myself. Hello! I am browneyes_24b, the author of The White Blue Sky. I am a mother, a wife and a friend. I also happen to be in a constant state of trying to live my life vivaciously and graciously! My blog is a place where I blabber on about random adventures in life. I host occasional giveaways (my newest one starts on September 1st, be sure to check it out! Over $600 in prizes!). I have a quirky sense of humor and I love to play on words. (My blog used to be named Larry's Ass). Intrigued? Yes? Well then, I love you already!

I had the pleasure of meeting Krystal when both of us were pregnant. Now we both have pre-toddler babies who keep us on our toes nonstop! Krystal is not only one of the sweetest people I've ever e-met, but she is gracious and has a heart the size of the Pacific ocean! When she invited me to guest post I felt a sudden urge to jump up and down with ridiculous excitement! Thank you SO MUCH for having me, Krystal!

You are in for a treat today! One of my latest adventures in life has been to learn how to cook. When I say "learn," I say that quite literally. I am a master of cold meat sandwiches and splattered tomato sauce that is meant to be on my spaghetti. As my baby boy (who I nicknamed Bubs on my blog) started to explore table foods, it hit me. I need to provide real food beyond pureed fruits and vegetables to this child. I want him to grow up with the taste of real, homemade food that is as wholesome and delicious as possible. I have always wanted to be a good cook. I have burnt a million meals while every so often stumbling into something delicious. Motherhood has been my biggest inspiration to make my dream of cooking become a reality.

One day I realized I needed some accountability. I turned to my blog. For 14 weeks I have been taking on new recipes. I've been challenging myself with new techniques and new foods. I call it Culinary Evolution. This weekly meme is a small way for me to explore the world of food all the while sharing my adventures with readers. This week, I am THRILLED to share my latest cooking extravaganza with YOU, here on Tie A Little Ribbon!

Culinary Evolution is also a place where fellow foodies can link up to their own recipes, cooking blogs and cooking related giveaways every week! I post my adventures on Mondays, so be sure to check it out! I hope you join me in weeks to come!

Let's get to the food, shall we? This week I had the joy of making a recipe from Fine Cooking. Chicken with potatoes, peas and coconut-curry sauce. It is DELICIOUS. I had never made anything with coconut milk before! Plus I love love love fresh ginger. Mmmmm. It has a kick! I highly recommend giving this recipe a try. Hey, if I can pull it off, you will be able too!

Here is the recipe:

Chicken with potatoes, pease & coconut-curry sauce
From Fine Cooking

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 3)

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

2 Tbs. vegetable oil; more as needed

1/2 medium onion, finely diced (to yield about 1/2 cup)

1 Tbs. minced fresh ginger

2 tsp. seeded, minced fresh jalapeño

1 Tbs. sweet curry powder (not Madras or hot)

1 cup homemade or low-salt chicken broth

1 medium (6-oz.) red or yellow potato, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice (to yield about 1 cup)

5-1/2 oz. can coconut milk, well shaken

1/2 cup frozen peas

2 Tbs. roughly chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
Trim the chicken, removing the tenders and slice on an angle into 3/4-inch pieces; season generously with salt and pepper. In a 10-inch straight-sided sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat until it's hot enough to shimmer. Add half of the chicken and cook, flipping once, until lightly browned and just barely cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate; repeat with the remaining chicken. Cover with foil to keep warm.

Return the pan to medium heat and, if it looks dry, add another 1 Tbs. oil. Add the onion, ginger, and jalapeño and sauté, stirring almost constantly with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables soften, about 2 minutes. Add the curry powder and sauté for 30 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the pan with a spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the potato and 1/2 tsp. salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until the potato is barely tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the coconut milk and peas; simmer uncovered until the peas are thawed, the potato is fully tender, and the sauce is somewhat thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Taste the sauce; add salt and pepper as needed. Add the chicken along with any accumulated juices to the sauce and turn to coat with the sauce. Serve immediately, sprinkled with the cilantro.

Allow me to share with you my adventure of making this meal through visual stimulation:

I heavily peppered my chicken - and it is so worth it. Use lots and lots of pepper! I am also proud to say that the jalapeno used was fresh from my garden! Yum!

The final product:

Is your mouth watering? It should be. This recipe is fantastic!

Well folks, here is where my blabbing ends! I want to thank Krystal again for letting me guest post here at the lovely Tie a Little Ribbon! If you enjoyed this cooking adventure with me, please stop by and check out my blog: The White Blue Sky.

You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook and of course in your preferred reader!

I hope you are having an amazing vacation, Krystal! Happy weekend!

Support and when to walk away

2010-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today's post is brought to you by Alena at Charmingly Chandler. Alena and I have been friends (although interrupted for a period) for over a year. We were each others support during the crazy time of 2nd and 3rd trimester and those crazy first days of new Mommy-hood. Visit her blog for some cloth diaper info, PPD talk, cute pics of her pumpkin and more! Enjoy!

I'm so excited to be over here visiting at Krystal's place. You see Krystal and I go back, way back...all the way back to 2009 (HA). But, really, Krystal and I met a year and a half ago on a pregnancy message board. Maybe some of you have heard of it? Goes by the name of TheBump (a.k.a. where fun goes to die). We were both suffering from a severe case of 2nd tri insomnia and became besties in no time. Making up our own religions where we could have brother husbands to take care of all of our visual, humorous, and romantic needs (someone get on this!). Late night chats quickly take their own paths, and this is when we realized that Scotland needed to get onto cloaning...and fast. (Oh, and Canadians need nightlights....even if we still don't know why!)

All of this is why, no matter how much I dislike the bad parts of pregnancy/mommy message boards....I'll always be grateful. When I was pregnant I became friends with a some women that helped me stay positive, that supported me when I was worried about the viability of my pregnancy. Women that "pumped up" my big ultrasound. It was like finding your pregnancy BFF that knew what you were going through and could support you even when they didn't.

It's hard not to become close with those people, the people you share fears with. Talk about baby names with. The women that can ask what paint color looks best about 5,348,234 times. I think Krystal and I probably spent over 100 hours talking, planning, searching to the ends of the internet for idea's for our nurseries. Would your 'IRL' friends put up with you changing your plan daily? Probably not. But with your pregnant 'NB'? Absolutely. Because she's changing her mind too.

The tricky thing about pregnancy/mommy message boards is bonding with out taking it all too serious. You have to be willing to open up, while keeping your skin thick. It's about knowing when to end your time there and move on, and when to reach out. If you're on mothering.com, parenting.com, whattoexpect.com or thebump.com....it's all the same. You'll meet women that you will bond with and share an experience with, hold on to those people. But know when to walk away...and close that door. Because raising a child isn't like being pregnant....bonding over parenting decisions doesn't flow as well as bonding over nursery colors. So don't stay away, just don't get sucked in.

Oh and stay away from Gerard, he's ours!

Lets talk communication

2010-08-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Todays guest post is from LCW over at Waking Up Williams. She is a green Mamma, has some awesome recipes and her husband is hilarious. Check her out!

There a little something I'd like to talk about, it's called communication. But specifically communication between a mother and father and/or husband wife. How many times have you assumed the other person knew what you were talking about or thinking? Yeah, countless. And how many times was the assumption right? Yeah. Probably zero. In our home, you have to ask for exactly what you want or need, or it ain't happening.

Me: JPW please get Ryann ready. (it's morning and we're headed out the door for the day)
JPW: Ready for what?!
Me: (silently sighs and scoffs) Ready for the day, clothes, teeth brushed, new diaper if needed, hair brushed.
JPW: Where is her outfit?
Me: Choose something from her closet or dresser.
JPW: I CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING IN HERE.
Me: Move out of the way, I'll do it.

Maybe I should have let him stumble around, or trash her room looking for something, but I do not have time for such nonsense. It's easier if I do it. Then he's scoffing at me for "taking his duties away", which I laugh at. I'm going to start labeling her drawers, for real.For the record, her room is very organized and her clothes are always in the same location. And my request to have JPW get her ready, yeah, it wasn't clear...well for him. I mean what does "get ready" mean to you? Next time I'll make sure to speak clearly, slowly and request each item separately. He's not an idiot, but he doesn't understand my code language, obviously.

Also, when trying to snuggle up with your honey for some morning action, be clear with your intentions. Allow me to set the scene. The baby is quietly babbling in her crib, I hear her over the monitor and both JPW and I are starting to stir. I scooch (is that a word) closer and rubbing his chest. I was slow and gentle in my approach. He springs out of bed, and heads toward the door. What the hell? Where is he going? He returns with our baby. Normally this is not strange, we all snuggle in bed every morning. But I'm the one retrieving her and if he rescues her from the crib, it's after a clear request. "Would you mind getting the baby and bringing her back". So with him dashing for the baby I jump up, use the restroom and start a shower before he returns with a hungry baby. While we're getting ready and shuffling the baby back and forth or keeping her from launching herself in the shower I mention my intentions twenty minutes earlier, in which he declares as unclear. I don't know what was unclear about us cuddling, I didn't mention the word baby, or Ryann, or please get her, or anything. He stopped and thought about it for a minute and said, "Damn I read you wrong, I thought you wanted me to get the baby". He's kicking himself now for his misinterpretation of my cues and I reminded him that next time I'll just ask for whatever is I want be it the baby or morning nookie.

So to wrap all of this up, communicate effectively or you may miss an opportunity.

Vacation Time... again

2010-08-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm a spoiled girl.
We are headed to Myrtle Beach for 2 weeks!
I will be away until September 4th, but I promise I have some cool guest posts set up.
Have fun!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

*Disclaimer: Marley went into the dog cage and closed the door on herself. I did not place her in there for fun, I promise.That is a (clean) baby wipe she pulled out of the box, not a gag. I did however laugh pretty hard when she started giggling to signal that she was in there and quite enjoying herself. Please do not call CPS on me.*

If she wasn't so cute...

2010-08-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation. My sweet, fun, easy going baby is GONE. As in nowhere to be found. Lost. Peace out Mommy.

I know I have blogged about this, but its HARD. She is bored with all of her usual toys and games and whines at every thing.

Bored with your toy?
Whine.
Hungry?
Whine some more.
Mommy on the other side of the room?
Whine louder.
Toy too far across the room?
Throw whining fit.
Daddy trying to get you to walk instead or crawl?
FREAK OUT.

Y'all? I am emotionally and physically tired. I hear the whining in my sleep, in the shower, even when she is asleep and I am awake. I wake up in a panic at night, thinking I hear her crying. I'm at my wits end with this new development and I feel so overwhelmed, frustrated and out of my league. I feel like I should be doing more, like this is somehow my fault. I try to remind myself that this is just a phase and she is just as frustrated as I am. I know she can't communicate with me and articulate what she wants and needs and resorts to whining to get my attention, but it's not pretty and grating on my nerves.

Marley, telling me off

For the cottage trip I was alone with her, Jay had stayed at home to work and I went ahead with the "vacation". She is usually such a happy, easy going, happy baby, so I figured it would be a good time, and easy.
Enter Miss Whine A Lot, Stage Left. A disruption of plans already made.
This means no break for me. No handing her off to Daddy so I can have some "me" time and relax.
Daytime has become a never ending dance of Entertain-Marley-For-Hours-On-End, then she is content.

Another new development this week: up screaming her face off from 3am to 5am. You would think someone was removing her limbs, fingers and toes, the way she was crying. It was nightmarish and I cried right along with her a few times. She has never cried like that. Ever.
Not since the day she was born.
By the end of the week I had a better hold on it, and managed to keep it a little less traumatic for everyone else in the cottage. But it still sucked. A lot.

I was ready to pull my hair out a few times, but my amazing Aunt and Uncle that I was staying with helped keep her entertained during the day and offered support in the early mornings. We got a kiddie pool for the massive dock for her to play in, we went for boat rides, played games, sang songs, danced and ate lots of good food. In the end, I survived, barely, but I did it.
Single Moms and Dads out there: I salute you and bow down at your feet.

Have you gone through this whining phase? Are you going through it? Am I alone? Help me, give me some peace of mind that I am not alone!

Checking out the view from the dock.

Yay for kiddie pools!

Baking a diaper (click HERE for the story)

Is there anything cuter than a sink bath?

Strike a pose.

Putt putt in the jetski

Marley LOVES the boat. Video to come.

Hanging with Captain Uncle Pete

Yummm

Being a Good Guest

2010-08-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Todays guest post comes from Katie. I `met`Katie on Twitter and I immediately developed a huge girl crush. She is witty, sweet, a PPD ass kicker, book lover and has an adorable little boy that I want to nom on. Also? Her husband is a good sport too. She blogs over here, Sluiter Nation. Please go check her blogs out!
Enjoy!

Hey everyone! I’m Katie. I was invited over here by Krystal. So I am her guest today. She told me I could write about anything that I wanted, so of course I asked twitter. And I was NOT disappointed with the ideas. Complements of twitter…I give you: Why I am a Good Guest.

I am punctual. Well, I am mostly punctual. Ok, I am not punctual at all. I will be the last guest to arrive. But wait…this is good. Once I am there, you know the party is complete. Everyone that is going to come? Has arrived. And? I am not obnoxiously late. No. I am within a half hour of party time. And I try to sneak in all quiet and non-disruptively.

Ok that last part? About being quiet? Not really true either. But again, this is good. I promise. I am loud. And the more refreshments you give me? The louder I am. But I keep people entertained and I try to keep everyone involved. Plus the louder I get, the funnier I get. I think.

Anyway, another reason I am a great guest? I bring you stuff. I always bring my hostess something fun. I try to do something homemade and thoughtful and themed to the party, but when I realize your party started 10 minutes ago and I am just now finishing my eye make-up? I usually grab you a yummy bottle of wine from my rack. Or a cute frame or candle that I haven’t had time to find a place for.

And when you drink the whole bottle of wine that I bring you and totally forget to serve dinner to all of your guests? I will not just remind you gently, but I will help you chop those tomatoes and set the table. Even if I have had a bottle of wine on my own too.

I will also play whatever party game you have on schedule to play. Catchphrase? I am awesome at that. Apples to Apples? I rule. Cranium? The hubs and I never lose. But we are not bad winners…no way. We encourage competitiveness. We encourage fun. And we may do an obnoxious winner dance when we smoke you. Oh wait. Just me. The hubs has much more tact than I do.

Which brings me to my next point. If the hubs is invited? He keeps me from going OVER the top in trying to bring the fun to your party. He will control my refreshment intake and my conversation wandering (or at least try to) so that your party can be civilized and fun instead of chaotic and regretful.

And lastly…unless my child is with me and he needs to get home to bed? I am pretty likely to stay until the bitter end and help you clean up. It’s true. After all my drinking and game playing shenanigans, I like to be helpful. I’m good about gathering all the left behind dishes and glasses. I’ll help move furniture back. I’ll gather all the empties.

And before I walk out the door? I will hug you and tell you how much I appreciate you. Because I love being a guest.

So Krystal? Hugs to you. Thank you for having me over. I hope I wasn’t too loud or obnoxious, but I did pick up after myself.

Do you love me?

2010-08-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

Like love me a lot? Or even a little?
It was announced this morning that I am in the top 3 finalists to be on the Born Free Canada Panel! OMG OMG OMGGGGGGGGGGGG!
Dude?!? I want to be on there SO badly. I am a Born Free Mamma all the way. All of our bottles since the day Marley started taking a bottle, 3/4 of our sippy cups, all of our straw cups and formula dispensers are Born Free! I love their products and their goal as a business and how they educate their customers.
I SO want to be a part of this.
Please? Please please please please go to this site all you have to do is enter a comment voting for me! No joining, no Tweeting, no subscriptions. Just a comment.
Krystal at Tie a Little Ribbon (duh).
I love you all so much and this would make my week. No, it would make my YEAR!
Go HERE to vote for me.

I'm Just Trying To Deal

2010-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today's guest blogger is one of my most favoritest bloggers (and women) I have met in the great world of Mom Blogs, Twitter and TB. Metta at 365 days, mommyhood at 30 she is classy, funny, smart and has the most adorable little girl.
Check her out!

When Krystal first suggested I talk about adjusting to lack of sleep as a new momma, in the back of my head I was thinking, “Well, we’re starting to get it under control with just one wake-up a night…I wonder how the post will go?” Well of course as my life goes, just the mere thought of this jinxed me. This was how the next night went…

Around 2am Abigail woke up. She was on her hands and knees, butt in the air, blanket off, by the time I got to her. She quieted down so when I tried to situate her, with blanket and such, she saw me. Cue the cries. Usually when she wakes up in the middle of the night, we go straight for a bottle, and while I change her diaper she sleepily holds the bottle like a big girl. Well for some reason I did not do this. I decided to just rock her b/c I thought she wasn’t hungry. Who knows why.

Over the next two hours I made her a bottle, changed two diapers, rocked her, and attempted to put her down about four times. At one point, I almost started crying. Not for Abby, but for me. Then before the tears could start rolling down my cheek, I realized that crying over me not getting to sleep was pretty dumb, so I bucked up if you will. (NOTE: I’m on night duty during the week. I’m a teacher with summers off and the hubs has to get up to work. It’s a deal already discussed so I don’t want to see any comments about me having to do it alone.)

Finally, I decided I needed to get reinforcements. Abigail was up, like ready to party up. I was at my wits end. And of course, just 20 minutes after said reinforcement was enlisted, Abby was fast asleep. This is where I start to doubt my abilities as a mother. All the while I was thinking that if my boobs hadn’t given up on me, I surely knew a nursing session would have soothed her down a lot quicker.

After tweeting my pains of my two hour early morning adventure, Abby decided that the next two nights she was alright to sleep 10 hours. Go figure.

Adjusting to these ebbs and flows in Abby’s sleeping pattern has been difficult. It doesn’t help that from about two months old to seven months old, Abby was a great sleeper. She slept the entirety of the night…for the most part. This made my transition back to the working world a bit easier. But once seven months hit, and Abby was sick for the third time since starting daycare, with her first full fledged not going away fever, sleeping through the night was thrown out the door. Even when she got better, she was still getting up two times a night. Even after her second tooth cut, she was still getting up.

Right now I’m able to deal with this…well my mind is a mess at points with trying to put things that belong in the kitchen cabinet in the freezer and putting things that belong in the refrigerator in the microwave. (It doesn’t happen often, but when it does I realize what lack of sleep can do to a person.) I can manage because I think that at least I don’t have to get up at 6am and deal with teenagers and school politics all day. But now, as August is here, I’m in a panic. What the hell am I going to do if Abigail continues on this ebbing and flowing in her sleep patterns? How are we going to handle parenthood when both of us are zombies because during the week we will go back to sharing night time duties? How will I be a good wife, mother, and career woman? What is going to give?

I’m freaking out, if you couldn’t tell already. And this is the point where I talk myself down. Being a mom is about juggling. Being a mom is about dealing. Being a mom is about sucking it up. I do have my anxiety ridden moments where the freak outs occur…like above. But once I get some clarity, I just move on. I realize that I can deal…that I am dealing. That somehow things always turn out alright. I have an amazing thriving little girl who overcame so many odds at birth. I have an amazing husband, who even at my darkest moments always comes back to me, knowing that this too shall pass. (He really deserves some sort of award for dealing with my manic episodes.) I have an amazing little family and at the end of the day, that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside, even when I can barely put a sentence together and my eyes struggle to stay open.

I’m dealing and that’s all anyone can ask me to do.

Step Into My Office

2010-08-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

My swanky, pretty NEW office! Isn't my blog SOOOOO pretty?!?
Becca at Jumping Jax Designs has done a great job and is a dream to work with and her prices are great. If you are looking for a new look, I highly recommend her. I love the design so much, and it suits Marley and I perfectly.
There are still a few things that need to be tweaked here and there, so hang in with us as we perfect my new surroundings.
In other news: I have not heard back from the winner from the H2O Plus review and giveaway, so I went to Random.org and drew another name. Congratulations to JSC123! I have sent you a email and a tweet, please respond within 48 hours.

Anywho. I am at the cottage, and it's amazing. Cozy, fun and very relaxing. Marley has had 2 teeth break through and surprisingly it was pretty uneventful. She has been a little more clingy and whiny, but nothing too crazy. All very exciting stuff. We are going for a long boat ride to check out the multi-million "cottages" and homes on the lake, aka wishful thinking. Must be nice.

Andplusalso? It rained like a mo-fo yesterday afternoon and I had my Flip diapers and Thirsties Fab Fitteds out on the line to dry. No clean, dry diapers in the cottage. Ya. I'm THAT idiot. "Look at me! I can cloth diaper for a whole 10 days without a proper washer and dryer." I.AM.A.DUMBASS.
The washing part is totally fine, and so would the drying part, except I didn't think about rain. We aren't exactly around the corner from a store that has diapers of any kind either. So what do I do? I turn the oven on and dry my diapers in there. Very carefully.
VERY CAREFULLY.
Ok, I *may* have singed one a little. It just looks a little toasted, that's all. It still does the job.
Again: I am a dumbass.

The Wonderful World of Poo.

2010-08-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today my guest blogger is MammaOnDaGo have you read her or Tweeted with her? If not, go do it because she is awesome.
Enjoy!

Poo. Who would have ever thought I would one day become somewhat obsessed with my children’s poo? It’s definitely one of those bodily functions that I just took for granted in my everyday life prior to having children. I would just go when needed and that would be the end of it.

Now, I mentally keep track of my children’s poo. Once day 3 starts to roll around and my children have not pooped, I start to worry. No one wants to end up in the ER because of his or her child’s lack of poo. Non-stop diarrhea can also buy you a visit to the ER. I’m sure we’ve all heard some horror stories.

Poo is a unique composition of this and that. You can’t have too little of it and you can’t have too much. There is a balance. Through the years, I’ve come into contact with a vast assortment of poo. Not to toot my own horn, but I would like to call myself a self-proclaimed poo aficionado. Here are just a few of the species that I’ve come across since I became a mama.

1.) Black tar: aka meconium. The first poo. Aww! The first anything is always special. I think someone needs to invent a scraper for it because it was darn near impossible to remove.
2.) Exploding poo: This is the type of poo that somehow makes its way up and out of your child’s clothes. I didn’t know a small newborn can push their poo with so much force that it comes out of the holes of their onesies.
3.) Snobby poo: This is the poo that ONLY comes out when a new diaper is placed. For some reason, this type of poo does not want to mingle with any pee or any other poo. It wants it own attention. Its own fresh diaper.
4.) Acid poo: This poo could probably burn through metal. Even if you change the diaper out milliseconds from the acid poo coming out, it still manages to turn your child’s bum into raw meat. Quick, someone patent the composition and use it as a lethal weapon.
5.) Liquid poo: Is that poo or a weird colored pee?
6.) Good golly, I have to help that poo come out: You place your child in the oh-so familiar labor position. At times, you may even have to further intervene by using umm, your fingers to help that sucker out.
7.) Shy poo: It’s the poo that starts to peek out, but is too shy to fully come out. Come out already!
8.) Marble poo: The poo that looks like rabbit pellets. If you aren’t careful, it’ll roll out of the diaper. Hopefully, you notice it exiting the diaper and you don’t end up stepping on it or your child doesn’t pick it up.
9.) Make not only me gag, but your child: The smell is so bad that your child also gags at the scent of this lethal bad boy. Open all windows and spray air freshener non-stop for 20 minutes.
10.) Multi-color poo: Did you just eat a rainbow? Is that normal? We are missing a blue crayon?

Announcements!

2010-08-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

The winner of the H2O Plus Skincare giveaway is Angelface AKA @Beachg1rl! Congratulations. I am sending you a Tweet since I don't have your email.

In other news, I am leaving this afternoon for a week vacation at the cottage! Woot woot. It's a rough life, but someone has to live it. I have 3 guest bloggers helping me out while I am gone, so I promise you will not be bored. Make sure you come by to check them out.

Also? I will have a new blog layout soon! I won a contest over at Webbisodes for a blog makeover courtesy of Jumping Jax Designs. Very exciting stuff and it's SO pretty!

Table foods for babies/toddlers

2010-08-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

Once Marley started showing the obvious signs that she only wanted to feed herself I started giving her more table foods in the form of Baby Led Weaning. Basically it allows you to give babies larger, solid chunks of prepared food and engages the baby to explore tastes and textured. I started out with soft and easy things like waffles, toast, fruit, noodles, pancakes, steamed veggies, scrambled eggs etc. I would cut them up into manageable sized chunks and put them on her highchair tray.
I found in the beginning she didn't eat as much as she did with purees, but that was because she was playing and exploring the textures and tastes as well as fine tuning her hand to mouth skills. Once she was better at feeding herself and I got less paranoid I started giving her more things.
She eats whatever we are eating now, including meats, spaghetti, Thai food etc. I just make sure to cut things up into pieces or strips for her (toast, veggie burgers, hamburgers, banana etc are cut into strips so she can hold it and learn to chew bites off). She is a really good eater and clearly takes after her Daddy and eats everything and anything.
I will warn you, it gets messy and she will have some choking/gagging in the beginning, but it's their time to learn how to deal with that and avoid it. It scared the crap out of me a few times, but we have never had anything major happen. She now knows how to cough to dislodge something that is still to big to swallow.
Examples of food we give her on a regular basis:

Breakfast
Pancakes, waffles, toast (with butter, jam, cream cheese, mushed banana on top), cheerios, scrambled eggs, cheese, yogurt, omlette, banana muffin, fruit muffin, oatmeal, turkey sausage, English muffing (muffin, but the typo stays haha), strawberries, blueberries, melon, cantaloupe, applesauce, peaches, mandarin oranges, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries.

Lunch/Dinner
grilled cheese, grilled chicken, noodles with cheese, steamed mixed veggies (Normandy style), chicken dog, asparagus,drained soup, lasagna, spaghetti, burger, veggie burger, roasted potato, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato fries, steak (she LOVES it!) tomato, cucumber, roasted pepper, kielbasa, cheese, olives, pickles, green beans, goldfish crackers, meatloaf.

As a rule, we try to make sure she has veggies and/or fruit at every meal and use them as snacks throughout the day.

That's all I can think of for now. Like I said, the girl eats everything! Do you have any great ideas for healthy kid food? Share them in the comment section.

P.S. Have you entered my H2O Plus Skincare giveaway yet? Enter HERE, contest open until this Friday the 6th. Good Luck!

I think she wants a bottle.

2010-07-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

What do you think?

H2O Plus Skincare Review and Giveaway!

2010-07-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

Firs off I want to say thank you so much for all of your support and well wishes. It has been an emotional 2 weeks and your kindness has meant a lot to me. I really have
some of the sweetest readers around!

Now on to business!
I recently had the pleasure of attending the launch of H2O Plus' new skincare line Sea Results. As a new Mom, my skin care routine has taken a backseat, not to mention all the changes I have noticed with the lack of sleep, so of course I jumped at the chance to try some new products out. Anything to make me look brighter and more awake! H2O Plus is all marine based and infused with water which is meant to naturally hydrate, protect and replenish the skin. One of the first things I noticed is that their products do not contain perfumes or harsh scents, they are all naturally scented. All of their products absorb right into the skin and are light and non greasy as well! Another major bonus because there is nothing worse than feeling like you are wearing grandma perfumed Crisco on your face right?

The new Sea Results line is a fast acting line that is meant to visibly tighten, smooth and even out skin. The line had been rounded out with 3 new additions:

3-in-1 Foaming Cleanser - I adore this product. It is so light yet it still removes all my makeup(even my waterproof mascara) grime, sunscreen, sweat etc., it also cleanses and tones all with the power of a anti-aging marine blend of nori, himanthalia, and spirulina which promise to plump up tired looking skin as well.

Sea Results Deep Sleep Recovery Serum - Or "Botox in a bottle" as the sales consultant told me. Um, can I take a lifetime supply? I know I'm young, but to be honest, I am a sun worshiper which means my skin is starting to show signs of aging already. I'm not happy about it, but this product promises to bring back a smoother looking, radiant skin. It's infused with Retinol which stimulates collagen production, increases skin thickness and elasticity, improves skin tone by improving dark, spotty patches, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and increases the skins hydration level. I have been using it for a few days and I'm really impressed already. I have noticed a few brown spots are fading a bit and my skin does look fresh and radiant.

Sea Results Line Resolution Cream SPF 30 - This daytime face cream really has it all! It smooths lines and creases, firms, hydrates, brightens and prevents future damage with at SPF 30 built right in. Like I have mentioned, I love the sun and have not always been the best with applying my sunscreen, mostly because I hate that greasy feeling on my skin (and I'm lazy). Enriched with anti-aging marine blend and goldenrod this cream goes on nice and light and stays smooth, even under makeup.

So, would you like to try out some H2O skincare?
I have a Night Oasis Oxygenating Energizer Serum and a gift bag containing a travel size Oasis Mist, Sea Mineral Scrub, Face Oasis Ultra Hydrator and Night oasis Oxygenating Energizer Serum, that ONE lucky reader will win!

Want to know how?

Mandatory Entries

- Head over to H2O Plus and let me know what product you would like to try.
- Follow me publicly via Google Friend Connect

Extra Entries (1 comment per entry please)

- Follow me on Twitter
- Become a fan of Tie A Little Ribbon on Facebook
- Follow H2O Plus on Twitter
- Tweet about this giveaway using this message: I want to win @H2O_Plus #skincare from @Tiealitleribbon #giveaway http://bit.ly/bRFCu6
- "Like" H2O Plus on Facebook and let them know I sent you.
- Blog about this giveaway and link back here to let me know.

Please make sure you leave your email in at least one of the comments so I can easily contact you if you win. Contest will be open until August 6th, noon. Contest is open to Canadian and US residents.
Good luck everyone!

Emotional Times

2010-07-27T19:21:00.001-07:00

I have a few blog posts ready to write and post but I just cant seem to get myself to do it.
There have been some pretty emotional things going on with us. Jay's Uncle tragically passed away in a boating accident this past weekend and I have been going through some complicated family things as well.
I appreciate your patience with me and my lack of posting but I promise to make up for it in a few days when I can get my wits and emotions under control.
xo

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-21T07:59:00.001-07:00

Marley finally met "Auntie" Jaymie. Love you Jaym.
(Go visit her and her adorable daughter Kaylee HERE)

10 Months Old.

2010-07-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

Give me a second while I stop crying, blow my nose, catch my breath and wipe the smeared,running mascara off my face.

10 MONTHS OLD. AS IN 2 MONTHS (8 WEEKS!) AWAY FROM 1 YEAR OLD.

Gosh, time really does fly. I used to roll my eyes when people told me to cherish every second because it flies by, now I'm the one telling people that. Snuggle that tiny newborn baby!

Here are Marley's "stats":

* WALKING! Kind of. Sometimes. She takes a few steps here and there when she feels like it, and usually when no one is looking but me, but I swear she does it.
* She eats like a pig. Everything and anything, she loves it all. We have yet to find something that she does not eat. Jay wants to try her with Thai food, but I'm hesitant on the spicy. No more making separate food for her, she eats what we eat (unless it's spicy)
* She is starting to babble more and more which makes me relieved. She has been quiet in the past, but now all she does is yell and babble in her own language. Lots of yelling and grunting.
* Words she can "say": Mama,Dada, Baba, Dog and Hi
* Standing on her own, not holding onto anything for long periods of time. She can also go from sitting/crawling to standing without assistance from anyone/thing.
* She will let you know if she is upset with something you have done. Don't believe me? Remove her from the dog food bowl and watch the hissy fit that ensues.
* She sleeps a blissful 12-13 hours. Don't hate.
* She figured out how to climb into her Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair, sit down and "read" a book. She will turn pages and babble. Beyond cute.
* There are 7 teeth in her mouth and 2 more on their way. (I think, she tries to bite my hand off every time I try to look).
* She loves the water and swimming. Bath time is her favorite and she soaks everything splashing around, crawling in the tub and standing up. It's almost impossible to get her to sit down or heaven forbid, lie down in the tub. We had to put a non slip mat in there. She starts squealing with delight when she sees a pool and loves floating around and splashing.

And now, some pictures!

Best view ever in the car:

That smile that says: "I'm doing something I shouldn't be"

Playing with Daddy at the park.

Pretty flower

Is there something on my face?

I think stir-fry is a HIT

10 Months old!

Summer Summer Summertime

2010-07-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

We noticed the other day that Marley was developing the red bumps on her tongue and hand that signaled another bacterial infection. After rushing her into the Dr he examined her and confirmed that yes the infection was back, which is very puzzling to him. Not a good sign.
While he was examining her, he looked into her ears, looked up at me O_O and said he would be right back. He strode back into the room with a big long scary looking, sharp instrument that he insisted on sticking into my daughters ears. Let me tell you, that was NOT fun. It wasn't even horrible, it was horrendous. The blood curdling screams that came out of my daughter as I held her down (more O_O from me) and he scraped stuff out of her ears. Lots of yucky, gross stuff that did not want to come out.
Good times. Swearsies.
Marley not only has another bacterial infection, but a wicked ear infection that she showed no symptoms of and I feel like the worst Mommy ever. She is on antibiotics and seems to be doing well and on the mend, so that is awesome.

I happier news: I have need babysitting my 2 little brothers for the last two weeks, they are 11 and 6 and SO much fun. Marley is in her glory with all the attention she has been receiving and I am convinced I need to buy or rent a 6 year old to entertain her. He sings and dances for her, plays peek-a-boo, chases her around, helps her walk around, splashes in the pool with her and gets her giggling like no one else can. My heart grows 6 sizes when I see the boys interact with her. Some pictures of the fun times below:

Lifeguard Marley, keeping an eye on the boys in the pool

I love myself

Poolside lunch

Picasso is finger painting

Crazy hair and Marley's favorite pool toy

1...2...3...JUMP!

Poetry Blog Hop

2010-07-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

The amazing and very talented Metta over at 365 Days 30+ Mommyhood
came up with the great idea to do a poetry blog hop. She posted a skeleton of a poem and asked her readers to fill it in and create their own poem. I decided to tackle the poem even though it's been a few years. Enjoy!

I am from cozy blankets
from lights and picture frames
I am from the small cozy rooms
and warm colors and lingering baking smells.
These things surround me and comfort me.

I am from the lake that contains my childhood memories,
The Maple Tree outside my bedroom window,
Leaves turn ruby red in the fall,
Whose long gone limbs I remember
As if they were my own.

I’m from Cooking and Laughing late into the night with people dear to me,
Serious conversations, happy and excited hopes and wishes,
All of them discussed this way.

From Aunt Donna and Nanna Iris
I’m from Sleeping in late and Shopping too much
And from Nail biting.
All seemingly bad habits but embraced none the less.

I’m from Sugar and spice and everything nice
And You are my sunshine my only sunshine
Sung softly in my ear.

I’m from Big Family Dinners that go on forever
I’m from Lindsey and England
Yorkshire Puddings and Roast Beef
Can you tell we like food?

From Aunt Sue's 7 year battle with cancer that touched so many
And the legacy she left behind.
I miss her every day.

Elephants all around,
Photos that speak a thousand words,
Recipes that have been passed down
Charm bracelets that detail a journey,
Diamond heart pendants that remind us;
Even though we could never forget,

They are on my nightstand,
In my daughters room,
Around my neck,
In a treasure box under my bed,
Embedded into my heart and mind.
I keep these things all close to me

I caught poop.

2010-07-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

Literally.
One of my finest and most glamorous Mommy moments ever happened this morning.
Marley was running around naked, partially because she has a bit of a diaper rash still and partially because she was so squirmy I couldn't find the energy to wrestle her into a diaper.
I was rushing around trying to get her stuff together for the day as my Mom was on her way to pick her up for the day and I was pressed for time. Of course I couldn't find anything I needed or wanted and as I was rummaging through Marley's drawers to find an outfit that fits her (side note: stop growing so quickly Marley, I am going to be poor soon) when all of a sudden I hear loud grunting and straining coming from my daughter on the other side of the room.

o_O

I panicked and desperately looked around for something to catch the inevitable poop that was about to come, but since I was surrounded by cute clothes and nothing else, I did what any good Mommy would do: I ran over, cupped my hands under her bum, squeezed my eyes shut and prayed.

Oh yes I did.

Disaster, avoided.

Momma's Munchies Monday!

2010-07-04T18:52:00.000-07:00

Today's theme is grilled dinners, so below I have posted my favorite BBQ steak and veggies. I hope your family enjoys it as much as we do. Recipe Serves 4.

You will need:
4 steaks (cut of your choice)
1 pinch seasoning salt
2 cloves of minced garlic (or a pinch of garlic powder)
1 tsp greek seasoning
1 cube chicken bullion crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted

1 bunch of Asparagus
1 tbsp oilve oil
1/2 tsp seasoning salt (I love Natures Seasoning)
1/2 tsp lemon juice

Directions:
- Stir the seasoning salt, garlic, Greek seasoning, and bouillon cube into the melted butter.
- Mix until the bouillon cube dissolves.
- Pour the marinade into a wide and shallow dish and place a steak of your choice into the marinade, turning to coat both sides.
- Cook or grill as desired. Let steak stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Personal note: I like to bake the steak in the marinade at 350 degrees F, ten minutes per side before finishing it on the grill. I also like to crumble some goats cheese on top of my steak when it comes off the grill. Try it, you will thank me later.

For the asparagus:
- Clean and trim asparagus as desired.
- In a large mixing bowl combine combine all ingredients and toss until asparagus is coated.
- Place asparagus onto a large sheet of aluminum foil. Fold foil over them and seal edges to create a packet.
- Place foil packet of asparagus onto bbq at medium heat for approx 10 minutes or until they are cooked to your liking. We prefer them still nice and crispy.

Things I Have Learned While Cloth Diapering

2010-07-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

What Works For Someone Else Might Not Work For You.
Every kind of diaper fits differently, every company's diaper fits differently, every baby is shaped differently and has different skin. Do you see where I am going with this? Just because one brand/style works out for Jane, does not mean it will work for you. Jane's baby might have chunkier thighs than your baby, Jane may like the snap closures, Jane may prefer the AIO's. You? You might have a long skinny baby, prefer the ease of Velcro and love the versatility of pocket diapers.

Try A Few Brands and Types Before Stocking Up.
Like I stated above, you never know what might work out best for you, so going out and buying a $500 intro kit before test driving a few is not the best idea. You could waste a bunch of money, time and energy. Test a bunch, then build a stash.

Just Because You Love Something Does Not Mean It Will Work Out.
I love BumGenius. LOVE. They fit Marley perfectly, they don't leak for us, they are absorbent and they keep her bum dry. The only problem: She seems to be having a reaction to the suede cloth they use to line their pocket and AIO diapers. If you don't know what that means, it means that Marley gets a wicked diaper rash whenever she wears them. I have tried anything and everything to fix the issue: I stripped those suckers a few times, I switched detergents, I line dried, I changed the wash routine, I changed her diet. No go. I want to cry, I wanted this to work out, but it's not. Not the end of the world since we have other brands we love that work well for us, but I have to sell off my BumGenuius diapers.

You Get What You Pay For.
It seems too good to be true, you are searching Ebay and come across a company that sells their cute pocket diapers for $5! You whip your paypal account up faster than you can blink and order 10 of them. You wait 4-6 weeks to get your amazing steal of a diaper that you can not believe you found. The glorious day it arrives you rip the package open to discover it's cheap plastic, flimsy, you could exfoliate your face with it, the Velcro comes undone within a week and it stinks after 2 uses. You email the supplier confident you will receive friendly and understanding customer service only to realize that they hardly speak English, do not accept returns and do not offer exchanges. My personal experience: you pay $5 for a diaper, you get $5 quality on all levels. Of course there are some exceptions to the rules, but make sure you do some research before making a purchase.

Keep an Open Mind, Try Different Things.
I've tried brands and styles I never thought I would look twice at. Once the BumGenius' started causing issues we expanded our horizons a bit and tried out some fitteds and covers. This always seemed silly to me because it was double the work (double snaps/velcro etc.), and more laundry. We got a hold of some Thirsties Fab Fitteds and Thirsties Duo Covers and gave them a whirl. I love them so much. The Fab Fitteds are bullet proof for us, no leaks at all and fit like a dream. We also get extra bonus points because we could use the Flip covers (which I love as well) over them. I still love the Flip system for travel and normal wear, but the Fab Fitteds are great for over night and longer trips. I never thought I would go this route, but we tried it out and realized it worked best for us.

Take Care Of Your Diapers.
I have come to look at the washing and drying of cloth diapers like this: You are not going to buy a $100 bra from La Perla and toss it into the laundry with you regular clothes are you? NO. You are going to lovingly hand wash it with special soap, hang it to dry and maybe even store it in a special place. Make sense? If you are going to invest this money and time into cloth diapering why not prolong their life and care for them in the best way possible? They have very specific washing instructions and laundry detergents made for them for a reason: they need it, plain and simple. Yes it may be a pain in the butt in the beginning but believe me, after a few runs it's like second nature. Another thing: invest in a decent wet bag and a pail liner. It will keep your diaper bag dry and stink free and keep your diapers from getting gross.

Cute/Pretty Is Not Better.
Sure, it may look adorable on your baby's little bum, it may be minky soft, it may be funny or cute but there is a line that needs to be drawn. Companies sometimes charge more for patterned and specialty fabrics when in reality it doesn't make the product perform better. If it's not functional or does not work properly it will end up being a waste of money. This one is not always easy (have you SEEN some of the adorable covers out there?!) but unless it's a tried, tested and true brand you love or you have money out the wazoo, steer clear.

Wandering minds...

2010-07-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have had a severe case of writers block lately, hence the silence on the blog. I'm sorry but every time I sit down to write something out I come up blank. Call it scatterbrained, lazy, busy, emotional or just plain silly, I don't know! I have a million on one things go through my head a day that I find myself wanting to blog about, but when I get some time to do it I can't get anything out. Very odd. I think this may be another way that my life is changing, things seem so hard to put into words. There are so many special moments in one day and sometimes finding a way to write it out while not making it seem cheesy or insignificant is hard for me. I will work through this though and hopefully make it back to the old me!

In Marley news: SHE TOOK 3 STEPS ON HER OWN!
The only reason I think it was 3 steps and not more is because I "squeeeee"-d so loud I scared the crap out of her. Bad Momma, but dude I was SO excited and so proud I couldn't stop myself. I immediately called J on his work phone to tell him and just like a proud Daddy he turned to his partner and told him the news. My hubs is so cute. Since then she has been testing out her balance and standing more and more on her own, even taking a few steps here and there. She looks like a drunken, half blind, bad hip-ed 90 year old woman, but it's progress. She also runs along the couch while holding onto it now. Literall running. Top speed. I fear for Oscar's sanity, I don't think he ever realized that she was going to walk and run one day.
One thing she does without any hesitation:

I have to figure out a way to teach her how to turn around with it, but she is so proud of herself when she gets going.

Thursday was Canada Day here in the Great North and we celebrated by hanging out with my In-Laws in their backyard, enjoying a bbq and some drinks. Marley clearly enjoyed herself and went for a dip with Poppa, she is a total water baby, which reminds me, I have to sign up for swimming lessons soon.

On that note, I hear Miss Marley waking up from her nap, so I should run! I promise I will be back again soon.

Stupid thoughts.

2010-06-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

Am I raising a brat? I want to punch myself in the boob for even thinking that, let alone write it out, but this is something that has been bothering me for a week or so now. Marley is turning out to be a very, very busy girl. She is into everything, very active and extremely vocal when she doesn't get her way and this has me worried. Gone are the days where she would happily play with her toys that I lovingly picked out and hang out in the living room while I accomplished chores and work. Oh how I miss those days. It seems now that she is very mobile she wants to explore everything, especially things that she shouldn't be. She tortures the dog, eats the newspaper, tears apart my laundry pile, pulls toilet paper off the roll, dumps the garbage, gets into the dog food.... Do you see where is am going with this? She is BUSY. Yes I have baby proofed, so everything is safe, but the girl gets into everything. I find myself asking where my chill, laid back easy baby went. Am I destined to have a child that throws fits and never listened to me? Will I be the mom in walmart with the screaming, temper tantrum throwing child? The lady chasing after her kid at the grocery store? You know the ones I am talking about, you see them and smile on the inside because your child will never do that. Right?
Now before you go ahead and judge me, I know this is normal, but I am admitting that this is a hard adjustment for me.

I called up my best friend who has a daughter who is exactly a year older than Marley and cried all my fears and exasperation to her. She sat in silence listening to me and then proceeded to tell me that she once called her sister up with these same complaints and fears, she too was scared for her sanity and worried she was doomed. My friend shared with me the same advice her sister gave her, and I am forever grateful because she reassured me that I am not a horrible mom and everything I am feeling and experiencing is normal.

This is what she told me: Marley is not doing this on purpose, she is not turning into a bad girl, she is simply exploring her world, she is testing her boundaries and learning the rules. You have to remember that as she is getting older she is more aware of her surroundings and will want to explore and experience them. As a mother this is when you have to enjoy the delight in their learning and exploring, but this is also when you should start to enforce rules, teach her no and boundaries. As a woman and a mother we tend to take things personally and to heart. Understand that she is not purposely being disobedient, it is not a reflection of poor parenting, she is just exploring and learning. Do not give up and do not dwell on the negative, turn it around and make it positive. This is a normal stage, turn it into something positive and this too shall pass.

Now is where i let out a huge sigh of relief, of course my 9 month old daughter is not purposely doing this TO me! She is being a baby, a child. This is the most important time to teach and guide her and here I am ready to give up and admit defeat! Goodness, talk about Mommy fail.
I will admit, finding I am not alone has helped me immensely. Yes, I have taken pleasure in my fellow mothers pain and anguish, but only because this amazing pearl of wisdom came my way because of it.

Marley is still a total sweetheart, she is easy going and very mild tempered for the most part. She is lovable, snuggly, smart and adventitious. The fact that I chose to focus on the negative aspects of her instead of embracing the positive hurts my heart, and I vow not to do that anymore. I have to remember not to over think things and jump to negative conclusions. I've also realized that this will be the first of many phases that will make me scared and emotional and insecure, I have to learn to go with the flow and trust in J and my own parenting skills. This is just one more glaring example of Marley growing up and becoming independent and I can't tell you how sad that makes me. My little girl will is learning and exploring, I should embrace this, so now I will.

Tweet me?

2010-06-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

I've finally joined this century and joined Twitter! I'm not going to lie, it scares the pants off of me, but I am figuring it out quite well. I can fully understand why people say it's addictive. With the ease of Tweeting from my BlackBerry I can put my most random thoughts out there. Oddly, I find it very therapeutic and it's a great way to network for the business and blog.
If you would like to follow me head on over and enjoy my randomness.
http://twitter.com/TieALitleRibbon

Baaa baaa buuu boooo baaaa

2010-06-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

Marley has started to babble. Finally. She has been vocal for quite a while, yelling and making noises, but no real babbles. Today she started cruising around while going: "baaa buuuu baaaa buuuu boooo baaaa ooooooooo". I will admit, I had a perma-grin on my face after that, it was music to my ears! I'm not expecting her to form actual words, no matter how much I repeat Momma and Dada to her, but to hear that she is now capable of it makes me feel good.
Another thing she is doing all the time now? Walking along the couch and running, not walking, with her push walker. It scares me out of my ever loving mind, but she laughs so hard when she gets going so I have to laugh. To be honest it kind of makes me sad. My little girl is growing up, she is getting bigger every day and developing at an alarming rate. Pretty soon it will be her first birthday and she will be smashing up a cake and terrorizing us while running around. As excited as I am for those moments I have been trying really hard to stop and enjoy the moments right now.
Speaking of her first birthday, I picked up the most adorable skirt for her to wear for the party and/or pictures:

I know, kill me with cuteness why dont you?

Momma's Munchies

2010-06-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

LCW over at Waking Up Williams has started up a new Monday post that involves sharing some really yummy recipes, it's called Momma's Munchies. Now anyone who knows me knows I love food. I love food so much that I am having such a hard time dropping this last 5lbs of baby weight. I all love finding and sharing tried, tested and true recipes so I am going to do my best to participate every week!

This week's theme is appetizers. It just so happens that appetizer food is some of my favorite stuff, even though they are usually fried, filling and not so good for you (or at least the ones I like haha).
I have made this recipe for Spicy Anojitos many times and I am alwyas hunted down and begged for the recipe. They are warm, creamy, spicy and they always hit the spot. I hope you enjoy them as much as my friends, family and I do.

Spicy Anojitos

2 pkg. cream cheese
1/4 cup salsa (I like hot)
1/4 cup green pepper
1/4 cup red pepper
1/4 cup jalapeno pepper
1/4 cup green onion
6 tortilla shells
1.5 cups cheddar cheese grated
1 small bowl of sour cream to dip
1 small bowl of salsa to dip

- Mix cream cheese with peppers and onions in a food processor.
- Spread mixture over tortilla shell evenly. Sprinkle cheddar over top and roll up tightly.
- Wrap rolls in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before slicing into 1 inch pieces.
- Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve with salsa and sour cream on the side to dip. Enjoy

Make sure you visit Momma's Munchies to find other yummy meal ideas!

Busy busy busy

2010-06-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

I know. I KNOW. I've been a horrible, bad, awful, no good blogger lately. I apologize from the bottom of my heart! I'm going to make an effort to update more often, I promise.

With the launch of Tie a Little Ribbon on Facebook and the contest I held my life has been Marley with a hefty side of ribbons, crystals, bows, clips and headbands. I could hardly keep up and it made me panic that I might not be able to handle the commitment. Then I received the exciting news that a local Boutique wanted to carry some of my items! I was so giddy with excitement, but I'm still worried that I am going to have a hard time keeping up with everything. Baby, husband, work, bows and myself. I decided to suck it up, get over my doubt and get the most adorable assistant ever to help me:

We proceeded to make a giant mess in the house and get all the orders out. I even managed to make a few more clips for Marley since she finally has enough hair for them! I literally did a happy dance when I swept her fuzz off to the side and secured a clippy into her hair. Adorable. There are no words to say how happy this makes me. Sad, I know.
So like I said, we made a huge mess. Instead of working in my usual desk area I had to pull everything out and sit at the living room couch and work while Marley played. Buy playing I mean tried to eat every single piece of ribbon, flower and tiny bead she could see. She completely ignored the fact that I pulled out every fun toy she had to distract and occupy her for a while. No go. Flowers and ribbons are so much more fun and she decided she wanted those. Cue me trying to juggle both things. People, it was not easy work! I was ready to rip my hair out and throw in the towel. It was cute seeing her try to hang with Mommy, and I feel horrible for having to pay less attention to her, but it was necessary to get things done and I eventually managed to finish up and not go crazy.
The end result, my living room looked like this:

I managed to get miss Marley down for a nap, turned to look at my living room and wanted to cry. We live in a 900 square foot condo, there isn't a lot of room and clutter is my worst enemy. You can have a few things on the coffee table and the whole place looks like a pig sty. I put on my Super Mommy cape and managed to make the place presentable again AND make dinner! Even I was impressed with myself.
I"m very proud of myself and excited for the new opportunities open to me right now.

I'll leave you with an adorable picture I took of Marley today:

What's for dinner?

2010-06-08T11:57:00.001-07:00

I'm making turkey and sirloin meatloaf! It's the best recipe I have ever tried.
Give it a try:

1/2 lb ground sirloin
1/2 lb ground turkey breast
2 eggs
1 cup whole-wheat crackers, crushed
1 medium diced onion
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 cup shredded carrots
2 tsp Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup barbecue sauce, plus extra

1. Mix the beef and turkey until well blended. Add the eggs. Mix in the remaining ingredients, including the half cup of barbecue sauce, until well blended.

2. Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape and place it on a broiler pan. In small bowl combine extra bbq sauce with Parmesan cheese. Coat loaf with barbecue sauce mixture.

3. Cook at 350°F for 1 hour. Double-check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should read 160°F. Makes 4 servings

Nutritional info:
Per serving 366 calories, 32 g protein, 31 g carbs, 13 g fat (4 g saturated), 3 g fiber, 581 mg sodium

A little contest.

2010-06-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

If you have not noticed, Tie A Little Ribbon hair accessories now has a fan page on Facebook! I am running a contest right not, the winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to the shop. All you have to do is the following: "Like" my page and then post it to your wall and recommend to your friends. Report back to my Facebook page and let me know that you have posted it. As soon as I reach 100 fans I will pick someone using www.radom.org as the winner!
Come on, you know your little princess needs some cute hair accessories!
Here is the link to the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=23306004&v=wall&story_fbid=122655397773909#!/pages/Tie-a-Little-Ribbon/287998347235?ref=ts

I'll be posting lots of fun giveaways and contests, so keep an eye out for them!

Marley shakes her booty

2010-06-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

I will warn you: the following video is exploding with cuteness.
You have been warned.

Clearly she has her Mommy's rhythm.

Please. Someone save me.

2010-06-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

The following have happened to us in the last week:

- Marley somehow picked up a bacterial infection. It started around her mouth with little pimples and proceeded to spread to her tongue and exploded on her right hand. A scary looking red, swollen, blistered, infection filled grossness. After a few trips to the emergency room and our family Dr she was finally put on antibiotics and closely monitored. Fun times but she is on the mend.

- Said antibiotics wreaked havoc on Marley's system and she proceeded to have explosive poops multiple times a day. Have I mentioned that we are cloth diapering? Ya, those liners can only contain so much poop before you have to get your hands dirty. More fun times. (On a side note: The combination of a Flip Diaper cover and Thirsties Fab Fitted diaper is bulletproof. Not a single leak.)

- 2 more teeth are poking through. Fever, sleepless nights and a very clingy baby. None of the usual remedies helped. That brings our tooth total to 7. The fun times keep coming.

- I have been working 2 nights a week and am quickly realizing how hard it is to juggle baby, husband and work. How do people do it with a full time job?

- Money and budgeting. No one likes that and I am fairly certain that money is the root of all evil and 99.9% of all arguments in a marriage.

- I've gained 5lbs. In 2 weeks. I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I am 5'0, 5lbs looks like 10+ lbs on me. My clothes are uncomfortably snug and I have the worst self esteem right now. Hence, I am count calories and back on the 30 Day Shred. 30 days in June, coincidence? I think not.

You know what did make my week though? I finally received my shipment of Thirsties Fab Fitteds that I got on www.babyhalfoff.com for 50% off! These diapers are amazing! They are SO absorbent and very comfortable. Marley went 14 hours in one last night and not a single leak! (Yes, Marley slept 14 hours last night. I am Blessed, I know.) These require a waterproof cover and I have been using the Thirsties Wrap and the Flip covers with no issues. Great stuff!

P.S. I'm working on something really exciting for my faithful readers. Check back soon for more details. =0)

Funniest Thing Ever

2010-05-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

3 Years

2010-05-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday J and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary and 5 years of being together. I can say without a shadow of doubt in my mind that I have found my soul mate in him and I couldn't be happier. We have fun together, laugh, cry, explore, learn and challenge each other. We have gone through ups and downs and still stay strong and know that we will always be there for each other, loving unconditionally.
Happy 3 years Babe, I Love you so much.

Cottage Time!

2010-05-25T20:39:00.000-07:00

We decided to take advantage of the long weekend and packed up the car and headed to the family cottage. Miss Marley had an uncharacteristic screaming and whining fit so Mommy had to hang out in the back seat for the first hour of the drive. We played peek-a-boo and I even gave her my cell phone to play with because we all know there is nothing worse than an unhappy baby on a long car ride.

Diva

Once she finally fell asleep it was smooth sailing and we made it to the cottage in record time!

We had amazing weather, both Sunday and Monday were very hot and sunny. To help keep cool I pulled out a inflatable kiddie pool, filled it 1/4 of the way with water and beach toys and plopped Marley in. Success, she couldn't have been happier. Best of all: Mommy got to hang out in the sun!

My sister, a few friends and I went to the local concert hall and checked out Xavier Rudd and Justin Nozuka. It was one of the best concerts I have been to in a while, very chill, cool atmosphere and extremely talented artists.
I'm also going to mention the fact that Marley did.not.sleep.all.weekend.
Ok, a bit of an exaggeration, but in all honesty, Marley is a fantastic sleeper and has been since she was 4 weeks old. I'm talking 12-13 hours a night.
Not this weekend. She would have a decent stretch from 7-11 then it was awake every hour, stirring, restless. Shoot me now. She was not herself, more clingy, whiny, needy and sleepless. I'm going to chalk it up to the fact that she was in a different environment and off her schedule. Oh yah, and she got 2 MORE TEETH. Ya. That brings the tooth total to 7.
She is back to normal and sleeping like a champ again, so all is ok on that front.
I know I have been slacking, I haven't posted 8 month stats or pictures, it's been crazy busy. I promise to get it done this week!

Cottage Dog Oscar

I'm also going to throw this out there: if you cloth diaper do you notice it's like an obsession? I swear I spend all of my time looking on ebay, craigslist, kijiji, diaper swapper etc for deals and new info. It's not like I already have more than enough for right now, but there are SO many cute and affordable options out there if you are willing to look for them. Am I alone in this?

The CD journey thus far...

2010-05-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

I AM SO HAPPY WITH THE SWITCH! I seriously want to shout it from the rooftops, shake everyone while yelling "TRY CLOTH DIAPERING, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!"
Ok, so maybe a tad dramatic but it really has changed my outlook on day to day life. In an odd way I feel like it has made me more aware of my surroundings, what I am putting in my body, what I am putting in and on Marleys body etc, it's a good thing. This doesn't mean that I am going to change into a crazy crunchy granola psycho, but for now I will consider myself consciously crunchy m'kay?

Now onto my thoughts on the products we have used.

For daytime use I have been using the FLIP One-Size Diaper System and I am thrilled with them so far! They consist of a waterproof cover that you place an absorbent liner into. The cover is one-size and adjusted by snaps, which is a major bonus because a lot of people find the snaps are easier and they wear better in the long run. I LOVE the covers! They are cute, fit well, do not leak (::knock on wood::)clean easily and are priced really well. Another bonus is that you can use these covers over any other fitted diaper, so I will give them a try once my shipment comes in.
Another love of this system is their Stay Dry Liner. Seriously, these things suck all the liquid right up and stay dry to the touch! All of the liquid is sucked to the bottom while the part that is against Marleys bum stays dry. Not only that, but they hold a surprising amount of pee, I'm talking a good 4 hours worth, if not more. Great product!
The only downside I have found with this system so far is their disposable inserts. They are not wide enough to lay fully in the cover, leaving the sides exposed for liquid to escape to. The cover still keeps it in, but not very comfy for poor Marley. I fixed the issue by layering 2 inserts to make them wide enough to cover and that worked well. Not something I would do on a normal basis though because then I am using two times the product. Not cool. Thank goodness I received the package of disposables as a free trial when I purchased the day pack of FLIPS because I would be annoyed at the waste of money.
All in all, I totally love these for day time use and would recommend them in a heartbeat.

My first purchases! 1 FLIP day pack (includes 2 covers and 6 liners), 1 package of FLIP disposable liners, 2 extra FLIP stay dry liners, 1 package of Bio-Liners (to make poop disposal easier, I highly recommend these!)

Ouside the package:

Marley in her FLIPs

For night time we have been using the BumGenius 3.0 Pocket Diaper and I have been SO happy with these as well. Marley generally sleeps 12+ hours at night ::ducks from flying tomatoes:: and she has not had a leak once in these. Pretty amazing right? I used the regular insert layered with the newborn (smaller insert) that is included with the diaper. I place the newborn insert closer to the front of the diaper since she is a tummy sleeper and most of the pee tends to collect there. The great thing about the pocket diapers is that if I wanted to I could add another regular sized insert (like the flip stay dry) for even more absorbency! Even though the diaper ends up being quite bulky Marley doesn't seem to mind and it's only for sleep so who cares what it looks like? Awesome.
I've used these during the day with just a regular insert and they have been great for then as well. The nice thing about the BumGenius products is that they are lined with a suede cloth which wicks moisture away from the bum, leaving them feeling very dry. So while these diapers are more expensive than most, I really think they are worth the extra money.

Hanging out in her BumGenius CDs

I am waiting on some other products I am excited to try out as well. I have some Thirsties Fab Fitteds, BumGenius All In Ones and MothersEase Sandies that I am going to test out. Who would have thought that I would be so excited and enthusiastic about diapers? It's been a really fun adventure and I feel like I have learned so much and opened myself up to a whole new world and that makes me happy and excited.

* I was in no way compensated or given items for this review. All of the views/thoughts expressed are my own and based on personal experiences*

Mommy and Marley night

2010-05-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

This evening I was running around trying to clean up our house and cook dinner at the same time. J had been asked to bar-tend at a party and was only going to be home for an hour in between work which meant that I was getting no break from Marley. She was into everything, climbing, crawling, chasing the dog, pulling up on my leg, into the dog food... do you see the picture I am trying to paint?
Finally I plopped her down on the kitchen floor and emptied my utensil drawer. Wooden spoon, measuring cup, spatula, whisk, she had it all.
This is the initial reaction:

Then it was this:

SUCCESS! Dinner was made, house was tidied and J managed to get out on time.

When it came down to dinner for Marley I was stumped. Since we started with table/finger foods she doesn't want anything to do with purees anymore, so meal times have become more of a family affair, which I love. The problem was that the dinner I made for J and I was on the spicy side and I wasn't comfortable giving it to Marley. I decided to take a friends advice and I drained a can of low sodium, organic vegetable pasta soup and placed some of it on Marley's tray to pick at. Dude, she loved it!

LOVED.

::high five to awesome recommendations::
When it came to dessert time I pulled out the trusty mesh feeder and decided to give Marley her first taste of frozen kiwi. I'm telling you, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. The faces she made when she got those first tastes of that kiwi were priceless.

I die.

After a few tastes she realized that she loved it and it quickly turned into a kiwi pulp/juice/slobber/giggling mess and by the end she was covered in kiwi bits, kiwi juice and was so sticky. Man, was she ever happy though.
Marley helped me run a bath

Then it was bedtime for Marley and guess who is about to have a relaxing bubble bath with a book and a glass of wine? ::points at self:: This woman, right here!

Cloth Diapering For Dummies

2010-05-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

When we decided to start seriously looking into CDing I was completely overwhelmed with all of the info, types, brands, accessories etc. In this case Google was NOT my friend. It was mind boggling, frustrating and very overwhelming. I went to bed dreaming of different types of diapers and it was constantly in the back of my mind. I contacted a friend of mine who has been CDing her daughter who is a bit older than Marley and asked her to point me in the right direction and she saved my sanity. I did some further investigation on my own and talked to a few other people who are more experienced that I am and I feel like I have a way better understanding on the differences of all the types, what I will need and how to decide on what will work for us. I'm going to attempt to break it down here in hopes of maybe helping someone make the switch or go into it with a clearer head. I by no means an expert and I have a lot to learn but I thought I could share my knowledge so far.

Different Kinds of Diapers:

Prefolds - Probably the cheapest way to cloth diaper. Prefolds are made of a soft, absorbent material. They are usually one size and can be adjusted to fit your baby. Prefolds are usually held together with a snappi or for the brave out there, a safety pin. With some systems you can fold a prefold into thirds and lay inside a cover, which means you don't need to fasten, it is held in place with a cover! You can also use a contoured diaper which has been preformed to fit a baby, no folding needed. You can either use a snappi to keep in place or line a cover with them instead.
A waterproof cover is needed over any kind of non waterproof material. Once the prefold is soiled (wet or dirty) it just needs to be changed out but the cover can be reused until it becomes soiled.
You will need approximatley 20 prefolds and 4-6 waterproof covers if you do laundry every 2 days.
Prefolds:

Prefolds held together with a Snappi:

Waterproof cover:

Fitteds - These diapers are basically a disposable diaper but made out of a soft, absorbent fabric. They typically close with snaps or Velcro and have elastic at the legs and back, which means they are great at containing messes. Since they are not water proof they require the use of a cover, but by using a fitted diaper instead of prefolds or contours, your covers will get dirty less often which means they will last longer.

You will need approximatly 20 fitteds and 4-6 waterproof covers if you do the laundry every 2 days.

Pocket Diapers - These diapers have a waterproof outer layer pocket inside that an absorbent insert is stuffed into. These are nice because you can control the level of thickness and absorbency of the diaper depending on the situation. For example you can add a second insert for night time use or a long trip. Once wet or soiled they need to be changed completely and a new one must be used.
Depending on the age of your baby you will need anywhere from 24-16 of these. Obviously less are needed if you are switching when they are older. Keep track of how many diapers you use on a daily basis and multiply that by two or three depending on how often you want to do the laundry.

All-In-Ones - These are as easy to use as disposables. The absorbent part is either sewn or snaps into the cover which means there is nothing to stuff, line or cover. These diapers are very similar to pocket diapers, except the absorbent part of the diaper either snaps or is sewn to the inside of the waterproof outer. That means you don't need to "stuff" the diaper with an insert unless you would like to add another liner to boost absorbency for nighttime. Once they are soiled they need to be changed with a whole new diaper and placed into the laundry.
Depending on the age of your baby you will need anywhere from 24-16 of these. Obviously less are needed if you are switching when they are older. Keep track of how many diapers you use on a daily basis and multiply that by two or three depending on how often you want to do the laundry.

Sizing:
One Size(OS): These usually have have snaps in the front that you can adjust as your baby grows. Since we are staring CDing later in the game we are going with this option to avoid having to buy the next size up in a few months. These will typically save more money in the long run because you do not have to buy a variety of sizes. On the down side I have been told that sometimes they do not fit newborns right away so do your research.
Example of the evolution of a One-Size Diaper:

Typical Sizing (from BumGenius):
XS (Extra-Small) fits from 6-12 pounds. It is intended for a newborn and fits low, below the navel, to keep the umbilical area dry. This diaper is designed to fit during that itty-bitty newborn stage. The extra small diaper does not have a pocket opening.
S (Small) fits from 8-16 pounds. This diaper is slightly larger with a higher rise than the XS. It is intended for after your baby's umbilical cord has fallen off.
M (Medium) fits from 15 - 22 pounds.
L (Large) fits from 22 - 30 pounds.

Once you decide what type (or types) of diaper you would like to use I highly recommend trying out a few brands before spending a ton of money and stocking up. What works for someone else may not work for you. I am currently trying out 5 different kinds and we will go from there. There is a great program at Jillian's Drawers where you can try out cloth diapers for only $10 and I would recommend that because if gives you the chance to try out a variety without having to actually commit to a brand.

Washing and care:
Here is the recommended washing technique from Jillian's Drawers:
* If soiled, use the mini-shower to remove poop from diaper. Leave the diaper wet enough that it almost drips. Keeping the diaper wet until it is washed will help reduce stains.
* Toss into a dry pail; wash every day or every other day.
* Wash no more than 12 - 18 diapers at a time.
* Use your washer's highest water level.
* Pre-rinse with cold water and no detergent.
* Use a regular hot water cycle and 1/3-1/2 cup everyday detergent.
* Dry diapers in the dryer or hang dry or a combination of both.

For the removal of poopy messes at home BumGenuis makes a great diaper sprayer that attaches easily to your toilet. The diaper sprayer is a high-pressure spray that rinses clean even the messiest diapers. The mess goes where it is supposed to go - and your hands stay clean. Once they are sprayed down you can toss it into your diaper pail.

Here is a great resource for making sure you are using the proper detergent. It is very important that you use something that is CD friendly and will not ruin or build up on them.

Wet Pails - A lot of people don;t even bother with a proper wet pail and instead use a cheap garbage can with the swinging lid use laundry totes, to line them, you can just throw the tote in with the diapers to wash it. As long as you wash every other day you shouldn't smell your pail.

Travel - This is one of the first questions I asked when discussing CDing: "What do I do when I am out and she has a poop explosion?" In a nutshell I have been told to get as much poop off of the diaper/liner as possible and toss it into either a Ziploc bag or into a zippered wet bag. This will keep it away from dry items in your diaper bag and keep any smells away from your nose. Another highly recommended item is flushable liners, they lie in the diaper between baby and the fabric and absorb the solid waste while allowing liquid to pass through. You simply discard the soiled liner in the toilet and flush away the mess. Sounds great to me!
Travel Wetbag:

Flushable Liners:

Whew. I think I have covered most of the basics and I hope I have given some clarity to you. I felt a million times better about making a decision once I figured all of this out. Here are some great resources if you have any more questions or would like to order:
www.cottonbabies.com
www.jilliansdrawers.com
www.greenmountaindiapers.com
www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com
www.cdmomma.wordpress.com
www.theecofriendlyfamily.com

Here is a great site that you can go look up reviews on different brands and products:
www.diaperpin.com

The Newest Craze

2010-05-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Standing.
On/at everything.

Marley is turning into a total cheese ball and loves showing off her new skill to anyone who will watch. We recently moved our coffee table and replaced it with an ottoman that opens up to store items, otherwise known as Marley's new toy box. It's great because it's soft and safe for marley and it doubles as storage. Very important when you live in a tiny 2 bedroom condo with a 7.5 month old.
Anyway, this ottoman is Marley's new favorite thing to pull up and stand against. She piles all her toys on top of it, hits it like a drum, chews on the sides. Good purchase I think.

Unfortunately this also means that bed time and nap time have become slightly more difficult. If she is in the mood to fight the sleep she immediately crawls to the side of the crib, pulls herself up and proceeds to yell and rattle the crib bars. Not so fun at 4am when she wakes herself up suddenly either. I am happy to say that the novelty seems to be wearing off and she is back to going down to sleeps easily again.
This new trick also means that I can't turn my back for a second. It was nice having a small, one floor condo when she was just crawling. There wasn't much trouble she could get into and I could easily keep an eye while doing dishes/laundry etc. Not so much anymore. I'm sad to say that Marley has taken a few tumbles from standing at her Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Table and lots of crying ensued (from Marley and Mommy). It seems she has yet to master going from standing to sitting/crawling, but she is quickly learning.

Does anyone know where I can find a bubble wrap outfit that will fit a 7 month old?

Oh, and can we please all stop for a moment to appreciate butterfly bum rompers?

More Love!

2010-05-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

The lovely Miss Helms over at "Helms-the blog" has nominated me for the Happy 101 Award! Woot woot! Helms just recently started her blog and it has quickly become one of my favorite. She is raw, honest, hilarious and quite adventurous. She has set out to tell her often jaw dropping side splitting stories of her life all while still showing off her incredibly cute daughter. I suggest you take a peek, you will not be disappointed!

Rules of the award:
1. copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. list who gave the award to you and list a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
3. list 10 things that make you happy.
4. pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.

Things that make me happy:

- Whenever Marley is happy, I am happy. Even when she has poop up to her armpits and trying to roll away from me while laughing hysterically.

- My husband makes me incredibly happy.

- Massages. Any kind. Back, neck, foot, hand, arm, scalp. There is no massage that will not put a smile on my face.

- Sunny days. Bonus points if I am on a beach.

- My siblings. Having so many little brothers and sisters gives me an excuse to play like a kid and go see the kid movies in the theaters.

- The cottage. Any cottage, any lake. Beer, family, friends, good food and fun.

- Reading. I read every night before bed, it's my time.

- Making someone else happy. If I give them a great cut and color, or they love the hair bows they order, I love when I can put a smile on someones face.

- Breakfast. Homemade, fast food, restaurant. I love all breakfast food. Especially breakfast for dinner.

- Friends. Late night coffee, Thai food, Bachelor nights, long walks, shopping, breakfast. I have come to realize how happy my friends make me.

Nominations:
http://allaboutjaydenpaige.blogspot.com/
http://mommyandmolly.com/
http://thewhitebluesky.com/
http://notjust9to5.blogspot.com/
http://raisingmadison.com/

Am I Crazy?

2010-05-02T20:34:00.001-07:00

J and I are doing some heavy duty research and thinking of switching to cloth diapers. ::watches as everyone stares wide eyed at me::
I know, 7.5 months old and NOW we want to switch? Well, it's something we really wanted to do from the beginning but we just could not stomach the start up costs at the time. Recently we started having problems with the new Pampers Cruisers, she was getting diaper rash pretty bad and even started blistering at one point. I did some research and found out that there have been a lot of problems reported in regards to the new Pampers. I was horrified to see what had happened to some babies, chemical burns and really bad diaper rashes (click HERE to see) I wanted to cry, and the thought of anything like this happening to Marley just broke my heart.
We have since switched to Huggies Little Movers, but I have started further research on cloth diapering (CDing)and I have come to realize that it doesn't have to be that expensive, there are a lot of options out there.
The least expensive is using prefold cloth diapers with a waterproof cover on top. I have found in my research that something with a little more coverage is recommended for overnight, and since Marley sleeps 12-13 hours at night I think it's a good idea. So here is the plan of action: we are going to give it a try. God help me, this could either be awesome or bad bad BAD.

According to my research I will need the following:
- Snappis (kind of like the closure on Ace Bandages)
- 4-6 diaper covers
- 3 Pocket Diapers
- 18ish Prefold diapers (the cloth part)

At the moment I am thinking of going with Thirsties or Bummis for the diaper covers and BumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diapers for over night.

So, does anyone have some experience with this? Does my plan of action sound ok? Should I be looking at a different brand?
Help a sister out, OR just give me some strength, positive CDing vibes and encouragement.

I have recieved some love!

2010-04-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

The always funny and entertaining Joanna at Raising Madison was kind enough to do a review on my hair accessories. Read it here and while you are at it check out the rest of he blog, she has the squishiest, most adorable daughter ever, they are on a journey with Madison in a Spica cast. Like I said, Joanna is hilarious and offers some great product reviews and hilarious antidotes for your day.

Click HERE to visit my hair accessory shop!

Wordless Monday?

2010-04-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Mmmm cucumber.

What is this new toy?

Oh yea, I can stand.

I can also bash things with my hand and it will make noise for me.

What are those things tweeting outside Mom?

J got a new tattoo for Marley, bringing his total to 10.

I've cried a lot today.

2010-04-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today was a bittersweet day for a very strong woman who is a member of a online Mommy support group that I am part of.
www.EmbracingElijah.com is the blog of Laura and her amazing family. Laura's son was diagnosed with Trisomy 13. Trisomy 13 is a chromosomal abnormality, a syndrome in which a patient has an additional chromosome 13. The extra chromosome 13 disrupts the normal course of development, causing heart and kidney defects amongst other. Laura and her family made the brave, strong, hard and amazing decision to continue the pregnancy knowing that Elijah will likely not survive to full term or survive labour, but they were willing to put their faith in God and allow Elijah his few moments on earth if that is what he was meant for.
I have been following her courageous story for a few months. Her unconditional love and strength amaze me and give me strength. She is the most amazing, selfless, strong people to endure what she has to endure and she has done it with amazing grace and positivity. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her and her family and the emotions they must feel.
Laura was induced this morning, having brought Elijah to full term, his growth rate was starting to slow right down and it was decided it was best for Laura's health to go ahead with an induction.
Elijah was born this morning at 4lbs 15oz, Laura proudly posted pictures for everyone to see and Elijah was perfect and tiny and adorable. He put up a long and brave fight with a few scares in between. At around 4pm Laura updated that Elijah was now an angel and was no longer with them. I broke down and cried and cried and cried some more. I felt such a range of emotions as I tried to put myself in the family's shoes, in Laura's shoes. I can not imagine the heart break and pain they are feeling right now and if I could, I would love to hug each and every one of them. I sit here now and listen to my daughter making noises in her sleep and I want to pick her up and never let her go. Laura's courageous story has yet again reminded me to never ever take anything for granted, cherish each and every moment no matter how big or small and to be thankful for everything you have.
Laura and family, my heart, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. You have been an inspiration to myself and many more people. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us and allowing us to be a part of Elijah's life. I will forever be thankful and always have you in my heart.