Staying Crunchy in the Suburbs!

Moment of silence please.

2012-01-12T22:16:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure if you have heard about the Deputy who was killed last week? Well, this story hits close to home because he is the husband of one of my close co-workers. There are no words. To have someone ripped out of your life is something that no one should ever have to experience. We are all hurting for our friend and what she and her children are going through. Lovelies, there are 5 of us (specifically specialized professionals) in the City where we do what we do. Yes we bicker and sometimes I start stuff, but we are family.

So I am taking a moment to recognize my friend and her family. They have a long road of grief and healing ahead of them.

I am taking a moment to thank Deputy Coleman for his service to the community.

Bethie, we are so, so sorry for this your loss.
We love you and we are here to help take care of you. xo.

Resolutions anyone?

2012-01-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

Did you make any resolutions, lovelies? I sort of made some. In my head. Like I haven't written anything specific down.... I have the usual- lose weight, spend more time with the family, you know how it goes. I feel like I am being redundant though, you know? There are certain things that I know I need to get done. All the 'experts' say that if you write things down, you are more likely to do them/achieve your goals/complete your resolutions. Ok. We'll see. I am publicly announcing that I will list my goals for 2012 before the end of the month. I will do it. Promise.

peek!

2012-01-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

can't you just hear her laughing?

:)

2011-12-29T18:25:00.001-07:00

Lovelies, how were your holidays/holidaze? My December started with a most amazing and wonderful wedding, rolled into a Christmas with my family which included a visit from my big brother and his girlfriend and so far this week, I hung out with my Aunt and baby (ok, she is 22) cousin. I can't complain. S1 went to NY to visit his dad and stepmom. I think he will be coming back a bit swagged (spelling?) out. LOL. I am looking forward to making some changes in the coming year- I think some will be more challenging than others but I plan to write down goals this year. I slacked on documenting these last couple of years and I really think it bit me in the butt because I've been feeling like I've kind of been rolling along, you know? Ready, set, bring on 2012!!

Holidaze

2011-12-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

This title feels familiar- did I blog about being in a holidaze last year? LOL. Well, here we go again. Two weeks away from Christmas and S3 and I are headed out of town for a wedding. Umm, I have gotten no Christmas shopping done at all. I'm not sure how I feel about Christmas anymore. By that, I mean the ridiculousness that the holiday season has become. Commercialism is at its finest this year, with decorations hitting the store in early October. October! Are you kiddng me? Way to suck out any and all 'true' meaning of Christmas.
Don't get me wrong- I love getting cards in the mail and I am all about traditions and spending time with family but I can absolutely do without the stress of gift lists, battling folks at the store, trying to find the best deals, blah. blah, blah. I have a friend who no longer even celebrates Christmas because it is not biblical (the tree, presents, stockings, Santa, etc). I can dig it, and am seriously considering weaning off of all this madness. I think that my family will be better off for it.... Would you purge your house/youself of the madness that the holidays have become? How would you start?

OMG

2011-11-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

Really though? I do believe that my computer crashed around this time last year right, lovelies? Well, it has happened yet again. Only this time, I don't think it officially crashed. I think I just got a bad virus. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. This is some ridiculousness! Of course, my warranty expired ummm, last month. Yeah. So now, I've got to fine someone to get rid of the virus. I used up my one 'get out of jail free' card last year. Time to pay up. Bah.
The good news is that I copied all of my pictures to a external hard drive about 10 days ago, so there. My pictures are really what I would have cried over, had they been lost.
Have you ever lost digital pictures, lovelies? What did you do?

Welcome winter?

2011-11-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, can I just rejoice in the fact that the weather has finally dropped below 70 degrees? Yes. I live in a state of perpetual summer and so I am thrilled that I can wear boots and long-sleeved shirts without looking completely out of place. My Canadian and East Coast friends would be laughing at me right now because 70 degrees is cause for celebratory shorts and flip flops in their worlds. To me, 70 degrees means I can turn off my air conditioner and leave my thermostat off for the next few weeks before turning on the heat. My children act like they've never seen my feet in socks before. I put some on the other day and S3's eyes lit up! 'Mom! You're wearing socks?' LOL. Yes lovelies, I am thrilled. Off to find my toque and scarf.

Lonnnnng overdue....

2011-11-01T20:48:00.002-07:00

Lovelies, this year is whizzing by. It's November already! October was hugely busy with my brother's wedding, catering jobs for chef and life! We managed to finally get some family pictures taken. The last time we took family pictures, S3 was less than a year old. Terrible, I know. My dear friend Kim (go like her on Facebook! KimmyBee Photography) and her friend Natalie took pictures of us in the park and we could not be more thrilled with the way they turned out! Sneak peek!

Ohmylanta!!

2011-10-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Psst. Lovelies, I have recently become an addict. I was warned. I was warned that this addiction is worse than crack, but I took it on. I took it on and now I am full fledged addicted to....

Pinterest. OMG!!! Where has this site been all my life? It is hands down, the best.site.evarrrrrrr!!!! Projects and tutorials and funny stuff, oh my! The website is basically a snapshot of internet stuff that you like. So you 'pin' them on your theme boards and then your pins (interests) are shared. You can follow friends, like others' pins and so forth. All I can say is wow. Yay! Wow. Check the site. YOu've been warned. Follow me into the depths of craftiness and DIY home decor. You will not regret it. Or maybe you will.....

Some pics from the last month!

2011-10-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Wordless Weekend! ;)

Let's catch up!!

2011-10-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, we have some catching up to do! My younger brother got married and we schlepped the tribe all the way to the east coast. It was an adventure! Everyone (including S4!!) traveled extremely well. We had coloring books and snacks for the plane and everything went pretty well! We got upgraded from a minivan to a Ford Expedition (yay!!), got lost from the airport to the hotel (we were turned around for a good 2 hours in the wee hours of the morning. Not cool at all!). We stayed in a big mansion with an amazing backyard but best of all, my brother looked happy. He looked happy and relaxed. I will admit that I was worried. My big brother was able to make it and all was well with the world. We were all together for a short while, but were happy to have shared in my little brother's day.
As complainey (sp?) as he is, hubby told me that he really enjoyed himself, which caught me off guard because all he did was complain about the weather before we even left the airport after we landed! The Ss were in the wedding party and looked so awesome. I was in the wedding party too, but after seeing the pictures, I know I have some work to do. (eek!). The airplane we were on for the ride home was delayed, causing us to miss our connection and be put on standby, only to not make it onto the last flight out to AZ, thereby sending my entire family into semi freakout mode. We got bumped to the next day's flight and were put up in a hotel and given food vouchers, courtesy of the airline. Still plan on sending the airline a letter informing them of the inconvenience that we were made to deal with, with 4 children in tow!
Pics in a bit! ;)

Wedding, marriage, little brothers.

2011-09-25T11:54:00.002-07:00

Have I ever told you that I have two brothers? I am the most blessed sister to be smack in the middle of my two brothers. It's good to be a middle child with such awesome beings on either side. Well, the youngest of our sib-set is getting married. I'm trying not to freak out. I'm not even sure if he can believe it! Of course, I have my big sister hat on, trying to get to know my future sister in law, which is cool. Plus I gave them both the 'plan your life, not just your wedding' speech while they had me on speaker phone a few weeks ago. I am happy, worried, excited, all the feelings that go along with this type of occasion. I'll probably bawl at the ceremony- just because my baby brother is officially grown. He has been a grown man for awhile now, but jeez! lol

They are not planning on having babies right away, but you best believe that I will be educating/advocating for a midwife or doula and breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth diapering and all the other facets of natural parenting that society has been so slow to get back to. My future sister in law seems to be open to try cloth diapering- she even sent me a cloth diaper after S4 arrived.
Lovelies, what advice would you give to a newly engaged/wedded couple? Is there any advice that you got and loved? Hated? Laughed at? Wished you had gotten?

Can I tell you

2011-09-13T21:45:00.001-07:00

just how smart S4 is? She will be a year old in a couple of weeks and she is a serious problem solver. OK- there is a phone on my nightstand that S4 loves to play with. It is not a phone for playing. So, in order dissuade her from getting to the phone, I put a basket of laundry in front of the nightstand. Yeah- don't you know that this baby climbed into the basket?? She climbed into the basket and got the phone. She climbed into the basket all.by.herself! Her mission was accomplished. Pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Do you...

2011-09-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

enter giveaways? Contests? Attend Twitter parties? I do! My latest entry is for Livie and Luca shoes from Life with My Littles. Yes. Livie and Luca shoes. Omgoodness lovelies, have you been to this website to gaze at their footwear? So gorgeous. In order to get a hold of a little piece of shoedom, I am posting without shame in order to gain more entries. While you're reading this, you may want to enter too. :P

Labor Day

2011-09-05T13:15:00.001-07:00

It's Labor day, lovelies. We are hanging out at the house, surrounded by boxes (an organizational project that hubs started a couple of days ago). Lots of boxes and laughing children. The weather is amazing today, so we'll go outside for a bit.
Today also happens to be my parents' anniversary. 37 years. Yes. That's a lifetime, good people! Thirty-seven. Trente septe. I love the example they have put out for us- marriage is hard work, but with lots of prayer and perseverance, a couple can get through just about anything. Thank you mom and dad! Wishing you another 37 years of wedded bliss! <3
My oldest and my folks;

wordless friday

2011-08-26T20:44:00.001-07:00

I hope my friend doesn't mind that I post this pic.... I had the pleasure of shooting her last week, and this week she gave birth to a lovely baby boy at home. Congratulations my friend! I am so happy to know you! <3

I'm still here!!

2011-08-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, settling into the school routine has been more challenging than I expected it to be. School started two weeks ago and I (because it's all about me. lol) am just now getting the hang of it! First day of high school for S1 and first day of grade 1 for S2. All I can say is wow. So fresh and so clean!

Yes. Her shoes are pink and green. Pinkies up!

Overacheiver

2011-08-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

S4 took her first unassisted step on Thursday. No- she took three steps. Three steps in a row. Did I get a pic? Nope. Was I able to catch it on video? Yeah right! It happened so fast that I almost missed it! I'm a bit bummed about not capturing the moment. She just did it. It was cool. I freaked out. Hubs was like 'you know she is looking at you crazy because you just freaked out right?' Whatever dude. You're a guy. Go do something guy-ish. Like babyproof the house! :P

just the girls!

2011-08-04T22:06:00.001-07:00

Is this not the cutest picture? Taken by my fellow midwife lovin new friend, Jen! Check her out!

2011-07-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

Woo! This week flew by fast lovelies. S4 is teething and has been miserable despite the amber teething necklace. So, I have been fueled by coffee. Coffee and Nutella. Don't worry- I balanced it out with proteins and produce from the co-op. Will be making a serious effort to go to bed early this coming week because school starts *gasp* the week after that.
Back to the teething issue- S4 has been feverish, clingy, wimpery and of course she has not been sleeping well. So I made an Allspice necklace. Yes, Allspice. Of course I looked up 'teething' on my favorite home remedy site, then did a bit or research. I ended up with this blog, that has some background information on why Allspice works and even a tutorial on how to make the necklace! I'm not a jeweler by any means, so S4's necklace is made with dental floss because I couldn't get the elastic thread wouldn't fit through the eye of my needle. Yes. I used dental floss. So right now as I type, S4 has had the necklace on for about an hour and seems relatively back to normal.... I'll keep you posted and let you know when her first tooth comes in!

Another birthday....

2011-07-21T22:27:00.004-07:00

Lovelies, it's Friday on the East Coast and so I am doing this post right now (even though it's only around 10pm here on the West Coast). S2 is 6 years old today- July 22 on the east coast. ;) *sigh* My first little girl is now my big girl who will always be my little girl. Time has flown by so fast. I can't believe how grown she is, how beautiful she is, how smart she is and how much she loves (almost!) everyone she encounters. S2 is such a great big sister and a fun little sister, although I know S1 haaaaaates when she is in his room. She is his first sibling and they share a special bond even though they are 8 years apart.
So, here is to my sweet S2. A child who is a wonderful daughter, an amazing sister, a well loved granddaughter, a friend, a comedienne, a teacher and a kid who looks nothing like me but is every bit of me. I love you little girl!!

psst...

2011-07-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

see the new link on the left? the one with the curly girl in the black dress? click on that link. it will take you to a most lovely and beautiful store called Shabby Apple. Classic, sleek designs and hello, why didn't I know about this store when I was pregnant with S4? Shabby Apple has maternity, women (non preggo- ha) and little girl designs that will make you swoon. I am swooning now. lol.

Hello Saturday!

2011-07-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

Every other Saturday is busy for us, lovelies. We are the site managers for our neighborhood Bountiful Baskets. We get awesome produce and have met some very cool people. The only thing about it is that we (yes, the entire crew) are up uuuuber early in the morning. So when we get back home before 8am, I usually use the rest of the day to get things done.
Kale Chips: Kale rubbed with olive oil and season salt and baked for 8 minutes on each side. So yummy!!

DIY laundry detergent made with lavender castille soap (the Ivory soap was way too soft to grate. Dr. Bronner's castille was perfect) the ingredients on the table and grapefruit essential oil. Smells so good!! At an average of 3 cents per load, and safe for cloth diapers, who can argue? I'll let you know how it cleans!

I made dinner and S1 suggested lettuce wraps for the ground beef. What an awesome kid. The lettuce wraps and coconut rice were delicious. Craving one right now, but I am spent.

2011-07-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

Oh lovelies it has been a trying couple of weeks. I am feeling mildly rejuvenated and am ready to tackle some cool projects this weekend. I have a list of fun stuff to make from here. Plus I am on a mission to make this. So I plan to make like Martha Stewart, the mad scientist aaaaaand involve the little Ss at the same time. Think it can be done? As long as I have a sling, nothing will be able to stop me! Muahahahahaha!!!

What are your weekend projects, lovelies? Do you have a running list of things to get through? I try to tackle my running list, but cool projects usually trump it. ;)
Alright, I promise that I will post pictures.

Lately......

2011-07-05T19:48:00.001-07:00

I have been in a foul mood. So much so that even lame things are irritating me. I think it's due to general lack of sleep. Seriously. So today, I will say this- I hate when I post something on my Facebook wall and then someone comments on something that has nothing to do with my post! For the love of all that is holy, why don't you just post a brand new comment on my wall rather than under what I just posted??? For example, If I post something about coffee, whyyyy would you post a comment about advice I gave you last month (which has nothing to do with coffee)? Really- just put a new comment on my wall. I prefer it. So because I have nothing nice to say when I see these rogue comments, I either delete them or I don't respond. Yes, I am childish like that. So there. What do you plan on doing about it? ;)

2011-06-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, I hate bad grammar and blatant spelling mistakes. Your, you're, their, there, they're, etc. Seeing these atrocities in written form makes me feel like my eyes are bleeding. Let me tell you that 'prolly' is not an acceptable form of 'probably.' The word 'awe' is not the same as 'aww.' Awe- 'I was in awe of the rainbow in the sky,' Aww- 'Aww, that baby is so cute!' Am I getting anywhere? lol. It's difficult for me to text in shorthand because I hate to read things like 'plz chk the ovn 2 c if itz stl on bcuz i thnk i 4got 2 trn it off.' Ahhh! I will take a page from my friend's Facebook post when I say please do not bother trying to shorten the word 'come.' Really though? The three letter version of this word is icky when everyone sees it and knows that was not the 'c' you were talking about. The scary thing about this is that it really seems that no one cares! I have seen these grammatical abominations on billboards, public (government and private sector) buildings, newspapers and really anything that can be read. It really is mind boggling.

True story- one day (years ago), I called a guy because his sign said 'puppys for sale.' I asked him if he knew that 'puppies' had been spelled incorrectly. He said that he did but that he did not have enough space for the 'ies.' Umm, how about you write smaller so that you don't make yourself look as uneducated as you sound? No, I did not actually tell him to write smaller, but I wanted to..... Just like I want to call the attorneys who are advertising their practice on one of the big billboards on the freeway. Just like I want to message the small-business woman who keeps putting 'September mama's.' The only way that the apostrophe should be there is if this was a sentence that says 'September mama's doll.' Alas, there is no spell check and grammar check is useless. Insert eyeball roll. Learn to live with it, or be an advocate for correct spelling and grammar?

i know, i know. another pic of S4.

2011-06-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

but this one is hIlarious!

There, I said it Thursday...

2011-06-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

I have a problem, lovelies. I have some pregnant friends and it takes everything, EVERYTHING I have in me not to be 'that' friend. You know, the friend who constantly gives unsolicited advice, tells you all about how great her homebirth was, how she would suggest a midwife to any and everyone, the one who suggests that you watch certain documentaries or read certain books? Yeah. It's really difficult for me. I really try to only make suggestions and will delve into other topics if my friend is interested but past that, I bite my tongue.
I bite my tongue, then I judge. I judge when friends don't at least try breastfeed past the painful first few days or they decide on a c-section because their doctor is going on vacation the same week their baby is coming. Or carry their babies in car seats knowing that damn car seat is heavy, or go out and get the most unsafe baby carrier after seeing me with my bazillion carriers that are both safer and cuter! I know- I am terrible. I am well aware that there are often times very legit reasons for not being able to breastfeed. I am well aware of the fact that there are wonderful medical personnel who know what they are doing when it comes to women's reproductive health. However....... I believe in making decisions after learning about what all the options are (for example-homebirth/hospital/birth center). I think I judge a little harsher when I know that friends are just going by what the doctor prescribes without asking any questions. Think for yourselves. Do some research. Rant over. Go ahead and judge me. There, I said it. ;)

They're related for sure.

2011-06-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

It's June.

2011-06-05T21:01:00.000-07:00

What?? June? I know it's June. It's hot out. I shouldn't complain because the weather was amazing in May. Hopefully the monsoon season will come soon so that some of this heat will dissipate.

Ok, so S1 starts high school summer academy tomorrow. Does this count as high school? Do I need to get kleenex ready? The classes are prerequisites and will earn him some credit. Summer academy will also give him a chance to ease in to high school life... but really, does this 'count' as high school?

Time has gone by so fast, lovelies. Things are moving. We need a bigger house. I need a vacation. I've made some new birthy friends. I am excited to see what the next few months will bring. I have so many projects that I need to get done; sewing, organizing, weight losing. etc. Seems like there is never enough time, but when I look up, time has flown.

is it wordless wednesday already?

2011-05-31T22:32:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and his girls.

can i brag a bit....

2011-05-27T22:14:00.001-07:00

on my midwife? yes, AGAIN! Lovelies, seriously. She and her team are second to none with providing mama-centered prenatal and postnatal care. Now that they have their own space, sooooo many amazing services are being offered form breastfeeding to learning herbs to placenta encapsulation. I am constantly in awe of my Shell Walker. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! (oh! I do know! heehee! I will post more when I can on this exciting venture). Check out her site. I'm going to have to convince her to make a blog button.... ;)

wordless wednesday

2011-05-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

2011-05-18T21:58:00.001-07:00

Lovelies, we are now parents to a first grader and a high schooler (and a preschooler and an almost 8 month old). OMGoodness. S1 got promoted to 9th grade last night and S2 got promoted to grade 1. I got all choked up when S1 walked out with his class. He got a medal for having one of the best 'end of junior high/what are my goals' essays and got to read his essay at the ceremony. He was one of two students who got to read. This kid never ceases to amaze me. He spoke so eloquently and his voice was so smooth that I barely recognized the young man standing up at the podium. How could he have changed so quickly? I just brought him home from the hospital! I am still 21! ;) We are so proud of him. The principal approached us after the promotion ceremony and congratulated us for having such a 'fine young man.' It's called 'keepyourfoottothebuttparentingwithloveandunderstanding' and this is what comes of it:

I have video as well, but I've got to upload it. Probably this weekend.

2011-05-15T22:24:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh lovelies, it's springtime in my state which means the ridiculous heat is right around the corner. Don't get me wrong though, this time of year is the best time to be outside to enjoy the weather because we will be sitting under the cold blowing air conditioner soon! Some scenes from the backyard to let us know that spring has sprung!

It's my birthday!

2011-05-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

yes lovelies, I am the big 35 27, no 35. I am so happy to be on this planet at this very moment. I have an amazing family and a wonderful circle of friends. Plus I got a dozen Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for free just for being born YEAAAAH! Pics tomorrow. I am exhausted. Yes- I know it's 9:48pm. :P

Remember the wave of creativity/craftiness?

2011-05-07T11:30:00.001-07:00

Well, after months of neglecting all things creative and useful, I made these! I used a pattern bought on Etsy.

Sorry about the fuzzy pics! They were taken with my less than stellar cell phone camera. :/

wordless wednesday

2011-05-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Extreme Couponing.

2011-04-27T23:03:00.001-07:00

Lovelies, I enjoy a good deal. The least amount of money for the best deal out there always makes me happy! I love that my grocery store upgrades all coupons to $1 and stacks coupons from the specific store and the manufacturer, and I recently graduated my coupons to a binder. Yes. Even I was surprised about that. The thing is that I needed more space and slots for my savings! It has paid off handsomely! I have saved an average of 50-60% on my grocery bills so far, which I thought was pretty good!! Until I watched 'Extreme Couponing' on TLC. OMgoodness. Are these people geniuses or insane? Are they stockpiling or hoarding? All I know is that I want to be able to save 98% on my grocery outings! One thing I did notice while watching the show was that these people buy things that they don't really need- who needs 100s of boxes of pasta or 300 sticks of deoderant? Granted, one extreme couponer was making care packages for soldiers but he was the only one who seemed to be sharing the wealth. Also, these people appeared to be extreeeeeemely stressed out when clipping coupons and when they went through the checkout line. One lady was actually turning red and sweating!
To me, couponing should be enjoyable. I don't clip coupons for items that I do not typically use or need. Many of the Extreme Couponers clipped everything!!! Stuff has expiration dates and you cannot tell me that a family is going to get through a garage full of grocery items before something goes bad (don't let me start about the preservatives that maintain these products for however long!! Post for another time). I suppose it can be done if it's a large family but really, what is a couple with no children going to do with an ever-growing stockpile of shampoo/pasta/butterfinger chocolate bars? It kind of boggles my mind, lovelies. These extreme couponers are spending 20 and more hours per week, searching, clipping and making their lists. A few of them go to stores more than twice a week. I couldn't do it. Like I said, I love a great deal but I love my sanity and peace of mind more. Just my humble opinion!
Can I tell you what I scored for free today using coupons? 5 bags of Graham Goldfish, 1 container of Mentos gum, two tubes of toothpaste, a bottle of Metromint water and a 4.4lb bag of brand name dog food. Not too shabby right? ;)

Speaking of time....

2011-04-23T16:41:00.002-07:00

Can you believe that S2 is nearing the end of her first year of school? Yes, lovelies. Kindergarten is almost done. I have only one hangup. Graduation. Is it graduation when it's something you're supposed to do? Are we so quick to please everyone that we apply what was once reserved for high school seniors to every grade? Is it just my 'old school Canadian education' talking? I don't remember graduating from anything but high school. In junior high, we had a 'congratulations for moving on but don't call it graduation' ceremony, but that was about it!
Annnnyway. Just my thought....
I digress. Doesn't she look adorable? ;)

Time ain't on my side......

2011-04-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, it was a busy weekend. It's tough for us to recover from busy weekends, especially when it involves laundry or dishes. Right now, I am staring at an enormous pile of (clean) laundry that needs to be ironed. I don't mind ironing, but wherrrrrrrrrrrrre is the time?? Who wants to iron after a full day of work? Hubby does an amazing job of keeping laundry and dishes under control but I feel like I need to be more involved with it. I need to be more involved with laundry and excercise. Laundry, excercise and more reading to my children. Ah, time. I need to be more organized with it in such a way that I can get things done and get to bed at a decent hour. How do you maintain this lovelies? Is it easier said than done for you? I have a day planner that I love, but I barely make it through my daily 'to do' lists. Tell me how you do it, oh wise ones!

LOL

2011-04-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, I breastfeed. I like the singer, Pink. So imagine my delight when I came across this on Facebook! So cute. It'll stick to your brain!

I'm not sure if I told you.....

2011-04-08T21:49:00.001-07:00

that my husband is a chef. Yes lovelies, I am married to a professional chef. A professional, skinny chef. When we met, I could fit into his jeans. Let's just say that no thanks to him, I can barely fit my own jeans (but this will change in the next few months, by any means necessary!)
AAAAAAnyway, we started a catering and personal chef business called Fire and Spice Caribbean Grill and Catering Company. This weekend was Fire and Spice's debut, at the Tolleson Founder's Day Festival. We have a cool banner and everything! Hubby is on the grill as I type- jerk chicken, ribs, coconut rice, plantains and rolls are on the menu. Yum. The festival is three days long, so hubs is going to be super tired by the time it's over, but I know he lives to be on the grill. He has been running on adrenaline all day! Don't tell him that I ordered pizza for the kids and I for dinner tonight. LOL. (no, really).
Pics to come!!!

wait!!!

2011-04-05T20:29:00.001-07:00

Whennnnnnnnnnnnnn did plane tickets get so expensive? I was checking flights today for a trip I am trying to take in December and OMGoodness! It has been a few years since I flew the last time and I know gas prices went up, but it cost me less to go to another country back then than it will to get to where I need to go! Jeez! Am I that out of touch? Give me a minute to get through the sticker shock. I might have to see about getting some air miles from my parents! ;)

Party on Bloggers. Party on.

2011-04-01T17:15:00.013-07:00

Lovelies, I love a great online party. Especially when there are wonderful people to meet and prizes to be won. This year is no exception when it comes to the Ultimate Blog Party 2011. I love to go through the linkies to see what fellow bloggers are up to! I honestly have met some great people via the internet and the Ultimate Blog Party is a great way for anyone to connect with others and make new connections! I still feel like a small fish in a massive blog pond, but Blog Parties make life in the blogging world that much better.
A bit about me- daughter, wife, mom, breast feeding, natural curl having, thinking about naturopathing, licensed social working woman. I am surrounded by love at all times and I smile when I think about it. Four of my loves! (my husband doesn't like to take pictures but there are a couple of him buried somewhere in my posts!) ;)

So, come to the party!!! Check out what other mombloggers are doing, and have some fun at the same time! Click on the link above, or the badge on the right. ;)

Party on Lovelies!!

Milky goodness.

2011-03-30T22:32:00.002-07:00

Lovelies, I have milk baby. Yes I do. He is adorable. I have only seen a picture of him, and maybe I will meet him in person one day, maybe not- but either way, I am satisfied. My milk helped save his life. You see, I was called to donate some of my milk to this precious being because of some issues that his mama was having with breastfeeding. I was thrilled to help. As of today, my milk baby is doing fine and his mama is doing better and better every day. I can't tell you how proud I am of her to sticking with breastfeeding.

Have you heard of Eats on Feets Community Breast Milk Sharing? well that was all started by my poop-stirring midwife!!! To me, Shell is nothing short of amazing and I cherish every time we get to hang out. Google her and check out all of the wonderful, informative and controversial stuff she has started with her 'audacity' to match milk donors with milk recipients without any money being exchanged anywhere! ;) ANYWAY, milksharing and wet-nursing has been around since the beginning of time but because of the fear of human contact that society has put on us, both entities have all but disappeared. Milk banks are charging up to $5 per ounce of breast milk. Can you imagine? This makes banked-milk more expensive than formula! I couldn't charge for something that I know can help sustain a life. There are so, so many benefits to breastmilk. I am thrilled that there are so many mamas who are not buckling to the formula companies. (I have had the honor or helping two such mamas). I should say that I did supplement with S1 and S2 and they turned out just fine. However, S3 got no formula at all, and S4 has had no formula either. When you know better, you do better, IMO. If for any reason I need milk for S4, I will be checking Eats on Feets before even thinking about heading to the grocery store.
I will always advocate for breastfeeding! What say you, lovelies? Would you donate your milk? Would you accept another woman's milk for your baby?

wordless wednesday

2011-03-29T22:13:00.001-07:00

My PSA for the week.

2011-03-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

Spring is here lovelies, which means summer is around the corner. Now is the time to get your feet in order. Please make sure to use adequate lotion and appropriate nail polish (if you wear polish). Also, if your toes go over the front of your sandals, it's time for a bigger pair of shoes. :p
I will tell you that as a mother of 4, it is sometimes difficult to carve out time to care for your feet but trust me, they (your feet) will thank you. A nice little pedicure can go a long way and can help you feel rested and feeling sassy! I found a cool DIY pumpkin foot scrub, which I will be trying this week. I love anything that has pumpkin involved!
Looking forward to the summer (not the heat though!) with my at least my feet looking decent! ;)

made by moi!

2011-03-22T20:39:00.003-07:00

Lovelies, I make things because I am thrifty. So today, I made my own lactation tea! I picked up the ingredients at my grocery store, shook them all together, brewed a tablespoon in one cup of water for 20 minutes and am waiting the results.
Ingredients: 1 pack of fennel
                  1 pack of anise seeds
                  1 pack of chamomile
                  1 pack of star anise (I only used one per cup, for decoration)
If it helps boost my milk supply, YAY me! If not, then I guess I will go back to ye-old faithful, homemade oatmeal/cranberry chocolate chip cookies. ;)

update 3/27- lovelies, this combo works wonderfully! I am so happy with it that I think that I will go get these herbs in bulk so that I can have a nice supply on hand.

This weekend!

2011-03-20T21:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend was decent, lovelies! Hubby and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary, we took the kids to a festival for the sister cities to Phoenix (which included my hometown of Calgary!), I did laundry and made a most divine wild rice salad, we went to a birthday party, ate cotton candy and to top it off, hubby grilled. Yum. Really don't want to go to work tomorrow!

This is my take on a recipe I got from Ani Phyo. I didn't have any corn, but I put a splash of agave nectar in for a bit of sweetness and it was delightful. Of course, S1 was the only one who tried it. S2 and S3 are cornballs and respectfully declined the invitation to taste. S2 looked at the salad and said 'my grandma would eat that!' LOL. Yes honey, grandma would absolutely eat this salad!

Had there been a Christmas card/letter,

2011-03-15T20:39:00.001-07:00

You would have gotten to see these pics I took! I did a mini photo shoot of the kids and had planned to put the pictures on a postcard-like card because I had an awesome coupon. It didn't happen because of 'the computer crash that we won't talk about or bring up anymore.' ;)
So for your viewing pleasure, my Christmas card pics from December!

back in business!

2011-03-13T11:49:00.001-07:00

Lovelies, I think we're back in business- I am coming to you from MY COMPUTER!!!! I can't tell you how happy this makes me. I am cautiously optimistic because the big test will be getting my pictures loaded. All the pictures I have taken since December are on my cameras! LOL. Wish me luck. You and I will all know how everything turns out by next week. ;)

I normally wouldn't even ask....

2011-03-06T17:45:00.004-07:00

Lovelies, I need to win a contest. lol. Yes. I need to win a contest sponsored by Wean Green. Wean Green is an eco-friendly company that makes glass containers for baby food, snacks, or whatever you want to put in them using glass as an alternative to plastic.
Sooooo, I entered this picture of S4, as part of their 'Most Dramatic Baby and Child Awards' contest. The grand prize is a bag full of swag from the swag at the pre-Oscar show! Sounds great right?

What do you think? Here's where you come in- head over to Wean Green's Facebook page, 'like' them, then scroll down (or go to 'older posts' at the bottom of their page), find this pic of S4 and 'like' it! Easy Peasy. Get out there and excercise your right to 'like'!!! (S4 and I thank you!)

Informing/enabling- call it what you want!

2011-02-22T17:22:00.001-07:00

Lovelies, let me ~~enable~~ inform you about a site that I have come to ~~stalk~~ enjoy; Mother Of A Sale. OMgoodness. So many sales and discounts, so little time. From cloth diapers to designer clothing, MOAS is where it's at with their amazing sales and daily deals. They're having a Facebook contest for a set of cloth diapers, worth $250!! Their current daily deal is cloth diapers so even if you don't win, you can still score a great deal on supercute dipes! I really want to win the set!!!

Did you know....

2011-02-11T09:03:00.002-07:00

That all this week has been National Marriage Week? I found out on Tuesday. I think that recognizing marriage is a wonderful thing, especially in light of all the negative attention it gets due to divorce rates and reality TV. I believe in marriage. I believe in doing the best of your ability to making a marriage work. My parents have been married since 1974 and though they have had rough patches, they have stayed together. My parents credit their faith for sustaining them through the years. They are a wonderful couple to be around and I don't just say that because they are my parents! Their conversations with one another make me laugh and give me hope for the future.
Hubby and I have been married since 2003. We've been through many ups and downs but this man still gives me shivers. :) (I will share with you that this is my second time around and that I was married briefly while I was in University). I will admit that there are days where I think about what life would have been like if I hadn't gotten married, but those thoughts are fleeting because I realize how blessed I am to be in the kind of relationship where someone really understands what I am trying to say without me uttering a word. It's pretty special. Anyway, I figured I would spread the word about Marriage Week, since it ends on Valentine's Day. I'd post a picture but the good ones are on my SD card and my computer is (hallelujah) at the Dell place getting looked at.
Happy National Marriage Week. Go kiss your spouse! <3

Gum Anyone?

2011-02-04T13:44:00.002-07:00

Ah Facebook, you've done it again. When my oh-so lovely Sorority sister posted on her Facebook status that she would be handing out packs of yummy gum all weekend at a function for her work, I had to know what gum was this dazzling. So, I asked her to send me some to review!

The new gum line by Trident is called 'Vitality' and it was launched in December 2010. I had not seen it in stores until yesterday. This gum is absolutely yummy- I tasted all three flavors and each one was unique. Did I mention that it was yummy? I was skeptical at first because of it being a soft centered gum because in my experience, soft centered gum lasts about 8 minutes with me. Seriously. However, each of the flavors of Vitality lasted at least 45 minutes with full flavor intact. I am impressed. The three flavors are 'Vigorate,' (with vitamin C) 'Rejuve' (with mint and white tea) and 'Awaken,' (with ginseng), so each has its own flavor and purpose. All I know is that it tastes great. Go get some.

I was not paid in any way for this review. I wanted to taste this gum and share the love. Thank you Lori for sending some my way! Skee Wee!

testing....

2011-01-20T09:41:00.001-07:00

ok lovelies, testing picture posting from my email. gonna take my computer in next week to see about salvaging my important docs and the bazillion pictures I have on it. Then, we wait until we get the tax return and I will get a new computer. Bah. I don't have time to mess around! lol.
Any computer recs?
Oh- if the pic shows up, it is our most amazing S4- dressed and ready to go to our produce co-op at 5:47am. Yeah. ;)

still here...

2011-01-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

still workin it out on my husband's computer! So obnoxious! We may just have to wait until the tax return comes in to fix my computer. It sucks. I did however find out what my husband and children do while I am not at home. Really though? LOL

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T23:14:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year Lovelies! My computer has still not been fixed, however I am keeping a positive outlook on this entire situation. As long as I can recover my pics and documents, I will be ok. :)

Anything special happen to you yet in 2011? S1 turned 14. 14!!! Where does the time go? S4 is such an awesome kid, great student and amazing big brother. I could not have asked for a better son, honestly. I am so blessed and so thankful!

Oh, so far so good on going back to work. It has been bittersweet for sure. I love doing what I do however, I love being home with my children more and pumping at work is not my most favorite thing to do, even though I have a great set up. *sniff* Time to buy some lottery tickets!

Have you made any resolutions lovelies? Yet again, I resolve to lose weight. I need to get back into my clothes! I have lots more resolutions but that's a post for another time! lol

still out!!! but back.....

2010-12-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, I am coming to you from hubby's computer! I can't post the pics I want because they're eitheron my crashed computer or on my camera. Bah. How was your Christmas? We had a fun Christmas eve with my parents and a fun Christmas day with just the six of us. Oh- did I tell you that 5 out of 6 of us (including S4) were in the Christmas play at church? It was fun. S4 played herself, S3 was a letter, S2 was an angel and S1 was a student playing a shepherd. Watch out Hollywood! ;)

I went back to work today. You would have been proud because I didn't cry! Yay me! My mom even called to see how I was doing. I thought that was super sweet. Yay Mom! When I got home, S4 gave me the biggest most wonderful, toothless smile ever. So sweet! Next week I am back full time. eek!

I will continue to keep you posted as my computer dilemma drags on- hopefully not too much longer! Thanks for sticking with me!

still down.... but not out......

2010-12-20T23:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovelies,
I am coming to you today from hubby's computer. I would post pictures but I don't want to mess with his folders! Let me see if I can figure out how to post from my Blackberry.... I'm waiting on a friend of mine to save me from this madness! I need my pictures and documents!

Are you done with your Christmas shopping? I kind of shop all year. I got some amazing deals on Amazon in the last two weeks that I couldn't pass up though. Of course, I will be putting some gifts away for birthdays and other occasions. Target has already discounted their Christmas trees by 50%! Really though? I'm sure Boxing Day ('day after Christmas') will be just as nutty as Black Friday. Seriously. There have been some crazy sales and deals- a lot of stuff even better than Black Friday! I have had to be very disciplined! You would be proud! So do you shop all year for Christmas or do you wait until the last minute? Do you brave the 'after holiday' sales, or do you just take the sales as they come?

baaaaah!

2010-12-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

My computer crashed lovelies!! I spent hours on the phone with Dell and I am sitting here at my husband's computer letting you know that I have not disappeared! The people at Dell are sending out a tech with a plethora of stuff to repair my computer with and reassure me that my information has not been lost. All I want are my pictures and my document files, so I will make sure that I can see everything before the tech leaves. Ahh. I hadn't realized how much time I spend on the internet. Wow. I will have to be better about my time management, especially when I go back to work.
I'm not sure when I'll be back on- hopefully in the next three days (at least that's what they tell me). So let's have a round of 'There I Said It Thursday!'
I am going back to work in a couple of weeks. I hate that Americans don't see value in giving mothers the time they need to be with their babies. I am really trying to be grateful that I have had 12 weeks/90 days/3 months off, but my friends in Canada get an entire year. AN ENTIRE YEAR!!! Some places in Europe get three years. OMgoodness!!! So yeah, I think that the US needs to rethink and revamp the way things are going when it comes to maternity leave and maternal care... I could go on about the long term societal effects regarding mom/child bonding, but I won't. Not today anyway. So, bottom line is that I think that as advanced as US believes itself to be, I think major improvements can be made to the way mothers are cared for and how it affects the babies they birth. There, I said it.

It's fun, fun, fun!!

2010-12-06T23:16:00.001-07:00

Ohmygoodness Lovelies, I know I am old. Sunday, I got home from a concert with S2, S3 and my neice at about 7:30pm and I was beat. However, this was no ordinary concert. It was YO GABBA GABBA!!! The Party in My City Tour was in Phoenix this past weekend and we girls soaked it all in. I think the kids were in awe in the beginning because they really didn't start dancing and singing until about halfway through. We had amazing seats, thanks to Kia Motors and Michelle Sisco (PR). There was lots of great energy while we were waiting for the show to start. We munched on free organic snacks and put on our DJ Lance glasses!

outside the theater

Of course, I had to be the fun mom/auntie and get the girls some light sticks to wave around- it's now Tuesday and these things are still going strong. LOL.

We all channeled our inner DJ Lance Rock and went to town. The Supermusic Friends Show was fantastic, the Dancey Dance was great- the 'peanut butter stomp' is a classic at my house. However, hear me when I scream that BIZ MARKIE was there for Biz's Beat of The Day!! BIZ!! We (meaning all the parents my age) stared and grooved in awe as he beat boxed on stage then with a line of little kids. I don't think the girls fully appreciated what Biz's beatboxing did to music. ;) I was secretly hoping that he would bust out with 'Youuuuuuuu, you got what I neeeeeeeeed! LOL.

Brobee came down our aisle! eeek!

Party in my tummy!

The girls chatted about the show the whole way home. Hopefully they will remember this concert as fondly as I remember my mom taking me and my younger brother to kid concerts when we were young! If for some reason they don't remember, I have TONS of pictures! ;)

tired, happy (trust me, they were!) rockers!

YOOOOOOOO!

2010-12-05T10:09:00.001-07:00

The Yo Gabba Gabba Prize pack winner is Kevin!

Thank you so much for entering!

There, I said it Thursday....

2010-12-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

As I sit here and enjoy S4's facial expressions and listen to her coo and laugh, reality hits- I hate post partum. I ~~hate~~ loathe my body, I hate the hair loss that I know is coming and I hate the though of having to go back to work at the end of the month. There, I said it.

wordless tuesday/wednesday

2010-11-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

Unscathed.....

2010-11-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

AHHH. I have managed to make it through Black Friday and Cyber Monday pretty much unscathed. There were some amazing deals to be had, however I did get some Rockin Green Detergent and Funk Rock ammonia bounce for my cloth diapers, so I spent less than $24 total between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I'll get Christmas shopping done with the next paycheck as I spent this one paying bills! Boo on bills. I have a list of things I want, but I also have a list of things I need and of course, the fridge is leaking. LOL. I won't complain though. I just need to prioritize. ;)

There, I said it Thursday....

2010-11-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for so many things. My God, my moody husband, my loud and happy children, my lovely parents, my great brothers, my friends, my home, my job, my naughty dogs, coffee, my lovely blog readers and the list goes on. This year brought three significant and wonderful new people into my life and I love them all. I am also thankful for trials that come my way- they teach me lessons including appreciation, patience and how to grow as a person. I am thankful for every blessing that has come my way both big and small, even though I don't always ackowledge them.
So, Happy American Thanksgiving. I thank you and love you all. There, I said it. <3

3rd one's a charm? Hevea Pacifier Review

2010-11-24T17:25:00.002-07:00

To use a paci or not to use a paci?? I started out determined not to give S4 a pacifier, as her big sisters didn't take them; they were always spat out and somehow managed to find themselves falling on the ground then rolling into the dustiest place they (the pacifiers) could find. Anyway- S2 had her two fingers and S3 didn't seem like had the need to suck anything after she nursed. S1 on the other hand was an addict until the age of two! I still have his first paci in a box. :) So, after nursing S4 at night until there seemed to be nothing left, my mom suggested (for the billionth time) to get her a pacifier. I've tried 2 brands already. They've been rejected with fury. So when the opportunity came to review a pacifier made by GroVia, I jumped on it. GroVia makes my favorite hybrid cloth diapers. I could go on about the company and their amazing dipes all day long! The GroVia pacifier is called the Hevea Pacifier:

The paci is Danish designed, is made with 100% natural rubber (free from all the bad stuff- BPA, PVC and phthalates) and is sustainably produced. What more could you want from something that will be going into your baby's mouth? The pacifier that we got for review was the one designed for 0-3 months, orthodontic shaped with a crown design.

I sooooo wanted S4 to love this pacifier because it is so cool and is one continuous piece, and all natural and is so well made! Alas, another paci bites the dust in S4's world. While I realize that all babies are different, S4 may just come around and start to love this paci in the next few weeks- I hope so, because I need some sleep! ;) Check Hevea out on their website or on their Facebook page.

Mmmmmmm, salad!

2010-11-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, I'm not sure if I told you that I am the volunteer site coordinator for my location of the Bountiful Baskets produce co-op. It is a wonderful thing not only to volunteer but to eat fresh food! (Check out the website, as they are in many States and are expanding at lightning speed!) So in an effort to diversify my salads, this is a take on a recipe I found online, using ingredients from my co-op:

Pomegranate, grated persimmon and marinated, uncooked collard greens. Omgoodness lovelies, sooooo yummmmmy! You may be thinking- wait, raw collards? Yes. I marinated them in a oilve oil based salad dressing overnight, which breaks the hardness of the leaves down to a fabulous consistency. To me, better than cooking the crap out of them with a side of pork (don't get me wrong, I love greens. However, I like them green and not grey!)
Aren't the colors just gorgeous?

What do you think?

2010-11-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

Alright lovelies, I think I will implement a segment on my blog on Thursdays called 'There, I Said It' Thursdays. So today will be the first Thursday where I will say that skinny jeans and sweater dresses are not for everyone. There, I said it.

I refuse.....

2010-11-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

I refuse to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving. There, I said it. Is Christmas coming earlier and earlier every year? Halloween candy was barely on clearance before merchants were hanging up holiday wreaths! All things Christmas in my home will occur after Thanksgiving, unless it's on sale at a massive discount. :P

Cloth Diapering!

2010-11-14T17:07:00.001-07:00

Lovelies, I should let you know that many close friends and relatives think that I am absolutely certifiable for the choices I have made with for children (and for myself- mamacloth, diva cup, encapsulation) over the past few years, especially when it came to S4- midwife, homebirth, cloth diaper, (I breastfed all of them, currently nursing S4) cosleep and the list goes on! I get the raised eyebrow more times than I care to say! However, a few of my peeps have come forward in asking questions about my choices- the most popular being cloth diapering. Now, when you hear the words 'cloth diaper,' what comes to mind? I will admit that before I even considered cloth diapering, I was determined not to subject myself to pins and plastic pants, because that was all I knew. Then as I became more involved with my beloved Babywearing community, I discovered that cloth diapering was not as poopy (heehee) as I once thought it was.
This is my experience!! If you have anything to add, please let me know! Ok, so there are AIOs, AI2s, hybrids, pockets, envelopes, boosters, prefolds, longies, shorties, snappies, covers, prints, plains, snaps, velcro, PUL, liners, sprayers, deoderizers, wetbags, and the list.goes.on. I decided that in order to get hubby on board with cloth diapering, we would have to go with the easiest possible route- AIO (all in one). This diaper is like a disposable, but it's cloth- usually made with a waterproof outer layer. It can come fitted according to your baby's weight, or adjustable to fit your baby through potty training. Then I checked out the AI2 (all in 2)- same outer as the AIO but with a detatchable liner (liners are what absorb the wetness and stuff). For this one, all you have to do is replace the liner when your baby needs changing. Easy peasy. Hybrid- AI2s that you can use with a cloth liner or a disposable liner. Yes! disposable (earth-friendly, flushable and compostable) liner. For me, these are great for outings. Alright. Do you remember that I won a bunch of diapers? The style/type that I won are called 'pocket' diapers. The liner fits into a pocket, between the outside layer and the inside layer, never touching baby's skin. I love, love, love these for nighttime. Haven't had any leaks, especially when the inside layer is accompanied with a booster. Is your head spinning yet? You have got to learn the language. It really is a whole new world. LOL. Moving on- I admit that I got scared when I looked at prefolds and longies/shorties. Even so, I made my own pair of longies from a felted sweater just in case. The longies are adorable but they never made it onto S4. Prefolds- luciously thick liners made of hemp, cotton, bamboo or silk. They come diaper shaped or square/rectangle and you use fasteners to keep them together, (my friends mainly use Snappis no chance of sticking yout baby with a pin!) with wool longies- pants or shorties- shorts. Oh- and there are these dryer sheet looking liners that you can put on the inside of the diaper to help with catching poo. For me, it's a crapshoot (heehee) depending on if S4 poosplodes or not.
I have been advised to get a diaper sprayer- an shower-like sprayer that hooks onto the toilet. I am told that it is a godsend and after S4's poosplosion yesterday, a diaper sprayer will be going on my Christmas list! lol. I have a wetbag (for dirty dipes) in my diaper bag and have used it not only for wet dipes but for barfy onesies. Love it. I also have one that hooks on the change table. Holds in the smell. I love the smell erasers, natural detergents and other stuff available for cloth diaperers (CDers- yes, we have a title!)- so many cool work-at-home-mom companies to try out! Did I cover everything that I listed above? I am sure I missed something because there are so many amazing options and choices when it comes to cloth diapering. So far, my journey has been a great one. For me, it has been a learning experience as well. I've been playing around with covers and liners of different brands to see what works for us. All I can say is don't be afraid of the cloth! Even my mom was impressed at how much it has changed! Do your research! It took me 3 children to be convinced that cloth would be a good choice!
Wanna see my stash? This is a chunk of it because some were in the laundry when I took the pic. Pretty stuff eh? Honestly, there is nothing cuter than a baby in a cloth diaper. Fluffy bums!

So much fun, so much better for the environment!

wordless wednesday

2010-11-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

(ok, not so wordless- rucksack back carry in a piselli pink didymos wrap!)

Party Party! Giveaway too!

2010-11-06T11:09:00.004-07:00

Lovelies, remember this post about Yo Gabba Gabba? Well, I am personally setting out a one woman campaign to get The Roots to the Phoenix Show at Comerica Theater on December 5th. Seriously. So if you know any of the band members, please put in a good word for me!! You want to join me at the show? Want to see Yo Gabba Gabba in your city? Check out Yo Gabba Gabba's website for ticket details!

Can't make it to the show? It's ok- I've got a Yo Gabba Gabba Prizepack to give away! (like how that rhymed? lol)

In the prize pack is:

BOOK: Yo Gabba Gabba! Party in My Tummy - Based on the popular song from Yo Gabba Gabba!, Party in My Tummy makes healthy eating fun for little ones! Lift the flaps, sing along, and find out what everyone in Gabba Land is bringing to the party!

And “Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome Volume 2.” A new, super radical compilation of music featured from Seasons I, II & III, YO GABBA GABBA! MUSIC IS AWESOME! VOLUME 2 hit shelves nationwide on August 31, 2010, timed with the launch of the live tour, KIA Motors Presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY. Jam-packed with Super Music Friends & all of the songs you’ve grown to love including those from Weezer, MGMT & Jimmy Eat World. A deluxe edition featuring bonus songs from the hit series will also be available on iTunes.

You can score a free download of YGG Super Music Friends – Weezer’s track “All My Friends Are Insects” at www.yogabbagabba.com/freedownload

MUSIC IS AWESOME! VOLUME 2 is available on CD at Target, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and independent music retailers nationwide

READY TO WIN?

Here's what you've gotta do: Please post each entry in separate comment forms on this post! You MUST complete the mandatory entry or your other entries will not count!

Mandatory entry- tell me who your little one's favorite Yo Gabba Gabba character is and why!

Extra entries:

1. Publicly follow my blog and let me know you did! If you already follow, comment that you do!

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: RT @cdnexpat08 @yogabbagabba Win a Yo Gabba Gabba Prize pack at Suburbanly Crunchtastic! http://tinyurl.com/3a2wnhu
(you can do this one time per day!)

3. Blog about the giveaway and post the link when you comment!

4. Follow @yogabbagabba on Twitter and let me know you did!

Giveaway will end on 12/4 and winner will be announced after notification. Winner will have 24 hours to respond. If winner does not respond within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Ok ready, set, ENTER!!!!

Is it holiday picture time already?

2010-11-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness lovelies, it is not even mid November yet and I am dreading the holiday family portrait. We have not been very diligent over the years in taking family photos- alright, who am I kidding; we haven't taken a decent family picture since S2 was little (uh yeah, early 2006?). Tragic!!! Well, all that is about to change. I have recently discovered Shutterfly and all its photo goodness. For years, we have wrestled with what card to send/do we send a 'family update/Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, etc and Shutterfly has not made it any easier with their amazing variety of holiday and winter themed stationary, but at least you get to look at fun things and get great ideas! Go ahead, browse all of the yumminess. I'll wait.

Let me tell you that Shutterfly has rescued me from the depths of photo madness, thanks to their awesome discount codes. I have been able to print out all my digital photos from the last two years for under $40! Yes lovelies. I love to take pictures, so getting them all printed was no small task. Due to the fact that I have yet to decide on what photos to put on our Holiday greeting card, I might just opt into making a photo calendar- that way, I can dazzle you with how cute my children are for all of 2011. No? Ok then, my favorite (because it's pretty and there are a lot of us in my family) is Mod Merry Ornament. Flat cards with enough photo spots for everyone and enough space for me to be short and sweet with the greeting! You know I am going to add matching address labels because we have to coordinate!

Now all I have to do is get the pictures taken. Wish me luck! Hahaha!

Wow...

2010-10-29T10:34:00.001-07:00

Life with 4 is busy lovelies. I tried to stay in the house for the traditional 6 weeks, but it has been virtually impossible, starting with S4's first pediatrician who sent us to the children's hospital ER (yes, ER) and to the cardiologist when S4 was just 3 days old. So obnoxious because we knew exactly what was going on. The ped just wanted to 'make sure' everything was alright. I understand that, but don't be an alarmist. I don't deal well with alarmists.
So yes, I have been to the grocery store, the second hand store, the park, S1 and S2's school and to my parents' house. I have spoken to some of the lovely women at church and they specifically told me that they would fuss at me if they saw me (at church or anywhere) before my time to be out. It has been difficult. I have been getting some kind of sleep, but not enough. I feel ok, because S4 is getting into a routine but I am still kind of discombobulated because I stay up late anyway. It's really a matter of me getting to bed earlier and trying to get some sleep in while she is sleeping. Wish me luck on that one!! LOL.
On the great side, hubby and I managed to get the garage organized and will be making a trip to the Salvation Army to drop off a load of donations. I will be going to the second hand store to drop off a load of trade ins. It feels good to get that done. We'll be tackling the office and kitchen this week. If you don't hear from me within a reasonable amount of time, send someone over! Ha!

My shoes....

2010-10-19T16:33:00.001-07:00

FIT!!!

Lovelies, I bought a couple of pairs of shoes while I was pregnant with S4- a pair of Frye heels and a pair of Ugglebo clogs. Neither pair fit until today. Oh my goodness. I didn't think that my feet had swelled up that much, that early! I bought the Frye heels about 3 months into my pregnancy and my heel was completely over the edge. With the Ugglebo clogs, I couldn't get my foot in even halfway! Talk about sad. I couldn't bring myself to return either work of art. ;) I was so happy that I ended up buying a pair of shoes today at my favorite 'buy new and used' store. Lovelies, I scored a pair of olive green BCBG zapatos for..... wait for it........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
$4.99!!!!!!! (but really free because I had a merchandise credit for items I brought in). Yes honey, ever so slightly used BCBG olive green heels.

You have no idea how happy I am. Now I have to re-learn how to walk correctly in heels after being in flats for so long! LOL.

Dealing with blues....

2010-10-12T22:23:00.001-07:00

Oh lovelies, it has been busy since S4 got here. As a matter of fact, I started to get the blues. Not full on depression, but blues. I felt like I was losing control- S1 and S2 had fall break last week, so the timing was bad because everyone was at home. Everyone at home made things a bit overwhelming and I just wanted to sleep. Plus, S4's first pediatrician appointment did not get off on a very positive note (story for another post). So I felt like all I was doing was nursing S4 and being a lousy mom to the rest of the crew including my dear hubby. My oh-so awesome midwife called me and told me that her oh so awesome student midwife would bring over my encapsulated placenta and some dark chocolate for me within the hour. Mind you, it was already about 8pm....
Wait, what did I just say? Encapsulated. Placenta. Yes I did. The practice of consuming one's placenta is called 'placentophagy.' After S4 was born, I asked my lovely student midwife (and friend) to turn my placenta into something I could consume. Why would I want to consume my placenta? This is why. Now, this is my first encapsulation experience. Some women are able to eat pieces of their placenta bit by bit, but my husband would freak if he knew that I had my placenta in the fridge and I'm not sure I would have been able to stomach cutting off bits! So, into caps went my placenta and my mood and general outlook on things have improved tremendously. S4 is nursing like a champ and I feel a little more rested. Ah, our ancestors knew what they were doing back in the day. More info for you here and here. It's not for everyone, so I highly suggest doing your own research. I am very thankful that I had the choice and the opportunity to reap the benefits of such an amazing organ. My placenta made about 72 caps!

Wordless Friday....

2010-10-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

taken 9/27... my two youngest. ;)

Can we chat a minute?

2010-10-05T09:50:00.001-07:00

I have several things that are near and dear to my heart. You've probably seen my posts on breastfeeding and birthing and babywearing. Well lovelies, one of these freedoms is being threatened by none other than Consumer Reports and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) due to the irresponsibility of a big name company.

Babywearing has come under scrutiny lately with the recall surrounding Infantino SlingRider 'bag style' slings. There has been a lot of negativity and misconception about the benefits of having your baby safely in a carrier. Just yesterday, I found myself having to explain the difference between my SoulBaby NYC ringsling and the recalled Infantino! The benefits of babywearing include bonding, calm babies, being hands free while having baby close, etc. The newly formed Baby Carrier Industry Alliance has been put in place by and for Babywearers to promote this ancient practice and to maintain safety standards both nationally and internationally. There are so many amazing, safe and beautiful carriers out there lovelies, that I would hate to see them all disappear because of uninformed and negative publicity. Please take a minute to check out the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (you can 'like' them on Facebook) and get the word out.

The quick and dirty version.......

2010-10-04T17:37:00.003-07:00

Alright! I have a second!
Tuesday morning, my mw stripped my membranes and contractions started a couple hours later. They were pretty persistent and consistent by the afternoon, so I called my midwife back and got into the birthing tub. What a wonderful way to be! Chillin' in the tub.... MW at my house by about 6:45ish. Labored... labored... for what I felt like was forever. DH put some reggae music on and lit some really lovely candles. Felt like I was going to poop and was assured that it was probably the baby's head. Uh nope. poop. (sorry for the tmi). Right after the poop however I felt a pop. Seriously, I felt like I popped! My water broke and I could feel the baby coming. So I guess I pushed, and her head got stuck halfway out. All I knew then was that my MW had jumped in the tub with me and that dh was helping me up to stand. I pushed standing and with the MW's help, out came S4. Woo! No tearing thank heavens. Baby girl's torso was bigger than her head! LOL. All is well. She has no issues with nursing. 8lbs, 9oz, 20.5 inches long.

She's heeeeeeeeeeeeere!

2010-09-29T22:28:00.001-07:00

S4 arrived on her due date of 9/28, weighing in at 8lbs, 9oz. Born at home to the sounds of reggae music and the smell of lime-raspberry candles. Details in a bit. Pics for your viewing pleasure!

no baby yet Lovelies!

2010-09-25T18:42:00.002-07:00

However, I have had crazy contractions and pain in my hips and shoulders. Oh my goodness! Can I get some consistency? I've tried everything lovelies. Spicy food, pressure points, walking, and even holiday undies. Even though S4 technically isn't 'due' until the 28th, I am tired of being tired and in pain! I feel like I am the size of a small planet.
On a great note- my birth tub is here, my co-op produce was wonderful this week, most of the dishes were done this morning by my 13 year old son and the weather is *slightly* cooling off. I made LaborAid (see post below) yesterday and it is wonderful! It also tastes great with crushed raspberries. Oh- and my midwife totally rocks.
So, to the pain and intermittent contractions, I give you the 'really though' face. Those who are on my facebook are familiar with it....I originally took it with my cell phone for my brother who had just informed me that he had eaten lunch at a Jamaican spot close to his work. Umm, why would you tell a pregnant woman you had just eaten something that she has been craving for the past 3 months? Really though?

Harvest Moon and blessings

2010-09-23T21:15:00.002-07:00

Still no baby, no additional contractions, no nothing. I do know however that I have wonderful friends from my childhood who have blessed me with lovely gifts and words of advice (on how to get labor started, among other things!)
A couple of gems that I have recieved so far:
LaborAid looks like a wonderful help to keep mamas hydrated and energized- I'll be making some tomorrow.
My fabulous friend from Canada made me a nursing necklace (she sent me the Labor Aid suggestion as well). Hello!!!! You have no idea how long I have been wanting one of these but could never find one that I loved or was wanting to spend big bucks on! Well, I could feel the love and warmth and time that was put into this amazing handmade masterpiece the second I opened the envelope. Don't you love it? Sorry lovelies, it is one of a kind and all mine. My friend and her children made S1, S2 and S3 some gorgeous bracelets (I told all of them not to be surprised if they ended up on my wrists. So cute).

So, I am loving the blessings.

Alright lovelies, it's late evening and the Harvest Moon is making magic in some hospitals around the city.... Hoping it will sprinkle some moondust on my house so that S4 will come out and play! I will keep you posted!

I hate waiting!

2010-09-18T13:57:00.001-07:00

Omgoodness lovelies, I hate waiting. Contractions started on the 17th and felt pretty regular, were sporadic on the 18th (didn't go to work either day) and other than some cramping and a chunk of plug coming out, here I sit today waiting for S4 to arrive. If things are like this on Monday, I'll see if my midwife will give me the ok to go to the office. She checked me on the 17th and said I was about 3cm dilated, which is cool. The birthing tub is arriving today so maybe S4 is waiting to make her arrival in it? My dad's birthday is Monday and he has already said that he would love if the baby made her appearance on his day. We'll see.
Fortunately, I have gotten some decent sleep- it's the turning over that is killing me!!! I seriously have to gain momentum to switch sides! My hips and shoulders ache. I am huge. I am trying to win a baby bathtub. I am rambling.
What if anything lovelies, have you done in order to get labor moving?

DIY foaming hand soap.

2010-09-12T12:09:00.004-07:00

Tired of waiting on a Bath and Body Works sale so that you can get their foaming hand soap? Wait no more lovelies, as I have come accross an amazing (and green) recipe so that you can make your own!! I am probably totally late to the party on this one and I don't know about you, but even though I love the BBW foaming soap, I find myself diluting it just so the scent is not so strong. Hubby can't use it because even me diluting it, he has an allergic reaction to the smell. With this super easy recipe, you can choose your own scent and strength. YUM!

You want the recipe? Do ya? Lovelies, it really works.

Pure and Natural Diva

So we have the green factor, using earth friendly ingredients plus we're recycling the empty BBW foaming soap bottles. Pretty decent deal! I made two bottles this morning using Dr. Bronners.

Let me know if you try it! Leave a comment about how it works for you!

wordless wednesday

2010-09-08T21:38:00.001-07:00

My midwife...

2010-09-06T09:56:00.007-07:00

Is pretty smart. Ok, really smart. A couple of weeks ago, I told her that I thought that one of my fillings was cracked and that a cavity might be leaking through. She told me to try swooshing a shot glass worth of olive oil in my mouth for 10-15 minutes at a time, so that the oil would draw the impurities out of my system. This little tidbit is also known as 'oil pulling.' I had done some research on oil pulling prior to her suggesting it, but I can't remember what I was looking at oil pulling for. I ~~shoved~~ put her advice in the back of my mind because the thought of swooshing oil in my mouth was just not appealing at all. After she suggested the oil pulling, I went to my dental appointment and the dentist confirmed my suspicion about the cavity (I have a cracked filling and oh, another cavity! Good times). He suggested loading the tooth with toothpaste to build up the fluoride and to help dull the pain. He also informed me that he would not be filling any teeth until after S4 arrives and that I can make an appointment on the way out. Thanks dude.

Anyway, as you can imagine, the toothpaste does not stay where it's supposed to and for some reason, the gums on the other side of my mouth have started to mess with me. So because I know that my dentist will not do anything until after the noob makes her debut, I decided to actually try the oil pulling. I did it last night with coconut oil. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. There are pages and pages of oil pulling info online as well as videos on youtube. One of my favorite natural sites is Earth Clinic and the site had a plethora of oil pulling info, including types of oils and how they may or may not work depending on your body make up, etc. Very interesting stuff. I also happened on this holistic website which gives great info as well.

Evidently oil pulling has a ton of health benefits. It's also safe to do while pregnant. So I am giving it the old college heave-ho this week because I am sick of chewing my food on one side of my mouth!

So to my midwife Shell, once again, you totally rock my world. xoxo

I want to say that I am not a medical professional by any means and that if you're thinking of doing this, you should probably talk to your health professional.

wordless thursday.

2010-09-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

my hubby's DIY 'build a bear.' He left me to do the face. It's for S3 and she loves it!

how much time left??

2010-08-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

4 more weeks, lovelies! 30 more days until S4's due date. We have pretty much decided on a first name and will decide on a middle name when we both sit down in the next couple of weeks. I have enjoyed this pregnancy so far and my midwifery care has been more than I imagined it would be. The only thing about this pregnancy that I have not enjoyed has been the weather. Oh wait- the hearburn, hip pain and the cavity that was just discovered can be added to the 'not enjoyed' list, but overall I am thankful to God for an uneventful pregnancy.

My dad's got jokes...

2010-08-23T22:18:00.001-07:00

So lovelies, my dad went to Ghana (West Africa) on a Fulbright tour (yeah, he's smart like that). So of course, he brought back some fabric and some presents for the kids. After the family got their souvenirs, my dad came to me and said 'I have something for you- hold out your hand.' At this point I am scared because he doesn't normally say that. I put my hand out and he drops this into it and after he told me what it was, we both busted out laughing:

Uh huh. It's a small pendant of a fertility doll. Now my dad is fully aware of the fact that I am pregnant and that I have three children already. Yeah. Jokes. ;)

Can I vent for a minute?

2010-08-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Ok lovelies, I freely admit that I have had a bit of an attitude problem lately. It has been ridiculously hot here and I am 35 (??) weeks pregnant. Do I need any other excuse? Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy being pregnant however I do not enjoy the heat.
So today, I was at a conference and this woman asked me if my pregnancy was an accident or planned. Umm what??? So I looked at her and said "it doesn't really matter at this point, does it?" You'd be proud of me lovelies, other than this statement to this heffer, I held my tongue. No comment on her weight or her jacked up weave. I turned my back and attempted to drop the 'leave me alone' hint to her (she sat right next to me during this workshop). She then proceeded to tell me that she has 'been there, done that' as far as pregnancy and that her husband wants a baby boy and she will probably end up having one for him. Blah. blah, blah. OMG!!!! I had to get up and leave her presence while she was in mid sentence about something I didn't want to hear about. I didn't see her for the rest of the day.
Needless to say, I was rubbed up like a magic lamp all day despite my repeated requests for people to not touch me. I don't care how cute you think I am pregnant, if I tell you not to touch my belly, have the decency to comply with my request.
Rant over.

Cravings and other oddities....

2010-08-10T19:09:00.001-07:00

Oh my goodness, I just scarfed down a cup of ramen noodles topped with feta cheese. With the broth and pepper and lime for added flavor. Do you think I will be suffering in the next hour? I would venture to say yes. Eek. Yum. Eek! The other night I ate blueberries topped with condensed milk. YUM. Odd? I don't know. It tasted kind of like blueberry cheesecake. It was so good I ate 2 bowl-fulls.

After eating all this stuff, I should probably get back to excercising, but I like being outside and it is still very hot out. I know, I have DVDs but they are just not as fun, ya dig?

Lovelies, what crazy dishes did you consume while you (or your significant other) while pregnant? Did you have any unexpected cravings?

Handmade goodness!

2010-08-07T12:57:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies, I woke up this morning to wonderful rainy weather and a list of errande to run. Unfortunately S2 is sick, so we decided to scrap the outing. What to do, what to dooooooo..... Well, I bought patterns on Etsy about 3 weeks ago and I have some fabric and this is what transpired about 2.5 hours later!
It's a pinafore from Heidi and Finn.

Isn't it delightful? S3 loves it! Onto a skirt for her big sister- a little something to help her feel better. ;)

wordless tuesday/wednesday

2010-08-03T20:30:00.001-07:00

;)

muahahahahahahaha!!!!

2010-08-02T22:25:00.002-07:00

Did you get my Dr. Evil laugh? I am actually giddy with excitement because Yo Gabba Gabba is coming to the PHX and I got tickets. Just call me mom of the year. Yes lovelies, the entire YGG crew will visiting in December at the Dodge theater downtown. I haven't told the girls yet because being 7 months pregnant, I don't think that I could take the constant questioning about what day we're going (it's only August!) As parents, hubby and I screen what our children watch and this is one show that we are happy to have playing on our television.
So local lovelies, get your calendars marked for what you know will be a most rockin' family event! This is a nationwide tour, so definitely watch for the show in your area as well!!! I am personally hoping that The Roots will make a special appearance at the Phoenix show. 'Lovely Love My Family' is my absolute favorite YGG song!

www.yogabbagabbalive.com

School daze.....

2010-07-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

Sigh. S1 and S2 start school on Monday. S2 will be going to kindergarten. She is so ready. We went to orientation today and she looked excited and freaked out all at the same time. I put on my social worker hat and the classroom looks decent. Her teacher seems nice enough. There is a 2-1 ratio of girls to boys in the classroom, which is not all that uncommon.

S1 will be starting 8th grade this year. I can't believe how big he has gotten. He is so smart and kind. At the orientation, his homeroom teacher (new to the school) told him that she has heard wonderful things about him. Lots of responsibility this year for him, plus he wants to do some extra curricular activities.

It's going to be verrrrrrry busy in our world in the next few months. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. Not sure how I'm going to deal with all of it. I supposed I will take things one step at a time. Lovelies, how do you deal a ton of life stuff? I know what is coming, but it's still a bit overwhelming, ya dig?

thought you would want to know....

2010-07-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

that I have 63 days left until the noob makes her debut!!!! (give or take) Are you as excited as I am? I am waiting for the AZ heat to loosen its grip because it is ridiculous hot!! the monsoon is helping but wow.

the bzz on mascara.....

2010-07-25T22:31:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies,
I recently recieved a tube of mascara to try out from BzzAgent. A lovely purple tube of Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion arrived the day after I bought a new tube of a different brand (I had a great coupon) and had gotten my eyebrows threaded. So what else is there to do besides a product comparison? ;) I put the Covergirl on my right lashes (your left) and the other mascara on my left (your right).

The result? From both brands, long, full lashes that were not clumpy! Gotta love that! I think they both looked great however it took me a couple of layers of the Covergirl to get the same result as the other brand. I felt like my lashes were plumpy without looking fake- ya dig? I don't mind spending the couple of minutes to get the look that I want with the Covergirl at all. At the end of my work day, my lashes still look great and nothing has dripped or smudged. I live in the desert so trust me, I know all about drippy and melty looking!

Lashes look long to me! What do you think?

disclosure- i did recieve a free Covergirl Lashblast Fusion mascara from Bzzagent!