Tales of a 4th Grade Mom

As of tomorrow, Thursday August 15, I will officially be the mom of a 4th grader. Again. I have been a 4th grade mom 4 times before. There is something about this grade that hits me hard - like a punch in my stomach. This grade - the 4th grade - signals big changes to me.

Happy Books Make For Happy Eats!

I have always noticed that when I read a happy fun type of book, I always feel better. I mean, I do enjoy a good who-done-it mystery (heart Agatha Christie so much!!) and even once in a while I will indulge in a real tearjerker

Happy Fourth of July!

Hoping everyone enjoys fun, family and laughter today!


{and some cool fireworks ,too!}

New Family Member Coming Soon....

Our family is growing! Our new four-footed furry family member is on her way and should be arriving this Wednesday.

My boys are over the moon. My daughter is delighted. The husband is dubious.

Monopoly Millionaire - Family Fun Night Revived!

Monopoly Millionaire revived our family fun nights. For about $10, Friday night became one of our best game nights yet.

My son has been begging me to buy this latest version of the old classic board game. Last night, I conceded. Checking out the Target and Walmart websites, it turns out Walmart had the game on sale  for $9.84 while Target listed it at $18. 

Unfortunately Walmart is a lot farther away from our house than is Target {A. Lot. Farther.} And I was alot tired. Location won out over price, and off to Target we went. Once there, I checked to see if they did that best price-matching thing - turns out they do! 

The very nice customer service person confirmed Walmart at the game at a lower price, so they matched it!  Sweet {And I felt so proud of myself. The little things, you know?)

And so Friday fun night was on. Two bowls of popcorn, one large bowl of grapes, a platter of cheese and crackers, lots of laughter and smiles later, my daughter was proclaimed the victor {and a new millionaire!}

The Xbox stayed silent the whole night. 

The boys and their sister did.not.fight. Nope, not once. 

We stayed up late, laughed, told silly jokes and had a blast.

When the hubby and I were tucking our sleepy boys into bed, and our daughter said her good-nights, I whispered to him that was the best $10 I have spent in a very long time.

No video games, no cell phones, no Facebook, no iPad or iPods.

Well played, Monopoly Millionaire. Well played.

Blurb: Create Personalized Books With Your Favorite Photographs

Aside from enjoying some quality reading time, I know I will be busy taking lots of pictures of the kids this summer - just like every year. This time around, I am super excited because I will be turning those sweet 'moments-in-time' memories into actual books that can be shared for years to come! If you have yet to try this - you really should! And Blurb will help you get started!

They are is giving all of us the opportunity to put our photographed memories into beautiful personally made books. I have a promo code for all of you to get 15% off your next purchase: BOOKSFORSUMMER. Use this code when you checkout to receive the discount. If you are planning a summer trip during June, you can still create a book at the end of the month, because the code doesn't expire until 6/30/13! You can even start your project now and come back in a few weeks after you have taken more photos to finish the project.

My sister-in-law gave me a book she created using photos from our family Christmas gathering last year, and I absolutely love it! All our pictures from the holiday are in one beautiful book which sits on the living room coffee table for all to enjoy. 

I honestly recommend preserving your family memories in a personalized book. My guess is that you will be hooked after you create your first one!

(P.S. these photo books make awesome presents for the holidays too!!)

Fun Summer Read: Wedding Day Murder

One of the perks of summer is getting to indulge in some lighthearted fun reading. I will be sitting by the pool much of the summer - hanging out with my boys, so a good book is a must for me.

Wanna see the latest book I am set to read next?  It's said to be a fun mystery with just a bit of romance. I am a  sucker for those 'Who Dun-It' books - so this one sounds exactly like my cup of tea when it comes to reading.

Yep. Cannot wait to get started either! School is over after this week for the boys - so I plan to have this book in hand, along with a giant bottle of sunscreen by the weekend. Did I mention that I will be proudly showing off my recently shaved legs - minus any signs of razor burn - at the pool?? 

Get Your Free Doughnut - Today is National Doughnut Day!

Today is National Doughnut Day! Who knew? I sure didn't until I came across an article about it while surfin' the web. Here are two places where you can get a doughnut for free today:

Krispy Kreme ( free doughnut without any purchase -yay! Only while they last though.)

Dunkin Donuts (free doughnut when you buy a beverage.)

In addition, Entenmann's will donate $1 to the Salvation Army for every person who "likes" the Entenmann's Facebook Page. (A nice way to celebrate the day without indulging in the extra sugar!)

For those of you who would rather celebrate this awesome national holiday by doing a little baking of your own at home, check out Modern Mom's Sneaky Chef's healthy homemade doughnut recipe. I think I will have to give this a try with my kids!

Enjoy, Indulge and Celebrate (and put the bathing suits back in the closet for another day.)

The Sweetest Christmas Decoration Ever!

Meet the newest addition to our family......


Isn't he adorable?

We were lucky enough to be asked by Personal Creations to review their exclusive plush moose figurine, and he has become my favorite Christmas decoration yet!

Our Plush Moose can do some awesome stuff....like this.....

First Comes Kindergarten....Then Comes 'The Sickies'

Only Two weeks of  Kindergarten, and we already have a sick little boy. Didn't take long.

He woke up about 4 A.M. this morning and told me he had 'the sickies.'

My happy-go-lucky five-year-old has been feverish, achy and sad most of the day. So has his mommy.

{Le Sigh.}

 I guess it is to be expected, after all these 5 year old kids are hanging out in the bathrooms (eek) and then sharing everything from food to crayons with I-can-bet-just-about-anything-you-want  hands that were not washed since they left home that morning.

Anyhoo, since my little guy is sleeping at the moment, I thought I would share these 'reminders' from Parents.com of things you can do to try and help your little one when they are dealing with a cold or flu:

• To loosen mucus, have your child sit in a steaming bathroom, keep a steam vaporizer or cool-mist humidifier on in his room, and keep plenty of tissues on hand for nose-blowing.

• For a cough or sore throat, honey (half a teaspoon for ages 2 to 5, 1 teaspoon for ages 6 to 11 and 2 teaspoons for ages 12 and up) can be soothing, as can cold fruit smoothies, ice pops, or a warm bowl of chicken soup. A mentholated vapor chest rub, such as Vick's, can also help kids 2 and up.

• If your child has a fever of 103ºF or high, call the pediatrician. For a mild fever, a tepid bath and dressing in light layers can offer relief.

• For diarrhea and vomiting, be sure to offer rehydrating drinks like Pedialyte or Gatorade, and small portions of bland foods like rice, For diarrhea and vomiting noodles, or toast. Call the pediatrician immediately if there is blood or bile in the vomit, or blood in the diarrhea.

• Acetaminophen is approved in children younger than 6 months, but consult your MD. For kids 6 and up, ask your doctor to recommend an over-the-counter cough or cold medicine, and give doses according to directions. 

• A mentholated vapor rub, such as Vicks, can help soothe coughing in kids over 2, but it can irritate airways and increase mucus in kids under two. Do not give your children aspirin as it has been linked with Reye's syndrome. 

Remember to call the pediatrician if:

Your child's cold or flu doesn't go away within a week
Your child has a high fever (103ºF degrees or higher)
Your child is vomiting or has diarrhea for more than a few hours, or if there is blood or bile in the vomit or blood in the diarrhea
Your child has difficulty breathing, or the lips or nails turn blue
Your child complains of ear pain
Your child seems unusually lethargic, sleepy or cranky



And my nosy self curious mind wants to know: Will your child (and you) be getting the flu shot this year?

I ask because I have not gotten the shot, nor have my kids, and I am really wondering if we should this season. If this weekend is any indication, we may be in for a long flu season around our house.

Eek.

Feel Like Doing a Little Early Christmas Shopping?

 So what are you doing this Labor Day weekend besides BBQ-ing and relaxing? Have you thought about maybe doing a little early Christmas shopping?

Yes. I am serious. 

Okay, so summer has not officially ended, and we are about 8 weeks away from Halloween. But time has a way of flying, you know.....

Anyhoo, in case you do get the urge to shop, Lalya Grace wants to help you out by offering an additional 15% off  items that are already on sale! - a sale on sale items - now don't you love that?

Just type in the promo code saleonsale when you order, and you will save even more money on the cute stuff already marked down. This code is valid through 9/30/12! (So even if this weekend is a no spending money zone for you - heck, you have all month to take advantage of this offer!)

So look at some of the items already on sale:

Any foodie lovers on your gift list this year? Check out the  Naiya Hostess Apron. Cute, right? 

I always love anything Petunia Pickle Bottom, and their Organic Sashay Satchel is way cool. It  moves effortlessly from a satchel to backpack, and from diaper bag to handbag and defines modern style.

And while you are browsing around, you really should also check out the fantabulously (that is a word, isn't it?) cute stuff from the blabla kids line featured at Layla Grace. During the month of Sept., Layla Grace is offering 10% off  blabla kids purchases with promo code bla10!

Happy Labor Day! (and happy shopping!)

Making Halloween Costumes This Year? Yea, Probably Not.

I know we are barely done with the 'back-to-school' craziness, but I am going to hazard a guess that many moms out there are now entering Halloween planning mode...because no way can I be the only one.

I have started perusing the web in search of cute handmade Halloween costumes for my boys (( It is my obligatory mission every year to say that this Halloween I am going to make costumes for my kids, not buy them from the store.))

So right off the bat I came across this too cute and 'way too easy it is ridiculous' dinosaur costume idea.

The main item needed for this costume are green sponges! Just cut them up into triangle shaped wedges and glue or sew them on to clothing. This is a costume for little kids, and  my now 'bigger kids,' wouldn't thinks it was so cute, but I had to share!

And I loved this idea for making easy reindeer antlers.

 To make these antlers, stuff white cotton gloves with batting or other material, then sew them on a cap. Instant reindeer antlers! Now that is one smart idea.

Again, this won't work for my boys, but it is a great idea all the same.

This one is awesome:

A golfer. No real directions needed here, this costume idea is pretty self explanatory.

I also really liked this idea.....

Mad Scientist extraordinaire!

My boys are dedicated store-bought Halloween Costume type kids however. They always have been, no matter how many cute ideas I try to bribe them with. So I doubt this year will be any different. But somehow it just makes me feel better to at least pretend try to become one of those creative moms that put together awesome costumes.

Maybe I switch to looking for Halloween costumes for dogs.

If you are searching for Halloween costume ideas, check out Parents.com.That's where I found these!

Kindergarten Update

Last week we had tears. Today we had.....

SMILES!!

Yes, the picture is fuzzy, and I know it is not the biggest smile ever, but my little guy is.not.crying.

This mommy is feeling much better today!

Kindergarten Tears

Aargh. Took my five year old to Kindergarten today and he cried. When he cries, he tries so hard to be brave that he cries that quiet kind of cry with tears rolling down his face.

My heart broke.

Unique Wedding Ideas for Fall Weddings

Since we have a Fall wedding to go to this year - October to be exact - I now have weddings on my mind.  Fall is one of the best seasons for weddings I think because it is my favorite season of the year, hands down, neither too hot nor too cold. It's a perfect time to get together with family, be inspired by tradition and enjoy a cozy backyard or smaller, more intimate gathering. No matter how you plan your wedding, be sure to personalize it so the day reflects you and your spouse to be. (well, mostly you, shhh...)

Here are a  few wedding planning tips from Beau-Coup I thought I'd share with anyone reading here that is in the midst of everything flowers, wedding dresses, receptions, bridesmaids dresses, and all that glorious bridal stuff!!

Themes
Weddings are best remembered for their uniqueness. Start out by picking a theme for your wedding. Next step is to personalize it. You and your fiancé might share a common interest or a hobby which you can integrate into your wedding theme. With a fall wedding, you can incorporate darker hues for colors or leaf, twig or pinecone motifs. These can be incorporated into everything including the color of the bridesmaids' dresses to the flowers, table linens, invitations, wedding favors and even the wedding cake. Let both of your personalities flow all throughout your wedding. This is your day, so spoil yourself and go with your gut! Invite and explore unique wedding ideas into your theme!

Ceremony and Reception Details
Once you have decided upon a theme, select your wedding attire, flowers and centerpieces to go with it.

Wedding Attire
Just to give you an idea, fall wedding dresses are whimsical, romantic, and inspired by old Hollywood glam. It is all about laces, chiffons, light silks, satins, pearls, crystals and breezy silhouettes. Here's an idea: you can have your bridesmaids wear cocktail dresses instead of floor length gowns, or you can just give them swatches of your color motif and have them buy their own dresses. This will be cost-effective and stress free.

You can read the rest of this article on Beau-coup.com. While you are there check out their fantastic selection of fall wedding favors.

Update: The Lazy Days of Summer (and the forlorn and neglected blog

My blog has been abandoned somewhat for a while now. As the lazy days of summer went on, my blogging mojo seemed to melt away more with each passing day.

Not sure where it went, or why it left, but it just did.


But the good news is, I think it is coming back.


Look for an upcoming Christmas toy giveaway post (psst...it is an adorable doll!!) that I will get posted in the coming week, as well as my review of Hoover's Max Extract 60 ( I have clean carpets now....really clean! And the Best part is that now I can clean my carpets Anytime I feel like it! SQUEE!


Yes, summer has been tough on this little blog of mine. But the kiddos go back to school next week, and I intend to jump back into the posting pool with both feet. ((Wait for it.....Splash!))

The Lazy Days of Summer and The Quest to Spruce Up The House

This summer I have been working less on the computer. A. Lot. Less.

Could you tell?

And I am playing much more. A. Lot. More.

By playing I mean hanging out with my kids. We have been improving upon our lazy skills, practicing our swimming techniques, giving quality time to books, board games and crayons, and improving our lazy skills (did I mention that already??)

Yes,  I have been making family time w/ my kids a priority this summer (Note to my blogs: I love you all, really, I do, I just needed some space. You understand, don't you?)

I have also decided that it is beyond  time to do some 'sprucing' up around the house. Sadly, my blogging life has taken a toll on our poor home. How that happened, I just don't know. But I realized that my husband was going to bail I just could no longer hide my head under a pillow and hope all the messes would go away.

I needed time off. I needed to prioritize. I needed to breathe. I needed to clean the house.

So I have been sorting, organizing, tossing and boxing. Things.....I am boxing things up, not boxing with hubby or anything like that. Sheesh.

And I have been rearranging furniture.

Which brought me to the realization that we need new dining room chairs. Like yesterday.

Seriously, we have a fairly nice dining room table, but over the last couple of years, we have lost most of the original chairs that came with it. By lost I mean broken. And we just have never gotten around to doing much about getting new chairs for the dining room table.

The couches and floor have done their duty well as stand-ins, but I have decided no more. It has been far too long since we have had regular sit down dinners at the table as a whole family. I aim to change that.

New dining room chairs will be mine before summer ends. 

I need sturdy chairs that can take the punishment of two little boys. But I also need pretty. I like pretty. 


I have been searching on the Internet a bit, and have found a great selection of dining chairs I think might work. These ones in particular caught my eye...

They look like they could stand up to the rigors of two little boys while still looking pretty.


And I really love these.....




I am so looking forward to having a nice dining room table with chairs again. I really do miss having family time around the dinner table. Le Sigh.

This summer has made me slow down, re-prioritize and enjoy just being mom again. Life got so busy there for a while, I think I was forgetting how.

My new motto: Slow Down, Relax, and Enjoy. And Eat at a Real Table Every Day.


Thanks to Tesco.com for sponsoring this post. 

For the Men in Our Lives: Small Changes Can Bring Big Health Benefits

Although I read this article on a men's health site, I think women will find it just as interesting and helpful!

Bill Phillips from Men's Health points out that making small changes-easy stuff, really- in our daily habits can make big differences in our health. The changes he lists are super easy to incorporate, plus he specifically points out why and how each will improve our health overall.

For instance, did you know that if you dry-brush your teeth (sounds weird, yea, but I am going to do it anyway!) before brushing with toothpaste, you will cut tartar by 60 percent??

And two to four servings of tomato sauce a week can cut your man's prostate-cancer risk by 34 percent. Not to mention making spaghetti makes the budget happy (and my ever picky eaters happy too. So this is a win-win one for me!)

We all know how important it is to drink water, but Bill explains exactly why so succinctly that it really makes sense and sticks-which for me anyway will make it easier to get myself to drink the water and say no to the soda.

The list has 14 small changes our men can and should make everyday, and a couple like I said that we women can benefit from too. So if you have a moment or two free this Monday, go on over and take a peek.

And remember, put down the soda, reach for the water and get up and move for at least 20-30 minutes today.

Happy Monday!

Is Sex Selective IVF Always a Good Thing?

I just read the saddest story about an Australian couple who were so desperate to have a baby girl that they actually aborted  a pregnancy in which the woman was carrying twin boys. Sadly, the couple who already have 3 boys, lost a baby daughter in infancy and are now desperate to have another daughter.

So yes, their story is a sad one and I cannot imagine the loss they went through. But still, I find it H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E to abort twin babies just because they were not the desired sex.

 The couple are so determined to have a baby girl, they have asked to do sex selection via IVF in Australia, where IVF happens to be subsidized  They were denied by an independent bioethics panel  because in Australia, sex selection in IVF is only allowed as preventative measure for genetic diseases or abnormalities.

So now they are taking  the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to court.

This couple's obsession is out of control. Can they really be stable enough at this point to have another baby? I find this so sad and disturbing....it seriously breaks my heart.

What is worse is that if this couple still gets denied in Australia for the IVF, they very well may come to the U.S. where the procedure is allowed. I just do not see these people being fit to have another baby. Their obsession breaks all boundaries in my opinion.

They need help, not another child.

You can read the entire story here.

Volkswagon Vintage Ad...Really??

I don't know if I should laugh or go punch the hubby just because he is a man! Look at this long forgotten vintage ad from Volkswagon....omg....they actually published this stuff??

This is what the small print says......

"Women are soft and gentle, but they hit things. If your wife hits something in a Volkswagen, it doesn't hurt you very much. VW parts are easy to replace. And cheap. A fender comes off without dismantling half the car. A new one goes on with just ten bolds. For $24.95, plus labor. And a VW dealer always had the kind of fender you need. Because that's the one kind her has. Most other VW parts are interchangeable, too. Inside and out. Which means your wife isn't limited to fender smashing. She can jab the hood. Graze the door. Or bump off the bumper. It may make you furious, but it won't make you poor. So when your wife goes window-shopping in a Volkswagen, don't worry. You can conveniently replace anything she uses to stop the car. Even the brakes."


Nice, Volkswagon...very nice.