Lil' Critters Vitamin Gummies Review

Northwest Natural Products, Inc was nice enough to let me review their Lil' Critters Vitamin C Gummy Vitamins. I've tried other gummy vitamins that were very yummy and well liked by my kids, but I wanted to try these and see what I thought of them.

And uh, I'm just gonna come right out and say it... these Vitamin C gummies are probably the best gummies I have ever had, vitamin or otherwise. And I have eaten a LOT of gummies. They are a favorite in this house. So it's pretty cool that a favorite snack is also something that does great things for the body.

Here is what the Lil' Critters website says about vitamin C:You can read about all your essential vitamins on their site. They also have a kids club. If your child is enrolled in the kids club, they get surprises and freebies in the mail all year long. On the site is also puzzles, lots of games and fun facts for the kids.

Lil' Critters also has a Facebook page and a Twitter page where you can get daily tips and updates on all things Lil' Critters.

So if your kids won't eat their vitamins, I definitely suggest you give these a try, they are excellent!

Do you take a vitamin?

Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

Fun At The Zoo Part 1

For my nephew's birthday, my brother thought it would be neat to go to the local zoo. I say local, it was about an hour away, but the closest we have. It cost $10 per person, and anyone aged two and under were free. Anyone over 100 was free too, but I don't think there were any there *giggles*
You should know beforehand that I had taken two of my nephews for my sister, who was at the hospital with an ailing father-in-law. So My husband and I were in charge of six children all under the age of seven.
Now that that is clear... we paid our way in and the very first animal was hiding from the cold in his igloo dog house. I can't lie, we were a bit worried. But it turns out, he just wasn't ready to start the day, because all the other animals were out an about.
First were the foxes and the zebras. The foxes stayed curled up and sleeping almost the whole time we were there. But the zebras were up and munching quietly. As we walked from animal to animal, chickens ran about our feet. It was very reminiscent of my childhood years, except they were not chasing me for food and I was not running from them in fear. And uh... these chickens were funky looking. They were the kind with the feathers sticking out of their faces.

After the zebras and foxes were some goats and sheep, a few black bears, which I did not get any good pictures of, and some little pigs. I don't know what kind of pigs they were, but they were absolutely adorable.

The Streaker must have thought so too because she went right up to those piggies and told them "You guys are so cute!" and then gave the big beige one eskimo kisses right on his wet (and dirty) snout.
Along with the pigs, we saw some animals that we didn't know what they were. It looked like a deer/kangaroo/rabbit. I saw the sign, and I read the name, but I didn't recognize it, nor do I remember it. Next time, maybe I will bring a notebook. If anyone knows what it is, feel free to leave a comment and enlighten me :)

After the piggies and the unknown animal, were the goats, ponies and camels. Now, I had never seen a camel before in real life. And when I saw it, I was amazed at it's size. And I admit, I was very intimidated when it growled.

And then my mother, trying to give friendly advice, advised me to be careful that it doesn't spit on me. I was grateful for that warning, but after that, I was very nervous to take his portrait, afraid of getting slimed.

There were also alpacas in the area. Or were they llamas? To be honest. I am not an animal expert, I have no idea what the difference is. Perhaps I should look it up.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the zoo, coming up in a little bit. For now, I am off to get The Big One off the bus. But in the mean time, tell me... do you go to the zoo? What's your favorite thing to see there?

Free Spirit Publishing Review

The Big One is in a nasty cycle. She is often bullied at school and in turn bullies back. I was at my wits end. Right about the same time that I started my new discipline program, I also happened upon Free Spirit Publishing. They have lots of cool stuff. And when I saw that there were books and games geared toward bullying from both sides, I was very intrigued.

I am so grateful to Free Spirit Publishing for allowing me to review the Good-Bye Bully Machine Card Game and the How to be Bully Free Workbook. They are geared for older children, but when I, pardon the expression, "dumbed down" the questions a bit, it was really very fun for the younger kids. It really helped The Big One to realize that there are ways to resolve conflicts without violence or being mean.

And the game was fun and easy to set up. And some of the cards were so amusing to see played out. The kids had a blast. I will be taking these things out often. They are great tools for any house with children and I am glad that I have them.

What are your best tips for dealing with a bully?

Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

I went to a baby shower today for my cousin. This is her first baby and I am so excited for her. She was unable to get a second ultrasound to determine the gender, so we will not know the baby's gender until he or she arrives. Personally, I think it is fun that way. My first two children were surprise babies. And the second, she really WAS a surprise!

My cousin has decided to have Dr. Seuss be the theme for her baby. And I think that is awesome. Dr. Seuss is an all-time favorite with kids and he's just so fun.

There were Dr. Seuss fishes all over the tables, which were covered in polka-dotted table cloths and there was a great big Seuss inspired cake. But my favorite part of the decor were these real living fishes in red, blue and yellow.

I have always wanted a beta fish, but The Man always says "Babe... I want a tank. He can't go in the tank." So I have never ever had one. But I love looking at them. And while we were there, I snapped some pics for fun.

My girls, I expected to act up horrendously the whole time. But I was very pleasantly surprised to find that they were actually going to be okay. I say okay, because they did get a little restless, but I was able to enjoy myself without running after them or taking any out to the van to "think about things". I had a good time. We are trying some new behavior fixing strategies around here and so far, they are working great! If they keep working, I will share the secret. But for now, I'll keep it to myself because I hate saying something is great just to find out it's only great on a trial basis.

I let the girls use my camera while I was there. They are actually pretty good at taking photos. I'm impressed. Even my two year old likes to take pics. My six year old took the one below. I was a bit peeved with her at the moment because she would not sit still with my camera. But I wasn't going to let the camera know that. I refuse to knowingly take an ugly pic.

But anyway, the shower went great. I ended up taking the red fish home. No, I didn't ask for it... it was offered. And of course, I was not going to refuse it! When I got home, I realized that with two cats and four children, I really had nowhere for the poor thing. So for now, it sits in my china cabinet, but I will find Prudie (yes, Prudie and I don't know why) a new home soon.

What's the best prize you've ever received?

The Basket Lady Review

I was PSYCHED when The awesome Basket Lady agreed to do a review with me. In fact, I was beyond psyched. I have grown a love for baskets over the last few years, especially the ones with liners. Actually, I plan to have PLENTY of them by the time my home is done. And why not? They are cute, they are handy, they are timeless... what's not to love?

The Basket Lady sent me a casserole basket and a set of round wicker serving baskets. My very first thought when opening them was, "Oh my gosh... these baskets are sturdy!" Let's look beyond the fact that they are in fact gorgeous, both in color and in style and look deeper than that.

They have this incredible lacquer coating on them that makes them super rugged. There was NO sagging in the casserole basket at all when I put the casserole dish in it or in the serving baskets when I put the fruit inside. Those baskets stayed very rigid.

And lets talk about size. The casserole basket fit my 9x13 Pyrex casserole dish perfectly! I was so impressed and just thrilled.  I guess I somehow had a sinking feeling that it would be just my luck that the basket wouldn't fit MY Pyrex dish. I'm tickled pink that it does though, because honestly, after the bad press about Pyrex dishes exploding, I am terrified to handle my casserole dish.  A basket with handles makes me feel so much better about doing it.

T set of serving baskets were much bigger than I imagined. I can actually fit stuff in them! That's 14 apples and 3 oranges in that big one. And in that small one, there are 17 drink mix pouches and there is room for more. The pumpkin one up there... 7 mini pumpkins, but I'm sure if I had had an eighth, it would have fit in the front there with no problem.

Now, I know you have noticed, but look at that finish!!! How beautiful is that? So deep and rich, I love it.  It is very classy and will go well with a LOT of kitchens and dining rooms.

What about clean-up you ask? Well, that's what's so great about the coating... all you do is rinse it off under the water or with your spray hose and dry it with a towel.

So there really is only one question left. Where you do get them? You can get them right from The Basket Lady herself. There are baskets for just about everything, from laundry, to storage, to even fireplace logs! So please check her out, cause she's amazing and super sweet to work with.

Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

The Window

I wish I lived close to my grandmother when I was a kid. I lived half an hour away and did not get to visit as often as I would have liked. but my mother did try very hard to get us there as often as possible. One thing I remember about visiting my grandmother is the cookie jar. It was our first stop, maybe even before seeing Gram.

This is the window:

Their great grandmother lives inside that window. The girls go there almost every time we go outside or come back from an errand. They go to get cookies. It is their cookie jar. It's funny how the apples didn't fall far from the tree.

The Streaker, who is actually clothed in the shot, is particularly fond of the window. And who wouldn't be? In the summer time, it is an ice cream truck, sans music and wheels. In the fall, it is crackers and cookies. She never forgets to go when she exits the truck. Even if we are in a big hurry, she has to go knock at the wall.

I know that when my kids grow up and have kids of their own, I will be keeping LOTS of goodies on hand. Things like wafers and caramels, oreos and candy canes.

What do you remember most about your grandparents' house?

Salon Graffix Invisible Dry Shampoo Review

I had heard of leave in conditioners, but I had never heard of dry shampoo until I stumbled upon Salon Grafix. I was very lucky to be able to review their dry shampoo. For those who have never tried it, let me enlighten you...

It comes in a spray can, like hair spray, in fact, it smells faintly like hair spray, but not too badly and it does not really linger. You spray it at your roots by section or layer in short bursts about half a foot from your head. You wait for it to dry, (about one minute), then you thoroughly brush it out.

I tried it during a very busy week. I had had practically no "me" time and we were about to go shopping. I looked awful. My hair was starting to look greasy and I really didn't want to go out in public like that, but we needed to go shopping and I had no time to shower. It was pretty convenient that a few days earlier, my dry shampoo had arrived in the mail.

I've got to say, it's no match to actually shampooing, but it did make a huge difference in my hair. I have pictures to prove it. I will also say that it made my hair feel a touch straw like, but with a really good combing, it's not too bad and it's better than looking oily!

You can buy the shampoo at retail stores all across the country. It will cost you about 8 bucks. Not bad, considering how many uses you get out of it.

It has a new invisible formula that leaves behind no white residue. I've never tried the old kinds, but I was happy to see that there really was none. It effectively cleans and neutralizes odor. Honestly, I've never noticed an odor to my hair, but I bet it really would get rid of any. It's also 100% safe for all hair types and after washing my own hair, I can in fact report no damages that I can see.

It is certainly convenient, no one will argue that point. And apparently, it extends the color of your hair if you dye. I haven't dyed my hair in a long time, but when I did, I always lost that color in just a few weeks. I would have loved it to last longer.

Over-all, I'd say I am happy that I have this. I feel like I am always being rushed out the door. I can just spray this on, do my make-up, then brush it out real quickly. Heck, I could even let it dry while I make that last minute bathroom break before we hit the road. I'm glad i gave it a shot and I think I will pick some more up to keep on hand when this one runs out.

What's your favorite product?

Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

Therapy (Getting Personal)

Everyone needs therapy at some point in their life. And I don't mean professional therapy, sitting in a lounger and talking about your childhood. I mean, some way to channel our frustrations or grievances. Some way to empty your mind and get back to where you are at peace. Some people paint. Some people take it out with sports or dance. Some people write.

Personally, I find that rhyme and music come best when my mind is running. I've been using music and song writing for therapy for about 13 years. It feels strange to say that. I remember when I was 13. It seemed like it was only a couple years ago. But for 13 years, I have been "in therapy". For 13 years, I have put myself right with pen and paper, or sometimes, just my memory when a pen and paper weren't available.

Part of my reasons for keeping a blog and recruiting followers is to force myself to become outgoing. One thing I have almost always struggled with is letting myself be seen and allowing myself to become vulnerable. I shelter myself a lot because I have always felt uncomfortable in the spotlight.

A few years ago, I recorded some songs and put them on my Myspace profile. It wasn't because I felt that I was particularly good or anything. It was because I always regretted not trying out for a solo in chorus class. There was one in particular that I thought was just beautiful. It was called "Blow, blow, thou winter wind". I practiced and practiced. I perfected it. But when push came to shove, I never did have the nerve to just do it.

And it wasn't just solos. I think I made it to two concerts in my whole high school career. In a crowd of 100 students, I still felt like everyone was judging me, watching me. Of course now, I realize how silly that seems. But at the time, I couldn't even sing in class because I was surrounded by my peers, each with their own set of ears, capable of hearing any mistake I made.

It has taken a long time for me to overcome the feeling that I need to shelter myself. And I still have a long way to go. But I thought I would celebrate what I have achieved and how far I have gotten by sharing something I wrote. It is about the part of me that wants to hide and about leaving that part of me behind and to just live freely.

To Lose You

Everyday it's like a battle in my head. Things I wish I'd done or wish I'd said. But I never could seem to break through. I guess I'm stuck with you. What a weight on my shoulders you have built With this cold and heavy hardened shell. Wish that I could be content as you. What am I gonna do? I don't want to run away. But I can't bear to stay. This shell is not my own and it is not my home! What do I have to say... To make you walk away? What do I have to do to lose you? To stand out alone, it testifies. But to stand with you, I'm terrified. Wish I had the gall to just push through. Then I might not need you. I can't spend the rest of my life Duckin' out and always tryin' to hide. It'll never get me to where I want it to. Never get me somewhere new. I don't want to run away. But I can't bear to stay. This shell is not my own and it is not my home! What do I have to say... To make you walk away? What do I have to do to lose you? All I... Ever really wanted in my life. Was just a chance to shine. And without you in my life I might just thrive. I don't want to run away. But I can't bear to stay. This shell is not my own and it is not my home! What do I have to say... To make you walk away? What do I have to do to lose you?

Feel free to share something of your own, whether it is a painting, sculpture, or even a video. Let me know what you do when your mind is racing.

GW Company/ Pepper Pot Review

Behold... the special shelf.


There it is. I put baby books, photo albums, journals and high school notebooks and even autographed books in it. Pretty much anything that I feel needs extra protection so that it does not get ruined by eager kiddlets. I've added a few things to this shelf this week. And I am going to tell you about them.

You know how as the years go by, things get cheaper and cheaper? My baby book was so intricate and I loved it. Twenty years later, my kids books, I don't love them so much. They have so few spots for pictures and not enough room to really write what I want to write about certain events. They bite and I have been wanting to replace a few of mine.

Well, I was lucky enough to be given the chance to review a Pepper Pot Baby Book and Baby Photo album by the Awesome Gift Wrap Company. The woman I talked to was soooo nice and she told me that she would be sending a couple baby items. I had no idea what she was sending for me to review, but I love surprises, so I was anxiously awaiting it's arrival.

When I opened the package and saw the baby book and photo album, (and you can ask my husband about this), I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands. I was screeching with joy... I'm pretty sure I looked like a complete jack ass. I was THAT excited. I didn't even have to open the books to know that they were excellent quality. I could tell by the cover. But when I did open them, I was only reassured.

These books are GORGEOUS!!! The first new addition to my special shelf is the baby record book. It is the most beautifully made baby book that I have seen in a very long time. It has a linen cover with ribbon trim and a linen basket and leaves. That's a real button too! It also has 80 full-color pages and covers the first four years of your child's life, including their first day of school. It has pages for everything you could possibly want for the whole birth and going home experience, and my favorite part... lots and lots of spots for pictures.

Check out ALL the pages there are:

• This book belongs to...
• Mommy's Family
• Daddy's Family
• My Mommy
• My Daddy
• My Mommy and Daddy (photo)
• My Family (siblings and pets)
• Before My Arrival (finding out)
• Before My Arrival (sonogram photo)
• Before My Arrival (pregnancy memories)
• Before My Arrival (photo of mommy expecting)
• My Baby Shower (guests and gifts)
• My Baby Shower (invitation and photo)
• A Letter from Mommy
• A Letter from Daddy
• My Arrival (about me when I was born)
• My Arrival (picture of me at hospital)
• My Arrival (photo)
• My Arrival (about my name)
• My Arrival (handprints and footprints)
• My Arrival (my birth certificate)
• My Arrival (current events)
• My Arrival (newspaper clipping)
• My Arrival (picture of me and mommy)
• My Arrival (picture of me and daddy)
• My Arrival (Cards & Gifts)
• My Arrival (Visitors that came to see me)
• My Arrival (my birth announcement)
• My Arrival (my newspaper announcement)
• Welcome Home (about going home)
• Welcome Home (a picture of my first home)
• Welcome Home (a picture of my homecoming)
• Welcome Home (a picture of my new room)
• Welcome Home (the world around me when I was born)
• Welcome Home (the cost of living when I was born)
• Welcome Home (more photos of me)
• Welcome Home (more photos of me)
• Watch Me Grow (weight & height by month)
• Watch Me Grow (doctor visits)
• Watch Me Grow (favorite foods and eating habits)
• Watch Me Grow (picture of messy me!)
• Watch Me Grow (vaccination records)
• Watch Me Grow (childhood illness records)
• Watch Me Grow (sleeping habits)
• Watch Me Grow (photo - look at me sleeping)
• Watch Me Grow (dentist visits)
• Watch Me Grow (dates my teeth appeared)
• Watch Me Grow (photo - look at me in the tub!)
• Watch Me Grow (my first haircut)
• Watch Me Grow (my firsts)
• Watch Me Grow (funny first pictures)
• Watch Me Grow (favorite games and friends)
• Watch Me Grow (more pictures of me)
• My First Outing (about my first trips out)
• My First Outing (photo of me out and about)
• My First Vacation (about my first vacation and adventures)
• My First Vacation (pictures of my first vacation)
• My First Holiday (about my holiday)
• My First Holiday (photo)
• My First Birthday
• My Second Birthday
• My Third Birthday
• My Fourth Birthday
• My First Day of School (about my first day of school)
• My First Day of School (photo)
• My Special Memories (keepsakes, artwork, clippings, etc.)
• My Special Memories (keepsakes, artwork, clippings, etc.)
• My Special Memories (keepsakes, artwork, clippings, etc.)
• My Special Memories (keepsakes, artwork, clippings, etc.)
• My Special Memories (keepsakes, artwork, clippings, etc.)
• My Special Memories (keepsakes, artwork, clippings, etc.)

That's a lot of pages. I love this book and I know you would too.

The Baby Album, also by Pepper Pot was just as refreshing. It is nice to see good quality products nowadays, when you go to the store to return defective products half as often as you go to buy them. But trust me on this, you WILL NOT want to return these if you get them. They have 100 acid-free pages that hold up to 200 4x6 pictures. That's a lot of photos! And the acid-free part ensures that your photos will be protected for years to come. It's also got a linen cover with a ribbon accent and a really cute design.

Look at that book! It's part of a 9 piece keepsake collection that includes keepsake boxes, a baby record book, photo frames, brag book, growth chart and more. I was definitely very impressed with the quality and beauty of these books and I would very highly recommend them.

Thank you GW Company!!!

What does your baby book look like?

Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

What's That Smell!?

DOUGH BOYS!!!!!

That's right, it was fair time last week. I love the fair. We always go the last day, Sunday. That is the day of the baby contest and also it is ride bracelet day. This year, I had three riders.

Now, before I tell you all the good stuff, I just want to say that FAIR-GOERS SUCK!!!!!

Yeah, they suck. It's amazing how adults can become children in more ways than one during the fair. First of all, we were cut in line to the ticket booth. I'm not gonna sit here and be all elementary and gripe about being cut. After all, my kids lost a couple minutes of ride time. A couple minutes in several hours is no biggie.

So we go to our first ride and it's the trucks. Don't they look cute sitting there in the back? Any way, they get in and some heathen in front turns around and very bluntly and purposely pokes Streaker in the forehead. EXCUSE ME!? I hear no scolding whatsoever from any parent watching the child. Honestly, I am not surprised by this. But I can see that his parents are not going to handle this, so when the child looks up to see if anyone is looking, I glare. And I glare hard. Needless to say, he did not poke again, although he did cower every second that he wasn't looking to see if he could get away with a second attack
.
So we go to do a second ride and (big surprise) we are cut in front of again. And again, there is an adult with them. I am starting to be annoyed by the rudeness of some people.

Then a whole group of kids come right off the swings, which the Big One had been asking about since we got there, and went right out the exit and back through the entrance, cutting an entire line of people who were waiting. Ride operator says nothing. But I'm not too peeved about it, until the Big One comes back out because they are one swing short and she is without a seat. Now I am fuming. What is wrong with people? If I saw my child pull that stunt of going out the exit and cutting an entire line to go back in the entrance, her bottom would be brought home to spend the rest of the night thinking about how she made the people in line feel. But apparently parents nowadays just don't care.

Some parents who did care? The parents of small children being trampled in the bounce house because the man responsible for the ride was SLEEPING!!!! Fast asleep. A very small girl starts crying because children who should not even be on the ride are trampling the poor girl and the operator says....

"Well, they just keep going in and no one is coming out."

Really dude? That's your JOB! You are getting paid for this. Streaker finally got on and got to slide once before being taken off. GAH!

At this point, we had been at the fair for maybe 20 minutes. And already someone has irritated me an average of once every 4 minutes. And 4 minutes later...?

Yep. You guessed it. We went to the kiddie section to get away from the idiots in the big kid section and apparently we were not the only ones who had been cut. Because as our children were exiting the ride, the people waiting at the entrance were so concerned about losing their spot that they wouldn't let us through the line to get our unattended children who had exited alone.

But.... after all was said an done, after the first half hour of the fair, the rest went smoothly and great. I won 2 second place ribbons for my photography and Baby Bee won "Little Rosebud" in the baby contest. My nephew won a bike in the raffle and my mom won a quilt.

It was a nice day and the kiddlets really enjoyed themselves.

Do you go to the fair every year?
Tell me about your favorite thing to do there.

Farnham Ridge Soaps Review

Are Farnham Ridge Soaps a cure!? Maybe. I was blessed with these permanent goosebumps on my arms, as was my oldest. They aren't particularly bothersome, but it's not like I love them either. And The Big One's are worse than mine. I worry about her self-image down the road.

We asked the doctor about them and he told us that they are just there and they will not disappear, nor are they a bad thing, they just exist. He told me that it would be there her whole life.

Call me crazy, but since using these soaps, they have disappeared!!! Maybe it's the goat milk, I don't know, but I plan to keep some around. AND I plan to try an experiment with The Big One to see if her bumps go away as well.

But lets talk about the soap!

First of all, they smell amazing. I got Eucalyptus and Pumpkin Spice. I could smell them from outside the shipping box, through peanuts AND PLASTIC!

Secondly, my skin feels great. It looks and feels very clean for a long time. And it is awesome for my face, not too harsh. And here's a little snippet I pulled from the Farnham Ridge website to explain why:Goat's milk adds natural proteins, vitamins, and minerals to soap. Goat's milk lowers the Ph of the soap to make it more compatible with skin. Goat's milk soap is especially kind to sensitive skin.

And thirdly, I was really surprised at how well the soaps lathered. Most homemade soaps do not lather so well. You can't really tell by the photo, but with a loofah, these soaps threw out an astounding number of bubbles.They are also animal friendly (we LOVE that). They use no preservatives or animal fats in their making. But they do use lots of good quality natural ingredients, like essential oils, olive oil, castor oil and coconut oil. And the pumpkin soap has real pumpkin in it!

Gift It!

You can add your own personal label to your soaps (minimum of 10) to give away at a baby shower, bridal shower, or for Christmas.

And I know you all will love this part...

A whopping TEN PERCENT of all net profits are donated to the Autism Association. So by buying a soap that is gentle on your skin and a treat for your senses, you are also helping the Autism cause. How awesome is that?

I highly recommend Farnham Ridge Soaps. I just don't see one thing about them that I don't like, and I don't think you will either.Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

I Never Was Into Sports

I Never Was Into Sports

Posted by Timmi at Tuesday, September 21, 2010 It wasn't because I didn't want to be. I did. But for some reason, it just never happened for me. Kind of like the time I told my pastor that I wanted to be baptized. He baptized lots of other kids, but never did baptize me. I was always unlucky in that way. But thankfully, my daughter will not follow in my footprints.

We signed her up for soccer this year. We actually missed sign-ups, but I begged and she got in. When we got up the morning of our first practice, I realized that shin guards were required. CRAP! So we stopped by Walmart and of course, none her size were available. So we grabbed the adult size which didn't look overly big to me, having never been in sports.

We got to the field and I realized just how big they were. Great. I've managed to embarrass my daughter, so I think. Turns out, because she is such a confident and outgoing girl, she was not embarrassed at all, even when her friend pointed out how big they were. But still, it wouldn't do. I told her we would get new ones with Daddy's next pay check.

Turns out we didn't have to because her grandmother bought her the soccer equipment she needed. Ball, guards, socks, cleats and mouth piece. We were utterly grateful. She has no reason to be embarrassed now.

I can't wait until next year when two of my kids are in sports. Maybe 3, we will see. Do your kids do sports?

Tommee Tippee Review

***Tommee Tippee Review***

Posted by Timmi at Tuesday, October 05, 2010 If you are not familiar with Tommee Tippee, don't feel bad. I wasn't either, until I was told about them from a friend of mine. I am so glad she shared with me, because this company is great. They have everything you need to feed your child, and their designs are so smart!


For instance, for babies, they have what they call "Closer to nature" bottles just for newborns. They are designed to mimic the mother's breast for an easier transition and a wider neck nipple for easier latch.

And for bigger kids, they have Easi-Roll Bibs that have a catch pocket for little spills and dribbles. And they roll up for easy travel.
When I got my Tommee Tippee in the mail today I was so excited. I couldn't believe it came so fast! When I opened it, I was very happy to see a set of two orange weaning bowls with a cover and spoon.

Now, I won't lie, when I saw the cover, my first thought was "What the heck... what am I gonna use a spoon holder for? Wouldn't I just keep it in the bowl until I'm done with it?" And the snap cover for the spoon tray had me all confused. But then the whole ingenious idea behind it's design really hit me. TRAVEL! Of course! When you are on the go, who wants to wash a bunch of spoons? And likewise, who wants to put them in the bowl, only to have to dig them out of whatever mess is left over from lunch to clean them at home? I actually can't believe I haven't seen this design before now. It's brilliant!

Now as far as whether it was a hit with my kids...


You'd have thought I pulled out a life size barbie! I had to get up immediately and make The Streaker something to eat or she was going to have a melt down. And she even got upset when I took the spoon and cover for a minute to clear off her tray. No joke. These are HER bowls. So I guess I will have to get more for the other girls.

We decided to have some potatoes. I mixed them up and put it in the microwave. The bowl did great in the microwave, and it has a large lip on one end so that you will not get burned if you leave it in too long and it is hot. Major points on that one!

I would give these bowls two thumbs up for sure. Great design, great look, great product. Here's some stats on it that I also liked.

explora® weaning bowls with lid & spoon x 2 - Orange

• 2 x 11floz/325ml bowls
• BPA free
• Spill proof lids for less mess & less stress
• Ergonomic shaped handle for easy grip
• Stay clean cover for spoon - always keeps clean when on the go
• Microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe
• Suitable for all forms of sterilization
• Stackable for easy storage
• Use in conjunction with the magic mat

The Clever Bit

Works in conjunction with the tommee tippee® easi-mat. The easi-mat sticks to most flat surfaces and holds bowls and plates securely in place which creates less mess and less stress

What product do you have for feeding time that you just can't live without?

Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

I've Realized Something

We had a birthday party a few days ago and as I was looking through the photos, I realized something. My kids have so much more love for each other than my siblings and I had for each other growing up. It's amazing to see them stick up for each other when they get into trouble or to help each other feel better when they hurt themselves.

When I was growing up, it was always get the other into trouble or make them trip cause it was funny to watch their face as they went down. Maybe I just remember it that way because I was the youngest. Maybe my siblings were plenty lovey before I was old enough to remember it. But uh... I don't remember it that way.

How did you get along with your siblings growing up? Were you real close or did you fight like cats and dogs?